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Difficulty to find permit for foreigners by 37% of Gozitan tourism firms

Difficulty to find permit for foreigners by 37% of Gozitan tourism firms
Feb 7 2022 Share

37%, or nearly two out of every five businesses, which participated in an online survey by the Gozo Tourism Association claimed they are finding it difficult to get working permits for foreign employees. 

The majority of these respondents employ one or two foreigners, whereas 26% employ between three and five. The rest employ around eight or more foreign workers. A statement released on Monday by the association revealed that the online survey among its members focused mainly on the performance of Gozitan tourism establishments in 2021. 

Asked about business constraints, 57% blamed uncertainty due to the pandemic as the main obstacle. 20% flagged insufficient demand and the rest pointed at staff shortage and operating costs.

42% said that their operating constraints remained unchanged, whereas 30% said these deteriorated. Only 27% reported an improvement over 2020. The survey also confirmed that 68% of establishments reported more business than in 2020. 

The respondents were also asked about the impact of the domestic market. 55% of the total declared that the domestic market in 2021 faired better than 2020, with 16% reported a drop. 

The participants hailed from the accommodation, restaurants, diving, tourist attractions, transport, tour operating, destination management, travel agency, real estate and tourism consultancy sectors. 

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Around 1,971 migrants disappeared or died in the Mediterranean last year

Around 1,971 migrants disappeared or died in the Mediterranean last year
Feb 7 2022 Share

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, up to 1,971 migrants died or disappeared in the Mediterranean last year. The number shoots up to 23,000 over the past decade. 

36 NGOs gathers by the harbour in Single on ‘CommemorAction’ Day on Sunday to remember all those who passed away, faced persecution, went missing, or disappeared whilst crossing the sea and borders. 

The NGOs remarked how despite the Mediterranean Sea remaining one of the world’s deadliest migratory routes, Malta’s authorities are not doing enough and are looking away from their duties to protect the lives of people seeking asylums in our search and rescue zone. 

Posting to Facebook, Moviment Graffiti, one of the NGOs, appealed to the EU’s institutions to offer strong assistance measures to ensure that both Malta and other member states are in a position to offer security and dignity to immigrants who have a right to all these principles. 

‘We remind the authorities that these people are mothers, fathers, siblings, children and have a name’ the statement said. ‘We remind the authorities that it is their moral and legal obligation to save the life of people trapped at sea.’ 

The 6th of February is regarded as World Commemorative Action Day because in 2014, the Spanish police killed at least 15 people as they tried to cross to the Spanish enclave in Ceuta from Tarajal. They were killed and sank after the Civil Guard opened fire upon them. 

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Photo Source: Moviment Graffiti FB

Cristiano Ronaldo first person to pass 400 million Instagram followers

Cristiano Ronaldo first person to pass 400 million Instagram followers
Feb 7 2022 Share

Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo is used to breaking records on the football pitch, but now he’s managed to score a new record, this time on social media.

The recently turned 37-year-old has become the first person to ever surpass 400 million followers on Instagram. This comes after he was the most followed man on the application back in September 2021 at 237million followers. The amount has since grew exponentially in a matter of months. The football star celebrated his birthday only a couple of days ago, thanking all his fans for the wishes on the platform. 

 

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A post shared by Cristiano Ronaldo (@cristiano)

The player took to Instagram, saying that life is a roller coaster full of hard work and urgent goals. But ‘in the end, it all comes down to family, love, honesty, friendship, values that make it all worth it.’ The second most followed individual on Instagram is Kylie Jenner, standing at around 308 million followers. She is closely followed by another football star, Lionel Messi, who boasts 306 million. 

That top 5 list is rounded out by both Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Selena Gomez at 295 million followers. Ariana Grande, Kim Kardashian, Beyonce, Justin Bieber and Khloe Kardashian seal the top 10 list. Still, Ronaldo is the most followed person on Instagram, as the most followed account is the social media platform’s very own handle which boasts 469 million followers as of February 7th. 

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Activist calls for ban of single-use BBQs due to waste

Activist calls for ban of single-use BBQs due to waste
Feb 7 2022 Share

Activist Cami Appelgren took to social media to call for a ban of single use BBQs, calling upon Environment Minister Aaron Farrugia to take action. 

Appelgren stated that Malta should follow in the footsteps of other countries which actually banned them. Listing off several reasons, the activist said that due to them being single use, they always end up as landfill waste. 

She also said that people do not know how to dispose of them, and are prone to getting scared of them starting fires in bins. This leads them to leave them behind in usually natural areas. 

She also pointed out how they pose a fire hazard, claiming that she has stopped counting the times she had to put out fires spread due to these BBQs as a patrolling ranger. Appelgren also highlighted how burning charcoal releases more particle pollutants and 2-3 times the amount of carbon dioxide as burning gas will. 

‘I can’t find even ONE reason NOT to ban the sale of these […] Invest in a good portable gas BBQ, the camping shops have them at a very good price. And if you use a metal tray, buy quality charcoal which hasn’t been sourced unethically’ she said.

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Photo Source: Cami Appelgren FB