Asteroid the size of Burj Khalifa to zoom past Earth next week

Oct 29 2022

A massive asteroid the size of the largest building on Earth is set to zoom too close to comfort just by our planet just in time for Halloween.

As if the universe is giving us a bit of a jump scare, the Halloween asteroid, as some nicknamed it, won’t be bothering our planet at all.

And if it happened to do so, NASA’s latest Dart achievement proves that we’d be able to divert its trajectory with our 21st century technology. And a comet like this would have had the attention of scientists for a while now.

And to calm you down even more, a ‘close pass’ in space terms means that it’s not that extremely close to us at all. The comet will be zooming more than two million kilometres away.

That’s around six times the distance between the Earth and the moon. It is close enough to call it ‘potentially hazardous’, but still decently safe.

The asteroid itself is about the size of the Burj Khalifa, the biggest building in the world, and nearly twice the size of the Empire State Building. The asteroid is possibly as wide as 740 metres and it will brighten to mag 14.3, meaning telescope enthusiasts can get a peek at it.

#MaltaDaily

President’s Solidarity Fun Run returns after COVID setbacks

President’s Solidarity Fun Run makes official comeback after COVID hiatus

Oct 29 2022

The President’s Solidarity Fun Run has made its official return following a COVID-19 hiatus due to COVID-19 in 2020 and after having been replaced by smaller walks last year.

The Fun Run will be held on November 20th and was announced by President George Vella on Friday. Last year, the run was replaced by smaller walks across 58 different localities to avoid large gatherings.

The run will take its original format this year, meaning that participants will walk or run from four localities to St George’s Square.

The walk will start in Paola, Tal-Qroqq and Santa Venera, whereas the run will kick off from Saqqajja in Rabat. The President described the event as an opportunity to unite different people for a charitable cause.

The announcement was also backed by Sports and Education Minister Clifton Grima, as well as Chief Executive for Sport Malta and Chairperson for the Fun Run Organisation Committee Mark Cutajar.

The €10 registrations can be submitted at San Anton’s Kitchen Garden, the Malta Community Chest Fund office in Valletta. SportMalta complexes in Kirkop and Cottonera, Tal-Qroqq national pool complex, and Ta’ Kandja shooting range. They can also take place at local councils from Saturday or during the Festa Palazz which takes place at Verdala Palace on Saturday and Sunday.

#MaltaDaily

15% increase in bus passengers since free public transport was introduced

Oct 29 2022

Transport Minister Aaron Farrugia reported that bus passengers have increased by 15% ever since public transport was made free this October 2022.

The Minister was comparing the differences between September and October of this year to see whether the introduction of free Tallinja would create an impact.

Despite already seeing a slight increase, Farrugia acknowledged that public transport is still carrying fewer people than it did before the COVID-19 pandemic. The arrival of the virus saw historic lows for number of bus commuters.

According to statistics provided by Farrugia himself on Friday, there were 24% fewer people using public transport in September 2022 when compared to the same month of last year.

Farrugia said that the 9% fewer passengers during October of this year is already a positive step. Passengers must have a valid Tallinja bus card to travel for free, otherwise they would need to purchase a valid ticket.

This comes as Farrugia announces that 25 new electric buses would be added to the current fleet to increase routes and make public transport environmentally friendlier and reduce carbon footprint.

#MaltaDaily

Plan to address all road accidents and deaths to be issued soon

Plan to address all road accidents and deaths through new entity

Oct 29 2022

Transport Minister Aaron Farrugia revealed that the government will be releasing a new plan to address the high death count on Maltese roads.

This was announced in response to the worrying increase in road accidents and deaths which raised alarms all throughout 2022.

22 people have died in 2022 because of traffic accidents, which is one less than the previous record set in 2016. Three of these accidents took place just this past week.

Farrugia also revealed that he has held meetings with the Road Safety Council, headed by Pierre Vella, to discuss a new strategy moving forward. ‘These are not numbers’ said Farrugia in reference to the deaths, ‘but people who have died and left their families behind.’

#MaltaDaily