EU proposes solar panels be made mandatory on all buildings

May 18 2022

Under a new proposal by the European Commission, solar panels could be made mandatory on all new buildings in the EU.

According to the Commission’s REPowerEU plan, a legal obligation to install panels on new buildings will be introduced. It will concern all buildings, irrespective of whether they are public, commercial or residential.

The plan forms part of the EU’s bid to end the bloc’s dependence on Russian fossil fuels after it invaded Ukraine. The EU is now using this opportunity to strengthen its shift to green energy and tackle the climate crisis.

The three main pillars are energy savings, diversification of energy supplies and accelerated roll-out of renewable energy. An additional investment of €210 billion between now and 2027 will be needed to deliver on the objectives.

The commission has also proposed to increase the target of renewable energy supplies by 2030 to 45% in the EU. This means measures to integrate solar thermal or geothermal energy technology, communal heating systems and deploying heat pumps.

Member states are also being called upon to create dedicated go-to areas for renewables in places with lower environmental risks. 10 million tonnes of domestic renewable hydrogen production and 10 million tonnes of imports by 2030 have also been set as a target to replace natural gas, coal and oil by 2030.

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Inflation in Malta rose to 5.4% in April; still lowest in Europe

May 18 2022

Malta’s annual rate of inflation in April was 5.4%, up from 4.5% a month earlier. The National Statistics Office revealed the statistics as measured by the harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP).

The NSO said that the 12 month moving average rate for April stood at 2.1%. According to Eurostat, this was the lowest national annual rate registered.

France registered the same as Malta, followed by Finland at 5.8%. The annual inflation rate of the euro area was 7.4%, which was stable compared to March. A year earlier, the rate was 1.6%.

The European Union annual inflation was 8.1% in April of 2022, which is up from 7.8%. A year earlier, the rate registered at 2%. The highest annual rates were recorded Estonia, Lithuania and Czechia at 19.1%, 16.6% and 13.2% respectively.

The NSO revealed that the largest upward impact on annual inflation in Malta was measured in the food and non-alcoholic beverages index at +1.56% points. The downward impact was recorded in the communication index at -0.07% points.

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This new South American restaurant in St. Paul’s Bay is the stuff of voodoo dreams!

May 18 2022

Every now and then, a new restaurant comes along which pushes the boundaries of the culinary experiences and changes the island’s outlook on international dishes. This time, that place is LOA in St. Paul’s Bay.

This new South American hotspot is said to be inspired by the mystifying tribal culture of Latin America and is actually named after the longest river in Chile and voodoo goddess Loa which makes an appearance in the restaurant’s logo. The imagery alone is enough to take you on a spiritual journey, but the restaurant’s culinary chops and enchanting atmosphere are what really unlock your voodoo dreams.

With a jaw-dropping menu which takes inspiration from distant lands, LOA’s menu may seem unusual at first, but rest assured that from the very moment you try it, you will fall in love with the intense flavours of South America. From their signature Ceviche Experience to a selection of Fried Oysters, bao buns, crudi and everything in between, your taste buds are in for the ride of their lives.

The restaurant is equipped with one of the most unique kitchens in Malta, with equipment from large grills, rotisseries, pineapple rotisseries, open fire ‘ruedo‘ fish spikes and so much more in their arsenal to provide the tantalising South American delicacies they have already become known for.

To top it all off, the restaurant’s dedicated mixologists aspire to push the boundaries of what can and cannot be done with their drinks. LOA’s gorgeous cocktail selection is a true testament to the restaurant’s class and a simple look at one of their drinks, such as the Caribe Italiano, will definitely leave you desiring more. Made with Parmesan fat-washed rum, fresh raspberries and rocket leaves, this cocktail is only one of the many gorgeous selections at LOA.

If that wasn’t enough, the St. Paul’s Bay spot offers a shuttle service which picks you up anywhere within the St. Paul’s Bay and Bugibba and even drops you off after your meal, meaning that you do not have to worry about parking and can focus on the immersive experience. For those of you who want to park close, LOA also has a dedicated private parking area; just ask them for the secret location.

LOA is the latest project by Lifestyle Group, the minds behind sister restaurant AKI, the contemporary Japanese restaurant in Valletta which became an immediate local favourite amongst foodies and socialites across Malta and Gozo. When you take the groups’s culinary passion and attention to detail and give it a bold, South American twist, you’re definitely in for a good time.

Send this to someone who needs to take you to LOA ASAP.

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Two €15,000 fines for men who illegally launched fireworks in field

May 18 2022

Two men have received fines of €15,000 each for illegally launching fireworks from a scaffold in a field in Xewkija.

Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech imposed the fines in her decision in a case relating to an incident which happened on June 21st 2018 in Xewkija, Gozo.

7 men were charged with letting off fireworks which were larger than one centimetre in diameter, and with having grievously injured another man. One of the man held a fireworks license, but it had not been proven that he had supplied the fireworks. He had not been shown to have been present at the time.

The magistrate said that the evidence only showed that two of the men had been letting off fireworks and remarked that there was no doubt they had the necessary license and experience with fireworks to know that the ones they were letting off were larger than permitted.

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Photo source: By Malta Easy