VW and BMW fined $1 billion for not utilising emission reducing technology

Jul 9 2021

Volkswagen Group and BMW have been fined $1 billion for colluding to hold back development of technology which could have reduced harmful emissions from their vehicles. The fine was issued by the European Commission, which on Thursday stated that the two German carmakers, along with Daimler and VW subsidiaries Audi and Porsche, breached EU antitrust rules by agreeing to avoid competing on technical development in the nitrogen oxide cleaning area.

The five manufacturers possessed the required technology to reduce harmful emissions beyond what was legally required under EU emission standards. This was however avoided to compete on using this technology’s full potential to clean better than what is required. Volkswagen said it was considering whether to appeal the ruling, stating that it is the first time the commission prosecuted technical cooperation as an antitrust violation.

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Photo Source: Quartz

70 COVID cases among students in Qawra hotel forces closing

Jul 9 2021

A hotel in Qawra has been closed due to over 70 positive cases of COVID-19 amongst foreign students allegedly being registered. Most of the students registered as positive were in Malta to study English, with Net News reporting that their sources say the 55 new cases reported yesterday were not inclusive of the newly registered 70 cases in the hotel.

Net News was also informed that several vehicles from the health authorities were on site analysing the situation and mitigate any spread. This is a developing story. As of writing this article, Malta currently has 159 active cases, with a spike in new daily registered cases associated to imported and unvaccinated individuals. The focus was set to shift away from daily cases and towards hospitalisations of COVID-19 infections.

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Photo Source: European Pharmaceutical Review

Restart expresses concerns on rising imported COVID-19 cases

Jul 9 2021

The Restart Campaign posted to social media to express its concerns over the rising COVID-19 cases. Despite the local entertainment industry still being closed and banned from operating, the rise in cases seems to be attributed to uncontrolled behaviour of incoming visitors to the island. Most of them unvaccinated, with over 90% of reported cases coming from those who haven’t received the jab, the visitors are still ‘managing to have the time of their lives during their holiday.’

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Restart, and other industry organisers and stakeholders, have been suggesting safe and controlled reopening based on vaccine passports. ‘Who’s to blame this time?’ the campaign asks. The Malta Entertainment Industry and Arts Association (MEIA) also raised its similar concerns, stating that the ‘safe reopening of the industry [should not be] demonised any further.’

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Photo Source: @restart.malta IG, MEIA FB

Tourism ministry criticised as amateurish by doctors’ union

Jul 9 2021

The Medical Association of Malta (MAM) criticised the Ministry of Tourism for its amateurish behaviour and lack of foresight. This follows after Malta registered 55 new cases yesterday on Thursday. The statement was released this morning, stating how 10 days ago, 5000 students had been evacuated from Mallorca by ship after student parties led to more than 500 cases a day on this island. According to the MAM, this followed the ‘dubious privilege’ of being on the UK’s green list.

MAM described Malta’s placing on the UK green list as being set for rapid and devastating repetition of what happened on the Spanish island and even Lisbon, Portugal. The UK, the union continued, was exporting the Delta variant and actively promoting mass events with an average of more than 20,000 cases daily. It highlighted how herd immunity of 70% mitigates the pandemic only if there is no continuous virus importation.

The MAM urged restrictions on mass events as necessary to stop the new wave and to promote safe tourism into Malta. With 50 cases a day, Malta would end up back onto the EU’s red list in a matter of days. Should COVID spread from tourists to the unvaccinated 80,000 plus in Malta, the health care system would be put back under immense pressure. This, apart from being unfair to healthcare workers, would also lead to more deaths, infections and transmission of variants said the MAM.

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Photo Source: Wikipedia