Environment
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Close to despair
At the end of another lavishly-funded UN conference that yielded no progress on curbing greenhouse emissions, many of those most concerned about climate change are close to despair. As thousands of delegates checked out of their air-conditioned...
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What’s in a cup of coffee?
Whatever the weather, a steaming cup of coffee puts the spark back in our day. For a guilt-free brew, we have all heard of fair trade coffee – which helps secure the rights of coffee workers. But what is the coffee industry doing to combat global...
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Hompesch Gate, Żabbar
This triumphal arch was built to commemorate the event when the 71st and last Grand Master of the Order Ferdinand von Hompesch zu Bolheim declared Żabbar a city – Città Gratiosae Hompesch. Hompesch visited Żabbar in 1797 and it was only after the...
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Siculo-Norman building
Siculo-Norman architecture was imported to Malta through Sicily during a period spanning circa 400 years from the early 12th century onwards. Siculo-Norman architecture is derived from Romanesque architecture, which then developed into Gothic...
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The duck that changes coat
The mallard, known in Malta as kuluvert, is a wild duck found in the Americas, Europe, Asia and North Africa. It has also been introduced in Australia and New Zealand. Mallards visit the Maltese Islands in autumn and winter. One or two can regularly...
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Festival celebrates Majjistral territory
Culinary delights and crafts from the Majjistral territory lie at the heart of a Christmas festival at the Malta Fairs and Convention Centre in Ta ’ Qali this weekend. Combining art, live music and a rich blend of local delicacies, the festival,...
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The Inquisitor’s Palace
This building, which was originally built to house the Law Courts (Castellania) of the Order of St. John during the 1530s, was later used as the residence of the Inquisitor. It served as the law courts till 1571, even after the Order transferred its...
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Historic industries in Maltese waters
Malta can be considered as the quintessential maritime state, not just because of its island status but also due to its extensive marine resources. Its territorial waters are almost 14 times the islands’ land area and its strategic location in the...
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Birgu’s Auberge d’Italie
The Italian Knights were strongly represented and highly influential within the Order. The langue occupied a prestigious post within the Order – Captain General of the Fleet. The original auberge was destroyed during World War II and...
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Auberge de France
After the Order settled in Vittoriosa and enlarged the old Palace in Fort St Angelo as a residence of the Grand Master, they embarked on building seven Auberges for the Knights. They built one auberge for each langue except for Provence and Auvergne...
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Seas rising faster than expected
Sea levels are rising 60 per cent faster than UN projections, threatening low-lying areas from Miami to the Maldives, according to a study published yesterday. The report, issued during UN talks in Qatar on combating climate change, also said...
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A snake without venom
The leopard snake is a beautiful indigenous reptile that lives in vegetated areas and sometimes visits gardens. Despite being active during the day, it is rarely seen although it may be caught hunting at dusk. In Maltese, the leopard snake is known...
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Auberge de Castille et Portugal (Leon)
According to Bugeja et al there were two auberges of Castille, one of which was known as the vecchia alberghia di Castiglia. No known remains of this can be traced. The only remains of the second auberge, located in what was formerly known as...
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What’s eating the shells in Antartica?
The shells of some marine snails in the seas around Antarctica are dissolving as the water becomes more acidic, threatening the food chain, a study published in the journal Nature Geoscience said on Sunday. Oceans soak up about a quarter of the...
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Hopes of extension to Kyoto treaty look dim
Fifteen years ago, fears about man-made climate change were enough to bind most of the industrialised world into a treaty that was flawed but at least seemed to cement the principle that greenhouse gases must be cut. Yet today – with levels of...
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Recycling electrical, electronic waste
A revised waste directive is about to be transposed into local law. The main objective is to reduce the amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) that piles up in landfills. Safe recovery and disposal is the ultimate aim. Among...
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Auberge d’Auvergne
This building lies adjacent to the Auberge de France. These southern French langues were responsible for the administration of the Treasury and Armouries. Although the building was spared the destruction of the war, the original fabric underwent...
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Auberge D’Aragon
This auberge, which was situated within the collacchio, housed the Knights from Aragon and Novara. This Langue was responsible for the purchase and storage of supplies of the Sacra Infermeria. Today, the façade of the building has been subject to...
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Climate change may increase Europe’s north-south divide
Rising temperatures could widen the gap between the Europe’s rich and poor nations, an EU agency warned yesterday, as it announced the warmest decade on record in the continent. The warning came in the latest report from the European Environment...
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An edible yet deadly plant
The black nightshade is a common annual or short-lived perennial plant found in disturbed habitats such as shaded road and way sides, footpaths and under trees. It is easily recognised by its small white flowers and black berries. These plants can...
