PN promises to sponsor a charging pillar for every 50 parking spots

Nov 3 2021

The Nationalist Party has said that it would sponsor a charging pillar for every 50 parking spots in private parks were it to be elected to government. This was revealed by MP David Thake on Tuesday, stating that the PN’s strategy is clear and that they want everyone from as many localities as possible to have access to these charging spots. Thake said that Minister Miriam Dalli ‘invented’ the claim that 60% of electric car owners would charge their car at home, despite the shortage of pillars being addressed by government when it announced that 362 charging spots will be up-and-running by this year’s end.

PN MP Robert Cutajar spoke about the COP26 climate change conference, saying that despite its size, Malta should be a leader on climate change. Cutajar recounted the PN proposal for pedestrian areas and tree mapping in all localities. He praised them as positive measures which will help the environment. Another new proposal by the Opposition is the commissioning of a beach profiling study which will help the government plan and better manage coasts and beaches.

Another proposal sees sites managed by NGOs to be legally transferred to them, with Cutajar saying that the Labour government wasted nine years in the pledge for decarbonization. This meant that the government had no choice but to negotiate the decarbonization rate from 3% to 19%. Janice Chetcuti, the PN’s head of the working group on environmental policies, said that a lot is to be done in order to limit the temeprature increase globally. The aim is to achieve global net zero until the middle of this century in order to keep global temperatures from rising over 1.5 degrees Celsius.

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COVID-19 measures in Netherlands tighten again due to spike

Nov 3 2021

As coronavirus cases in Netherlands shoot up, the prime minister has announced on Tuesday that the Dutch government is reinstituting an order to wear ace masks in public places such as stores and libraries, along with extending mandatory use of COVID-19 passes. The number of cases have spiked rapidly in the Netherlands for weeks, with the country’s public health institute reporting on Tuesday that confirmed infections rose 39% compared to the week before.

Hospital admissions were up 31% to 834 with a 20% increase in the number of patients admitted to ICU. The upward trend began after the government halted the remaining lockdown restrictions in late September. Prime Minister Rutte said during a press conference that it won’t surprise anybody that a tough message needs to be announced yet again. ‘Tough because we unfortunately have to ask more of people now that the infection numbers and hospital numbers are rising quickly.’

Rutte urged everyone to work from home at least half the time, to socially distance and to avoid travel to busy places and during rush hours. Students too will have to wear face masks at school when they walk between classes. Museums and theme parks will have to require people showing COVID passes as well.

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Mums’ Christmas gift initiative is teaching kids the value of ‘giving’

Nov 3 2021

A Christmas initiative by the name of Toys for Tots Malta, launched two weeks ago, has already reached around 1,500 supporters as it seeks to make the Christmas of kids all across Malta a very special one. An initiative brain-child of three mothers, the aim is to teach little ones from a young age the values of compassion and kindness to one another through example. ‘Receiving gifts is nice but GIVING is much more rewarding! says Alison Amato Lowell, one of the mums who created the initiative.

So how does it work? One has to first choose a wish or a gift – these can be checked for on the wish list, where people can book with their name, mobile number and tag number via a private message. The second step involves experience, as the initiative encourages those who care for kids (whether its a son/daughter, nephew/niece, grandchild, etc.) to go shopping and explain why the value of giving is so important. ‘Let them help you choose the gift for this special’, with the organizers encouraging those who take upon the task to share photos and videos of the kind gesture.

Next, wrap up the gift, get it labelled (following the guidelines) and then drop it off to one of the verified locations. The gifts are dropped off at a Maypole shop in different localities around Malta and Gozo between Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 14:00. Finally, one simply needs to spread the word and share this wonderful initiative. The latest drop off date will be the 1st of December, after which gifts will be sorted and distributed accordingly just in time for Christmas.

There are several organizations and entities helping in this initiative, including ‘Dar Merhba Bik, Dar Santa Bakhita, Fondazzjoni Sebh, The Church Schools Children’s Fund, Mater Dei’s Disneyland, Wonderland and Fairyland wards, The Young People’s Unit at Mount Carmel Hospital, Richmond Foundation (KIDS Programme) and AWAS Malta amongst others. Along with Gianella Giordano and Melinda Agius, Alison seeks to make this festive season a special one where no kid is left behind and teach them the wonderful values of giving.

If you are interested, you can find more information here.

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WATCH: Keith Demicoli becomes an uncle to baby Luigi Antonio

Nov 3 2021

Local news personality Keith Demicoli has just become the uncle to baby Luigi Antonio – and he is overjoyed! Posting to Instagram, Demicoli began his post by first sharing his previous reaction, caught on video, as he discovered that he was about to have a nephew. Unpacking a gift, mugs gifted to him and his wife Alexia Demicoli, his reaction back in the 21st of Mach 2021 was as priceless and as wholesome as you might imagine. Fast forward to the 1st of November 2021, and baby Luigi Antionio was born to Keith’s brother Fabian Demicoli and his wife Sarah.

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The post, which captures several moments from the revelation of the pregnancy to the actual birth, was received with intense joy bymany, congratulating the entire family for the new birth. But nothing could come close to Keith’s reaction, who was in disbelief for most of the reveal video, having to also process it for a brief second on his own. The mugs gifted to Keith and Alexia had the words ‘Dear Uncle, exemplary and unique’ and ‘For a fabulous auntie: you mean the world to me’. Keith, in a message directed to baby Luigi Antonio, said that he is very lucky to have Sarah and Fabian as his parents. Congratulations to the entire family from all of us!

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