The Malta Independent

Keep me signed in with social media

2 July 2025, Wednesday

View E-Paper

Introduction of mandatory skills pass for Maltese and EU nationals postponed by one year

The government said Tuesday it is postponing the introduction of the mandatory skills pass for Maltese and EU nationals, from the originally planned date of 1 January 2026, to 1 January 2027. The...

Comments (0)
Share

Trump says Israel has agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and urges Hamas to accept deal

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Israel has agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and warned Hamas to accept the deal before conditions worsen. Trump announced the...

Comments (0)
Share

Psychiatrists oppose euthanasia law, say necessary structures are not in place for it

At this point in time, Malta does not have the legal, clinical, or institutional structures required to safely and ethically implement such a law, The Maltese Association of Psychiatry (MAP) said in a...

Comments (0)
Share

Scheme launched to ensure access to 24/7 emergency veterinary service

The government has launched a new scheme whereby pet owners would have access to a emergency veterinary services even outside office hours. Following an assessment of the veterinary services in...

Comments (0)
Share

Motor Insurance Directive and compensation funds: Amendments to Maltese Law and European development

In 2021, Directive 2009/103/EC was amended by Directive (EU) 2021/2118 (the 'Amending Directive'), (both instruments collectively referred to hereinafter as the 'Motor Insurance Directive' or the...

Comments (0)
Share

Over 30 NGOs join appeal to invest in palliative care, not assisted suicide

A growing chorus of voices across Malta are calling on the Government to prioritise compassionate, life-affirming palliative care over the legalisation of assisted suicide, a statement by a campaign...

Comments (0)
Share

Speaker rules that Kullhadd must issue correction in media reporting decision

The newspaper Kullhadd must make reference to the names of the MPs who asked questions which the journal previously reported on in a recent issue, Speaker Anglu Farrugia decided in a ruling on media...

Comments (0)
Share

Updated: Students, lecturer accused of ethical hacking granted presidential pardon

Three University of Malta students and a lecturer, who faced criminal charges after revealing security vulnerabilities in an app with good intentions, have been granted a Presidential pardon under...

Comments (0)
Share

PN leadership contenders meet ‘to find common ground’ – reports

PN MPs Adrian Delia and Alex Borg met to find 'common ground' on their leadership bids, the times of Malta reports. A video showing Delia and Borg, as well as PN MP Ivan J Bartolo seated at a...

Comments (0)
Share

Updated: Diver who was rescued on Sunday dies in hospital

Photo: D. A. Agius/Facebook/Calypso Sub Aqua Club

The diver who last Sunday was rescued after finding himself in difficulty in Cirkewwa has died in hospital, the police said Tuesday. The diver, a man aged 59 from Iklin, was taken to hospital on...

Comments (0)
Share

PM says situation in Gaza is ‘a humanitarian tragedy’; PN accuses Abela of another u-turn

What is taking place in Gaza is a humanitarian tragedy, Prime Minister Robert Abela said as he delivered a ministerial statement in parliament on the European Council meeting of 26 June. The...

Comments (0)
Share

recent poll

Blogs & Opinions

Alfred Sant

Among the best

Kevin Cassar

The world’s poorest leader

Julie Zahra

Tista’ taħdem magħna, for real

Emmanuel J. Galea

Sentiment or spin? Taking Gozo’s economic pulse

Carmel Cacopardo

Over-tourism and its negative impacts

Mark Said

Neutrality: For or against?

Noel Grima

The past is here again

Victor Calleja

We can all do with a good cleanup

Owen Bonnici

Action!

Alfred Sant

The problems persist...

Gonzalo García's header powers Real Madrid past Juventus 1-0 and into Club World Cup quarterfinals

Breakout tournament star Gonzalo García scored his third goal of the Club World Cup to power Real Madrid past Juventus 1-0 in the round of 16 on Tuesday afternoon and into the...

Comments (0)
Share

Barcelona records hottest June in over 100 years, Eiffel Tower closed because of heat

Barcelona recorded its hottest month of June since records started over a century ago, Spain's national weather service said on Tuesday as Europe remained in the grip of the first major heat wave this...

Comments (0)
Share

Law on compulsory licence for operators in the construction sector comes into force

With effect from today, Tuesday 1 July, the law regulating contractors in the construction sector came into force, the Building and Construction Authority said Tuesday. Contractors working in the...

Comments (0)
Share

Declaration prepared by Malta on strengthening protection of children from sexual abuse adopted

On the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the entry into force of the Lanzarote Convention, the first Ministerial Conference of the Council of Europe for Ministers responsible for the protection of...

Comments (0)
Share

Guirassy scores twice and Dortmund advance at Club World Cup with 2-1 win over feisty Monterrey

Serhou Guirassy scored a pair of first-half goals, both assisted by Karim Adeyemi, and Borussia Dortmund held off Monterrey 2-1 Tuesday night in the final round of 16 game at the Club World...

Comments (0)
Share

Three wardens dismissed after snorting cocaine – reports

Three wardens were dismissed after a video circulating showed them snorting cocaine inside a van, the Times of Malta reports. It quotes sources as saying that the incident prompted LESA...

Comments (0)
Share

Montenegro Deputy PM emphasises importance of resolving Možura case during meeting with Malta’s AG

Montenegro's Deputy Prime Minister for the Political System, Justice and Anti-Corruption emphasized the importance of jointly resolving the Mo?ura case during a meeting with Malta's Attorney General...

Comments (0)
Share

Widow of man killed in Bidnija issues tribute

The widow of a man who was killed last Sunday in Bidnija has pledged to continue to love her late husband forever. In a short post on Facebook, Miriam Busuttil Hoogvliet described her husband...

Comments (0)
Share

news in pictures

events

Sports

Guirassy scores twice and Dortmund advance at Club World Cup with 2-1 win over feisty Monterrey

Gonzalo García's header powers Real Madrid past Juventus 1-0 and into Club World Cup quarterfinals

Al Hilal stun Manchester City 4-3 in Club World Cup on Marcos Leonardo's extra-time goal

Fluminense get early goal to knock out Inter in Club World Cup Round of 16

Harry Kane scores twice as Bayern Munich beat Flamengo 4-2 to advance in Club World Cup

Mighty PSG set sights on another trophy with a dominating win over Messi's Inter Miami

Lando Norris holds off Oscar Piastri to win Formula 1's Austrian Grand Prix

Nkunku's extra-time goal sparks Chelsea to weather-delayed 4-1 win over Benfica in Club World Cup

Paulinho scores in extra time to give Palmeiras a 1-0 win over Botafogo at the Club World Cup

Lando Norris feels back to his old self with pole position for the Austrian GP

Marsascala beach goes from Blue Flag to Red Alert in 48 hours, PN says; PL responds

Less than two days after the Minister responsible for Tourism proudly announced that Malta now boasts 13 Blue Flag beaches, the Fajtata beach in Marsascala, one of the beaches awarded this...

Comments (0)
Share

Man pleads not guilty to murdering his neighbour in Bidnija

A 46-year-old man pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jean Paul Busuttil on Monday evening. Mohamed Hamdan, a Libyan national born in Syria, was charged with a plethora of offences,...

Comments (1)
Share

latest comment from Atanasio Anton, 30/06/2025 18:03: Haseb li ghadu l-Libja dan!

Click to rate
2
0

New Active Ageing Centre inaugurated in Senglea

A new Active Ageing Centre has been inaugurated in Senglea, the Parliamentary Secretariats for Active Ageing and Local Government stated on Tuesday, as they added that this centre is operating from a...

Comments (0)
Share

A heat wave covers much of Europe and higher temperatures are on the way

A heat wave covered much of Europe on Monday, with a record-hot first day of play at Wimbledon and high winds fanning forest fires in Turkey. Heat warnings were issued for parts of...

Comments (0)
Share

Legal amendment to remove parental consent loophole for child marriages

Minors under 18 years of age will no longer be able to marry in Malta under any circumstance - not even with parental or legal guardian consent - under legal amendments that aim to strengthen child...

Comments (4)
Share

latest comment from Hilary-Paul Agius, 01/07/2025 07:23: Good move - close the loopholes for this.

Click to rate
1
0

‘One-stop shop’ for therapeutic services for persons with disability set up in Gozo

The ‘Together We Flourish’ project has been inaugurated with a new building in Gozo which will offer therapies and therapeutic services for persons with disability, the Ministries for...

Comments (0)
Share

Golden passports: Bill tabled ‘paving way’ for amendments 'that will comply' with ECJ - ministry

A bill was tabled in Parliament on Monday by the government, which aims to bring Malta's citizenship by investment scheme, also known as the golden passport scheme, in line with a recent ruling by the...

Comments (0)
Share

Abolish distinction between Superior and Inferior courts, Judge Toni Abela says in final address

The distinction between the Superior and Inferior courts should be abolished, Justice Toni Abela suggested as he delivered his final address as a Justice of the Superior Court on Monday, as he further...

Comments (0)
Share

Il-Kollettiv, Residenti taż-Żurrieq file judicial proceedings to defend Nigret land

Il-Kollettiv and Residenti taż-Żurrieq have filed judicial proceedings against the Minister for Planning and the Attorney General following the endorsement of the decision to rezone...

Comments (0)
Share

Petition filed to stop sewage discharge at sea, Peter Agius to present it to EP Petition Committee

A group of Maltese and Gozitan residents, with the support of environmental NGO Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA), have prepared and signed a petition urging the European Commission to...

Comments (0)
Share

Business

Reef Hotel & Spa opens in Marsalforn - Gozo's Boutique Resort

Kave Home Malta celebrates two years and web launch in style

HSBC Malta Foundation supports collaborative symposium linking Maltese and Sicilian Archival Communi

Atlas Insurance celebrates graduation of 19 women through FIDEM Skill-Up Programme

Limited-time offer on unit-linked personal pension plans

APS Bank hosts its second #APSlife DEI Breakfast on neurodiversity at work

Benefits from an extension of working age for retirees

MeDirect enhances customer offering with Model Portfolios launch

Farsons AGM confirms food business spin-off, reports record results

Second Fund Managers’ Conference held for local financial advisors

Introduction of mandatory skills pass for Maltese and EU nationals postponed by one year

Trump says Israel has agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and urges Hamas to accept deal

Psychiatrists oppose euthanasia law, say necessary structures are not in place for it

Scheme launched to ensure access to 24/7 emergency veterinary service

Motor Insurance Directive and compensation funds: Amendments to Maltese Law and European development

Over 30 NGOs join appeal to invest in palliative care, not assisted suicide

Speaker rules that Kullhadd must issue correction in media reporting decision

Updated: Students, lecturer accused of ethical hacking granted presidential pardon

PN leadership contenders meet ‘to find common ground’ – reports

Updated: Diver who was rescued on Sunday dies in hospital

PM says situation in Gaza is ‘a humanitarian tragedy’; PN accuses Abela of another u-turn

Gonzalo García's header powers Real Madrid past Juventus 1-0 and into Club World Cup quarterfinals

Barcelona records hottest June in over 100 years, Eiffel Tower closed because of heat

Law on compulsory licence for operators in the construction sector comes into force

Declaration prepared by Malta on strengthening protection of children from sexual abuse adopted

Guirassy scores twice and Dortmund advance at Club World Cup with 2-1 win over feisty Monterrey

Three wardens dismissed after snorting cocaine – reports

Montenegro Deputy PM emphasises importance of resolving Možura case during meeting with Malta’s AG

Widow of man killed in Bidnija issues tribute

Man to be charged with Bidnija murder at 6pm

Albert Brian Rosso’s family awarded €350,000 in compensation

€25,000 incentive for people to give up their driving licence still in planning phase - minister

Al Hilal stun Manchester City 4-3 in Club World Cup on Marcos Leonardo's extra-time goal

Fluminense get early goal to knock out Inter in Club World Cup Round of 16

Quality early learning ‘foundation for long-term academic success’

Beach given Blue Flag on Saturday closed for swimming on Monday after overflow from public toilets

Over €9.6 million of maternity fund contributions to employed persons in 2023

Government launches ‘Right to Culture’ campaign

Marsascala beach goes from Blue Flag to Red Alert in 48 hours, PN says; PL responds

Man pleads not guilty to murdering his neighbour in Bidnija

New Active Ageing Centre inaugurated in Senglea

A heat wave covers much of Europe and higher temperatures are on the way

Legal amendment to remove parental consent loophole for child marriages

‘One-stop shop’ for therapeutic services for persons with disability set up in Gozo

Golden passports: Bill tabled ‘paving way’ for amendments 'that will comply' with ECJ - ministry

Abolish distinction between Superior and Inferior courts, Judge Toni Abela says in final address

Il-Kollettiv, Residenti taż-Żurrieq file judicial proceedings to defend Nigret land

Petition filed to stop sewage discharge at sea, Peter Agius to present it to EP Petition Committee

Government left the Armed Forces with only one operational helicopter, PN says; Ministry reacts

Loggerhead turtles released back to sea after successful rehabilitation

Constitutional Court rebukes hotelier over Covid-19 quarantine claim

Maltese students show significant improvement in secondary school qualification levels

Malta not spared as severe heat wave hits southern Europe and raises wildfire risks

Fire at ST Tower under control, no injuries reported