The Malta Independent

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2 November 2026, Monday

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No mandate on surrogacy, but debate must begin, says Labour MP

Surrogacy is not on the government's agenda and there is no electoral mandate to legislate for it, but Labour MP Romilda Zarb says the subject should still be discussed openly, arguing that somebody...

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BREAKING: Jury finds Lorin Scicluna not guilty of Lassana Cisse murder

Photo: Lassane Cisse (left) and Lorin Scicluna

The jury in the murder trial of former Armed Forces of Malta soldier Lorin Scicluna has begun deliberating after the presiding judge completed her final directions on Sunday morning. Madam...

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How much does Malta rely on TCNs, and who pays the price of Budget measures targeting them?

Malta's growing reliance on third-country nationals (TCNs) has once again brought migration, workers' rights and social inclusion into the spotlight, particularly following the government's decision...

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Chamber President says TCN measures ‘not sufficiently calibrated’ to achieve economic transformation

The President of the Malta Chamber of Commerce William Spiteri Bailey has told The Malta Independent on Sunday that the government's new measures relating to Third Country Nationals do not appear to...

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Commissioner for Older Persons has issued no recommendations since 2022

No recommendations have been made to the government by the Commissioner for Older Persons since at least 2022. In this span of nearly five consecutive calendar years, three difference people occupied...

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Alex Borg says Budget fails to address strain from population growth

Opposition leader Alex Borg has criticised Budget 2027 for failing to address the pressure population growth is placing on Malta’s infrastructure, arguing that the country’s economic model...

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Mbappé scores again as Real Madrid win and Lazio go 3 points clear in Serie A with late winner

Kylian Mbappé scored again as Real Madrid defeated Racing Santander 3-0 for its sixth straight win across all competitions and kept pace with Spanish leader Barcelona on Sunday, while...

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Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli becomes youngest champion in F1 history at age 20

After crossing the finish line of the Mexico City Grand Prix behind race winner Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, F1 history-maker Kimi Antonelli placed his hands on the steering wheel and his voice...

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Malta’s newly increased tourist taxes will be among the highest across the European Union

Malta's newly revised tourist taxes will be among the highest across the whole European Union once they are implemented, an analysis by The Malta Independent on Sunday shows. Malta's tourist...

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Abela ‘totally disagrees’ with criticism that TCN measures are unjust or discriminatory

Prime Minister Robert Abela expressed total disagreement with criticism that measures impacting Third Country Nationals announced in the Budget are unjust or discriminatory. During last...

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Arsenal beat Liverpool 1-0 to end Anfield torment and go top of the Premier League

Arsenal eked out its first win at Anfield in 14 years by beating Liverpool 1-0 through Kai Havertz's first-half goal to climb to first place in the Premier League on Sunday. Not since 2012 - when...

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Blogs & Opinions

Adrian Delia

Malta’s overpopulation problem - The government admits the problem, but where is the solution?

Katya De Giovanni

Mental health first aid should be required by law, just like physical first aid

Frans Camilleri

The reality of migrant workers

Romilda Zarb

Beyond financial support: Building opportunity through social justice

Emmanuel J. Galea

Buried faster than born

Jerome Caruana Cilia

Another budget, the same problems persist

Cressida Galea

A bold yet social Budget for Malta’s next economic chapter

Michael Briguglio

Understanding Budget 2027

Ivan Bartolo

Where sorrow meets hope

Gejtu Vella

Welcome relief today, but where is Malta’s long-term vision?

Anti-Poverty Forum warns Budget 2027 measures could deepen hardship for migrant families

The Anti-Poverty Forum Malta has warned that Budget 2027 measures restricting access to free childcare and public transport for certain third-country nationals risk increasing hardship among migrant...

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€1.4 million of cocaine found hidden onboard container ship

14 kilogrammes of cocaine, worth around €1.4 million, was found hidden onboard a container ship which arrived in Malta on Friday night, the Police Force said in a statement on Sunday. Police...

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A third weekend of protests in France as youth-led rallies sweep Europe

Hundreds of thousands of mostly young protesters took to the streets across France on Saturday in a third consecutive weekend of demonstrations over living costs and education. About 70,000...

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The Malta Independent wins two categories at IGM journalism awards

The Malta Independent has won two categories in the Institute of Maltese Journalists awards that were held on Saturday. Deputy Editor Semira Abbas Shalan won the Award for Journalism that...

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‘It’s like the world is ending’: Caruana brushes off Budget criticism, decries 'greedy' businesses

Finance Minister Clyde Caruana brushed off criticism of his Budget measures on Sunday in a scathing speech where he said that people’s masks had fallen when it comes to the population, and...

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TMIS Editorial: A government trapped by its own economic model

If Budget 2027 is an indication of where Malta's economy is heading, there is little reason for optimism. This was the shortest budget in recent memory, and also the weakest presented by Prime...

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Eight organisations oppose proposed land reclamation off Bengħajsa, warn of threat to fishers

Eight voluntary organisations and associations have voiced their opposition to a government tender for a master plan for land reclamation off Bengħajsa, warning that the project would threaten...

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Emeritus judge finds no basis for University investigation into statistician Vince Marmara

Statistician Vince Marmara has published the conclusions of a report drawn up by retired judge Geoffrey Valenzia, who found no "factual basis" to justify an investigation into alleged breaches of...

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news in pictures

events

Sports

Arsenal beat Liverpool 1-0 to end Anfield torment and go top of the Premier League

Mbappé scores again as Real Madrid win and Lazio go 3 points clear in Serie A with late winner

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli becomes youngest champion in F1 history at age 20

Kane scoreless as Bayern draws in Klassiker and Milan beat city rivals Inter

Lewis Hamilton wins pole for Ferrari at the Mexico City Grand Prix

Pressure piles on Carrick as 10-man Man United beaten at Chelsea and Man City lose again

Late own goals help Inter beat Venezia 2-0 in Serie A while Milan lose 4-2

Lazio rout Sassuolo 6-2 to stay top of Serie A, humiliating cup exit for Espanyol

Arsenal embarrassed in penalty-shootout loss to 4th-tier Fleetwood in English League Cup stunner

YoHealth Malta Premier - Spartans stun leaders Valletta

20-year-old woman grievously injured after being hit by car in Ħamrun

A 20-year-old woman sustained grievous injuries after being hit by a car in Ħamrun early on Sunday morning. The accident happened at around 3am in Triq Nazzjonali, when the woman was struck...

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Two injured after car overturns and catches fire in Attard

A 27-year-old man was grievously injured after the car he was driving overturned and caught fire in Attard early on Saturday morning. The accident happened in Mdina Road at around 5am, when the...

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British PM Burnham hints at apology for country's role in slave trade but rejects reparations

U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham says his government will consider apologizing for the first time for its role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade, but has rejected calls for the country to pay...

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Court orders immediate release of tourist jailed over airport bomb remark

A court has ordered the immediate release of a Croatian tourist who was remanded in custody after making a sarcastic remark about a bomb in his hand luggage at Malta International Airport, ruling that...

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Pressure piles on Carrick as 10-man Man United beaten at Chelsea and Man City lose again

Michael Carrick's position as Manchester United manager was jeopardized further Saturday with a 2-0 loss at Chelsea in the Premier League, with a red card to Lisandro Martinez adding to the woes of...

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Momentum reveals 22 questions asked in survey commissioned by Yorgen Fenech's uncle

A survey commissioned by Raymond Fenech, the uncle of businessman Yorgen Fenech, asked respondents whether they believed the businessman ordered the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia and whether they...

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Pharmacies open today 9am to 12pm & 4 to 7pm

Valletta Honest Pharmacy, Shop H, Block 2, Misraħ San Ġwann; Marsa Vivien Pharmacy, Triq Patri Magri; Żebbuġ Tal-Grazzja Pharmacy, Triq Franġisk Farrugia; Birkirkara Brown's...

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Qrendi residents gatecrash garden opening in protest over major residential project

Activists and local residents gatecrashed the official inauguration of a newly opened garden in Qrendi, confronting Environment Minister Miriam Dalli over a proposed massive residential development in...

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Kane scoreless as Bayern draws in Klassiker and Milan beat city rivals Inter

Harry Kane failed to score in his first game since winning the Ballon d'Or as Bayern Munich gave up a late goal to draw with Borussia Dortmund 2-2 in the German Klassiker on Saturday. After...

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St James Hospital marks major milestone for private healthcare with specialised heart procedures

Three specialised heart procedures that were previously only available through Malta's public health service have just been successfully performed at Saint James Hospital, marking a first for the...

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Business

ECB holds rates at 2.5% amid rising inflation risks

Roma Outlet Village opens its doors on 6 November

Malta records 7.5 million active online gambling accounts and nearly 850,000 casino visits

Emirates honoured at Sky Media Travel Awards held in Malta

BOV raises 2026 profit guidance as nine-month earnings reach €189.6 million

How Bitcoin Pushed Its Way Over the $65,000 Marker

MBB calls for a strong EU Budget to safeguard Maltese Businesses

Total tax revenue reaches almost €7.5bn, NSO says

HSBC Malta: Strong and resilient results continued through Q3 2026

No mandate on surrogacy, but debate must begin, says Labour MP

BREAKING: Jury finds Lorin Scicluna not guilty of Lassana Cisse murder

How much does Malta rely on TCNs, and who pays the price of Budget measures targeting them?

Chamber President says TCN measures ‘not sufficiently calibrated’ to achieve economic transformation

Commissioner for Older Persons has issued no recommendations since 2022

Alex Borg says Budget fails to address strain from population growth

Mbappé scores again as Real Madrid win and Lazio go 3 points clear in Serie A with late winner

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli becomes youngest champion in F1 history at age 20

Malta’s newly increased tourist taxes will be among the highest across the European Union

Abela ‘totally disagrees’ with criticism that TCN measures are unjust or discriminatory

Arsenal beat Liverpool 1-0 to end Anfield torment and go top of the Premier League

Anti-Poverty Forum warns Budget 2027 measures could deepen hardship for migrant families

€1.4 million of cocaine found hidden onboard container ship

A third weekend of protests in France as youth-led rallies sweep Europe

The Malta Independent wins two categories at IGM journalism awards

‘It’s like the world is ending’: Caruana brushes off Budget criticism, decries 'greedy' businesses

TMIS Editorial: A government trapped by its own economic model

Eight organisations oppose proposed land reclamation off Bengħajsa, warn of threat to fishers

Emeritus judge finds no basis for University investigation into statistician Vince Marmara

Lewis Hamilton wins pole for Ferrari at the Mexico City Grand Prix

Updated: Leo XIV has become the first pope in history to vote in a US general election

TMID Editorial: Not every medical problem belongs at Mater Dei

ADPD says Budget leaves long-term problems unresolved and targets vulnerable workers

From quarry to Park tal-Mitħna: an open space in Mqabba

Beyond economic and social measures: what kind of society are we building? - Caritas

Employer bodies say economic transformation requires careful calibration of policies

PN says Budget offers no answers on Malta’s growing quality of life concerns

21-year-old charged with terrorism-related offences after probe into alleged travel to Syria

20-year-old woman grievously injured after being hit by car in Ħamrun

Two injured after car overturns and catches fire in Attard

British PM Burnham hints at apology for country's role in slave trade but rejects reparations

Court orders immediate release of tourist jailed over airport bomb remark

Pressure piles on Carrick as 10-man Man United beaten at Chelsea and Man City lose again

Momentum reveals 22 questions asked in survey commissioned by Yorgen Fenech's uncle

Pharmacies open today 9am to 12pm & 4 to 7pm

Qrendi residents gatecrash garden opening in protest over major residential project

Kane scoreless as Bayern draws in Klassiker and Milan beat city rivals Inter

St James Hospital marks major milestone for private healthcare with specialised heart procedures

Pepper spray triggered Paceville nightclub panic, but safety failures worsened injuries, court finds

Prosecution tells jurors: 'Lorin Scicluna cannot escape responsibility for Cisse murder'

Maltese-flagged pleasure yachts secure privileged access through US ports, Ministry announces

More tourists but lower per capita expenditure in first 9 months – NSO

Schools to get €6m air-conditioning investment as government tackles poor PISA results

At end Q3, government debt at nearly €12bn – NSO