The government has set the ball in motion for Malta to draft a national policy on illegal immigration by publishing its proposals and findings in a document – Government Policy on Irregular Immigrants, Refugees and Integration....

On the face of it, it seemed strange at first that the population of Malta is being called out to protest against a bill that will declare public feasts that fall on a weekend no feasts at all....

In his regular column published in The Malta Independent yesterday, economist Alfred Mifsud made some significant points that merit attention....

The Hamrun local council has rightly called for a palace in the town to be made inaccessible and the relevant authorities should take up this issue....

The half a million liri donated by Maltese people may pale in comparison to some of the sums being shipped out to Asia as disaster aid – but it does show one thing, that we are not as bogged down in island mentality as we thought....

Late last year, the government announced that, in the first quarter of 2005, so-called green wardens would be employed with specific duties to safeguard the environment....

By and large, the New Year’s Eve festivities were not marred by alcohol related injuries or deaths and it is heartening, bearing in mind the tragedies of Asia, to note that no individual tragedies were recorded due to excessive indulgence....

2004 began badly, continued so so and could not have ended worse....

We have started another year, one that, like those that preceded it, will bring with it a number of challenges, wins and defeats, joy and disappointment, love and betrayal....

It’s the end of another year and, as normally happens when chapters are about to close, one assesses what has gone by to build on what is already strong and try to make up for any mistakes....