Christmas Events You Don’t Want To Miss In Gozo

Dec 17 2024

Here’s a roundup of Gozo’s must-see festive events that promise to make your holiday season unforgettable:

Bethlehem f’Għajnsielem
This iconic live nativity village at Ta’ Passi fields features costumed actors, live animals, and craftspeople creating a magical atmosphere. Explore the charming settings while enjoying festive treats like mulled wine and roasted chestnuts.

Villa Rundle Gardens Illuminated Trail
Wander through Victoria’s beautifully lit Villa Rundle Gardens, where dazzling displays and creative light installations transform the area into a festive wonderland. Perfect for families and photo enthusiasts alike!

Għajnsielem Christmas Tree
Don’t miss the gigantic illuminated Christmas tree in Għajnsielem, made up of 4,500 glass bottles. Standing tall and sparkling bright, it’s a centrepiece for festive celebrations in the village and a must-see for photos.

Red Riding Hood – The Rock N’ Roll Panto
Add a touch of laughter to your holidays with this quirky, music-filled panto at the Aurora Opera House. It’s a lively, family-friendly take on the classic fairy tale, packed with rock ‘n’ roll hits and plenty of festive cheer.

Christmas Parade
Experience Gozo’s festive energy during the Christmas Parade, where colourful floats, music, and performances fill the streets. A joyous occasion for all ages, this parade captures the island’s unique holiday vibe.

Il-Qala Tissaħħar Bil-Presepji

An exhibition showcasing exquisite traditional cribs, organized by The Għaqda Armar San Ġużepp-Qala in collaboration with the Qala Parish. These meticulously crafted cribs are the result of exceptional dedication and creativity from talented locals, including enthusiastic children.

Dinja Tat-Tfal

The enchanting Children’s World Venue at Villa Rundle Gardens is set to bring the magic of childhood alive. The venue promises to be a delightful sanctuary that brings children’s dreams to the forefront, providing a unique and captivating space for all things related to kids!

Plan your visit to Gozo and immerse yourself in these enchanting festivities! For more details, check out www.eventsingozo.com

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TM Suspends Future Permits For Skip Contractor After Motorist Dies

Dec 17 2024

Transport Malta has suspended future permits for the contractor responsible for leaving a skip on the St Paul’s Bay bypass, which was involved in a fatal motorcycle accident last week, Times of Malta reported.

In a statement, Transport Malta confirmed that the contractor had “illegally” resumed work without a valid permit or notifying the agency, despite the works being halted for months. It stated that the contractor bears full responsibility for proceeding without proper authorisation and added that future permits have been suspended until safety standards are assured.

The incident occurred on Wednesday evening when Dieter Vink, 54, crashed into the stationary skip positioned on the bypass’s final curve leading to the Xemxija roundabout. Vink was critically injured and succumbed to his injuries at Mater Dei Hospital on Friday night.

Two Wheels Foundation Malta issued a post on social media, paying tribute to Vink, calling out the irresponsibility:

‘A chimpanzee would have known that dumping a skip in the middle of an arterial road around a blind corner would create a major risk to motorists. But unfortunately we have dumber primates than that maintaining our infrastructure. Let’s see how long it’ll take for this one to be forgotten and swept under the carpet, like all the other pointless deaths that result from someones negligence.’

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DPM Ian Borg Reiterates Malta’s Commitment To Global Peace

Dec 17 2024

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Ian Borg, reiterated Malta’s commitment to global peace, human rights, and regional stability at the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) held in Brussels.

The meeting, chaired by the new High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, focused on key geopolitical challenges and Europe’s role in international diplomacy.

Ian Borg emphasised the importance of unity and efficiency in Europe’s operations, noting that collective strength is essential for maintaining credibility on the global stage. He also highlighted the value of building partnerships based on mutual respect and the importance of upholding the international rules-based order.

Malta reaffirmed its support for Ukraine, condemning ongoing violence and pushing forth the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Borg called for a comprehensive peace process aligned with the UN Charter and stressed the need to address humanitarian concerns, particularly during Ukraine’s winter months. On sanctions, Malta advocated for a balanced approach that protects essential industries while maintaining pressure on aggressors.

Regarding developments in Georgia, Malta voiced concern over violence against peaceful protesters and called for de-escalation, greater support for civil society, and engagement with democratic actors. Borg also emphasised the need to keep communication channels open.

In discussions on the Middle East, Borg called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, protection of civilians, and the release of hostages, reaffirming Malta’s support for a Two-State Solution.

On Syria, he urged stakeholders to commit to an inclusive, Syrian-led peace process in line with relevant UN resolutions.

Malta further demonstrated its commitment to peace by endorsing Cyprus’s bid for the OSCE Chair in 2027.

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November 2024 Relaxes Drought: Not As Wet As Usual

Dec 17 2024

According to reports by the Meteorological Office, November’s rainfall still fell short of meeting the average quota for the month, with a total of 82.8mm of rain recorded.

This comes after a dry start to the autumn season, with November bringing some relief to the drought across the Maltese islands.

However, the amount of rain fall recorded was still 6.2mm less than the norm for the time of year.

More than 75% of total rainfall occurred within the first half of the month, specifically between the 6th and 12th of November.

The second half was mostly dry, save for a few showers towards the end. Only two thunderstorms were recorded during November, which is a significant decree compared to the five typically expected.

The average temperature for November was 18.4°C, slightly above the norm by 0.5°C. The highest temperature of the month, 25.1°C, was recorded on the 4th. While this is relatively warm for November, it remained well below the record high of 29.1°C set last year.

The coldest day of the month fell on the 25th, with a nighttime low of 10.1°C—still far from the record low of 5°C recorded in 1995. Those taking the occasional dip in the sea may have noticed the water was unusually warm for this time of year. The average sea temperature was 23.2°C, nearly two degrees above the seasonal norm.

‘Sunny weather dominated much of the month, resulting in 11.4 hours more sunshine than average. The brightest day was November 1st, with 9.5 hours of sunshine, while the stormy 11th was the gloomiest, with less than one hour of sunshine recorded.’

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