Drivers could have spent over €20 more on fuel per week, says Abela

Drivers could have spent over €20 extra weekly says Prime Minister

Jun 20 2022

Prime Minister Robert Abela revealed that average drivers could have ended up spending over €20 extra on fuel every single week had the government not stabilised prices.

Addressing a press conference and answering questions by journalists, Abela said that, through a simple calculation, it was found that an average person who owns a small vehicle would have had to spend around €20 more on fuel every week.

Addressing the inflation crisis as a primary global and national challenge, Abela said that Malta acted quickly to anticipate the phenomenon. ‘We weren’t insensitive to this reality. We kept field and energy prices stable and gave additional help when it came to food inflation.’

Abela went on to say that he is still not pleased despite Malta having the lowest EU inflation rate as people are still feeling the impact of rising food prices. The government, Abela said, aims to give people more money in the wake of the crisis largely caused by the war in Ukraine.

Subsidies have been given to importers of cereals, flour and even animal feed to promote stability, with the government using hundreds of millions of public funds to absorb the inflation itself and keep fuel and electricity prices stable.

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5 students studying to become math teachers

Jun 20 2022

Speaking in Parliament, Education Minister Clifton Grima revealed that five students are following the Masters in Teaching and Learning course at the University of Malta to become mathematics teachers.

The Minister tabled the information in response to a parliamentary question by PN deputy Justin Schembri. 25 students are following the same course to become teachers of Maltese.

Schembri went on to ask the minister how many teachers will be retiring due to their age from primary, secondary and church schools. The retirement age increased from 63 to 64, Grima explained.

He explained that teachers in primary do not choose to retire whereas 8 secondary school teachers retired throughout this year. In church schools, 7 teachers will be retiring this year – 2 from primary and 5 from secondary.

Grima also revealed to deputy Charles Azzopardi that 12 teachers reached retirement age but plead for an extension.

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Five budget-friendly travel tips for your summer family holiday

Jun 20 2022

A trip to Sicily is always a good shout if you’re looking for a family-friendly, budget holiday which still packs a punch and with Virtu Ferries, the timing couldn’t be better! Everyone deserves a vacation, and if planned well, a quick Sicily holiday may be enjoyed by all the family without breaking the bank. That being said, here are five budget-friendly travel tips for you summer family holiday!

Plan wisely

One of the most upsetting surprises when travelling is the unnecessary costs brought about by lack of planning; which is why you should think wisely and plan ahead. From historical locations like the city of Agrigento to astounding natural beauties like the Isola Bella, planning a stop-by-stop trip which includes food stops will save your family time & money whilst allowing them to relax & enjoy the sights.

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Visit the beaches

With these temperatures, a trip to the beach whilst on summer vacation is an absolute must and Sicily’s bombardment of beautiful bays & beaches make such visits an absolute no-brainer. Notable beachside landmarks are the enchanting town of Cefalù, the wondrous Scala dei Turchi and the awe-inspiring Vendicari Nature Reserve! So pack a budget-friendly lunch, have your caps and sunblock at the ready and enjoy your day!

Enjoy the street food

One of the best things about Sicily (and Italy in general) is the fact that it has arguably the best food culture in the world and with Sicilian food outlets aplenty & a select number of super cheap & tasty street food vendors, your tastebuds are in for the ride of their life. Taormina in particular is known the world over for its mouth-watering street food specialities such as pizza, panini, arancini and much more!

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Travel by ferry

Travelling to Sicily by Ferry is not only quick and easy but also cost effective and with Virtu Ferries, you’ll definitely get a bang for your buck with their June – July Offer! The brand’s summer offer puts return tickets at €39 when travelling in June & July. The offer is available on selected number of trips and not applicable with any other offers.

Kids travel free

The absolute cherry on the cake when it comes to planning family trips. With Virtu Ferries, one child travels free with every paying adult, giving parents and guardians the opportunity to spend their now-saved €39 on some more Sicilian street food, an ice cold drink to beat the heat or even a well-deserved glass of wine; they are in Italy after all! So benefit from this offer now and secure your family a trip to Sicily ASAP.

Send this to someone who needs a Sicily vacay ASAP!

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Around 1000 Ukrainians received temporary protection in Malta

Jun 20 2022

According to the National Statistics Office, over 1,000 Ukrainians benefitted from temporary protection in Malta.

76% of these Ukrainians were women and 4% were unaccompanied minors. Malta granted temporary asylum to 191 refugees in March.

The number increased to 395 in April, and to 416 in May for a total of 1,002 people in those three months. Many men who were able to fight were prevented from leaving Ukraine, which is why a majority of refugees were women.

The data was sourced from the International Protection Agency and was released in connection with World Refugee Day. The EU activated the Temporary Protection Directive on March 4th.

The war, which began at the end of February, displaced almost 10 million people as the country continues to face bombardment. 29% of Ukrainians with temporary protection are under 14 years of age, and 9% are aged over 65.

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