Another Christmas Decorated Car Takes To Maltese Streets

Dec 11 2024

Taking to social media, local Nathan Zammit posted a video of his car decorated in Christmas lights for the holidays.

Accompanied by the classic ‘Last Christmas’ theme, the car rolled across a local street in shining Christmas tree lights.

@nathan_zammit05

Christmas 2024❤️#tdi #tdipower🚗💨 #vw #vwgolf #malta🇲🇹 #CapCut #fyp #christmasdecor @💥

♬ original sound – Global Steez

The video amassed over 500 views on TikTok as the holiday fever continues to set in all across the country.

Have you spotted any Christmas themed cars?

#MaltaDaily

Average Age for First Sexual Experience in Malta is 18

Dec 11 2024

A national survey on sexual and reproductive health has revealed that the average age for first sexual encounters in Malta is 18, offering key insights into local trends in sexual behaviour and contraception use.

The National Sexual Health Survey found that 40% of respondents reported their first sexual experience occurred at 18 or older. Meanwhile, 27% indicated they became sexually active between the ages of 16 and 17, and 19% between 13 and 15. The findings suggest a significant portion of the population delays sexual activity until adulthood.

The survey also highlighted contraception habits among Maltese residents. Condoms emerged as the most commonly used method (23%), followed by withdrawal (19%) and oral contraceptives (14%). However, 43% of respondents were unwilling to disclose their preferred contraceptive method, highlighting ongoing stigma around sexual health discussions.

Attitudes toward abortion also surfaced, with 46% of participants opposing criminal prosecution for healthcare providers and pregnant individuals. When it comes to specific circumstances, 52% supported abortion access in life-threatening cases, while only 28% agreed in situations involving economic or social hardship.

The study further identified barriers to accessing contraception, such as high costs and limited services. It recommended enhanced sexual health education, free contraceptives, and better family planning resources to address these challenges.

These findings offer a comprehensive snapshot of Malta’s evolving sexual health landscape and underscore the importance of policies that support informed and healthy choices.

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Uber Launches Specialised Accounts For Teens In Malta

Dec 11 2024

Uber is excited to announce the launch of its new Uber for Teens feature in Malta, empowering parents to invite teens aged 13-17 to create specialized accounts under their family profile. The new product is designed to provide a safer, more convenient ride experience for families, allowing teens to request their own rides while offering enhanced parental oversight and security features.

The Uber for Teens initiative is built with safety at its core, ensuring that parents can track their teen’s journey and access important information every step of the way. The new feature includes a set of tools to provide peace of mind for both teens and their parents. Parents can follow their teen’s journey in real time, with access to the driver’s name, vehicle details, and drop-off location.

Teens will be required to enter a unique PIN before getting into the car to ensure they are matched with the correct driver. Sensors and GPS data will detect any deviations during the trip, such as if the ride stops unexpectedly, triggering a check-in to confirm everyone’s safety.

Parents can reach out directly to the teen’s driver, or contact Uber’s safety line at any time during the ride. Only highly-rated drivers with a valid PHV license from Transport Malta will be eligible to receive teen ride requests. These safety features, which also include an emergency button, are automatically activated for all teen trips and cannot be turned off by the parent, teen, or driver, ensuring constant protection.

In addition to these safety measures, Uber has partnered with the Malta Police to create a centralized reporting process, managed by the Remote Reporting Unit. This collaboration aims to further enhance the security of the Uber for Teens feature and the Uber platform in Malta. Neyran Bahadirli, General Manager at Uber Malta, expressed her excitement: “We’re thrilled to introduce this new feature to families across Malta.

By integrating essential safety features, we are helping families stay connected and ensure teens can move around safely. This initiative reflects our continued commitment to enhancing the safety of young riders.”

The development of Uber for Teens has been a year-long process, with input from safety experts such as Safe Kids Worldwide and ParentZone, a leading organization working to ensure the online world is safer for children and families. Vicki Shotbolt, CEO and Founder of ParentZone, shared her support for the initiative: “ParentZone is proud to be collaborating with Uber to bring this safe solution to families.

Through consulting with hundreds of parents and teens across Europe, we’ve ensured that Uber is providing a transparent and secure ride experience.

With built-in safety features and constant parental visibility, parents can rest assured their teens are in safe hands.” Starting today, riders in Malta will receive an email informing them of the new Uber for Teens feature. For more information on how the teen accounts work and answers to common questions, visit the dedicated teen accounts information page.

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Daniel Attard Appointed To EP Tourism Task Force Steering Group

Dec 11 2024

Labour MEP Daniel Attard has been unanimously appointed to the Steering Group of the European Parliament’s Tourism Task Force. This cross-party endorsement underscores the trust placed in Attard’s dedication to bolstering a sector pivotal to economic growth and European competitiveness.

“This appointment carries with it a significant responsibility to advance a tourism industry that addresses today’s pressing challenges while unlocking greater opportunities for our communities. It’s not about titles; it’s about having a decisive voice at the table to drive meaningful change and deliver tangible results for Malta,” Attard stated.

‘Attard has consistently championed the notion that shared challenges in tourism demand collective solutions, underpinned by robust EU action. Central to his agenda will be tackling critical issues such as sustainability, labour shortages, and enhanced support for local communities.’

“This is more than policy; it is a forward-looking vision for a tourism sector that strengthens Europe’s competitiveness while safeguarding our cultural heritage for generations to come,” he added.

This appointment follows six months of sustained efforts in the European Parliament, during which Attard has also been entrusted with key roles, including serving on the Petitions Network and as Vice President of the Delegation to Iran, alongside managing other technical dossiers.

In addition to these responsibilities, Attard has been actively engaging with the European Commission on a range of topics of national importance, ensuring that the priorities of Malta and Gozo are championed at every level of European policymaking.

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