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27 April 2025, Sunday

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Maltese passports were sold to Russians who were later sanctioned over Ukraine war - Financial Times

A Russian businessman who has been hit with EU sanctions over Russia's war with the Ukraine has a Maltese passport, the Financial Times in the UK reports. It says that Albert Avdolyan had...

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latest comment from Solomon Grundy, 27/04/2025 10:54: Did the Financial Times also list the financial interests the Russians have in Knightsbridge in its report?

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Could Cardinal Mario Grech be the next Pope?

Pope Francis passed away on 21 April after 12 years occupying the top post in the Catholic Church. His passing kick started a unique process which will see the next pope be elected - and among a...

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latest comment from Frans Camilleri, 27/04/2025 09:28: No chance, and that's not an aspersion on his qualities. Who"s rooting for him? Of course, I am not counting the Holy Spirit into the equation.

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What the US Embassy story says about Maltese politics

In a political climate as polarised as Malta's, even a diplomatic rumour can morph into a full-blown partisan battle. A recent report by reputable international news agency Reuters - suggesting that...

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‘Government served the purpose of the far-right,’ Tunisian refugee says on migration

Tunisian refugee Dali Agrebi has told this newsroom that "this government has served the purpose of the far-right" in the way it has been tackling present migration issues. Agrebi was interviewed...

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latest comment from Jean K Soler, 27/04/2025 12:12: Tunisia is not at war. Why is this man a refugee? If fighting human trafficking is far right, what is supporting human trafficking to be called?

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Catholic faithful pay respects to Pope Francis as his tomb opens to the public in Rome basilica

Roman Catholic faithful began visiting the tomb of Pope Francis on Sunday, filing past the simple white tomb in St. Mary Major Basilica a day after he was bade farewell by the powerful of...

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Party time at Anfield as Liverpool win Premier League for record-equalling 20th top-flight title

A selfie with Mohamed Salah. An impromptu sing-along with Arne Slot. And fireworks and flares. It was party time at Anfield on Sunday as Liverpool sealed the Premier League title in...

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Building bridges, not barriers: Employers and employees on Workers’ Day

Every year on 1 May, countries across the world mark Workers' Day, a day dedicated to honouring the contributions of workers and recognising the enduring importance of fair labour...

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Pope Francis bestowed a special nickname on AP's Vatican reporter for her often-tough questions

He called me "la prima della classe," or "the first in class." It wasn't necessarily a compliment. I had earned the nickname from Pope Francis in 2018, a year that marked a low point in his...

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Government’s plan to solve traffic can’t work if population continues to increase by 35,000 – Grech

Government's plan to solve traffic issues cannot work if the country's population continues to increase by 35,000 people a year, Opposition Leader Bernard Grech said on Sunday. He was being...

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Prime Minister says pensions will increase again next budget

Prime Minister Robert Abela said that pensions will again be raised in the budget to be announced in October. Abela spoke briefly in three localities on Sunday - Paola, Qormi and...

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Manoel Island Park campaign launches crowdfunding effort to reach more people

The Manoel Island: Post Għalina campaign, which is calling for the islet to be turned into a national heritage park, has launched a crowdfunding effort as it enters its second and final month...

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recent poll

Blogs & Opinions

Darren Carabott

Francis Zammit Dimech: ‘It’s not about me, politics is a mission of service to others’

Kevin Cassar

It’s not your money

Valerie Visanich

The silly and the sacred

Julie Zahra

The politician who stood out

Alfred Sant

Labour Day values

Emmanuel J. Galea

Plucked before the bloom

Carmel Cacopardo

When the earth cries

Mark Said

Gentrification in Malta

Noel Grima

Popes should die in their beds

Owen Bonnici

Francis, the social reformer and champion of the poor

TMIS Editorial: A tale of two men named Francis

On Monday, 21 April, 2025, the world mourned the death of Pope Francis, shocked by the demise of the beloved pontiff who, just a day earlier, had mingled with the crowd in St Peter's Square on Easter...

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Cartoon 27 April 2025

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They came for the canonization of a millennial saint. They stayed for Pope Francis' funeral

Thousands of young people from around the world had come to Rome expecting to rejoice this weekend in the canonization of the first millennial saint during the Vatican's Holy Year. They...

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Updated (3): Mighty and meek bid farewell to Pope Francis, the pope of the people

Tens of thousands of people poured into St. Peter's Square starting at dawn Saturday to honor Pope Francis with a farewell ceremony reflecting his priorities as pope and wishes as pastor:...

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9 people killed when a vehicle plows into a Filipino street festival crowd in Vancouver

A man drove a vehicle into a crowd at a Filipino heritage festival in the Canadian city of Vancouver, killing at least nine people and injuring more than 20 others, authorities said...

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Donald Trump's trip to Pope Francis' funeral puts a sharper focus on their clashes over the years

The day before he died, in his final public address, Pope Francis expressed an Easter Sunday message of unity and an appeal for the marginalized and migrants. "All of us," he proclaimed,...

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Pope Francis had a troubled course on dealing with clergy sexual abuse

Few could have predicted that a comment Pope Francis made during a 2018 visit to Chile would blow up into the biggest crisis of his papacy, and one that eventually set the Catholic Church on a new...

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Trump pays his respects to a pope who publicly and pointedly disagreed with him, meets Zelenskyy

President Donald Trump on Saturday was among more than 50 heads of state and other dignitaries attending the funeral of Pope Francis, where he paid his respects to the Roman Catholic...

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latest comment from Michael Walter, 27/04/2025 08:39: Zelensky is not the Ukrainian President, he was President of Ukraine. His term of office expired, he is using martial law as the means to not hold fresh elections.

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news in pictures

events

Sports

Party time at Anfield as Liverpool win Premier League for record-equalling 20th top-flight title

Newcastle and Chelsea win to boost top-five hopes in Premier League as Ipswich relegated

Liverpool must wait to clinch Premier League title after Arsenal draw with Palace

Milan ruin Inter's treble bid with derby win to reach Italian Cup final

Man City score late winner to beat Aston Villa 2-1 and boost Champions League hopes

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

European Commission’s case against Malta’s golden passport’s scheme to be decided next week

The European Court of Justice is set to decide on the European Commission's case against Malta's citizenship-by-investment scheme on Tuesday. Malta's citizenship-by-investment scheme - which is...

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latest comment from L-argument, 26/04/2025 18:33: Knowing that it was advertised by the most corrupt person in 2019,is no surprise to many.

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Virginia Giuffre, who accused Britain's Prince Andrew in Epstein sex trafficking scandal, dies

Virginia Giuffre, who accused Britain's Prince Andrew and other influential men of sexually exploiting her as a teenager trafficked by financier Jeffrey Epstein, has died. She was 41. Giuffre...

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

Valletta Royal Pharmacy, 271, Triq ir-Repubblika; Ħamrun Chemimart International Pharmacy, 650, Triq il-Kbira San Ġużepp;Żebbuġ Santa Marija Pharmacy, 40, Triq...

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TMID Editorial: Debates on development

Should a previous development existing in a particular place or site be a pretext for that site to remain developed or be re-developed? That's one of the most significant principles that is held...

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About 250,000 mourners pay last respects to Pope Francis over 3 days of public viewing

More than 250,000 people paid their last respects to Pope Francis over three days of public viewing by ordinary mourners, church and political leaders that ended Friday, when his coffin was...

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Schembri public aides carry out constituency work, but ethics breach not proven

Economy Minister Silvio Schembri was found to have used taxpayer-funded persons of trust for constituency work, but the parliamentary Standards Commissioner concluded there is insufficient evidence to...

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latest comment from Mark Debono, 26/04/2025 09:43: Wow what a shock,not par for the course here but to be fair the puppet put in his place to do their bidding is doing a grand job?

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In Argentina, debates over Pope Francis' legacy lead to one question: Why didn't he return?

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, born in Buenos Aires, never set foot in his homeland after becoming Pope Francis in 2013. That left many of the faithful in Argentina feeling puzzled and snubbed by the...

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latest comment from Joseph Spiteri, 26/04/2025 13:36: A prophet is never welcomed in his native land

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Newcastle and Chelsea win to boost top-five hopes in Premier League as Ipswich relegated

Newcastle and Chelsea picked up victories in the Premier League to move into the Champions League qualification positions as Ipswich became the third and final team to be relegated on...

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The Latest: Francis is remembered as a ‘pope among the people’ in his funeral Mass

As many as 200,000 people are expected to attend Pope Francis' funeral in St. Peter's Square as he is being laid to rest Saturday. While dignitaries are on hand, prisoners and migrants will usher...

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Pope's burial place reflects his 'humble, essential' life, Rome's poor will pay him a final tribute

Pope Francis chose his place of burial in St. Mary Major Basilica, near an icon of the Madonna that he revered, because it reflects his "humble, simple and essential'' life, the...

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latest comment from Richard Caruana, 26/04/2025 08:00: They always conveniently forget the *Vigorously encouraged8 donation to see the body.

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Business

Cryptic manipulation of global trade regulations

Government debt at nearly €10.8 billion at end March – NSO

BOV launches Investment Funds Campaign

PM Abela announces novel policy initiative to provide support to innovative startups

MaltaPost to issue special stamp dedicated to Pope Francis on Saturday

Nearly 81,000 foreigners study English in Malta in 2024 - NSO

RS2 bids for HSBC Malta, aims to revive Mid-Med Bank brand

Finance Minister says HSBC Malta takeover ‘cannot take forever’

BOV champions sustainability on Earth Day 2025

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

Maltese passports were sold to Russians who were later sanctioned over Ukraine war - Financial Times

Could Cardinal Mario Grech be the next Pope?

What the US Embassy story says about Maltese politics

‘Government served the purpose of the far-right,’ Tunisian refugee says on migration

Catholic faithful pay respects to Pope Francis as his tomb opens to the public in Rome basilica

Party time at Anfield as Liverpool win Premier League for record-equalling 20th top-flight title

Building bridges, not barriers: Employers and employees on Workers’ Day

Pope Francis bestowed a special nickname on AP's Vatican reporter for her often-tough questions

Government’s plan to solve traffic can’t work if population continues to increase by 35,000 – Grech

Prime Minister says pensions will increase again next budget

Manoel Island Park campaign launches crowdfunding effort to reach more people

TMIS Editorial: A tale of two men named Francis

Cartoon 27 April 2025

They came for the canonization of a millennial saint. They stayed for Pope Francis' funeral

Updated (3): Mighty and meek bid farewell to Pope Francis, the pope of the people

9 people killed when a vehicle plows into a Filipino street festival crowd in Vancouver

Donald Trump's trip to Pope Francis' funeral puts a sharper focus on their clashes over the years

Pope Francis had a troubled course on dealing with clergy sexual abuse

Trump pays his respects to a pope who publicly and pointedly disagreed with him, meets Zelenskyy

Inauguration of a winch room and service pillars at St Thomas Bay

Maksar gang trial - Prison call tapping led investigators to Melvin Theuma, jury hears

Trump and Zelenskyy among dignitaries converging on Rome for funeral of Pope Francis

A deleted condolence after pope’s death revealed tension between Israel and the Vatican

BCRS addresses video of man cheating machine, says such acts constitute theft

Government debt at nearly €10.8 billion at end March – NSO

Pope Francis saw environmental and climate issues as moral concerns

President leaves for Rome, Speaker to serve as Acting President

Have you seen this man?

European Commission’s case against Malta’s golden passport’s scheme to be decided next week

Virginia Giuffre, who accused Britain's Prince Andrew in Epstein sex trafficking scandal, dies

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

TMID Editorial: Debates on development

About 250,000 mourners pay last respects to Pope Francis over 3 days of public viewing

Schembri public aides carry out constituency work, but ethics breach not proven

In Argentina, debates over Pope Francis' legacy lead to one question: Why didn't he return?

Newcastle and Chelsea win to boost top-five hopes in Premier League as Ipswich relegated

The Latest: Francis is remembered as a ‘pope among the people’ in his funeral Mass

Pope's burial place reflects his 'humble, essential' life, Rome's poor will pay him a final tribute

Tuna fishing season begins

Pope Francis sought to make LGBTQ+ people more welcome, but church doctrine didn't change much

Acting President Anglu Farrugia attends Anzac Day commemoration

Archbishop Scicluna to attend funeral of Pope Francis

NGOs denounce re-appointment of Perit Elizabeth Ellul as chairperson of a Planning Commission

Public Works to undertake regeneration project at the Parish Centre in Safi