Patriotism & Nostalgia: GSSE kick off with grand opening ceremony in Floriana

May 30 2023

On Monday evening, the Games of the Small States of Europe officially kicked off with a grand opening ceremony at the Floriana Granaries.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Malta Daily (@maltadaily.mt)

Welcoming over 4,000 athletes from across Europe, the ceremony kicked off at 8:30pm, with elite athletes, local personalities and politicians including Prime Minister Robert Abela in attendance.

The opening ceremony also featured a performance from Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja, who song the National Anthem of Malta upon the flags arrival, with additional performances from Amber and Aidan, who sung the games’ official theme son.

Malta will be competing alongside 8 other countries across 11 facilities, with the first games taking place on Monday, where Malta defeated Iceland in men’s tennis with a score of 6-1;6-0.

Will you be following the Games of the Small States of Europe?

#MaltaDaily

President of Vibes: Roberta Metsola busts a move in Belgium for inclusive 20kmbxl race

May 30 2023

On Sunday morning, the vibrant city of Brussels witnessed a remarkable display of unity, athleticism, and a strong commitment to the European spirit.

The 20kmbxl race took place, attracting an impressive gathering of over 40,000 enthusiastic participants.

Among those who expressed their pride in the event was European Parliament President, Robert Metsola, who took to social media to highlight the Parliament’s involvement and commend the collective effort in running for Europe.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Malta Daily (@maltadaily.mt)

The race not only showcased the determination of the participants but also demonstrated the power of community and shared aspirations.

The 20kmbxl race has become a highly anticipated annual event in Brussels, bringing people from all walks of life together to celebrate fitness and unity.

The race route, spanning a distance of 20km, took participants through the picturesque streets and iconic landmarks of the Belgian capital.

From seasoned runners to casual joggers and even those simply walking the route, the event provided an inclusive platform for individuals of all fitness levels to engage in physical activity and embrace a healthy lifestyle.

The atmosphere during the event was nothing short of electric.

European Parliament President Robert Metsola took to social media to express her pride in the event.

#MaltaDaily

0% interest loans for electric & hybrid vehicles and green initiatives

0% interest loans for hybrid vehicles and green initiatives

May 30 2023

BOV and APS have partnered up with the European Investment Fund (EIF), mandated by the Maltese Managing Authority for the European Regional Development Fund, to deliver 0% interest loans for investment into electric and hybrid vehicles, energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives.

EERE is the financial instrument, which makes this advantageous financing possible. It consists of a portfolio guarantee and an interest rate subsidy, which applies for up to 10 years and helps to push the loan interest rate for final recipients to 0%. The EERE financial instrument is available to private individuals, SMEs, Mid-Caps, large enterprises, constituted bodies and entities in the public and private sector which do not qualify as “undertaking” within the meaning of state aid rules.

The combination of EERE FI with other grant schemes is also possible, provided the EERE loans are not used to pre-finance the grant. EERE aims to help Maltese entities and individuals go green in a faster and more affordable manner. Potential loan applicants will be interested to know that EERE is complemented by an advisory support package, implemented by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and PwC. Access to this support can be requested through BOV and APS.

EERE is time bound and any disbursements would need to be carried out by December 2023. To access EERE financing support kindly get in touch with BOV or APS through the contact details provided below.

Some of the investment types that can be financed under EERE in Malta include:

✅ Purchase of electric or hybrid vehicles
✅ Charging Stations for electric vehicles
✅ Building insulation Lighting Windows & Doors
✅ Domestic Hot Water Cooling and heating Ventilation Systems
✅ Building and Energy Management Systems
✅ Connection to Energy Supplies Photovoltaic systems
✅ High energy efficient motors Variable speed drives on electric motors and fans
✅ High efficiency compressors
✅ Reuse of waste heat from equipment
✅ Compressed air systems Improvements in process efficiency
✅ Process control systems to reduce idling time
✅ Demand response management Absorption cooling systems
✅ Energy monitoring, filtering, power factor correction, voltage regulation
✅ Water saving measures (e.g. water recycling and rainwater reuse)

For more information, please visit the EERE website here.

#MaltaDaily

Mars bars trial eco-friendly switch from plastic to paper wrappers

May 30 2023

In a trial conducted in Tesco stores in the UK, Mars bars have replaced their plastic wrappers with paper ones, aiming to make the popular chocolate bar more environmentally friendly. Mars Incorporated, the confectionery manufacturer, began introducing these eco-friendly wrappers in 500 Tesco stores on Monday, May 29.

This change is part of Mars’ Sustainable in a Generation Plan, a comprehensive initiative involving substantial investments totalling hundreds of millions of pounds. The plan aims to reduce the company’s usage of new plastic by one-third in the short term. To achieve this goal, Mars is focusing on utilising less plastic overall, increasing the use of recycled plastic, and exploring plastic alternatives.

Furthermore, this decision follows Mars’ recent accomplishment of carbon neutrality for the first time in its history. The achievement was made possible through the utilisation of carbon credits and implementing measures to reduce carbon emissions.

#MaltaDaily