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16 July 2026, Thursday

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Yorgen Fenech trial - Superintendent recounts Theuma arrest as defence probes phantom job

On Thursday, police superintendent Nicholas Vella is expected to resume his testimony in the jury trial of Yorgen Fenech. Fenech, 44, has pleaded not guilty to two principal charges: complicity...

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Police detail Melvin Theuma's wealth as court shown cash recovered from his home

Police on Thursday detailed the investigation into self-confessed middleman Melvin Theuma's finances and the evidence recovered following his arrest, with jurors shown photographs of hundreds of...

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Electrical fire breaks out at SkyParks 2 construction site

An electrical fire broke out at a construction site within the grounds of Malta International Airport on Thursday evening, prompting the evacuation of the SkyParks building as a precaution, while...

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Updated: Planning Authority sanctions illegal Manoel Island padel courts, hands down €25,000 fine

Malta’s Planning Authority has approved 20 padel courts that were built illegally on Manoel Island, while also granting permission for a further 10 courts to be constructed on the side. The...

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Housing Authority freezes rents for pensioners with immediate effect

Pensioners living in Housing Authority accommodation will no longer face rent increases following future rent review exercises, the government has said. The measure takes effect immediately and...

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Couple accused of fresh Valletta pickpocketing spree days after suspended sentence

A Romanian couple handed a suspended prison sentence last month after admitting to a string of pickpocketing thefts in Valletta are back in court, accused of carrying out fresh thefts less than a week...

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Appeals Court annuls two cigarette-smuggling convictions over defective judgment

The Criminal Appeals Court has annulled a judgment which found two men guilty of illegally unloading and transporting 60,000 duty-free cigarettes from a ship at the Palumbo Shipyard. The...

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€3,000 fines and lifetime hunting and trapping bans for wildlife offences - BirdLife

Two individuals were recently found guilty in court and each was fined €3,000, BirdLife said on its Facebook page. One received a lifetime ban from trapping, while the other was handed a lifetime...

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Former CEO of Italian highway operator handed 12-year sentence over deadly 2018 bridge collapse

An Italian court on Thursday convicted the former CEO of Italian highway operator Autostrade per l'Italian in the deadly collapse of Genoa's highway bridge that killed 43 people nearly eight years...

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PN, PL trade accusations over population strategy

The Nationalist Party and the Labour Party traded accusations on Thursday over Malta's population policy, with the PN claiming the Labour administration has no clear population plan to underpin its...

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Man charged with breaching protection order for contacting estranged wife

A 48-year-old man from Gżira pleaded not guilty after being arraigned on charges of breaching a protection order and two sets of bail conditions. The court heard the man and his estranged...

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recent poll

Blogs & Opinions

Alfred Sant

What can be measured

Emmanuel J. Galea

Vigil for the sunrise

Frans Camilleri

More women, more productivity

Alfred Sant

Technical skills

Katya De Giovanni

Beyond survival: Crohn's disease changed my life, not my purpose

David Spiteri Gingell

Of truth: The generation that climbed (Part 3)

Ivan Bartolo

Rising property prices: Economic growth or an affordability crisis?

Gejtu Vella

Strengthening the MCESD: A stronger voice for social dialogue in Malta

Emmanuel J. Galea

Gozo: Charging in the dark

Frans Camilleri

Dim the sun, seed the clouds

UK urges FIFA to investigate Argentina over Falklands banner at World Cup

The British government on Thursday urged FIFA to investigate Argentina's team after players posed with a banner claiming sovereignty over the contested Falkland Islands. Argentina beat England...

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Man who defrauded eCabs and four others avoids jail

A man from Pieta has avoided an effective prison sentence after admitting to a series of fraud offences that targeted five victims, including the company eCabs Operators Company Ltd. Mark Mallia...

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MTA finds 67 Swieqi rentals in breach and six operating without a licence

The Malta Tourism Authority found 67 tourist accommodation properties in Swieqi breaching licensing or operational requirements during an intensive two-day inspection operation. A further six...

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Borg pledges ‘revolutionary’ reform to PN statute and structures after leadership approval

After attaining a 98.2% approval rate from PN councillors to stay on as PN leader, Alex Borg capped of the Nationalist Party's General Council by telling its delegates that, starting tomorrow, he will...

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latest comment from RF, 16/07/2026 08:07: Why is the PN still shying away from fighting the rampant corruption in anything Robert Abela is doing in the footsteps of the disgraced Joseph Muscat?

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Glenn Bedingfield agrees that some on-the-spot fines are 'too low'

Home Affairs and Security Minister Glenn Bedingfield has said he agrees that certain on-the-spot fines are too low, though he has not specified which penalties he believes should be...

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Europa Nostra experts support preservation of British Barracks at Fort Chambray

Europa Nostra experts expressed their full support for the preservation of the British Barracks at Fort Chambray, saying they are of "outstanding European architectural, cultural and historical...

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Works to pedestrianise street near Junior College begin

The Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Employment, Jonathan Attard, together with Infrastructure Malta and the Msida Local Council, visited the commencement of works on another project forming...

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Alex Borg approved as PN leader by 98% of party councillors

98% of Nationalist Party councillors have voted in favour of PN leader Alex Borg to remain the man in charge of the political party. During the PN's General Council on Wednesday evening, 1,492...

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news in pictures

events

Sports

Argentina rally past England to reach the World Cup final

Spain shut down France and Mbappé, advance to the World Cup final with a 2-0 victory

Alvarez’s 112th-minute goal helps lift Argentina past Switzerland 3-1 and into World Cup semifinals

England score in World Cup match with Norway after ball appears to hit camera cable over field

Bellingham scores twice to lift England past Haaland and Norway 2-1 and into World Cup semifinals

South African midfielder Jayden Adams dies at 25 two weeks after playing in World Cup

Mikel Merino stars again as Spain edge Belgium 2-1 in the World Cup quarterfinals

Mbappé has a goal and an assist as France beat Morocco 2-0 in the World Cup quarterfinals

Argentina rally past England to reach the World Cup final

No "Hand of God" this time. Argentina didn't need it. Instead it was the hallowed feet of Lionel Messi and the unbreakable spirit of a team that has repeatedly fought back at this year's World...

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latest comment from Memphis Belle, 16/07/2026 07:55: Yesterday it was confirmed again,the Brits are only good to fight wars not to fight football games very lucky not to come out with a 5..

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France’s National Assembly gives final approval to assisted-dying bill after years of debate

France's National Assembly gave final approval Wednesday to a bill allowing adults with incurable illnesses to receive lethal medication, the culmination of years of debate over end-of-life...

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Trial by jury - Degiorgio brothers implicate Keith Schembri, Chris Cardona in Daphne murder plot

The 13th day of Yorgen Fenech's jury trial will see more witnesses take the stand after the court concluded two days of testimony from convicted hitman Vince Muscat, known as...

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Underground drilling kicks off to link second interconnector from land to sea

Works related to the offshore section of the second interconnector commenced, with Nexans starting horizontal directional drilling works in Malta, the Energy Ministry said in a statement on...

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PN calls for parliamentary committee hearing after government digital systems outage

The Nationalist Party has called for a parliamentary committee to discuss the major disruption to government digital systems after an apparent surge in users checking MATSEC results affected access to...

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TMID Editorial: Blue Badge abuse undermines the very people the system is meant to protect

The discovery of seven cases of Blue Badge misuse during a single inspection at Mater Dei Hospital should serve as a reminder that rules designed to protect the most vulnerable members of society are...

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Brothers' testimony rocks court as Schembri and Cardona named in murder plot

Convicted hitmen Alfred and George Degiorgio on Wednesday directly implicated former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri and former minister Chris Cardona in the plot to assassinate Daphne Caruana...

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Updated (3): Two found dead in car in Marsaskala garage died of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning

Two people were found dead in a parked car in Marsaskala on Tuesday night....

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latest comment from J.Degabriele, 15/07/2026 14:17: As far as I know, carbon monoxide poisoning occurs when the engine is left running in a closed space for some considerable time. In any case, let them rest in peace. Nothing else can be done at this stage. Condolences to their loved ones.

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Man dies in Qormi after tiles fall on him

A 40-year-old Nigerian man residing in Birżebbuġa lost his life after a quantity of tiles toppled onto him while he was working in a warehouse, police said. The accident occurred...

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Packed like sardines: Why Transport Malta's 'one overcrowded bus claim' doesn't add up

Malta's buses carried a record 75.8 million passenger trips in 2024 alone, and ridership has kept climbing since - yet Transport Minister Chris Bonett told Parliament that across 2024 and 2025, only a...

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latest comment from John Tonna, 15/07/2026 15:36: Agreed. As a regular bus commuter, I can say that overcrowding is the rule rather than the exception!

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Business

Central Bank of Malta Governor at IMF-World Bank constituency meeting in Portugal

IHI p.l.c. announces basis of acceptance for the €30,000,000 5.25% unsecured bonds 2036

United Group celebrates 100 years of enterprise and growth

Heatwaves, blackouts and a tourist boom

BOV quiz night brings colleagues together for a fun night

Yorgen Fenech trial - Superintendent recounts Theuma arrest as defence probes phantom job

Police detail Melvin Theuma's wealth as court shown cash recovered from his home

Electrical fire breaks out at SkyParks 2 construction site

Updated: Planning Authority sanctions illegal Manoel Island padel courts, hands down €25,000 fine

Housing Authority freezes rents for pensioners with immediate effect

Couple accused of fresh Valletta pickpocketing spree days after suspended sentence

Appeals Court annuls two cigarette-smuggling convictions over defective judgment

€3,000 fines and lifetime hunting and trapping bans for wildlife offences - BirdLife

Former CEO of Italian highway operator handed 12-year sentence over deadly 2018 bridge collapse

PN, PL trade accusations over population strategy

Man charged with breaching protection order for contacting estranged wife

UK urges FIFA to investigate Argentina over Falklands banner at World Cup

Man who defrauded eCabs and four others avoids jail

MTA finds 67 Swieqi rentals in breach and six operating without a licence

Borg pledges ‘revolutionary’ reform to PN statute and structures after leadership approval

Glenn Bedingfield agrees that some on-the-spot fines are 'too low'

Europa Nostra experts support preservation of British Barracks at Fort Chambray

Works to pedestrianise street near Junior College begin

Alex Borg approved as PN leader by 98% of party councillors

Genuine independence essential for national human rights institution, Repubblika says

Almost 10,000 students receive their MATSEC results

A window into Roman Malta: St Paul’s Catacombs skeleton to come to life

Labour MP Romilda Zarb wants lawmakers to consider legalising surrogacy

Number of tourists up by nearly 18% in first five months – NSO

The Farsons Beer Festival returns next week for its 44th edition

Revision classes for students preparing for September O-Level resits open

Traffic cannot remain the order of the day, Malta Chamber says

‘They wanted Daphne dead, not injured,’ convicted hitman tells jury

Argentina rally past England to reach the World Cup final

France’s National Assembly gives final approval to assisted-dying bill after years of debate

Trial by jury - Degiorgio brothers implicate Keith Schembri, Chris Cardona in Daphne murder plot

Underground drilling kicks off to link second interconnector from land to sea

PN calls for parliamentary committee hearing after government digital systems outage

TMID Editorial: Blue Badge abuse undermines the very people the system is meant to protect

Brothers' testimony rocks court as Schembri and Cardona named in murder plot

Updated (3): Two found dead in car in Marsaskala garage died of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning

Man dies in Qormi after tiles fall on him

Packed like sardines: Why Transport Malta's 'one overcrowded bus claim' doesn't add up

Spain shut down France and Mbappé, advance to the World Cup final with a 2-0 victory

TMID Editorial: A law is only as good as its enforcement

Malta and the HNS Convention: Preparing for the 2027 Liability Regime

Mater Dei emergency department expansion works to begin in August, Health Minister says

Government proposes new human rights commission as PN raises independence concerns

Updated: e-ID services stabilised after surge in MATSEC results traffic, MITA says