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7 August 2026, Friday

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‘PL copies yet another PN proposal it had opposed’, PN says as government mulls northern health hub

The Labour government is "once again copying and claiming" a proposal that was put forward by the Nationalist Party as its own, despite having initially criticised it, the PN said in a statement on...

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Doctor tells court Fenech said: ‘If I go down, everyone will go down with me’

The trial by jury of Yorgen Fenech continued on Thursday with former family doctor Adrian Vella recounting the businessman's cocaine addiction and deteriorating mental state, and the events leading up...

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‘He only had minutes to live’: Doctors recount desperate fight to save Johann Vella

The compilation of evidence against John Agius began today with prosecutors presenting a detailed reconstruction of the events that unfolded during the armed standoff at St Julian's on 24...

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Planning Board approves redevelopment of former Buskett Forest Aparthotel into elderly care home

The Planning Board has approved the redevelopment of the vacant Buskett Forest Aparthotel at Ta' Sabbat, Dingli, into a Class 2A elderly care home, a Planning Authority statement said. The...

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Ċirkewwa Marine Park management plan launched to strengthen protection of Malta’s first marine park

The Ċirkewwa Marine Park Management Plan has officially been launched, introducing a framework aimed at turning Malta's first marine park from a legal designation into an actively managed...

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PN condemns government’s reactive stance on local beach pollution during peak season

The Nationalist Party has issued a statement expressing "serious concern" after local media reports highlighted the beach pollution issues being faced at the height of the tourist season around the...

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90 students celebrated at Hand in Hand graduation ceremony

Ninety students attending Hand in Hand's specialised educational programmes were recognised for their progress and achievements during the institution's graduation ceremony. The students, aged...

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Inspector details negotiations leading up to arrest in Ta' Ġiorni police shooting

John Agius is expected back in court today as the compilation of evidence against him continues following the dramatic armed standoff that unfolded in Ta' Ġiorni, St Julian's, on 24...

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Dr Adrian Vella testifies in day 32 of Yorgen Fenech trial

The trial by jury of businessman Yorgen Fenech has entered its 32nd day, with more witnesses expected to continue testifying before Madam Justice Edwina Grima. Wednesday's sitting saw jurors...

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Investment in digitalisation continues to increase efficiency in the services offered by the PA

Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Employment Jonathan Attard visited the Planning Authority’s offices in Marsa, where he met with Executive Chairman Johann Buttigieg, Planning Board...

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Four arrested for drug trafficking

Four people were arrested in St Julian’s in connection with drug trafficking, police said in a statement on Thursday morning. Police said that initially, two people were arrested after they...

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recent poll

Blogs & Opinions

Alfred Sant

Money in your pocket

Graham Bencini

Quality tourism starts with respect for residents

Emmanuel J. Galea

Powerless and shameless

Frans Camilleri

Excruciatingly slow progress

Alfred Sant

Investments

Kevin Aquilina

Proposals for a new human rights and equality law

Valerie Visanich

Lady Marmalade, Ta’ Ġieżu edition

Thomas Bajada

Productivity with education is the next economic question

Katya De Giovanni

Intelligence beyond examinations: Valuing every child's talents

Emmanuel J. Galea

The island that aged first

France is banning unsolicited telemarketing calls starting next week

France next week will ban unsolicited telemarketing calls under a new law aimed at protecting consumers from intrusive sales pitches and shielding vulnerable people from fraudulent commercial...

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TMID Editorial: The waste on our pavements

Malta is perhaps on the more unique side when it comes to how its households dispose of waste. With no centralised communal bins, or individual disposal bins, waste is dumped on the pavement for...

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Health Ministry planning to replicate the Regional Health Centre model in the north of Malta

The Health Ministry is planning to replicate the model which has seen the creation of the Ċensu Moran Regional Health Centre in the north of Malta, the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday....

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latest comment from Joey Falzon, 06/08/2026 08:03: FMS had prepared a significant amount of work and planning for the "northern region hub" earlier? This was eventually shelved entirely after being shrunk in size.

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Four cases of Hepatitis A traced back to Qormi food establishment

Public health authorities are investigating a cluster of four cases of Hepatitis A associated with a food establishment located in Qormi, the same authorities said in a statement on...

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latest comment from RF, 05/08/2026 14:52: So many eateries in this speck of a country! How many of them give importance to food hygiene and have been checked and certified by Health Department?

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Wildfire near Athens leaves rescuers scrambling to reunite hundreds of animals

Sasa, an alert and floppy-eared mixed-breed puppy, did not return home when the remaining containment lines were lifted Wednesday in the wake of a wildfire that swept across mountains and...

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‘No Valletta, No Party’, ‘Sassicaia’: Fenech’s chats with Malta’s most powerful shared with jury

Yorgen Fenech's close relationship with a network of high-profile people in Malta was laid bare to the jury tasked with hearing his trial on Wednesday, as investigators shared details from the...

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WATCH: Government seeking ‘happy medium’ on feast fireworks, Minister says

Culture Minister Malcolm Paul Agius Galea told journalists on Wednesday that the government has begun discussions to find a compromise on village feast fireworks, after a legal precedent may have been...

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Wrap: Jury hears of 'No Valletta, No Party' group chat in 31st day of Yorgen Fenech trial

The trial by jury of businessman Yorgen Fenech has entered its 31st day, with the cross-examination of former yacht captain Logan Wood expected to continue before Madam Justice Edwina...

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latest comment from Divi, 05/08/2026 18:46: this morning some people were mentioning talk about another self-collapse and auto-crumble of the administration after a short while

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news in pictures

events

Sports

San Ġiljan reign supreme with commanding Knock-Out final victory

UEFA declares no confidence in Infantino and vows accountability for failed World Cup equity plan

Infantino abandons plans to sell World Cup profits to private equity following massive pushback

Franco Baresi, AC Milan and Italy legend, dies aged 66

Four arrested over illegal sale of peptides and steroids

Four people were arrested by police in connection with the illegal sale of peptides, steroids, and other illegal substances in an operation which panned out over the last few days. Police said...

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Orange weather warning issued for Saturday, with temperature set to feel close to 40°C

An orange weather warning is set to be issued for Saturday, with Malta set to face another bout of heavy heat in the coming days, the Meteorological Office said in a statement on Wednesday. The...

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Malta Employers calls for long-term infrastructure planning to safeguard competitiveness

Malta Employers has reiterated its call for a coordinated, long-term approach to infrastructure planning, stressing that the recent electricity outages should be viewed as part of broader structural...

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Woman charged with drug trafficking after being caught with litany of substances

A 37-year-old woman was arrested by police and charged in court with drug trafficking after she was caught while in possession of a litany of drugs. Police said in a statement that a search in...

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MFSA sets new direction for Financial Crime Compliance with Strategy 2026

New strategy establishes a forward-looking supervisory framework focused on risk, outcomes and collaboration, supporting Malta's alignment with evolving EU anti-money laundering reforms and the...

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ERA may allow 800 trees in Comino to get the chop, NGO warns; company says claim is inaccurate

The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) is set to decide whether to grant Hili Group permission to remove hundreds of trees from the Comino nature reserve, as well as issue the go-ahead required...

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WATCH: CrediaBank-HSBC takeover expected to close in Q2 2027, HSBC Malta CEO says

The CEO of HSBC Malta, Geoffrey Fichte, has told The Malta Independent that HSBC Malta's takeover by Greek bank CrediaBank is currently awaiting regulatory approval. Once this sale is approved to...

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latest comment from Harold Hare, 05/08/2026 10:23: From a respected Global entity to a Greek bank ....not alot to celebrate here I'm thinking. Malta has a thriving economy and this looks like a mistake by HSBC.

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Michelle Muscat and Kenneth Camilleri rebut Keith Schembri’s Castille gunshot story

Michelle Muscat and former OPM security guard Kenneth Camilleri have both stated that Keith Schembri's account in his testimony, where he said that Camilleri's holstered gun once fired a sudden,...

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Nearly €3 million in funding distributed to support 31 audiovisual productions

31 local film projects were given an accumulated €2,883,916 in financial support through the government's Screen Support Scheme on Wednesday. The applications granted this funding include...

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Court forced to put off Lilu King hearing after prison officials fail to produce accused

A hearing in an assault case against Libyan boxer Mohamed Ali Ahmed Elmushraty, better known as Lilu King, was brought to a standstill after prison authorities failed to bring him to...

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latest comment from Harold Hare, 05/08/2026 14:38: Thats ok - let him stay in jail where he belongs.

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Business

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

MaltaPost celebrates iconic landmarks with SEPAC stamp issue

The responsibility of building for tomorrow

MFSA publishes administrative penalties methodology for credit institutions

HSBC Malta delivers strong half-year results with robust capital and liquidity

BOV branch in Żejtun officially reopens following refurbishment

Mapfre Economics forecasts that the economy will grow 3% in 2026 and 3.1% in 2027

APS Bank posts record interim profit of €23.9m on the back of strong all-round growth

‘PL copies yet another PN proposal it had opposed’, PN says as government mulls northern health hub

Doctor tells court Fenech said: ‘If I go down, everyone will go down with me’

‘He only had minutes to live’: Doctors recount desperate fight to save Johann Vella

Planning Board approves redevelopment of former Buskett Forest Aparthotel into elderly care home

Ċirkewwa Marine Park management plan launched to strengthen protection of Malta’s first marine park

PN condemns government’s reactive stance on local beach pollution during peak season

90 students celebrated at Hand in Hand graduation ceremony

Inspector details negotiations leading up to arrest in Ta' Ġiorni police shooting

Dr Adrian Vella testifies in day 32 of Yorgen Fenech trial

Investment in digitalisation continues to increase efficiency in the services offered by the PA

Four arrested for drug trafficking

France is banning unsolicited telemarketing calls starting next week

TMID Editorial: The waste on our pavements

Health Ministry planning to replicate the Regional Health Centre model in the north of Malta

Four cases of Hepatitis A traced back to Qormi food establishment

Wildfire near Athens leaves rescuers scrambling to reunite hundreds of animals

‘No Valletta, No Party’, ‘Sassicaia’: Fenech’s chats with Malta’s most powerful shared with jury

WATCH: Government seeking ‘happy medium’ on feast fireworks, Minister says

Wrap: Jury hears of 'No Valletta, No Party' group chat in 31st day of Yorgen Fenech trial

Roberta Metsola pays tribute to Rose Vella on third anniversary of her death

Cabinet approves land transfer for new basketball facilities in Ta' Qali

Trump says deal to reopen Strait of Hormuz could come as early as Wednesday

TMID Editorial: The price of bad behaviour

PN says businesses need fairer conditions to invest and expand

WHO chief arrives in Congo to support Ebola response as cases near 4,000

Duane 'Keffe D' Davis, charged with organising the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur, is on trial

Jurors shown texts revealing friendship between Fenech and ex-deputy police chief Silvio Valletta

Trial: 'You're my best friend’: Ex-deputy police chief Silvio Valletta's text to Yorgen Fenech

Four arrested over illegal sale of peptides and steroids

Orange weather warning issued for Saturday, with temperature set to feel close to 40°C

Malta Employers calls for long-term infrastructure planning to safeguard competitiveness

Woman charged with drug trafficking after being caught with litany of substances

MFSA sets new direction for Financial Crime Compliance with Strategy 2026

ERA may allow 800 trees in Comino to get the chop, NGO warns; company says claim is inaccurate

WATCH: CrediaBank-HSBC takeover expected to close in Q2 2027, HSBC Malta CEO says

Michelle Muscat and Kenneth Camilleri rebut Keith Schembri’s Castille gunshot story

Nearly €3 million in funding distributed to support 31 audiovisual productions

Court forced to put off Lilu King hearing after prison officials fail to produce accused

Man filmed breaking car window in Swieqi denied bail

Law Report: Interim dividends under Maltese law: When can they be clawed back?

The responsibility of building for tomorrow

Facilities upgraded at 19 Maltese beaches during peak summer season

Minimum on-the-spot fine for tourists doubles to €50

Bedingfield expresses support for Spain and calls for tough response to irregular migration