Prime Minister announces €45 million worth of vouchers for 7th June

May 9 2021

The government will be issuing a second round of vouchers on the 7th of June, with how they will be distributed to be announced by the Prime Minister in the coming days. Seeing that tourism is set to restart on 1st of June along with the easing of several restrictions, the extension of government initial voucher scheme was announced during the 2021 budget. The initial scheme included €80 for restaurants and €20 for retail.

The renewed scheme will see €45 million worth of vouchers distributed to all those aged 16 and over. The new scheme which was announced during the 2021 budget, will see €60 to be spent at restaurants and €40 for services and goods. Foreign students coming to Malta to learn English will also be receiving vouchers to be spent in local markets.

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Photo Source: Robert Abela FB, Gozo Holiday Homes

EU and Pfizer strike deal for over 1.8 billion vaccine doses

May 9 2021

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Twitter that the European Union agreed on Saturday to a massive contract extension with pharmaceutical Pfizer-BioNTech. The new contract could garner a potential 1.8 billion COVID-19 doses through 2023 for the EU. Backed up by EU member states, the contract also ensures that all essential components should be sourced from the EU.

Happy to announce that @EU_Commission has just approved a contract for guaranteed 900 million doses (+900 million options) with @BioNTech_Group @Pfizer for 2021-2023.

Other contracts and other vaccine technologies will follow.

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) May 8, 2021

With a portfolio of 2.3 billion doses from half a dozen companies, von der Leyen said that other contracts and vaccine technologies will follow for the EU. America’s Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech had already stated that the EU would be provided with an extra 50 million doses in the 2nd quarter of 2021, to make up for Astra-Zeneca’s lack in deliveries.

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Photo Source: BioPharma Reporter, Ursula von der Leyen Twitter

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge launch a YouTube channel

May 9 2021

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge William and Kate have released a teaser for their new YouTube channel. Giggling on a sofa in a vlog style video, William tells his wife ‘Be careful what you say now because these guys are filming it’, as the video continues on to a montage of a series of tours, events and behind the scene bloopers. The couple have also changed their Instagram handle from Kensington Royal to ‘Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.’

With each heir in direct line of succession expected to reflect and represent their generation to keep the monarch relevant, the couple have smartly adapted to the defining platform of this generation which is social media. YouTube also allows them to create long form content. The transition seems to have paid off as the channel has already amassed over 249,000 subscribers in 24 hours and their first video racking up 1.3 million views.

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Bill Gates gives $1.8 Billion stocks to Melinda following divorce announcement

May 9 2021

Following the news that Bill and Melinda gates will be undergoing divorce, the former has gifted around $1.8 billion in stocks to his soon to be ex-wife. Cascade Investment, Bill’s investment vehicle, transferred the $1.8 billion worth of stocks to Melissa on the same day the divorce was announced – that is, 3rd May 2021.

Melinda is therefore now worth at least that amount, with Bill’s worth falling slightly to $128.6 billion. Despite the transfer, the co-founder of Microsoft is still the fourth richest person in the world. The news comes after 27 years of marriage, with Bill saying that he is proud of what the couple achieved together over nearly three decades.

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Photo Source: BBC