Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1484365
4 NEWS 17.11.2022 NSO figures show that, in the first half of 2022, the total expenditure on contributory and noncontributory social benefits rose by €32.6m over the same period in 2021 and by €60.1m over the half of 2020. The increased expenditure on social benefits in the first half of 2022 pushed the total social protection expenditure in the same period to €987.6 million, putting its overall share of GDP at an estimated 14.7 per cent. social benefits WITH Malta the only country in Europe with 100 per cent 1,000 Mbps internet speed - according to the latest EU report of the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) - Melita Limited said it is focused on ensuring the island remains a leader in the field. The company is committed to future-proofing the country's in- frastructure for growth and has in- vested millions to enable those in the video gaming and e-sports in- dustries to benefit from some of the best connectivity platforms in the world at a price that makes sense, Melita Limited Marketing Manager, Mireille Muscat said. Muscat was speaking at the second edition of Playcon, Malta's biggest expo of video games, game develop- ment and e-sports, for which Melita provided high-speed fibre internet connectivity, with 1,000 Mbps up- load and download speed, to ensure the hundreds of participants could game smoothly during the three- day event. Organised by GMR Concepts, with the support of Gaming Malta and the Economy Ministry, Playcon brought together some of the best video game development companies in the world and served to showcase Malta's best talent and services. Recognising the value of this sector, Melita has spent millions enhancing service quality, from improving latency to ensuring con- tinuous high security standards, evidenced by its international cer- tification for Information Security Management; ISO 27001. "Our vision is to continue support- ing the digitisation of Malta, while ensuring we remain aligned to the needs of the industry and our di- verse society. In the end our mission is to remain a technology leader and deliver products that rank top tier in Europe for price, performance and service quality," Muscat said. Melita committed to supporting Malta's digitisation Mazda2 Hybrid finally in Malta THE new Mazda2 Hybrid has finally arrived in Malta, bringing self-charging full hybrid powertrain technology to the Mazda model range for the first time. is easy to drive model, is the latest outcome of a long-standing collabora- tion between Mazda Motor Corporation and Toyota Motor Corporation. e new Mazda2 Hybrid is a highly sig- nificant car for Mazda's multi-solution strategy in its quest to fulfil the objec- tives laid out in 'Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030' , the company's long-term vision for technological development. is model is specifically - in line with the Paris Agree- ment – its aim to achieve carbon neutrali- ty in all areas (including product, technol- ogy, manufacturing and sales) by 2050. ere is a growing trend in all segments towards greater electrification. In the B-segment, hybrid vehicles are now the second most popular powertrain after petrol. By sourcing a hybrid powered vehicle through its alliance with Toyota, Mazda is able to quickly access this segment, exploiting the growing opportunity pre- sented by the current trend whilst also staying relevant in the dominant part of the segment with the current Mazda2. e Mazda2 Hybrid's 116 DIN hp/85 kW full hybrid powertrain returns WLTP combined cycle fuel economy of only 3.8 l/100 km, and CO2 emissions are just 87 g/km. Exterior design e smart city car is one of the most compact vehicles in the B-segment, with class-leading 4.9 metre turning circle. It has large, imposing grille aperture, mus- cular, dynamic styling and a broad, pur- poseful stance. e inside of the Mazda2 Hybrid is wide, roomy cabin architecture with a focus on high visual and tactile quality. Moreover it the wheelbase offers comfortable accommodation for up to four adults, as well as 286 litres of load space. Interior design It is intelligently configured, featuring driver-focused cockpit layout, with low seat hip point and large reach adjust- ment to the sporting steering wheel. e Mazda2 Hybrid boosts a digital driver's instrument binnacle with central TFT multi-information screen, and 8-inch centre display touch-screen. Full Hybrid Technology e self-charging Mazda2 Hybrid is a full series/parallel hybrid capable of operating in petrol and electric modes alone, as well as a combination of both. It delivers seamless acceleration and re- markably quiet operation - particularly in urban environments, whilst returning excellent fuel efficiency and the lowest possible emissions. e 1.5 litre full hybrid system fea- tures a petrol engine, a powerful electric motor, a generator, a high performance 177.6 V lithium-ion battery, a power control unit, and a power split device. e electric motor, generator and power split device are all housed in a compact transmission casing the size of a con- ventional gearbox. Unlike a convention- al, belt driven CVT transmission, the hybrid system delivers driving torque through a power split device in the form of a planetary gear set which combines and re-allocates power from the engine, electric motor and generator according to operational requirements. Located under the rear passenger seat, the lithium-ion battery has a high power density and is better able to supply cur- rent flow than nickel metal hydride alter- natives. It can also recover energy under braking more efficiently and recharge the battery more quickly, enhancing the vehicle's EV performance during urban driving. System power is provided by a 1490 cc, three-cylinder Atkinson cycle petrol engine developing 92 DIN hp/68 kW at 5,200rpm and 120 Nm of torque at 3,600 rpm, and a permanent magnet, synchro- nous 59 kW electric motor generating instant torque from 0 rpm and a maxi- mum of 141 Nm at 17,000 rpm. e pet- rol engine and electric motor combine to give a total system power of 116 DIN hp/85 kW.