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31 August 2026, Monday

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Live: After two months of evidence, Yorgen Fenech trial enters final stage with judge's address

Madam Justice Edwina Grima will begin addressing the jurors this morning to provide her legal directions before sending them to deliberate their verdict. Businessman Yorgen Fenech,...

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‘You are sovereign judges of fact’: Fenech jury told to ignore emotion, follow the evidence

The trial of Yorgen Fenech has entered its decisive stage, with Judge Edwina Grima beginning her final address to the jury on Monday after two months of testimony and evidence in the case concerning...

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Employers warn bigger COLA increases could hit competitiveness and jobs

Employer organisations have warned that changes to Malta's COLA mechanism aimed at better reflecting rising living costs could place further pressure on businesses, with export-oriented companies in...

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latest comment from Joezborg, 31/08/2026 11:43: Employers warn bigger COLA increases could hit competitiveness and jobs..... Then continue to increase the over population with foreign workers on the cheap

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‘We cannot judge without knowing the facts,’ Gozo Bishop says in homily

Gozo Bishop Anton Teuma warned against judging people or situations without knowing the facts, saying people should first understand what has happened before reaching conclusions. His comments...

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Malta’s unemployment rate rises to 3.5% in July, up from 2.5% last year

Malta's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 3.5% in July 2026, an increase of one percentage point from the 2.5% recorded in July 2025, according to figures published by the National...

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Aquatic Resources Malta launches framework focused on employee wellbeing

Aquatic Resources Malta has launched a new wellbeing framework aimed at strengthening employee wellbeing and placing workers at the centre of the agency's culture and daily operations. The...

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IHI reports growth in its core operations as asset-light strategy gathers pace

International Hotel Investments plc (IHI), the owner, developer and operator of the Corinthia hotel and real estate portfolio, reported growth in its core operations in its mid-year financial...

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At least 8 dead after ferry with nearly 270 passengers and crew capsizes off Cyprus' northern coast

At least eight people have died after a ferry carrying nearly 270 passengers and crew capsized off the coast of the breakaway north of ethnically divided Cyprus on Sunday, Turkish media...

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PN calls STI screening delays ‘unacceptable’ as patients face months-long waits

The Nationalist Party has described delays in securing appointments for sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening as "unacceptable," calling for an efficient walk-in clinic with extended opening...

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Peter Agius calls for suspension of EU packaging rules over burden on small businesses

MEP Peter Agius has called on European Commissioner for the Environment Jessika Roswall to suspend new rules on packaging and packaging waste, arguing that requirements which came into force on 12...

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TMID Editorial: Planning reform must start from solid ground

The now long-running debate surrounding the government's proposed planning reforms has often focused on how the changes could affect development, permits, appeals and the rights of residents and...

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recent poll

Blogs & Opinions

Alfred Sant

Archaeology

Kevin Aquilina

The State versus the People

David Spiteri Gingell

The right to stay, and to family

Ivan Bartolo

When the animals win and humanity forgets

Ivan Castillo

From Island Nation to Maritime Nation

Katya De Giovanni

When the music stops: The dangerous game of musical chairs in organisations

Gejtu Vella

The human element must remain as we continue to automate

Marco Bonnici

Professorships in Maltese vocational institutions: a first

Malcolm Paul Agius Galea

Investing in culture is a choice about Malta’s future

Emmanuel J. Galea

Sweetness behind the spines

Dar Bjorn collects nearly €1.8 million in fund-raising telethon

€1,782,136 was collected on Sunday in the yearly fund-raising telethon in aid of Dar Bjorn. Bjorn and Maria, together with their team and a large group of volunteers, spent 12 straight hours...

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Sliema mayor seeks info about man seen breaking off door-knocker

Sliema mayor John Pillow said on Facebook that a police report has been filed after a man was caught on camera breaking off a door-knocker. Pillow uploaded a post showing footage of the man...

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Motorcyclist seriously injured in Għaxaq collision

A 29-year-old motorcyclist was seriously injured in a collision with a car in Għaxaq on Sunday afternoon, police said in a statement. Police were informed of a traffic accident in Triq...

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Pembroke Scouts launch project giving young people a say in shaping Malta's towns

Pembroke Scout Group has officially launched TownsLab, an Erasmus+ youth participation project designed to empower young people to make their voices heard and play an active role in shaping the...

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Shining a different light on history in Rabat and Mdina

Museums by Candlelight returns to Rabat and Mdina on Saturday, 19th September, for the final edition of this year's series, inviting visitors to experience three fascinating historic sites in a...

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Gozo Pride 2026 to take to Victoria streets under ‘Pride Without Permission’ theme

Gozo Pride will return for its fifth edition on Saturday, 5 September, with this year's event taking place under the theme "Pride Without Permission", LGBTI+ Gozo said in a statement. The...

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Malta's economic activity remains broadly in line with long-term average – Central Bank

Economic activity in Malta remained broadly consistent with its long-term average, the Central Bank of Malta said in its August economic update. The Bank's Business Conditions Index indicates a...

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Musical ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ coming to Teatru Manoel this October

One of musical theatre's most distinctive cult classics is set to take over Teatru Manoel this autumn, as Masquerade Malta, in collaboration with Teatru Manoel, will present Little Shop of Horrors...

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news in pictures

events

Sports

Inter make it two wins from two, Napoli beaten at home by Como

Premier League: Fernandes hat trick inspires United's comeback win as Palmer stars again for Chelsea

Juventus bench comes to the rescue in 2-0 win over Parma

€345m spent zero points: Tottenham lose again in Premier League as Liverpool rescue another draw

Real Madrid host Inter to open Champions League main phase; PSG plays City, Barcelona in October

Ramos scores first goal for Milan in 2-0 win over Venezia

Man City overrun Palace to stay perfect in the Premier League

Title holders Paris Saint-Germain to play Man City and Barcelona in Champions League main phase

Neptunes beat Sliema to win league title for 28th time

Rogers scores on Chelsea debut as Blues beat Fulham and Roma hammer Fiorentina

Alex Borg questions €140m power investment as outages continue across Malta and Gozo

Opposition Leader Alex Borg has criticised the government over Malta's ongoing power cuts, saying that the country's infrastructure is failing to cope with the demands of a growing population and...

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latest comment from C Xerri, 30/08/2026 12:56: "and had been occurring for years without sufficient action being taken." Right you are : have been occurring for years, including the 25 years when the Nationalist Party was in power.

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Updated: 18-year-old woman dies days after Qormi traffic accident

An 18-year-old woman has died in hospital days after she was injured in a traffic accident in Qormi earlier this month, police said in a statement. The accident took place at around 8.15pm on 21...

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Employers reject twice-yearly COLA, warn of wage and price shocks

Malta's main employer organisations have rejected a proposal for the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to be made twice a year, warning that more frequent increases would create uncertainty for...

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latest comment from Summer Shade, 30/08/2026 20:07: Kollox u dejjem kif iridu huma. liktar pajjiz li qed jikreja gid fl Ewropa u wiehed mil iktar pajjiżi bil pagi baxxi. Min qed jiehdu dal ġid?!

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Power cuts in Gozo are now also affecting communications - PN

Prolonged electricity outages in Gozo have now also affected mobile phone and data services, after telecommunications operators' battery backup systems began to run down due to the length of the power...

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Momentum calls for smarter electricity grid after hours-long outages in Gozo

Momentum has called for an expansion and modernisation of Malta's electricity network, saying recent power outages have exposed vulnerabilities that require immediate intervention. The party said...

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latest comment from Frans Camilleri, 30/08/2026 18:28: Assume that Momentum has established that such eminently sensible technologies are still not used by EneMalta. If not, then its call should be heard. This is another instance of insufficient public investment. Government expenditure needs to be redirected from silly (though electorally popular) measures to long term, productive capital spending.

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Chamber of Advocates backs higher pay for jurors

The Chamber of Advocates has made clear that while it will not be drawn into the wider debate over Malta's jury system at this stage, it has no reservations about one immediate reform: jurors should...

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latest comment from V Mercieca, 30/08/2026 10:25: Regarding the jury of Yorgen Fenech, I hope the judge will exempt all jurors from future cases. This case was exceptionally long.

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19-year-old AFM soldier charged over Mġarr hit-and-run

A 19-year-old Armed Forces of Malta soldier has been charged over a hit-and-run which left two men grievously injured in Mġarr and has been remanded in custody after his bail request was...

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Icelandic voters reject a proposal to restart negotiations to join the European Union

Iceland's voters rejected restarting negotiations to join the European Union in a referendum that pitted concerns about geopolitical stability against keeping national control of Iceland's...

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1 dead and 5 wounded in a shooting at a rave in Switzerland

A shooting at a rave in the northern Swiss canton of Aargau left one person dead and five injured early Sunday, local police and media reported. Police said they are still looking for potentially more...

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Why Comino must remain a refuge for birds

Comino is one of the most important refuges for birds in the Maltese Islands. Even at just 2.8 km2, its continuous extent of natural habitats is exceptional for the Maltese Islands. Across the...

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Business

RSM Malta appoints Ludwig Micallef as Director for Digital Transformation & AI

ETS review: Towards decarbonisation with connectivity and resilience

Israel election could unlock new business opportunities

Government introduces two-year transition for rent subsidy recipients exceeding income threshold

MBA chair urges shared vigilance as Frontier AI reshapes banking resilience

PM says investment in quality tourism is beneficial for Malta's tourism sector

Lombard Bank Group registers €11.5 million in pre-tax profit in first half of 2026

More than 100 infrastructural projects at various stages of implementation

WSC issues tender for the regeneration of the Gżira Pumping Station

Malta Tourism Authority joins WTTC as Destination Partner ahead of 2026 Global Summit