Malta fourth country in cleanest water in EU list with Cyprus in first place

Jun 2 2021

Cyprus beat Austria, Greece and our very own Malta in the list of EU countries with cleanest beaches. The European Environment Agency ranked Cyprus as having 100% excellent water quality for the 2020 swimming season. With 112 swimming spots, the analysis was conducted between May 1st to October 31st in 2020. Malta ranked in fourth place out of 27 nations.

Following a summer season gravely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Cyprus’ ranking serves as a much needed positive boost. Cyprus’ 2020 summer saw tourist arrivals plunge more than 84%, giving the island nation’s economy a devastating blow. Tourism accounts for 13% of Cyprus’s gross domestic product.

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Photo Source: Samboat

WHO approves China’s Sinovac vaccine for emergency use

Jun 2 2021

China’s very own Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine has been approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for emergency use. The vaccine allegedly prevented symptomatic disease in 51% in vaccinated individuals, as well as severe symptoms along with hospitalisation in 100% of samples. This is the second Chinese vaccine to get the WHO green light as it follows in Sinopharm’s footsteps.

The vaccine has been approved for over 18s in several countries, with the second dose being administered two to four weeks later. Getting an emergency approval means a vaccine has met international standards for safety, efficacy and manufacturing. A whopping 95% decrease in deaths in a Brazilian city was noted following citizens receiving a Sinovac jab. The introduction of this new vaccine will hopefully see the Covax programme, which aims to ensure vaccine fair access, get a boost as it struggles with supply problems.

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Photo Source: DW

Summer 2021 hotter than average with thunderstorms

Jun 2 2021

Malta Weather reported that summer 2021 will be hotter than overage across both Malta and Gozo. Both sea and land temperatures have heated up quickly as the season makes its way to the island. Luckily, no heat waves have as of yet been reported, making beach-going and sun-bathing more bearable.

There is a rather peculiar weather guest however, as thunderstorms are predicted for the early days of summer. Above average rainfall is set to accompany the weather, making these summer days quite a mixed bag indeed. So better pack an umbrella and raincoat alongside your suncream and towels!

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Photo Source: Tasteaway

Minister Miriam Dalli driving towards sustainability with her electric car

Jun 2 2021

Energy and Sustainable Development Minister Miriam Dalli has gone electric with her transportation, as she revealed when answering parliamentary questions. Dalli is renowned for pushing the legislation to gradually make polluting cars across the EU a thing of the past. She answered Nationalist MP Ryan Callus by stating that her ministerial car is a Mercedes Benz leased for €40 per day.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Clyde Caruana revealed he does not have a ministerial car, being known to drive himself to work and other important activities. Prime Minister Robert Abela stated his official vehicle is a plug-in hybrid (BMW 530E iPerformance) which he leased for €13,200 annually.

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Photo Source: Sunday Times Driving, Miriam Dalli FB