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2 November 2026, Monday

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Malta’s justice system has a serious problem; we cannot keep looking away - Repubblika

Repubblika on Monday expressed its anger, disappointment and profound concern at the jury's verdict acquitting Lorin Scicluna of the murder of Lassana Cisse and the attempted murder of three...

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latest comment from RF, 02/11/2026 09:15: Shame on jurors. No justice or remorse for poor widow and orphaned children who lost their husband and father through obvious racial hatred and killing in jest.

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PL MP defends genetic testing expansion, says it does not diminish disabled people’s rights

Labour MP Romilda Zarb has defended the expansion of embryo screening for serious hereditary conditions against warnings from the disability sector, saying she does not see the opportunity it offers...

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Lorin Scicluna turned down 30-year plea deal before Lassana Cisse murder trial

Lorin Scicluna turned down a plea deal that would have seen him serve 30 years in prison for the murder of Lassana Cisse, choosing instead to stand trial before a jury which eventually acquitted him...

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TMID Editorial: Tourist tax increases and how they can have the desired impact

Tourism has been an integral part of the Maltese economy for decades. However, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing - and there is a general consensus that this is the point that Malta...

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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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latest comment from J.Degabriele, 01/11/2026 15:29: It would be a very good first step if many employers paid proper wages to their employees. Maybe then Maltese workers would apply for those jobs! AND if government would stop fattening the public workforce before every election and drain the private sector for votes!

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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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latest comment from Anne R Key, 01/11/2026 19:51: The PM was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, his sense of entitlement is beyond anything natural - he flaunts a Eur750k Azimuth yacht and tries to make us believe that he is in the same boat (excuse the pun) as our TCN's.

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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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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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latest comment from Mario aquilina, 02/11/2026 08:03: Law of the jungle, people are loosing faith in the judiciary system.

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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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latest comment from RF, 01/11/2026 13:25: Good. Maybe we will be spared the low quality noisy ones.

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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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latest comment from George Azzopardi, 01/11/2026 12:35: I find it difficult to believe that the TCN (Third-Country Nationals) directives announced in the 2027 Budget are merely coincidental to the €1,000 super bonus being offered by this administration. In my view, there appears to be a clear political connection between these measures. The bonus could be seen as an attempt to fulfill an electoral promise while simultaneously maintaining the goodwill and satisfaction of party supporters. This raises a legitimate question: Are these measures genuinely driven by long-term economic and social priorities, or are they being strategically timed to serve short-term political interests? Ultimately, government policies should be judged by their fairness, sustainability and benefits to society as a whole, rather than by their potential political advantage.

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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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recent poll

Blogs & Opinions

Alfred Sant

Foreign workers

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

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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latest comment from Ellsworth Hildebrand Oats, 02/11/2026 04:34: The usual diversionary tactics.

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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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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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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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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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‘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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latest comment from mohhmiftuh, 01/11/2026 21:12: Li whud jew hafna min-negozjanti huma rghiba ilna nafuha.Nahseb m'hemmx negozjanti aqwa minn dawk maltin biex jisfruttaw ghall- vantagg taghhom ir-regoli tas-suq hieles li tipprattika l-unjoni ewropea.Ziedet ghall-gholi tal-hajja u spejjez oghla malajr jitfghuhom fuq il-konsumaturi u jispiccaw metaforikament li ghal kull tigiega jiehdu dundjan.Il-gvern ghandu jkollu s-sahha biex jikkontrolla l-prezzijiet fejn dawn ikunu esagerati .Imma biex dan jigri hemm bzonn li l-EU tirrealizza li f'suq zghir bhal Malta l-kompetizzjoni hafna drabi ma tahdimx u temenda r-regoli kif hemm bzonn. One size does not fit all.

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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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latest comment from C Xerri, 01/11/2026 17:21: "..TCNs may decide that better conditions elsewhere make Malta a less attractive place to work" TCNs "MAY" . That says it all....as TCNs surely would make their maths and check if the "better conditions elsewhere" will include free medical care and free education for their children as soon as they go elsewhere and if after five years they are given the same benefits as locals.

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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

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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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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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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latest comment from RF, 31/10/2026 13:49: Why am I not surprised? Foregone conclusion.

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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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latest comment from Anne R Key, 31/10/2026 15:45: And Judge Valencia has asked Profs Casola to apologise! This is truly a weird country that we live in!

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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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latest comment from Pennyjr, 31/10/2026 11:48: Well done Qrendi - keep it up!

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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

Malta’s justice system has a serious problem; we cannot keep looking away - Repubblika

PL MP defends genetic testing expansion, says it does not diminish disabled people’s rights

Lorin Scicluna turned down 30-year plea deal before Lassana Cisse murder trial

TMID Editorial: Tourist tax increases and how they can have the desired impact

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

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

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

Jury finds Lorin Scicluna not guilty of Lassana Cisse murder

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

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

Alex Borg says Budget fails to address strain from population growth

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

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

Commissioner for Older Persons has issued no recommendations since 2022

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

‘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

Court orders immediate release of tourist jailed over airport bomb remark

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

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

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

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

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

The Malta Independent wins two categories at IGM journalism awards

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

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

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

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

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

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