LIVE: Student teachers to be paid in full during teaching practice, says Robert Abela

Mar 2 2022

During a Labour Party Q&A addressed by party leader & Prime Minister Robert Abela, it was revealed that student teachers are to be paid in full during their teaching practice if Labour is elected.

This comes in tandem with the party’s other education-related proposals as part of their electoral manifesto, with Abela reiterating previous proposals which include free school uniforms every year and free laptops & tablets for secondary school students. He held that much like books were basic a few years back, laptops and tablets are basic in this day and age. The Prime Minister went on to state that education is one of the party’s main pillars going into the general election on March 26.

Highlighting his Junior College visit earlier today, Abela also brought up the environment and sustainability as another one of Labour’s main pillars. He stated that when asking students what aspect of life should be prioritised by the party, the response was almost unanimous. Referring to the current legislature, Abela highlighted the multiple sustainability-related projects, which include the €500 million ‘Eco-hive’ investment which aims to convert waste into resources.

“The environment should not be a competitor of economic development, but a catalyst of economic development”, he stated.

Watch the full Q&A below:

What do you make of this?

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First airline to drop mandatory face masks – a return to normalcy?

Mar 2 2022

Jet2 has become the first major airline which has dropped the requirement of wearing a face mask aboard the aircraft. And this has got us wondering – is this the first step towards pre-pandemic normalcy?

It is being revealed by International newsrooms that the budget airline has quietly relaxed its rules by informing passengers that a mask is no longer mandatory to and from airports England and Northern island.

A spokesperson reportedly told The Times that it is no longer a legal requirement to wear a face mask at the airports or onboard the planes.

‘However’ they warned, ‘we recommend that you continue to wear a facemark in these spaces, and you will need to wear one when you get to your overseas destination. Jet2 has reportedly changed the policy requiring passengers to wear masks for landing.

However, it seems that masks may only need to be worn when disembarking abroad from foreign airports and on transfers to resorts. Despite Jet2 potentially being the first to adopt the no-mask policy, other airlines seem to be strict on the stance.

Some airlines are forecasting masks staying around for longer than we may like. Many claim this is a small price to pay to go into summer safe from COVID-19. It’s easier for Jet2 to remove the requirement as it doesn’t operate worldwide.

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€2 million investment into new handball pavilion

Mar 2 2022

A new handball pavilion will be completed by the mid-point of this year, with work on the new infrastructure currently ongoing. A €2 million investment has been been pumped into the new structure, creating a space not just for local athletes but also International games and competitions.

Sports Minister Clifton Grima said that the work into this sector has been promised and fulfilled by the government. Visiting the construction site, Grima said that this is a sports facility which adheres to international specifications and thus can be added to the list of facilities which were completed at his level.

Work started in April of last year and is progressing with rapid speed. The pavilion is around 1,000 metre squared and has the capacity to welcome 100 spectators. It will also be the first complex built in Malta specifically for the sports discipline of handball. The facility is being built on an outdoor court which formed part of Maria Assumpta girls’ secondary school.

The government, the Minister revealed, will be investing so that there are available changing room and showering facilities. It is set to form part of the Maria Assumpta Sports Complex and thus blend with the Snooker Academy, the football ground as well as other facilities which Sport Malta is currently working on.

Sport Malta chief executive Mark Cutajar said that Sport Malta is working tirelessly to improve sport infrastructure on the island. The organisation will continue to invest in more facilities to give local sportspersons the spaces and opportunities they need.

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Over 14 tonnes of supplies collected in Mellieħa for Ukrainian refugees

Mar 2 2022

Up to 14 tonnes of essential supplies have been collected to help Ukrainian refugees fleeing their country as it is invaded by Russia.

Newsroom the Malta Independent was informed by one of the collection drive organisers in Mellieħa of the massive donation drive. She said it all started when Polish national Renata Kreglicka wanted to collect items help the refugees.

Many Ukrainians are fleeing and crossing the border into the neighbouring country Poland, and the initiative by Kreglicka quickly highlighted the urge by many to help the people losing their homes and security.

Many people drove to Mellieħa to drop off goods, which include everything from food, clothes, bedsheets, hygienic items and medicine. Georgina Devlin-George revealed that around 6 tonnes of items were moved from Mellieħa yesterday.

Another 8 tonnes are to be moved either to a warehouse or the aviation site today. The collection of supplies is set to be taken by plane to Poland tomorrow and eventually given to the refugees at the border. One organiser is set to venture with the plane to ensure delivery.

One of the issues faced by the organisers is organising air transport for the items and the collaboration with organisations on the ground to take and distribute them to Ukrainian refugees. Devlin-George called on other organisations wishing to donate to join in the cause.

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