Ferry Delays Continue as Gozo Channel Restores Services Passengers and freight operators continued to face delays at Ċirkewwa and Mġarr on Thursday as Gozo Channel services gradually returned to normal following Storm Harry. Ferry crossings were suspended for almost two days after strong south-easterly winds, with gusts reaching 104km/h, made conditions unsafe. An attempt to resume services on Wednesday morning was aborted when a vessel struggled to berth due to residual swells. Full service later resumed, though capacity remains reduced as MV Gaudos is undergoing scheduled maintenance. Gozo Channel warned delays were expected as traffic built up and deliveries resumed. Long queues of heavy vehicles were reported at both ports, with some passengers waiting more than two hours to return to Gozo. (Times of Malta)
Domestic Violence Reports Top 2,100 in 2025 A total of 2,174 domestic violence reports were filed across Malta and Gozo in 2025, Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri told Parliament. The minister presented a locality breakdown showing St Paul’s Bay with the highest number at 145 reports, followed by Mosta with 106. Birkirkara, Marsaskala and Qormi completed the top five. At the other end of the scale, Fontana, Kerċem and Mdina registered no reports, while San Lawrenz recorded one. Seven reports were listed without a locality. The 2025 total is just below the 2,225 cases reported in 2024, previously described as an average of six cases per day. (Maltatoday)
PN Alleges ARMS Billing Failures Affected 50,000 Consumers Opposition MPs Mark Anthony Sammut and Graziella Galea have accused ARMS and the Labour government of allowing billing failures to persist for more than a year, denying around 50,000 consumers the eco reduction they were entitled to. Sammut said internal emails show ARMS was aware of the problem since early 2024, despite public claims that the issue had been resolved. He added that newly installed meters were still affected and highlighted additional system failures, including more than €300,000 in payments temporarily disappearing from records. Political responsibility was placed on Energy Minister Miriam Dalli, with the opposition arguing an independent audit should have been launched earlier. Consumers were urged to check their bills and report any discrepancies. (The Malta Independent)
