The BELS language school at Kercem recently celebrated its 10th anniversary at a ceremony attended by the Minister for Gozo Giovanna Debono, Kercem mayor Joe Grima, FELTOM President John Dimech, and a number of the school's service providers. Minister Debono unveiled a commemorative plaque to mark the occasion.

Alternattiva Demokratika has criticised Simon Busuttil's statement that spring hunting will re-open in 2008. Dr Harry Vassallo, Chairperson for AD said that "AD has been the only party with a consistent policy against spring hunting. Unlike PN and MLP we have never seen hunting as a flexible issue that can be toyed with during election time." Dr Vassallo said that "while hunters and AD do not have the best of relations, we are proud to say that we have always been honest with them, both with regards to AD's stand, and with regards to the future of spring hunting in Malta. We are and will remain opposed to hunting in spring but insist on the hunters right to be properly informed about the future of hunting. Read more...

A report released by BirdLife Malta yesterday proves that the spring hunting season led to a significant increase in the numbers of protected species killed over the Maltese Islands. This was contrary to claims that stringent regulations, monitoring and increased fines would control the activities of hunters, results indicate that spring hunting in Malta resulted in the needless slaughter of protected species. The number of the injured and killed birds BirdLife received during 2007 significantly increased with the opening of spring hunting season. 88.1% of the illegally shot birds came in to BirdLife after the opening of the spring hunting season on April 10th. Read more...

Gozo Channel Company Limited has announced that works will be carried out on the MV Malita at the Malta Shipyards and that it will be out of service until the 8th of June. During this period cargo trips to and from Sa Maison will be temporarily suspended. Operators are requested to use the Cirkewwa port in the interim period. Three additional trips will be added to the weekday schedule to make up for the shortfall in capacity : Read more...

With 6,748 persons registered as unemployed, unemployment in April 2007 actually decreased by 789 persons when compared to the same month last year. However, the number of registered unemployed in Gozo increased by 13 persons or 2.0 percent when compared to April 2006, whilst in Malta it decreased by 802 persons or 11.7 percent.

A Kercem man was conditionally discharged for one year after pleading guilty to handling more than Lm100 worth of stolen diesel in December last year. Magistrate Edwina Grima heard Charles Camilleri, 43, plead guilty to handling the stolen diesel after the prosecuting officer, Police Inspector Josric Mifsud, withdrew the first charge relating to the theft of the diesel. Read more...

Alternattiva Demokratika Zghazagh - ADZ-Green Youth, is concerned by the latest findings of an NSO survey on income and living conditions which was conducted in 2005. The poverty indicators emerging from this survey are nothing less than perturbing and should indeed be sending wake-up calls to our political parties and institutions to start re-connecting with the myriad socio-economic problems shackling the quality of life of a vast cross-section of the Maltese population. Read more...

A silver replica stamp bearing the image of Saint George Preca in one of his characteristic poses, and with the chapel of the Society of Christian Doctrine in the background, is being issued by the Philatelic Bureau of Maltapost plc on 28 May, to mark the canonization of Dun Gorg by Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican on the 3rd of June this year. This stamp, which is a replica of the Lm1.00 / Euro 2.33 stamp of the San Gorg Preca Stamp Issue, and which weighs 20 grams, is a "first" for Maltapost and for Maltese postal history. It is being issued in Brilliant Uncirculated (Proof-like) condition. Its size will be 35.0mm x 35.0mm, with a thickness of 1.53mm. Read more...

As representatives of the undersigned entities, we are, in the aftermath of the spring hunting season submitting this declaration to show our affirmation of Government's early termination of the season due to rampant illegal hunting. However, we are also submitting this declaration to show our deepest concern and opposition to the fact that by allowing the opening of the season; the Maltese Government has sustained its efforts to justify Spring Hunting. We are of the opinion that such a practice should be permanently declared unlawful and abolished, as: Read more...

Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono has said that she categorically denies any claims that hunters in Gozo had been told or been given to understand that the authorities would be soft on hunters in Gozo following the closure of the spring hunting season. Minister Debono was replying to a Parliamentary question put by Leo Brincat (MLP).