Malta’s Sky Sees Record-Breaking Air Traffic This Summer

Sep 1 2024

Malta Air Traffic Services (MATS) has announced a record-breaking summer in terms of air traffic, with an unprecedented number of overflights—flights passing over the Maltese Islands.

The peak occurred on Sunday, 23rd June, when a remarkable 539 flights were recorded in Malta’s airspace, marking the busiest day in its history.

MATS is responsible for managing not only the arrivals and departures at Malta’s local airport but also overseeing every aircraft traversing the Malta Flight Information Region, a significant area within the Mediterranean. This surge in air traffic underscores the strategic importance of Malta’s airspace in global aviation.

Transport Minister Chris Bonett took to social media to celebrate this achievement, expressing his satisfaction with the record and extending his congratulations to everyone involved in reaching this milestone. The minister acknowledged the crucial role of Malta’s air traffic control services in ensuring the safe and efficient management of a growing volume of flights.

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Jake Vella’s Funeral To Be Held on Saturday 7th September

Sep 1 2024

Jake Vella’s funeral will take place on Saturday, 7th September 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at the Birzebbugia Parish Church of St Peter’s Chains.

The details were shared by his mother, Maruska Vella, in a heartfelt post on Saturday. In her message, she invited the public to join the Vella family in celebrating Jake’s life. She also requested that people keep the date free to ensure Jake receives the beautiful celebration he deserves.

Jake Vella, a motivational icon in Malta’s history, tragically passed away on 30th August 2024. Despite battling a rare condition that caused rapid weight gain, Jake lived as a dedicated athlete, inspiring countless individuals with his perseverance and determination.

Jake’s father, Josie Vella, shared an emotional tribute, expressing the deep pain of losing his son after 665 nights at his side in Mater Dei Hospital. He took comfort in knowing that Jake would soon return home to rest among his many awards. Maruska Vella emphasized that this is not a final farewell but a “see you later,” celebrating Jake’s freedom from pain after ten years of suffering.

The Vella family expressed profound gratitude to the medical staff, particularly those at the Disneyland and ITU ward, and to Dr. John Torpiano, who became not just Jake’s doctor but his close friend.

RIP Jake.

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81 Turtles Hatch At Ramla Bay Nest

Sep 1 2024

A total of 81 baby turtles successfully hatched from a nest at Ramla l-Hamra Bay in Gozo: a significant achievement for local conservation efforts. The Wildlife Rescue Team, along with officials from Nature Trust – FEE Malta, ERA, and veterinarian Dr. Anthony Gruppetta, conducted an inspection of the nest, known as Nest 3 for 2024, after the third night of hatching.

The nest originally contained 88 eggs, of which 82 were fertilised. Unfortunately, one hatchling was found deceased in the nest, likely due to trampling during the hatching process. Over the previous nights, 69 hatchlings made their way to the sea, while 12 were discovered alive but trapped during the inspection. Of these, 11 were released immediately, and one was taken to the Xrobb L-Ghagin Nature Park and Wildlife Rehab Centre for rehabilitation due to a deformed flipper.

The nest recorded an impressive 92% hatch rate, with 99% of the fertilised eggs successfully hatching. This remarkable success is attributed to the dedication of over 300 volunteers from Malta and Gozo, who tirelessly monitor the nests day and night.

With three nests successfully hatched, five more remain for this year’s turtle nesting season.

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Maltese Missionaries Raising Funds For Ethiopia, Kenya & Brazil

Sep 1 2024

The lives of children and families in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Brazil have been significantly improved thanks to the generosity of the Maltese people who support the Ġesù fil-Proxxmu missionary movement. This movement, founded 36 years ago by Gozitan priest Fr George Grima, provides essential resources such as food, water, medicine, education, and shelter to those in need. The mission’s work is currently overseen by Fr Alex Cauchi.

In Ethiopia, one of the movement’s new initiatives involves the use of agricultural land to promote self-sufficiency, ensuring that communities not only receive aid but also gain the skills to sustain themselves.

However, the region of Jimma Bonga in Ethiopia, where the Maltese missionaries have been working for 30 years, is now facing an unexpected and deadly malaria outbreak. This crisis has overwhelmed the local community, with a severe shortage of medication to combat the disease. The missionaries, who manage over 100 schools and clinics in the area, are appealing to the public for urgent assistance to purchase lifesaving medicines.

Today, Ġesù fil-Proxxmu will be raising funds during a 12-hour telethon on local television. Donations of €15 can be made via phone on 51702004, €25 via phone on 51802005 and €6.99 via SMS on 50618933.

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