Around 1.8 million passengers cross Malta-Gozo channel in summer 2022

Oct 17 2022

New information from the National Statistics Office shows that the number of passengers crossing to or from Malta and Gozo increased, but the amount of voyages decreased when compared to 2021.

The NSO reports how between July and September 2022 a total of 11,433 voyages were carried out, with 1,788,244 crossing the channel.

July was the busiest summer 2022 month, with 3,882 voyages in total registered. This is a 34% increase over the same quarter of the previous year.

The amount of passengers crossing between Mgarr and Cirkewwa amounted to 1,590,386, which is a 13.4% increase when compared to the same 2021 quarter. Meanwhile, the largest amount of passengers was registered in August at 562,464.

This is 35.4% of the total quarter. When compared to 2021, the number of vehicles increased by 3.6% and totalled 571,125.

As per trips, the third quarter saw a total of 9,138. This is an increase of 6.9% over the same 2021 period. August also saw the highest number of trips at 33.7% (3,084) for the quarter.

Friday and Saturdays saw the highest passenger and vehicle traffic originating from Cirkewwa during the January-September 2022 period. Meanwhile, the Mgarr terminal’s highest passenger traffic was registered on Sundays and Saturdays.

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5 years later: Here’s what went down yesterday

Oct 17 2022

Yesterday, Sunday 16th October 2022, marked 5 years since the brutal assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Following the news that the Degiorgio brothers had reversed their ‘not-guilty’ plea and were handed a 40 year jail sentence, Sunday was fully dedicated to the murdered journalist with various demonstrations and activities.

Many met in the Bidnija fields where the assassination took place, with EU President Roberta Metsola, Daphne’s family and other notable figures joined the public to pay their respects.

Archbishop Charles Scicluna was also spotted in the early hours of the morning saying a prayer at the site. Crowds later took to the capital city of Valletta to commemorate the journalist whilst also protesting the culture of impunity and failure of justice to fully carry out its duties against everyone involved in the assassination.

Many gave keynote speeches in front of the Great Site of Malta monument which currently also holds a memorial for the late journalist. A massive crowd walked the streets of the capital city, chanting ‘Daphne kellha raġun’ (Daphne was right) to close off half a decade since the brutal murder.

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: joanna_demarco IG , Roberta Metsola, Robert Aquilina

Scientists behind COVID jab predict cancer vaccine could be ready by 2030

Oct 17 2022

The minds behind the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine have revealed that a cancer jab could be ready before this decade ends in 2030.

The Independent reported that co-founders of BioNTech, who partnered up with Pfizer for the COVID jab, are hopeful that their breakthroughs for melanomas, bowel cancer and other tumour cancers could translate into an operable vaccine.

Uğur Şahin and Özlem Türeci expressed some hesitation about announcing the medical technology, but the latter said that their work on the COVID-19 vaccine led them to finding a potential cure.

‘We have learned how to better, faster manufacture vaccines. We have learned in a large number of people how the immune system reacts towards mRNA’ said Türeci.

In a nutshell, the COVID jab’s mRNA technology could be repurposed to enhance the bodily immune system while attacking cancerous cells. The mRNA recreates antigens and tells the body what to search for and what to target.

Türeci described the mRNA as a wanted poster for the cancerous cells and thus won’t target other healthy cells. The predicted finish line is 2030 and the COVID jab rollout could even indicate how effective use could become.

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Flu and Omicron jab free for healthcare workers and those over 55

Oct 17 2022

People aged over 55 as well as pregnant women, healthcare workers and people suffering from chronic conditions can get vaccinated against both COVID-19 and the flu by Monday.

Both vaccines can be received at the same time and people can also choose to receive just one.

They will be made available for free from community clinics and all health care centres. The flu vaccine will be available to everyone aged 6 months ad over as of 31st October.

Adults aged 55 and over, pregnant women and healthcare workers are all available. People who are aged 12 and over can also receive it if they provide evidence of suffering from the following chronic conditions: chronic respiratory disease, chronic heart disease, chronic liver disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus and chronic immunodeficiency states (such as HIV/AIDS)

Anyone aged below 55 needs to show evidence of these conditions as confirmed either by presenting the Schedule V Control Card or a medical certificate.

The flu jab is also available for kids aged between 6 months and 12 years suffering from the same chronic conditions.

This comes as health authorities expect a severe influenza season this upcoming winter.

#MaltaDaily