BOV’s Fleur-de-Lys branch permanently shut down – five others temporarily closed

Jan 8 2022

In a statement on Friday, Bank of Valletta (BOV) revealed that it’s Fleur-de-Lys branch will be closing permanently.

It also revealed that its Balluta, Birzebbuga, Floriana, Marsa and St Paul’s Bay branches will be temporarily closed as of Monday 10th January.

ATMs and night safe deposit facilities at these branches will still continue to operate normally. The bank revealed that the move was linked to the ongoing pandemic situation.

Facing staff shortages caused by COVID, the bank faced restricted services at several branches late in December, prompting the move.

Chief Retail Banking Officer Kenneth Farrugia stated that the decisions being taken are backed by their responsibility to protect customers and employees whilst ensuring that Human Resources at branches are utilised in the most efficient manner.

For customers wishing to access safe deposit lockers within temporarily closed branches, they are to call the bank’s customer service centre to set an appointment. BOV apologised for any inconvenience caused and thanked them for their cooperation.

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Malta among EU’s highest COVID concerns by end of 2021

Jan 8 2022

Malta did not end 2021 on an epidemiologically positive note as it was deemed among the most worrying in Europe due to the rise in COVID cases.

Classified as being ‘very high concern’, Malta ended the year with a score of nine out of 10 according to a weekly review done by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) as it assessed 2021’s last week.

Only France and Estonia scored higher than Malta, landing a 9.3 out of 10 score. The EU average by 2021’s end stood at 8.8, especially following the spike due to the Omicron variant.

The score is worked out on five different indicators which are case notification rates, testing rates and test positivity, rates of hospitalisation and intensive care admission, occupancy and mortality.

During this same week, Malta’s health authorities landed on an average of about 1,000 new cases daily as they reviewed the 7 days. This meant many had to quarantine, up to tens of thousands, and spend new year locked in.

With Omicron being considered the main culprit of this increase, almost 70% of all new cases are now attributed to this South Africa discovered variant. Despite Malta’s infection rate spiking to a record 2,443 cases per 100,000, the death rate remained among the lowest at just over 15 deaths per 100,000.

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Photo Source: Chris Fearne FB

‘Let’s do our part’ – Hamrun Spartans raise awareness following Dembska’s murder

Jan 8 2022

‘Paulina Dembska’s murder is a wake-up call for Maltese society’ read the caption of a newly released video by Hamrun Spartans Football Club.

The awareness-raising video acknowledged the tragedy as being a pivotal moment we must use in Maltese society to no longer tolerate abuse on women.

Players from the team adorned their face with a streak of red lipstick, signifying their support to the movement and the action needed to stop such atrocities.

‘No one thinks it’s all men’ the video quoted, ‘it’s enough men […] Spartans, let’s do our part.’

The tragedy which took the life of Polish 29-year-old Paulina Dembska shook the entire island after she was found murdered in Sliema just after New Year’s. The prime suspect Abner Aquilina was later arrested but interrogations were halted after he was taken to Mount Carmel Hospital for further inspection.

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: Hamrun Spartans Football Club FB

Tennis star Novak Djokovic facing deportation from Australia

Jan 7 2022

World tennis number one, Novak Djokovic will be facing a hearing next Monday to see whether he will be deported from Australia or not. The Serb arrived in Australia last Wednesday to try and defend his Australian Open championship. He wasn’t allowed to leave the airport due to insufficient documentations and as he didn’t “provide appropriate evidence” of double vaccination or a medical exemption.

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There has been many speculation whether the anti-vax Novak Djokovic would be allowed to particpate. All questions were supposedly answered when the player joyfully announced that he had gained an unexpected medical exemption to play.

The 34-year old is currently being kept in the Park Hotel in Melbourne, with his mother stating that her son is struggling to sleep in the “terrible accommodation”. Many of his fans have also gathered outside of his hotel to show their support for their favourite tennis player.

The player’s father has come out with some statement saying “This has nothing to do with sports, this is a political agenda. Novak is the best player and the best athlete in the world, but several hundred million people from the west can’t stomach that.”

#MaltaDaily