Forged vaccine certificates land travellers €900 fines

Jul 28 2021

Two men from Britain have been fined €900 for admitting to forging vaccination certificates to travel to Malta. Ayoubb Mohamed Abdulahi, 23, and Ahmad Jihan Jibreel Qundil, 22, were arrested at the airport yesterday after presenting forged vaccination certificates to the authorities. The two men, both from London, admitted to the police that their documents were forgeries, as revealed by Police Inspector Hubert Gerada.

Both plead guilty this morning arraigned before magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras to making false declaration to the authorities and knowingly using fake documents. Legal aid lawyer Christopher Chircop told the court that both men were sorry for their actions, highlighting that this was their first offence. The fine amounted to €900 considering their early guilty plea and cooperation.

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Photo Source: Kamra tal-Periti, DW

Reduction to COVID wage supplement as of next week

Jul 28 2021

Times of Malta was informed that wage supplements for businesses hit by the pandemic will be reduced between August and the end of the year. Sources informed the newsroom that the government has plans to cut the different supplements down by as much as a third across two phases. €800 will be given to those hardest hit by the pandemic, the highest supplement wage.

Presented to the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development during a confidential meeting the government on Tuesday, the plan was revealed during a presentation given to social partners. The wage supplement was first introduced in March 2020 by the government in order to stop massive lay-offs from businesses that were massively impacted by the pandemic.

The scheme is estimated to have cost around €44 million monthly as it was deployed when non-essential businesses were shut down. Tens of thousands of jobs were allegedly saved for most sectors across the economy, according to the government.

As mentioned, companies hardest hit will continue to receive €800 supplement wage. These are companies which experienced a 55% or higher drop in sales. Starting August, companies claiming a 10% to 20% drop will receive a €100 supplement, down from €160. The amount will be cut in half to €50 in October until 2021’s end.

Those who experienced losses between 25% and 34% will also have the supplement reduced to €200 in August and €100 in October from the current €320. Those with a higher 35% to 44% drop and who currently receive a €480 aid per employee will see it reduced to €290 in August and to €145 in October.

Finally, businesses with a 45% to 54% drop will have their current €640 reduced to €510 and then €250.

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Photo Source: fotografierende

Thief smashes car windscreen to steal items from vehicle

Jul 28 2021

Footage which surfaced online show a man stealing white plastic bags from a car, with police confirming that the man broke the windscreen and passenger windows to do so. The man can be seen reaching into the vandalised vehicle in broad daylight. The incident happened on Wednesday morning in Victoria Street near the Malta Post offices.

The assailant fled the scene of the crime but was shortly caught and arrested by officers of the Rapid Intervention Unit. The nationality of the man is still unknown, with details revealing that he is currently hospitalised for injuries he sustained when trying to break into the car. Investigations by authorities are still ongoing.

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Photo Source: Malta Dizastru Totali FB

World’s most expensive fries cost $200 at Serendipity, New York

Jul 28 2021

Despite already offering $295 burgers and $1,000 ice cream sundaes, Serendipity 3 is breaking the world record yet again with the world’s most expensive French fries as well. A $200 plate of French fries stretching the definition of haute cuisine, the Guiness World Records certified the fries as of July 13th as the world’s most expensive.

Starting out as Chipperbec potatoes, the fries are blanched/scalded in vinegar and champagne. They are then fried in pure goose fat instead of oil for two times – making them crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

To top it all off, the fries are sprinkled with edible gold and seasoned with truffle salt and truffle oil. Customers are served the fries on a crystal plate with an orchid, thin-sliced truffles and a Mornay cheese dip. Having closed off for the pandemic, Serendipity announced its comeback with the out-of-this-world fries.

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Photo Source: Hypebeast