More US States To Make Financial Education Mandatory

Dec 17 2023

An increasing number of high schools across the United States are incorporating real-world financial lessons into their curriculum, with over half of U.S. high schoolers expected to be mandated to take a personal finance course before graduation.

Pennsylvania recently joined 24 other states in guaranteeing a personal finance course for high school students.

Starting in the fall of 2026, Pennsylvania schools will implement a mandatory personal financial literacy course for students in grades 9 through 12, following the signing of an omnibus bill by Governor Josh Shapiro.

With this legislation, more than half of U.S. high school students—53%—will have guaranteed access to a standalone personal finance course, according to Yanely Espinal, Director of Educational Outreach at Next Gen Personal Finance.

The momentum for financial education in schools has surged in 2023, with eight states adopting policies to ensure students take a personal finance course before graduating.

Wisconsin recently signed a bill requiring high school students to undergo personal finance literacy education, starting with the class of 2028. The Center for Financial Literacy at Champlain College’s latest report card indicates that seven states received an “A” grade for requiring personal finance courses for high school graduates in the class of 2023.

By 2028, when new laws are fully implemented, 25 states are projected to earn an “A,” marking significant progress in financial education policies across the nation.

Should Malta follow suit?

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Game Of Thrones’ The Hound Dines At Malta’s Trattoria Da Pippo

Dec 17 2023

Valletta’s Trattoria Da Pippo welcomed a very special guest over the weekend – Game of Thrones’ very own Sandor Clegane a.k.a The Hound!

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Rory McCann snapped a photo with Da Pippo’s Cain Cutajar, who said it was a great honour to have the ‘Game of Thrones’ legend dine at the restaurant.

The capital city restaurant is no stranger to celebrity guests, having welcomed Pedro Pascal, Paul Mescal and Joseph Quinn just a few days prior.

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Are you a Game of Thrones fan?

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Dog Barks Interrupt European Parliament Plenary Session

Dec 17 2023

During a plenary session of the European Parliament, proceedings were momentarily interrupted by the enthusiastic barking of a dog, seemingly eager to contribute.

The canine’s unexpected vocalization occurred after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s speech, where the dog even joined the applause by barking at the words “long live Europe.”

The barking led to amusement and perplexed looks among European lawmakers, prompting European Parliament President Roberta Metsola to inform them about the presence of a support animal.

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Metsola, succumbing to laughter herself, introduced European People’s Party (EPP) President Manfred Weber, who humorously referred to the dog as “another supporter and fan of Ursula von der Leyen.”

Weber continued the lighthearted tone by welcoming Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, known as “Sánchez the dog” for his political acumen. Despite the comedic reception, the incident may have implications for the aspirations of other animals seeking to join their owners in European political spaces.

A reported consideration of a bring-your-pet-to-work policy by the European Commission might face challenges in light of this unexpected canine contribution.

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Malta Public Transport Wins Infrastructure Award 2023

Dec 17 2023

Speaking to MaltaDaily, Malta Public Transport General Manager Konrad Pulé, explains why Malta Public Transport won the prestigious Infrastructure Award at the Malta National Transport Awards 2023.

Pule linked the winning of the award to the Floriana state-of-the-art charging stations, which enable the simultaneous charging of up to to 30 buses.

The stations allow the buses to reach full capacity in under 2 hours and cover an impressive 300 kilometres.

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‘This significant upgrade has not only lowered operational costs but also reduced greenhouse gas emissions by a remarkable 70%, contributing to improved air quality and aligning with Malta’s environmental goals.’

This occurred through an investment of around €20 million and the aim is to reduce carbon emissions and move towards more sustainable transport. The stations, Pule explained, allow for carbon emission reduction of up to 1,800 tonnes.

The future is electric buses, he concluded. Despite it being a slow process, the general manager explained that this will inevitably become the norm as more technology allows the change to occur.

#MaltaDaily