Hooligan Raps At His Father’s Funeral

Nov 12 2024

During the funeral of his beloved father Daniel Farrugia, local rapper Hooligan found the courage to rap a song dedicated to him as the coffin was carried out of the church.

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Daniela Farrugia, Hooligan’s sister, shared a snippet of the touching moment, as Hooligan thanked his father for everything as he finished the song.

Daniel passed away last week, with tributes pouring in from not just family members but the Nationalist Party as well, given that Farrugia served as mayor of Qrendi and as a councillor.

Rest in peace Daniel, and condolences to the entire family.

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Tourists Spent Over €385.8 Million In Malta Last September

Nov 12 2024

In September 2024, Malta saw 361,015 inbound tourists, marking a 20.7% increase compared to September 2023.

Most visitors (339,497) came for holidays, while 15,078 visited for business.

Tourists aged 25-44 made up the largest group (36.4%), followed by those aged 45-64 (28.5%). British, Italian, and French tourists represented 47.1% of all arrivals.

Total nights spent by tourists rose by 15.6% to nearly 2.5 million, with 86.8% of these nights in rented accommodations. The average stay was 6.9 nights.

Tourist spending increased by 24.1% over the previous year, reaching €385.8 million, with an average spend of €154.8 per night. Of the total visitors, 62.3% (224,950 tourists) visited Gozo and Comino, either for day trips or overnight stays.

From January to September 2024, Malta hosted 2,766,584 tourists, a 21.1% rise compared to 2023.

Tourists spent almost 17.9 million nights, and total expenditure hit €2.6 billion, up 23.4% from the previous year. Average spending per tourist increased slightly to €926.

Visits to Gozo and Comino accounted for 59.1% of all tourist trips during this period.

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Metsola Greets Isabelle Bonnici At EP Parliament

Nov 12 2024

Taking to social media, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola welcomed the mother of late Jean Paul Sofia, Isabelle Bonnici, at the Parliament.

‘Isabelle personifies the best characteristic of us Maltese’, wrote Metsola. ‘The determination of a victim that keeps insisting on justice; the altruism of a mother that wants no parent to suffer what she suffered; the courage that, despite the massive wounds, justly continued to persist to protect others; and the love of a Maltese that wants to elevate the standards in our country and improve it.’

‘Isabelle, your courage united a country. You gave us an example of what it means to never give up’, concluded Metsola.

Meanwhile on her part, Isabelle said that she is honoured to have met her idol and a woman she greatly admires.

‘A woman who was capable of breaking records in the European Union and Malta whilst remaining humble and close to the people’, said Isabelle.

‘A woman with a stamina that baffles you with energy and positivity. Thank you Madame President Roberta Metsola for this special experience and for giving me so much from your precious time despite your many responsibilities.’

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Malta Film Commission Praised For Economic Boost: Urged To Improve Transparency

Nov 12 2024

The Malta Film Commission (MFC) has successfully attracted major film productions to Malta, helping to generate €231.5 million in film production spending between 2018 and 2022.

This achievement has positioned Malta as a desirable destination for international filmmakers and brought economic benefits, which the NAO report recognizes as a positive return on investment (ROI) largely due to the 40% cash rebate incentive.

However, the NAO emphasizes that this rebate program—awarding a record €47 million to the Gladiator sequel—requires careful evaluation to ensure value for money and alignment with broader socio-economic priorities.

While the government asserts the rebate returns triple its investment in economic impact, the NAO report highlights governance and transparency issues within the MFC.

Notably, it points out that high spending on promotional events like the 2022 Malta Film Week lacks sufficient documentation to prove cost-effectiveness, raising questions about public fund usage.

The NAO also noted that while the MFC’s calculations on job creation and economic benefits are broadly accurate, some employment data includes retained jobs that would be lost without ongoing production activities.

In response to critiques, the MFC has taken steps to improve administrative efficiency, including hiring additional staff, and maintains that its incentives align with industry best practices.

Looking forward, the MFC aims to enhance its infrastructure and further bolster Malta’s competitiveness in the global film market, focusing on long-term benefits balanced with improved transparency and governance.

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