Eiffel Tower to welcome back guests following nine month closure

Jul 16 2021

Following its longest closure since World War II, the iconic Paris wonder the Eiffel Tower is set for reopening on Friday. The tower has been closed for nine months, caused by the ever-persistent COVID-19 pandemic. The 300-metre summit of the ‘Iron Lady’ is set to welcome tourists back, albeit with a 13,000 people daily capacity. This is half of the normal level in order to abide with social distancing rules and regulations.

France has also just imposed new requirements which state that visitors will need to show proof of vaccination or negative PCR test starting Wednesday next week. Early reservations for tickets during the summer holidays show how Paris’ tourism industry was impacted due to travel restrictions. British ticket holders were almost totally absent, with Americans making only 15%. Half of the visitors are expected to be French, with Italians and Spanish making up higher proportions than usual. The tower’s operating company Sete is set to seek additional governmental aid to stay afloat after having its revenues fall by 75% in 2020.

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Photo Source: Engoo

Woman who attempted to smuggle drugs hidden in bra to prisoner given jail sentence

Jul 16 2021

A 40-year-old woman resident of Sliema was handed an eight month jail sentence and €2,000 fine for attempting to smuggle drugs into prison. Graziella Francalanza was charged that on the 5th November and weeks before, she was trafficking and possessed heroin. She attempted to smuggle the drug into the Corradino Correctional Facility. After police conducted investigations following reports that she was going to smuggle drugs to a prisoner when he was set to appear in court, the woman was arrested upon her entrance in court.

Francalanza was taken to the Valletta police station where she gave them the packet of drugs which she hid in her bra. The drugs racked up to 0.81 grams and was 32% pure. Around 11 hours of telephone calls had also been recorded, in which the prisoner for whom the drugs were intended, was heard speaking and suggesting that some things be passed on to him. It also resulted that two weeks prior to the case the same accused had passed something on to the prisoner via a kiss.

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Photo Source: Kamra tal-Periti

A possible end to internal combustion engines by 2035

Jul 16 2021

Proposals tabled by the European Commission (EU) revealed on Wednesday 14th July signal the ban of sales of new cars and vans that produce carbon emissions as of 2035. The era of internal combustion engines (ICE) is moving towards an end in the EU, with the new rules resulting in the bloc making the shift to electric vehicles towards having almost 100% of cars on roads in 2050 emission free. A package of climate and energy laws have been released by the EU executive, aiming to reduce the bloc’s greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030, with net zero the target for 2050.

EU transport commissioner Adina Vălean stated that transport is ‘today the source of 29% of the EU total greenhouse gas emissions. By 2050 we need to cut it by 90%.’ To ward off potential criticism by the industry, a senior EU official stated that the move is in line with the principle of technology neutrality. EU produced cars are allowed at present to emit 95g of carbon per kilometre driven.

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Photo Source: Financial Times

Euro 2020 final watched by over 175,000 people

Jul 16 2021

It is of no doubt that the Euro 2020 final clash between England and Italy captured the attention of many before, during and well after the match. New figures indicate that at least 176,000 people watched the Euro 2020 final, with TVM attracting an estimated peak live TV audience of 48,000 as they broadcasted the match with Italian commentary. TVM2 attracted an estimated 129,000 peak audience, broadcasting the match in English. The total live TV audience for the final exceeded those for semi-finals by around 20,000 viewers.

Italy versus Spain attracted around 154,000 viewers and England versus Denmark just over 156,000 viewers. Television Malta Product Manager Simon Poljsak attributed this to the power of football to bring people together. The match garnered attention well beyond the actual game night, with news concerning the game, for better or for worse, still making headlines.

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Photo Source: Hindustan Times