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29th December 2020

By PA Reporter Reopenings of schools next week may be delayed as part of measures to tackle soaring coronavirus case numbers, scientists advising the Government have suggested. School leaders have also warned that teachers and pupils may be put at risk if secondaries reopen, as planned, while a new ultra-transmissible strain of Covid-19 is driving...

29th December 2020

Brexit, an illusory goal pursued by a fringe minority who muscled into the mainstream with talk of EU shackles while ignoring EU gains, is about to become reality. After four years of political convulsion, the transition period comes to an end on December 31 and the UK will be out of the European Union. And...

28th December 2020

By Sam Blewett, PA Political Correspondent European ambassadors will begin the process of approving the post-Brexit trade deal, as Britons were urged to prepare for life without the EU’s benefits. The diplomats will meet on Monday to determine how they can provisionally approve the deal covering £660 billion of trade in time for the end...

27th December 2020

By Isla Binnie and Giselda Vagnoni Europe launched a mass COVID-19 vaccination drive on Sunday with pensioners and medics lining up to get the first shots to see off a pandemic that has crippled economies and claimed more than 1.7 million lives worldwide. "Thank God," 96-year-old Araceli Hidalgo said as she became the first person...

25th December 2020

By the Governor, Vice Admiral Sir David Steel Many of us put up our Christmas trees some weeks ago, as we did in the Convent. They bring colour, light and just a little magic to every home, and are every child’s dream. This being my first Christmas in Gibraltar, I have also discovered the power...

24th December 2020

Keith Azopardi, the Leader of the Opposition, welcomed news of the UK/EU deal on a future relationship “in principle”, but asked as fundamental question: “Where does that leave Gibraltar?” Mr Azopardi said that until a deal was reached for Gibraltar, the new would “mean nothing” for Gibraltarians and would be meaningless to their quality of...

24th December 2020

The Covid-19 pandemic has seen people encouraged to isolate from others to curb its spread. But many who were already facing deep loneliness are now unable to reach out to others and forge friendships over Christmas. Last year GibSams reached out to those who were spending Christmas day alone in the local community and over...

24th December 2020

Happy Christmas! It may not feel like Christmas Eve, at least not the ones we’re used to, but we shouldn’t stop trying to spread a bit of Christmas cheer. The zambomba and pandero won’t sound at office parties. There are no street celebrations this afternoon. Bars and restaurants would have been rammed. Instead of signs...

24th December 2020

A Christmas message by Dean of Gibraltar Canon Ian Tarrant We all love a story. Whether it be gossip on the street, a novel, or movie, once we hear the beginning, we are easily drawn in, and we want to know how it ends. We each have our own story, with its hopes and frustrations,...

22nd December 2020

By David Hughes, PA Political Editor Negotiators are making a “final push” to reach a post-Brexit trade deal, the European Union’s Michel Barnier said. Mr Barnier, who is leading the EU’s team in negotiations with the UK, said it was a “crucial moment” with the current trading arrangements due to end on December 31. He...

22nd December 2020

The Covid-19 lockdown at Elderly Residential Services will be devastating for families unable to see loved ones for what could be their last Christmas, the Gibraltar Alzheimer’s and Dementia Society has said, as it highlighted that “for people living with dementia, their family is their memory”. The charity’s chairperson Daphne Alcantara said the new ERS...

22nd December 2020

By David Hughes, PA Political Editor Michel Barnier is to update ambassadors from the 27 European Union nations on the state of the negotiations with the UK as time runs out for a deal. The EU’s chief negotiator will also set out the state of play to MEPs as efforts continue to reach an agreement...

21st December 2020

Royal Gibraltar Police officer Tony Gaul climbed the Med Steps 24 times over the weekend, totalling a staggering 76kms and an ascent of 10,000m, to raise money for charity Hope for Grace and local man Wesley Warwick. Mr Warwick, is a young GDP Officer who has recently suffered a stroke and who will now need...

18th December 2020

Queues formed outside St Theresa’s Church as 350 households collected the donated Christmas hampers, marking an emotional moment for some families in financial distress. The hampers initiative organised by Father Charlie Azzopardi helps hundreds of families celebrate their Christmas by providing bags full of fresh food, non-perishables and treats. One young mother of four had...

18th December 2020

by Priya Gulraj and Matthew Ramirez A group of restaurateurs, hospitality staff and clients congregated outside No.6 Convent Place last night to protest the lack of consultation on the 7pm curfew imposed on restaurants and bars on what was to be the busiest night of business before Christmas. They stood outside the Gibraltar Government’s offices...

18th December 2020

I opened last week’s column by mentioning the many traditions we have had to put on hold this year as a result of Covid 19. I missed one intentionally as I knew this week, I would need to mention the annual Christmas Tombola by the Lions Club Gibraltar always ably led by one of our...

17th December 2020

Louis W Triay officially became a Guinness World Record holder after completing 70 years and 311 days in his career as a lawyer. The 91-year old was verified in Gibraltar on December 1 after surpassing Palestinian-lawyer, Fuad Shehadeh’s 70 years and 306 days career as a lawyer. The idea to contact Guinness World Record came...

17th December 2020

Giovanca Afzan will be representing Gibraltar in a virtual Mrs Universe 2020 and is encouraging the public to vote for her online. For the first time in the competition’s history the winner and top four will be chosen by public votes. Gibraltar will be represented by 44 year old Giovanca Afzan, married for 7 years...

17th December 2020

By Liz Connor Have you noticed that the sudden drop in temperature has made your asthma symptoms worse? It’s believed around 5.5 million people in the UK and Ireland are currently receiving treatment for asthma, and the charity Asthma UK says it’s not uncommon for asthma symptoms to get worse over the festive season. Looking...

16th December 2020

People should “think hard” before meeting family and friends over the festive period, Boris Johnson said as he urged people to have a “merry little Christmas.” The Prime Minister said a “smaller Christmas is going to be a safer Christmas” and also suggested people should cut short their celebrations rather than enjoy the maximum permitted...

16th December 2020

Police officer Tony Gaul will climb Mediterranean Steps continuously during the daylight hours this weekend. Starting as early as the sun allows him to on Saturday December 19, Mr Gaul will make his first climb up the Med Steps, then walk down the roads to their starting point. He will repeat that route until sundown...

15th December 2020

By Pat Hurst, PA Each dawn, sheep farmer Thomas Carrick works the land through freezing winter rain and snow, 2,000 feet up in the bleak Cumbrian fells. Like many British farmers, he is about to find out if life outside the EU is even colder and darker. Well used to weather dependent good and bad...

15th December 2020

The GSD has welcomed the commencement of the twice-weekly Luton to Gibraltar route by Wizz Air. “The inaugural flight on Friday evening of the Wizz Air Airbus A320 was a welcome sight, particularly in circumstances where the aviation industry has suffered a huge blow as a result of the pandemic,” said Damon Bossino, shadow Minister...

15th December 2020

By Harriet Line, PA Deputy Political Editor Scientists have warned that the easing of coronavirus restrictions over Christmas will cause a spike in infections, as London and some surrounding areas prepare to enter Tier 3. The capital and parts of the commuter belt will be placed under the toughest measures – forcing the closure of...

14th December 2020

Round two of Cyber Centurion VII took place at Bayside Comprehensive School this weekend as Gibraltar’s teams continued their push to return to the finals, with the junior team grabbing second place in their category while two senior teams broke into the top 10. Overseen by the trio of Stewart Harrison, Richard Fadul and Lluis...

14th December 2020

By Lisa Salmon Through the dark days of winter and pandemic restrictions, Christmas has been the one glittering light on the horizon for many families. But while the festive season will still (hopefully) be bright and cheerful, it will undoubtedly be different this year. New research has found that while 71% of families are planning...

14th December 2020

By David Hughes, PA Political Editor A trade deal between the UK and European Union is still possible, Brussels’ chief negotiator Michel Barnier has insisted. Talks were extended on Sunday after Boris Johnson and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen agreed to continue the process despite major differences still remaining. Mr Barnier updated diplomats...

13th December 2020

By Robert Vasquez Two matters have hit the news in the Cayman Islands and in England and Wales that need attention, which would go some way to improve the ‘peace, order and good government of Gibraltar’. The first is the proposal to reform corruption laws in England and Wales. The second is an update of...

12th December 2020

Ahead of the Covid-19 vaccination campaign, the Director of Public Health, Dr Sohail Bhatti, is weighing up the logistical challenges that could arise if Elderly Residential Services residents, staff and visitors were to decline the vaccine. Whether or not residents, staff and visitors take the vaccine once it is available will be a matter of...

11th December 2020

Brian Callaghan OBE, founder of the Gibraltar International Chess Festival, this week received a rare award. Proposed by Arkady Dvorkovich, former Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Brian has been appointed a Life Member of FIDE, the world governing body for chess. Mr. Dvorkovich, who was elected President of FIDE in October 2018, made a special...