The Malta Independent

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21 October 2026, Wednesday

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Abela outlines long awaited planning reform in Parliament, defends construction industry

Development permits would be automatically suspended while planning appeals are being heard under proposed reforms outlined by Prime Minister Robert Abela in Parliament, as the Government seeks to...

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EY survey: Malta’s attractiveness to foreign investment rises slightly to 81%

Investor confidence in Malta has risen marginally to 81%, according to EY's annual Malta Attractiveness Survey for 2026. Malta's attractiveness to foreign direct investment (FDI) has improved slightly...

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Maltese MEPs clash over Malta’s rule of law during European Parliament debate

A debate on the rule of law in the European Parliament saw Maltese MEPs sharply disagree over the state of Malta’s institutions, the handling of Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder and the...

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EY attractiveness survey shows ‘genuine opportunity’ for Malta – EY managing partner

EY's country managing partner for Malta, Ronald Attard, stated that this year's results demonstrate a "genuine opportunity" for how Malta could proceed economically in the future. This year's EY...

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Alex Agius Saliba confirmed for a third time as Vice-President of the Socialists and Democrats Group

The Labour Party welcomed the news that Alex Agius Saliba has once again been elected and, consequently, confirmed as Vice-President of the Socialists and Democrats Group, a position he will hold...

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New Gozo General Hospital helipad will reduce emergency patient transfer times to Mater Dei Hospital

The new Gozo General Hospital helipad is reducing emergency patient transfer times to Mater Dei Hospital by approximately 10 minutes, facilitating quicker access to urgent specialised treatment, the...

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PM says productivity, innovation, better use of tech must drive next stage of economic growth

Prime Minister Robert Abela believes that the next phase of Malta's economic growth must be driven increasingly through boosted productivity, innovation, and better uses of technology such as...

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Updated: Lorin Scicluna trial - Accused cries during graphic evidence in Cisse murder trial

The trial by jury of former AFM soldier Lorin Scicluna, accused of the racially motivated murder of Ivorian national Lassane Cisse Souleymane, continues today, with further witnesses set to...

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Jaden Degiorgio used false identity to rent garage linked to 27kg drug haul from priest

Jaden Degiorgio, the son of convicted murderer George Degiorgio, was identified in court on Wednesday as the man who allegedly rented a garage in Żurrieq under a false name, where police...

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20 heat-related deaths registered in Malta this July, Minister says

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health Ian Borg stated that 20 people died as a direct result of the heat in the Maltese islands in July 2026. Minister Borg said that, according to...

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BCA intervenes to stabilise uninhabitable Paceville apartment block

The Building and Construction Authority has begun placing concrete blocks against Sea View Apartments in Paceville to help stabilise the building, which was evacuated in August after being declared...

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recent poll

Blogs & Opinions

Emmanuel J. Galea

Nobody weighs the luggage

Frans Camilleri

The meaning of words

Alfred Sant

Planning

Adrian Delia

The budget cannot be a shopping list

Nigel Puli

Plenty of housing grants. But where are the affordable homes?

Romilda Zarb

Mental health begins with understanding people’s lives

Katya De Giovanni

Malta's PISA results: When economic priorities and educational responsibilities collide

Frans Camilleri

Resetting the model

Emmanuel J. Galea

The €22 million stopgap

Michael Briguglio

The latest political survey

‘Our challenge is to ensure economic success becomes human progress,’ Alex Borg tells EY conference

At the annual EY conference on Wednesday morning, Opposition leader Alex Borg stated that everyday life can grow more difficult as an economy can grows larger, and hence, the challenge on the cards...

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Deficit, debt rise sharply in Q2 2026 – NSO

In the second quarter of 2026, the General Government recorded a deficit of €344.1 million, with debt at €11,977.2 million, the NSO said Wednesday. Between April and June 2026, total...

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Malta’s renewable energy share climbs to 18.8% in 2025, 'continuing strong growth'

The government said Wednesday Malta continued to make significant progress in its transition towards cleaner energy, with renewable energy sources accounting for 18.8% of the country's energy...

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Three-year jail term upheld for man who stole gold jewellery at night club

A man has had his appeal dismissed by the Court of Appeal after attempting to reduce a three-year prison sentence for a series of thefts at UNO night club at Ta' Qali. Judge Neville Camilleri upheld...

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Government announces package to tackle Oriental Hornet surge and support beekeeping

The government said Tuesday it has approved a national action plan to address the sharp increase in the Oriental Hornet population and its impact on apiculture, agriculture, and public...

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ADPD: Budget 2027 must focus on people’s well-being, social justice, environmental protection

ADPD-The Green Party said Wednesday that Budget 2027 must address the priorities that genuinely improve people's lives: decent wages, the cost of living, strong public services, clean energy, fair...

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Romanian motorcyclist suffers grievous injuries in Mqabba traffic accident

A Romanian woman, 38, was hospitalised following a traffic accident in Mqabba on Wednesday morning. In a statement, the police said that medical assistance was requested after a traffic accident...

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Hungarian police arrest Orbán-era central bank governor on suspicion of fraud and abuse

Hungarian police arrested the country's former Central Bank governor on Wednesday, a significant step in the new government's pursuit of suspected financial abuses during the rein of Viktor...

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news in pictures

events

Sports

PSG beat Barcelona in Champions League thriller as Liverpool complete rousing comeback

Parma and Torino bang in Serie A goals as Spurs finally win in England

YoHealth Malta Premier: Valletta edge Sliema in dramatic style as Marsaxlokk pile on the pressure

Goal from halfway line helps surprise package Brighton win 5-0 as Arsenal leave it late at Forest

Mbappé stars as Madrid beat Sevilla 4-1, Freiburg's 1st Bundesliga loss, Lazio beat Juventus

Haaland keeps on scoring as scandal-hit Man City wins again in Premier League

Yamal takes centre stage for ruthless Barcelona, PSG win ahead of Champions League showdown

Raimondo scores hat trick for Frosinone in Italy; Frankfurt end winless drought at home

Sunderland score late to beat Torreense in Europa League; Milan, Leverkusen; Bournemouth win

PSG pile more woe on scandal-hit Man City in Champions League, Real Madrid leave it late in Rome

Ex-police officer identified behind AI attack, activist Robert Aquilina claims

Former president of civil society group Repubblika, Robert Aquilina, has publicly accused a former police sergeant of being behind a deepfake AI image created to target and dehumanise him. In a...

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John Cassar, accused of murdering his mother, faces separate harassment charges

John Cassar, who is also accused of murdering his mother and attempting to murder his father during an incident in Mqabba on 15 October, has pleaded not guilty to separate charges of harassing his...

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Momentum calls for higher minimum wage, vacant property tax, and economic reform

Momentum has published its Pre-Budget Document 2027, outlining a wide-ranging series of economic and social proposals designed to build a fairer Malta, support working families, and improve the...

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TMID Editorial: Promoting electric cars means removing the obstacles

The government has been encouraging people to switch to electric vehicles, presenting them as a cleaner and more sustainable alternative to conventional cars. But if it is serious about making this...

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Waste collection in Northern Region has become unsustainable, regional council says

Waste collection services across several localities in Malta's Northern Region have become unsustainable due to persistent shortcomings by the contractor, despite repeated complaints and calls for...

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Ronnie ‘Is-Sufu’ Azzopardi appeals court ruling refusing to overturn life sentence

Convicted murderer Ronald Azzopardi, known as Is-Sufu, has filed an appeal against a constitutional court ruling that rejected his bid to overturn a life sentence for the 2005 Żejtun car bombing...

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France has a proud tradition of protesting, and sometimes people lose their heads

No nation does mass protests quite like France. When the French fight high fuel taxes, they don yellow vests and march. When angry farmers want better pay, hundreds of them drive tractors down...

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Lassana Cisse murder trial: Emergency calls, witness accounts detail aftermath of fatal shooting

The trial by jury of former Armed Forces of Malta soldier Lorin Scicluna, accused of the racially motivated murder of Ivorian national Lassane Cisse Souleymane, continues today with the prosecution...

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Malta Book Festival theatre shows bring Maltese books for young readers to life

Angele Galea, Amelie Calleja Agius and Matteo Camilleri Testa will feature in the theatrical adaptation of Ella at the Malta Book Festival

Organised by the National Book Council and taking place at the Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre, Ta' Qali between 4-8 November, the Malta Book Festival invites visitors from all walks of life, with...

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Law report: Can remuneration paid to co-branding partners circumvent interchange fee caps?

Interchange fees form part of the costs merchants incur when accepting card payments and may ultimately affect the prices paid by consumers. Regulation (EU) 2015/751 on interchange fees for card-based...

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Business

Malta’s innovation leaders call for practical reforms ahead of Budget 2027

MIA marks the European Week for Health and Safety with launch of wellbeing champions initiative

MCCAA: The path to fair competition

Kdm. Group reinforces long-term growth strategy with Crowd Safety Management Ltd acquisition

APS Bank sustainable finance portfolio reaches €244 million

Spinola Terraces marks 10 years in St Julian's

Review highlights good practices and supervisory expectations for effective risk management

Abela outlines long awaited planning reform in Parliament, defends construction industry

EY survey: Malta’s attractiveness to foreign investment rises slightly to 81%

Maltese MEPs clash over Malta’s rule of law during European Parliament debate

EY attractiveness survey shows ‘genuine opportunity’ for Malta – EY managing partner

Alex Agius Saliba confirmed for a third time as Vice-President of the Socialists and Democrats Group

New Gozo General Hospital helipad will reduce emergency patient transfer times to Mater Dei Hospital

PM says productivity, innovation, better use of tech must drive next stage of economic growth

Updated: Lorin Scicluna trial - Accused cries during graphic evidence in Cisse murder trial

Jaden Degiorgio used false identity to rent garage linked to 27kg drug haul from priest

20 heat-related deaths registered in Malta this July, Minister says

BCA intervenes to stabilise uninhabitable Paceville apartment block

‘Our challenge is to ensure economic success becomes human progress,’ Alex Borg tells EY conference

Deficit, debt rise sharply in Q2 2026 – NSO

Malta’s renewable energy share climbs to 18.8% in 2025, 'continuing strong growth'

Three-year jail term upheld for man who stole gold jewellery at night club

Government announces package to tackle Oriental Hornet surge and support beekeeping

ADPD: Budget 2027 must focus on people’s well-being, social justice, environmental protection

Romanian motorcyclist suffers grievous injuries in Mqabba traffic accident

Hungarian police arrest Orbán-era central bank governor on suspicion of fraud and abuse

MCESD calls for united national effort against drugs and organised crime

From France to Albania, social unrest is setting Europe's streets ablaze

PSG beat Barcelona in Champions League thriller as Liverpool complete rousing comeback

Johann Buttigieg’s transfer of company directorship to son is lame joke; fire him from PA - NGOs

Oil spill causes heavy traffic at Qormi roundabout

Chinese Embassy donates €45,000 for multisensory space at Mater Dei

PL wants to connect with 350,000 voters as it turns to mobile app for digital outreach

Watch: Planning Authority removes unauthorised paving outside Stivala Sliema restaurant

Eurospin shelves nearly empty in Mosta amid Italian fuel protests

Ex-police officer identified behind AI attack, activist Robert Aquilina claims

John Cassar, accused of murdering his mother, faces separate harassment charges

Momentum calls for higher minimum wage, vacant property tax, and economic reform

TMID Editorial: Promoting electric cars means removing the obstacles

Waste collection in Northern Region has become unsustainable, regional council says

Ronnie ‘Is-Sufu’ Azzopardi appeals court ruling refusing to overturn life sentence

France has a proud tradition of protesting, and sometimes people lose their heads

Lassana Cisse murder trial: Emergency calls, witness accounts detail aftermath of fatal shooting

Malta Book Festival theatre shows bring Maltese books for young readers to life

Law report: Can remuneration paid to co-branding partners circumvent interchange fee caps?

Bedingfield must account for the systems that should have protected Grace Cassar – PN

Cospicua Active Ageing Centre extends opening hours to five days a week

Man cleared of €25,600 benefits fraud after court finds he genuinely suffers from severe disability

Our children should arrive at school ready to learn, not already exhausted by the journey - PN

More trips, vehicles, passengers on Malta-Gozo transport services in Q3 - NSO

WSC using accredited testing to safeguard drinking water quality