Kirkop’s Our Lady Of Sorrows Painting Restored

Jan 30 2024

An 18th century painting of Our Lady Of Sorrows, attributed to Francesco Zahra, was restored into its full glory this week.

The painting, which shows Jesus Christ taken down from the cross and place into his mother Mary’s arms, was restored by Atelier del Restauro.

The restored painting was inaugurated on the 28th of January in the presence of Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna and Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Councils Owen Bonnici.

The restoration took place through the financial support of the Maltese Council for Arts as well as APS Bank.

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Over 160 Youth Organisations Awarded Funds For Community Projects

Jan 30 2024

More than 160 voluntary youth organizations, along with organizations focused on youth initiatives, received funding totaling approximately €735,000 during an event organized by Aġenzija Żgħażagħ. The awards ceremony, graced by Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Research, and Innovation Keith Azzopardi Tanti, acknowledged and rewarded the organizations benefiting from these funding schemes.

Expressing gratitude for the continuous efforts of youth voluntary organizations in communities, Secretary Azzopardi Tanti emphasized the need for more volunteers in our society. He commended the dedication of these organizations and pledged ongoing support, citing the increasing annual investment in youth initiatives.

Aġenzija Żgħażagħ’s Youth Empowerment Unit Manager, Maria Carmela Borg, highlighted the agency’s growth since its inception. She emphasized the agency’s mission to aid youth organizations and those working with young people in enhancing their societal contributions. Ms. Borg noted that, since its establishment, the agency has facilitated over 1,000 projects, benefiting around 121,500 youths, with a cumulative funding surpassing €2.5 million through various schemes.

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Malta’s July 2023 Reached Temperatures Of 42.7°C

Jan 30 2024

In 2023, Malta became an attractive destination for sun-seeking tourists, experiencing weather warmer and drier than the climatic norm.

The Meteorological Office recorded 3,020 hours of sunshine, with July being notably the warmest month since 1922, reaching an average temperature of 29.6°C and hitting a peak of 42.7°C during a 10-day heatwave.

Despite December starting the winter season with an average temperature of 15.9°C, exceeding the norm by 1.4°C, February marked the only month below the climatic average.

The year saw 554.8 mm of rainfall, above the annual average, with storm Helios in February contributing significantly. However, March was exceptionally dry, receiving only 3 mm of rain, causing a drier-than-average spring. July remained completely rainless.

Autumn in Malta was uncharacteristically dry, with October being the driest on record, receiving only 0.2 mm of rain. Thunderstorms, usually associated with weather transitions in October, were absent.

Despite deficiencies in rainfall and lightning, wind exceeded the norm in eight months, with April and May being the windiest, and the strongest gust recorded at 53 knots in November. Overall, 2023 provided a sun-soaked and dry Mediterranean experience, attracting tourists seeking warmth and sunshine.

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Ongoing Works On Triq Ta’ Wara S-Sur In Belt Victoria

Jan 30 2024

The Minister for Gozo and Infrastructure, Clint Camilleri, visited the ongoing reconstruction work on the Triq ta’ Wara s-Sur (Back Street) in Victoria, Gozo, with a value of €1.5 million.

In this street, new services are being installed, including new water mains on each side of the road, a new drainage system, new water connections to irrigate farmers’ fields, rainwater harvesting systems, and telecommunication ducts.

New benches are also being installed, pavements are being strengthened, and the road surface is being completely resurfaced.

Minister Clint Camilleri mentioned that the work on the Triq ta’ Wara s-Sur is progressing well, with the services section of the road in the residential area already completed. He explained that two new water mains have been installed on each side of the road, a new drainage main, new connections for all residences, and a stormwater culvert that will lead towards Marsalforn Road so that, as the Marsalforn Road works begin, the stormwater culvert can be connected to the same road.

As Carnival approaches, the road surface in part of this street will be completed and opened to the public, followed by continued work on the remaining part of Triq ta’ Wara s-Sur.

Minister Camilleri also revealed that a new junction will be created in this area to permanently alleviate the bottleneck in Rabat.

This new junction will be one of several new junctions and alternative roads to be created in Rabat. Following this road, work will commence on Triq George Pisani, a new road that will also provide an alternative route for those heading to Marsalforn. “The aim of this project is to reduce traffic from the center of Rabat as much as possible,” concluded Minister Clint Camilleri.

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