Newly restored Combined Operations Room inaugurated by Malta Airport Foundation

Aug 13 2021

The Malta Airport Foundation, along with Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna, officially inaugurated the fully restored Combined Operations Room and ancillary rooms which form part of a warren of tunnels and chambers underneath Valletta’s Upper Barrakka.

Dating back to 1566 after being built by the Order of Saint John, the tunnels were used as war headquarters by British forces in 1941. The room received information from several ancillary rooms which allowed military strategy to take place, managing all defensive and offensive naval and military action in and from Malta.

These rooms served crucial roles during the Air Battle for Malta during World War II, serving as the first Combined Operations Room in history for both defensive and offensive roles. Later used by NATO as a submarine tracking centre and having an active role in both the Suez Crisis (1956) and Cuban Missle Crisis (1962), its doors were closed in 1977. The infrastructure was heavily damaged by flooding and disuse, but Malta Airport Foundation Chairman Mr Josef Formosa Gauci stated that he is confident this restored complex will further enrich Valletta’s unique offering.

With great satisfaction, he exclaimed how Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna alongside the Malta Airport Foundation overcame many challenges encountered throughout the restoration. The attraction is now opening its doors for tourists, with Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna Chairman Mr Mario Farrugia stating how the restoration was a huge undertaking given the state the rooms were found in.

Now that the ‘mammoth’ restoration has been completed, Farrugia exclaimed how this underground complex has the potential to become one of the top military attractions on the island. The contribution by the Malta Airport Foundation amounted to almost €340,000, making it the Foundation’s largest investment in Malta’s cultural product to date. Established in 2014 to invest in Malta’s heritage and environment, the Malta Airport Foundation’s aid to restore the Combined Operations Room is its first Valletta-based project.

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Photo Source: Malta Airport Foundation Communications

40,000 vaccine doses to be sent to Libya from Malta

Aug 13 2021

Libya will be supplied with 40,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses from Malta, along with an unspecified number of test kits to help fight the pandemic. Times of Malta revealed that the consignment will be sent to Tripoli on a government-chartered flight, making it another donation after test kits were sent to Tunisia were sent last week. Libya informed the World Health Organisation that it has had 271,981 confirmed cases since January 2020.

With a population of around seven million, 3,781 have died due to COVID-19, with only 764,233 vaccine doses having been administered as of Monday. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, urged governments not to administer booster shots until more countries vaccinate more of their population.

He stated how more than 80% of the vaccination doses have gone to high or upper-middle income countries, despite amounting for less than half of the world population. He stated that despite understanding national concerns to protect their people, it should not come at the expense of poorer countries as rich countries use more doses.

Malta, along with other countries, have announced plans to administer booster shots. The elderly and those with compromised immune systems will start to receive their booster jab starting mid-September.

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Photo Source: npr

Malta has registered over 540 annual grassfires

Aug 13 2021

The hot summers and record breaking heat waves have been having their toll on the island’s environmental landscape. Between the 1st of June and the 10th of August, the Civil Protection Department in Malta recorded 513 grass/rubbish fires. The average amount of fires across the Maltese islands for the past five years has registered at 543. Rabat, Zebbug, Siggiewi and Qormi registered the highest number of recorded fires this year at 28, 28, 26 and 25 respectively.

This concerning news has prompted local authorities to take note of what other countries have been experiencing. Australia, Greece and most recently Italy have been experiencing massive flames which forced people to evacuate entire areas as the fires engulfed fields and households. Fires caused due to global warming have taken the helm of such incidents, with activists such as Steve Zammit Lupi calling out to act as soon as possible and keep the remaining vegetation left on the island safe and secure.

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Photo Source: Steve Zammit Lupi

Messi accepts part of PSG fee in crypto fan tokens by Malta based company

Aug 13 2021

Minister for Economy and Industry Silvio Schembri congratulated companies working in the blockchain sector based in Malta haven their work achieve success as Lionel Messi accepts part of his PSG pay in crypto fan tokens. After leaving Barcelona, the 34-year-old world famous player signed a two year contract with Paris St Germain with the option of a third year with the team. PSG revealed that tokens were included in his welcome package which racked up an estimated 30 million Euros.

Fans are a type of cryptocurrency which allows holders to vote on minor decisions related to clubs. Increasingly seen by clubs as a source of new revenue, Socios.com, which provide the PSG tokens, say that nearly $200 million has been generated through their use. CEO of Socios.com Alexandre Dreyfus said that PSG was benefitting from its token and that other clubs could use this blueprint for their own dealings. He said that this could be the start of a new trend as fan tokens and Socios.com play an increasingly prominent role across sport at the highest possible levels.

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Photo Source: Reuters, Silvio Schembri FB