Plans For Culture & Arts Centre Project In Marsa Announced

Nov 12 2024

Minister for National Heritage, the Arts, and Local Government Owen Bonnici revealed details of the ambitious Culture and Arts Centre project in Marsa, a key initiative designed to foster and elevate the arts and culture in Malta for years to come.

The project, valued at €15 million, will be funded with European funds during its first phase of development.

The Culture and Arts Centre aims to be more than just a venue for artistic expression; it will serve as a vibrant community hub that brings culture closer to the Maltese people.

The centre will host a wide range of cultural events, exhibitions, and performances, providing a platform for Maltese artists, creatives, and local performers, including those involved in Carnival traditions.

It will offer an opportunity for collaboration and help drive the creative economy forward, strengthening Malta’s position as a cultural destination.

Minister Bonnici expressed his belief that the centre will be a vital cornerstone for the nation’s identity, saying, “This centre will stand as a living tribute to our creative spirit and community values, inspiring future generations.”

Aaron Zahra, Chairman of Festivals Malta, highlighted the project’s importance, stating that it would significantly expand opportunities for Malta’s cultural and artistic sectors.

Frans Agius, Executive Director of Festivals Malta, emphasised that the centre would also be a space for dialogue and innovation among local artists, contributing significantly to the growth of Malta’s creative industries.

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Transport Malta Dealt With 71 Road Incidents Last Week

Nov 12 2024

During last week, Transport Malta enforcement officials intervened in 71 incidents which involve collisions or vehicle breakdowns.

Out of all these, 5 involved injuries. The median response time for officials was less than 12 minutes.

Transport Malta appealed for drivers to be vigilant and to drive securely so as to avoid further incidents and injuries.

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People Who Work From Home Gain 24 Extra Sleep Minutes

Nov 12 2024

A recent survey by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals that homeworkers benefit from extra rest and productivity by not commuting.

On average, they gained 24 minutes of additional sleep and 15 extra minutes for activities like exercise.

This time saved from commuting added up to nearly an hour more per day compared to those working away from home.

However, the data also suggested that homeworkers might work 10 minutes less on average, although the ONS cautioned that this was not definitive.

While remote work has seen a decline since the pandemic, hybrid working—split between home and office—is now more popular. In October 2024, 28% of UK workers had hybrid arrangements, with working parents, especially fathers, being more likely to adopt this model.

Hybrid work is also more common among managers, those over 30, and individuals with higher qualifications.

Despite the benefits of working from home, some companies are scaling back flexible arrangements. For example, Asda and Amazon have reversed policies to bring employees back to the office full-time.

These changes contrast with the UK government’s Employment Rights Bill, which aims to bolster workers’ access to flexible work options, allowing them to request such arrangements from the outset of their employment.

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417 Apartments Transacted In October 2024 In Malta

Nov 12 2024

In October 2024, the number of final deeds of sale for residential property reached 1,121, a 1.4% decrease compared to October 2023.

The total value of these transactions was €295.2 million, down 3.7% from the previous year. Of these, 92.4% (1,036 deeds) involved individual buyers, totalling €247.2 million, or 83.7% of the total value.

The highest number of final deeds was recorded in the Northern Harbour (319) and Northern (226) districts, while the lowest occurred in the Western (102) and Gozo and Comino (131) districts.

The most active localities were San Pawl Il-Baħar (107 deeds), Birkirkara (64), and Ħaż-Żabbar (53), which together accounted for 20.0% of the total deeds. The most transacted properties were apartments (417) and garages (291), making up 34.7% and 24.2% of the total.

Regarding promise of sale agreements, 1,282 were registered in October 2024, marking a 5.0% increase from the previous year. Of these, 91.3% (1,170 agreements) were made by individual buyers.

The highest numbers of these agreements were in the Northern Harbour (374) and Northern (253) districts, with the lowest in the Western (128) and Gozo and Comino (151) districts. San Pawl Il-Baħar (101), Birkirkara (64), and Il-Mosta (56) recorded the most agreements, totalling 17.2% of all promise of sale agreements.

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