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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Home Ownership In Malta 2022 At 82.6%

Aug 3 2024

In 2022, Malta’s homeownership rate was 82.6%, significantly higher than the European average of 64.1% and other Southern European countries at 75.5%.

This figure was detailed in the Foundation for Affordable Housing‘s study “Entryways to Homeownership” by Dr. Dylan Cassar. The study highlights how Maltese families use various strategies to navigate the increasingly expensive property market.

One notable trend is that 21% of properties acquired in the last decade were through gifts or inheritance, up from 10% in the 2000s.

This includes redeveloping family-owned terraced houses into multiple apartments, enabling younger generations to enter the housing market.

Additionally, 59% of young adults (aged 18-34) still live with their parents, a co-residence rate among the highest in Europe.

This arrangement helps them save for future housing costs, contributing to Malta’s high homeownership rate.

Families also provide financial support, with 26% of households receiving gifts or inheritances, averaging €29,000.

Beyond financial assistance, the report found that families use social networks to secure favourable loan terms and connect with skilled professionals in the housing sector, offering crucial support through the intergenerational transfer of skills and expertise.

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