UK could scrap all restrictions but two – should Malta follow suit?

Jan 17 2022

Reports are suggesting that all COVID-19 restrictions except for two could be scrapped as UK’s Plan B measures are due to be reviewed soon.

Senior government sources have revealed that the current restrictions in place may be removed after 26th January. These include mandatory mask wearing, COVID passports and the work from home rule.

All that will essentially remain will be a requirement to isolate for five days if one tests positive for COVID-19 and the need to take lateral flow tests for International travel. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said that the sooner the measures are lifted, the better.

‘I think it’s important that we’re led by the science on this. We had access to the Government scientific and medical advisers and that’s helped us form our views’ he said.

Alluding to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s latest party scandal, Starmer said that ‘if it’s the right thing to lift those restrictions, we will vote to lift those restrictions. But we’ll be led by the science as we always have been, not by the politics of propping up a broken Prime Minister.’

Looking at Malta, today saw the introduction of new measures which were no stranger to controversy. Malta now requires vaccination certification to enter several establishments, masks to be worn by unvaccinated or people in groups larger than 2, and other measures.

Could UK’s move to remove most measures prompt other countries, like Malta, to move forward with similar action? Of course, the data of infections would have to be analysed to check if the epidemiological situation improved or worsened.

Malta’s Health minister Chris Fearne highlighted how the way out of the pandemic, and even the easing of restrictions, is the vaccine rollout.

Pushing for more inoculation, the vaccine measure was met with some criticism by many. However, health authorities revealed that they were aiming to administer the jab to 70% of those eligible by this weekend, with 306,964 booster shots administered as of today.

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Decision to stop new COVID rules put off by Court

Jan 17 2022

After a group of 17 entertainment businesses an their employees on Sunday asked a court to block the new COVID-19 regulations from into coming into force on Monday today, Madam Justice Miriam Hayman did not uphold a request for a provisional warrant of prohibitory injunction.

Instead, she decided to hear the merits of the case on the 28th of January, which means that the new measures will not be stopped at least until then.

A vaccine certificate will be required to enter a number of catering and entertainment establishments such as bars and nightclubs. Frontline staff dealing with clients also need to be vaccinated, meaning they have received their booster shot.

The court action also comes as several protests agains the COVID regulations took place in Valletta. Health minister Chris Fearne defended the new rules, saying they will allow social distancing and establishments to return to pre-pandemic levels.

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5 reasons why you should invest in stocks

Jan 17 2022

As the economy continues to grow and individuals remain hungry in their pursuit of new streams of revenue, investing in stocks seems more and more attractive as time goes by. The stock market’s generous return over time is only complemented by the risk-and-reward thrill which comes with any investment.

Higher return on investment

While no investment is without its drawbacks, the stock market offers the potential to earn higher returns as opposed to other investment alternatives. Most investors tend to purchase low and sell high to capitalize on companies’ appreciation in value while others prefer a regular cash flow from companies that grow at a moderate rate and pay dividends.

Whichever way you prefer investing, the potential income from stocks is enticing enough for would-be investors to at least research the market and take a look at what they may be missing out on.

Potential for passive income

The term ‘passive income’ is thrown around a lot nowadays, with investors and entrepreneurs highlighting the importance of having at least one stream of passive income to contribute to financial security. Simply put, passive income is a regular source of earnings obtained through another source over and above your employment income.

Passive income could be anything from rental income to any business activity in which the earner does not materially participate in or in this case; dividend income. Owning dividend-yielding stocks will allow the shareholder to receive payments at regular intervals, meaning that if you invest in the right stocks, you could secure a solid stream of passive income.

The ease of buying and selling

Unlike other type of investments, the stock-market allows quick buying and selling in a matter of a few seconds. Having 24/7 access to the stock market and the ability to constantly monitor your portfolio, with real-time pricing, the MeDirect app allows you to benefit from the swift and abrupt movements of the stock market.

Needless to say, despite being easily accessible, the stock market is also volatile, and returns aren’t necessarily guaranteed so staying on your toes and playing it safe when needed is important for even the most experienced of investors.

The ability to diversify

Due to the liquid nature of stock investment, diversifying one’s portfolio based on their financial goals is one of the largest advantages. A diversified portfolio carries more advantages than disadvantages, allowing the investor to lower their investment risk.

Diversifying means that one spreads the investment capital over several companies across the globe which vary in size and market share. So whether you’re feeling bold and want to go for the big fish or try your luck with a more stable and safe investment, you can via the MeDirect App!

Easy access via MeDirect App

It has never been so easy to start trading as it is now with the MeDirect App. You can become a MeDirect customer, from the comfort of your own home within a few minutes, benefit from the best customer service on the island, and be able to Invest, Save & Trade on one platform with no account or maintenance fees.

The MeDirect app offers you a wide range of funds, shares, ETFs and bonds to choose from with competitive and straightforward trading fees. So, when trading is that easy, with free of charge real-time pricing, you can’t help but take a look!

So what are you waiting for to start reading up on investing?

To celebrate this important milestone, MeDirect has decided to launch a promotion where all new customers who join the Bank and invest a minimum of Eur5,000 will receive a cashback of Eur100. This offer is available between the 1^st of December 2021 and the 28th February 2022. Further information, including the terms and conditions, can be found here: https://promo.medirect.com.mt/receive-100-cash-back.

MeDirect, is also organising a giveaway, giving all its customers, who trade and invest with them, the opportunity to win exclusive prizes. Over the same time period, anyone who buys any security through the MeDirect platform with a minimum investment amount of Eur100, will be in with a chance of winning an iPhone 13 Pro Max (that will be drawn monthly) and a voucher of Eur250 from The Point Shopping Mall, which will be drawn on a weekly basis. Further information, including the terms and conditions, can be found here: https://promo.medirect.com.mt/trade-and-win.

Send this to someone who should start investing.

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Promotional offers mentioned are for a limited time only and terms & conditions apply.

MeDirect Bank (Malta) plc, company registration number C34125, is licensed to undertake the business of banking in terms of the Banking Act (Cap. 371) and investment services under the Investment Services Act (Cap. 370).

Endangered shark meat sold off as swordfish

Jan 17 2022

Customers were buying shark meat thinking they were being sold swordfish, after a fish importer was caught with a storeroom full of protected shark carcasses.

Officials from the Department of Fisheries were carrying out routine inspections in September 2019 on a local fish market when they noticed the swordfish at one stall having peculiar looking flesh.

The seller at the market stall told inspectors he bought the fish from a local importer and believed it was genuine swordfish, with the importer being identified later identified as being from Pisani Fisheries in Qormi.

A raid on the importer’s Żejtun cold stores a few weeks later revealed around two dozens carcasses of short-fin mako shark. The carcasses had heads and fins removed, but a team from the Environment and Resources Authority assisted the fisheries officials in correctly identifying them as shortfin mako.

The shark species also known as blue pointer are an endangered species and are protected under the Convention on international Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. This is a global agreement among governments to regulate and ban international trade in species under threat.

The sharks are not allowed to be fished in Maltese waters and cannot be sold for consumption, and it turns out they had not come from Maltese fishing boats but had been irregularly imports to Malta from Spain. The importer was fined €10,000 this week after he was found guilty of violating wildlife protection laws.

Even if fishing for these sharks were to stop immediately, it could take around 50 years to recover the population of these sharks said the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).

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