The Malta Environment and Planning Authority have announced that habitat protection has been extended to the whole of the Ta' Cenc area. The authority said that the Special Protection area at Ta' Cenc has been extended to include the whole of the plateau area. Wied Moqbol and Benghajsa Point in Malta have also been declared protected areas within the Natura 2000 Network. "With respect to provisions of the Habitats Directive, the whole area of Ta' Cenc, including both the cliffs and the plateau, has been declared as a Special Area of Conservation in view of the various natural habitats and plant species found in the area," the authority added. Natura 2000 is the centrepiece of EU nature & biodiversity policy. ... Read more...

Monsignor Giovanni Battista Gauci, vicar general for the Gozo diocese, has been awarded €9,000 in damages from Il-Gens, following the Church newspaper's publication of a libellous article on April the 21st of last year. The offending article was titled "Nafu x'ahna naghmlu?" and was anonymously written under the pen name "asterisk." Magistrate Silvio Meli, noted that by approving the article for publication, Nicholas Baldacchino, the editor at the time, allowed the newspaper, as well as the Archdiocese which owned it, to be used to spread serious and unfounded allegations against Mgr Gauci and his relatives. The court further noted that Mr Baldacchino had not appeared before the court, and had not sought an agreement despite being given every opportunity to do ... Read more...

The Aurora Opera House is all set for Puccini's La Bohème to be staged tomorrow at 7.30 p.m. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the composer's birth and it was for this particular reason that the Aurora management opted for a Puccini opera this time round. Set in 1830 Paris, La Bohème is a heart-warming story of starving artists falling in and out of love in the French capital. In fact, it is a seamless mix of romantic passion, poignant tragedy and high-spirited fun. Love, poverty and sickness bring the plot to a fatal, tranquil death of Mimì surrounded by her ... Read more...

Provisional data for international trade show that the visible trade gap in August 2008 stood at €102.8 million, up by €8.3 million compared to the same month last year. There was a decrease in imports of €16.9 million and a decrease in exports of €25.2 million. The decrease in imports was due to fuels and lubricants and consumer goods. Machinery and transport equipment, miscellaneous manufactured articles, food and semi-manufactured goods accounted for the decrease in exports during August 2008 when compared to the same month last year. During the first eight months this year, the visible trade gap widened by €41.7 million, to stand at €922.8 million. This came about because of a decrease ... Read more...

A course for the elderly in Gozo is once again being organised for the academic year 2008-2009. All those Gozitans who are 60 years and over, may apply to participate in this course. Lessons will be held at the Elderly Day Care Centre at Ghajnsielem and once every four weeks at the University Gozo Centre. This course, which will be carried up to the last week of May, will consist of two semesters covering subjects including introduction to political science, the principle of equal treatment in community law as well as views about the monastic life. This University for the Third Age (U3E) Course will be commenced on Friday the 17th of October, with holy mass celebrated ... Read more...

Dear Sir, I refer to recent media reports confirming that the Electoral Commission has begun accepting voter registration application forms from non-Maltese EU citizens. Following representations made by AD-The Green Party to the European Parliament Valletta Office on behalf of the 11,000 resident non-Maltese EU citizens denied their lawful right to enrol on the Maltese electoral register for the forthcoming European Parliament elections, the Electoral Commission reviewed its stance and decided to bring forward the non-Maltese EU voter registration opening date from next year to October 1st. See: The Electoral Office discriminates against EU residents in Malta and Gozo - AD: Gozonews 07/07/08 - gozonews.com.... However, even though all 12,000 resident non-Maltese EU taxpayers have already been automatically ... Read more...

Last Saturday over 10,000 persons visited Heritage Malta museums and sites in Valletta which were opened free of charge. The most popular venue was the National Museum of Archaeology which was visited by nearly 4,000 persons. Visitors had an opportunity to handle original artefacts and learn about their uses and purposes during the evening. The Palace Armoury was also very popular with nearly 3,500 visitors. The National Museum of Fine Arts was visited by over 1,500 persons. The Heritage Book Fair at the Heritage Malta Head Office also proved to be a success as many took the opportunity of viewing Anthony Catania's painting exhibition 'The Pied Piper' which will remain open to ... Read more...

Following the decision taken yesterday by the European Central Bank to lower its refinancing rate by 50 basis points, Bank of Valletta announced that, with effect from the 13th October, 2008, it is lowering its Bank Base Rate to 3.75%. With effect from the same date, interest rates on all deposit accounts denominated in euro will decrease by 0.50% per annum. Similarly, interest rates charged on commercial loans and overdrafts, personal loans and mortgages will be revised downwards by 0.50% per annum. Debit interest rates on credit card accounts will also be lowered by 0.50% per annum, with effect form the 13th October 2008. Further details may be obtained ... Read more...

The Gharb local council, together with the Kumitat Monument Nazzjonali Papa Gwanni Pawlu II is hosting a concert by the Willington School Boy's Choir of London. The concert is being held at the Visitation of Our Lady Basilica, Gharb, on Wednesday the 15th of October 2008 at 7.00 pm. The public are invited to attend. The concert is taking place on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Papal Election and on the second anniversary of the inauguration of the National Monument in honour of the Servant of God John Paul II.