Transport Malta confident public transport use will rise in 2022

Sep 22 2021

Following a massive hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Transport Malta has revealed that it is quite confident that the number of yearly public transport passengers will boom back up as of next year. The Malta Independent was informed by a spokesperson for Transport Malta about this hopeful perspective, with the entity also revealing the impact on public transport caused by the outbreak. Statistics indicate that the total number of passengers using public transport between 2015 and 2019 was on a rise. In 2015 alone, 42,160,228 passengers used public transport and rose to a whopping 57,409,385 in 2019.

The numbers drastically dropped in 2020 when the pandemic hit, with Transport Malta registering 33,776664 users. Between January and August of this year, 21,253,632 used public transport. The spokesperson said that the drop in numbers is ‘completely attributable’ to the pandemic. Entire cohorts of people stopped using the transport service altogether. Students who were getting their lectures delivered online, tourists and workers operating from home practically stopped their use of public transport. The attribution to the pandemic is further supported by the fact that in the first two months of 2020, before the pandemic hit, numbers were still rising.

Asked for their 2021 predictions, the spokesperson revealed that if one were to compare the period between March and August last year to that of this year, one can notice a slight increase of 18.7%. ‘However, given that the first two months of last year were quite strong, we expect that this year we will be within the same levels of passengers carried as last year.’ The spokesperson stated that the government is intending to continue pushing public transport as a solution to various issues faced in Malta. As a return to normalcy kicks off gradually, the numbers are expected to hopefully increase.

Photo Source: Wikipedia

The tragic mystery behind Instagram adventurer Gabby Petito

Sep 22 2021

The remains found on Sunday in Wyoming’s Bridger-Teton National Forest have been confirmed to be 22-year-old Gabby Petito. Petito had disappeared while on a trip exploring national parks with her fiance Brian Laundrie, with the first reports of her unknown whereabouts being issued to police on September 11th by her parents. She disappeared in the western United States during a cross-country trip, with her partner returning home without her on September 1st. Petito had been working as a pharmacy technician to save money for the trip and is the eldest of six siblings. The four month long trip had started on July 2nd, with the couple using a converted camper van and documenting much of the trip on social media.

Petito’s Instagram feed consisted the words ‘traveling the world in our tiny van’. The trip turned into a murder mystery, with Laundrie disappearing for over a week. Police are searching for Laundrie at a Florida nature reserve which is where his parents indicated he would be heading. He had previously refused to talk to investigators. The Instagram posts captioned #vanlife stopped abruptly late in August, with not returning with Laundrie. Thousands have inserted themselves into the investigation attempting to crack the mystery.

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Pope Francis confirmed for a December Malta visit

Sep 22 2021

Pope Francis’ visit to Malta is set to happen in the first week of December, but the dates and itinerary are still as of yet unconfirmed. MaltaToday confirmed the news that the pontiff will be visiting our island as part of his tour of Cyprus and Greece. The dates could entail any period of time between the 4th and the 7th of December. Cypriot officials have confirmed earlier this month that the head of the Roman Catholic church will be visiting the island on the 2nd and 3rd December.

It is also unclear whether the Pope will be spending a night in Malta or whether it will be a one-day trip. No reference was made to the papal visit by Archbishop Charles Scicluna during Independence Day festivities. The trip was set to occur last year but it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The visit had also included a stopover in Gozo. Pope Francis’ visit would mark the third pontiff visit to Malta after St John Paul II and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. The last papal visit occurred in 2010 when Pope Benedict XVI visited during the height of the clerical sex abuse scandal and even held a private audience with the Maltese victims of priestly sex abuse.

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Photo Source Forbes

Bernard Grech condemns student discrimination by health authorities

Sep 22 2021

Following the news that University students’ return to campus being unguaranteed, Opposition leader Bernard Grech took to Facebook to express his concern about the apparent discrimination. He first stated that he has full solidarity with all the students who, after two years, are still not being allowed to attend lectures in person. This is despite them being fully vaccinated, there being large mass events being permitted and even with small classes receiving the green light to be held. Grech expressed that even though listening to the health authorities is a crucial thing to do, these same authorities must explain why such discrimination is taking place.

Grech highlighted the right to a proper education and its necessitated priority, stating that as the country moves towards normality, there must be more political direction. This comes after law student organizations issued an open letter to Prime Minister Robert Abela, urging him to allow the return to campus. With Gateway Building still being used as an emergency COVID-19 ward, it is unsure whether the return will be warranted soon.

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Photo Source: Bernard Grech FB