New pedestrian street with recreational space in Ħamrun centre

Feb 24 2023

On the initiative of the Ħamrun local council, a secondary road next to Pjazza San Pawl was closed to traffic and turned into a pedestrian road with a recreational space.

This space was inaugurated this morning by Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Aaron Farrugia and Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government Alison Zerafa Civelli in the presence of the local council.

This project was financed by Transport Malta through the ‘European Mobility Week’ scheme and by the Local Government Division through the scheme ‘Financing for the Development and Improvement of Playing Fields Conditions in Localities in Malta and Gozo’.

The total investment for this project amounts to approximately €60,000.

“It is satisfying to see projects of this nature come to life especially in highly urbanized areas such as Ħamrun. I look forward to seeing this project being enjoyed and more projects of this nature being carried out in more areas around the country,” stated Minister Aaron Farrugia.

To change this road from a busy one to a pedestrian one, a new pavement and iron gates were installed around the recreational space to make it a safe space for the public. The playground contains different and inclusive equipment that can also be used by people with special needs.

“The local councils know best the needs of their localities and their respective residents, therefore I commend the initiative of the Ħamrun Local Council to create a pedestrian area with a recreational space to be enjoyed by residents,” stated the parliamentary secretary.

Hamrun Mayor Christian Sammut explained that this project was one of a series of regeneration projects in various roads in Hamrun. “The main objective behind these projects is to attract more families to our centres,” stated Mr Sammut.

The Director for Strategy and Policy Implementation within the Local Government Division, representatives from Transport Malta and several members of the Ħamrun Local Council were also present for this event.

#MaltaDaily

PwC Malta organises international food festivals to celebrate workplace diversity

Feb 24 2023

PwC Malta organises International Food Festivals to celebrate diversity at the workplace. The latest festival was a resounding success, attracting a mix of employees from over 30 countries showcasing their nation’s rich cultural heritage. This culinary feast is just one of many initiatives that PwC’s Diversity, Culture and Values committee organises, and as fun as savouring delicious cultural dishes sounds, so are other initiatives such as their ‘Il-Malti’ sessions. Meant mainly for international employees, but open to all PwCers, these enjoyable lunchtime sessions focus on the local culture and history, whilst exploring the beloved Maltese language.

PwC Malta organises international food festivals to celebrate workplace diversity PwC Malta recognises that diversity is not just a buzzword, but a core value that drives the firm’s success. The firm recognises the importance of embracing differences, whether these are based on race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexuality, or any other aspect of personal identity.

By fostering an inclusive culture, PwC Malta creates a positive and inclusive environment that enables all employees to reach their full potential at the workplace.Kudos PwC Malta!

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Death toll from Turkey & Syria earthquake reaches 47,000

Feb 24 2023

On February 6, a massive earthquake hit parts of Turkey and Syria, and the death toll continues to rise as more bodies are recovered from the rubble.

The already battered province of Hatay, Turkey was hit again this week by a magnitude 6.4 earthquake, causing even more damage to the area.

As of Thursday, Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu reported the number of fatalities in Turkey has reached 43,556 due to the magnitude 7.8 earthquake, bringing the combined death toll in Turkey and Syria to 47,244.

Soylu stated that teams are searching two buildings in the heavily affected Hatay province for further bodies, but search operations have ended elsewhere.

In addition to the loss of life, at least 164,000 buildings have either collapsed or require demolition due to damage from the earthquakes, according to Turkey’s Minister for the Environment and Urbanization, Murat Kurum.

The White Helmets, a local civil defense group in northwestern Syria, reported on Thursday that thousands of children and tens of thousands of families have taken shelter in cars and tents due to fear of another earthquake.

This disaster has caused immense devastation and has left countless families grieving for their loved ones. The recovery process will be long and difficult, and the affected areas will require substantial aid and support to rebuild and recover.

#MaltaDaily

The Last of Us breaks menstrual health taboos in new episode

Feb 24 2023

“The Last of Us” is a post-apocalyptic television show that follows the journey of a smuggler and a teenager as they navigate their way through the unknown world.

Despite being based in a world overrun by flesh-eating monsters, the most thought-provoking and boundary-pushing moment of the show so far has come from a scene involving Ellie and a menstrual cup.

Starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsay as the leads, the show has received backlash from hardcore fans of the game for deviating from the original plot and the lack of zombie content.

However, the absence of flesh-eating monsters is made up for with poignant characterisations, as seen in episode six which aired on February 20th.

Arriving in a town, Ellie is gifted a menstrual cup, alongside a pile of fresh clothes. While initially confused, Ellie quickly gets excited and exclaims “Gross” with a smile.

This short, unassuming moment has been praised by fans for its realistic reflection of what it means to be a person who gets monthly periods, and for normalising the discussion around menstruation. The show’s decision to include this scene is a step in the right direction when it comes to normalising menstruation chat in a non-shaming or taboo way.

Showrunner Craig Mazin explained that the menstrual cup is a great solution in the ongoing apocalypse, as it is a reusable solution that doesn’t require the finding of boxes of tampons in infected-ridden cellars.

The intention behind the scene was for viewers to be able to ask someone or Google it if they didn’t know what it was, and it was more for the people who did know what it was.

The menstrual cup representation in “The Last of Us” has been praised by fans, with many appreciating the show’s acknowledgement of periods in a non-shaming way. This simple nod to the fact that Ellie gets periods is a positive step towards normalising menstruation chat and removing the stigma that often surrounds it in film and television.

#MaltaDaily