The Malta Independent

Keep me signed in with social media

25 April 2025, Friday

View E-Paper

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

Hours after Pope Francis' death was announced, Israel's Foreign Ministry posted a short message on X: "Rest in peace, Pope Francis. May his memory be a blessing." Several hours later, it was...

Comments (0)
Share

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

The jury trial of brothers Robert and Adrian Agius, known as the 'Ta' Maksar' brothers, along with Jamie Vella and George Degiorgio who are accused of the murders of investigative journalist Daphne...

Comments (0)
Share

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

BCRS Malta Ltd has stated that it is aware of a post circulating on social media depicting a man repeatedly violating the regulations and intended use of one of its machines. The man in the video...

Comments (0)
Share

Pope Francis saw environmental and climate issues as moral concerns

Few moments in Pope Francis' papacy better exemplify his understanding of climate change and the need to address it than the rain-soaked Mass he celebrated in Tacloban, Philippines, in...

Comments (0)
Share

Have you seen this man?

The police are looking for Vilson Zhuka, who is wanted in relation to an ongoing investigation. Anyone with any information, is asked to contact the Police by sending a message via this page or...

Comments (0)
Share

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

The papacy of Pope Francis ended with the same core doctrine for LGBTQ+ people that he inherited: The Catholic Church still rejected same-sex marriage and condemned any sexual relations...

Comments (0)
Share

Archbishop Scicluna to attend funeral of Pope Francis

Archbishop Charles Scicluna leaves Malta today to attend the funeral Mass of His Holiness Pope Francis, which will be held tomorrow, at 10am in St Peter's Square at the Vatican, the archdiocese said...

Comments (0)
Share

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

At the end of March 2025, Central Government debt stood at €10,794.1 million, an increase of €844.4 million when compared to 2024, the NSO said Friday. The increase reported under Malta...

Comments (0)
Share

President leaves for Rome, Speaker to serve as Acting President

President Myriam Spiteri Debono left Malta this morning for Rome, where she will be attending the funeral of Pope Francis tomorrow. She will return on Sunday. In her absence, Speaker Anglu...

Comments (0)
Share

Tuna fishing season begins

The tuna fishing season has begun, with the first tuna catch having been brought into St Paul's Bay on Wednesday, the Parliamentary Secretariat for Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Animal Rights...

Comments (0)
Share

Acting President Anglu Farrugia attends Anzac Day commemoration

Acting President of Malta Anglu Farrugia attended the Anzac Day commemoration on Friday at the military cemetery in Pieta, the Office of the President stated. Farrugia was welcomed by Australian...

Comments (0)
Share

recent poll

Blogs & Opinions

Owen Bonnici

Francis, the social reformer and champion of the poor

Alfred Sant

Gozo as a region

Alfred Sant

Debt

Kevin Cassar

Why was Alex Borg so offended?

Valerie Visanich

Ground Control to Major Tom

Emmanuel J. Galea

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

Were you cosy at home during the last national protest?

Noel Grima

Losing more ground

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

A coalition of environmental non-governmental organizations on Friday raised serious concerns regarding the recent re-appointment of Perit Elizabeth Ellul as Chairperson of a Planning Commission that...

Comments (0)
Share

Malta Public Transport to provide special services for Festa Frawli and Fireworks Festival

Malta Public Transport is announcing special public transport arrangements for the upcoming Festa Frawli and Fireworks Festival events. For those planning to visit the Festa Frawli in Mġarr,...

Comments (0)
Share

Trial of Maksar brothers, Jamie Vella, George Degiorgio over Chircop, Caruana Galizia murders begins

A jury has been selected and proceedings have officially begun in the trial of four men accused of the murders of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia and lawyer Carmel Chircop. The...

Comments (0)
Share

Updated: Planning Authority approves development of hotel and bungalows on Comino

The proposed development of a 140-bed hotel and 16 bungalows was approved by the Planning Authority on Thursday, with the vote passing 8-1, despite the Ghajnsielem Local Council declaring that they...

Comments (3)
Share

latest comment from John, 24/04/2025 19:06: Absolutely every environmental group representing the country’s citizens said don’t do it but government says go ahead. Is there any place you won’t ruin? Please God if you do exist kindly save us from Bob the builder and friends!

Click to rate
1
0

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

From a neglected Parish Centre in Safi, the Department of Public Works will be working on a holistic regeneration project for the Centre, aiming to restore it as the natural hub for the Safi...

Comments (0)
Share

TMID Editorial: Urban spaces and green projects

It was good to hear that the government's major urban greening proposals are still on the cards, although some plans have changed. During an interview published in The Malta Independent on...

Comments (0)
Share

Pope's doctor recounts Francis' last moments in newspaper interview

Pope Francis' doctor found the pontiff with his eyes open and breathing normally, but unresponsive when he was called to the Vatican early Monday morning, the Italian newspaper Corriere della...

Comments (0)
Share

Malta pays its last respects to Francis Zammit Dimech

The funeral of Francis Zammit Dimech, Acting President, and former Nationalist Minister and MP, was held on Thursday afternoon at the Balluta Parish Church in St Julian's. Zammit Dimech, who was...

Comments (0)
Share

news in pictures

events

Sports

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

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

St James Hospital targeted by ‘sophisticated’ cyber attack

St James Hospital Group on Thursday said that it had been the target of a “sophisticated cyber-attack” which was immediately contained. In a statement, the company which runs St James...

Comments (0)
Share

‘Halal is not the problem, our exaggerated consumption of meat is’ – Animal Welfare Commissioner

The Commissioner for Animal Welfare, Alison Bezzina, said the certification of the abattoir for halal is not the real problem - the issue is the exaggerated consumption of meat. In her statement,...

Comments (1)
Share

latest comment from Evelyn Grech, 24/04/2025 17:46: The only problem I see is you!

Click to rate
1
0

Health Ministry launches national palliative care strategy for next ten years

The National Palliative Care Strategy 2025-2035 has been launched, the Ministry for Health and Active Ageing stated on Thursday. Health Minister Abela said that the main objective of the strategy...

Comments (1)
Share

latest comment from il Bumbardun, 25/04/2025 07:32: Well done Minister Abela. Our elderly deserve the best care with modern medical treatment and support after having served the country with dedication and improved its future prognosis beyond recognition.

Click to rate
0
0

Court rules in favour of Jason Azzopardi in abortion libel case

A magistrate has ruled that Jason Azzopardi's claim of a cross-border conspiracy to introduce abortion in Malta was not defamatory to American national Andrea Prudente. The case goes back to 2022...

Comments (2)
Share

latest comment from emmanuele grech, 24/04/2025 14:42: Great day for Rachel Montebello. In one day, she took Jason Azzopardi snd Arnold Cassola off the hook, with arguments which verge on the hysterical. Let's hope that Lara and the Debonos appeal these judgements

Click to rate
0
0

Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg co-chairs the inaugural session of the Malta-UAE Joint Commission

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Ian Borg and UAE Minister of State Ahmed Bin Ali Al Sayegh co-chaired the inaugural session of the Malta–United Arab Emirates...

Comments (0)
Share

No injuries in Gzira explosion

There were no injuries reported after an explosion rocked an apartment in Gzira. The explosion happened at around 6pm in Triq Edgar Bernard in Gzira. A medical team and members of the Civil...

Comments (0)
Share

Vatican keeps St Peter's open all night for public viewing of Pope Francis due to strong turnout

Mourners from across the globe made a slow, shuffling procession up the main aisle of St. Peter's Basilica to pay their last respects to Pope Francis, finding community as they spent...

Comments (0)
Share

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

During the opening session of the EU Startups Summit that is being hosted for the second year running in Malta, Prime Minister Robert Abela announced the imminent launch of the Malta Startup framework...

Comments (0)
Share

Stivala loses libel case against Cassola

Developer Michael Stivala has lost the libel case he had instituted three years ago against Momentum Chairperson, Arnold Cassola, the party said Thursday. Stivala had felt that his honourabilty...

Comments (2)
Share

latest comment from Joseph Azzopardi, 24/04/2025 12:15: "Developer Michael Stivala has lost the libel case he had instituted three years ago" - Instituted or Instigated?

Click to rate
0
0

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

In 2024, foreign students attending English language courses at 33 local licensed English Language Teaching (ELT) schools amounted to 80,946, marking an increase of 2,379 over 2023, the NSO said...

Comments (0)
Share

Business

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

Ride a flying carpet to 2050

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

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

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

Pope Francis saw environmental and climate issues as moral concerns

Have you seen this man?

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

Archbishop Scicluna to attend funeral of Pope Francis

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

President leaves for Rome, Speaker to serve as Acting President

Tuna fishing season begins

Acting President Anglu Farrugia attends Anzac Day commemoration

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

Malta Public Transport to provide special services for Festa Frawli and Fireworks Festival

Trial of Maksar brothers, Jamie Vella, George Degiorgio over Chircop, Caruana Galizia murders begins

Updated: Planning Authority approves development of hotel and bungalows on Comino

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

TMID Editorial: Urban spaces and green projects

Pope's doctor recounts Francis' last moments in newspaper interview

Malta pays its last respects to Francis Zammit Dimech

MaltaPost to issue special stamp dedicated to Pope Francis on Saturday

TMID Editorial: Supporting children beyond the family home

Residents strongly oppose Magħtab incinerator during public consultation meeting

Updated: Former PL secretary general Jimmy Magro found guilty of corruption

President, Prime Minister, Opposition Leader to attend Pope’s funeral

Man pleads guilty to killing Żurrieq jeweller in 2023 burglary

Updated (2): Catholic faithful pay their final respects to Pope Francis in St Peter's Basilica

Ministry denies that its position on Tal-Bebbux land has changed

Statement that couples are buying 2 properties confirms government is out of touch with reality – PN

St James Hospital targeted by ‘sophisticated’ cyber attack

‘Halal is not the problem, our exaggerated consumption of meat is’ – Animal Welfare Commissioner

Health Ministry launches national palliative care strategy for next ten years

Court rules in favour of Jason Azzopardi in abortion libel case

Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg co-chairs the inaugural session of the Malta-UAE Joint Commission

No injuries in Gzira explosion

Vatican keeps St Peter's open all night for public viewing of Pope Francis due to strong turnout

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

Stivala loses libel case against Cassola

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

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

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

Pope Francis changed church policy on death penalty, nuclear weapons but upheld it on abortion

Man grievously injured in Mellieha crash

Appointment of PL CEO to JobsPlus is a dangerous move, PN says

Government ‘finds thousands for its favoured ones’, PN says as it takes aim at Justyne Caruana job