December 2022
THE MINISTRY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY AND ENTERPRISE: Christmas in the Park attracts more than 100,000 visitors
More than 100,000 persons attended the second edition of Christmas in the Park, organised by the Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise. Spanning over 10 days, and with free entrance, the Salini National Park was turned into a Christmas Village, attracting locals and foreigners alike. The village served both as a Christmas attraction and an educational experience about sustainable development and environmental care. Crafts, products and stalls promoted sustainability whilst giving children and adults a hands-on experience. With Christmas characters such as Santa Claus, Rudolph and Frosty the Snowman and the participation of singers and bands, visitors
Arctic Blast Sweeps US, Causes Bomb Cyclone
An arctic blast has brought extreme cold, heavy snow and intense wind across much of the U.S. — just in time for the holidays. The weather system, dubbed a “bomb cyclone,” is disrupting travel and causing hazardous winter conditions. Where is this winter weather coming from, and what’s in store for the coming days? What’s happening? A front of cold air is moving down from the Arctic, sending temperatures plunging. Much of the U.S. will see below-average temperatures, said Bob Oravec, lead forecaster for the National Weather Service in College Park, Maryland. Temperatures may drop by more than 20 degrees
WHO Chief Sees Global Health Emergencies Winding Down in 2023
World Health Organization Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus gave a grim assessment of the many health challenges and threats people around the world have faced this year. Topping the list was the COVID-19 pandemic that has sickened and killed millions of people for a third year. He noted a global outbreak of monkeypox, now known as mpox, an Ebola outbreak in Uganda, and cholera outbreaks in multiple countries as other health crises. He said these emergencies were compounded by wars in Ethiopia and Ukraine, as well as climate disasters, including drought and flooding in the greater Horn of Africa and the
THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT President George Vella visits the final preparations for l-Istrina with a new look
The President of Malta George Vella and Mrs Miriam Vella visited the Kirkop Sports Complex which on Monday 26th December will host l-Istrina 2022 with a new and fresher look between noon and midnight on local television stations. While observing the final preparations of the entertainment area and the areas for answering phone calls and receiving pledges for The Malta Community Chest Fund, President Vella thanked all the workers and volunteers who have spent several days making preparations for the telethon. “I am impressed that everything is almost ready, and we are now looking forward to start welcoming
Canada’s Hudson Bay Polar Bear Population Plummets
Canada’s Western Hudson Bay polar bear population has fallen 27% in just five years, according to a government report released this week, suggesting climate change is affecting the animals. Every autumn, the bears living along the western edge of the Bay pass through the sub-Arctic tourist town of Churchill, Manitoba, as they return to the sea ice. This has made the population not only the best-studied group in the world, but also the most famous, with the local bear-viewing economy valued at $5.30 million annually. However, Nunavut’s government assessment finds that just 618 bears remained in 2021 — a roughly
US Life Expectancy Drops to Lowest in a Generation
The combination of the COVID-19 pandemic and high levels of opioid overdose deaths drove life expectancy in the United States down for the second consecutive year in 2021, with a child born in that year expected to live 76.4 years, the lowest figure since 1996, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. By comparison, Americans born in 2019, the year before the pandemic took hold, could expect to live 78.8 years. In 2019, the U.S. experienced 715.2 deaths per 100,000 people. In 2021, that rate had climbed by 23%, to 897.7. While most countries in the