The Malta Independent

Keep me signed in with social media

1 August 2026, Saturday

View E-Paper

60,000 cross into Spanish territory of Ceuta and at least 34 die after border breach

Some 60,000 migrants have entered Spain's Ceuta from Morocco in the past 24 hours, Ceuta's president says. That is equivalent to 70% of the city's regular population. At least 34 migrants have...

Comments (0)
Share

Live - Yorgen Fenech trial: Boat captain told police Fenech planned to remain in Pozzallo

Yorgen Fenech's jury trial continues on Friday after former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri concluded three consecutive days on the witness stand, during which he spent hours being cross-examined by...

Comments (0)
Share

Minister Miriam Dalli asks MCESD for measures to address power cut crisis

Energy Minister Miriam Dalli has asked Malta's social partners to propose measures to address electricity disruptions and manage consumption during periods of exceptionally high demand, following the...

Comments (0)
Share

184 victims of domestic violence benefit from panic alarm device in the first year of the scheme

A total of 184 victims of domestic violence have benefited from the Domestic Violence Panic Alarm during the first year since the Government introduced the scheme, the Home Affairs Ministry said in a...

Comments (0)
Share

Dalli admits electricity crisis, but evades responsibility – PN; PL says PN is 'distorting facts'

After three years and €140 million in expenditure, Minister Miriam Dalli admitted during a meeting with the MCESD that the country is facing a crisis and a failure in the electricity distribution...

Comments (0)
Share

GWU expresses solidarity with artists and calls for fair and timely payment

The General Workers' Union (GWU) expresses its full solidarity with the artists who were forced to seek justice through the courts in order to receive payment for their work on Divas II - The Dance...

Comments (0)
Share

Security in Mediterranean is a foundation for Europe’s stability and prosperity - Fearne

Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Chris Fearne called for stronger European engagement in the Mediterranean, stressing that security and stability in Europe's southern neighbourhood have...

Comments (0)
Share

€1bn in debt in the election year mean higher interest costs for the Maltese people - PN

In the election year, the Labour Government increased Malta's national debt by one billion euros, the Natiinalist Party said.. This figure emerges from a statement on government finances...

Comments (0)
Share

Government debt edges closer to €12 billion – NSO

At the end of June 2026, Central Government debt stood at €11,929.3 million, an increase of €936.6 million when compared to 2025, the NSO said Friday. The increase reported under Malta...

Comments (0)
Share

Franco Baresi, AC Milan and Italy legend, dies aged 66

The football world is mourning the death of AC Milan and Italy legend Franco Baresi, who has died at the age of 66 after a battle with illness. His passing was announced by AC Milan on Friday,...

Comments (0)
Share

PM announces electricity and water service charges for fishermen to fall by up to 57%

Electricity and water service charges for fishermen will be reduced by up to 57%, Prime Minister Robert Abela announced during a visit to Marsaxlokk on Friday. Full-time and part-time fishermen...

Comments (0)
Share

recent poll

Renewal

House insurance

Drugs, national debt and pets

Emmanuel J. Galea

Reclassifying failure

Frans Camilleri

Stalling vaccines

Alfred Sant

Gozo's economic growth

Romilda Zarb

From hope to parenthood: How Labour’s IVF reforms changed lives

Marilena Gauci

Malta's film industry deserves better

Michael Briguglio

Buses, numbers, people

David Spiteri Gingell

The generation that climbed (Part IV): Where the attack on legal migration leads

BirdLife claims major win for turtle-doves in Sicily

The Sicilian Regional Administrative Court has suspended the region's pre-season hunting period, giving migratory birds a safer passage through Sicily this autumn, BirdLife said. The court...

Comments (0)
Share

San Giljan waterpolo club granted planning approval for facility on reclaimed land

The Planning Authority has approved a land reclamation project along the St Julian's promenade, paving the way for the San Ġiljan Aquatic Sports Club to build an international-standard water polo...

Comments (0)
Share

'Of course not': Schembri repeatedly denies murder allegations during cross-examination

Former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri on Thursday firmly denied ever asking anyone to kill either Daphne Caruana Galizia or murder middleman Melvin Theuma as defence lawyer Giannella de Marco...

Comments (0)
Share

UEFA members to boycott FIFA competitions in protest of World Cup private investors plan

FIFA President Gianni Infantino's plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private equity investors was hit hard Thursday by his former colleagues at UEFA, who agreed to boycott all the global soccer...

Comments (0)
Share

TMID Editorial: Labour’s PAC gamble

Parliament may have gone into summer recess, but the work in its committees - particularly its Public Accounts Committee (PAC) - continues. The first PAC meeting of this legislature was held on...

Comments (0)
Share

Trump announces a deal for Hamas to disarm in Gaza, but many hurdles and uncertainty remain

President Donald Trump said Thursday that a deal has been reached for Hamas to disarm and Israel to withdraw its forces from Gaza, but many hurdles, conditions and long timelines remained to wind down...

Comments (0)
Share

Fenech trial: Muscat bodyguard's gun discharged in presence of PM's wife, Schembri says

Keith Schembri is expected to return to the witness stand on Thursday for the third consecutive day of testimony in the trial by jury of Yorgen Fenech. The defence set to begin its long-awaited...

Comments (0)
Share

Spain deploys military to Ceuta after thousands of people breach Morocco’s border and at least 9 die

Spain will deploy its military to restore order at its border with Morocco in Ceuta after thousands of migrants streamed into the tiny Spanish territory, with at least nine dying in the...

Comments (0)
Share

news in pictures

events

Sports

Franco Baresi, AC Milan and Italy legend, dies aged 66

UEFA members to boycott FIFA competitions in protest of World Cup private investors plan

Euro 2020 winning coach Roberto Mancini returns to rescue Italy after third straight World Cup miss

France hires former football great Zinedine Zidane as national team coach

Andrea Pirlo out of contention for Italy job amid controversy over deal with Russian betting firm

Norris ends wait for F1 win in Hungary as Antonelli stretches championship lead

Norris snatches pole at Hungarian Grand Prix as Hamilton and Antonelli hit with penalties

Abela highlights business growth and social support during Gozo visits

Prime Minister Robert Abela, accompanied by Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri, attended a series of engagements in Gozo with a visit to Eman Patisserie, a family-run business that has been operating on...

Comments (0)
Share

Mother charged with sexual abuse of daughter and son in front of her minor kids

DISCLAIMER: This article contains graphic details that some readers might find disturbing A 39-year-old woman appeared before the court charged with multiple offences allegedly committed against...

Comments (0)
Share

Three in four SMEs uncertain or unwilling to invest in coming months - PN; government rejects claim

The news that more than three quarters of small and medium-sized business owners, 78%, are either uncertain or believe that it would be unwise to invest over the next 12 months is concerning and...

Comments (0)
Share

New public square in Attard gives priority to people over vehicles

Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Employment Jonathan Attard has officially inaugurated Tommaso Dingli Square. The project, delivered by Infrastructure Malta, forms part of the Vjal...

Comments (0)
Share

Arts Council Malta, MCAST sign creative education agreement

Arts Council Malta and MCAST Institute for the Creative Arts have signed an agreement of collaboration that will strengthen the existing working relationship between the two entities, creating a...

Comments (0)
Share

MEIA praises ‘courage’ shown by artists taking legal action to get paid for services

The Malta Entertainment Industry and Arts Association (MEIA) has praised the courage of professional artists who have come forward and taken legal action to obtain what is theirs - payment for their...

Comments (0)
Share

Almost two-thirds of businesses say Malta is moving in the wrong direction – new barometer

Close to two-thirds (64%) of businesses feel that Malta is moving in the wrong direction, according to a new barometer published by the Chamber of SMEs on Thursday. The SME Barometer for Q2 of...

Comments (0)
Share

Planning Authority rejects controversial Qormi palazzo hotel project

The Planning Authority has refused a controversial application to convert the historic Palazzo tat-Tabib Maempel in Qormi into a boutique hotel, after the developer failed to submit revised plans...

Comments (0)
Share

Telemedicine Centre delivers 9,000 medical consultations every month

Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg has praised the role of Malta's Telemedicine Centre after figures showed its doctors are now providing around 9,000 telephone medical consultations every month, the...

Comments (0)
Share

EcoJam turns recycled waste into music while empowering young communities

Young people are creating musical instruments from recycled household materials as part of a new community arts project aimed at strengthening creativity, teamwork and active participation. The...

Comments (0)
Share

Business

APS Bank posts record interim profit of €23.9m on the back of strong all-round growth

MeDirect delivers a profitable first half as growth accelerates

Fast Shift secures EMI Authorisation from Malta Financial Services Authority

BOV reports €119.8m profit before tax for the first half of 2026

European Commission endorses Malta's €60 million social climate plan

Chamber of Commerce urges Opposition to present credible economic vision

GO’s TOKIS investment reaches new milestone with €5m commitment to Maltese productions

James B. Holdings reports transformational year with €188.7m in revenue

BCRS Malta maintains high collection rates as more beverage containers enter the market

13 new professionals join Malta's register of insolvency practitioners

60,000 cross into Spanish territory of Ceuta and at least 34 die after border breach

Live - Yorgen Fenech trial: Boat captain told police Fenech planned to remain in Pozzallo

Minister Miriam Dalli asks MCESD for measures to address power cut crisis

184 victims of domestic violence benefit from panic alarm device in the first year of the scheme

Dalli admits electricity crisis, but evades responsibility – PN; PL says PN is 'distorting facts'

GWU expresses solidarity with artists and calls for fair and timely payment

Security in Mediterranean is a foundation for Europe’s stability and prosperity - Fearne

€1bn in debt in the election year mean higher interest costs for the Maltese people - PN

Government debt edges closer to €12 billion – NSO

Franco Baresi, AC Milan and Italy legend, dies aged 66

PM announces electricity and water service charges for fishermen to fall by up to 57%

BirdLife claims major win for turtle-doves in Sicily

San Giljan waterpolo club granted planning approval for facility on reclaimed land

'Of course not': Schembri repeatedly denies murder allegations during cross-examination

UEFA members to boycott FIFA competitions in protest of World Cup private investors plan

TMID Editorial: Labour’s PAC gamble

Trump announces a deal for Hamas to disarm in Gaza, but many hurdles and uncertainty remain

Fenech trial: Muscat bodyguard's gun discharged in presence of PM's wife, Schembri says

Spain deploys military to Ceuta after thousands of people breach Morocco’s border and at least 9 die

Tourist arrivals up 18% in first half of year – NSO

Five years after Daphne public inquiry, 'Malta has yet to deliver the reforms journalists need'

Government establishes Artificial Intelligence Governance Council

TMID Editorial: Public broadcasting must belong to the public

Three-year-old boy grievously injured after being hit by car

Bonett warns Uber faces licence suspension over failure to comply with new Y-plate rules

Sustainability is also needed in healthcare, PN says

Southern Europe burns as 3 firefighters die and France battles blaze 4 times the size of Paris

Casa welcomes approval of €60.6 million Social Climate Plan for Malta

Abela highlights business growth and social support during Gozo visits

Mother charged with sexual abuse of daughter and son in front of her minor kids

Three in four SMEs uncertain or unwilling to invest in coming months - PN; government rejects claim

New public square in Attard gives priority to people over vehicles

Arts Council Malta, MCAST sign creative education agreement

MEIA praises ‘courage’ shown by artists taking legal action to get paid for services

Almost two-thirds of businesses say Malta is moving in the wrong direction – new barometer

Planning Authority rejects controversial Qormi palazzo hotel project

Telemedicine Centre delivers 9,000 medical consultations every month

EcoJam turns recycled waste into music while empowering young communities

Top singers file judicial protest against Felix Busuttil over unpaid 'Divas II' fees

‘Government has already forgotten the people’, PN says as PAC discussion on power cuts is blocked

Government asks Auditor General to review Enemalta's electricity distribution investment

Schembri tells jury that Fenech indirectly revealed role in murder

As it happened: Keith Schembri says Yorgen Fenech hinted at Daphne murder involvement

Alex Borg rejects Prime Minister's claim that PN is 'anti-equality'