Cloudy Skies and Isolated Showers to Mark New Year’s Eve Cloudy conditions are expected to dominate the weather on New Year’s Eve, with the Met Office forecasting occasional isolated showers throughout Wednesday. Temperatures are set to peak at around 16°C during the day before dropping to approximately 12°C overnight. Winds will be moderate to rather strong in the morning, blowing from the west-northwest at force 4 to 5, before easing later in the day and becoming light northerlies by the evening. Similar conditions are forecast to carry through into the start of the new year. On Thursday, skies are expected to remain mostly cloudy, with further isolated showers possible. Winds will gradually veer to an easterly direction, strengthening slightly during the day before easing again as they turn south-easterly. (Maltatoday)
€150 Fine Introduced for Smoking Outside Designated Beach Areas From next Thursday, anyone caught smoking outside designated smoking zones at Golden Bay and Ramla l-Ħamra will face an immediate €150 fine. The measure, announced last September, is aimed at creating a cleaner, healthier coastal environment at two of Malta’s most popular beaches. Clear signage is being installed at beach entrances, while permitted smoking areas will be clearly marked. In a joint statement, the Environment and Health Ministries stressed that a zero-tolerance approach will be adopted, with no warnings issued to offenders. Enforcement will be carried out by a range of authorities, including the police, LESA officers, ERA, the Malta Tourism Authority and the Environmental Health Directorate, reflecting the government’s intent to strictly uphold the new regulations. (Times of Malta)
Maltese Most Receptive in EU to AI Use in Classrooms, Survey Finds Maltese residents are the most open in the European Union to teachers using artificial intelligence in classrooms, according to a recent Eurobarometer survey. Only 11% of respondents in Malta believe that AI does not belong in education, the lowest level of opposition across the EU. The survey found that 39% feel AI can improve teaching and learning, while a further 47% acknowledge both its benefits and risks and believe it should be carefully assessed. Support also extends to digital wellbeing, with 95% agreeing that schools should teach students how to manage the impact of digital technologies on their mental and physical health. Similar levels of support were recorded for digital skills education, underscoring strong public confidence in digital learning. (The Malta Independent)
