A ship of Death brings the bodies of dead migrants to Malta; a new born tiger; a spectacular concert by Joseph Calleja as the Jazz Festival takes places elsewhere; daredevil trapeze artists, and more - A selection of the best photos taken over the past week by Times of Malta photographers.
Hazmat and forensic officers work on board a fishing boat, on which 29 migrants were found dead, at Haywharf in Marsamxett Harbour, after it was towed to Malta by the Armed Forces of Malta, on July 20. Up to 180 people may have died trying to reach Italy on the boat packed with hundreds of migrants. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
A boat (left) carrying the bodies of dead immigrants is towed into the Armed Forces of Malta Maritime Squadron base on July 20. Italian and Maltese rescuers found 29 bodies on an overcrowded migrant boat, with Italian officials blaming toxic fumes from the engine and the Maltese military saying there could have been a stampede. Three asylum-seekers were evacuated by Italian coastguards and rushed to hospital. One of them died on the way and two others were in a serious condition, officials said. The boat is estimated to have had 400 people on board and was first spotted by a Danish ship south of the Italian island of Lampedusa in waters between Libya and Malta. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
Rescuers prepare to remove the bodies from a migrant boat at Haywharf, Pieta on July 20, a day after a rescue operation at sea. Italian and Maltese rescuers found 29 bodies on an overcrowded boat between Libya and Malta. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
Rescuers carry the body of a migrant from the boat at Haywharf, Pieta on July 20, a day after a rescue operation at sea. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
A little boy is helped to disembark from an AFM boat after arriving at Haywharf with a group of 81 migrants on board on July 20. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
A little boy is helped to disembark from an AFM boat after arriving at Haywharf with a group of 81 migrants on board on July 20. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja is joined on stage by British singer Leona Lewis during a concert held at the Granaries in Floriana on July 18. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
Italian pop singer and musician Claudio Baglioni performs at the Joseph Calleja concert at the Granaries in Floriana on July 18. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
Italian singer and musician Claudio Baglioni performs at the Granaries in Floriana as one of the accompanying acts at the annual Joseph Calleja concert on July 18. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
Fireworks are left off during a performance by Leona Lewis at the Granaries in Floriana on July 18. The British singer was one of the accompanying acts at the Joseph Calleja concert. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
British singer-songwriter Leona Lewis performs at the Joseph Calleja concert at the Granaries in Floriana on July 18. The singer achieved recognition after winning the British X Factor in 2006. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
X Factor winner Leona Lewis performs during the Joseph Calleja concert at the Granaries in Floriana on July 18. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
British singer Leona Lewis bows to the crowd after performing at the Joseph Calleja concert at the Granaries in Floriana on July 18. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja performs for the large crowd at his annual concert held at the Granaries in Floriana on July 18. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
Former Labour MP and party activist Wenzu Mintoff (2nd left) is sworn in as a judge at the Palace by President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, in the presence of the Chief Justice, the Prime Minister, the Justice Minister and the Attorney General, in Valletta on July 17. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
A tiger cub named Sheena is born at Wildlife Park Malta in Mtahleb on the morning of July 21. The cub is the first tiger to be born in Malta. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier
Okasana Sadova cuddles newborn tiger cub Sheena a few hours after her birth on July 21. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier
Okasana Sadova and her daughter Yulia Borg bottle-feed newborn tiger cub Sheena on July 22 Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina
Christopher Borg, owner of Wildlife Park Malta, gently holds newborn tiger cub Sheena on July 22 Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina
Sheena, a tiger cub born the previous day, rests near soft toys in her bed at Wildlife Park Malta in Mtahleb on July 22. Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina
A magnificent lion sits in his enclosure in at Wildlife Park Malta in Mtahleb on July 21. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier
A pro-Palestinian supporter, a large Palestinian flag reflected in his sunglasses, takes part in a protest in Valletta on July 17, calling on Israel to put an end to the Gaza siege. Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina
Two young boys take part in a protest in Valletta on July 17, calling on Israel to put an end to the Gaza siege. Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina
Two young boys take part in a protest in Valletta on July 17, calling on Israel to put an end to the Gaza siege. Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina
Karmela Camilleri, 90, holds her 94-year-old husband Guzeppi’s hand tightly as they celebrate 70 years of marriage on July 20. Photo: Jason Borg
A windsurfer tries to break through the surf at Ghallis in Bahar ic-Caghaq on July 22. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
A windsurfer rides a wave making the most of the strong North Westerly winds at Ghallis in Bahar ic-Caghaq on July 22. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
A kite surfer makes his way between breaking waves at Ghallis in Bahar ic-Caghaq on July 22. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
People take to the beach to beat the summer heat at St George’s Bay in St Julian’s on July 20. Photo: Jason Borg
American composer and jazz trumpeter Tom Harrell performs during his "Colors of a Dream 2014" summer tour at the Malta Jazz Festival in Valletta on July 17. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
Actors perform in the dress rehearsal of the MADC production of William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice at San Anton Gardens on July 22. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
A performer from Organizacion Efimera of Spain takes part in the contemporary circus production "Fecha de Caducidad" (Date of Expiry) during the Malta Arts Festival at Pjazza Teatru Rjal in Valletta on July 21. “Fecha de Caducidad” is about the journey and discovery of a group of individuals confronting their personal expiry dates, searching for acceptance, love and happiness in a fragile world where reality, fantasy and memory blur. Picture taken with multiple exposure function. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
Performers from Organizacion Efimera of Spain take part in the contemporary circus production "Fecha de Caducidad" (Date of Expiry) during the Malta Arts Festival at Pjazza Teatru Rjal in Valletta July 21. Fecha de Caducidad is about the journey and discovery of a group of individuals confronting their personal expiry dates, searching for acceptance, love and happiness in a fragile world where reality, fantasy and memory blur. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
An artist forming part of the Organizacion Efimera of Spain prepares to mount her trapeze during the contemporary circus production "Fecha de Caducidad" (Date of Expiry) at Pjazza Teatru Rjal on July 21. The show was part of the Malta Arts Festival. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
A performer stops just in time after sliding down a metal pole during a performance at Pjazza Teatru Rjal on July 21. The show, “Fecha De Caducidad”, formed part of the Malta Arts Festival. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
A performer from Organizacion Efimera of Spain balances on bottles during the opening act of the contemporary circus production "Fecha de Caducidad" (Date of Expiry) at Pjazza Teatru Rjal on July 21, during the 2014 Malta Arts Festival. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
Hanging on to the supports of a trapeze, a performer from Organizacion Efimera of Spain displays her strength during the contemporary circus production "Fecha de Caducidad" (Date of Expiry), forming part of this year’s Malta Arts Festival, at Pjazza Teatru Rjal on July 21. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
Two actors are separated by a screen during the performance “Fecha de Caducidad" (Date of Expiry), at Pjazza Teatru Rjal on July 21. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
Two performers effortlessly make their way up a metal pole during the performance “Fecha De Caducidad” (Date of Expiry) at Pjazza Teatru Rjal on July 21. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
One of the artists forming part of the “Fecha De Caducidad” is caught in midair during the performance at Pjazza Teatru Rjal on July 21. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
One of the acrobats acts before taking to the air during “Fecha De Caducidad” (Date of Expiry) at Pjazza Teatru Rjal on July 21. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
Two artists perform a dance in mid-air during “Fecha De Caducidad” (Date of Expiry), at Pjazza Teatru Rjal during the Malta Arts Festival on July 21. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
A tourist uses a smartphone to take pictures in front of the Auberge de Castille in Valletta on July 17. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
Cats are lit by the headlights of an approaching car in Kappara on July 23. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi