Dubai Airport boss says that vaccine passports are the only way to go

May 16 2021

In an interview with BBC, Dubai Airports chief executive Paul Griffiths has stated that COVID-19 passports could be the only option going forward to restart foreign travel.

The Coronavirus pandemic has contributed to a 70% drop in international passengers at the Dubai Airport with Griffiths expressing his supporter of the documents, stating that they are ‘inevitable’ and potentially without an alternative.

While the World Health Organisation and World Travel & Tourism Council remain against the vaccine passport due to fear of creating a ‘two-tier society’, Griffiths has stated that the issue is not with discrimination, but with “the need to roll things out and have a proper globally equitable vaccine programme.”

#MaltaDaily

‘Temporary garden’ outside Parliament to become permanent

May 16 2021

The garden erected outside Valletta’s Parliament building will become a permanent fixture within Malta’s capital city, Valletta Cultural Agency chairman Jason Micallef announces.

Gardens were previously erected in Valletta as part of the Valletta Green Festival but after reportedly receiving much positive feedback, Micallef has announced that ‘the VCA is committed to the urban greening of Valletta’.

He went on to state that the Valletta Cultural Agency truly believes that the country requires more green spaces in its cities and villages.

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: Valletta Cultural Agency

Two arrested in 5kg cocaine bust worth €250,000 in St. Paul’s Bay

May 16 2021

Officers within the Malta Police Force’s Drug Squad have arrested a 44-year-old Maltese man and a 49-year-old Italian after the discovery of 5 kilograms of cocaine.

After weeks of observation on the individuals suspected of drug trafficking, the police intercepted their home in St. Paul’s Bay and arrested them, discovering the substances with a street value of over €250,000.

The Maltese man was found in possession of 3 kilograms of what is suspected to be cocaine while the Italian man hid 2 kilograms of this same substance, along with a large amount of cash in his vehicle.

#MaltaDaily

Real estate prices skyrocket globally despite pandemic

May 16 2021

Despite many expecting the housing market to implode as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, millions are panic buying properties as real estate prices continue to surge globally.

Within the 37 wealthy member countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, prices have risen by close to 7% between Q4 of 2019 and Q4 of 2020. This is the fastest growth in decades due to many reassessing what they want from their homes as a result of being locked inside.

While many real estate professionals expected the market to collapse, the pandemic’s effect on rising house prices came due to government bans on repossessions and the provision of trillions in support to workers and business, as well as interest rates cuts and temporary tax reductions, cushioning the market from recession.

The International Head of Growth at English estate agency Fine & Country Daniel Harrington has noted that ‘wealthy executives’ have traded their central homes for larger, less-central properties, leaving them enough capital to invest in downtown apartments and holiday homes and thus increasing domestic demand in places such as the French Riviera.

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: Timur Saglambilek