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13 May 2025, Tuesday

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New York Times reports Pope Leo XIV has Maltese ancestry

Findings regarding Pope Leo XIV's familial roots appear to indicate that the pontiff's great-grandfather was Maltese, the New York Times reports....

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latest comment from Mario Tabone-Vassallo, 12/05/2025 14:00: PROSIT, harbitli din. Intkom biss gibtuha.

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Ronald Mizzi reinstated as Permanent Secretary, despite ongoing court case

Ronald Mizzi has been appointed as the Permanent Secretary within the Office of the Prime Minister, despite the ongoing hospitals deal court case. Mizzi is one of the persons facing charges in...

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‘EcoHive project has strong element of greenwashing,’ PN MP raises alarm over EcoHive incinerators

PN MP Claudette Buttigieg criticised the government's proposed EcoHive project in Magħtab, warning that it is being falsely portrayed as an environmentally friendly initiative, when in reality,...

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62 rescued in Maltese S&R zone, four die in Med migration voyage

Four people, including two small children, have died during a migration voyage in the Mediterranean, a German charity involved in their rescue said. The nonprofit group RESQSHIP said that dozens...

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Police Commissioner ‘categorically and unequivocally denies’ allegations made by Aquilina

Police Commissioner Angelo Gafa has denied the allegations made by Robert Aquilina, Fondazione Falcone's representative in Malta. Aquilina had accused Gafà of undermining the criminal...

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Robert Aquilina accuses Police Commissioner of undermining hospitals corruption inquiry

Robert Aquilina, Fondazione Falcone's representative in Malta, has accused Police Commissioner Angelo Gafà of undermining the criminal inquiry into alleged fraud and corruption surrounding...

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latest comment from RF, 12/05/2025 13:29: No surprise. All Commissioners were handpicked by Muscat and Abela not because of their integrity. Some were also without personality and brains.

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Malta Further & Higher Education Authority says it still holds the status of affiliate with ENQA

The Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) has said that it still holds the status of affiliate with European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education, "which has been held during...

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Jeremy Harbinson to testify remotely in Vitals criminal proceedings

Court expert Jeremy Harbinson will be allowed to testify remotely in criminal proceedings related to the Vitals hospitals concession. In a decree issued on Monday, Magistrate Rachel Montebello...

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Lions found illegally kept in Naxxar relocated to approved facility in Rabat

Four lions and a leopard discovered in a building near the Għallis area in Naxxar last December without the necessary permits have been relocated to a secure site in Rabat, with authorities...

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Parliament unanimously passes new cannabis legislation amendments

Parliament on Monday unanimously passed a series of changes to the country's recreational cannabis laws, clarifying the definition of cannabis as well as putting tighter regulations on cannabis...

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Maksar gang trial: Vince Muscat confronted with previous testimony

Vince Muscat, known as il-Kohhu, on Monday was confronted with testimony he had given in the past which, according to the defence, contradicts what he told the court in a trial by jury in the past...

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Blogs & Opinions

Alfred Sant

Nationalism

Darren Carabott

While remaining completely neutral, we must not be naïve

Carmel Cacopardo

Vatican smoke: between white and pink

Kevin Cassar

Rubbing their hands in glee

Valerie Visanich

Mothers who shaped us

Emmanuel J. Galea

Gozo’s autonomy debate: Two visions, one island

Mark Said

Strengthening our police corps

Noel Grima

The other side of the river

Mark Said

The Maltese language course for EU institution employees

Owen Bonnici

Workers Day and Malta’s conservative forces

Two grievously injured in Sannat fight

A man and woman were grievously injured in a fight in Sannat on Sunday, the police said Monday. The incident happened in an establishment in Triq ta' Cenc at 8pm. Officers who went on site...

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Runway operations resume following incident involving a light aircraft, MIA says

Malta International Airport (MIA) confirms that runway operations resumed at 17:33hrs local time following an earlier incident involving a light aircraft. MIA said that at approximately 5pm, a...

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Planning application filed for run-down cinema in Birkirkara to be restored and turned into gym

A planning application has been filed for the now rundown Prince Theatre in Birkirkara to be restored and turned into a gymnastics studio. Situated in a narrow street off Birkirkara's Valley...

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Rejection of Malta’s higher education regulator by EU quality register ‘a damaging blow’ - Momentum

Reports that the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) has been denied entry to the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR) are a "deeply concerning development...

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latest comment from C Xerri, 12/05/2025 13:43: ""this failure to meet recognised European standards means that bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees awarded by Maltese higher education institutions " Momentum are wrong as degrees given by the University of Malta, MCAST and the Institute of Tourism are not effected bt this decision and would still be recognized overseas.

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Government must shoulder responsibility for yet another failure in education – PN

The government must take responsibility for yet another failure in the education sector, the Nationalist Party said Monday, referring to the exclusion of the Malta Further and Higher Education...

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Brazil sign Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti 1 year ahead of 2026 World Cup

Brazil's soccer confederation said on Monday it has a deal with Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti eyeing the 2026 World Cup. The 65-year-old Ancelotti, who will be Brazil's first full-time...

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‘Strong polarisation always works against the PN’ – Mark Anthony Sammut

Strong polarisation works against the Nationalist Party, PN Spokesperson for Transport and Mobility Mark Anthony Sammut told The Malta Independent. He was responding to questions regarding the...

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Pope Leo XIV urges release of imprisoned journalists, affirms gift of free speech and press

Pope Leo XIV on Monday called for the release of imprisoned journalists and affirmed the "precious gift of free speech and the press" in an audience with some of the 6,000...

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news in pictures

events

Sports

Brazil sign Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti 1 year ahead of 2026 World Cup

Torrential rain fails to halt Inter's pursuit of leaders Napoli as gap cut to one point

Arsenal and Newcastle to meet in Premier League showdown as Champions League race intensifies

Hamrun make it three league titles in a row after beating Birkirkara 1-0 in final

Lazio snatch draw against 10-man Juventus in Serie A

Haaland returns yet Man City stumble to leave Champions League hopes in doubt

San Giljan beat Sliema on penalties to win BOV winter league

Man United, Tottenham reach Europa League final, one win away from Champions League

PSG reach Champions League final and will face Inter for elusive title

Inter beat Barcelona 4-3 after extra time to reach another Champions League final

Daniel Meli wins legal battle to avoid extradition to US

Daniel Joe Meli might not be extradited to the United States after a court ruled in his favour on Monday. The 28-year-old was arrested in Malta on 7 February 2024 for allegedly selling and...

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latest comment from Jessica Pace, 12/05/2025 12:53: Prosit ejja naqbzu al kriminali imbad il-qrati u l-puluzija isalbu u ma jejnux lil minn vera andu bzonn.

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‘We are not asking for expropriation of Manoel Island, but for a contract renegotiation’ - activists

Activists are not asking for Manoel Island to be expropriated, but for the contract to be renegotiated, the Manoel Island: Post Għalina Campaign said in a statement. It was reacting to a...

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Speaker Anglu Farrugia warns EU against becoming ‘a Europe of permanent arms’

Speaker Anġlu Farrugia on Monday said that the European Union risks abandoning its founding ideals by shifting increasingly toward militarisation. He called on EU leaders to invest more in social...

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What to know about the Eurovision Song Contest as Switzerland prepares to host

Get out the glitter balls, sew on the sequins and prepare to party: The Eurovision Song Contest approaches. The 69th annual musical extravaganza takes place in Basel, Switzerland in May. It will...

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Bursting at the seams: How overpopulation is pushing Malta to the brink

At just 316 square kilometres, Malta is one of the smallest and most densely populated countries in the world. In recent years, the nation has experienced rapid demographic changes that have placed...

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latest comment from Joezborg, 11/05/2025 09:43: Malta is grappling with a crisis of scale. Explosive population growth – both from foreign residents settling in the country and record-breaking tourism..... The over population madness must be stopped and reversed. This Labour government is doing everything to increase it. More importation of foreign workers More hotels More construction NOW land reclamation to build more appartments In the coming election people must vote the PL out

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US and China take a step back from sky-high tariffs and agree to pause for 90 days for more talks

U.S. and Chinese officials said Monday they had reached a deal to roll back most of their recent tariffs and call a 90-day truce in their trade war to allow for more talks on resolving their...

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International Nurses Day celebrated today

On the occasion of International Nurses Day, the Malta Council of Nurses and Midwives extended its heartfelt appreciation to all nurses Maltese, and foreign nurses practising in Malta. This year's...

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Zelenskyy hopes for ceasefire with Russia and challenges Putin to meet him in Turkey 'personally'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday challenged Russia's President Vladimir Putin to meet him personally in Turkey on Thursday, the latest move in a weekend-long exchange of...

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TMID Editorial: The number of vehicles continues to rise

The number of vehicles on the roads is continuing to rise, data published by the National Statistics Office shows. In the first quarter of this year, each day 19 more vehicles were licensed than...

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Details emerge of how votes coalesced to elect new pope

Pope Leo XIV said Friday that his election was both a cross to bear and a blessing as he celebrated his first Mass and details began to emerge of how votes swiftly coalesced to make him history's...

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Business

Is our education system ready for 21st century skills?

GO declares Malta a ‘True Fibre Island’

HSBC Malta Foundation supports the 6th edition of the Primary STEM Challenge

GO declares Malta a 'true fibre island'

STMicroelectronics Facility becomes EU’s first advanced manufacturing backend plant

Moneybase launches free SEPA Instant payments

MESGA consultative council of future generations meets BOV

Atlas Healthcare and IVALIFE host webinar on pensions and auto-enrolment

Malta and Ireland forge new trade horizons in online business mission

Malta’s first educational zero waste children’s cookbook earns three nominations at the prestigious

New York Times reports Pope Leo XIV has Maltese ancestry

Ronald Mizzi reinstated as Permanent Secretary, despite ongoing court case

‘EcoHive project has strong element of greenwashing,’ PN MP raises alarm over EcoHive incinerators

62 rescued in Maltese S&R zone, four die in Med migration voyage

Police Commissioner ‘categorically and unequivocally denies’ allegations made by Aquilina

Robert Aquilina accuses Police Commissioner of undermining hospitals corruption inquiry

Malta Further & Higher Education Authority says it still holds the status of affiliate with ENQA

Jeremy Harbinson to testify remotely in Vitals criminal proceedings

Lions found illegally kept in Naxxar relocated to approved facility in Rabat

Parliament unanimously passes new cannabis legislation amendments

Maksar gang trial: Vince Muscat confronted with previous testimony

Two grievously injured in Sannat fight

Runway operations resume following incident involving a light aircraft, MIA says

Planning application filed for run-down cinema in Birkirkara to be restored and turned into gym

Rejection of Malta’s higher education regulator by EU quality register ‘a damaging blow’ - Momentum

Government must shoulder responsibility for yet another failure in education – PN

Brazil sign Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti 1 year ahead of 2026 World Cup

‘Strong polarisation always works against the PN’ – Mark Anthony Sammut

Pope Leo XIV urges release of imprisoned journalists, affirms gift of free speech and press

PM says euthanasia debate must not be politicised, ‘this has nothing to do with partisan politics'

Abela not content with seizing institutions, now he wants to capture the Gharghur council - Grech

Pope Leo XIV calls for peace in Ukraine and Gaza in symbolically rich blessing on Mother's Day

Here’s how Pope Leo XIV’s first appearance compares with that of Pope Francis

Consensus on type of long-term mass transport project is ‘essential’ – PN MP

Eurovision: Europe’s annual festival of songs that will be forgotten

TMIS Editorial - The American Pope: Leo XIV’s mission

‘You learn to live with it’: Francesca Falzon opens up about cystic fibrosis

Arsenal and Newcastle to meet in Premier League showdown as Champions League race intensifies

Daniel Meli wins legal battle to avoid extradition to US

‘We are not asking for expropriation of Manoel Island, but for a contract renegotiation’ - activists

Speaker Anglu Farrugia warns EU against becoming ‘a Europe of permanent arms’

What to know about the Eurovision Song Contest as Switzerland prepares to host

Bursting at the seams: How overpopulation is pushing Malta to the brink

US and China take a step back from sky-high tariffs and agree to pause for 90 days for more talks

International Nurses Day celebrated today

Zelenskyy hopes for ceasefire with Russia and challenges Putin to meet him in Turkey 'personally'

TMID Editorial: The number of vehicles continues to rise

Details emerge of how votes coalesced to elect new pope

Torrential rain fails to halt Inter's pursuit of leaders Napoli as gap cut to one point

Works ongoing to improve electricity distribution network, ministry says

Give Mother Nature a voice - Why becoming a BirdLife Malta member matters now more than ever

'DA POPE!' Leo XIV's Chicago roots unleash spate of holy humour

Cartoon 11 May 2025

Legalising Assisted Voluntary Euthanasia ‘premature’, MAM says