Cost of feeding family surges by €3,543 in four years – Caritas
The cost of feeding a family of four has surged by €3,543 over the past four years, according to a new study commissioned by Caritas. The study found that food expenses for low-income families have increased by up to 50%, leaving families with children struggling to meet basic living costs. In 2020, a low-income family with two children spent €7,132 on food, but by 2024, this amount had risen to €10,675. For an elderly low-income couple, food costs went from €3,375 in 2020 to €4,488 in 2024, a 33% increase. These findings were revealed in the study titled The Minimum Essential Budget for a Decent Living 2024, published by Caritas Malta. (Times of Malta)
GTA calls for specific plan for sister island
The Gozo Tourism Association (GTA) wants the government to develop new regional plan and policies specifically designed for Gozo, “to preserve it as an island of villages within a modern world.” The association has published its pre-budget proposals for 2025. One of the main topics that the association targeted its proposals for regards connectivity. Among other things, It is calling on the government to build a new fourth ferry, identical to the existing ones to replace the Nikolaus. (The Malta Independent)
Reports of racial profiling in roadblocks
Maltese authorities have been accused of racial profiling after conducting a roadblock in Marsa early Wednesday morning, led by police and detention services. This operation, just four days after a similar raid in Ħamrun, has raised concerns about discriminatory practices and civil liberties in Malta. Officers set up a checkpoint on Marsa’s main road before 6 a.m., focusing on commercial vehicles related to trades like plastering and plumbing. Reports suggest that at least one person was arrested, with eyewitnesses noting that police used zip ties and appeared to target individuals based on their appearance rather than specific intelligence. (Newsbook)
