Jo Etienne Abela Attends EU Health Minister Council Meeting

Apr 24 2024

In Brussels, Minister for Health and Active Ageing, Jo Etienne Abela, participated in an informal meeting of the European Union’s Health Ministers Council.

During his address on healthcare workforce, Minister Abela highlighted Malta’s reliance on recruiting nurses and carers from abroad despite having a sufficient number of doctors. He emphasized Malta’s strong support for the Belgian Presidency’s efforts to ensure that every member state has a secure supply of nurses.

Minister Abela stressed the importance of measures that support families, education, and digital skills. He emphasized that while artificial intelligence is crucial for enhancing worker performance, it should not replace human workers. Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Frank Vandenbroucke and WHO Regional Director Dr. Hans Kluge positively received Minister Abela’s suggestions during their concluding remarks.

The minister also emphasized the need for all Member States to intensify their efforts in preventive care to continue reducing the burden of hypertension, heart disease, and cancer.

Regarding pharmaceutical access, Minister Abela insisted that smaller member states should fully benefit from the advantages of a unified market in the current pharmaceutical framework being negotiated. This is to ensure equitable access to medicines at fair prices. Minister Abela concluded by affirming Malta’s opposition to any obstacles that impede such access within the Health Union.

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€20,000 Fine For Not Registering 11 Newborn Big Cat Cubs

Apr 24 2024

Martin Farrugia, a building contractor aged 46, was fined €20,000 for breaching wildlife registration laws by failing to register eleven exotic animal cubs and ignoring calls from veterinary authorities.

Originally permitted to keep three lions, six pumas, and two leopards, an inspection in 2019 revealed Farrugia had neglected to register the 11 cubs born on his premises.

According to law, owners must report exotic animal births to authorities within a week and register them within four weeks, each requiring a €1000 fee. Farrugia’s permit application in Siġġiewi and Buskett had initially listed three pumas, two leopards, and six lions.

However, a 2017 census uncovered two additional unregistered leopards, and a subsequent inspection in 2019 uncovered more unregistered animals, including the 11 cubs.

Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech, delivering judgment, noted Farrugia’s failure to comply with legal requirements despite authorities’ calls.

Although no admission of guilt was made, Farrugia rectified the situation prior to the court proceedings. Considering the seriousness of the charges and the number of unregistered animals, Farrugia was fined €20,000. Inspector Elliott Magro prosecuted the case.

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Weekend Plans? Windy & Cloudy Days Ahead!

Apr 24 2024

According to the forecast for the remainder of the week, the weekend is set to be hit by windy and cloudy weather.

Following a rainy Wednesday, it seems as though this weather pattern will persist into Friday, albeit with no specific rain showers forecasted as of yet.

Saturday and Sunday are expected to bring strong winds, making going to the beach slightly risky.

Temperatures are expected to climb to 20 to 21 degrees Celsius, with lows of 16 degrees Celsius.

What do you make of this weather?

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Masked Man Making Police WhatsApp Scam Calls

Apr 24 2024

The Malta Police Force have issued a scam warning of scam WhatsApp calls being made with their official logo.

The calls are being made in the name of the police force but with foreign numbers. Upon answering, persons ere met with a masked person wearing a t-shirt resembling a police uniform.

The person proceeds to ask for details related to bank information and credit cards.

‘These calls are not being made by the Malta Police Force and users must refrain from answering such calls and ignore them’, the police force wrote on social media.

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