57 Homicide Victims In Malta Between 2014 & 2023

Aug 3 2024

Between 2014 and 2023, Malta recorded 57 homicide victims, comprising 38 males and 19 females. These 57 deaths resulted from 51 distinct homicide incidents.

The highest annual number of homicides occurred in 2017, with nine cases, while 2021 and 2023 saw the lowest, with only two cases each. The annual average number of homicides dropped from six between 2014-2018 to four between 2019-2023.

Nearly half (49.1%) of the victims were aged 25-44, with another 19.3% aged 45-59. Regional analysis showed that 29.8% of homicides occurred in the Northern Harbour district, with the highest homicide rate in the Southern Harbour district at 1.6 per 100,000 people.

Over the ten years, two-thirds of the victims were Maltese, but the proportion of foreign victims rose from 25% in 2014-2018 to 44% in 2019-2023. Sharp or blunt objects were used in 45.6% of homicides, while firearms or explosives accounted for 38.6%.

Males were most often killed by known individuals (42.1%), whereas nearly half of female victims (47.4%) were killed by intimate partners. The overall homicide rate peaked at 1.4 per 100,000 population during 2016-2018 and fell to 0.7 per 100,000 during 2019-2021.

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Source: NSO

Proposal For Badminton Olympic Athlete After Winning Gold

Aug 3 2024

Chinese Olympian Huang Ya Qiong experienced a double celebration at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, winning a gold medal and receiving a marriage proposal.

Huang, a 30-year-old badminton player, alongside her partner Zheng Siwei, secured gold in the mixed doubles event, defeating South Korea’s Kim Won-ho and Jeong Na-eun on August 2.

Following the medal ceremony at La Chapelle Arena, Huang was surprised by her teammate and men’s doubles player, Liu Yuchen, who proposed to her with a bouquet of flowers and a ring in front of the cheering crowd.

Huang, overwhelmed with emotion, tearfully accepted the proposal.

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Huang expressed her joy, stating she felt “happy, happy, happy” and was completely surprised by the proposal, having been focused solely on training for the Olympics.

The moment quickly went viral on social media, with users celebrating the couple’s engagement.

This heartwarming proposal isn’t the only one at the 2024 Games. Before the Olympics began, Argentinian field hockey player Maria Campoy was also proposed to by her boyfriend, Pablo Simonet, a handball player, near the River Seine.

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4.1 Million Airport Passengers In First Half Of 2024

Aug 3 2024

Malta International Airport welcomed 4.1 million passengers in the first half of 2024, marking its best-performing first half to date and an 18.4% year-on-year increase in passenger movements.

March saw the fastest growth, with a 30% increase over 2023 levels, followed by February (+25%) and January (+23%).

This surge in passenger traffic led to a substantial financial gain, with total revenue reaching €66.4 million and a net profit of €22.1 million. As a result of this strong performance, the company distributed its highest interim dividend to shareholders and continued investing in airport development.

In addition to its financial success, Malta International Airport unveiled its Net Zero Carbon Plan, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2025 and net zero emissions by 2050.

The airport has already reduced emissions within its control by 31% since 2015 and is advancing through Airports Council International’s Airport Carbon Accreditation programme.

The plan includes investing in clean energy production and improving energy efficiency, such as expanding the airport’s renewable energy portfolio with new photovoltaic farms, upgrading HVAC systems, and converting airfield lighting to efficient LED alternatives.

These efforts reflect the airport’s commitment to sustainability alongside its operational achievements.

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7th Turtle Nest Of 2024 Found At Ramla Tal-Mixquqa

Aug 3 2024

The 7th turtle nest has been found on a Maltese bay this past week, having been spotted laid at Ir-Ramla tal-Mixquqa.

The nest was found at 3am on August 2nd 2024 after an Ecological monitor spotted the turtle.

With the eggs safely laid, Nature Trust Malta checked the turtle’s microchip and found that it was the same turtle which laid the fourth nest earlier this year.

Officials were immediately on site to ensure the nest’s protection.

‘This season is definitely an active one for this endangered species, which brings celebratory news for biodiversity protection!’

‘The public is reminded that if a turtle is spotted during a nesting attempt, no interactions with the turtle are to be made, as noise and light may scare the turtle away and a potential nest may be lost as a result. One should also immediately report the sighting.’

The public can report turtle activity to ERA (2292 3500) or Nature Trust Malta (9999 9505).

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