Godfried Narh Okunor wins best bus driver for 4th consecutive quarter

May 20 2023

The Malta Public Transport ‘Tallinja’ ‘Efficient Driving Awards were held this week to reward the drivers for their work during the 1st Quarter of 2023.

Once again, bus driver Godfried Narh Okunor managed to place 1st for the fourth consecutive quarter – a remarkable feat considering that Tallinja employs around 900 bus drivers.

Narh Okuyor was awarded in the presence of Malta Public Transport officials and colleagues, along with his co-workers who were also rewarded for their continuous service all over the islands.

Godfried has managed to rank first for three consecutive terms, with trips assessed in real time through driver assistive technology.

Tallinja congratulated all the bus drivers for ‘going that extra mile to deliver a cleaner, safer and more comfortable service to bus passengers. Well done to everyone!’.

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€5 million for home facade restorations by Planning Authority

May 20 2023

The Planning Authority has revealed that a €5 million financial aid scheme for property owners will be allocated to restore the facades of local homes.

The scheme was announced by the Minister for Planning and Public Works Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi alongside the Planning Authority’s Executive Chairman Oliver Magri.

Residents who own properties in any Maltese or Gozitan locality which fall under the Urban Conservation Areas, will be able to restore their property facades and receive a 100% refund of the works up to a maximum of €11,000.

The scheme will also be applicable for buildings scheduled in the First or Second Grade, with a maximum of €16,000. Part of the refund will include up to €800 for eligible professional services and €200 for local council permits.

€4 million will be go to residential properties in UCA areas whereas €1 million will go to scheduled residential properties. Buildings who have already benefitted from the scheme will not be able to reapply.

The applications will be accepted between 30th May 2023 and 30th June 2023 for UCA residences. For scheduled properties, the time frame is listed as June 6th 2023 to July 6th 2023.

The Minister explained how this scheme will help homeowners renovate their homes whilst also preserving the beauty of Maltese architecture.

On his part, Magri said that since 2017, the Planning Authority has already allocated over €27 million, with 3,000 in UCA zones profiting off of the scheme.

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New York City is sinking due to weight of all the skyscrapers

May 20 2023

Newly released research has suggested that New York City is currently experiencing partial sinking due to the weight of its insane amount of skyscrapers and buildings.

The Big Apple’s flooding threat is being worsened as it subsides by approximately 1-2mm each year on average, according to researchers. Some areas are facing this risk at double the rate.

The sinking is made worse by the impact of rising sea levels which are accelerating at around twice the global average due to glacier meltdowns and global heating.

Since 1950, the water surrounding the city has risen by around 22cm, and researchers predict that major flooding could be exacerbated to four times more frequency by the end of the century.

The study was published in Earth’s Future journal, with researchers writing worryingly that a ‘deeply concentrated population of 8.4 million people faces varying degrees of hazard from inundation in New York City.’

This is a threat being faced by many other cities around the globe, the researchers write, but the sheer bulk of the city’s infrastructure is making matters worse for the US attraction.

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It’s International Bee Day: Here are 3 facts about bees

May 20 2023

Bees have a ‘democracy dance’

Scout bees looking for the hive’s new home will ‘squiggle’ and ‘dance’ to describe the location and benefits of the area.

If other bees are convinced, they will check it out for themselves and return to perform the same patterns. If the hive agrees, they migrate to the new location!

Bees use feces as a defence tool

Many species of bees are threatened by giant hornet predators in various parts of Asia.

To protect the hive, bees have been known to collect and smear animal feces around the hive entrance to deter the invaders.

Human-bee relationships go back thousands of years

Humans have been exploiting honeybees for a very long time. Honey has been found in Egyptian tombs and beeswax has been found on pottery from 9,000 years ago.

8,000 year old cave paintings in Spain show humans gathering honey from a ladder as well. Which brings us to…

The Federation for Hunting and Conservation Malta (FKNK) and the Malta Beekeepers Association (MBKA) collaborated to support pollination in a unique manner specific to Maltese bees.

Beekeeping members will have the opportunity to migrate bee colonies from their apiaries to the Miżieb and Aħrax reserves. This not only collects thyme nectar, but improves and ensures the pollination of the flora in Malta’s protected habitats.

#MaltaDaily