At today's meeting the Governing Council of the European Central Bank took the following monetary policy decisions: The minimum bid rate on the main refinancing operations of the Eurosystem will be decreased by 50 basis points to 3.25%, starting from the operation to be settled on 12 November 2008. The interest rate on the marginal lending facility will be decreased by 50 basis points to 3.75%, with effect from 12 November 2008. The interest rate on the deposit facility will be decreased by 50 basis points to 2.75%, with effect from 12 November 2008. Meanwhile the Bank of England has announced a drastic 1.5% cut in interest rates in what is being seen as a dramatic attempt to rescue the rapidly declining ... Read more...

During the third quarter, the supply of fresh fruit and vegetables rose by 9.9 per cent, while the wholesale value declined by 11.0 per cent. The supply of fresh fruit and vegetables during the third quarter of 2008 amounted to 14.53 million kilograms, an increase of 9.9 per cent when compared to the third quarter in 2007. On the other hand, the wholesale value of fresh fruit and vegetables decreased by 11.0 per cent, from €5.53 million in the third quarter of 2007 to €4.92 million in the third quarter this year. The supply of fresh vegetables rose by 7.8 per cent over the 12.42 million kilograms supplied in the comparative period last year. The supply of Potatoes ... Read more...

Between the 7th and 9th November 2008, the Gozo Council for Culture and Arts within the Ministry for Gozo together with 'Associazione Tipico' of Abruzzo, Italy, is organising the 1st Mediterranean Gastronomical Encounter in Gozo. Through a collaboration between the Island Region of Gozo and the Italian Region of Abruzzo, activities to promote the typical gastronomical products of both regions are being organised. 'Gastro Gozo' is the first such initiative of its kind on the island. It will be bringing together chefs, producers of typical products, tourist operators and administrators from both regions. Parts of the three day programme are open to the general public. These include the inaugural ceremony, which will be held at the Gozo Citadel on Friday 7th November 2008 at ... Read more...

The BOV L-Istrina Campaign has kicked-off for yet another exciting charity marathon on Wednesday the 5th of November, one that will culminate in a live broadcast on all Maltese television stations from noon till midnight on Saturday the 27th of December 2008. The Campaign was officially launched in Gozo at Ninu Cremona Boys Junior Lyceum and G. Agius de Soldanis Girls Junior Lyceum in Victoria, Gozo, under the patronage of Mrs. Mary Fenech Adami in the presence of Jack Thewma, Manager Gozo Branch at Bank of Valletta, and Edmond Tabone from the Public Broadcasting Services Ltd. This was followed by a visit to the Mellieha Primary School where BOV was ... Read more...

Effective and efficient organizations must seek ways to work smarter rather than harder. In a tiny island like Gozo this advice can not be ignored. A great hurdle offered by Gozo's insularity is communication. Information technology is often the cheapest and most eco friendly solution. Keeping all this in mind schools aim at providing an 'information technology toolbox' which will serve useful when students leave their formal education and join the labour force. One of these tools is web conferencing. In recent years Gozo College, Agius de Soldanis Girls School, has been using web conferencing to communicate with other schools across Europe. This week, under the co-ordination of Mr Mario Xerri, ICT ... Read more...

Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, and the European Central Bank (ECB) release a detailed set of quarterly European sector accounts which focuses on three key indicators: the household saving rate, and the investment rate and profit share of non-financial businesses. Household saving rates up in both zones - In the second quarter of 2008, the seasonally adjusted gross saving rate of households was 13.9% in the euro area (EA15). It was 13.7% in the first quarter of 2008. In the EU27, the household saving rate was 10.2% in the second quarter of 2008, compared with 10.0% in the first quarter of 2008. Business investment rate stable in the euro area, up in the EU27 - The investment ... Read more...

AD spokesperson for International Affairs, Mark Scerri, has said, "Alternattiva Demokratika would like to congratulate Mr Obama for his victory over Senator John McCain." Mark Scerri said that, "This is indeed a historic moment, because the Americans have overcome years of tense race relations, they have overcome racial barriers to elect the first Afro-American president". Mr Scerri continued by saying "The overwhelming majority of the Americans have decided to reject 8 years of Bush presidency, which has seen America clash with the rest of the world, particularly Europe, especially over reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and the War in Iraq." "We hope that Obama's victory will bring a change in attitude and policies. We hope that on the international ... Read more...