December 2022
Former Judge on China’s Top Court Suggests End to Prosecution of ‘Zero-COVID’ Violators
A former judge of the Supreme People’s Court, the highest court in China, is calling for the suspension or revocation of cases against some 80 people found guilty of violating “zero-COVID” policy regulations since the advent of omicron, a less deadly variant that began spreading in December 2021. China implemented the zero-COVID policy in January 2020, the month after the virus was first detected in humans in Wuhan. Anyone convicted of obstructing the prevention and control of COVID-19 faced a prison sentence of three to seven years, according to regulations set forth by the National Health and Medical Commission
Russia Mulls Early Return of Space Station Crew After Soyuz Capsule Leak
Russia’s space agency said it is considering a plan to send an empty spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS) to bring home three crew members ahead of schedule, after their Soyuz capsule sprang a coolant leak while docked to the orbiting outpost. Roscosmos and NASA officials said at a news conference Thursday they continue to investigate how the coolant line of the capsule’s external radiator sustained a tiny puncture last week, just as two cosmonauts were preparing for a routine spacewalk. No final decision has been made about the precise means of flying the capsule’s three crew members back
THE MINISTRY FOR TRANSPORT, INFRASTRUCTURE AND CAPITAL PROJECTS AND THE MINISTRY FOR EDUCATION, SPORT, YOUTH, RESEARCH AND INNOVATION Viva Malta National Offshore Sailing Boat launched
The Viva Malta National Offshore Sailing Boat, which will provide an opportunity for Maltese sailors to compete in the international offshore circuit, has been officially launched. The launch was held at the Mediterranean Maritime Hub and presided over by Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Aaron Farrugia and Minister for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation Clifton Grima, together with Yachting Malta and Sports Malta. The sailing boat was blessed by Mons. Victor Grech. Viva Malta will now be passed on to Sport Malta and Malta Sailing Federation, who will work together to administer this initiative. Minister Aaron Farrugia
THE MINISTRY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY AND ENTERPRISE 4,000sqm site at Romeo Romano Garden reopened to the public
The first phase of the restoration project led by GreenServ in Ġnien Romeo Romano in Santa Venera has been inaugurated by Minister for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise Miriam Dalli. This part of the garden, previously inaccessible to the public, will be adding around 4,000 square meters to the open space in the heart of this urban area. The restoration works sought to make this part of the garden accessible and safe for visitors. The project included a children’s playground and two decking areas, planned to sustainably integrate the history of this garden while retaining its large number
What Kind of Leader Does Twitter Need?
If not Elon, then who? That’s a question many are contemplating since Elon Musk, Twitter’s CEO, said this week he was actively looking for a new leader to run the social media network. Musk’s proclamation comes after more than 10 million respondents said in a Musk-created Twitter poll that he should resign. Musk followed up with a tweet that he would resign as soon as he found someone “foolish enough to take the job.” It was one of many twists in the company’s chaotic restructuring since Musk took over in late October, a period that has included mass layoffs and
Experts: How China Reports COVID19 Deaths Keeps Total Low
As Chinese social media circulated photos and videos showing crowded fever clinics and people lining up outside of hospitals, China’s National Health Commission (NHC) reported no new COVID-related deaths on Wednesday and 3,101 new confirmed cases nationwide. The day before, the NHC reported seven deaths in total over the first two days of recording all COVID deaths in the nation of 1.4 billion people. A person working in a crematorium in Beijing who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation told VOA Mandarin on December 21 that the wait list for cremations is stretching into January. The