Miriam Dalli not excluding wage supplement scheme extension

Dec 30 2021

Minister for Energy and Enterprise Miriam Dalli did not rule out an extension of the wage supplement scheme once it expires next month.

Prime Minister Robert Abela announced an extension of the wage supplement scheme until January 2022 earlier in December.

He said that the one-month extension was approved by the Cabinet after it considered the international landscape and the need for Malta to sustain it’s recovery from the pandemic.

The PN also called for an extension of the wage supplement until March of 2022 in a statement on Tuesday.

Minister Dalli said that the previous months were not easy at all, but there is a ‘government that is investing in the workforce and sustaining business, self-employed and workers.’

‘We are in continuous contact with all stakeholders and we will continue evaluating the trend and take decisions accordingly.’

Varying between €600 and €800 monthly for every full time employee, the wage supplement was a key factor in Malta’s pandemic recovery package. Dalli also appealed for everyone to take the booster dose, in order for infection numbers to decrease.

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Clifton Grima officially sworn in as Education and Sport Minister

Dec 30 2021

Clifton Grima has officially been sworn in as Education and Sport Minister on Wednesday afternoon.

Being appointed to the post last week, he will be taking on the post previously held by Justyne Caruana. Caruana had resigned following an ethics breach, in which she gifted a €15,000 contract to footballer Daniel Bogdanovic.

Previously serving as parliamentary secretary responsible for sport, recreation and voluntary organisations, Grima will be the fourth education minister over the span of a single legislature.

Apart from Justyne Caruana, Owen Bonnici and Evarist Bartolo had served as ministers as well.

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Photo Source: Clifton Grima FB

Scientists figure out why pandas are black-and-white

Dec 30 2021

We all know them as being the big, clumsy and cuddly black-and-white bears. But scientists have long wondered why their fur is coloured this way.

Why the mystery? Well, giant pandas live in colourful forests in the wild. Being black-and-white doesn’t seem to intuit a survival advantage given the environment.

Finally, after analysing photographs of 15 wild pandas over the course of 7 years, a team of researchers from different countries concluded that the black-and-white print is actually a valuable camouflage colour.

Scientists from the University of Bristol, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and University of Jyvaskyla in Finland say that the colour can help them evade predators such as leopards, tigers and wild dogs.

The black fur helps them blend into dark shades and tree trunks, whereas white fur matches foliage and snow when present. The intermediate fur tones actually match rocks and the ground.

The colours are also confusing for predators, discouraging a potential attack. Scientists could treat pandas as if they were predators looking at their photographs, resulting in the conclusion.

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Photo Source: Medium

Covid vaccine mandatory for all Italian athletes as of January 10th

Dec 30 2021

Italy’s athletes will have to comply with the new rules authorised by the Italian government in regards to vaccination against COVID-19.

Coming into mandatory effect as of January 10th, all Italian athletes will have to be jabbed. The green pass has so far been the main tool used, along with a negative test posted within 48 hours or recovering from COVID.

The Omicron variant has however led to a spike all around the globe, resulting in the tightening of restrictions. The Italian government drew up the new plans, introducing even the Super Green Pass, which means only vaccination status or recent recovery is acceptable.

Stadiums, gyms, swimming pools, locker rooms or any roofed sporting establishment will no longer allow negative tests as verification.

This means that athletes will have to be jabbed against the virus as otherwise they would have to wait for post-infection.

However, this shouldn’t so much of a problem, as the Lega Serie A report 98% of its players having been vaccinated in October.

In comparison, only 68% of English Premier League players were vaccinated in October, rising to 77% just this month.

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Photo Source: Juvefc, Guardian