Over €33 million spent in government vouchers as scheme a success

Sep 27 2021

With over €33 million spent in government COVID-19 vouchers, the scheme launched by Economy Minister Silvio Schembri and Prime Minister Robert Abela proved to be an economic success. The average spend of vouchers stands at €1.37 million on weekends and €1.22 between Monday and Thursday. This has also meant a direct economic injection of €2.6 million per week, with 74% of vouchers having been redeemed. Data was provided from MIMCOL, showing also a renewed confidence among retailers, business owners, consumers and establishments.

The European Union now recognises Malta as one of the leading countries with the best and fastest post COVID-19 recoveries. The successful vaccine rollout also contributed to the outcome, which is an even better outcome for the €100 voucher scheme – a whopping injection of €50 million. Only a month is left until the end of October to redeem all remaining vouchers, as the public is incorporated into directly regenerating the economy.

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Photo Source: Silvio Schembri FB

Oleksandr Usyk shocks Anthony Joshua and becomes heavyweight champion

Sep 27 2021

Last Saturday, Oleksandr Usyk shocked Anthony Joshua beating him on points after 12 rounds of boxing. After winning, Oleksandr Usyk is now holding the IBF, WBO,IBO and WBA heavyweight titles. He is now the third boxer to win titiles in the heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions, following boxing legends Evander Hollyfield and David Haye.

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Anthony Joshua will be disappointed with this defeat as he has now lost his titles and any chances of a blockbuster fight against other heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. Anthony didn’t have a good performance, with even his promoter Eddie Hearn saying that out of 12 rounds AJ only won 4 or at best 5.

Usyk won by unanimous decision with all 3 judges agreeing that the Ukrainian won the fight. Usyk won the rounds reportedly 117–112, 116–112 and 115–113 by the judges. The Ukrainian also kept his undefeated status something the Brit lost to Andy Ruiz back in 2019. After the fight, Usyk said that his trainers and coaches told him not to knockout Anthony Joshua.

Anthony Joshua will have a chance to avenge this defeat but a lot will have to change if he has a chance to win the contractual obligatory rematch.

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Malta only EU country to completely ban abortion as San Marino moves forward

Sep 27 2021

With 77% in favour and 23%, San Marino has voted with an overwhelming majority to legalise abortion this Sunday. This makes Malta the only EU country to ban abortion in all cases, with zero exceptions for situations in cases of life endangerment.

Interior Minister Elena Tonnini called on parliament to translate the result into law following the finalising of results. With a 41% turnout for the referendum, the decision will be overturning a law which dates back to 1865, making San Marino one of the last places in Europe where abortion has been utterly banned.

Women will now be allowed to terminate their pregnancy within 12 weeks of gestation. Abortion would only be permitted if the woman’s health was at risk or if foetal abnormalities could cause physical/psychological harm after said 12 weeks. Women usually travelled to Italy to carry out abortions, with the penalty being up to three years in prison for the woman and six years for the doctor.

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Photo Source: Sky News, EURACTIV

€1,600,723 raised for new Dar Bjorn

Sep 27 2021

Embarking on a 12 hour live telethon, Bjorn Formosa and his team managed to raise €1,600,723 on Sunday 26th of September 2021 for the new Dar Bjorn. It has been 6 years since Bjorn started ALS Malta, working tirelessly to help patients like himself live a better life. The first Dar Bjorn was inaugurated in 2017 in Qormi, but proved too small to cater for all neurological patients in Malta.

Thus, in 2018, Bjorn initiated his quest to open the second neurological home to cater for more patients. Newer and bigger, the home will be a state of the art medical facility plotted on 7 floors. With each floor totalling over 650sqm of living space, the new facility will feature over 30 beds, indoor pool, gymnasium, chapel, shop, cafeteria, clinics, an art gallery and a fully fledged terrace.

A €5 million project, €4 million were already collected over three years, leaving around €926K were left to open the home. The live telethon was a massive success as €1,600,723 were raised during 9/26 To Finish, with donations from multiple individuals and groups all around the island.

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Photo Source: Bjorn Formosa FB