December 2022
THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT The President meets with His All-Holiness, the Archbishop of Constantinople and New Rome, and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
President George Vella this morning held a meeting with His All-Holiness, the Archbishop of Constantinople and New Rome, and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at Sant’Anton Palace. In welcoming Patriarch Bartholomew on his first visit to Malta, President Vella conveyed his appreciation for the wide-ranging initiatives taken by the Patriarchate, especially in the interest of environmental protection. The President also referred to the active contacts maintained by the Office of the President with different religious denominations present in Malta. He added that the values of tolerance and acceptance continue to lie at the heart of the Presidency’s outreach at both the
FDA Change Ushers In Cheaper, Easier-to-Get Hearing Aids
It’s now a lot easier — and cheaper — for many hard-of-hearing Americans to get help. Hearing aids can now be sold without a prescription from a specialist. Over-the-counter, or OTC, hearing aids started hitting the market in October at prices that can be thousands of dollars lower than prescription hearing aids. About 30 million people in the United States deal with hearing loss, according to the Food and Drug Administration. But only about 20% of those who could use a hearing aid seek help. Here’s a closer look: Who might be helped The FDA approved OTC hearing aids for
China Reports 2 New COVID Deaths as Some Restrictions Eased
China on Sunday reported two additional deaths from COVID-19 as some cities move cautiously to ease anti-pandemic restrictions following increasingly vocal public frustrations. The National Health Commission said one death was reported each in the provinces of Shandong and Sichuan. No information was given about the ages of the victims or whether they had been fully vaccinated. China, where the virus first was detected in late 2019 in the central city of Wuhan, is the last major country trying to stop transmission completely through quarantines, lockdowns and mass testing. Concerns over vaccination rates are believed to figure prominently in
US Knocked Out of World Cup, Loses to the Netherlands 3-1
Memphis Depay and Daley Blind scored in the first half and Denzel Dumfries added a late goal as the Netherlands eliminated the United States from the World Cup with a 3-1 victory Saturday that advanced the Dutch to the quarterfinals. Second-half substitute Haji Wright cut the U.S. deficit to 2-1 in the 76th minute when Christian Pulisic’s cross hit his trailing foot and popped over goalkeeper Andries Noppert and into the net. But Dumfries, who assisted on the first two goals, scored on a volley in the 81st. “When you play a team with so much quality like that and
For Many Hawaiians, Lava Flows Are a Time to Honor, Reflect
When Willette Kalaokahaku Akima-Akau looks out at the the lava flowing from Mauna Loa volcano and makes an offering of gin, tobacco and coins, she will be taking part in a tradition passed down from her grandfather and other Native Hawaiians as a way to honor both the natural and spiritual worlds. Akima-Akau said she plans to take her grandchildren with her and together they will make their offerings and chant to Pele, the Hawaiian deity of volcanoes and fire, who her grandfather used to pay reverence to as a kupuna, a word that can mean ancestor. “This is the
Prince William, Like His Father, Prioritizes the Environment
Britain’s Prince William capped a three-day visit to Boston by meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday, ahead of announcing his Earthshot Prize environmental award winners at a gala event. The Prince of Wales shook hands with Biden and spoke quietly in the winter cold near the water outside of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Library and Museum. He also met Caroline Kennedy, the late president’s daughter, and told her that the stories of the Earthshot Prize winners were an inspiration. William once again paid homage to President Kennedy, “the man who inspired our mission,” and said the “game-changing”