The Malta Independent

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21 August 2026, Friday

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Man seriously injured as motorbike crashes into parked car

A 39-year-old man resident of Żabbar was seriously injured earlier today in a traffic accident on St Francis Street, Cospicua, the police said. The incident occurred at around 7.30am, when...

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Live - Judge rules no grounds for trial by jury to be dissolved; Yorgen Fenech testifying

The defence will begin presenting its case on the 45th day of Yorgen Fenech's trial after the prosecution formally rested its case on Thursday evening, bringing weeks of evidence to a close following...

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PN insists on publication of KM Malta Airlines accounts

The Nationalist Party said it is insisting that the accounts of KM Malta Airlines are published, following reports that the national carrier is recording losses amounting to tens of millions of euros,...

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‘We are not collecting names. We are burying women’ – Women’s Lobby

Today, as Charlotte Zammit is laid to rest following her tragic death on 15 August, the Malta Women's Lobby has released a powerful and unsparing statement condemning systemic failures in protecting...

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Three changes to First-Time Buyers Scheme, including more assistance for those with disabilities

The Minister for Housing and Lands, Owen Bonnici, announced three positive changes to the First-Time Buyers Scheme, the most important being the doubling of the assistance provided to persons with...

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Man granted bail after partner reports assault, then calls him despite restraining order

A 47-year-old man from Ħamrun was granted bail on Friday after pleading not guilty to charges of domestic assault and damaging his former partner's phone. The accused appeared before the...

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Five arrested as police break organised drug trafficking ring

Five Maltese people were arrested by police on Wednesday as they allegedly formed part of an organised drug trafficking ring, the force said in a statement on Friday. Police said that the arrests...

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Transport Malta introduces front registration plate stickers for eligible vehicles

Transport Malta has rolled out a new option for vehicle owners facing space constraints on their front bumpers, allowing them to use an official registration plate sticker instead of a traditional...

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Parliamentary Secretary Bugeja Said gives birth to baby girl

The Parliamentary Secretary for Animal Welfare, Alicia Bugeja Said, has announced that she gave birth to a baby girl on Thursday. Bugeja Said shared the news on her social media pages on Friday....

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Six Italians arrested at airport over Swieqi car vandalism

Six Italian nationals were arrested at Malta International Airport on Thursday evening in connection with a spate of car vandalism in Swieqi, Home Affairs Minister Glenn Bedingfield said. In a...

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3 injured after donkey jumps into a van, kicking and biting, in northern Germany

A donkey on the loose in northern Germany attacked two motorists by jumping into their van on Friday, kicking and biting them along with a third woman who tried to help restrain the aggressive equine,...

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recent poll

Blogs & Opinions

Alfred Sant

Institutions

Mark Said

Trump vs Pope Leo: An unusually pronounced rupture

Emmanuel J. Galea

Why cannot we be Monaco?

Frans Camilleri

Who has heard?

Alfred Sant

The GWU and foreign workers

Kevin Aquilina

Does the jury system breach human rights?

Frans Camilleri

Stranger than fiction

David Spiteri Gingell

The poverty we have only just begun to see

Ivan Castillo

Traffic is not the problem

Katya De Giovanni

Learning to stop: When working hard is no longer enough

VisitMalta becomes main shirt sponsor to Joseph Portelli’s Ars et Labor Ferrara FC

VisitMalta has become the main shirt sponsor of Ars et Labor Ferrara Calcio, formerly known as SPAL, it was revealed during the club's kit unveiling on Thursday, 20 August. The football club was...

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New opposition group protests in Tunisia after extreme heat-driven power and water cuts

A summer of extreme heat has left many Tunisians short of water and electricity - and full of anger at the country's leadership. Protesters rallied in the capital Tunis on Thursday, many calling on...

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‘She died investigating’: Prosecution closes its case with testimony from Daphne’s son

Daphne Caruana Galizia's son Andrew told jurors about his mother's investigative work, her fears in the weeks before her assassination and the devastating impact her death had on the family, as his...

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Ta’ Qali Animal Hospital renovated ahead of re-opening, to also be used for student training

The animal hospital in Ta’ Qali has been renovated and equipped with modern equipment so that, in the near future, it can also be used by MCAST students who are following the veterinary course,...

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Qormi school undergoes €15 million transformation ahead of 2027 completion

The St George Primary School in Qormi is undergoing a €15 million transformation that will see the decades-old school converted into a modern educational facility, with the first phase expected...

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Man jailed 15 years after being caught with €800,000 worth of cannabis

The court handed a 15-year prison sentence to an Italian man found in possession of 54kg of cannabis worth around €800,000. Santo Arena initially pled not guilty following a 2023 arrest tied...

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Fenech trial - Defence probes investigator's knowledge of allegations on Schembri, Cardona

The trial of Yorgen Fenech continues on Thursday morning, with police inspector Kurt Zahra expected to return to the witness stand for further cross-examination by the defence. Wednesday's...

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Student groups say new law allows Cabinet to let specific developments continue works despite appeal

25 student organisations welcomed the public consultation on the reform of the planning appeals system which concluded on Thursday, but highlighted a loophole which allows the Cabinet to allow –...

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news in pictures

events

Sports

Brotherly touch and English flavour could see Inter dominate Serie A, Como look to surprise again

Once homeless and in liquidation, Coventry back in the Premier League after painful 25-year absence

Max Verstappen extends contract with Red Bull to 2030 after he weighed up leaving F1

Premier League is back and uncertainty pervades start of post-Guardiola era

Nightmarish start for Maresca as Arsenal outclass Man City in Community Shield

Deadly overnight storms batter Germany as Balkan countries fight wildfires

A woman died and at least two other people were injured as severe storms caused extensive damage overnight across parts of Germany. Further southeast, in the Balkans, firefighters continued to...

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Man grievously injured after being hit by car in Birkirkara

A 24-year-old man from Balzan suffered grievous injuries after being struck by a car in Birkirkara on Thursday morning. Police said they were informed of the incident at around 8:45am and were...

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Government concludes public consultation on planning appeals reform

The government has officially concluded the public consultation process on its proposed reform of Malta's planning appeals system, marking what it described as the first step towards introducing new...

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Rockestra returns in September and will commemorate Maestro Aurelio Belli

This year's edition of Rockestra, in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund, will take place on Saturday, 26 September, and will commemorate the memory of Maestro Aurelio Belli, who organised the event...

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Man grievously injured in traffic accident

A 67-year-old man from Valletta sustained grievous injuries yesterday afternoon following a traffic collision in Paola. Police said they were informed of the incident on Triq Ħal Luqa at...

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St Vincent de Paul expands diagnostic services with new musculoskeletal ultrasound machine

St Vincent de Paul has strengthened its diagnostic imaging services with the introduction of a third ultrasound machine, this time dedicated to musculoskeletal imaging, following an investment of...

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More than 3,100 new dwellings approved in second quarter of 2026 – NSO

During the second quarter of 2026, a total of 3,126 new dwellings were approved, registering an increase of 3.3 per cent when compared to the same quarter of 2025. Approved residential building...

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Ġorġ Mallia’s wife makes heartfelt tribute to late academic and cartoonist

In an emotional Facebook tribute, Ġorġ Mallia's wife, Shirley Cauchi, remembered Mallia not only as a respected public figure but as a devoted husband whose greatest concern, even in his...

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Prince Harry and Meghan are returning to the UK with their children

Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, have decided to return to the United Kingdom for an extended stay starting this fall, but they won't resume their roles as working members of the royal family, The...

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Marsa accident causing traffic mayhem in area

A traffic accident on 13 December Road in Marsa is causing a major mayhem in the area. According to the Maltese Roads Traffic Updates Facebbok page, there is huge traffic along most of the...

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Business

BOV opens its first Home Finance Hub in Mosta

Malta Freeport welcomes new-generation CMA CGM Berenice methanol dual-fuel container vessel

Why emotional intelligence makes better leaders

BOV strengthens ties with Gozitan community through dedicated customer event