June 2022 was the hottest Maltese summer in 100 years

Jul 5 2022

According to reports by weather Facebook page ‘It-Temp Madwarna’, June 2022 was a record-breaking month with two scorching heat waves at the start and end.

The first summer month and the sixth month of the year, June 2022 recorded not a single droplet of rain as the sun radiated intense heat onto the islands.

It was found that June 2022 had maximum temperatures 4.2°C hotter than the average 28.2°C, with the minimum temperatures being around 3.2°C higher than the average 18.9°C.

The highest recorded temperature for the month was 39°C on the 28th of June, whereas the lowest temperature was recorded at 19°C during several dawns during the middle of the month.

No rain was recorded during the month of June, ranked at 0% of the average 4.2mm, and no storm was recorded either. Several days began with a low hanging mist as well as a repeated occurrence of desert dust settling over the island.

The month was relatively calm when it came to wind force, as only two days were registered with over Force 5 winds. The highest wind force was registered at Force 7 on the 10th of June. The sea temperature also soared from 20°C to around 23°C by the end.

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Love Island Gemma’s MALTESE EX makes headlines across the UK

Jul 5 2022

Love Island has quickly become one of the most popular TV series across the globe for its chaos and heated story lines, but this time round a Maltese person is involved in the drama.

27-year-old Neil Farrugia has made headlines across the UK after sharing his feelings on former girlfriend and current Love Island star Gemma Owen. After having to deal with some romantic turbulence of her own before setting her sights on fishmonger Luca Bish, her Maltese ex Neil Farrugia appeared on multiple UK tabloids expressing his opinion on the couple.

In a New Magazine exclusive, Farrugia was quoted saying “Luca’s not Gemma’s type… we still have positive vibes’, with OK! magazine publishing an article titled Love Island’s Gemma’s ex thinks he could ‘turn her head back’ as Luca ‘isn’t her type’.

Farrugia stated that Owen, who is the 19-year-old daughter of former professional footballer Michael Owen, is not only ‘drop dead stunning’ but has a ‘super personality’, going on to argue that would try his best to turn her head in his direction if he joined the show as a bomb shell.

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NGO reveals how to know when a local bat needs help

Jul 5 2022

Taking to social media, Wildlife Rescue Team Malta revealed that due to the current prolonged heatwave, they have been receiving numerous calls related to bats throughout the week.

The NGO listed a number of scenarios wherein bats would be in need of help. Of these, the NGO listed cases where bats are brought in by cats, often with damage done to wings, or when they are found on the floor.

‘A bat never goes to rest on the ground, therefore in these cases the bat definitely needs to be checked.’

The NGO added that a bat would need help if they are trying to fly but failing to do so or if baby bats are found on the floor. ‘Our bats are very small, adults are rarely more than 5cm long. A baby is the size of a 10c coin. Never attempt to feed yourselves as they are extremely sensitive.’

The NGO urged the public to immediately call the emergency number 99999505 and, if possible, place the bat in a small ventilated box until the staff arrive.

‘If a bat is on the outside and flying, it’s ok and does not need to be picked up.

If a bat has entered your house, close the door of the room to contain in one area, and open the curtains and windows to the outside. MONITOR to know if it has flown out. Sometimes it takes even up to 30 minutes for them to find the opening.’

The NGO also urged people to place water bowls in a house’s outdoor areas as bats, along with birds and other wildlife, will be struggling with the heat.

‘Donations are always welcome and can be sent by bank transfer or Revolut transfer on our Wildlife IBAN MT18 VALL 2201 3000 0000 4002 353 8289 , Swift code VALLMTMT.’

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PwC Malta launches Malta’s first Real Estate Transparency Index

Jul 5 2022

Over the past few months, PwC Malta has embarked on a project in conjunction with Jones Lang LaSalle and LaSalle Investment Management (JLL), together with Archi+, in deriving the first real estate Transparency Index for Malta.

Through their Global Real Estate Transparency Index (GRETI) which now involves 94 countries and territories, JLL has been mapping the evolution of real estate transparency across the globe since 1999.

The JLL GRETI is based on a combination of quantitative market data and survey results. It scores property markets on a transparency scale (ranging between 1, Highly Transparent, to 5, Opaque) and acts as an essential guide for companies operating in foreign markets and a unique benchmark of real estate market transparency.

PwC Malta led the compilation of survey results for Malta through consultations with key stakeholders within the public and private sector, including real estate investors, key developers, architects, lawyers, notaries, real estate agents and property managers.

The Index, based on JLL’s methodology, focuses on topics such as direct property indices, availability of property data in connection with transactions, valuations, the use of real estate technology in construction and property management (among others), real estate tax, land use planning, professional standards of agents, green building regulations and sustainability.

PwC Malta launches Malta’s first Real Estate Transparency Index

Malta has been given a score of 3.64 in the Index and ranked 62 among the 94 participant countries, thereby falling within the Low Transparency category along with countries such as Morocco, Egypt and Sri Lanka.

Malta scored well on some fronts such as governance of listed vehicles, regulatory and legal aspects, as well as the transaction process. Areas such as sustainability, technology and digitisation, and availability of data merit considerable improvement.

PwC Malta’s Territory Senior Partner, David Valenzia, said, “The global real estate industry is facing increased pressures to act responsibly on a number of fronts. Real estate is an important investment instrument, and the focus of investors is shifting more towards investing and doing business in a transparent and sustainable manner.

“Understanding the importance of the benefits of transparency, PwC Malta has worked in conjunction with Jones Lang LaSalle with the objective of establishing a benchmark for the local real estate sector. “The results of this survey have highlighted what areas to prioritise and the issues the country should address in moving forward to increase transparency.

Only by working upon identifiable targets can Malta improve its score and ranking in JLL’s GRETI. “The gradual improvement of the transparency within the real estate sector will enhance the level of trust and will continue to ensure the sustainability of the industry.”

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