EU to push to have same USB-C chargers for all phones

Sep 23 2021

Under a new rule proposed by the European Commission (EC), manufacturers will be forced to universalize their charging solution for phones and small electronic devices. The main aim behind the regulation proposal is reducing waste and to encourage consumers to re-use existing chargers when buying new devices. The EU proposal stated that all smartphones will have the same USB-C chargers, with Apple warning that such a move will ‘harm innovation’. The tech giant is the main manufacturer of smartphones using a custom charging port, telling the BBC that this regulation will harm consumers in Europe and around the world. It also added that every Apple device will be made carbon neutral by 2030.

New models of the iPad and MacBook use USB-C charging ports whilst around half of chargers sold in the European Union in 2018 had a USB micro-B connector. 29% had a USB-C connector and 21% a Lightning connector. EU politicians have been campaigning for a common standard for a decade, with the Commission’s research estimating that disposed of and unused chargers generate over 11,000 tonnes of waste per year. With over 420 million mobile phones sold last year in the EU, every average person has around three chargers, of which two are regularly used.

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€150 fake vaccine certificates being sold in Maltese black market

Sep 23 2021

A new study by Check Point Research (CPR) has listed Malta as one of the countries selling black market fake vaccination certificates, each one sold at €150. The study has found that selling fake vaccine certificates through shady markets is becoming an immensely popular practice as it attempts to help people bypass COVID-19 regulations. The numbers of vendors selling the certification are allegedly increasing exponentially, with CPR reporting around 1000 vendors on the popular encrypted messaging app Telegram on 10th August.

The number has however blew up to a whopping 10,000 by September 23rd, with CPR continuing to monitor the black market since the start of the pandemic. With many countries, Malta included, making vaccine certificates a requirement to enter without having to quarantine, it would make sense to see such a ballooning of fake certificates sold. They are allegedly being sold in 29 countries as of September, with an Austrian Telegram-bot designed to get people free certificates and negative PCR tests simply by entering personal details.

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Photo Source: Ada Lovelace Institute

Police presence to increase on public transport

Sep 23 2021

A new collaborative agreement has been signed by the Malta Police Force and Malta Public Transport which aims to increase and improve public safety and security on public transport. Police officers will be allowed to travel for free on all route buses through the use of their Tallinja card. General Manager at Malta Public Transport Konrad Pule said that through this initiative, we are not only facilitating an increase of police presence on our buses, but also offering incentives that strengthen the use of public transport as an environmentally friendly means of travel.’

Police commissioner Angelo Gafa said that the force is continuously striving to reduce environmental impact and to create an environment which is healthier, more efficient, and less polluted. He stated that such collaborations not only help bus passengers directly, but also contribute to reducing traffic congestion. He highlighted how this initiative is the first of its kind and it will continue to strengthen the excellent relationship with the aim of improving public service. Crime prevention will also see a massive boost, making bus users feel safer on their travels.

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Focus on vaccine distribution inequity during UN gathering

Sep 23 2021

As the UN annual meeting of world leaders convenes, the inequity of COVID-19 vaccine distribution will come into clearer focus this Thursday, showing how many of the African countries have little to no access to life-saving COVID-19 jabs. The pandemic and the struggle to contain it have already featured as prominent topics during speeches by many of the leaders, with some delivering their speeches remotely. Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solberg spoke in a pre-recorded speech on Wednesday, saying that in Africa, fewer than 1 in 20 people are fully vaccinated. This contrasts to Europe’s one in two being fully vaccinated.

South Africa, Botswana, Angola, Burkina Faso and Libya are all slated to give their annual speeches this Thursday, joined by Zimbabwe and Uganda who have both endured economy and tradition wrecking impacts due to COVID-19. President Joe Biden announced that the US will double its purchase of Pfizer vaccines to share with the world around a billion doses. WHO have also reported that only 15% of promised vaccine donations from the world’s richest countries have been delivered.

President Felix Tshisekedi of Congo spoke at an anti-racism event on Wednesday, stating that the disparity in vaccine availability around the world clearly does not demonstrate equality between the countries and peoples of this world. Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also called out the failures of sharing vaccines during his Wednesday night speech, stating how his 2020 hopes of effective multilateralism and international solidarity were ‘dashed.’ The conference is also set to deal with climate change as another major global concern.

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