Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1542320
GozoToday is a weekly newspaper focused primarily on Gozo. It hopes to serve as a source of information on business, culture, entertainment and of course current affairs. Gozo has a special charm about it but it is also a bustling Island with an identity of its own. GozoToday is published every Friday and is available to numerous outlets in Gozo and on the ferries that carry so many visitors to Gozo from Malta and beyond. GozoToday MediaToday Co. Ltd, Vjal ir-Rihan San Gwann SGN 9016 ASSISTANT EDITOR: LAURA CALLEJA Tel: (356) 21 382741-3, 21 382745-6 Website: www.maltatoday.com.mt E-mail: dailynews@mediatoday.com.mt 3 gozotoday | WEDNESDAY • 31 DECEMBER 2025 NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The smoking ban will be en- forced by the police as well as by wardens from the Local Enforcement Systems Agency (LESA) and officials from the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), the Envi- ronmental Health Directorate (EHD), and the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA). Anyone who breaks the rules of smoking in the areas where smoking is prohibited on these two beaches will result in a fine of €150 — no warnings will be issued. Through this system, smok- ers will still be able to enjoy the beach without disturbing oth- ers. Containers will be placed in each smoking area to help keep the beach clean. Minister for the Environ- ment and Energy, Miriam Dalli stated, "This initiative clearly emerged from several meetings and discussions I had with chil- dren. It is a concrete environ- mental measure aimed at ad- dressing a persistent problem, namely cigarette butts that end up on the sand and in the sea and take many years to decom- pose. These butts cause serious harm to the marine ecosystem and sea life. Through this pilot project, we are taking an impor- tant step towards a cleaner and healthier coastal environment. This is another example of how we are working in a concrete way to protect our maritime en- vironment." For his part, the Minister for Health and Active Ageing, Jo Etienne Abela, expressed his satisfaction with the prohibi- tion of smoking on a number of beaches. Abela explained that this measure will help achieve three very important goals: safeguard- ing the lives and health of the Maltese and Gozitan people, protecting the natural heritage of our country, and preserving the environment. "I am confident that this meas- ure will help and be beneficial to citizens' health when they visit these beautiful beaches," he said. Kevin Mercieca, ERA Chief Executive Officer said, "Desig- nated smoking areas allow us to better protect the coastal envi- ronment by reducing waste and plastic pollution that damage our marine ecosystems." Cleaner beaches in 2026 with smoking ban from 1 January Smoking will only be allowed in specially designated areas COLD, cloudy conditions with isolat- ed showers are expected to character- ise the final hours of 2025 and the first day of the new year. On New Year's Eve, conditions are expected to be mostly cloudy, with the chance of isolated showers at times throughout the day. The maxi- mum temperature is forecast to reach 16°C, falling to around 12°C overnight. Winds will be moderate to rather strong during the morning (Force 4 to 5), blowing from the west-northwest, before easing and becoming light from the north by the evening. Similar conditions are expected to usher in the new year. On Thursday, 1st January, the weather is forecast to remain mostly cloudy, again with the chance of isolated showers. Winds are expected to veer to an easterly di- rection and strengthen slightly during the day (Force 4–5), before easing to Force 3 as they continue to shift to a south-easterly direction. New Year's Day is also expected to be particularly cold, as a cold air mass originating from Siberia is forecast to dominate over Italy and the central Mediterranean. As a result, maximum daytime temperatures on Thursday are not expected to exceed 15°C, dropping to around 10°C by the evening. For those who will not be working in the days following New Year's Day and are planning to enjoy the remaining festive period with family and friends, more favourable conditions are expect- ed. Between Friday 2nd January and Sunday 4th January, the Meteorolog- ical Office is forecasting partly cloudy weather with temperatures above the seasonal average. In fact, between Thursday 1st January and Sunday 4th January, temperatures are expected to rise by around 3°C. The coldest New Year's Eve on re- cord remains that of 11 years ago, when temperatures between the night of 31st December 2014 and 1st January 2015 dropped to 2.1°C. On that occa- sion, light snowflakes were also ob- served briefly over the Maltese Islands. Meanwhile, New Year's Day 2024 was the warmest of the past ten years, with temperatures reaching 18.5°C. Cold temperatures and isolated showers to ring in the new year On Thursday, 1st January, the weather is forecast to remain mostly cloudy with the chance of isolated showers