Rain Showers Hit Malta In Various Locations

Aug 22 2024

Videos sent to the Malta Daily newsroom suggest that rain is finally returning to the Maltese islands after a long stretch of hot and humid summer months.

According to the popular Facebook page Malta Weather, the southwestern regions of Malta have already started to experience rainfall. In fact, a video shared with Malta Daily shows rain clearly falling in Mqabba.

This weather change was anticipated by several local sources, with the Facebook page It-Temp Madwarna accurately predicting that certain localities in the western and central parts of Malta would see some rain.

The long-awaited showers mark a welcome relief from the intense summer heat, signaling a possible shift in the weather as the season begins to change.

#MaltaDaily

Broadcasting Authority Fines RTK For Failing To Give Platform To Far-Right Candidates

Aug 22 2024

The Broadcasting Authority has fined local radio station RTK 103 a total of €4,660 for failing to maintain impartiality by not inviting far-right candidates, such as Norman Lowell of Imperium Europa, onto their program.

This marks the second fine imposed on RTK by the BA, following a €6,410 fine in January when host Andrew Azzopardi stated on-air that he would not allow Norman Lowell to share his extremist, racist, and far-right views on the program.

RTK is currently appealing both fines in court, arguing that they infringe on the station’s editorial freedom by “forcing it to air extremist, racist, far-right political views.”

The station maintains that it fully adhered to the Broadcasting Authority’s directive for “a wide representation of different opinions” during the electoral campaign by inviting over 60 guests with diverse views while excluding all electoral candidates.

The Istitut tal-Ġurnalisti Maltin (IĠM) has expressed solidarity with Andrew Azzopardi and RTK103, stating that “racism needs no protection from the state.”

The IĠM argued that the Authority should not interfere with a station’s editorial policies, nor should it require the airing of content from individuals like Norman Lowell, who has been convicted of racial hate crimes.

#MaltaDaily

Astrophotographer’s Sun Photos Showcase Astonishing Solar Phenomena

Aug 22 2024

Jason Stromback, an astrophotographer, has captured multiple shots and videos of the Sun in incredible detail, showcasing several solar flares and sunspots. He used various equipment, including the Coronado PST telescope, Skywatcher 80mm ED refractor, Daystar Quark Chromosphere, and the ZWO178MM camera on a Skywatcher GTI mount.

Solar flares are intense bursts of electromagnetic radiation in the Sun’s atmosphere, often releasing energy equivalent to billions of atomic bombs. These flares are caused by a reconfiguration of the Sun’s magnetic fields, resulting in the release of vast amounts of energy.

Solar flares emit radiation across the entire electromagnetic spectrum. The most intense radiation from these flares can reach Earth within minutes, causing interference with communication systems, satellites, and even power grids. Solar flares can also trigger auroras, like the Northern and Southern Lights, as the charged particles interact with Earth’s magnetic field.

Stromback’s shots also reveal various sunspots, visible as dark regions on the Sun’s surface. These are cooler areas caused by the twisting and concentration of the Sun’s magnetic field in certain regions, which inhibits the flow of gases from the interior to the Sun’s surface.

#MaltaDaily

Six-Year Old Vietnamese Boy Found Alive In Forest After 5 Days

Aug 22 2024

A six-year old Vietnamese boy has been found alive after being missing in a Vietnamese forest.

Local media reported that Dang Tien Lam went missing on the 17th of August after he was playing with his 9 siblings and wandered off into the hills and got lost.

He was later found on Wednesday after local farmers heard a child’s cry while they were clearing a cinnamon field close to the forest.

It was reported that Lam was so tired that he was unable to stand up, even saying “I’m so tired, I can’t stand up, please carry me up,” according to local farmer Ly Van Nang.

“[The child told me] that when he got lost, he could not find his way home,” said Mr Nang, according to local news site Dan Tri.

“And the more he walked, the more he could not find a way out.”

Reports also stated that Lam managed to survive the 5 days on leaves, wild fruits and stream water.

The local police also stated that it was a “miracle” that Lam was still alive.

Local police described his survival as a “miracle,” especially after more than 150 people—including police officers, soldiers, and volunteers—searched for him without success.

#MaltaDaily