Abela announces refund checks; Grech slams low salaries

May 2 2023

Addressing his Worker’s Day mass meeting speech yesterday, Prime Minister Robert Abela announced a new round of tax refund cheques for around 250,000 workers.

The cheques are set to be issued starting Monday 8th May and will be costing the government €26 million. Abela highlighted how this figure is double the €12 million spent on the first round.

Abela also addressed criticisms of the cheque round practice, with this being the sixth round, by saying that the Opposition does not want people to enjoy the wealth being created.

On his part, Opposition leader Bernard Grech also addressed a Guardamangia audience during a protest in front of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and St Luke’s Hospital, saying that workers are being overworked and underpaid.

He slammed the government for ‘trying to hide these injustices and not improving worker conditions.’ He also slammed Abela for not mentioning the 19 year anniversary of Malta entering the EU.

Grech also stood by his claim that it was the police commissioner who ordered Jean Paul Sofia’s friend to be arrested for putting up a banner in front of parliament.

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Jean Paul’s mother places wreath on Worker’s memorial

May 2 2023

The mother of the late Jean Paul Sofia, Isabelle Bonnici, placed a wreath of flowers on the Worker’s Memorial in Msida on the 1st of May as the country celebrates Worker’s Day.

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The act of commemoration was covered by Facebook group ‘Għal Jean Paul’, which has been calling for the publicising of the inquiry into the tragedy that took Sofia’s life late last year.

‘This was done so that Isabella commemorates the memory of her son who lost his life in a construction site in Kordin on the 3rd of December as well as to keep the memory of other workers who lost their life on the workplace alive’ the page explained.

‘The fight for justice being carried out by Isabelle is to ensure that no worker ever falls victim to recklessness and thus return home alive and well.’

The call for a public inquiry was once again echoed following the announcement that a magisterial inquiry would look into the death of Jean Paul. ‘Only a public inquiry will identify how the institutions failed to protect the life of the now dearly missed Jean Paul.’

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Most notable and craziest outfits at Met Gala 2023

May 2 2023

The fashion world once agin met in New York City for the yearly Met Gala to celebrate the late fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld.

With the theme called “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty”, the celebrities wore clothes to celebrate the life of one of the biggest-name fashion houses in the world, including the likes of Fendi and Chanel.

Around 400 guests were hosted by the invitation-only fundraiser for the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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It is also one of the opportunities world renowned artists – from singers to actors to social media presences – to show off their fashion tastes.

And some really take this seriously, standing out with some of the most bizarre costumes you could ever imagine.

Two celebrities, Doja Cat and Jared Leto, dressed up as the late fashion icon’s cat Choupette. Others, like Lil Nas X, were a bit more experimental in their choices.

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The Valletta Green Festival is back for another year, and it’s bigger than ever before

May 1 2023

The Valletta Green Festival kicked off today, May 1st, with the opening of the largest ever installation in St George’s Square.

This year’s installation is not only made out of flowers but also trees and other plants that stand as high as 3 meters.

Visitors to the festival will be able to walk inside the installation and take a moment to sit down and appreciate the beauty of nature in the heart of Valletta.

The installation is a true celebration of the natural world and serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving our planet’s biodiversity.

The festival is also an opportunity for visitors to learn more about sustainability and how they can contribute to creating a greener future.

From Wednesday, May 3rd, Ambjent Malta, ERA, Water Be The Change, Project Green, WasteServ, Eco Market Malta, and the EIT Urban Mobility Hub will be joining the festival in St George’s Square and Triton Square.

These organisations will provide educational information, freebies, and answer all your questions about how you can contribute to making our earth a greener and more sustainable space. It’s an excellent opportunity to learn more about what each organization does to promote sustainability and how you can get involved.

The Valletta Green Festival is organised by the Valletta Cultural Agency, an organization that aims to promote culture, the arts, and creativity in the city of Valletta.

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