Happy birthday to Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela

Dec 7 2021

Prime Minister Robert Abela celebrates his 44th birthday today on the 7th of December. Born in 1977 and a professional lawyer, Abela became Prime Minister in January of 2020.

He was a Prime Minister whose assumption of office proved a massive challenge as the COVID-19 pandemic kicked off a mere few months after he took on the role.

His wife Lydia Abela took to Instagram to wish him a happy birthday, referring to him as being her best half and best friend. Father of Georgia May, Abela took on the role of PM after the resignation of Joseph Muscat.

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A post shared by Dr. Lydia Abela (@lydiaabela_la)

Happy Birthday Prime Minister!

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Photo Source: Robert Abela FB

The highest temperature recorded today was just 13.4°C

Dec 7 2021

Today’s highest temperature recorded at just 13.4 degrees Celsius, which is around 5°C lower than the average for this time of year.

With rain showers bringing even hail to the islands, the temperature dropped to below 10°C.

Temperatures are set to feel between 12 and 18°C, so its set to be a freezing week ahead. Considering the fact that Malta just emerged from heat wave after heat wave, this weather might be a breath of fresh air… literally.

However with such temperatures also comes the likelihood of rain showers and thunder storms. A thundery shower is forecasted for Saturday, kicking off the weekend with a tempest.

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Photo Source: Azure Ultra

The UAE is cutting its working week to four-and-a-half days

Dec 7 2021

The United Arab Emirates is officially cutting its working week to four-and-a-half days. It is also moving its weekend from Friday-Saturday to Saturday-Sunday.

This aims at improving the country’s competitiveness, say officials. The national working week will be mandatory for government bodies as of January 1st of 2022 and bucks the regional norm of full day offs on Friday for Muslim prayers. This will also bring the resource-rich UAE into line with the non-Arab world as it will become the only Gulf state not to have a Friday-Saturday weekend.

Before this new timetable commences, the public sector weekend starts at noon on Fridays and ends on Sunday. Muslim prayers at Mosques will be held after 1:15pm all year round. The UAE is the First Nation in the world to introduce a national working week shorter than the global five-day week. The UAE observed a Thursday-Friday weekend until 2006 before moving to Friday-Saturdays, followed by the private sector.

It is said to ensure smooth financial trade and economic transactions and even facilitating international business links for thousands of UAE based and multinational companies.

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The Digital Justice Strategy launches Malta into the future

Dec 7 2021

Minister for Justice and Governance Edward Zammit Lewis launched the Digital Justice Strategy and Action Plan. Alongside the Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, he stated that an 18 month long journey stands testimony to their commitment towards making our justice system more efficient, effective, and accessible.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced everyone out of their comfort zone and embrace technology ‘as a means to ensure that justice continues to be served.’ Despite the Maltese Justice System not being new to the digital sector, the adaptation of this new framework is a priority as it makes best use of technology, respects rule of law and identifies objectives.

Investing in Digitalisation as the next major phase in the evolution of society, Malta is now in a unique position to forge the future of how justice will be served in the years to come. ‘This strategy provides a common vision and unites all justice entities in their efforts to embrace this transformation and without reserves, commit to the change process.’

Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi said that this action plan for digital justice is an important process n which we can build several steps for the future. With an investment of around €300,000 co-financed with European Funds, the digitisation of the justice system will be improving the efficiency and facilitate access to justice for those going to court.

‘The Robert Abela Administration will remain committed and renowned for the digital transformation and reforms carried out in the Justice system.’

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Photo Source: Gustizzja DOI