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Pope calls on nations to share vaccines

VATICAN CITY, Dec 25 (Reuters) - Pope Francis in his Christmas message on Friday said political and business leaders must not allow market forces and patent laws to take priority over making Covid 19 vaccines available to all, condemning…

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Many just want a hug for Christmas this year, Queen Elizabeth says

LONDON, Dec 25 (Reuters) - All many people want for Christmas this year is a simple hug, Britain's Queen Elizabeth said in her annual festive message, saying it would be…

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Christmas Day celebrations in Bangladesh

Bangladeshi Christians offer prayers on Christmas day at the St. Mary's Cathedral Church in Dhaka, Bangladesh, 25 December 2020. Christmas is celebrated in Bangladesh and across the world on 25…

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A silent night … with headphones

A person wearing protective face mask listens with silent disco headphones on Christmas Eve during 'The Silent Night, Christmas in the ears' event during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, at…

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Christmas Day in Bangalore

Indian Christians light candles after attending the Christmas prayers at the Infant Jesus church in Bangalore, India, 25 December 2020. Most Christians celebrate Christmas on 25 December to commemorate the…

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Christmas Mass in Thailand

People wearing protective masks attend a Christmas day mass at a church in Bangkok, Thailand, 25 December 2020. Although Thailand is a Buddhist country, the minority of Christians in the…

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Pope urges help for poor at low-key Christmas Eve Mass curbed by COVID

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis celebrated a low-key Christmas Eve Mass made sombre by the coronavirus pandemic on Thursday and said people should feel obliged to help the needy…

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Malta’s leaders exchange Christmas formal greetings

The President of Malta and his wife exchanged rhe traditional Season’s greetings with the Prime Minister, Robert Abela, and Mrs Abela; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Anġlu Farrugia; Chief…

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When Christmas was cancelled: a lesson from history

The prospect of a Christmas without large-scale celebrations is preying on minds. After the widespread cancellation of pantomimes, festive light “switch-ons” and other community activities, it seems likely that 2020’s…

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Christmas market in Bejing

People visit a Christmas market in a shopping mall in Beijing, China, 20 December 2020. Christmas traditions in China's capital Beijing have become cherished not only among foreigners but locals…

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Christmas in Bethlehem Church of the Nativity

A local tourist visits the Church of Nativity ahead of the Christmas preparations in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, 20 December 2020. Palestinian Authorities imposed a total lockdown in…

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Vatican City Nativity scene gets thumbs down from Pope

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Sunday appeared to add his own thumbs-down to widespread criticism of an unorthodox nativity scene in St. Peter's Square, telling visitors to instead…

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Drive-in Christmas mass amid coronavirus pandemic in South Korea

A member of Seoul city church, wearing a Santa Claus costume, has their personal data checked before attending a drive-in Christmas mass at Songgok high school in Seoul, South Korea,…

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Zoom’s Christmas gift: no cap on call lengths over the holidays

LONDON (Reuters) - Friends and families kept apart by COVID this Christmas and New Year will not find their virtual gatherings over Zoom cut short by the usual 40-minute limit…

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Justin Bieber teams up with former rivals for Christmas song

LONDON (Reuters) - Five years ago pop star Justin Bieber was locked in a contest for Britain’s favourite Christmas song with a group of little known health workers. He gave…

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Malta: Children can experience 15 days of science for free at Esplora this Christmas

The Esplora Interactive Science Centre in Kalkara will be hosting 15 days of events for children during their Christmas holidays. The activities, centered around the basic use of science and…

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Malta: Influenza nasal sprays for children to be administered during Christmas holidays

With effect from Monday 21 December and up to 4 January, children in the 2 to 18-year age group can get influenza nasal spray from Health Centres in Malta and…

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WHO issues advice on how to ‘celebrate’ a Safe Christmas

CDE / WHO/ BBC / Reuters - The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged Europeans to wear masks during family gatherings at Christmas. WHO advised that while marking the Christmas…

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Maltese Editors’ Perspectives

Times of Malta says President George Vella made some strong statements during his speech on Republic Day MaltaToday says that the Daphne Caruana Galizia Public inquiry should not be hindered…

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Schoolchildren can miss end of term to isolate before Christmas, says French PM

French schoolchildren will be allowed to skip classes and stay at home on Thursday and Friday if their families wish to self-isolate ahead of Christmas, Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Tuesday.…

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Czech government orders tightening of coronavirus restrictions from Friday

Czech restaurants, hotels and indoor sports venues, which reopened from a coronavirus lockdown only two weeks ago, must shut again from Friday in response to a new rise in infections, Prime…

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In Pictures – The Silent Night where all went bright – Vatican City

St. Peter’s Square was aglow on Friday evening, as a host of onlookers beheld the lighting of this year’s creche and Christmas tree. It provided a sign of Advent hope…

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Malta: Stay within your own household for Christmas lunch, Gauci urges

People planning a family meal over Christmas should only do so within their own household, the Superintendent of Public health has advised. While there are no restrictions in the country…

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Debate over mulled wine heats up in Germany amid pandemic lockdown

BERLIN (Reuters) - With most Christmas markets closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, open-air mulled wine stands have popped up across Germany as bars and restaurant owners try to bring…

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Santa was a lady once — is it time to bring her back?

Can Christmas be about gender? Apparently so, if the paucity of female Santas is anything to go by. There have, in fact, been cases of Australian women donning the secular…

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Greece to keep schools, restaurants shut until after Christmas

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece said on Monday that it will not re-open schools, restaurants and courts until Jan. 7, effectively extending most of the restrictions the country imposed last month…

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Not so Merry Christmas looms for coronavirus-hit Europe

Governments across Europe are trying to navigate between avoiding spreading the coronavirus over the Christmas holiday season and allowing people to celebrate with family and friends. Here are some measures…

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Malta: Irresponsible attitude will undermine all businesses’ efforts – Philip Fenech

“2020 has been a difficult year since March and if it weren’t for government assistance it would have been even harder but now we are at a time which is…

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Photo Story: Christmas lights in Gyor, Hungary

A series of photos of the Christmas lights in Gyor, Hungary. Christmas light painting projected onto the wall of the Blenedictine Church Saint Ignatius of Loyola in Gyor, Hungary. Christmas…

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Photo Story: Barcelona lights up for Christmas

Pedestrians walk past city light installations during the opening of the Christmas Lights 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. Via EPA-EFE/Enric Fontcuberta

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Photo Story: Christmas tree put up in Milan

Workers erect a Christmas tree in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping mall in Milan, Italy, 29 November 2020. Via EPA-EFE/ANDREA FASANI

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Photo Story: Biggest Christmas candle in the world lights up in Schlitz, Germany

The Schlitzer candle lights up during the blue hour in Schlitz near Fulda, Germany, 28 November 2020. Since 1991 the Schlitzer candle lights up on all Advent weekends over the…

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Belgium lets shops reopen, but keeps Christmas curbs to prevent third wave

Belgium will let shops reopen from Tuesday, but keep other coronavirus curbs over the festive period, including limits on gatherings over Christmas and a ban on fireworks at New Year,…

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Hungary PM says to decide about Christmas COVID rules in about 10 days

Hungary's government will decide in about 8-10 days on restrictions to be applied over the Christmas holidays to curb coronavirus infections, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told state radio on Friday.…

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Photo Story: Christmas decorations amid coronavirus pandemic in London

A series of photos of Christmas lights in London, Britain. Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced non-essential shops in all parts of England will be allowed to reopen when lockdown…

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Photo Story: Christmas illumination in the Royal Treaty Street in Warsaw

Photos of the Christmas lights on the Royal Treaty Street in Warsaw, Poland. This year's installation will be more modest than in previous years. Assembly works are in progress of…

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Spain considers limiting Christmas celebrations to six people

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Wednesday that his government was considering limiting Christmas celebrations to six people in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus. "This…

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Maltese Editors’ Perspectives

The Times of Malta says that Roberta Abela's cabinet is like a potpourri- a mix of dry leaves with some spices that can add flavour to the cabinet. It is…

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Feliz Navidad? Coronavirus Christmas could limit parties in Spain

The Spanish government is to propose a "different" Christmas and New Year under coronavirus restrictions with just six people at parties, although it hopes the "soul and spirit" of the…

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Malta: Christmas shopping to be a ghost of its former self

Retailers will have to work harder than ever to capture a reluctant consumer spend over December as COVID-19 fears and restrictions dampen the excitement of in-store shopping, a survey shows.…

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German states plan to let up to 10 celebrate Christmas together

Germany's 16 federal states plan to allow gatherings of up to 10 people over Christmas and New Year, offering some relaxation of coronavirus restrictions to let families and friends celebrate…

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Photo Story: The Champs Elysees in Paris lights up for Christmas

The landmark Arc de Triomphe dominates the skyline as the trees lining the famous avenue Champs Elysees are lit in red lights as the Christmas illuminations were switched on, in…

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Robbie Williams pens Covid-19 Christmas song

The 46-year-old singer/songwriter's new track, 'Can't Stop Christmas', references the 2020 pandemic but says nothing will stop the festive celebrations this year. Lines include: "Oh what a miserable year, but…

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Photo Story: Rzeszow in Poland gears up for Christmas

Workers install Christmas decorations at the Market Square in Rzeszow, south-eastern Poland. Via EPA-EFE/Darek Delmanowicz

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Europe’s economies race to open for Xmas – should they bother?

By Mark John (Reuters) Is the Christmas economy worth salvaging? Unless you're in retail, the answer is: Possibly not. Across Europe, governments have imposed lockdowns through November into early December…

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British minister says “too early” to plan for Christmas

The UK Business Secretary Alok Sharma has said it is too early to set out Covid rules for Christmas, following several newspaper reports that the government has plans to let…

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Photo story: Taiwan kickstarts Christmas celebrations

People walk through the Maple Leaf Tunnel in New Taipei City, Taiwan, on Sunday 15 November 2020. The New Taipei City Government has kickstarted Christmas celebrations by installing a Christmas…

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Photo Story: Taiwan lights up 3D Christmas tree

A 3D Christmas tree shines in Banciao, New Taipei City, Taiwan. The 36-meter tree will light up every evening until the end of the year with a 3D projection being…

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Coronavirus times: Santa Claus in a restrictive bubble

Photo: Santa Claus in a life size snow ball made of plastic as a safety measure against coronavirus in Aalborg zoo, 13 November 2020. Christmas decorations and lightings have adorned…

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Challenge begins for UK farmer to get Xmas turkeys on tables

Turkey farmer Tom Copas says he faces a challenge to bring over the seasonal staff he needs this Christmas to process his turkeys and then to meet a surge in…

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Photo Story: Christmas preparations in Madrid

A huge Menina figure made of Christmas lights decorates Colon square in downtown Madrid, central Spain, as part of the preparations for upcoming Christmas. Via EPA-EFE/Ballesteros

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Photo Story: Johannesburg lights up for Christmas

People next to a recently erected Christmas Lights at the annual lights festival at the Melrose Arch shopping mall in Johannesburg, South Africa. The lights are a tourist attraction as…

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Maltese Editors’ Perspectives

The Times of Malta says the education system is facing a challenging time. It says the quick shift to online learning caused by the pandemic has affected the education process.…

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Malta: “Big family gatherings should be avoided this Christmas ” – Minister Fearne

Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Chris Fearne reaffirmed that the maximum number of people who can gather outside is 6, and stressed that what cannot be done outside should…

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Photo Story: Santa Claus Village in Arctic Circle almost deserted due to Coronavirus Pandemic

Only a few visitors stroll the snow covered but almost empty streets in the Santa Claus village at the Arctic Circle, near Rovaniemi, Finland. Santa Claus village on the Arctic…

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Photo Story: Russia prepares for the Russian Orthodox Christmas

People attend festival 'Journey to Christmas' in Moscow, Russia. Russians celebrated New Year's Eve on 31 December but will be celebrating Christmas on the 07 January, according to the Russian…

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EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Chekka, Lebanon

A picture taken with a drone shows a view of the 29-meter-high Christmas tree, made of discarded plastic water bottles in the northern coastal town of Chekka, Lebanon. The Christmas…

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