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22 April 2025, Tuesday

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First images of Pope Francis in casket released, funeral to be held on Saturday

The Vatican has released first images of Pope Francis, showing him in his casket with the Vatican secretary of state praying over him....

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Malta on track to exit excessive deficit procedure earlier than expected – Finance Minister

Malta is on track to exit the European Union's excessive deficit procedure earlier than expected, with the country's deficit expected to stand at the 3% limit by the end of 2026, Finance Minister...

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Motorcycle in 2024 fatal Rabat crash was travelling at 100 km/h, court told

The motorcycle used in the fatal Rabat crash on 27 August last year, which claimed the life of 33-year-old Cristi Robles, was travelling at 100km/h, a court heard on Tuesday. The fatal crash took...

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New €8 million bypass to be built between Zabbar and Kalkara

A new bypass which is set to cost around €8 million will be built to connect Zabbar with Smart City in Kalkara, with works slated to start in a month’s time. In a briefing on Tuesday...

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Pope's frequent calls to a Catholic church made him a revered figure in war-battered Gaza

In the last 18 months of his life, Pope Francis had a frequent evening ritual: He would call the lone Catholic church in the Gaza Strip to see how people huddled inside were coping with a devastating...

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Francis Zammit Dimech to be given final farewell on Thursday

The Acting President of Malta, former Minister, former Member of the European Parliament, and former Secretary General of the Partit Nazzjonalista Francis Zammit Dimech will be given a final farewell...

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TMID Editorial: The death of Pope Francis

Easter Monday brought with it the sorrowful news that Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88. "At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire...

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Pope Francis led the church with humility and simplicity

He was a pope who understood the power of a simple touch: caressing the deformed head of a man in St. Peter's Square, washing the feet of a Muslim prisoner, sinking to his hands and knees to implore...

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'Who am I to judge?' Pope Francis had an informal, lighthearted speaking style

- Pope Francis, who died on Monday, had an informal, lighthearted speaking style, and sometimes he even created words in a combination of his native Spanish with the Italian that he spoke as...

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Man allegedly stabbed in the back during dispute over car battery

A man who was allegedly stabbed in his back during an argument in a road in Gżira following a dispute over an unreturned car battery, told the court he did not see the accused attack...

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From 'conclave' to 'white smoke,' a glossary of terms used in a papal transition

A change in popes - through death or resignation - is a complicated process, with centuries-old rituals involving the transition in leadership for both the spiritual head of the global Catholic Church...

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Why was Alex Borg so offended?

Valerie Visanich

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Easter in Gozo: A Springtime embrace of faith, family, and nature

Carmel Cacopardo

Vision 2050: encouraging greed

Mark Said

Victims of government’s multiple wrongdoings

Victor Calleja

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Trusting Labour

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The tourist pillar

Officers from disciplined forces receive €1.22 million in payments for serving beyond 29 years

Officers from the disciplined corps have started to receive payments from the government as recognition for serving for more than 29 years, the government said. €1.22 million has been paid...

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Pope Francis: A champion of uprooted people

A son of Italian immigrants, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 17 December, 1936, it was only natural for Pope Francis to focus a lot on the plight of migrants, refugees and all uprooted people in...

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Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff with a charming, humble style, dies

Pope Francis died Monday morning, Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced. "At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire...

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latest comment from Divi, 21/04/2025 09:37: RIP Pray for us from Heaven

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Vatican says the cause of Pope Francis' death was a stroke

The Vatican said Monday the cause of Francis' death was a stroke that put him into a coma and led to heart failure. It also said the pope had decreed that he will be buried in St. Mary Major...

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Updated: Cardinals set Pope Francis' funeral for Saturday, with public viewing starting Wednesday

Cardinals will meet Tuesday at the Vatican to begin scheduling Pope Francis' funeral and burial, planning the conclave to elect his successor and making other decisions about...

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Developable land in Swieqi will be turned into an open community space

An initiative launched by a 12‑year‑old boy will see a parcel of land within a development zone in Swieqi transformed into an open space for the enjoyment of other children and the wider...

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Former Nationalist MP Francis Zammit Dimech dies, aged 70

Former Nationalist MP Francis Zammit Dimech, who in this legislature was named also Acting President, has died after a long batted with cancer. He was aged 70. His death was announced by...

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Malta declares Tuesday a national day of mourning for Pope Francis

Malta has declared tomorrow, Tuesday 22 April, as a national day of mourning as a show of respect to Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday morning. In a statement, the government also said...

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Sports

Inter struggle at Bologna again and are left level with Napoli atop Serie A

Liverpool need one more win to secure the Premier League title after beating Leicester 1-0

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri wins F1's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to take overall lead

McTominay meets Conte's demand and lifts Napoli level with Serie A leader Inter

Unheralded O'Reilly stars again for Man City as Villa thrash Newcastle in Premier League

Max Verstappen takes pole in Saudi Arabian qualifying after Lando Norris crashes

Man United seal spectacular comeback to beat Lyon 5-4 and advance to Europa League semifinals

Inter reach Champions League semifinals after eliminating Bayern Munich 4-3 on aggregate

No comeback for Real Madrid as Arsenal are back in Champions League semifinals

Paris Saint-Germain stave off Villa comeback to reach Champions League semifinals

Condolences stream in following death of Francis Zammit Dimech

Tributes have been flooding Maltese social media after the death of former PN MP Francis Zammit Dimech. His death was announced Monday afternoon by Nationalist Party leader Bernard Grech,...

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The rites and rituals following the death of a pope, his funeral and burial, explained

The death of a pope sets in motion a series of carefully orchestrated rites and rituals well before the conclave to elect his successor begins. They involve the certification of death and public...

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Updated (2): Tributes to the memory of Pope Francis pour in

The President and the government have paid tribute to the memory of Pope Francis, who died today. "Pope Francis will be remembered for his humility, the particular attention he gave during...

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From Buenos Aires to Rome: Key dates in the life of Pope Francis

Key events in the life of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who became Pope Francis and died on Monday: Dec. 17, 1936: Jorge Mario Bergoglio is born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the eldest of five...

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Ex-PL MP Silvio Grixti denounces Housing Authority CEO for ‘humiliating’ comments

Former Labour Party backbencher Silvio Grixti has publicly denounced the Chief Executive of the Housing Authority, Matthew Zerafa, for the comments he made in an interview with TThe Malta Independent...

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latest comment from Divi, 21/04/2025 20:03: Tajba Zerafa int fuq propjetajiet tal-Monopoly qed titkellem jaqaw

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Pope Francis dies at age 88: how the world reacted

Pope Francis died Monday, the Vatican announced, history's first Latin American pontiff who charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor but alienated conservatives with...

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When Pope Francis came to Malta

Pope Francis was the third pope to visit Malta, coming over for a two-day visit in April 2022, His papal visit marked the first visit to the country in 12 years, since Pope Benedict XVI visited...

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Requiem Mass for Pope Francis at St John’s Co-Cathedral on Tuesday

A Requiem Mass for his Holiness Pope Francis, who passed away early this morning at the age of 88, will be held on Tuesday, 22 April, at 6:30pm at St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta, the Archdiocese...

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Who are the leading candidates to succeed Pope Francis?

The death of a pope starts a centuries-old ritual involving sacred oaths by the cardinals electing a successor, the piercing of ballots with a needle and thread after they're...

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latest comment from Atanasio Anton, 21/04/2025 16:22: Let us not forget our own Cardinal Grech who was quite close to the late Pope and who presided an Office which made him very open to many bishops and cardinals in his Synodal work.

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Planning Commissions to increase to four

To reduce the backlog of cases and provide a fair and expeditious hearing for all Based on recently collected data, the Planning Authority announced Monday that it is increasing the Planning...

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latest comment from B J Simmons, 22/04/2025 08:19: Time for speculative building in Malta to be halted before the whole country is concreted and brown enveloped reduced or stopped! Well, it was just a dream, but it's tough to watch the country go downhill so quickly just to benefit a few greed monsters.

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Business

Ride a flying carpet to 2050

Inside Gamblorium: An Exclusive Interview with CEO Nodar Giorgadze