19% carbon emission reduction by 2030 a challenge says Minister

Oct 26 2021

Addressing a national conference on climate change, Environment Minister Aaron Farrugia stated that cutting carbon emissions by 19% by the year 2030 will be a challenging task, but one that should be taken on nonetheless. The island is currently benefitting from a reduced target after seeking permission from the European Commission. This same commission had set a EU target of 36% by 2030, but Farrugia said that Malta is the lowest emitter per capita compared to other EU countries. With half of CO2 emissions coming from transport, the Minister said that the government’s budget decision to introduce an electric vehicle grant of €12,000 aims to achieve price parity between internal combustion engine cars and electric ones soon.

Farrugia said that although discussions had been held in parliament, no plans were presented to tackle the climate change issue. With a plan to make Malta carbon neutral by 2050, the time for discourse and romantic notions of the subject is over. Malta is being assertive in its strive for this goal, said Farrugia, and that the island will be present for the COP 2 (UN Climate Change Conference) next month. Transport Minister Ian Borg also spoke at the conference, stressing the importance of individual action, with measures such as electrifying the bus fleet and giving free transportation to all being crucial for this massive change.

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Photo Source: Aaron Farrugia FB, Ian Borg FB

Elon Musk officially the richest person to walk the planet

Oct 26 2021

Following a massive deal between car company Hertz and Tesla, entrepreneur Elon Musk’s net worth has sky rocketed considerably to make him the richest person to walk the planet. Tesla’s share price blasted upwards after Hertz confirmed its purchase of 100,000 Tesla Model 3 for its own enterprise. The company has had its biggest day ever on the stock market, ranking in a whopping $25.6 billion. This means that the $4.2 billion deal and resulting 13% rise in share price places Tesla’s market along the likes of Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Apple.

Forbes points out that the tech billionaire’s 21% stake in the car company means his personal net worth is now at $255.2 billion, sealing his place as most likely the richest person to ever walk planet Earth. Richer than anyone Forbes ever tracked, Musk is the only person in the $200+ billion club after Jeff Bezos dropped to $193 million. The two have constantly dethroned each other in the ‘richest person alive’ race, with Musk now at the helm. Behind them are Bernard Arnault (Louis Vuitton CEO), Bill Gates, Larry Page and Mark Zuckerberg.

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Booster jabs for teachers and healthcare workers by mid-November

Oct 26 2021

Apart from revealing his two step plan to move towards a normal festive season, Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne announced yesterday that healthcare workers, teachers, pharmacists and care-workers in elderly homes will receive their booster dose from the 15th of November. Speaking in parliament, Fearne said that as from the second week of November, everyone above the age of 70 will have received an appointment for the booster and that other restrictions will be eased.

As of yet, 869,715 doses of the vaccine have been administered, with 46,099 of those being booster doses. The epidemiological situation in Malta does seem to have somewhat stabilized, with very few hospital admissions and daily cases, and even lesser ITU admissions. This led to the Health Ministry’s announcement of restriction easing, but the vaccine rollout has been, and remains, one of the main components at averting further spread.

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Photo Source: Chris Fearne FB, The Confident Teacher, The Guardian

Mike Tyson returning to boxing with a 2022 match against a Paul brother

Oct 26 2021

Turning 56 next June, former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson confirmed his return to the ring in February 2022, and one of the YouTuber Paul brothers is set to enter the duel against him. Boxing Hall of Famer Iron Mike, as he is known, is rumored to be facing the now-turned boxer Logan Paul, however, Tyson has seemingly become pretty close with the younger Paul brother, Jake. Asked previously whether he would face either one of the siblings, Tyson said that the money would be too good to resist, saying that the brothers have 35 million people to watch them.

‘They would fight me. That would make a lot of money. Hundred million dollars, they do anything, they don’t mind getting beat up for a hundred million dollars’ he said. Tyson has however ruled out fighting the younger Jake, saying that, despite being able to knock him out easily, he ‘never would’. That’s because Tyson’s family love the younger brother, and fighting him would pitch him against them. Logan seems to be the one getting the punches, but the YouTuber has held his own in previous matches, including those against Floyd Mayweather.

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Photo Source: Getty