From the traditional 'gostra' game to the world's first privately-funded migrant rescue mission, as well as the ice bucket challenge and action from football's Premier League - A selection of some of the best photos taken over the past week by Times of Malta photographers.
A man slips off the "gostra", a pole covered in grease, during the week-long celebrations for the religious feast of St Julian, patron of the town of St Julian's, on August 24. In the traditional "gostra", young men, women and children have to make their way to the top of a pole and try to uproot one of the flags to win prizes. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
A man grabs a flag as he slips off the "gostra", a pole covered in grease, during the week-long celebrations for the religious feast of St Julian, patron of the town of St Julian's, on August 24. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
A man falls off the "gostra", a pole covered in grease, during the week-long celebrations for the religious feast of St Julian, patron of the town of St Julian's, on August 24. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
A man tries to grab a flag as he slips off the "gostra", a pole covered in grease, during the week-long celebrations for the religious feast of St Julian, patron of the town of St Julian's, on August 24. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
A man grabs a flag as he falls off the "gostra", a pole covered in grease, during the week-long celebrations for the religious feast of St Julian, patron of the town of St Julian's, on August 24. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
A man clutches a flag as he falls off the "gostra", a pole covered in grease, during the week-long celebrations for the religious feast of St Julian, patron of the town of St Julian's, on August 24. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
Westin Dragonara general manager, Michael Camilleri Kamsky (right of red bucket), and staff pour ice cold water over themselves on August 22, after being nominated by their friends at Hilton Malta for the ALS challenge. In turn, they nominated Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis, Air Malta CEO Louis Giordimaina and Starwood Hotels vice president Robert Koren. The challenge is helping raise awareness of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a disease of the nervous system. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
Regina Catrambone walks on board the Phoenix, the expedition vessel of the Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) project, in Grand Harbour, before the vessel's first 20-day mission on August 25. The privately-funded humanitarian project initiated by Malta-based Christopher and Regina Catrambone, seeks to mitigate the loss of human lives by migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe. The Catrambones said they felt compelled to act following an appeal by Pope Francis after several hundred African migrants drowned off the Italian island of Lampedusa in October 2013. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
Regina Catrambone bids farewell to her husband Christopher on board the Phoenix, the expedition vessel of the Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) project, before he sets sail with the vessel from Grand Harbour for its first 20-day mission on August 25. The privately-funded humanitarian project initiated by Malta-based Christopher and Regina Catrambone, seeks to mitigate the loss of human lives by migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
Crew members watch as a dolphin jumps in front of the Phoenix, the expedition vessel of the Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) project, off Malta, during the vessel's first 20-day mission on August 25. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) lifts off from the flight deck of the Phoenix, the expedition vessel of the Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) project, off Malta, during the vessel's first 20-day mission on August 25. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
A pod of dolphins jump in front of the MOAS boat, the Phoenix, as it sails south off Malta on August 25. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
A dolphin jumps out of the water off the south coast of Malta on August 25. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
U.S. Ambassador to Libya Deborah Jones speaks to the media at the residence of the U.S. Ambassador to Malta in Attard, on August 27. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
Wood and tyres go up in flames at a property owned by developer Charles Polidano in Hal-Farrug on August 27. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier
A huge beam is lifted in preparation for restoration at St Publius Church in Floriana on August 26. Photo: Jason Borg
A ray of sunlight lights up a worker and the sides of planks put up in preparation for restoration works at St Publius Church in Floriana on August 26. Photo: Jason Borg
Horses take shelter from the sun at the Family Park in Marsascala on August 25. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier
A family uses a swing at the Family Park in Marsascala on August 25. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier
Members of the Marsascala Croquet Club enjoy a game of croquet at the Family Park in Marsascala on August 25. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier
Members of the Marsascala Croquet Club enjoy a game of croquet at the Family Park in Marsascala on August 25. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier
A man tends to his remote-controlled helicopter as a grass fire close to the premises of the Malta Model Aircraft Association in Ta' Qali provides an unusual backdrop to the flying aircraft on August 27. The fire caused no serious damage. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
Sliema’s Antonio Petkovic is blocked by San Giljan’s Andreas Galea during their Premier league match at the National Pool at Tal-Qroqq on August 23. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
Pieta Hotspurs’ Malcolm Licari (front) and Mosta’s Tyrone Farrugia clash in an aerial duel during their Premier League match at the National Stadium in Ta’ Qali on August 24. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
Hibernians goalkeeper Mario Muscat, playing his 500th and final Premier League match before retiring, fails to save a penalty shot during the Premier League match against Qormi at the National Stadium in Ta’ Qali on August 24. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
Qormi’s Albert Bruce tackles Hibernians’ Clayton Failla during their Premier League match at the National Stadium in Ta’ Qali on August 24. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
Birkirkara’s Zach Muscat rolls over the back of Zebbug’s Matthew Gauci during their Premier League match at the National Stadium in Ta’Qali on August 23. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
Birkirkara striker Liliu (left) scores his side’s second goal against Zebbug Rangers at the National Stadium on August 23. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
Qormi’s Maurizio Matias Latini Mazzetti (left) pulls down Balzan’s Gianmarco Piccioni during their Premier League match at the National Stadium in Ta’ Qali on August 27. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
Balzan’s Justin Grioli clears the ball away from Qormi’s Joseph Chetcuti during their Premier League match at the National Stadium in Ta’ Qali on August 27. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
Balzan’s goalkeeper Steve Sultana (3rd left) beats Qormi’s Alfred Effiong (left) to the ball during their Premier League match at the National Stadium in Ta’ Qali on August 27. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
Hibernians’ Jorginho (right) beats Sliema’s Andrea Scozzese to the ball during their Premier League match at the National Stadium in Ta’ Qali on August 27. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi