More increases to consumer prices in 2022 says Central Bank

Feb 18 2022

The Central Bank of Malta revealed that inflation is expected to rise to 2.7% this year, which is up from 0.7% n 2021.

Unveiling the statistics in its Outlook for the Maltese Economy 2021-2024, the inflation will largely reflect the impact of import price pressures on all subcomponents of inflation except energy.

Import price pressures are however then forecasted to ease somewhat, with inflation set to decelerate to 1.8% by 2024. Malta’s gross domestic products are expected to grow by 6.0% in 2022, by 5.3% in 2023 and by 3.8% in 2024.

When compared to the Bank’s earlier projections, the level of GDP ‘is being revised upwards due to an estimated 1.2 percentage point higher growth in 2021. Pre-pandemic economic activity levels would thus have been attained earlier than projected in the Bank’s previous projections exercise.’

‘Consequently, the GDP growth rate for 2022 is being revised down by 0.5 percentage points. The domestic demand is expected to be the main driver of growth in 2022. This reflects strong growth in private and government consumption.

Employment growth is set to accelerate to 2.6% in 2022 in view of the continued growth in economic activity. It is then set to slow down in the following two years, with the unemployment rate set to stand at 3.5% by 2022. It will then return to 3.6% in 2023 and 2024.

General government deficit is expected to narrow over the remainder as COVID-19 measures unwind and macroeconomic conditions improve further. By 2024, it is expected to narrow to 3.3% of GDP. On its part, the general government debt-to-GDP ratio is projected to stand at 60.9% of GDP in 2024.

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Government to add IVF medication to formulary by summer

Feb 18 2022

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne revealed that medications for couples who undergo IVF treatment will be added to the government’s formulary by summer 2022.

Refunds will also be given for treatment received since January 1st, with the measure having been first announced last year. Prime Minister Robert Abela reiterated last Sunday that the refund scheme will be launching shortly.

As of this week, a designated official at the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Clinic in Mater Dei will be overseeing the process as well as helping people fill out their forms. This was revealed by Chief Medical Officer Walter Busuttil.

The forms must be collected on site, with patients having to indicate whether they have undergone intrauterine insemination, embryo transfer or stimulation cycle. The form includes a section wherein patients can leave bank details and IBAN number so that payments can be made directly.

Patients will be entitled to receive a €500 refund for intrauterine insemination, €1,000 for an embryo transfer or €2.500 for a stimulated cycle. Busuttil also added that patients who spent more than these amounts for their medication will be refunded the difference provided that receipts and prescriptions are presented with their application.

252 ‘little miracles’, as described by the Health Minister, were born to Maltese parents ever since the government started offering IVF services on the national health services. There are currently 24 pregnant women who are carrying children thanks to IVF treatment, with 27 babies expected in total as some are expecting twins.

In 2021, ART clinic in Mater Dei had a ‘take-home baby’ rate of around 21.5%, which is good and comparable to clinics overseas. ‘We want to continue giving courage to those couples who want to start a family and see more new lives and more happy mums, dads and even grandparents for the years to come’ said Fearne.

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‘It’s ok to not be made up every single day’ – Ira Losco speaks out

Feb 18 2022

Taking to social media, Malta’s very own singing queen Ira Losco spoke about the reality behind every day life and how the media puts a filter on many aspects of a person’s life.

Ira spoke about how one of the things she’s learned in her older years is that it is okay to not be made up every single day.

‘It’s ok to embrace the days where you look like you’ve just rolled out of bed’ she said, revealing that it’s quite common for her. ‘It’s ok to have dark circles under your eyes and to not be prime and proper all the time.

She went on to describe society and the media as being ‘bloody exhausting.’ She acknowledged how she forms part of this when she posts photos prompting services.

‘However, I’m here to let you know that I look like crap/not made up 85/90% of the time and the rest of it I have to look the part’ she disclosed.

‘It’s really ok too to take care of yourself, to want to play the part, to get and seek professionals to help you achieve a particular look. It’s nice to treat oneself sometimes’ she said.

For Ira, she said, it comes as part of a job which she’s been doing for 20 yeas and over. She expressed how she sometimes enjoys it but also finds it really extra sometimes. ‘Whatever the case [in my honest opinion] it’s what on the inside that counts.’

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Photo Source: Ira Losco FB

WATCH: River of Love pastor claims a girl’s blurry vision was healed by God

River of Love pastor claims a girl’s eyes were healed by God

Feb 18 2022

A new video published by Maltese Christian group River of Love alleges that an 11-year-old girl was healed from blurry vision by God.

Head pastor Gordon Manche explained how on October 2021, during one of their weekly meetings of their fellowship, God gave sight to a young girl by the name of Samira Farrugia.

He, along with his Christian fellowship, shared the testimony as proof of a miraculous occurrence within their church. In the video, Samira is asked about how the divine intervention changed her life.

The little girl alleged how before the meeting she had to use glasses as her vision was blurry. ‘We prayed; the pastor prayed with me and I started seeing clearly since then’ she said.

The River of Love fellowship was under considerable fire in the first month of this year following the Paulina Dembska murder. This was due to the murder suspect Abner Aquilina having been reportedly attending meetings of the church.

Aquilina had also stated that he was a soldier of God and that he was hearing different frequencies from the devil. The police did later confirm that Aquilina had attended the meetings, but Manche distanced the group from Aquilina.

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