Emma Muscat to hit Turin stage today for first Eurovision 2022 rehearsal

May 2 2022

Our Maltese representative for 2022’s edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, Emma Muscat, will be hitting the stage for the first time for her initial rehearsal today.

Emma will be taking to the stage at 14:20 today to try out ‘I Am What I Am’, right after Georgia and right before San Marino. Our ambassador will perform during the second semi-final on the 12th of May.

Emma and her team will have around half an hour to see that she is comfortable on stage, that all things are set for the semi-finals and the finals, and that any other preparations which need to be made are done.

Malta’s representative currently stands in 24th place to win, with Ukraine right at the top. Italy’s popular Mahmoud and Blanco currently occupy second place with their song ‘Brividi.’

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Two ex-University of Malta students tie the knot on campus

May 2 2022

Two ex-University of Malta students, Ingrid Vella and Anthony Galea, just tied the knot at the university campus.

Taking to social media, the bride revealed their big day saying that ‘after 6 postponements, we thought we’ll never see this day.’ She went on to thank the University of Malta and its rector Professor Vella who officiated the wedding.

‘It was a personalised micro wedding shared with our parents and witnesses’ said Ingrid, going on to reveal how they still plan on celebrating the marriage with the rest of their friends and family later on.

This comes as weddings and other events return back to normal following three years of constant delays, postponements and outright cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This couple managed to overcome the obstacles posed by the pesky pandemic, and thanks to the wonderful gesture by the university. Now more couples will have the opportunity to finally celebrate their big day after such a long time.

#MaltaDaily

EU Digital COVID certificate could stay around for another year

May 2 2022

MEPs from the Civil Liberties Committee endorsed proposals to keep the use of the EU Digital COVID Certificate around for another year.

The certificate scheme was set to expire on the 30th June of this year, but MEPs from the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs voted in favour of two reports to prolong it.

The extension was done with the aim of ensuring that EU citizens benefit from the right of freedom movement regardless of how the epidemiological situation when it comes to COVID changes.

Apart from extending the validity of the certificate until the 30th of June 2023, the changes will also enable member states to grant test certificates based on new types of antigen tests. Amendments to the proposal stress that member states should avoid additional restrictions of freedom of movement unless absolutely necessary.

MEPs insist that if restrictions are needed, they should be limited and proportionate based on the latest evidence from the ECDC and EU Health Security Committee.

The use of the EU Digital COVID Certificate was first adopted in June of 2021 to facilitate free movement for a limited period of 12 months. The decision to open negotiations will be announced at the opening of this week’s plenary session in Strasbourg.

#MaltaDaily

Chicken could become as expensive as beef warn experts

May 2 2022

The cost of chicken is increasing to the extent that experts are warning how it could become more expensive than beef.

Due to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the cost of chicken feed means that what used to be considered one of the most affordable meats is now rising in price faster than any proteins.

Chicken feed is mostly made from soya, sunflower meal and wheat, and the production of such foodstuffs took a massive hit due to Russia and Ukraine being two of the biggest exporters of sunflower oil and wheat.

Chief executive of Co-op Steve Murrells warned how the days of cheap chicken breasts could be coming to an end. ‘The chicken industry has particular challenges because of the feed costs’ he said.

This comes as other foodstuffs also experience sudden soaring, with even local pastizzi increasing by 10c in just these few months. Times of Malta had previously reported how suppliers are being faced with take-it-or-leave-it situations, with customers starting to complain more and more.

Just today, Malta’s Finance Minister Clyde Caruana confirmed that a government spending review is underway to mitigate the impact of energy subsidies on public finances. The review comes as the government remains committed to keeping energy and fuel prices stable as oil and gas prices soar.

#MaltaDaily