VisitMalta becomes the official destination partner of EOLO-Kometa Cycling Team

May 4 2022

VisitMalta becomes the official destination partner of EOLO-Kometa Cycling Team. This agreement will see VisitMalta branding present on all race kits and team vehicles during one of the most high profile sporting events of the cycling world, the Giro D’Italia.

According to a recent study carried out by Road Cycling TV Viewing Report, the last Giro d’Italia generated an average audience of 6,780,150 viewers per stage in 175 different countries around the globe.

Through this alliance, the Maltese Islands will benefit from incremental promotion of television coverage and digital coverage exposure that will strengthen the country’s position as an ideal destination for cycling enthusiasts.

By way of this agreement, over the next years, EOLO-Kometa Cycling Team will be visiting our country to experience first-hand the Maltese Islands as professional cyclists and visitors alike.
Secondly, opportunities will be created for young Maltese cyclists to join the EOLO-Kometa Youth Team according to their age and ability.

These details were outlined during the signing of this partnership agreement presided by Minister for Tourism Clayton Bartolo together with the Chairman of the Malta Tourism Authority Gavin Gulia and General Manager of EOLO-Kometa Cycling Tream Fran Contador.

Minister Clayton Bartolo remarked that this historic milestone, which is a first for any European country, will generate excellent results in terms of tourism inflows as well as ascertain Malta’s status as a destination of choice.

“This partnership between EOLO-Kometa and VisitMalta is tangible proof of our efforts to exploit emerging and developing tourism segments including sports related tourism. Investing in this tourism niche will continue ensuring that our product grows in quality and versatility,” reiterated Minister Bartolo.

“This is yet another step forward, in our ten-year-long strategy for the tourism sector in Malta, where we are continuously investing in improving the overall quality of our tourism product, through a multi-faceted approach. Part of this is the focus which we are putting on the various niches which make up the diverse tourism sector of the Maltese Islands,” continued Malta Tourism Authority Chairman Gavin Gulia.

“We are pleased with this agreement with VisitMalta and especially to be here with them at the start of such an important race in a place as special to us as Hungary. VisitMalta is committed to cycling and in particular to the EOLO Kometa project and the Alberto Contador Foundation to promote the wonders of their country. We have no doubt that together with us they will be able to achieve the objectives they have set themselves to promote their country. The Maltese islands are an exceptional territory for cycling and through this agreement we hope to encourage many fans to discover the country’s geoography,” stated EOLO-Kometa General Manager Fran Contador

“Another objective of this agreement, which is part of the Alberto Contador Foundation project, is to promote cycling as a means of transport and a healthy lifestyle in Malta. Of course, it also aims to give the opportunity and help young Maltese athletes who want to become cyclists to have a way of training and growth,” concluded Fran Contador.

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Kim Kardashian receives lock of Marilyn Monroe’s hair after wearing her dress

May 4 2022

Kim Kardashian has just been gifted a lock of Marilyn Monroe’s hair after she wore the Hollywood star’s iconic dress to the 2022 Met Gala.

The celebrity was gifted the strange piece of American history from the Ripley’s ‘Believe It or Not’ museum after they loaned her the dress for the fashion night.

The dress was worn by Monroe six decades ago when she serenaded former US President John F. Kennedy. Kardashian seemed to be absolutely thrilled by the trinket, saying ‘this is so special to me.’

Referring to boyfriend Pete Davidson, Kardashian said that the lock of hair is sleeping with her every night, ‘sorry babe’. She also went on to say that she is going to do some ‘very weird voodoo sh*t’ and channel Monroe.

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The Museum rained praise on Kardashian for showing off the iconic dress to a whole new generation of fashion fans. They said they really appreciated the partnership and decided to show their quirky side by gifting her the hair.

The 41-year-old celebrity wore the dress with several memorabilia from the period to inspire the look further. Monroe wore the dress to JFK’s 45th birthday in 1962, just three months before her passing.

Due to being a part of American history, no alterations were allowed and it was ‘revealed’ that Kardashian had to lose a lot of weight to fit in the dress. She did not even wear it for the entirety of the evening, only donning it for the red carpet photoshoot.

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Bernard Grech calls for urgent addressing of high cost of living

May 4 2022

Opposition leader Bernard Grech has called for an urgent addressing of the high cost of living that is affecting so many families.

Grech was addressing a meeting with the Chamber of Commerce, going on to say that the country needs to strengthen its economic sectors and create new ones. This would ensure a resilient economy and create better equality jobs.

The meeting was attended by 12 PN spokespersons. Chamber president Marisa Xuereb said at the start of the meeting that the chamber expects political maturity from the Opposition. This includes a clear vision for the country, communication, credibility and sustainability.

Xuereb called on for the Opposition to be constructive in governmental criticism, as well as to establish agreement between the two on persons to perform functions such as that of the Ombudsman. An appointment of a new standards commissioner needs to take place during the legislature, she said, as well as a new President of the Republic.

She also acknowledged how the party has welcomed new faces, and went on to say that there needs to be alignment within the Opposition instead of a division.

Grech responded by saying that the PN has an obligation to continue to grow and that the members of the party are prepared for the coming legislature. The opposition leader said that it will serve as a monitor to the government’s operations, and criticise constructively without interrupting progress.

“The country has a number of problems, of which its solutions will not be found by simply saying that every other country is being affected. The high cost of living is affecting many individuals and businesses and this needs to be addressed” Grech was quoted in saying.

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Prison inmates’ wedding denied ten days before big day, awarded moral damages

May 4 2022

Moral damages have been awarded to an inmate at the Corradino Correctional Facility after his and his girlfriend’s plans to get married were denied just 10 days before the big day by the former prison director.

The story, which concerns Yousef Essesi and Meliza Muscat, had hit headlines back in 2019 after the couple decided to go public about the troubles they were facing with prison authorities.

Former prison director Alex Dalli had decided to allow marriage preparations to go ahead, but then changed his mind 10 days before. The court concluded that the applicants’ rights to marry and private family life had been breached.

Essesi’s detention ‘stark naked inside a bare cell without even a mattress’ also amounted to inhuman and degrading treatment. The couple had been in a relationship for some months and expressed wishes to marry in 2018.

Leave from the prison’s board was also acquired, with the couple meeting outside the prison to apply for publication of the marriage bans. Following the denial 10 days before, Essesi took it very badly.

He was also locked and transferred to the punishment division, which was used to detain inmates on suicide watch. Correctional services agency reports had concluded that Essesi had psychopathic traits and an antisocial personality disorder.

Essesi ended up naked in a cell without a toilet, sink, bed, mattress or sheets. Dalli claimed that the measure was taken on advice of the psychiatrist, with his girlfriend denied access for six months and her letters blocked.

With Muscat even appearing on Xarabank, the treatment was deemed as ‘pay back’ for Essesi trying to get leave and marry. Muscat took the matter to court. The latter noted the contradictions in Dalli’s testimony, deeming the prison leave conditions an excuse.

After detailing what the couple had gone through to get married, with the application for leave having repercussions as per Essesi’s prison treatment, the court ruled that both their rights were breached. Essesi was awarded €1,000 in moral damages, with Muscat awarded €500.

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