President €30K+ Flight For Queen’s Funeral Due To Full Up Flights

Apr 3 2024

President George Vella’s use of a private jet to attend Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral stirred controversy due to its hefty cost to Maltese taxpayers.

The one-way flight to London, totaling €30,350, was necessitated as all commercial flights were fully booked, according to the President’s Office. Additional expenses included €32,000 for hotel accommodation at the Corinthia Hotel London and €6,000 for Air Malta flights back to Malta.

Despite being among the dignitaries invited to the funeral, the extravagant spending raised eyebrows, especially given Buckingham Palace’s prior urging to avoid private jets due to airport constraints.

The delegation’s choice of Farnborough Airport, known for its luxury services, further fueled criticism. Reports of the lavish expenditure prompted public outcry, with Daphne Foundation director Matthew Caruana Galizia denouncing the excessive spending in light of ongoing calls for donations to sustain basic public services.

While the President’s Office attributed the longer accommodation invoice to an error, it did not dispute the substantial nightly cost.

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Taiwan Struck By 7.2 Magnitude Earthquake

Apr 3 2024

Taiwan was rocked by its most powerful earthquake in 25 years, with conflicting reports putting its magnitude at 7.2, 7.4, or 7.7.

The tremor struck Hualien County at 7:58 a.m. local time, causing four deaths, injuring at least 57, and leading to widespread damage. Power outages affected over 87,000 households, and transportation systems, including trains and the metro, were suspended.

In Hualien, a five-story building collapsed, and other structures suffered significant damage. Landslides and falling debris paralyzed traffic along the east coast.

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Aftershocks continued, with one reaching a magnitude of 6.5. Despite the earthquake triggering a small tsunami in Japan, there were no reports of casualties or significant damage.

The Philippines issued evacuation advisories for coastal areas, and Chinese media reported feeling the quake in several provinces.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledged support for Taiwan, emphasizing the potential danger of aftershocks. This disaster underscores Taiwan’s vulnerability to earthquakes, given its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, with the devastating 1999 quake and Japan’s 2011 earthquake serving as grim reminders of the region’s seismic activity.

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George Vella’s Last Dinner At Castille Before Presidency Ends

Apr 3 2024

Prime Minister Robert Abela and his spouse, Dr. Lydia Abela, hosted an official dinner at Castille Palace to express gratitude to President George Vella for his dedicated service to Malta.

The event, attended by President-Elect Dr. Miriam Spiteri Debono, aimed to honor President Vella’s principled leadership.

In his remarks, Prime Minister Abela lauded President Vella’s commitment to the common good and his profound affection for the Maltese and Gozitans.

He highlighted President Vella’s decision to step away from the traditional presidential residence in Valletta, opting for an extensive restoration project to restore its former glory.

Prime Minister Abela reaffirmed Malta’s enduring recognition of Dr. Vella’s contributions to the nation.

The dinner also featured addresses from President Vella and the Leader of the Opposition, underscoring the bipartisan appreciation for President Vella’s service.

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Taylor Swift Officially Joins Forbes’ Billionaire List

Apr 3 2024

Taylor Swift has recently joined the ranks of the world’s wealthiest individuals, marking her debut on the Forbes World’s Billionaires List with a net worth of $1.1 billion.

Alongside her, Sam Altman, the creator of the AI chatbot ChatGPT, also entered the list with a net worth of $1 billion. LVMH’s Bernard Arnault and his family lead the chart with an estimated wealth of $233 billion.

The number of billionaires has reached a record high of 2,781, collectively owning $14.2 trillion in wealth. Swift’s rise to billionaire status comes not only from her music career but also from her influence in other areas, such as boosting NFL viewing figures by attending games.

The majority of the top 10 richest individuals are from the US, with technology industry leaders dominating. Elon Musk follows Arnault as the second richest person with $195 billion, while Jeff Bezos ranks third.

Despite global economic uncertainty, the wealth of billionaires has continued to grow significantly, with a 255% increase over the past decade. The US maintains its lead in billionaire numbers, followed by China and India.

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