Web Developer Shows 30 Years Of Building Permits In Malta

Mar 4 2024

The video captures three decades of planning applications in Malta, revealing a significant surge in construction activity.

Using data from the Planning Authority, it meticulously documents approved and rejected applications since 1993, distinguishing between those within and outside development zones.

Presented on an aerial map, the video showcases the overwhelming number of approved applications, outnumbering refusals by a large margin. Creator David Vella, a UK-based Maltese software developer, aimed to visually depict Malta’s development trends, acknowledging his initial suspicions confirmed by the project’s findings.

Vella’s software tool extracted data from the Planning Authority website, enabling the video’s creation over a span of three years, recently completed during a period of illness. Each frame represents a day, condensing a year’s data into six seconds, with textual summaries accompanying each application.

Vella, a former Times of Malta web developer, highlights the legitimacy of many applications outside development zones, emphasizing the multifaceted nature of Malta’s development landscape.

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Alfred Sant Advocates For EU Stability Pact Rule Changes

Mar 4 2024

During a public discussion at Europe House, MEP Alfred Sant advocated for changes to the rules of the European Union’s Stability Pact.

He proposed excluding investment costs from a country’s deficit calculation and suggested the establishment of a central fund for European investments. Expressing concern over the strain on social welfare expenditure due to new demands on the EU budget, he warned against excessive austerity measures that could negatively impact social spending.

MEP Sant, leading the European Parliament’s work on proposed laws for capital markets, highlighted the EU’s lag in capital market integration.

He attributed this to disagreements among Member States, with some prioritizing national interests and others fearing loss of control.

Regarding the EU’s fiscal union project, Sant stressed the necessity of a central Treasury for its success. He also identified the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) as a significant task in the European Parliament, aimed at enhancing cyber security for banks in response to past cyber attacks.

Sant emphasized the unanimous support for DORA, reflecting the shared commitment to bolstering cyber security measures.

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Smoking In Public Should Be Banned, OASI CEO Suggests

Mar 4 2024

Noel Xerri, CEO of the OASI Foundation, advocated for a complete ban on outdoor smoking in Malta, aligning with measures implemented in other countries.

Speaking on TVMnews+’s ‘Insights’ program, Xerri emphasized the health benefits of such a measure, stressing its importance for contemporary society.

He highlighted the normalization of cigarettes in the past decades due to aggressive marketing, including from medical perspectives.

Contrary to popular beliefs, Clinical Director of Aġenzija Sedqa, Anna Maria Vella, refuted the notion that moderate wine consumption is beneficial for health. She also dispelled the myth that vaping is safer than smoking, asserting that both harm lung health.

‘Insights’ delved into Malta’s drug situation based on a recent report. Findings revealed concerning statistics from 2022, including 68 heroin-related emergency admissions, 431 cocaine-related cases, and 438 incidents linked to cannabis use.

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Source: TVM, Insights

31% Of Over 65 Do Not Use Internet

Mar 4 2024

In 2023, internet usage among individuals aged 16 to 74 reached 90%, with the highest adoption rate observed among those aged 16 to 34.

Conversely, only 68.7% of individuals aged 65 to 74 utilized the internet. However, Malta’s internet usage surpassed the EU-27 average by 0.7%.

The primary purposes for internet usage were communication, with 98.6% of individuals using it for this reason, and accessing information, reported by 94.3% of users.

Seven out of ten internet users possessed ‘basic’ or ‘above basic’ digital skills, with individuals aged 16 to 24 being the most proficient in this regard. Notably, over 87% of internet users exhibited ‘above basic’ knowledge in communication and collaboration skills as well as information and data literacy skills.

These findings were part of a survey on information and communication technology usage, partly funded by the European Commission.

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Source: NSO