Venice Could Introduce Visitor Fee – Should Comino Do So Too?

Sep 13 2023

The city of Venice, beloved by tourists, is expected to approve a trial of a €5 fee for daily visitors in a move to control the influx of tourism posing a problem to the city.

The charge would see all visitors aged 14 and up paying the charge, with their entry into the city having to be booked in advance. This comes as over-tourism became a massive problem for the Gondola haven, with UNESCO suggesting that Venice should be added to a list of world heritage sights in danger.

If we were to look at Malta, one might argue that Comino has been suffering the same fate as Venice – with controversies surrounding the maintenance and crowds of visitors being highlighted almost every summer in recent history.

Do you think Comino should apply a similar fee? Let us know what you think.

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Malta’s Minimum Wage Not Enough For Decent Standard of Living, Study States

Sep 13 2023

The General Workers’ Union (GWU) advocates for the implementation of a National Living Income (NLI) following a study that reveals households require more than just minimum wage and a basic budget for meaningful societal participation.

The suggested NLIs range from €14,864 for a childless single person to €30,734 for a couple with two children. GWU’s Josef Bugeja asserts that a guaranteed NLI for all households would narrow the gap between low-wage earners and the average income, combating social inequality.

A two-parent household with two children needs up to €30,734 to maintain a decent lifestyle, according to the GWU. This surpasses Malta’s current minimum wage of €182.83 weekly or €9,507 annually. The study serves as a benchmark for understanding a decent living standard and initiating a broader conversation about employment conditions, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The GWU attributes the rise in in-work poverty (IWP) to Malta’s economic boom, fuelled by an influx of low-wage foreign workers. Between 2012 and 2017, there was a 13.5% increase in those at risk of IWP, particularly single-adult households with dependent children.

The NLI, as advocated by the GWU, encompasses more than mere survival, covering contemporary social needs rather than luxuries. It surpasses the Caritas study’s minimum budget for a decent life, emphasising expenses beyond basic necessities.

Bugeja emphasises that a decent standard of living should facilitate meaningful societal participation and elevate human freedom and capability beyond a certain threshold. The NLI’s objective is to uplift lower-income groups, guaranteeing access to essential goods and services for all.

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Fried Egg Jellyfish Soup In Xlendi

Sep 13 2023

Marine biologist Alan Deidun shared a video of a fried egg jellyfish ‘soup’ in Xlendi waters.

‘This year’s bloom of this species will probably go down as one of the largest in history’, Deidun explained.

This summer saw a massive craze about the harmless jellyfish species, as many took to the sea to swim amongst them.

Part of this enthusiasm and interest could also be attributed to Deidun’s Spot the Jellyfish Campaign itself, which educated the public further about the various species of jellyfish which visit Maltese waters in summer.

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Have you swam with these creatures this summer?

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Civil Protection And AFM Aid To Libya

Sep 13 2023

The Armed Forces of Malta and the Civil Protection Department will be joining forces to lend help to Libya after the country was struck by massive flooding due to Storm Daniel.

Malta will be sending a contingent of 73 officers and officials to help in the search and rescue operations going on in the country, whilst also offering any other needed support they may need.

The team will consist of 12 Armed Forces of Malta official, including a medical team, as well as 31 members of the Civil Protection Department.

The Maltese contingent will have left our country in recent hours via an AFM vessel, P61, which includes another 30 soldiers.

Minister for Home Affairs, Security, Reforms and Equality Byron Camilleri explained how this is the third time in recent months wherein Malta is offering foreign aid to another country.

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