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Malta With Largest Increase In Passengers

Malta With Largest Increase In Passengers
Dec 6 2024 Share

In 2023, Malta registered the largest increase in number of passengers travelling by air in the EU at 33.3%.

Malta was followed by Slovenia and Czechia which registered increases of 30.9% and 29.4% respectively.

Meanwhile, Estonia registered the lowest increase at 7.9%, followed by Greece and Lithuania at 9.6% and 12.3% respectively.

Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport registered the most passengers at 67.4 million passengers, a 17.3% increase when compared to 2022).

Meanwhile Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport and Madrid’s Barajas airport registered the second and third highest amount of passengers at 61.9 million (+17.9%) and 60.1 million (+204%) respectively.

Meanwhile, Rome’s Fiumicino airport was the airport with the highest increase compared with 2022 out of the top 10 airports carrying the most passengers.

In 2023, the total number of passengers travelling by air in the EU was 973 million, an increase of 19.3% compared with 2022 (816 million).

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New Harry Potter Series Starts Filming On Original Set

Dec 6 2024 Share

 

Filming for the highly anticipated Harry Potter series will begin next summer at Leavesden Studios, where the original films were shot. The series is set to dive deeper into the lives of Hogwarts students, with a completely new cast. The search for the lead trio has been extensive, with over 32,000 children auditioning. Shortlisted candidates will attend workshops in January.

Though HBO has not revealed much about the cast, reports suggest some exciting developments. Variety notes that Warner Bros. has reached out to Mark Rylance for the role of Dumbledore, while Paapa Essiedu has reportedly been offered the role of Severus Snape. Meanwhile, Hollywood Reporter confirms that the role of Hermione may be cast with a new, fresh face, though no details have been confirmed.

Ralph Fiennes, who portrayed Voldemort in the original Harry Potter films, has publicly expressed his hope that Cillian Murphy would take on the role of the Dark Lord in the upcoming series. With many casting decisions still to be made, as the series moves forward, showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director Mark Mylod are tasked with navigating a loyal fanbase’s expectations while introducing a fresh perspective on familiar stories.

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Government Outlines MCAST Dispute Position: MUT Responds

Government Outlines MCAST Dispute Position: MUT Responds
Dec 6 2024 Share

Both the government and the Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) have released statements over the dispute regarding the collective agreement for MCAST lecturers.

At a press briefing, Permanent Secretary Joyce Cassar outlined the government’s position, revealing that while MCAST management had accepted several MUT requests—such as shortening the academic year, reducing lecturers’ teaching workload, and providing additional compensation for classes after 3:30 pm—some demands were deemed unacceptable.

Among these were a €400 allowance for correcting resit exams, additional vacation days, and a proposal to double remote working hours to 16 hours per week.

Cassar argued that the €400 resit allowance could lead to suspicions about lecturers failing students deliberately and criticised a demand to promote lecturers to senior positions without requiring a doctorate, saying it could harm MCAST’s academic standards.

The MUT rejected Cassar’s statements, calling them misleading and accusing the government of undermining education quality at MCAST.

The union argued that reductions in teaching hours per unit had drastically impacted experiential learning, with some syllabi now taught in half the originally allocated time.

It also criticised the lack of resources and staff replacements, which it claims have left MCAST stretched thin.

Ongoing industrial actions by lecturers—including withholding assessment marks, halting extracurricular activities, and limiting communication with students—have disrupted students’ learning. Cassar urged lecturers to reconsider their actions, emphasising the impact on students and parents.

The MUT insisted it remained open to dialogue, rejecting what it called the government’s “confrontational approach.” The union reiterated its commitment to quality education and called for renewed negotiations, emphasising the need for resources and support to improve teaching conditions at MCAST.

With negotiations entering their second year and no resolution in sight, the standoff has left students, parents, and educators in a state of uncertainty.

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Violent Action Against Journalist Outside Parliament Condemned By IGM

Violent Action Against Journalist Outside Parliament Condemned By IGM
Dec 6 2024 Share

The Institute of Maltese Journalists (IĠM) has condemned an incident on Monday in which a journalist was blocked and aggressively shoved by members of the Nationalist Party entourage and a protest-goer while attempting to interview the party’s leader and MPs.

This marks the second such incident involving the Nationalist Party in recent weeks.

The IĠM expressed disappointment over the lack of public condemnation by the Nationalist Party and urged all political parties to take responsibility for the behaviour of individuals within their circles.

The institute stressed the importance of ensuring journalists can carry out their work without harassment, calling these incidents unacceptable.

A police report has been filed regarding the incident, and the IĠM is urging authorities to act promptly. It also expressed solidarity with the affected journalist, who works for ONE, and with all media professionals who face harassment while performing their duties.

The IĠM emphasised that bullying tactics against journalists undermine press freedom and called for a commitment from political parties to respect and protect the role of the media in a democratic society.

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