The Malta Independent

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12 August 2026, Wednesday

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Church Commission welcomes planning appeals reform, calls for more action

The Interdiocesan Commission for the Promotion of Integral Human Development has welcomed the Government's proposed reform of the Planning Appeals Procedure, while calling for more effective...

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Live: Theuma says Yorgen Fenech arranged his meeting with Keith Schembri

As the trial of Yorgen Fenech reaches its thirty-seventh day on Wednesday, state witness Melvin Theuma faces cross-examination by the defence. Following four days of direct questioning by...

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LIVE: John Agius case returns to court as compilation of evidence continues

Proceedings are scheduled to resume at 11am, with further witnesses expected to testify as prosecutors continue presenting evidence surrounding the events of 24 July. Agius is facing proceedings...

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TMID Editorial: When 43°C becomes the new normal

What Malta is experiencing this summer is a taste of the future, and it is a future that should alarm anyone who cares about the country's quality of life, economy and ability to cope with...

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Government publishes new legislation to implement Family Court reforms

The Ministry for Justice, Research and Innovation, together with the Ministry for Social Policy and the Family, on Tuesday published the Family Court Procedures Regulations 2026, along with the...

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War has ‘no victors, only losers’, President says at Santa Marija Convoy commemoration

President Myriam Spiteri Debono said that ongoing conflicts around the world continue to demonstrate that war has "no victors, only losers", as she called on countries with greater international...

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Theuma’s recordings continue to reveal a web of money, fear and warnings

The secret recordings made by Melvin Theuma continued to take centre stage in the murder trial of Yorgen Fenech on Tuesday, as the self-confessed middleman described the recordings as the one thing...

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Malta’s future for young people must be shaped with them, PN says

The Natiinalist Party said Wednesday it has full confidence in the abilities of young people and in the contribution they can make to our society. That confidence, however, must be reflected in...

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Updated (2): Driver dies in crash with trailer in Qormi

A driver has died following a severe collision between a trailer and a small truck on Ħandaq Road in Qormi shortly after noon on Tuesday. The victim, who was operating the small truck,...

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Veteran broadcaster Norman Hamilton dies aged 85

Veteran broadcaster Norman Hamilton has died aged 85, bringing to an an end a broadcasting career spanning more than six decades. Hamilton, who died on Tuesday, was one of Malta’s most...

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The ‘actio surrogatoria’ in Maltese law: Rights, remedies and procedural requirements

In the judgment Customs and Freight Agency Limited vs BML Group Limited, delivered by the Court of Magistrates on 8 October 2025, the Court examined the nature and constituent elements of the actio...

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recent poll

Blogs & Opinions

Emmanuel J. Galea

Corruption off the ballot

Frans Camilleri

Trump’s dirty hands

Alfred Sant

Security and financial services

Kevin Aquilina

Manifesto for change at the Planning Authority

Ivan Bartolo

When profit silences prayer

Marilena Gauci

I want to be remembered by the work I do

Gejtu Vella

No answers, no accountability

Romilda Zarb

The institutions our democracy deserves

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Issues with public procurement

David Spiteri Gingell

The right to work freely

Yorgen Fenech trial - 'Even the police will relax if the Degiorgios escape', court hears

Middleman in the Daphne Caruana Galizia assassination plot Melvin Theuma is set to continue his testimony in court on Tuesday. Theuma's testimony continued on Monday, with jurors hearing further...

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Just over a sixth of Maltese used tobacco and related products daily in 2025 – Eurostat

A Eurostat study has found that just over one in every six persons in the Maltese islands aged 16 or older uses tobacco and related products every day. Eurostat stated last week that 16.5% of...

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Mellieħa mayor calls for road improvements after traffic incident causes congestion

Mellieħa Mayor Gabriel Micallef has called for improvements to traffic management in the area following another traffic incident in Xemxija that caused congestion on surrounding roads. In a...

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146 people suffered grievous injuries, three died in traffic accidents between April and June 2026

During the second quarter of 2026, both road traffic accidents and casualties increased when compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous year, with 146 people suffering grievous injuries and...

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‘Let Sebio’s death serve a purpose’: Call for reform in how Malta handles missing persons

Them cousin of a man who was found dead in a field on Sunday hours after the police issued a public call for help has called for an overhaul of the way Malta responds to missing-person cases,...

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467 of the 624 non-protected specimens set to be removed from Comino site are oleander shrubs – ERA

A total of 624 non-protected trees and shrubs at the Comino Hotel site are set to be removed, 467 of which are oleanders planted as ornamental landscaping for the former hotel, the Environment and...

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Former Syrian President Assad sentenced to death in absentia for war crimes

A Syrian court sentenced ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad along with his younger brother to death in absentia on Tuesday for crimes against humanity and war crimes during Syria's 14-year conflict...

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‘ERA has done what it can,’ PN says on Comino; calls for planning reform to close loopholes

The PN has said that the Environmental & Resources Authority (ERA) has done what it can to ensure that the site in Comino which has come under the lens of controversy due to the approval for the...

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news in pictures

events

Sports

New early childhood education centre with no screen exposure opens its doors

A new early childhood education centre, Seba’ Sema f’Kull Staġun, has opened its doors and will further strengthen the services offered to children and families, the Education...

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Malta's gaming sector grew in 2025 even as licence numbers fell to a three-year low

The Malta Gaming Authority ended December 2025 with 302 licensed companies holding 311 gaming licences, down from 323 licences and 315 companies a year earlier and from 326 licences held by 316...

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Italy ranks as MIA’s most popular market in July

Just over a fifth of Malta International Airport's passengers travelled to or from Italy in July, MIA said Tuesday. The market overtook the United Kingdom for the first time since February on the back...

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Colombia searches for its missing after a powerful earthquake kills more than 100

Search and rescue efforts were underway early Tuesday in dozens of cities and towns in western Colombia after a powerful earthquake struck the region, killing at least 111 people and leaving...

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Din l-Art Ħelwa condemns ERA approval to uproot 800 trees on Comino

Din l-Art Ħelwa has strongly criticised the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) in a statement for approving the uprooting of approximately 800 trees on Comino, describing the decision as...

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Just over 1,200 deeds of sale signed in July, a quarter for garages – NSO

In July 2026, the number of final deeds of sale and promise of sale agreements relating to residential property amounted to 1,207 and 1,147, respectively, data published by the National Statistics...

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TMID Editorial: The economy is speaking, government should listen

There are many voices competing for attention in Malta's political debate. Some are partisan, some ideological, some representing particular sectors or interests. The voice of the Malta Chamber of...

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Keith Schembri informed Johann Cremona that Theuma’s phone had been tapped, middleman testifies

"Under Labour, no one can touch me." According to self-confessed middleman Melvin Theuma, those were Yorgen Fenech's words as the two men discussed the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia...

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Diver dies while working off St Paul’s Islands

A diver has died while he was working in the waters off St Paul’s Islands, police said in a statement on Monday. Police said that the victim was a 41-year-old man who lives in...

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Fenech trial: Theuma testifies Fenech used to tell him 'under Labour, no one can touch me'

“Under Labour, no one can touch me.” Those words, attributed to Yorgen Fenech by Melvin Theuma, were among the most striking heard in court on Monday morning as a series of secret recordings brought the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia back to the political environment in which it took place....

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latest comment from RF, 10/08/2026 11:12: I find it unfair on the jurors to carry such a responsibility in respect of the accused and victim when they are random citizens with no necessary training in law or support being isolated from loved ones and friends forfeiting free time for such a long period with no end in sight. Such trials should be presided over by two experienced judges who are well paid for the job unlike the jurors. Why should we continue to do as the British and not follow the more enlightened jurisdictions?

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Business

The million-dollar tuna ranching sector

BOV equips business customers to spot and stop fraud

Melita Business and Pitre Bathrooms renew decades long partnership

CrediaBank posts record first-half profit as loan growth accelerates

APS Bank and Nexi S.p.A. announce ATM network collaboration

Brain & Bites Series aims to turn innovation conversations into action

MFSA sets new direction for Financial Crime Compliance with Strategy 2026

Church Commission welcomes planning appeals reform, calls for more action

Live: Theuma says Yorgen Fenech arranged his meeting with Keith Schembri

LIVE: John Agius case returns to court as compilation of evidence continues

TMID Editorial: When 43°C becomes the new normal

Government publishes new legislation to implement Family Court reforms

War has ‘no victors, only losers’, President says at Santa Marija Convoy commemoration

Theuma’s recordings continue to reveal a web of money, fear and warnings

Malta’s future for young people must be shaped with them, PN says

Updated (2): Driver dies in crash with trailer in Qormi

Veteran broadcaster Norman Hamilton dies aged 85

The ‘actio surrogatoria’ in Maltese law: Rights, remedies and procedural requirements

Yorgen Fenech trial - 'Even the police will relax if the Degiorgios escape', court hears

Just over a sixth of Maltese used tobacco and related products daily in 2025 – Eurostat

Mellieħa mayor calls for road improvements after traffic incident causes congestion

146 people suffered grievous injuries, three died in traffic accidents between April and June 2026

‘Let Sebio’s death serve a purpose’: Call for reform in how Malta handles missing persons

467 of the 624 non-protected specimens set to be removed from Comino site are oleander shrubs – ERA

Former Syrian President Assad sentenced to death in absentia for war crimes

‘ERA has done what it can,’ PN says on Comino; calls for planning reform to close loopholes

Marsaxlokk marks start of lampuki season with traditional blessing of fishing boats

Malta among the lowest-ranked EU countries for research and development, PN says

Momentum calls for investigations into anyone implicated by Fenech trial evidence

KM Malta Airlines warns of more Catania flight disruptions due to Mount Etna eruptions

CRPD paid €581,844 in therapy refunds to families in 2025

'Government doesn't know how many people will be in Malta in 2026, let alone 2050' — Piccinino

Resuscitation Council wants publicly accessible AEDs registered and available 24/7

Deli & Co issues right of reply after being linked to Hepatitis A cases

Western Europe sets new temperature record as heat waves pummel the region

New early childhood education centre with no screen exposure opens its doors

Malta's gaming sector grew in 2025 even as licence numbers fell to a three-year low

Italy ranks as MIA’s most popular market in July

Colombia searches for its missing after a powerful earthquake kills more than 100

Din l-Art Ħelwa condemns ERA approval to uproot 800 trees on Comino

Just over 1,200 deeds of sale signed in July, a quarter for garages – NSO

TMID Editorial: The economy is speaking, government should listen

Keith Schembri informed Johann Cremona that Theuma’s phone had been tapped, middleman testifies

Diver dies while working off St Paul’s Islands

Fenech trial: Theuma testifies Fenech used to tell him 'under Labour, no one can touch me'

TMID Editorial: A lesson that saves lives

Two third-country nationals deported to North Africa

Updated: Missing 57-year-old man found dead in a field

Nearly 500 on-the-spot fines handed out in four weeks since legal notice enacted

Family Court overhaul to come into force on 1 October, Abela says

Jeffrey Cassar jailed for five months after breaching bail conditions