In an interview with The Malta Independent on Sunday, MTA CEO Carlo Micallef was asked an array of questions related to Malta's tourism industry and its surrounding concerns.

Micallef reasoned that visitors' average length of stay (ALOS) in the Maltese islands has decreased significantly since he first entered the tourism sector 30 years ago - from some 12 nights then to 5.7 nights now, he said, as people are travelling more frequently but for not as long.

Micallef also said that "we are not chasing numbers, but Malta is doing very well." He commented that "at the moment, we are on a high" as tourist numbers continue to increase whilst airlines and hotels aren't even offering discounts to make Malta more attractive, nor is anything being done to make it cheaper to come to Malta.

He stated that if the ALOS remained at around 12 nights per tourist whilst tourist arrival numbers remained at circa 4 million annually, the impact of tourists in the country would be far greater as, naturally, the country would be carrying more people at a given time.

Following this, this newsroom asked the MTA how many tourists are in the Maltese islands at a moment in time, at peak.

Data provided to this newsroom by the Malta Tourism Authority shows that "at the highest peak in the month of August, assuming an even spread, it is estimated that there would be circa 100,000 tourists at a single given time." Malta's updated estimated population currently stands at 588,254 people.

Combining this with the fact that Malta was found to have the least seasonally pronounced tourism industry in the European Union in 2025, according to Eurostat, Micallef said that the quantity of total tourists visiting the Maltese islands is well spread out across the entire year, unlike years' past when Malta's tourism industry was characterised for its strong summer peaks and winter decline.

"We are one of the best, if not the best, in winter tourism, when normally, Malta in the past used to close down in the winter," the MTA CEO said.

This Eurostat finding had found that July and August - Malta's two busiest months of the year - were responsible for 21.9% of all overnight stays in tourist accommodations in 2025. This was the lowest share observed out of all EU countries, meaning that Malta's tourism industry is, statistically, the least seasonal, despite being a historically regarded summer destination.

"In the past, we had tourism that peaked in the summer months. Summer is still busy, but nowadays we have tourism all year round," Micallef said.

In 2023, just under 3 million tourists visited the Maltese islands; this rose to 3.5 million in 2024, increased by another 500,000, to 4 million inbound tourists, last year. Half a million more tourists are expected to visit the country once again this year.

When asked what Malta is doing to prevent having overtourism in the future, if it's not present already, as Micallef says, the CEO noted Valletta and Mdina to be "the main areas where a lot of tourists congregate," adding that the MTA is collaborating with the Valletta Cruise Port to stagger cruise ships' arrival times into the Grand Harbour. Micallef noted that the MTA is also working with industry stakeholders so that not all cruise excursions begin in Valletta, to avoid having a concentrated few thousand visitors from entering the capital city at once.

The MTA CEO believes that rather than being signs of a new normal, tourist arrival numbers are cyclical and that he wouldn't be shocked to observe a downturn in a few years' time, although not ideal. Hence, he said that "we must really capitalise on what we have and ensure the long-term future of this industry, which is a major contributor to Malta's economy."

Micallef observed that tourists' average spend per night in Malta is on the rise in nominal and real terms. Micallef remarked that Malta has maintained this profitability "notwithstanding the huge increase in bed stock - in hotels, collective accommodation, rest houses, different star ratings of hotels, as well as short-term rentals."

"We have continued to perform very positively, notwithstanding the endless supply of new beds. And we managed to keep a profitable tourism industry all year round. It's a big achievement, what we've done," he said.

At the time of this interview, whether or not Malta has been experiencing overtourism has remained a question on people's lips that typically reappears as the peak summer period returns.

Overcrowded

Earlier this July, the New York Post named Malta as Europe's most overcrowded island destination and coupled Gozo and Comino together in 14^th place. Additionally, a local Instagram page named "Overtouristed Malta" has dedicated itself to "protesting unsustainable overtourism in Malta" and has racked up over 5,000 online followers in just two and a half months since being set up.

Over two years ago, in May 2024, economist Lino Briguglio told this newsroom that Malta had exceeded its carrying capacity in terms of tourist arrivals and that the issues associated with large tourist influxes were being exacerbated by the country's disorganised infrastructure and weak traffic management.

In response to this, CEO Micallef stated that he respects Briguglio and that the economist is entitled to his own opinion. He followed this by commenting that Monaco, despite being the most densely populated country in Europe, "manages very well," quipping afterwards, "Why can't we be the same as Monaco?"

"We need to have more discipline; we need to expect and accept discipline," Micallef said.

Micallef stated that with tourism thriving all year round, tourism's impacts on local life don't just go away once the summer period ends, "it's spread throughout the 12 months of the year." Hence, he said that "we need to manage tourism better" and be more disciplined, including in the way tourism operations and local traffic are managed, and in how restaurants' tables and chairs are set up in public spaces, such as pavements or streetscapes.

On the latter, Micallef said that while this practice is "done all over the world," Malta should see that adequate passage is allowed all the time in the setting up of tables and chairs outdoors, for ambulances, hearses (for funerals), and any other needs.

When asked if he has reservations over this practice, he answered that "one has to see on a case-by-case basis ensuring that there is a balance between the needs of the community and the needs of business." He observed that once a licence is given for a restaurant to do this, the MTA must ensure that safety measures and other parameters are observed.

"Does it take away from residents? Perhaps. But even the Maltese sit there. There needs to be a holistic approach to things," said the MTA CEO on tables and chairs set up in public spaces.

Micallef also mentioned that the country is investing in all its infrastructure, such as its roads, electricity systems, and water supply, and that the income gained from tourism - as a major contributor to the Maltese economy - is allowing the Maltese government to invest "in what is needed for the destination."

Infrastructural deficiencies

When asked if he is concerned that local infrastructural deficiencies, e.g., the recent spate of power cuts, might impact visitors' inclination to return to the Maltese islands in the future, Micallef stated that while infrastructural improvements are required, e.g., figuring out how to avoid having so much garbage left on our streets, tourists' satisfaction in the Maltese islands remains "very high."

He commented that "we do not rest on that" and that "we need to improve" in this regard, but also said that perhaps locals are too critical, as a symptom of living here and seeing all the negatives. That being said, Micallef noted that "there are ways to improve" and that the MTA is ready to work with anyone looking to do that.

"Sometimes we are too critical. A lot of us are keyboard warriors, ready to complain, but other destinations have their problems too," the MTA CEO said.

Infrastructural issues led this discussion to the temporary closure of several bays since the summer began. When asked if the MTA is aware of the exact reasons behind some of these bays' closures, CEO Micallef referenced "instances where there are problems in the sewage systems."

"It is not a nice thing to have bays closing," he said.

Micallef said that in many such instances, such issues stemmed from private residences or commercial buildings where problems in their drains affected adjacent bays. He said that on very rare occasions, the "state-owned main sewer" was the root of the issue, though this is uncommon as regular tests and checks are done on these parts of the sewage system.

The MTA chief rejected the idea that these issues derived from overcapacity and pinned these issues to damages incurred during construction works, "poor workmanship," or potential sabotage through large items, like a big stone wrapped in cloth being placed there to seemingly block it. Micallef cited how on other occasions, concrete was poured into the system (whether intentional or not remains a mystery) or how goat and calf carcasses were tossed into the sea instead of being disposed appropriately at the Public Abattoir.

"There are genuine cases where the system is broken, but, in many cases, this is poor workmanship or outright...people who want to cause problems," he said.

Defining 'quality tourism' and how Malta attracts 'quality tourists'

Tourism discourse in Malta has centred around the term "quality tourism" for several years now, so much so that Micallef even acknowledged that using the term "has become quite cliché." But what exactly is meant by "quality tourism?"

The MTA chief executive said that while this can be interpreted in many ways, his definition "is one that matches what best we can offer. Our history, our culture, our traditions, our way of life, the tourism that, yes, is willing to spend good money for the right accommodation, for the right gastronomic experience, for the right experiences in our islands which are in line with our character."

He said that Malta is getting this kind of quality tourism, i.e., "the type of tourism that comes to Malta to explore and experience what the Maltese islands can offer," from regions such as the USA, Canada, Asian markets, and European markets like Germany, Italy, and the UK.

Micallef stressed that while tourists' spending power is important, in his view, the type of tourist Malta attracts is a greater priority point.

Rather than targeting people from any of the markets mentioned previously, the MTA attracts quality tourists by profiling the type of tourist it wants to attract and going straight to those audience via social media.

Micallef shared that the MTA uses social media to target "very finite audiences" and attract the "persona" it is interested in. For instance, rather than opting for mass advertising, the MTA targets people from wealthier cities, postcodes, and countries, as well as their social media profiles.

The Authority head said that the MTA's advertising is "very focused to the type of experience that these people want to experience, e.g., people who travel and visit archaeological attractions, people who go abroad and show interest in the country's gastronomy, wines, the expenses."

"We target those people, we target those audiences that fit our objective - people that have a certain income, people that live within a 100-150km radius of airports with direct flight connections to Malta and are interested in travelling," he said.

"Nowadays, with algorithms in social media, our social media knows us more than we know ourselves," Micallef said, "we set up our strategy, the overall strategy, but then we do segment and niche marketing. We do not advert for all. We target our advertising according to the audience. It could be by age, it could be by interest, it could be by income and locality."

Micallef stated that the MTA's targeted marketing has managed to turn Malta into an all-year-round destination. He said that more families and people close to residents visit Malta on holiday in summer. Besides this target group, the MTA also targets, for example, people who can go away on holiday because they are empty nesters, of a certain age, of a certain income, who do active sports, or who can travel frequently for short breaks.

In reply to specific questions sent by this newspaper, Malta Public Transport said the bus service is delivered through a Public Service Obligation contract between the company and the Authority for Transport, known as Transport Malta.

Under this arrangement, Malta Public Transport operates the contracted service, while Transport Malta is responsible for planning the route network.

"Both organisations work together, using shared operational data and passenger research, to support decisions on how the network develops in response to changing travel patterns and passenger demand," the company said.

The questions were sent to MPT following renewed debate after figures tabled in Parliament showed that only one overcrowded bus was officially recorded during more than 52,000 inspections carried out throughout 2024 and 2025.

No cases were identified during 22,118 inspections in 2024, while one was recorded from 30,572 inspections in 2025. During the first five months of 2026, four cases were identified from a further 16,026 inspections.

The findings appeared difficult to reconcile with the experiences frequently reported by passengers.

A recent article published by The Malta Independent described overcrowding as a regular feature of daily bus travel rather than an isolated incident. It referred to commuters facing long waits, delayed or missing buses and vehicles passing stops because they had already reached capacity.

Transport Minister Chris Bonett has also questioned whether the statistics accurately reflect conditions across the network.

Speaking in Parliament, Bonett said he was "not happy" with the figure and that it did not correspond with complaints he had received from the public.

He described overcrowding as one of the main issues affecting public transport and said the inspection methodology "could have been a lot better".

Bonett said he had asked Transport Malta's chief executive to review how inspections are carried out and speak directly to passengers to obtain a clearer picture of conditions on the network.

In its reply to The Malta Independent, Malta Public Transport did not directly say whether one overcrowded bus from more than 52,000 inspections was consistent with its own operational experience.

Instead, it pointed to rising passenger numbers and the expansion of the service over recent years.

The number of scheduled daily bus trips has increased from approximately 5,600 to more than 7,000, while the operating fleet has grown from around 400 buses to 550, the company said.

"As with any growing public transport system, demand can fluctuate throughout the day, and on certain journeys, especially during peak periods, demand is particularly high," Malta Public Transport said.

It said passenger demand and network performance are monitored through electronic ticketing data and vehicle location systems, with the information available to both organisations.

Operational reports, customer feedback and annual mobility surveys commissioned by the company also provide insight into travel patterns and changing mobility needs.

"These sources help inform discussions on network planning and future service requirements," the operator said.

The company explained that it operates the contracted service while Transport Malta plans the network, which includes routes and frequencies.

Malta Public Transport was also asked whether the Public Service Obligation contract had evolved sufficiently to reflect rising demand.

Malta's buses carried a record 75.8 million passenger journeys in 2024, with ridership continuing to increase. Although the operator highlighted the growth of its fleet and daily trips, it stopped short of saying whether further contractual or network changes were needed to maintain service quality.

Malta Public Transport said it has access to information through ticketing records, vehicle-location systems, operational reports, customer feedback and annual mobility surveys, and that it is involved in discussions with Transport Malta on changing passenger demand.

With the weekend edition fast approaching, reporters and editors were busy putting the finishing touches to Sunday stories, preparing pages, and updating our daily live blog of the trial by jury against Yorgen Fenech.

Just a few minutes past 11am, our colleague from the advertising department told the newsroom that something appeared to be happening outside.

From her office balcony, which overlooks Birkirkara Hill and the buildings opposite, she had noticed several police vehicles gathering in the street below. Being journalists, curiosity immediately got the better of us.

Within seconds, the whole newsroom had left their desks and followed her into the office, stepping out onto the balcony overlooking the road.

Looking down, we could already see three or four Rapid Intervention Unit vehicles parked outside the familiar green garage door of a man whom many of us had come to recognise over the years simply by working in the area.

We knew the garage well. Only recently it had been repainted, the bright green door standing out from the limestone buildings around it, and we had often seen a man sitting just opposite, with another man and a small dog. Directly opposite the remissa was the ramp many of us use every day to reach a space where we can park our cars.

Alongside the police vehicles stood a Civil Protection Department fire engine, while armed officers had already taken up positions outside the garage. The situation was definitely serious.

One officer repeatedly attempted to kick the green door open, but at that point nobody on the balcony had any idea what was happening or why such a significant emergency response had descended upon what was usually a relatively quiet stretch of road outside our offices.

We had barely begun trying to make sense of the situation when everything took a dramatic turn.

As most of us remained standing on the balcony, trying to work out what exactly we were witnessing, the sound of multiple gunshots suddenly shattered the morning.

For a split second there was silence among us as we tried to process what we had just heard.

I remember instinctively turning to our editor-in-chief and asking him how many shots he thought had just been fired, still struggling to comprehend that gunfire had just been exchanged just up the road from our newsroom. He reckoned there had been somewhere between eight and ten.

Instinct quickly took over. While part of the newsroom remained on the balcony, mobile phones in hand, trying to understand what was unfolding below, others moved to their desks.  

The Yorgen Fenech trial by jury was still underway, and its live blog still needed updating, even as another major story was quite literally unfolding outside our windows.

Within minutes, the first report that shots had been fired was online, while other newsroom members had shifted to photographing and filming what had suddenly become the biggest story of the day, just metres away.

By around 11.30am, the sound of sirens became almost constant as more police vehicles, ambulances and emergency responders raced towards the scene.

Officers rapidly expanded the security cordon, eventually sealing off the area from just further up the building, all the way down towards the fuel station underneath the bridge.

Our vantage point gave us a view that very few others had.

From our offices on the second floor, we could clearly see the metal garage entrance where officers positioned themselves while attempting to negotiate with the suspect.

We later learned that it was through that same entrance that two police officers had entered the internal courtyard, where they became trapped.

Events were unfolding quickly.

Eventually, journalists from other media houses began arriving, but by then police had already established an extensive cordon, restricting members of the media to the junction near the fuel station, where they remained gathered on a traffic island.

From there, they simply did not have the same view of events as we did from the balcony. The police cordon also trapped people on the other side, the hill leading up towards the centre of St Julian's.

One of our journalists and one of our editors, who happened to be outside when the area was sealed off, found themselves unable to return to the office, while police prevented civilians from entering or leaving nearby residential and office buildings.

Throughout the operation, officers repeatedly shouted at residents, and to us watching, to get back inside.

Many people had emerged onto balconies overlooking the scene, holding up their mobile phones to film what was happening directly beneath them.

At one point, we heard officers shouting instructions to their colleagues to move around the corner and secure another perimeter, concerned about another possible exit from the property.

Using a megaphone, police repeatedly informed the man that he was surrounded and instructed him to exit the building with his hands visible and to follow police instructions. Despite the repeated appeals, the suspect initially refused to leave the residence.

Although reports later emerged that the suspect's brother had fled the area, we did not witness that moment ourselves. We only learnt afterwards that he had been apprehended by police once they arrived at the scene.

We remained based in our colleague's office, keeping the balcony doors open as we continued filming, photographing and reporting developments. Others were busy uploading the same videos online and updating the story as it developed.

At one point, we could even make out the suspect's shadow moving behind one of the windows overlooking the courtyard.

The tension continued building until movement around the armed officers stationed near the metal gate leading into the courtyard suddenly intensified. Instinctively, our cameras and mobile phones were raised once again.

Then another shot rang out. Only seconds later, officers began urgently shouting for doctors already stationed nearby to come forward immediately.

From the balcony we watched fellow officers drag Special Intervention Unit officer Johann Vella from near the remissa after he had been shot in the face and neck.

Medical personnel rushed to his side without hesitation, treating him where he lay before lifting him onto a stretcher. Someone held a small white sheet above him to shield him from the scorching midday sun as doctors worked around him.

Blood was clearly visible on his face. It was the moment when the reality of the situation truly hit everyone watching from above. Vella was then rushed to Mater Dei Hospital in a critical condition, where he underwent emergency surgery.

By around 12:30pm, Birkirkara Hill had become saturated with emergency responders.

Rapid Intervention Unit officers, members of the Special Intervention Unit, district police, ambulances, Civil Protection personnel and investigators filled the street, while Magistrate Joe Mifsud also arrived on site.

Just after 1.05pm, officers positioned around the entrance to the courtyard suddenly began falling back.

Then, at around 1.12pm, the suspect finally emerged unarmed, giving himself up to the police.

From our position, we had a clear view of his surrender, something that other members of the media, restricted by the police cordon, could not see.

Three officers quickly approached him, handcuffed him and escorted him across the road before placing him inside a police vehicle. It was over.

Throughout the operation, police spokesperson Brandon Pisani provided an update to journalists gathered outside the cordon.

As those of us inside the building could not leave, our colleague who had found herself trapped outside attended the briefing before relaying the information back to the newsroom.

A second briefing followed after the suspect's arrest, providing further details about the operation, when the full picture became clear.

Police had initially been called to the area following reports that a man had allegedly started a fire beneath workers in a crane basket at a nearby construction site.

While his brother was arrested nearby, officers who went to arrest the second suspect were met with gunfire after he barricaded himself inside the property, a stand-off that lasted 90 minutes before his surrender.

By around 3pm on Friday, many of the emergency vehicles had begun leaving, although the operation was far from over.

A smaller section of the road remained cordoned off while forensic experts entered the courtyard and opened the garage door, officially beginning work at what had become a crime scene.

Police gradually began escorting residents back to their homes and allowing people to reach their parked vehicles.

When we finally left the office at around 6pm, some police officers were still on site, but the extensive cordon had long since been lifted.

Like every other evening, we drove down the same ramp opposite the courtyard where, only hours earlier, one of Malta's most dramatic police operations had unfolded.

It was only then, with the adrenaline of reporting beginning to wear off, that the events of the day started to sink in.

The frantic calls for doctors, the sight of Johann Vella being dragged from the courtyard remained difficult to shake. One thought remained at the forefront of our minds: the condition of the officer who had been critically injured before our eyes.

We had learnt that he was in a serious condition. There was welcome relief when, a few days later, officer Vella was transferred out of intensive care.

Last Sunday, John Agius, 74, was charged with a string of offences. He pleaded not guilty.

Gauci, who entered Parliament through the gender corrective mechanism following the 2026 general election and subsequent casual elections, addressed criticism that MPs elected through the mechanism carry less legitimacy than those elected outright, insisting that her work, not her words, would answer the doubters.

"I believe rather than responding, what's important is that we allow our work to respond for us," she said in an interview with The Malta Independent on Sunday.

She acknowledged feeling additional pressure as a first-time candidate who fought a short campaign but said she accepted it as part of the job. "Politics isn't for the faint-hearted," she said, adding that her ambition was to win a broader mandate from voters at the next election "without the need for the gender mechanism".

Gauci holds an Honours degree in economics and a Master's in Behavioural Economics and previously worked on policy at the Malta Chamber of Commerce, including on EU-funding initiatives that took her regularly to Brussels. It was there, she said, that she first understood how deeply politics shapes everyday life - health, education, air quality - "even if someone doesn't care about politics".

Politics, she said, runs in her family; her mother previously served as a mayor. Gauci said she was later approached by the Nationalist Party leadership, first by former leader Bernard Grech and subsequently by deputy leader Alex Perici Calascione, to consider standing as a candidate, having already been involved with the party through event hosting and broadcasting work.

Outside politics, she is also a business owner, running Brillace Café alongside a small management team, and has built a long career in theatre, music and television. She said her stage background had shaped her ability to communicate complex political and economic messages to a general audience. "The same way you get people to engage with you and your message [on stage] ... I always say, if I'm going to explain this discourse, will she understand me?" she said, adding that theatre had also taught her resilience: "to put a smile on when you're broken... you cannot stop".

Asked what had surprised her most since taking up her seat, Gauci pointed squarely to the workload. "The amount of work, if you really take it seriously, is over and above a full-time job," she said, describing late nights spent independently analysing sector reports - including the film industry's economic report published in April - in the absence of dedicated research support.

She said she backed calls, including from colleagues, for Parliament's structure to be overhauled, with better resourcing and possibly a shift towards a full-time or hybrid role for MPs. "It will also help with having people who are great in politics stay on for longer terms, rather than doing five years, which completely exhausts you," she said.

She also called for greater discipline around attendance in the Chamber, noting that MPs tend to be present "in the beginning" of sittings before numbers thin out. She suggested MPs should be set measurable targets, similar to key performance indicators used in the workplace, covering areas such as the number of parliamentary questions tabled and the proportion of sittings attended.

Gauci said she had not yet managed to strike a workable balance between running her cafeteria and her parliamentary duties, though she hoped to establish clearer boundaries within six months of taking office. She credited her business team, including staff she described as a visual artist and a mathematician, with allowing her to sustain both her election campaign and her current parliamentary workload.

Running a small business, she said, had given her first-hand experience of bureaucracy that she now brings to policy discussions, citing planning delays, red tape with the Planning Authority and correspondence with Transport Malta - she said she had received a letter that day objecting to a proposed amendment, with associated costs running into thousands of euros. She linked this experience directly to her support for the reduction of VAT to 7% in the hospitality sector, arguing it eased financial pressure and encouraged full declaration of income.

Gauci said the Nationalist Party needed to stay the course on what she described as a "forward-looking" and "all-inclusive" direction set by its current leadership, cautioning against a conservative posture that judges people for holding different views, including on matters such as abortion. She said the party was also being pushed to modernise its communication, including a possible move towards Parliament having its own social media presence.

She argued that Parliament, and Cabinet in particular, would benefit from a wider range of professional backgrounds beyond law, saying voices from business, the arts and social policy made politicians "more relatable" to ordinary citizens. She contrasted this with what she described as overly legalistic language used by some parliamentarians, saying she had deliberately used plainer terms.

Gauci said this same instinct had shaped how she ran her own campaign. While she said she loved politics for the change it allows her to make, she was clear that she had no time for "savvy campaigning" or "propaganda type" tactics, which she believes take a toll on both public discourse and the health of candidates. She said she deliberately kept her campaign "humane" and free of subliminal messaging, and tried to maintain strong personal boundaries throughout, though she admitted the process still affected her wellbeing. "I would be lying if I say that it didn't affect my personal life or my health," she said, describing days that stretched to 18 or 20 hours during the campaign period. "That part of politics is not a part I love, not at all."

Looking ahead to the end of the current legislature, Gauci said she wanted her time in office to be measured by concrete change for people in the sectors she represents, rather than by political theatre. "I want to look back and say I've solved things," she said. "It has nothing to do with the money... To have a sell-out means that you've done something that worked."

Speaking about her first parliamentary intervention on her portfolio, the film industry, Gauci said she had detailed budget movements, citing a pre-budget allocation of €3.7 million that rose to €5 million, and a separate €400,000 budget that increased to €1.3 million. She said she had a number of meetings lined up with the Malta Producers Association and with local, independent producers, whom she described as central to preserving Malta's own screen storytelling.

"An international producer will never be able to speak the story of Malta as much as a Maltese producer can," she said.

Gauci said her ability to advocate for the sector stemmed from having worked within it herself, including a lead theatre role that involved four months of full-time rehearsals and 20 performances, for which she earned less than €1,000. She said she had once cut her hair for a role on direction from a production, and had worked on set without insurance cover.

"I know what it means to break your legs on set, but you don't have an insurance covering you," she said, adding that she had also witnessed crews working without access to air-conditioning, food or drink, and shifts that ran until 4am after being scheduled to end at midnight.

She said this direct experience shaped her approach to policymaking, arguing that ministers and MPs could only be effective on sector issues if they engaged with them "with heart" and stayed close to conditions on the ground.

Gauci pointed to individual cases she wants resolved by the end of the current legislature as markers of success, including artists who have waited over a year for payment, producers working out of unsuitable spaces such as their own living rooms for lack of an affordable studio, and industry workers experiencing sleep and health problems linked to working conditions.

"I want to look back and say... she had been chasing her pay for over a year-and-a-half, and she's finally paid," she said, describing this kind of concrete resolution, rather than political recognition, as her measure of a successful term.

Gauci's parliamentary brief also extends to the wider creative and cultural sector, which she views as inseparable from the film industry she was elected to represent.

This is why Education is one of the key pillars of the BOV Foundation. Through this pillar, we support initiatives that encourage learning, personal growth, and wider participation in society. Education is not something that begins and ends at school. It is a lifelong journey, particularly today, when technology, digital transformation, and changing economic realities are reshaping the way we live, work, communicate, and manage our daily lives.

Within this wider context, financial literacy has become one of the most important life skills we can help people develop. Knowing how to save, budget, plan ahead, recognise risks, and make informed choices can make a real difference to a person's wellbeing and resilience. Financial literacy is not only about understanding numbers. It is about helping people feel more confident and more in control of the decisions they make every day.

This work starts early. Through initiatives such as BOV's outreach during SkolaSajf, children are introduced to basic money concepts in a way that is simple, engaging, and age-appropriate. Talking to children about saving, spending, budgeting, and making choices may seem basic, but these are the first building blocks of responsible financial behaviour. The earlier these conversations start, the more naturally they become part of everyday life.

Of course, learning does not stop once formal education ends. Adults too are faced with important financial decisions, from managing household budgets and planning for home ownership, to preparing for retirement, using digital banking services, or protecting themselves from fraud. This is where community-based learning has a very practical value. When guidance is offered through local councils, schools, voluntary organisations, and community groups, it becomes more accessible, more relevant, and closer to people's own realities.

This may take the form of sessions on day-to-day budgeting, discussions on how to identify suspicious messages and scams, guidance on using digital channels safely, or conversations about planning ahead for major life events. What matters most is that these initiatives are practical. They need to speak to situations people recognise and provide guidance that they can apply in their everyday lives.

Education also supports inclusion and resilience. For some, a better understanding of financial matters can mean greater independence, particularly when they are supporting a family, rebuilding after a difficult personal situation, or planning their next step. Awareness of fraud and cyber risk is another important form of protection. As scams become more convincing, people need practical knowledge that helps them recognise warning signs, pause before acting, and ask for advice when something does not feel right.

None of this can be achieved by one organisation alone. Education works best when it is shared. Schools, employers, public institutions, media organisations, financial institutions, and voluntary groups all have a part to play. Through campaigns, community events, podcasts, digital resources, media features, and public discussions, we can take knowledge to wider audiences and present it in ways that are relevant, accessible, and useful.

A good example is the recent agreement entered into by the Bank and  the Commission on Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence and the Local Government division, aimed at using financial literacy to support financial independence. The partnership promotes economic empowerment and practical safeguarding skills as an important part of wider domestic violence prevention strategies, recognising that financial knowledge can play a meaningful role in helping people build independence, confidence, and safer futures.

It is encouraging that these efforts have also been recognised externally. Recent recognition for Bank of Valletta's contribution to advancing financial education and capability is welcome, but the real measure of success is found in the people reached. A child who understands why saving matters, an adult who feels more confident making a financial decision, or a person who avoids a scam because they recognised the signs - these are the outcomes that truly matter.

Looking ahead, education will only become more important. New technologies, changing workplace needs, and evolving social realities will continue to create both opportunities and challenges. Helping people build the knowledge and skills to navigate these changes must remain a shared priority.

For the BOV Foundation, Education is ultimately about empowerment. It is about supporting children as they develop essential life skills, helping adults make informed choices, and contributing to stronger, more resilient communities through knowledge and understanding.

This fifth and final instalment in our series on the pillars of the BOV Foundation brings us back to a simple but important point: lasting impact is built by investing in people. Whether through the arts, social inclusion, environmental responsibility, ethical conduct in sport, or education, the Foundation's work is guided by the same belief. When we support people and communities in meaningful ways, we help create a stronger, more inclusive, and more resilient future for all.

Bank of Valletta p.l.c. is a public limited company regulated by the MFSA and is licensed to carry out the business of banking and investment services in terms of the Banking Act (Cap. 371 of the Laws of Malta) and the Investment Services Act (Cap. 370 of the Laws of Malta).

The Prime Minister visited the police’s Rapid Intervention Unit (RIU) and its Special Intervention Unit (SIU) in Ta’ Kandja, on Sunday. During this visit, he was able to observe, up close, the specialised work that is carried out by these two sections of the Malta Police Force.

Accompanied by Home Affairs Minister Glenn Bedingfield and Police Commissioner Angelo Gafà, Prime Minister Abela stated that the government recognises the disciplinary corps’ particular needs and challenges within their duties.

Resultantly, he shared that the government, over the next five years of its legislature, plans on providing health insurance to all officers within the disciplined bodies to grant them wider access to the health service they may require.

During this visit, Abela visited the two units’ training area and saw their fleet of operational vehicles. He was also given insights on the practical training undergone at their dedicated facilities, which include exercises related to accessing buildings in high-risk situations.

The Prime Minister thanked the RIU and SIU officers for their dedication, professionalism, and courage, which he said they observe on a daily basis while fulfilling their duties in keeping the Maltese and Gozitan people safe.

He stated that his government is committed to continue investing in the necessary personnel and resources, including adequate training and technological equipment, so that members of the Police Force can continue fulfilling their duties to the best of their ability.

PM Abela stressed that investing in the police serves as a direct investment towards providing security for families, communities, and the country in general.

The RIU works around the clock, 24 hours a day, every day, and is the unit ready to respond to emergencies. Its officers respond to a wide range of emergencies, including cases of domestic violence, traffic accidents, robberies, fires, and situations involving arms. The RIU also has a regular and visible presence in numerous areas around the country, and offers operational assistance to various other units within the Malta Police Force.

In a statement, the Office of the Prime Minister said that, in recent months, the RIU has continued to be bolstered through a new fleet of specialised vehicles and new uniforms that have been specially designed to give RIU officers better mobility, comfort, and efficiency while performing their duties.

The SIU is responsible for tactical response in high-risk situations, including hostage situations, armed persons, terrorism threats, and operations against drug trafficking. This section also provides specialised training with weapons, in first aid, crowd control, among others.

The Prime Minister concluded that his government shall continue supporting the Malta Police Force so that officers may continue having the necessary conditions and resources to continue carrying out their duties with the highest level of professionalism, while further strengthening the public’s trust in them and keeping local communities safe.

Had the Nationalist Party been the only voice objecting to the Bill, the Prime Minister might have had a point. Governments and oppositions have always clashed over legislation, and accusations of obstruction are part and parcel of political life.

But that is not what has happened here.

The government is not facing resistance from one political party. It is facing opposition from an unusually broad cross-section of Maltese society. Employers, business organisations, trade unions, professional bodies, Church schools, insurers, pharmacists and a long list of NGOs have all called for the government to stop, consult, and reconsider before pressing ahead.

These organisations have little in common. They often disagree on issues of public policy and rarely speak with one voice. Yet, on this occasion, they have arrived at remarkably similar conclusions. They are questioning not only aspects of the Bill itself but, above all, the government's determination to rush it through Parliament without adequate consultation.

That fact alone should have given the government pause.

Instead, it chose to reduce every criticism to partisan politics.

That is unfair not only to the Opposition but also to every organisation that has taken the trouble to study the legislation and publicly explain its concerns.

It is particularly telling that several of the NGOs calling for the vote to be postponed are organisations that have spent years working in the field of human rights. These are hardly bodies that can be dismissed as being hostile to equality. On the contrary, many have made it clear that they simply wanted the opportunity to examine the Bill properly and provide technical input before Parliament took its final decision.

Likewise, employer organisations have not argued against human rights or equality. They have argued that legislation of such constitutional and societal importance deserves proper consultation, particularly through the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development.

The Malta Chamber of Commerce has said much the same thing. UHM has called for wider consultation. The Church Schools Association has expressed concerns over constitutional implications. The Insurance Association has identified practical issues affecting its sector, while the Chamber of Pharmacists has raised questions regarding professional conscience.

Whether one agrees with every one of these arguments is beside the point.

The point is that they exist.

When so many respected institutions independently conclude that legislation deserves more scrutiny, a responsible government listens. It does not accuse everyone of being against equality simply because they refuse to rubber-stamp its proposals.

Governments confident in the quality of their legislation should have nothing to fear from consultation. If stakeholders have misunderstood certain provisions, ministers have the opportunity to explain them. If genuine weaknesses are identified, Parliament has the opportunity to improve them. That is how good legislation is made.

Instead, the government appears to have viewed every request for consultation as an inconvenience standing in the way of a political timetable.

That is the wrong approach.

No government has a monopoly on wisdom. No minister drafts perfect legislation. That is precisely why consultation exists.

To be fair, there is one point that can be made in the government's favour. Much of the opposition to the Bill emerged only in the days, and in some cases the hours, before Parliament was due to vote. Some organisations could undoubtedly have spoken sooner. Earlier engagement might have allowed concerns to be addressed without bringing matters to the brink.

But that does not change today's reality.

Once it became evident that such a broad coalition of organisations was asking for more time, the sensible course of action was to postpone the vote and reopen discussions. Instead, the government chose confrontation over consensus. It went ahead with the vote, which it ultimately lost because it did not obtain the required approval of two-thirds of the House.

That decision has left it looking increasingly isolated.

The irony is that the government could easily have turned this into a success. By accepting a delay, inviting further submissions and refining the legislation where necessary, it could have emerged with a Bill enjoying broad support across society. Instead, it chose to portray legitimate criticism as political sabotage.

That is a mistake.

Robert Abela is perfectly entitled to disagree with the objections being raised. He is equally entitled to believe that the Bill should proceed unchanged.

What he cannot credibly do is pretend that the only people objecting are the Nationalist Party.

The evidence says otherwise.

This is no longer a dispute between government and Opposition. It has become a dispute between the government and a growing list of organisations that believe legislation of this importance deserves more discussion before becoming law.

The Prime Minister should stop trying to score political points by branding opponents as "anti-equality". That argument has been overtaken by events.

When criticism comes from every direction, the mature response is not to attack the critics.

It is to listen.

Trump added that the emerging deal "would include the Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran's nuclear threat."

"Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL," Trump said.

He said that Israel has agreed to join the U.S. in the commitment to try to complete the agreement with Iran that would bring about an end to the war.

Iran did not offer any immediate public reaction to Trump's announcement.

It's the latest abrupt shift in the 5-month-old conflict

The president's announcement marked another remarkable turn in the conflict - only a day after he suggested to reporters that he was close to resuming heavy military strikes to force the regime to come to the negotiating table.

The U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, starting a war that Trump said was aimed at destroying Tehran's missile capabilities, preventing it from obtaining a nuclear weapon and ending its support for allied armed groups. But the stated goals and timelines for the conflict have repeatedly shifted.

An interim agreement reached in mid-June halted the fighting and was supposed to pave the way for a permanent deal, but it crumbled within weeks as Iran resumed attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

The announcement came after Trump's call with Saudi crown prince

Earlier Saturday, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto leader, in a phone call with Trump raised concerns about the U.S. potentially escalating the conflict with Iran, according to a person familiar with the leaders' discussion.

The discussion, which was first reported on by the news outlet Axios, came as Trump weighed whether to carry out new strikes on Iran.

The Saudis, according to the person briefed on the substance of the call but not authorized to comment publicly, are concerned that if the U.S. targets Iran's energy infrastructure or carries out massive strikes on bridges or power plants that Tehran could respond by carrying out attacks on the kingdom's and other Gulf countries' energy infrastructure.

The crown prince during Saturday's call sought clarity from Trump on what potential new action he's weighing to take against Iran, the person said.

A White House official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and requested anonymity, confirmed the leaders spoke on Saturday but did not offer any detail about their conversation.

Saudi Arabia earlier this week joined the U.S. in striking multiple logistics and weapons sites used by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, but has been urging the U.S. and Iran to get back to the negotiating table to find an endgame to the conflict.

The crown prince also dispatched his brother, Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman, to Washington on Wednesday for separate meetings with Trump and Vice President JD Vance to discuss Iran strategy.

And Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday at the White House, their first in-person meeting since launching the war in February. The Israeli leader has urged Trump to continue to prosecute the war against Iran.

The war is unpopular, and November midterms are looming

The stakes for continued U.S. military action are high for Trump and his party as the conflict, unpopular among many Americans, has jolted the world economy just months before critical midterm elections in November.

The president had vowed to take retaliatory action after the U.S. military thwarted a surprise attack earlier this week by Iran on a U.S. base in Jordan.

Trump on Friday displayed his growing frustration with the conflict, telling reporters that "we just want to win" in Iran and that the U.S. will hit Iran "very hard" until they can't take it anymore. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed the president, noting that Tehran last month signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. on a truce but then quickly "broke it, shot at commercial ships, and killed American soldiers."

U.S. officials were on edge ahead of Trump's Saturday evening statement. And Trump himself in his social media post said that the U.S. military was "locked and loaded" and prepared to display "levels of Military Terror, Strength, and Power not seen since World War II."

Earlier in the day, the U.S. State Department issued new security alerts for Americans in 10 countries in the region to exercise heightened caution due to the escalating tensions with Iran.

The warnings - covering Bahrain, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates - urged U.S. citizens to prepare for the possibility of flight cancellations, temporary airspace closures and other travel disruptions.

Iran carries out new attacks in Gulf

Meanwhile, Kuwait's military said Saturday that its forces responded to drone attacks by Iran.

In a statement, Maj. Gen. Saud Abdulaziz Al-Otaibi, spokesperson for Kuwait's Defense Ministry, said the drones hit "a number of vital facilities," including a government structure in the country's north. He said there were no casualties.

The British Navy said Saturday that a tanker was struck and a separate explosion hit close to a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman. No casualties were reported in either incident, it said. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organization said an unknown projectile hit the vessel on Friday 11 nautical miles northeast of Lima, Oman. The attack damaged the vessel's engine room.

The group said that on Saturday a large splash and an explosion were reported close to another tanker while it was sailing 21 nautical miles northwest of Khasab city.

Like many of his fellow countrymen, Buji was inspired by the thought that this collective crossing could somehow unlock his dream of reaching Spain and starting a new life in Europe.

"Spain gives you the chance to make your future, not like Morocco," said Buji, a 21-year-old who is studying to be a teacher. "I am a talented boy. I just want a chance."

But his elation at setting foot on Spanish soil was quickly followed by the disheartening realization that he was still far from his ultimate goal. Mainland Europe rested across the Mediterranean, and he and the new arrivals were unwanted. Spanish authorities ordered everyone to turn around and go back or face eventual expulsion.

Buji said he almost joined more than 50 people who died trying to reach Ceuta while swimming around a border fence. He made it across, but he lost his belongings and money in the crossing. When he realized that he would likely face legal limbo and detention, he turned around and headed back.

"I've spent perhaps 14 years studying, but there's nothing at home, and I'd have to work 12-hour shifts for a meager wage," Buji told The Associated Press. "That's why I came here, but I haven't found any opportunities here either, so I have to go back."

A surge in migrants created a humanitarian crisis

Of the 60,000 people who crossed between Thursday and Friday morning, some 45,000 had returned to Moroccan territory within hours after many spent the night on the streets of Ceuta amid startled locals and armed Spanish police and soldiers.

The massive influx of people, which totaled 70% of Ceuta's resident population, sparked calls by local Spanish authorities for police and the army to establish order. Locals were concerned by the thousands of mostly young men aimlessly walking the streets.

Ceuta's residents recalled a similar but smaller migration crisis in 2021, when the Moroccan government dropped its border controls and let several thousand people from Morocco and sub-Saharan countries into Ceuta over two days. The city faced a much larger humanitarian crisis this time.

People flee out of despair and wanting to help their families

As the first reports and videos of migrants reaching Ceuta spread on social media, more people headed north in hopes of reaching European Union territory. Train stations in Morocco's capital, Rabat, and in the country's largest city, Casablanca, were crowded with people trying to travel to the border with Ceuta. Local media showed police officers preventing some of them from boarding trains and buses.

It isn't clear what triggered the influx, but social media was awash with posts encouraging Moroccans to try to enter Ceuta days before it began, said Myriam Cherti, a senior researcher at the University of Oxford's Centre on Migration, Policy and Society. The posts included practical information on how to cross the border and what migrants should say to increase their chances of being allowed to stay.

Cherti said some of the migrants she interviewed over the past year had lost count of the number of times they had tried to cross the border.

"They're doing it out of despair, they're doing it because they've tried other ways to build a life and failed, they're doing it because they feel the obligation that they want to help their families and support them," she said. "And that's possible if they make it to Spain and not necessarily possible if they stay" in Morocco.

Ahmed Karim, 33, was among those who managed to cross into Ceuta. He doesn't have work and says the problem is compounded for many Moroccans due to the difficulty in traveling outside the country.

He said many Moroccans want to go to Europe or America, "but they don't have the opportunity."

Searching for loved ones in the chaos

Other people who crossed, however, were not coming to stay; they were searching for lost loved ones and hoping they were not among the dead.

Ikrra Khai, 33, is one of thousands of Moroccan women who regularly get temporary job permits to work on Spanish farms at harvest time.

On Friday she was in Ceuta looking for her sister's son.

"I don't know if he is dead or alive," she said. "I have his residency card. But I don't know where he is. I'm searching."

Speaking before jurors in the trial by jury of Yorgen Fenech, Peter Caruana Galizia revisited the events of 16 October 2017, the day his wife was assassinated by a car bomb outside their Bidnija home.

The trial has now entered its second month. Fenech has pleaded not guilty to complicity in the wilful homicide of Caruana Galizia and to criminal association to commit the murder. Caruana Galizia, a columnist with The Malta Independent, was killed in a car bomb on 16 October 2017.

Peter Caruana Galizia told the court that he had left for work at around 7.30am that day, leaving Daphne and their son Matthew asleep. Hours later, he received a telephone call before learning from his son Andrew that a bomb had exploded in Daphne's car. At that stage, he did not know whether she had survived.

When he arrived in Bidnija, emergency vehicles and police had already sealed off the area. It was there that Inspector Kurt Zahra approached him.

"I asked him if she died," Peter Caruana Galizia recalled. "The inspector said yes, she died."

The witness also spoke of the trauma suffered by their son Matthew, who had rushed to the scene immediately after hearing the explosion.

Peter Caruana Galizia said there were simply no words to describe what Matthew experienced.

"Matthew saw his own mother burnt, and couldn't do anything about the fire," he told the jury. He explained that Matthew, himself an investigative journalist, had been deeply affected by what he witnessed.

Turning to Daphne's work in the months leading up to her death, Peter Caruana Galizia described an intensity unlike anything he had previously seen during her 15 years of publishing her blog.

He recalled that after the 2017 general election she told him she was pursuing what she described as a very significant story. She had obtained Yorgen Fenech's telephone number and intended to contact him.

"I never saw her working at such a relentless pace," he said.

Asked whether the family had ever discussed the dangers associated with her journalism, Peter Caruana Galizia replied that fear simply did not seem to exist for Daphne.

"Something was missing from the makeup of her brain - the word fear did not bother her," he said.

He admitted that he knew her reporting had created many enemies, adding that immediately after the assassination it was difficult even to imagine who could have been responsible because so many people had motives to want her dead.

The court also heard how the family fought a series of legal battles after the assassination.

Peter Caruana Galizia recounted how they successfully sought the removal of former Deputy Police Commissioner Silvio Valletta from the murder investigation because of his close friendship with Yorgen Fenech.

He recalled that the family had challenged Valletta's role through constitutional proceedings and won both at first instance and on appeal. He noted that Valletta and Fenech were close friends who attended football matches together and that Valletta had even driven Fenech's Jaguar.

He also described the family's efforts to persuade the Council of Europe to push for a public inquiry into the assassination, while noting that civil proceedings seeking damages against Fenech and several others remain ongoing.

The personal toll, however, formed the emotional centre of his testimony.

Peter Caruana Galizia described how malicious rumours spread after the murder falsely suggested that their son Matthew had deliberately left his car outside to facilitate the bomb attack. Other false stories claimed that Peter himself had wanted his wife dead or had been involved in extra-marital affairs.

The family was forced not only to cope with overwhelming grief but also with what he described as a campaign of defamation.

"The children found something within themselves to fight so that, at least, justice could be served," he said, while expressing gratitude to Inspector Keith Arnaud for the role he played during the investigation.

Addressing jurors directly, Peter Caruana Galizia asked them to understand what the homicide had done to his family.

He said he had suddenly found himself raising his children alone. Daphne never saw their son Paul marry the following year and never had the opportunity to meet any future grandchildren.

His own legal career, he said, effectively came to an end.

"I have never been the same since. I am no longer taking on cases or accepting new clients because I cannot focus," he testified before adding quietly: "I mean, yes, I am still alive, but the impact is unimaginable."

During cross-examination, defence lawyer Giannella De Marco questioned him extensively about correspondence relating to Daphne Caruana Galizia's laptop and data storage devices, as well as a list of investigations the family had provided to investigators following the assassination.

Peter Caruana Galizia explained that his memory had been severely affected by the trauma of losing his wife and said he had left many decisions to his children because he had not been in the right state of mind after the murder.

Saturday's sitting began with testimony from a police officer involved in the investigation, who described his work following the murder, including gathering CCTV footage around Bidnija, assisting in searches near the crime scene and participating in the December 2017 raid on the Marsa potato shed that led to the arrests of George and Alfred Degiorgio and Vince Muscat. 

The court was then shown digital extractions from electronic devices seized during the investigation, including mobile phones belonging to state witness Melvin Theuma. Sergeant Gerada explained that his role within a police task force involved reviewing extracted data and flagging communications considered relevant to investigators. Among the material presented were disappearing WhatsApp exchanges between Theuma and a contact identified as Yorgen Fenech, as well as SMS messages exchanged between Theuma's partner, Charmaine Zammit, and her daughter discussing the covert recordings made by Theuma and expressing fears that police were monitoring them.

Further digital evidence included communication records between Theuma and several contacts, including Mario Degiorgio and Johann Cremona, together with call logs and text messages extracted from a Samsung mobile phone seized from Theuma. Jurors also viewed messages dating back to 2019, including communications between Theuma and a contact saved as "Yorgen".

The presentation of this evidence drew objections from the defence. Lawyer Giannella De Marco argued that the witness was selectively reading messages while omitting others and complained that neither the defence nor the jurors had been provided with complete copies of the extracted chats being displayed in court. Defence lawyer Charles Mercieca also argued that the witness had never previously testified about this material and questioned the validity of his evidence.

Madam Justice Edwina Grima warned that proceedings could not continue if participants were unprepared, while prosecutor Godwin Cini maintained that the defence had developed a pattern of objecting whenever prosecution witnesses were called to testify. The witness's testimony was temporarily suspended while an IT expert located the relevant digital extractions within the court system.

The legal arguments continued after the court resumed, with defence lawyers raising fresh objections to the prosecution's use of witnesses who had not testified on certain materials during the compilation of evidence.

FCID Sergeant Dione Agius said he had initially been instructed to filter the extracted digital material and tag information considered relevant to the investigation before later being directed to analyse the contents in greater detail. During cross-examination, he acknowledged that the extraction report ran to more than 3,000 pages and said he could not recall whether it contained anything directly related to the homicide when questioned by the defence. He also clarified that an entry labelled "Yorgen-Sven" referred to Police Constable Sven Sammut rather than the accused.

Sammut subsequently testified that while serving with the Criminal Investigation Department in late 2019, his primary responsibility involved extracting data from seized electronic devices on behalf of Europol. He explained that he received the first copies of seized drives in November 2019 and additional material in January 2020. Sammut also told the court that he had later been instructed to transcribe an audio recording of a conversation between Theuma and Johann Cremona.

The testimony prompted yet another legal challenge from the defence, which argued that Sammut should not be permitted to testify about documents and material that had not formed part of his evidence during the compilation stage. Charles Mercieca maintained that allowing such testimony would run contrary to the principles of a fair trial.

Prosecutor Anthony Vella rejected the argument, insisting that Maltese law contained no provision preventing an investigating officer from testifying under oath about matters personally observed during the course of an investigation. He complained that the prosecution was being prevented from carrying out its duties, a remark that prompted an immediate intervention from Madam Justice Grima, who stressed that the court had never prevented the prosecution from doing its work.

Tensions reached their highest point shortly before the lunch adjournment when Vella argued that the prosecution was being hampered from presenting evidence it had a duty to produce and criticised the court for permitting repeated objections by the defence.

Madam Justice Grima firmly rebuked the suggestion, asking whether the prosecutor was implying that the defence had no right to object. She voiced her frustration at suggestions from both sides that the court lacked impartiality, reminding counsel that every party had the right to raise objections and that it was ultimately for the court to decide on them.

Delivering her ruling after considering the matter in camera, Judge Edwina Grima reminded the prosecution that both parties have an undeniable right to raise objections on points of law.

She firmly rejected any suggestion of judicial bias, noting that the court has never restricted the prosecution's questioning at any stage of the trial.

Turning to the defence's challenge regarding the witness's validity and the chat extracts, the judge observed that although the evidence is only now emerging and was not detailed in the bill of indictment, it had already been presented during the magisterial inquiries.

Accordingly, the court ruled that the material does not constitute fresh evidence and can be made available to the jurors.

The trial continues on Monday.

Yorgen Fenech, a businessman, has pleaded not guilty to two principal charges: complicity in the wilful homicide of Daphne Caruana Galizia and criminal association to commit the murder. 

Caruana Galizia, a columnist with The Malta Independent, was killed in a car bomb on 16 October, 2017.

Five men have already been convicted in connection with Caruana Galizia's assassination. Vince Muscat admitted his role in the murder in 2021 and was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment. Alfred and George Degiorgio each received 40-year prison sentences after pleading guilty in 2022, while Robert Agius and Jamie Vella were sentenced to life imprisonment in 2025 for supplying the bomb used in the attack.

The prosecution is being led by Attorney General lawyers Godwin Cini, Anthony Vella and Danika Vella, assisted by Assistant Commissioner Keith Arnaud and Inspector Kurt Zahra. Fenech is represented by lawyers Charles Mercieca, Gianella Demarco and Gianluca Caruana Curran, while lawyers Therese Comodini Cachia and Jason Azzopardi are appearing parte civile on behalf of the Caruana Galizia family.

Judge Edwina Grima is presiding.

Please refresh for updates

17:22

With the jurors out of the courtroom, defence lawyers raise an objection regarding upcoming FIAU witnesses, requesting that they be instructed not to mention any prior financial-crime allegations involving Yorgen Fenech.

Judge Edwina Grima points out that the FIAU representatives have not delved into any specific crimes but have merely outlined the scope of their investigation.

17:19 Defence lawyer Giannella De Marco presses Peter Caruana Galizia on official correspondence between Maltese prosecutor Elaine Mercieca (now Magistrate) and Germany's Chief Public Prosecutor regarding the victim's laptop and data disks.

GDM: "The family asked for this laptop-these disks that held all her investigations, which were the best proof to show-and you wanted their deletion."

PCG: "I did not personally request the deletion. I never saw this."

Giannella De Marco: "This was requested by you."

Caruana Galizia: "Whatever... I did not do this."

De Marco: "Did this happen behind your back?"

Caruana Galizia: "No, I left this up to my children. I wasn't in the right state of mind to carry out this investigation."

17:13  Defence lawyer Giannella De Marco reads out a letter to the court concerning the victim's laptop.

The letter, written by the Galizia family, notes that the court could request Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) to search this database for relevant names and numbers to yield potential evidence.

Asked by De Marco if he recalls the letter, Peter Caruana Galizia explains that his memory has been severely impaired since the assassination.

When pressed on what steps were taken after the letter was sent, the witness replies that he cannot remember.

17:07 GDM: "Daphne Caruana Galizia worked on a laptop, right?"

PCG: "I think so, right."

GDM: "And you don't know where it went?"

PCG: "No, I don't know."

GDM: "So, let me remind you. On 20 June 2018, can we agree that at the time you wrote to then Magistrate now Judge Vella to ask the BKA, Germany's Federal Criminal Office, to prevent the transfer of laptops and disks?"

PCG: 'I had forgotten since it was a long time ago. I do remember now."

16:58: GDM: "From where did you get this FIAU Report?"

PCG: "My son knew about it; I did not see such things. I did not know who the sources were."

GDM: "I mean, this is a police report."

16:50 Who and what was on that list?

Lexia BT, Managing Partner Brian Tonna, Keith Schembri and Konrad Mizzi, several people known to be close to Mizzi, George Farrugia, David Galea, Joe Vella Bonnici, Yorgen Fenech as a shareholder and micro-manages Electrogas, Mark Gasan as a shareholder, Paul Apap Bologna as another shareholder, 17 Black as a company registered in Dubai and more.

These were identified as principal subjects, which the victim had begun investigating.

GDM: "She had not finished investigating these people -"

PCG: "No, because she was killed right."

16:45 Defence lawyer Giannella De Marco opens her cross-examination of the victim's husband, Peter Caruana Galizia, referencing a list of Daphne Caruana Galizia's investigations sent to then-Inspector Keith Arnaud.

As De Marco questions the witness, the document-drafted by BCGL Advocates-is displayed on courtroom monitors.

Giannella De Marco: "You mentioned that your wife used to work on many investigations and wrote on many things happening, and therefore it was difficult to arrive at a conclusion."

PCG: "No, I said who could have been responsible."

GDM: "You said that in October 2018, you wrote to then-Inspector Keith Arnaud with a list of her ongoing investigations."

PCG: "I believe Electrogas was the first on that list."

16:39 "I want you to appreciate, jurors, the effect of this homicide on our family," he testifies. He details how he was suddenly left to act as a single parent, noting that his wife missed key family milestones-including the wedding of their son Paul a year later-and was robbed of the chance to ever see her grandchildren.

Caruana Galizia tells the court that his career as a practising lawyer has ground to a halt because of the tragedy. "I have never been the same since. I am no longer taking on cases or accepting new clients because I cannot focus," he explains, adding quietly: "I mean, yes, I am still alive, but the impact is unimaginable."

16:35 PCG: They knew everything. They knew when I left for work, they knew when our gardener and maid came, and when my wife left the house. It was a nightmare.

GC: Did you ever discuss the risks involved in her journalism among yourselves?

PCG: Something was missing from the makeup of her brain-the word fear did not bother her. I couldn't understand it. I mean, I knew from the way she wrote that she made enemies. And when they killed her, it was difficult to identify who it was at first, because so many people had motives to kill her.

16:32 Continuing his testimony, Peter Caruana Galizia details the legal battles his family fought to remove former Deputy Commissioner Silvio Valletta from the murder investigation, citing his close ties to Yorgen Fenech.

"We had the problem of Silvio Valletta. My wife had written about him, and we weren't comfortable with him overseeing Inspector Keith Arnaud as Deputy Commissioner. We filed a constitutional case and won, even on appeal," he tells the court.

"Silvio Valletta and Yorgen Fenech were close friends - they went to football matches together, and Valletta even drove his Jaguar. Thank God we removed him from the case."

He goes on to outline the family's broader pursuit of accountability, recalling how they took their fight to the Council of Europe to force the launch of a public inquiry into the assassination.

Addressing civil remedies, Caruana Galizia notes: "We filed a civil lawsuit for compensation against Fenech, the Degiorgio brothers, 'il-Koħħu' (Vince Muscat), the Ta' Maksar brothers, and Melvin Theuma. That case is still ongoing, but we are moving forward."

PCG: "Matthew left his car parked outside. I specify this because word was being spread that Matthew was an accomplice and that he deliberately left his car outside so the bomb could be planted."

PCG: "Regarding the effect of the homicide, I can't even explain it - it was devastating. They even posted pictures of me and my sister to defame us. Stories were circulated that I had extra-marital affairs and wanted her dead. These stories shocked me. The children found something within themselves to fight so that, at least, justice could be served. We were fortunate to find Inspector Keith Arnaud, who helped us immensely."

16:21 PCG: She told me it was quite a big story. She had acquired Yorgen Fenech's number and wanted to call him. This was after the election in June 2017-maybe two months before she was killed. I never saw her working at such a relentless pace.

GC: How long was she writing her blog?

PCG: Around 15 years. Before that, she wrote for the Times of Malta and the Malta Independent."

GC: Did you feel that at that time she was working more than usual?

PCG: Yes, she was. From her investigation into Electrogas, a lot of things came to light-including Keith Schembri's offshore companies and the 17 Black scandal. She was very independent and very private.

Peter Caruana Galizia: (Speaking in a heavy voice) At the time Matthew heard the bomb... I mean, there are no words to explain. Matthew saw his own mother burnt, and couldn't do anything about the fire.

Prosecutor Godwin Cini: What did Matthew work as?

Peter Caruana Galizia: Matthew was a journalist; he worked on the Panama Papers and was part of the IGM. He used to go abroad a lot and was helping his mother with the Electrogas scandal.

16:12 In a poignant testimony, Peter Caruana Galizia recounts the harrowing events of 16 October 2017.

He tells jurors that he left home for work at 7:30am while his wife, Daphne, and their son were still asleep.

Later that day, he received a phone call, followed shortly by news from his son, Andrew, who spoke to Matthew at the scene and informed him that a bomb had detonated in Daphne's car. At that moment, he was not told whether she had survived.

Reaching Bidnija, Caruana Galizia describes the scene as overwhelmed by emergency services and police cordons. It was there that Inspector Kurt Zahra approached him.

"I asked him if she died, the Inspector said yes, she died".

16:06 Cybercrime Unit representative Wayne Block takes the stand, telling the court that he was instructed by Inspector Kurt Zahra to review a specific folder titled "Keith Schembri" in connection with the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder investigation.

Asked by the prosecution whether he recalls the device extractions themselves, the witness replies in the negative.

He further clarifies to the court that his inspection of the folder yielded nothing related to Caruana Galizia or her assassination.

Defence lawyer Giannella De Marco asks the witness what the hard disks contained, to which he replies that they contained PowerPoints relating to his children.

15:59 Anthony Bonnici is called to the stand next to testify regarding two telephone calls made in 2020. He explains that the calls originated from a number ending in '4444'-registered to Tumas Group and used by Yorgen Fenech-and were routed to a second number ending in '0444'.

Under cross-examination, defence counsel asks whether the calls were routed from overseas, citing prior testimony by a Melita representative indicating that the calls originated in the Netherlands.

Asked whether the witness was aware that, at the time the calls were placed, the device in question was already in the custody of Europol, Bonnici replied in the affirmative but could not confirm, as he had not carried out a localisation.

15:50 Emily Abela briefly takes the stand on behalf of Melita Ltd, confirming her previous testimony given during the compilation of evidence.

Abela verifies the registration of two specific phone calls on the company's network, noting that the records include a voicemail and an additional call repeating 'Hello? Hello'.

The persons involved during the calls were not mentioned.

15:34 Prosecutor Godwin Cini asks Constable Sammut once again whether he ever flagged any evidence directly pertaining to the homicide investigation.

Sammut confirms that he did flag an email dating back to November 2018. However, court experts hit a technical snag and are currently having difficulty pulling up the specific evidence file from the computer system, as digital extractions are taking a considerable amount of time to load. He presents some documents which will be photocopied.

Constable Sven Sammut is to continue his testimony on Monday.

15:23 Delivering her ruling after considering the matter in camera, Judge Edwina Grima begins by addressing the prosecution, reminding them that both parties have an undeniable right to raise objections on points of law.

She firmly rejects any suggestion of judicial bias, noting that the court has never restricted the prosecution's questioning at any stage of the trial.

Turning to the defence's challenge regarding the witness's validity and the chat extracts, the judge observes that although the evidence is only now emerging and was not detailed in the bill of indictment, it had already been presented during the magisterial inquiries.

Accordingly, the court rules that the material does not constitute fresh evidence and can be made available to the jurors.

Madam Justice Edwina Grima orders the prosecution to clearly identify the source of each piece of digital evidence. Prosecutors must cite the specific extraction and document for each item introduced, ensuring that all such materials are readily available to both the defence and the jury.

Jurors have now entered the courtroom.

12:52 The proceedings have adjourned for a lunch break.

The hearing will resume at 3:00pm.

12:47 Courtroom tensions escalate as AG lawyer Anthony Vella argues that the prosecution is being hampered from presenting evidence it has a duty to produce, taking aim at the court for permitting repeated defence objections.

Madam Justice Edwina Grima immediately steps in, asking if the prosecutor is implying that the defence has no right to object.

The judge makes her frustration clear: "I'm getting fed up now. I have both sides saying that the court is not impartial. Every party has the right to make their objections, and then the court decides."

"It is not the way to do things for a witness to testify regarding materials he never testified about," Mercieca maintains, insisting the witness must be strictly restricted to such.

Prosecutor Anthony Vella firmly rejects the defence's objection, countering that there is no provision anywhere in Maltese law prohibiting an investigating officer from testifying under oath about what he personally observed during police investigations.

"We are not permitted to do our work", the prosecutor affirms, with Madam Justice Edwina Grima stating that in no instance did the court prohibit the prosecution from doing their work.

12:26 The defence raises a point of law regarding the prosecution's comments and Sammut's testimony.

Jurors have now left the courtroom.

12:25 Prosecutor Godwin Cini turns Sammut's attention to November 2019, when Yorgen Fenech, Melvin Theuma, and other key figures were arrested.

Sammut tells the court that he was stationed with CID at the time, explaining that his primary role involved extracting data from seized devices on behalf of Europol.

He testifies that he received the first batch of drive copies in November 2019, followed by additional copies of various files in January 2020.  Addressing his past testimony during the Daphne Leaks inquiry, Sammut tells the court that he received seized devices directly from then-Superintendent Keith Arnaud.

He further testifies that he was subsequently instructed to transcribe an audio recording featuring a conversation between state witness Melvin Theuma and key figure Johann Cremona.

12:20 Under brief cross-examination, the witness confirms that the extraction report comprises a vast collection of photographs and data from multiple devices.

Defence lawyer Giannella De Marco asks whether the report contains anything directly related to the homicide, to which Agius replies that he does not recall. De Marco then asks about an entry in the report under the name 'Yorgen-Sven.'

Agius clarifies that this refers to Sven Sammut, who was a police constable working with CID at the time.

Following Agius' testimony, Police Constable Sven Sammut is called to the stand next.

12:14 Prosecutor Godwin Cini directs the witness to the digital data extraction report, which spans more than 3,000 pages.

12:04 Taking the stand, police officer Shanice Schembri testifies that on 27 March 2020, she was assigned to a special task force by then-Assistant Commissioner Ian Abdilla and worked alongside Inspector Brian Paul Camilleri.

Schembri explains that her duties centred on analysing hard drives containing digital extractions harvested from mobile phones belonging to Yorgen Fenech and his family members.

She clarifies to the court that her specific mandate was to review and examine this extracted data strictly for intelligence-gathering purposes.

FCID Sergeant Dione Agius takes the stand next, testifying that in January 2020 he received instructions from Inspector Nicholas Vella to assist the police task force. Agius explains that his primary role was to filter the digital data handed over to the team and tag any significant information relevant to the investigation.

He further testifies that in March 2020, Inspector Brian Paul Camilleri replaced Inspector Vella and issued new directives instructing him not only to tag the data but also to actively work through and analyse the extracted content.

11:45 AG lawyer Anthony Vella counters the defence's arguments, contending that Sergeant Gerada is simply testifying on the findings he analysed from the extractions, which he subsequently passed on to experts.

Madam Justice Edwina Grima points out that, as a general rule, witnesses testifying before a jury should already have testified during the compilation of evidence on the same materials

The defence maintains its opposition, arguing that the witness is giving evidence on extractions he never personally conducted and about materials he has never previously testified to.

Lawyer Charles Mercieca insists that the officer's validity as a witness is compromised, warning that his selective presentation of the chat messages risks misleading the jury panel.

Madam Justice Grima announces she will decide on the matter in camera.

11:37

Deciding against further delay, Madam Justice Edwina Grima orders proceedings to continue despite objections from parte civile lawyer Jason Azzopardi, who complains that a loudspeaker was blaring directly around the corner.

With the jury momentarily outside, the defence raises a fresh legal challenge against the prosecution's evidence. Counsel argues that the chat logs being presented were omitted from the bill of indictment and contends that Sergeant Gerada was never officially ordered to conduct the digital extractions.

The defence claims the sergeant selectively cherry-picked messages and warns that a witness is legally bound to present direct factual findings rather than subjective evaluations.

10:44 Proceedings will continue at 11:15am

10:42 Lawyer Veronica Anne Spiteri testifies that she was tasked with transcribing multiple CDs containing interrogation statements made by state witness Melvin Theuma and key figure Johann Cremona during the compilation of evidence.

She explains that during some of Theuma's police interrogations, the investigating inspector played audio recordings to him. Clarifying the notation in her transcriptions, Spiteri maintains that whenever three dots (...) appeared in the text, it indicated an illegible section of audio where she could not decipher what was being said.

As the lawyer delivers her evidence, the distant sound of the local St Dominic feast march is heard in the courtroom.

10:34 Under cross-examination by defence lawyer Giannella De Marco, the witness clarifies the exact details of his conversation with the captain, Logan.

De Marco questions the photographer on whether he and his journalistic colleague left Portomaso Marina together after monitoring the yacht, to which Mirabelli replies in the affirmative.

The captain then headed back onto the vessel before leaving via a side gate.

Mirabelli explained to his news editor that the captain seemed unlikely to move the yacht, but his editor told him to maintain the stakeout. Shortly after, journalist Jacob Borg joined Mirabelli at Portomaso Marina before leaving about an hour later.

10:28 Testifying in English, Times of Malta photographer Matthew Mirabelli tells the court that his news editor instructed him to head to Portomaso Marina on 19 November 2019. He was sent a photo of a vessel to locate, which he successfully identified as Fenech's yacht, the Gio 2.

Mirabelli testifies that he initially waited alone at the marina, with a colleague joining him approximately 30 minutes later.

As they monitored the yacht, the cabin lights came on, and the vessel's captain stepped ashore. Mirabelli noted that he recognised the captain personally, as both men shared a mutual interest in kitesurfing.

10:17 Tensions reached a boiling point as defence counsel repeatedly protested that neither they nor the jurors had been provided with copies of the extracted chat files displayed on screen.

Defence lawyer Charles Mercieca went on to tell the court: "This witness has never testified before."

Madam Justice Edwina Grima warned that "if we are not prepared, we are going to be limping on one leg." Prosecutor Godwin Cini addressed the objections, stating that a pattern was evident whereby the defence objects whenever a witness brought by the prosecution testifies.

Gerada's testimony was suspended for IT expert Martin Bajada to locate the extractions in the system.

10:09 The witness now mentions more digital extractions from a second mobile phone owned by Melvin Theuma, featuring a critical exchange with a contact saved as 'Yorgen' dated 13 November 2019.

In the messages exhibited, Theuma appeared to instruct Fenech on counter-surveillance and contacts, telling him to "talk to the big guy from Ħal Luqa" and Fenech advising him to "leave nothing on the numbers, so they have nothing to touch upon."

The messages trigger a swift objection from the defence Giannella De Marco, arguing that the witness is selectively reading messages and omitting others, while neither the defence nor the jurors have access to a copy of the messages

09:53 Jurors are shown extractions from a Samsung mobile phone seized from Melvin Theuma, detailing his contact logs with key figures in the months leading up to his arrest.

The court hears that on 12 April 2019, Theuma sent a text message to a contact saved in his device under the name 'Tumas', reading: "Good morning Mr Ray, when you have a chance, call me."

The digital data also highlighted a frequent sequence of phone calls between Theuma and Mario Degiorgio.

Additionally, Gerada presents communication records between Theuma and Johann Cremona. While the extraction yielded no written SMS messages within the thread, officers noted a heavy log of repeated voice calls conducted over the same messaging channel.

09:47 The court is shown further text messages exchanged between Melvin Theuma's partner and her daughter, spanning from 2017 to 2018.

In one message, the partner admitted to listening to the covert tapes: "Yesterday I heard the recording because I was curious," she wrote.

In a subsequent message sent on 25 April 2018, she informed her daughter that a breakthrough had allegedly occurred, writing:

"A powerful man came with Johann, everything should be arranged."

Another message made by Zammit states: "It is all Yorgen."

09:35 Gerada was also part of a task force, provided details on data extracted from electronic devices seized at Melvin Theuma's home in March 2020. Sergeant Gerada testifies that his primary role involved tagging and flagging relevant communication logs for investigators.

Gerada highlights a series of disappearing WhatsApp messages exchanged between Theuma and Yorgen Fenech, identifying Fenech by his mobile number ending in '444' following a brief objection from the defence.

In one exchange shown on court monitors, Fenech asked the middleman, writing, "Are you ok? you worried me". Gerada tells jurors that the pair subsequently discussed judge Henri Mizzi as part of broader conversations aimed at securing bail for the Degiorgio brothers.

The witness also presents flagged SMS messages between Theuma's partner, Charmaine Zammit, and her daughter, Chayenne. In those messages, the partner recounted listening to the secret audio recordings and expressed anxiety that the family was under active surveillance, writing that she believed CID officers were following them.

According to the witness, Fenech claimed Schembri had asked him to find a way to kill Daphne Caruana Galizia. Fenech further alleged that when middleman Melvin Theuma requested €120,000 for the hit, Schembri instructed him to "just go with it."

The testimony triggered an immediate interruption from defence lawyer Giannella De Marco, who objected to the way Fenech's statements were being presented.

Continuing his account, the officer testifies that Fenech claimed he had subsequently tried to pull out of the plot, stating he wanted no further involvement. When asked by investigators who knew that Schembri wanted the journalist killed, Fenech named Johann Cremona, former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, and Adrian Vella.

Fenech also alleged that he was subjected to intense pressure and intimidation by Melvin Theuma, telling police that Theuma had harassed him with photos of children and placed a firearm on his desk. The witness added that Fenech had ultimately paid out €500,000 to Theuma.

09:23 Recounting his early involvement in the murder probe, the witness testifies that his initial role in October 2017 focused on gathering local CCTV footage around Bidnija to hand over to court-appointed experts. On 18 October, he worked alongside Matthew Caruana Galizia to retrace the vehicle's usage and movements prior to the blast, while searching the fields surrounding the crime scene.

He confirms his role in the 4 December 2017 raid on the Marsa potato shed alongside Inspector Kurt Zahra, which led to the arrests of brothers George and Alfred Degiorgio and Vince Muscat.

The officer also detailed key moments following Yorgen Fenech's arrest in late 2019. He testifies that on 23 November 2019, he personally escorted Fenech to Mater Dei Hospital after Adrian Vella issued a medical referral.

He subsequently witnessed Fenech's formal police interrogation on 29 November 2019, during which Fenech was accompanied by defence lawyers Marion Camilleri and Gianluca Caruana Curran.

Interviewed on the NET FM programme Issues, Borg said that the results of the latest SME Barometer should serve as a serious warning to the Government. Almost four out of every five small and medium-sized businesses are either uncertain about investing or do not believe it would be wise to invest over the next 12 months. At the same time, 64% of SMEs say that Malta is heading in the wrong direction.

"These are not figures produced by the Opposition. This is the voice of businesses that are feeling the burden of the Government's bad decisions every day," Alex Borg said. He maintained that the Government cannot continue boasting solely about Gross Domestic Product growth while businesses are facing higher costs, bureaucracy, a shortage of adequately skilled workers, traffic and infrastructure that cannot cope with demand.

Borg said that the Partit Nazzjonalista wants an economy based on productivity, innovation and jobs that create greater value. "We cannot continue growing the economy simply by increasing the population and consumption. That may produce bigger figures, but it does not produce a better country," the PN Leader said.

On the crisis in the electricity supply, Alex Borg said that the Government is refusing serious scrutiny because it knows this would expose years of poor planning, insufficient investment and misplaced priorities. He said that Enemalta workers are not responsible for the Government's political failure. On the contrary, they are working in difficult conditions to repair faults and deserve support and appropriate compensation. The PN Leader said that families and businesses affected by prolonged or repeated power cuts should receive compensation automatically, through a clear and transparent process.

"When a service fails, the consumer should be provided with a remedy. People cannot continue having to plead for compensation on a case-by-case basis," Alex Borg said. He also criticised the Government for unilaterally closing Parliament for the summer to avoid debating the motion of no confidence in Minister Miriam Dalli, and for blocking scrutiny of the Auditor General's report in the Public Accounts Committee.

Here Alex Borg announced that, in the coming days, the Partit Nazzjonalista will convene the social partners represented on the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development, the MCESD, to discuss the electricity crisis. The meeting will address the energy crisis, the way forward and the automatic compensation mechanism which the Opposition is insisting should be introduced.

Alex Borg said that he would continue visiting localities and meeting residents, businesses, workers, Local Councils and organisations directly. He said that politics is not conducted solely from an office, at a press conference or on social media. "I do not want an Opposition that only appears in front of a camera. I want an Opposition that is present in communities, listens to people's problems and works on concrete solutions," Borg said. He maintained that the work of the Opposition does not take a holiday while people's problems persist.

On the Bill establishing the National Commission for Human Rights and Equality, Borg reiterated that the Partit Nazzjonalista agrees with the principle of having a strong, independent and credible commission. However, he said that precisely because of the importance of this legislation, the Government should have held genuine consultations with the Opposition, NGOs and civil society. "A law on human rights cannot be drafted through a process that ignores the voices of those who work in this field every day," Alex Borg said. He said that the PN is ready to return to the negotiating table immediately so that better legislation can be approved, with broad consensus and following genuine consultation.

Finally, when asked about the trial currently taking place in connection with the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, and whether criticism that the Opposition has not commented on the evidence emerging in court is justified, the PN Leader replied that the Opposition does not want in any way to interfere with or prejudice the trial. "Any comment, whether excessive or insufficient, could cause harm. I therefore felt that political maturity required us to take a step back while continuing to follow proceedings closely," he said.

He said that he had appointed a team of experts which is advising him daily on the basis of the facts emerging in court. At the appropriate time, the Opposition will comment and ensure that the necessary steps are taken. Borg concluded by saying that he has absolute confidence in the justice system. Although the country has waited a long time for justice to take its course, the PN remains confident that justice will ultimately be served, both in relation to those responsible for the murder and for the journalist's family.

At around 7.30pm, the Police were informed that the man had sustained injuries while he was on the roof of his home.

Preliminary investigations showed that the man suffered burns when, for some reason, fuel he was using to light a barbecue spilled onto him.

A medical team and members of the Civil Protection Department immediately arrived at the scene to provide assistance.

He was taken to Mater Dei Hospital by ambulance, where he was later certified as having suffered serious injuries. Police investigations are still ongoing.

In a heartfelt Facebook post, Vella said "I am still here, fighting and getting better every day". He reserved special praise for his fellow officers on the scene, noting that despite their training, no one is ever truly prepared for such a violent ordeal. Thanks to their perseverance, he was able to reach an ambulance alive.

Vella extended his profound thanks to the emergency department, intensive care unit, and ward staff at the hospital, crediting them with saving his life. He also expressed appreciation for the support shown to him and his family by national dignitaries, including the police commissioner, the prime minister, the president, the leader of the opposition, and members of the judiciary.

Concluding his message, Vella dedicated his survival to his family, singling out his wife and children as the driving force behind his recovery.

Gozo

Fontana Fontana Pharmacy, Triq il-Għajn; Qala St. Joseph Pharmacy, 28, Pjazza San Ġużepp.

The incident took place at approximately 11pm. According to preliminary investigations, a Suzuki Swift driven by a 28-year-old woman from Santa Venera crashed into a pole and careened into the opposite carriageway.

The car then collided with a bus, driven by a 48-year-old man from St Paul's Bay, and a Mercedes Sprinter van, driven by a 33-year-old man also from St Paul's Bay.

A medical team rushed to the location to provide first aid to the driver and the four-year-old girl who was a passenger in her vehicle. Both were transferred to Mater Dei Hospital via ambulance. Medical professionals later certified the young girl with grievous injuries, while the driver was unhurt.

Police investigations into the crash remain ongoing.

The second half kicked off Saturday with what seemed a clear aim of ending Infantino's decade-long presidency.

"No option should be off the table," said European soccer body UEFA, whose president Aleksander Čeferin has led the fight against Infantino in a seismic week for FIFA.

"The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA's confidence but also that of many other members of the football family."

Infantino had proposed creating a $20 billion company to run the World Cup with private investors but drew backlash that grew every day since Tuesday's announcement.

Infantino was forced to scrap the plan early Saturday after his senior adviser who sat on a White House panel resigned and Asia's soccer body joined Europe and North America in opposing it.

UEFA, the governing body of European football, issued its blistering statement hours after FIFA announced it was withdrawing its private equity plan.

"We cannot keep going on like this with secret schemes on fast-track timescales, cooked up by faceless individuals and of dubious benefit to the game," UEFA said. "We must identify those responsible and hold them to account.

"It is right that, in the coming days and weeks, UEFA will work with its associations and in close cooperation with other confederations to reflect on how this happened and devise a plan to make sure that it cannot occur again."

Norwegian soccer federation president Lise Klaveness, an elected member of the UEFA executive committee, said steps must be taken to protect the integrity of the sport.

"The entire framework of international football cooperation was unnecessarily put at risk in pursuit of individual interests rather than the best interests of the game," Klaveness said Saturday. "This has been visible to many for a long time, including those of us elected to positions intended to safeguard checks and balances and provide ongoing oversight. We have to recognize that these mechanisms have not worked well enough."

The president of the Asian soccer confederation, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, said "the future of global football must always be shaped through proper consultation, collective dialogue and respect for the established governance structures of our game."

Infantino' audacious bid fell apart after UEFA's 55-member nations agreed Thursday to boycott the World Cup and all other FIFA competitions. North America's CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation also said they opposed the plan.

There was also an internal revolt.

Infantino's senior adviser, Carlos Cordeiro, a former Goldman Sachs banker who represented the soccer body on the White House Task Force for the World Cup, resigned on Friday and urged other senior FIFA staff to speak out.

Hours later, FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour issued a statement to The Associated Press, saying FIFA staff were deceived by Infantino's lack of openness in planning the sale over recent months and that the project must not continue.

"It is the project of one person," wrote Lamour, a longtime colleague of Infantino at both FIFA and UEFA. "Not only must this project not go ahead ... but the time has now come for football political leaders to ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions."

Infantino had proposed spinning off FIFA's commercial businesses - including World Cups and Club World Cups for men and women - into a $20 billion subsidiary with 20% owned by private investors.

The "anchor investor," described by FIFA, is a New York-based investment firm launched by Joshua Kushner, the younger brother of U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

This is not Infantino's first big plan to flop

A tumultuous week in international football is at least the third time Infantino has rocked it with an ambitious plan many in the sport saw as reckless.

But the fallout from FIFA's Kushner-backed plan is the first time UEFA has acted quickly to create momentum for removing the man who was its former long-time employee.

In 2018, Infantino pushed a secretive offer of $25 billion from Japan's SoftBank to create new competitions, that posed a long-term risk to continental events for clubs and national teams.

In 2021, Infantino proposed playing World Cups every two years instead of four - an idea that also angered the International Olympic Committee where he is an elected member.

Both plans created big rifts in the sport and were eventually dropped by FIFA.

Despite the turmoil, Infantino was re-elected unopposed in 2019 and 2023.

The third time shapes to be different.

Here is the calendar for the FIFA presidency

Nov. 18 is the deadline for candidates to enter the next presidential contest, exactly four months ahead of the vote in Rabat, Morocco, where FIFA has its African headquarters.

FIFA statutes allow Infantino one more four-year term in office. The failed spinoff venture seemed like a way to create a commissioner-like role for Infantino beyond 2031, likely paying much more than his current annual salary and a bonus deal of more than $6 million.

It would take 106 votes to ensure a majority in a contested election. Continents surely do not vote uniformly en bloc, but most of Europe's 55, plus Asia's 46 and CONCACAF's 35 FIFA members would be a solid base.

During a site visit together with members of the Attard Local Council and the Project Green team, Environment Minister Miriam Dalli said that the project was another example of the Government's continued commitment to protecting Malta's historical and environmental heritage, while ensuring that such spaces remain accessible and safe for the public.

"San Anton Gardens are among our country's most historically and culturally significant open spaces. Through this project, we are protecting their unique characteristics so that they may also be enjoyed by future generations, while continuing to provide a high-quality experience for the thousands of people who visit them every year," Minister Miriam Dalli said.

The project will respect the site's history, which dates back to the 17th century, when the gardens were created around San Anton Palace. Over the years, the gardens developed into one of Malta's most iconic open spaces, renowned for their extensive collection of mature trees, ornamental plants, monuments and architectural features of historical value.

Today, San Anton Gardens not only provide the public with a space for relaxation and recreation, but also represent cultural and natural heritage of national importance, deserving of the highest standards of protection and conservation, the government said.

The Head of Project Design at Project Green, Benjamin Vassallo, explained that the maintenance, restoration and conservation of the gardens, walls, pathways, structures and existing decorative features will be carried out in different phases.

"This is a conservation project that requires extensive planning and sensitive interventions. The works have therefore been divided into a number of phases so that, while work is being carried out in a particular area, the rest of the gardens can remain open to the public. Once each phase is completed, that area will reopen before work begins on the next section."

Given the sensitive nature of the project, the works are being carried out with great care. The interventions include the meticulous removal and replacement of the existing paving slabs, each of which is being individually inspected. Slabs that remain in good condition are being numbered, preserved and reused to retain as much of the gardens' historical authenticity as possible.

This is a delicate and time-consuming process, but one that is essential to safeguarding the site's historical and architectural value.

This phased approach will allow the public to continue enjoying San Anton Gardens throughout the works, while ensuring that all conservation interventions are carried out to the highest standards and with full respect for the historic garden.

The intervention follows an extensive technical assessment that identified the conservation needs of this sensitive site, which is scheduled as a Grade 1 property.

This measure is being introduced as a temporary and preventive action based on the precautionary principle, with the aim of further strengthening the protection of horses' welfare during periods of extreme heat, before situations arise that could endanger the animals' health and wellbeing, the government said Saturday.

In recent weeks, Malta has experienced exceptionally high temperatures which may pose serious risks to the health and welfare of horses. This risk increases when animals are required to pull carriages in extreme heat conditions, which is why this preventive measure is being adopted.

Before taking this decision, the Parliamentary Secretariat and the Directorate for Animal Welfare met with representatives of the carriage drivers to discuss the situation. The meeting was held in a spirit of constructive dialogue and resulted in an agreement whereby, as an immediate measure, carriage drivers would voluntarily cease operating whenever an extreme heat warning is issued. The discussion also reinforced collaboration between the Government and this sector to ensure that animal welfare remains a priority.

Bugeja Said stated that this measure clearly demonstrates the Government's vision of placing animal welfare at the centre of policymaking.

Bugeja Said explained, "We have a duty to take responsible and preventive decisions to protect animals from conditions that may pose a danger to them. This measure is a clear example of a government that listens, consults and acts in the best interests of animals, while continuing to work hand in hand with all operators involved in order to safeguard this tradition."

The parliamentary secretary thanked the carriage drivers for their cooperation and positive attitude they demonstrated throughout the discussions that led to this measure. She also thanked animal welfare organisations and activists who have continued to raise awareness in a constructive manner about the importance of animal welfare. She stressed that through dialogue and collaborative efforts between the Government, operators and society, balanced solutions can be found that always prioritise animal welfare.

The Director of the Animal Welfare Department, Dennis Sciberras, stated that every step which strengthens animal protection is a positive one. He said, "These guidelines are based on the precautionary principle and are intended to protect the welfare of horses during periods of extreme heat."

One of the carriage drivers welcomed the measure, stating that the health of the horses remains the most important aspect of his profession.

Charlie Barbara, representative of the Rabat horse-drawn carriage drivers, thanked the Secretariat and said that the temporary measure strikes a balance between protecting the welfare of the horses and preserving the horse-drawn carriage tradition. He added that he looks forward to continuing to work with the authorities to ensure both animal welfare and the tradition are safeguarded.

The measure will come into force through Guidelines issued by the Director for Animal Welfare in accordance with Regulation 6 of the Horse-Drawn Carriages Regulations (S.L. 439.22) and will be published in the Government Gazette.

A total of 40 officers will take part in this international mission, carried out through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism.

The mechanism enables Member States to coordinate assistance rapidly and efficiently during emergencies, while strengthening Europe's collective capacity to respond to natural disasters.

The two Maltese teams will work closely with the Portuguese fire and rescue services to reinforce operational capacity and provide direct support in wildfire suppression and containment operations.

Announcing the deployment, Minister for Home Affairs and Security Glenn Bedingfield said that the mission is a testament to the professionalism and capability of Malta's Civil Protection Department.

"Our fire officers are renowned for their commitment, expertise and dedication. The fact that Malta has once again been called upon to contribute to an international operation of this nature reflects the confidence that other countries place in the capabilities of our Civil Protection Department. While assisting Portugal during this challenging period, we continue to demonstrate that Malta is a responsible and reliable partner within the European Union, always ready to show solidarity with countries facing emergencies", said Minister Bedingfield.

This pre-positioning initiative is essential to ensuring an immediate response during the period when wildfire risk is at its highest, the government said. Its objective is to help protect communities, critical infrastructure and the natural environment by strengthening response capacity before large-scale emergencies occur.

The Civil Protection Department has extensive experience in international missions under the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism. In recent years, Maltese teams have been deployed to assist with wildfire-fighting operations in Greece, Türkiye and Libya, reaffirming Malta's commitment to regional solidarity and cooperation in emergencies.

The hotel features 86 rooms and employs around 50 people. During the visit, Dr Abela emphasized the importance of quality in tourism, noting that the project was entirely driven and executed by a Maltese family, the Agius family, reflecting strong local and international investor confidence in St Paul's Bay.

He highlighted that the Government has also invested in Buġibba through the transformation of the main square, surrounding roads, and the promenade, which provides a completely renewed core for residents and visitors.

Furthermore, Abela pointed out that tourist arrivals between January and May reached nearly 1.7 million, with visitors contributing almost EUR 1.4 billion to Malta's economy during the first five months of the year.

He mentioned government initiatives to enhance infrastructure and mobility, such as the fast ferry service launched in May connecting Sliema, Buġibba, and Gozo, as well as strict enforcement measures and legislation introducing on-the-spot fines and potential deportation for serious public misconduct to ensure public order in high-concentration tourist areas.

The procedure is intended to establish whether the outage is caused by an internal electrical fault or whether it falls under Enemalta's responsibility. However, customers have complained that complying with the request can be particularly challenging during night-time blackouts.

For residents living in apartment blocks, electricity meters are often located at ground-floor level, meaning they must descend several flights of stairs in complete darkness, as lifts are out of service during power cuts. Elderly residents and people with mobility difficulties say this places them in an uncomfortable position.

One elderly customer who contacted Enemalta on Friday to report a power outage said he was instructed to use a torch or the flashlight on his mobile phone to reach the meter and verify its status. According to the customer, he was informed that unless the meter was checked, no report could be filed.

Customers have questioned the practicality of the procedure, arguing that the very circumstances of a blackout make it difficult, and in some cases hazardous, to reach the meter, particularly for vulnerable individuals living alone or on higher floors. Checking one's meter for a possible internal fault is even more ludicrous if the caller is reporting that the whole street is in darkness.

The verification process is intended to avoid dispatching Enemalta resources to faults that originate within private installations. However, those affected argue that greater flexibility should be shown when callers explain they are unable to safely access their meter during a power outage.

Infantino's decision came after his senior adviser who sat on a White House panel resigned and Asia's football body joined Europe and North America in opposing it.

"Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place," Infantino said in a statement on Friday. "Our purpose has always been - and will always be - to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed."

Infantino had proposed creating a $20 billion company to run the World Cup with private investors including the Kushner family, but drew backlash that grew every day since Tuesday's announcement.

UEFA's 55-member nations agreed to boycott the World Cup and all other FIFA competitions over Infantino's plan on Thursday. North America's CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation also said they opposed the plan.

"Some things are simply too important to sell," UEFA said in a statement. "The FIFA World Cup belongs to football. It always will. And so long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale."

Infantino's senior adviser, Carlos Cordeiro, a former Goldman Sachs banker who represented the football body on the White House Task Force for the World Cup, resigned on Friday and urged other senior FIFA staff to speak out.

"I cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup," Cordeiro said in a statement, just hours after FIFA insisted: "Nobody is selling football."

Hours later, FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour issued a statement to The Associated Press, saying FIFA staff were deceived by Infantino's lack of openness in planning the sale over recent months and that the project must not continue.

"It is the project of one person," Lamour, a longtime colleague of Infantino at both FIFA and European football body UEFA, wrote. "Not only must this project not go ahead ... but the time has now come for football political leaders to ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions."

Infantino has proposed spinning off FIFA's commercial businesses - including World Cups and Club World Cups for men and women - into a $20 billion subsidiary with 20% owned by private investors.

The "anchor investor," described by FIFA, is a New York-based investment firm created by Joshua Kushner, the younger brother of U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

The next FIFA competition is the Women's Under-20 World Cup starting Sept. 5 in Poland - which UEFA members said they would boycott.

The misstep could prove costly for Infantino, particularly after the interventions by Lamour and Cordeiro.

Reelected unopposed in 2019 and 2023, Infantino is allowed one more four-year term under FIFA statutes. The deadline for the next presidential contest is Nov. 18, exactly four months ahead of the vote in Rabat, Morocco, where FIFA has its African headquarters.

Infantino's job seemed secured despite long-term unease with his style and previous attempts to force through unpopular projects, but could become more tenuous with the failed private equity proposal.

Ceuta's president put the number of migrants at 60,000, which was equivalent to 70% of the territory's population. But most of them soon went back, the Spanish government said, after the sudden arrival of so many people sparked a humanitarian crisis.

Some migrants swam several miles through the sea and faced down authorities who tried to turn them back with water cannons, tear gas and warning shots. Those who died included some who drowned or were killed in a stampede to cross a breakwater barrier near a border checkpoint.

Spain deployed its armed forces and additional police to restore order in Ceuta, which sits on the Strait of Gibraltar at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea and has been a Spanish possession since 1580. On the Moroccan side of the border, security forces clashed with migrants. The chaos also had ripple effects abroad, with Italy and France pledging to tighten their controls on people arriving from Spain.

"The situation that Ceuta is going through is absolutely unsustainable," Ceuta President Juan Jesús Vivas told journalists.

Meanwhile, migrants from Morocco also attempted to cross into Melilla, Spain's other territory at the tip of North Africa, where they clashed with police.

Spanish prime minister condemns border breach

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited Ceuta on Friday and condemned the border breach, which he described as "a violation of Spain's territorial integrity."

Sánchez blamed human smugglers for the crisis, saying they "deceive so many young people and ultimately lead many of them to their deaths," whether in the ocean or in the city.

The Spanish Interior Ministry released its own figures shortly after Vivas spoke, estimating that some 50,000 people had crossed from Morocco since Thursday. It added that 48,300 had already returned to Morocco by Friday evening, with hundreds more going back by the hour.

Rachid Sbihi, who leads a local workers association representing Civil Guard officers, described the situation as a "serious humanitarian crisis," saying thousands of migrants, including unaccompanied children, were left sleeping in parks and on sidewalks, while others roamed the streets aimlessly.

"It's chaotic," Sbihi said.

The Moroccan Interior Ministry did not respond to a request for comment on the migrant figures released by the Spanish authorities.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the images from Ceuta were "unacceptable."

"We cannot allow anyone to come to our Union without abiding by our rules," she said Friday in an online statement. "Dangerous crossings must stop immediately. Smuggling networks must be dismantled. And returns must be swift, as our rules allow."

Dozens died in the chaos

Some of the 57 people who died had drowned, Sbihi said, but some were also killed in a stampede to cross the breakwater fence at Tarajal Beach, an urban beach near a border checkpoint with Morocco. The waters near the border fence were littered with buoys, shoes and other abandoned belongings.

Many young Moroccans who crossed into Ceuta told The Associated Press that they had hoped to find better work opportunities in Spain but were returning given the mayhem in Ceuta.

"There's nothing at home. I'd have to work 12-hour shifts for a meager wage. That's why I came here," said 21-year-old Abdulah Buji, who hails from the city of Tetouan. "But I haven't found any opportunities here either, so I have to go back."

Moroccan police used water cannons and fired warning shots into the air to prevent migrants from crossing into Ceuta, according to rights groups in Morocco.

Morocco's ambassador to Spain said the situation in Ceuta had unfolded against Morocco's wishes.

"We have always prioritized legal, orderly and safe migration for all," Karima Benyaich said. She did not comment on what prompted the migrants to cross into Ceuta.

To reach Ceuta, on the northern African coast, migrants often swim from the Moroccan town of Fnideq, covering about 3 miles (5 kilometers) to reach Spanish territory. Others attempt the crossing from the nearby town of Belyounech, where the distance is shorter.

Authorities in Ceuta and Madrid have linked the border surge to a recent decision by the Spanish Supreme Court, which ruled that migrants arriving by sea could not be summarily deported, unlike those who cross by land or climb the border fence.

Sánchez said migrant smugglers misinterpreted the ruling.

The interpretation of the Supreme Court's ruling "spread like wildfire over the past few hours through the networks of human trafficking organizations," triggering the surge, Sánchez said.

Spain has bucked anti-immigration trend

Sánchez has bucked the anti-migration trend that has gained ground across Europe and in the U.S.

Earlier this year, his government moved to give residency and work permits to hundreds of thousands of migrants already living in the country without permission.

Sánchez, a Socialist, argued that it would be good for the economy and the demographics of an aging Spain. Migrants who entered irregularly after Jan. 1 this year were not included.

His critics jumped at the opportunity to attack his policy, saying it encouraged more migrants to come.

"Sánchez allows Spain to be invaded through Ceuta," Spanish conservative politician Isabel Díaz Ayuso wrote on X.

The U.S. expressed its support for "the people of Spain, and all Europeans, against this egregious violation of their sovereignty and human rights."

In a post on X, the State Department added that "this unacceptable incident is the direct result of the Spanish Government's deliberate efforts to enable and facilitate mass illegal migration into Europe."

Sánchez on Friday defended his migration policy and distanced it from the events in Ceuta.

In the tumult, Italy temporarily suspended its open-border Schengen agreement with Spain, reimposing border controls for air and sea. The Interior Ministry said the decision amounted to a "closure" of the borders, but experts said it was merely a resumption of border controls. The agreement allows travelers to fly between the two countries without presenting passports.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said France would also strengthen border checks with Spain.

The crisis in Ceuta "has nothing to do with the regularization of migrants adopted by the Government of Spain, as is being falsely claimed by some," the Spanish government said in a statement late Thursday after Meloni's announcement.

Pressure grows on second Spanish territory in Africa

Migrants from Morocco also attempted to cross into Melilla, the other Spanish territory at the tip of North Africa.

There was widespread chaos in Bni Nsar, the Moroccan town bordering the Spanish territory, where migrants clashed with police, throwing rocks and setting police vehicles ablaze, according to local media and rights groups. They reported injuries among security forces and the arrest of dozens of people attempting to cross.

Like Ceuta, Melilla is a self-governing Spanish city. Many Moroccans consider both cities to be occupied territory.

Courtrooms rarely capture the country's attention for weeks on end, yet this one has done precisely that.

It has become one of the issues on everybody's mind. People who would not normally follow court proceedings have found themselves reading live blogs and discussing developments over coffee or in group chats.

Nearly nine years after Daphne Caruana Galizia's assassination, the case has once again become part of Malta's daily conversation - if it ever left it.

That level of public interest was perhaps inevitable. This is not an ordinary criminal trial; it concerns an event that profoundly altered Malta's political landscape and whose repercussions are still being felt today.

Yet while the evidence presented over the past month is exclusively for the jury to assess, the trial itself has inevitably reopened a political question that has lingered since before proceedings even began: why did Robert Abela call a snap election almost a year before his government's mandate was due to expire?

The timing alone almost ensured that the question would be asked. Labour secured a fourth consecutive term in office after the 30 May election. Just one month later, the country's most anticipated trial got under way.

The proximity of those two events has fuelled persistent speculation that the election was deliberately held before weeks of daily courtroom testimony placed Malta's recent political history back under the spotlight.

Prime Minister Robert Abela has firmly rejected that interpretation. Asked directly whether the trial influenced his decision to call an early election, he replied: "Absolutely not," insisting that the decision was dictated by the national interest and an "extraordinary international situation" requiring a fresh mandate.

He also maintained that the government he leads has "no connection" to the trial.

Jason Azzopardi, one of the lawyers representing the Caruana Galizia family, had argued the opposite.

He had said he publicly predicted an early election months before it was announced because he already knew, under a court-imposed confidentiality order, when the trial would begin.

According to Azzopardi, the Prime Minister was also informed of that date when it was fixed, and that knowledge explains why the country went to the polls before July.

The truth is that neither position can be conclusively proven from the outside. Political leaders rarely make decisions for one reason alone, and to claim with certainty that the election was called because of the trial would go beyond the available facts.

At the same time, it is equally understandable why the speculation refuses to disappear.

The trial has not simply revived memories of the assassination itself.

It has repeatedly brought into public view figures, events and decisions that defined one of the most turbulent periods in Malta's political history.

Although today's Cabinet bears little to no resemblance to the administration that governed in 2017, testimony has inevitably touched on people who once occupied the highest offices of the state or were closely associated with them.

That creates an uncomfortable political reality for Labour. Many ministers now sitting around the Cabinet table had no involvement in the events currently being examined in court, yet governments inherit more than the policies of those who came before them.

They also inherit their controversies, particularly when those controversies remain unresolved in the public consciousness.

None of this should distract from the purpose of the proceedings themselves. The jury alone will determine the outcome of the criminal case, based solely on the evidence presented before it, and public debate should never become a substitute for that process.

Yet it would be equally unrealistic to ignore the broader impact the trial is having.

One month in, it has already reshaped political discussion, revived old questions and reignited speculation that seemed to have been settled once the election was over.

Whether Robert Abela's decision to call an early election was connected to the trial may never be known with certainty.

What is certain, however, is that the proceedings have ensured that the political legacy of 2017 is once again impossible to ignore.

The MDA said it has consistently maintained that sustainable construction is not only an environmental responsibility but also an essential pillar for the long-term competitiveness of Malta's construction industry. Measures that encourage the proper recycling and recovery of construction waste contribute directly to reducing landfill dependency, preserving natural resources and promoting a more circular economy.

The extension of the tax exemption scheme until 2031 provides the certainty required for quarry operators and recycling facilities to continue investing in modern infrastructure, equipment and improved waste management practices. Long-term policy stability is essential if Malta is to achieve meaningful environmental improvements.

The MDA also welcomed the introduction of additional safeguards to ensure that authorised facilities continue providing an uninterrupted service to the industry. The establishment of a maximum fee of €16 per tonne for qualifying services and the prohibition of hidden or additional charges will provide greater transparency and predictability for contractors and developers. Similarly, the obligation for authorised facilities not to cease accepting construction and demolition waste without a valid reason will help ensure continuity across the sector and reduce disruption to construction projects. Effective waste management infrastructure is critical to maintaining efficient project delivery while safeguarding environmental standards.

The MDA said it believes that environmental regulation is most effective when accompanied by practical implementation, consistent enforcement and continuous dialogue with industry stakeholders. These measures should provide confidence that operators who benefit from public incentives also deliver reliable and transparent services. At the same time, the Association encourages Government to continue investing in Malta's recycling capacity and to explore additional incentives that stimulate greater use of recycled aggregates and other recycled construction materials in both public and private projects. Increasing demand for recycled materials is essential if the country is to fully embrace the principles of the circular economy.

The Association also believes that investment in innovation, new recycling technologies and improved logistics should remain a national priority. This will not only reduce environmental impacts but also improve efficiency, lower costs over time and strengthen Malta's sustainability credentials.

The MDA said it looks forward to continuing its constructive collaboration with Government, regulators and industry stakeholders to ensure that Malta develops a modern, efficient and environmentally responsible construction sector that balances economic growth with environmental stewardship. 

In the election year, the Labour Government increased Malta’s national debt by one billion euros,the Nationalist Party said in a statement on Friday.

The PN was reacting to a statement on government finances published by the National Statistics Office (NSO), which shows that the country’s debt is now approaching €12 billion.

The figure of €11,929.3 million is equivalent to more than €29,200 in debt for every Maltese and Gozitan citizen. It also means that national debt increased by almost one billion euro in a single year, rising by €937 million, or 8.5%, compared with the same month in 2025.

The NSO statistics covering the first half of this year also confirm that, by June 2026, the Government had already accumulated a deficit of €463.5 million, compared with €457.4 million during the same period last year.

According to the same NSO statistics, the Government managed to increase both the country’s deficit and debt despite collecting €582 million more in taxes between January and June 2026 than during the same period last year. This confirms the extent to which the Government has lost all control over recurrent expenditure.

Alongside the record increase in debt comes another record: the interest that must be paid from taxpayers’ money on government debt. By the end of May, this amounted to €128 million, almost €10 million more than during the same period last year.

The PN said that according to the NSO’s statistics, by the end of June this figure had risen to €158 million, nearly €15 million more than during the same period in 2025.

This also means that, between the end of May 2026 and the end of last month, June 2026, interest payments on the debt increased by €30 million in just one month.

According to the Government’s forecast in the 2026 Budget, the Maltese people are projected to pay between €340 million and €350 million in interest on public debt this year, equivalent to approximately one million euro every day in interest payments alone.

“The high level of debt imposed on the Maltese people by Robert Abela means that, since becoming Prime Minister, he has borrowed more than all his predecessors combined,” the PN said.

The party continued that a number of local and international institutions have raised concerns about this debt. Most recently, the Central Bank of Malta, in an extensive analysis of various aspects of public finances, drew attention to expenditure by government authorities and entities. According to the same report, this expenditure is often difficult to explain, while the Bank called for greater transparency over how public funds are spent.

“During a summer in which the quality of life continued to deteriorate, with relentless traffic, an unreliable electricity supply, sewage in the sea and uncontrolled population growth, the Government remained consistent in one respect: continuing to borrow more and more, while placing the burden of higher interest payments on Maltese and Gozitan families,” the PN concluded.

The statement was signed by the PN’s Shadow Minister for Finance Adrian Delia and its Shadow Minister for the Economy, Technology and Strategic Projects Darren Carabott.

"The Minister is now asking the social partners to come up with the solutions," the party added.

It said that those solutions should have come from the Government itself, instead of Robert Abela and Miriam Dalli attempting to conceal their failure by playing with words.

"Rather than assuming political responsibility for this crisis, the Government chose to avoid the parliamentary debate and vote on the Minister's own responsibility. It also chose to avoid a discussion on the report by the Auditor General," the PN said.

The party continued that the crisis engulfing the Minister is becoming even more apparent following reports that she intends to use the CEO of the Climate Action Authority as her secretary, to attend MCESD meetings and communicate on behalf of the Government.

"This is a clear conflict of interest and further confirmation that Miriam Dalli has no understanding of good governance. She is using the head of a regulatory authority that is meant to be independent to serve her political agenda, while continuing to evade responsibility," the PN said.

"The Minister is so detached from reality that she once again repeated what she said in Parliament: that, as a result of the investment carried out, the majority of people had their electricity supply restored within a few hours. This is despite the fact that thousands of people spent entire days and nights without electricity."

The Maltese and Gozitan people, as well as our businesses and industries, deserve seriousness and peace of mind when it comes to energy. They do not deserve a Minister who admits there is a crisis only when it is too late, uses institutions as a shield and continues to evade responsibility for the hardship inflicted on people and on the country.

The PN reiterated its call for for special compensation for Enemalta workers, as well as a regulatory framework providing automatic compensation to families and businesses that were left without electricity for hours.

The statement was signed by PN Shadow Minister for Energy and the Environment Mark Anthony Sammut.

PN ‘distorting the facts again’ because it is only interested in partisan politics – PL

In reaction, the PL said that the meeting held with MCESD on Friday was requested by the Government.

“The Government is convinced of the investment it is making and wants to continue to make, that it chose, as it has always been done, to consult the social partners on infrastructure works, how it is managing the demand and measures for responsible energy consumption,” the PL said.

“The PN prefers a Government that does not listen to anyone and decides everything from behind a desk,” the party added.

The PL said that Minister Miriam Dalli has always clearly explained the work that has been done, the challenges still to be addressed and the concrete plan to further accelerate unprecedented investment in the distribution system.

It continued that the strong investment being made is a large part of the solution. Where work was done on the high and medium voltage level, the system was more resilient and supply could be restored more quickly. Work is now continuing in more locations, on three new distribution centres and on the low-voltage network.

The PL said that the Government is confident in the work done that it asked the Auditor General to update its report to include the investment of the last three years. Whoever has nothing to hide asks to be scrutinised, while whoever wants to cast doubt just issues partisan statements, the party added.

“The PN has shown its lack of understanding of the climate challenge and the need for climate adaptation, because it is unable to understand the role of Eng. Abigail Cutajar as CEO of the Climate Action Authority is to have measures as part of climate adaptation. The PN is trying to spin the participation of a technical expert into a political controversy because it has no substantial argument,” the PL said.

“The Government will continue to invest, accelerate works, listen to social partners and respond to challenges. The PN may continue to search for a sensational title. The Government will continue to carry out the work.”

Addressing the eighth meeting of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development, Dalli said the government wanted input from employers, trade unions and civil society on initiatives that could reduce pressure on specific parts of the electricity grid during demand peaks.

During the same meeting, Enemalta announced that downtime on its medium voltage network had fallen by around 76% compared with 2023, despire elcetricity demand increasing susbtantially over the same period.

She said Engineer Abigail Cutajar had been tasked with meeting MCESD members to present the government's proposals and discuss measures that could encourage responsible electricity consumption.

Dalli stressed that the discussions would not concern changes to electricity tariffs or higher bills. Instead, they would focus on managing sharp, localised increases in demand when extreme temperatures place particular feeders and substations under pressure.

"The fact that we do not burden people with high bills does not mean that we promote waste," she said.

The meeting was requested to discuss the electricity supply challenges experienced during the previous week, which Dalli acknowledged had caused concern among residents, businesses and the groups represented within the MCESD.

She said Malta had not followed the approach taken by some other European countries, where restrictions on electricity use had been introduced. However, she said this did not mean that Malta should avoid awareness initiatives encouraging consumers to use electricity responsibly.

Dalli said the government had already carried out public information campaigns but acknowledged that more could be done. She invited MCESD members to submit their own ideas on how consumers could help reduce demand during the most critical periods.

Malta's electricity demand reached 741 megawatts during the recent period of intense heat, substantially higher than the country's average demand of around 450MW.

Enemalta said peak demand on the medium-voltage network had risen from 663MW in July 2023 to 741MW in July 2026.It said the reduction in downtime showd that the network was carrying considerably more electricity while providing a more reliable service.

Dalli said electricity demand had increased by 86% when compared with 2014, attributing the rise to extreme temperatures, a growing population and increased activity across homes, offices, hotels, restaurants and the manufacturing industry.

Enemalta said it was implementing a €141 million investment programme covering the period between 2023 and 2026, aimed at increasing the network's capacity and preparing it for rising demand linked to electrification, renewable nergy, industrial growth and major national projects.

Since 2023, the company has completed 190 new substations in Malta and another 18 in Gozo. It has also upgraded more than 260 transformers, replaced over 120 switchgear units, installed 875 low-voltage feeders and laid more than 270 kilometres of medium-voltage cables.

Enemalta Executive Chairman Ryan Fava said the results showed that investing ahead of demand was producing tangible benefits and creating a more reliable and resilient electricity network.

He said the company was placing greater emphasis on intensifying works on the low-voltage system because this part of the network directly serves homes and businesses and has the greatest effect on customers’ daily experience.

Further work is required across different localities, particularly at medium- and low-voltage levels.

Major upgrades have already been completed at distribution centres in Mosta, Kirkop, Buġibba and St Andrew’s. New distribution centres in Siġġiewi, Msida and Naxxar are in their final testing phase and are expected to become operational in the coming weeks.

Valletta was identified as one of the areas where ageing electricity infrastructure must be replaced. Dalli said carrying out the necessary works in the capital would be particularly sensitive because of its high concentration of residents, offices and commercial establishments.

She said the recent pressure on the network had largely been caused by localised demand peaks rather than a nationwide shortage of electricity.

The most significant problems were experienced at low-voltage level, where a number of individual consumers were affected. These faults were concentrated on particular feeders and substations serving specific areas.

Dalli said investment carried out at high- and medium-voltage levels since 2024 had strengthened the system and provided Enemalta with greater flexibility when faults occurred, helping prevent consumers from remaining without electricity for long periods.

However, she acknowledged that the work needed to continue across different localities, particularly at medium- and low-voltage levels.

Three distribution centres are currently under construction and are expected to be completed shortly, while further work is planned in several localities.

Valletta was identified as one of the areas where ageing electricity infrastructure must be replaced. Dalli said carrying out the necessary works in the capital would be particularly sensitive because of its high concentration of residents, offices and commercial establishments.

She said Enemalta had been asked to hold discussions with MCESD members, Infrastructure Malta and the Valletta Local Council to determine how the project could be carried out gradually and with the least possible disruption to the residential and business communities.

Works have also started in Birkirkara, Kalkara and Mellieħa, although Dalli said it was not possible to excavate entire localities simultaneously.

She argued that while the government wanted to accelerate the investment programme, the complexity of works inside residential streets meant that a long-term plan could not simply be completed within two years.

"We cannot dig up the whole country at once," she said, adding that infrastructure works inevitably created inconvenience for residents and businesses.

Dalli thanked Enemalta employees for their response during the recent difficulties and for their work on the distribution system since 2024.

She also responded to claims questioning whether the promised investment had taken place. The government has asked the National Audit Office to update its previous report, which covered the period up to 2023, and examine the work carried out by Enemalta during the past three years.

The minister said the government was also continuing to strengthen Malta's electricity supply and generation capacity as demand increased.

She referred to Malta's transition from heavy fuel oil to liquefied natural gas, the construction of the first electricity interconnector and ongoing work on the second interconnector.

The government is also planning a third interconnector and further renewable energy projects, including offshore wind developments.

Dalli said these investments were necessary to support Malta's economic growth while ensuring that the country could continue meeting the electricity needs of residents and businesses.

Enemalta said its future programme would also include new and upgraded distribution centres, investment in the electricity connection between Malta and Gozo and further network reinforcement to support long-term economic growth and the renewable energy transition.

Social Dialogue Minister Keith Azzopardi Tanti, who opened the meeting, said its agenda had been shaped by the issues raised by MCESD members during his meetings with their respective organisations.

He said the meeting demonstrated the council's importance in representing workers, businesses, civil society and the interests of Gozo.

Azzopardi Tanti said the government believed in dialogue and collaboration and pledged that the concerns raised by MCESD members would be brought forward for discussion at the earliest opportunity.

Dalli said the electricity challenges faced by the country were a national issue requiring cooperation between the government, Enemalta, social partners and consumers.

She said the government would continue investing in the grid but wanted MCESD members to help identify practical measures that could protect essential electricity use and limit pressure on the network during future periods of extreme demand.

Of these, 179 were women, and five were men. In 16 cases, victims were issued the device more than once, while in Gozo, 10 panic alarms were distributed, all to female victims. 

These details were announced during the first official visit by the Minister for Home Affairs and Security, Glenn Bedingfield, to the Victim Support Agency (VSA), where he met with the Agency's management and professionals to learn more about its work and the services it provides to victims of crime. 

During the visit, the Minister also met with a victim of domestic violence who had been provided with the Panic Alarm. She explained how the device not only gave her a greater sense of security but also served as an important source of reassurance and additional support during periods of heightened risk. 

The Domestic Violence Panic Alarm is issued to victims who report domestic violence to the Police and who, following a professional risk assessment, are identified as being at high risk. Once activated, the device enables an immediate response from the authorities, providing victims with an additional layer of protection. 

During the visit, Minister Glenn Bedingfield praised the work of the Victim Support Agency and reaffirmed the Government's commitment to strengthening the protection and support available to victims of crime, particularly victims of domestic violence. 

"Protecting victims remains one of our highest priorities. The introduction of the Panic Alarm marked another concrete step in providing greater safety and peace of mind to those facing extremely difficult circumstances. Together with the professional services offered by the Agency, this tool is making a real difference in people's lives," Minister Bedingfield said. 

The Minister also thanked the Agency's staff for their professionalism and dedication, noting that their work is essential in ensuring that victims receive the support they need throughout every stage of their recovery and the justice process. 

The Victim Support Agency offers a wide range of services, including information on victims' rights, emotional support, free legal advice, and accompaniment during court proceedings. Since its establishment five years ago, the Agency has carried out more than 7,000 interventions in support of crime victims.

The Agency's Chief Executive Officer, Brian Farrugia, said that the VSA's primary objective is to ensure that every victim receives the support needed to feel safe, protected and empowered throughout their journey. 

"The Agency stands by victims of crime every step of the way, helping them feel safer and maintaining close coordination with the relevant authorities through discreet tools such as the Domestic Violence Panic Alarm. This initiative is providing victims with greater peace of mind while further strengthening the protection available to them," Mr Farrugia said.

No worker should ever be compelled to take legal action simply to obtain wages that have been honestly earned, the union said Friday.

On Wedesday, a coalition of prominent Maltese singers and performers, including Eurovision stars Ira Losco, Destiny Chukunyere, and Gaia Cauchi, have filed a legal judicial protest against choreographer Felix Busuttil Galea. The filing, presented in the First Hall of the Civil Court against Busuttil operating on behalf of YADA Dance Company, accuses the director of failing to pay top local artists for their professional services in a major stage production. 

Referring to the case, GWU Professionals, Finance and Services Section Secretary Riccarda Darmanin said that: "Unfortunately, this is not an isolated case. Over the years, the GWU has assisted numerous workers in Malta's creative and cultural sectors who have experienced delayed or unpaid remuneration despite having fulfilled their professional obligations.

The Union has consistently supported affected workers and pursued every available avenue to help them recover what is rightfully theirs."Behind every unpaid or delayed wage is a worker who has invested time, talent, effort and dedication. In many cases, that income is essential to meeting financial commitments and supporting a family.

From television productions to live performances, financial pressures are too often shifted onto artists, performers, technicians and other creative professionals instead of being borne by the production companies responsible for managing and financing these projects. Such practices undermine the value of creative work and can leave workers facing serious financial hardship and unnecessary emotional stress.Fair pay is not only about receiving appropriate remuneration for work carried out. It is also about being paid on time, with dignity, and in accordance with agreed commitments.

Every worker, regardless of the sector in which they are employed, deserves this fundamental level of respect and protection.The GWU remains firmly committed to defending workers' rights and supporting those who seek its assistance. Through its services, guidance, representation and advocacy, the Union works to help its members recover what is rightfully theirs while ensuring that employers honour their obligations.

No worker should have to face such challenges alone.The Union encourages anyone experiencing similar difficulties to come forward and seek support. By speaking out, standing together and acting collectively, workers can strengthen their voice and help foster a culture of fairness, accountability and respect throughout Malta's creative and cultural industries. 

The Manchester low-rise is home to "No. 10 North," the flagship of new Prime Minister Andy Burnham's pledge to be a different kind of U.K. leader. Burnham was mayor of Greater Manchester before vaulting back into national politics, and one of his first acts was to set up a branch office in the city. It's both symbol of and engine for his pledge to give local leaders more powers and spread economic growth around the country.

Burnham calls it "a North Pole that balances the South Pole" of Westminster politics in London. Critics have called it a gimmick.

It's certainly a novelty. While past British leaders have spent weekends in their local constituencies, or at the prime minister's official Chequers country retreat, none in living memory has had a large-scale office outside London. Burnham plans to work there at least one day a week, alongside a full-time staff of aides, experts and civil servants.

"It's not another office," Burnham said Friday. "It is a fundamental change to the way the country thinks about growth and investment."

The king of the north goes nationwide

Burnham believes Manchester holds the key to avoiding the fate of Keir Starmer, his predecessor as Labour Party leader and prime minister.

Starmer stepped down in July after two years in office, following missteps, policy U-turns and his failure to get Britain's sluggish economy growing.

During nine years as Manchester mayor, Burnham was praised standing up to central government on behalf of a proud, battle-scarred northern city that gave birth to the Industrial Revolution, movements for social change and a dynamic music scene. He gained the nickname King of the North for his championing of the city - and his political ambition.

Burnham promoted what has been called "Manchesterism," a form of business-friendly socialism that involves harnessing private investment for major projects and decentralizing government to give communities more control over housing, transport, training and public services.

The city center boomed during his mayoralty. Skyscrapers sprouted from vacant lots, service industries grew, a thousand coffee shops bloomed and a municipally run network of bright yellow buses and trams crisscrossed the city.

Now Burnham wants to replicate the approach across the country, using No. 10 North as the engine room for redistributing wealth and economic opportunities to areas blighted by shuttered industries, lost jobs and an exodus of young people.

In a first step, Burnham announced Friday that mayors will get to keep a greater share of income and business tax revenue from their areas, calling it the "biggest transfer of power, funding and responsibility from Westminster in a generation."

Many of the details haven't been announced, however, including how much new money mayors will be getting.

Rob Ford, professor of political science at the University of Manchester, said Burnham's bold early moves suggest "he does mean business in terms of changing the overall mechanics of government."

"We have one of the most centralized countries out of all developed democracies in terms of how much money and decision-making power gets hoovered into the center, how little there is for the provinces to do," Ford said. "He does seem quite determined to change that, but that's a huge job."

Burnham's critics point out that Manchester's boom hasn't spread to all its outskirts, and the anti-immigration party Reform UK has been a beneficiary of voters' discontent.

Supporters welcome the government's northern tilt

It's envisioned that No. 10 North will eventually get a brand-new headquarters as part of an inner-city redevelopment project. For now, it shares a building with a chain pub, a civic register office and a branch of the cyberintelligence agency GCHQ.

It's very different to cramped, stuffy 10 Downing St, a 350-year-old townhouse awkwardly converted into the hub of a government that has grown too big for it.

Supporters say No. 10 North is already a breath of fresh air. Rose Marley, chief executive of Cooperatives UK, an umbrella group for member-owned businesses, felt the difference when she was invited to a meeting there.

"It was so refreshing that it wasn't us having to travel to London all the time," she said. "Westminster might start realizing how bad the trains are and how much it costs when they have to come back the other way."

Marley, who advised Burnham when he was mayor, likens the impact to when the BBC moved production of some programs to Salford in Greater Manchester.

"For the first time ever, the likes of me were asked onto the BBC sofa," she said. "It meant voices like mine started to appear on the sofa and a diversity of thinking started to be heard.

"The voices that are furthest away from what you're saying and what you believe, that's when you need to listen the most," she said. "Westminster really does need to listen to all the parts of the country."

Burnham urged to look beyond Manchester

Most Mancunians are proud of their city, and many support the idea of it getting more control over its own affairs.

"I think it makes sense," said Sam Turner, a nursing lecturer. "Because the north is very different to the south, there are different house values, there's different land values, with different salaries."

But Ford says Burnham will need to show that he is giving power to all parts of the country, not just Manchester.

"You could go to Liverpool down the road, or Leeds, or Sheffield and they'll say, 'Well, you know, an office in Manchester isn't necessarily an office for us,'" Ford said. "So that's an argument he still has to win."

Lesley Lebbon, visiting Manchester from Newmarket in eastern England, said No. 10 North is "a start," but that other regions need attention, too. She'd like to see "more No. 10s, maybe an East and a West No. 10."

Still, "I like the idea of what No. 10 North represents," she said. "I think any progress has got to be better than no progress."

The day's evidence also covered the searches conducted in the days following the arrest, and documents investigators considered potentially relevant to their inquiries.

Yorgen Fenech, a businessman, has pleaded not guilty to two principal charges: complicity in the wilful homicide of Daphne Caruana Galizia and criminal association to commit the murder. 

Caruana Galizia, a columnist with The Malta Independent, was killed in a car bomb on 16 October, 2017.

The sitting opened with testimony from homicide squad Sergeant Gary Scerri, who outlined his involvement in the murder investigation from its earliest stages. He told the court he had participated in fieldwork alongside Europol experts, retrieved CCTV footage, taken part in the raids that led to the arrest of the alleged hitmen and accompanied Yorgen Fenech to Mater Dei Hospital after his doctor, Dr Adrian Vella, requested that he receive urgent medical treatment.

Scerri also described his role in the search of Schembri's Mellieħa residence. He explained that he had been instructed to escort Schembri back to the property in an unmarked police vehicle to recover electronic devices that had not yet been collected. According to the witness, the search was attended by Schembri's lawyers, police officers and scene-of-the-crime experts, while he was also tasked with checking nearby buildings for CCTV footage.

Scerri said the operation was not a conventional search but was instead aimed at recovering specific items identified by lead investigator Keith Arnaud. He testified that Schembri himself indicated where the items sought by police were located, adding that such cooperation by suspects was not unusual in investigations.

During cross-examination, defence lawyer Giannella de Marco questioned Scerri about differences between his testimony in court and evidence he had previously given during the compilation proceedings. She suggested he was attempting to "patch up" his earlier evidence after he referred to workers present at Schembri's residence, an allegation Scerri firmly rejected.

The court then heard from Sergeant Kevin Pulis, who described the operation leading to Fenech's arrest on 20 November 2019. Pulis testified that after receiving instructions from Arnaud, he proceeded to Portomaso Marina carrying an arrest warrant after being informed that Fenech was leaving aboard his yacht, Gio 2. Upon boarding the vessel, he found Fenech seated with the captain, informed him of his rights and served the warrant before Europol experts and crime scene officers arrived shortly afterwards.

Pulis told jurors that searches carried out on the yacht, Fenech's penthouse and two Tumas Group offices at Portomaso resulted in the seizure of numerous items, including a MacBook wrapped in clingfilm, approximately €7,000 in cash, an internet key and a black iPhone. Additional searches at the residence uncovered further electronic devices, business cards and other material, while officers briefly suspended their work after concerns were raised about Fenech's medical condition and Dr Adrian Vella was called.

The witness said he was present for every search except one conducted in an office identified by Tumas Group financial controller Ray Sladden as belonging to Fenech. Among the items recovered were documents, computers and mobile phones, all of which were subsequently handed over to Europol for forensic examination. Pulis also listed corporate documentation seized during the investigation, including material connected to Wings Investments Limited, New Energy Supply Limited, offshore companies and Melvin Theuma.

Jurors also heard that investigators returned to Gio 2 eight days after the arrest for a more detailed forensic examination with the assistance of a Europol specialist. According to Pulis, officers recovered additional SIM cards, including cards issued by Italian mobile operators, during the second search.

Turning to events involving Vella, Pulis said police were instructed to ask the doctor to accompany them voluntarily to the lock-up, stressing that no arrest warrant had been issued. After repeated attempts to contact him failed, officers eventually reached Vella by telephone before he agreed to accompany police. Pulis described the doctor as appearing emotional and frightened, adding that although Vella was offered the opportunity to drive his own vehicle to police headquarters, he chose instead to travel with officers.

The witness also referred to events on 29 November 2019 after Fenech had been granted police bail. He told the court that he had been informed by then Police Commissioner Lawrence Cutajar that Fenech was not under police protection, prompting officers to proceed to his residence after a request from Fenech's lawyers. There they found him accompanied by lawyer Gianluca Caruana Curran.

After the prosecution concluded its questioning, defence lawyer Giannella de Marco cross-examined Pulis about the period between Fenech's arrest and his arraignment. The witness confirmed that Fenech had not been left alone by police during that period except for several hours while on police bail. He also confirmed that although Fenech had indicated he did not require medical treatment, Arnaud had nevertheless insisted that Vella examine him.

The defence also questioned Pulis about the searches carried out during the investigation. He maintained that investigators had followed the appropriate methodology and confirmed that no drugs or firearms were found during searches of Fenech's yacht. Under further questioning, he confirmed that a brand-new mobile phone was recovered from Fenech's office and acknowledged his involvement in Keith Schembri's arrest and subsequent escort from his Mellieħa residence to police headquarters.

The final witness before the lunch adjournment was police officer Christopher Saliba, who testified via video link. Saliba recalled being instructed to go to Portomaso, where he informed Fenech that he was under arrest. According to the witness, Fenech responded: "So we won't be here long." Saliba said he immediately clarified that he was being arrested in connection with the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia rather than any drug-related investigation and described Fenech as remaining calm throughout the exchange. He later confirmed previous evidence regarding items recovered during searches and told the court that Fenech had informed him he had resigned from a company two days before his arrest.

The afternoon sitting of the trial focused largely on searches carried out at Yorgen Fenech's Portomaso properties and Keith Schembri's office at Castille, with a succession of police witnesses describing evidence recovered, while the defence repeatedly challenged the manner in which investigators selected and interpreted documents during the operation.

The first witness after the lunch break was Police Officer Andre Grech, who was stationed with the Drug Squad and the Rapid Intervention Unit at the time of the investigation.

Grech testified that he was personally involved in the searches of both Yorgen Fenech's yacht and the apartment where the businessman was living. He recalled that officers informed Fenech at around 8am that he was being arrested in connection with the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia before searches commenced. Asked about Fenech's reaction, Grech said he could not remember him saying anything, describing him instead as calm and behaving normally throughout both the arrest and the searches.

Grech explained that police had been instructed to recover electronic devices and confirmed that Europol officers, together with Inspector Kevin Pulis, were present while the searches were carried out. He said all electronic devices were collected, catalogued and seized by Pulis in conjunction with Europol officials. The defence then concluded its questioning.

Police Sergeant Antoine Micallef testified that he spent 12 days with Fenech while the businessman was on police bail. During that period, Dr Adrian Vella visited him frequently, although Micallef clarified that these consultations did not always take place in the presence of police because Fenech was no longer under arrest.

Under cross-examination, Micallef was questioned about Keith Schembri's arrest. He told jurors that Schembri was arrested sometime after 9am but before noon and explained that he drove an unmarked police vehicle escorting the police van carrying Schembri, while a forensic vehicle also formed part of the convoy.

The principal witness during the afternoon was former Inspector Keith Vella, who spent the final years of his police career with the Money Laundering Squad. Vella explained that his role in the case was confined to financial crimes investigations and that he was not involved in the homicide investigation itself. He told the court that searches of Fenech's properties began at Level 21 of Portomaso, where officers recovered, among other items, a flip chart containing handwritten references to Siemens, SOCAR and Enemalta.

Asked by Madam Justice Edwina Grima why investigators had seized the flip chart, Vella replied that the companies mentioned had, at the time, been reported in the media in connection with 17 Black. He also referred to further handwritten references to Siemens, Enemalta, SOCAR, GEM Holdings and another page containing references to the floating storage unit (FSU), LNG, Electrogas and a handwritten figure of €100 million.

The prosecution also questioned Vella about documents recovered from the Portomaso offices. He explained that investigators seized a number of documents because they referred to companies linked in media reports to 17 Black and Electrogas. Officers also recovered documentation relating to New Energy Supply Limited and an invoice written in French. Vella reiterated that his role was confined to identifying material that could be relevant to financial investigations.

The court further heard that officers discovered a handwritten letter allegedly authored by state witness Melvin Theuma inside a cabinet in the Level 21 boardroom. According to Vella, the letter claimed that Yorgen Fenech and Keith Schembri had engaged Theuma to arrange the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. He said the letter also referred to a government job allegedly secured for Theuma by "Keith tal-Kasco", as well as Theuma's fear for his own safety. Investigators additionally recovered Theuma's employment contract and two payslips from the same cabinet.

Cross-examination by Giannella de Marco focused heavily on the searches carried out at Keith Schembri's office in Castille. Vella confirmed that his task had been to search for evidence relating to financial crimes, while Keith Arnaud and Kurt Zahra conducted a separate search connected to the homicide investigation. The court viewed footage of the search, which Vella described as a meticulous drawer-by-drawer examination. He said investigators recovered 45 documents, 44 relating to Rotorua Trust and Tillgate Inc., while another handwritten document found on Schembri's desk was also seized because he believed it could be relevant to the parallel investigation. Schembri confirmed that all the documents had been recovered from his office in his presence before they were sealed as evidence.

The defence then questioned why a folder containing photocopies of Daphne Caruana Galizia's blog posts, together with documents inserted between the pages, had been examined but not seized. Vella replied that the blog posts were publicly available online and therefore did not consider it necessary to recover the folder, although de Marco continued pressing him on why the accompanying documents had not been treated as potentially relevant evidence.

Questioning also turned to the scope of the searches. De Marco pointed out that investigators had even recovered blank sheets of paper from Fenech's offices before asking whether Vella knew the identities of Tumas Group board members or the company secretary whose offices he had searched. Vella replied that he did not. He further confirmed that, unlike Fenech's Portomaso residence and office, which had been sealed and guarded by police, Keith Schembri's office at Castille was locked but was not placed under permanent police surveillance. 

Yorgen Fenech, a businessman, has pleaded not guilty to two principal charges: complicity in the wilful homicide of Daphne Caruana Galizia and criminal association to commit the murder. 

Caruana Galizia, a columnist with The Malta Independent, was killed in a car bomb on 16 October, 2017.

Five men have already been convicted in connection with Caruana Galizia's assassination. Vince Muscat admitted his role in the murder in 2021 and was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment. Alfred and George Degiorgio each received 40-year prison sentences after pleading guilty in 2022, while Robert Agius and Jamie Vella were sentenced to life imprisonment in 2025 for supplying the bomb used in the attack.

The prosecution is being led by Attorney General lawyers Godwin Cini, Anthony Vella and Danika Vella, assisted by Assistant Commissioner Keith Arnaud and Inspector Kurt Zahra. Fenech is represented by lawyers Charles Mercieca, Gianella Demarco and Gianluca Caruana Curran, while lawyers Therese Comodini Cachia and Jason Azzopardi are appearing parte civile on behalf of the Caruana Galizia family.

Judge Edwina Grima is presiding.

Please refresh for updates

18:20 The court is now adjourned. The trial will resume tomorrow at 9am. A summary of the proceedings will follow shortly.

18:17 During cross-examination, defence lawyer Giannella de Marco questions Police Constable Jurgen Muscat about the analysis of data extracted from electronic devices as part of the investigation.

De Marco refers the witness to official police correspondence, which she says was authored by Muscat, concerning the analysis of a conversation between Johann Cremona and Melvin Theuma.

18:10 Police Constable Jurgen Muscat tells the court that he took part in several searches connected to the investigation.

He says he was present during searches at the residence of Edwin 'Il-Ġojja' Brincat in Ħ'Attard, at a maisonette belonging to Melvin Theuma in Wied il-Għajn, and at Level 21, Portomaso.

Muscat adds that, during the search at Portomaso, investigators also recovered a photograph of Melvin Theuma.

18:06 Following the conclusion of former Inspector Keith Vella's testimony, Danilo Francalanza takes the witness stand.

Francalanza tells the court that in 2019 he was stationed with the Anti-Money Laundering Squad. His testimony is brief before the prosecution calls its next witness.

The court then hears from Jurgen Muscat, who says that in 2019 he was a police constable stationed with the Economic Crimes Unit and took part in a number of searches carried out during the investigation. He adds that in 2020 he joined the task force responsible for extracting and analysing data recovered from electronic devices relevant to the investigation.

17:57 The defence asks what became of the 44 documents recovered from Keith Schembri's office at Castille.

Former Inspector Keith Vella tells the court that he discussed the documents with an Assistant Commissioner, who informed him that the subject matter had already been investigated and instructed him to keep the documents for the time being.

"He told me, 'For now, keep them.' I asked several times whether I should submit them, but I was never given any further instructions," Vella tells the court.

He adds that he showed one of the recovered documents to Inspector Keith Arnaud, but says he was never contacted again regarding the remaining 44 documents after being instructed to retain them.

Vella also notes that there are separate ongoing proceedings concerning 17 Black and Keith Schembri.

17:49 During cross-examination, former Inspector Keith Vella confirms that, unlike Yorgen Fenech's Portomaso office and residence, which had been sealed and placed under a fixed police guard, Keith Schembri's office at Castille was not.

Vella tells the court that although the office was locked, it was not under permanent police surveillance.

She then asks Vella whether he knew who the Tumas Group board members whose boardroom he searched were, or who the secretary was whose office he searched and from which he recovered various items.

Vella replies that he did not know the identities of any of those individuals.

17:36 The defence now turns to a large folder containing photocopies of Daphne Caruana Galizia's blog posts, which is visible in the search footage. The defence asks why the folder was examined before being returned to the drawer instead of being recovered as evidence.

Vella replies that he was not alone in the office while the search was taking place.

Asked whether the folder was ultimately seized, Vella confirms that it was not.

The defence points out that the folder also contained documents inserted between the photocopied blog posts and questions why these were not considered relevant to the investigation.

Vella tells the court that the material was publicly accessible online at the time and, for that reason, he did not consider it necessary to recover it. The defence continues to press the witness on why the documents contained within the folder were not treated as potentially relevant evidence.

Vella tells the court that his role was to carry out searches and recover material that could be relevant to financial crimes, adding that evidence linked to other offences could also be seized if considered pertinent.

Referring to the search at Castille, De Marco notes that Vella had testified he was responsible for searching for evidence relating to financial crimes while Keith Arnaud and Kurt Zahra were conducting a separate search connected to the homicide investigation. Vella confirms this.

De Marco then points out that the footage shown in court appears to show only Vella carrying out a search. Madam Justice Edwina Grima intervenes, stating that Inspector Arnaud can also be seen conducting his own search in the footage.

17:25 The court is shown footage of the search inside former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri's office at Castille. 

Asked by the prosecution to explain what the footage shows, former Inspector Keith Vella says he was carrying out a "meticulous drawer-by-drawer search", following the same procedure used in every search to ensure that no documents were overlooked.

Vella tells the court that officers recovered 45 documents during the search. He says 44 of them related to Rotorua Trust and Tillgate Inc., while another was a handwritten document found on Schembri's desk. Vella explains that he believed the handwritten note could be relevant to the investigation being led by Keith Arnaud and Kurt Zahra, and it was therefore also seized.

He explains that Keith Schembri confirmed that all the documents had been recovered from his office in his presence before they were placed in an evidence envelope.

17:08 The jury returns to the courtroom and former Inspector Keith Vella resumes giving evidence.

Madam Justice Edwina Grima asks the witness whether he knows who wrote the handwritten notes on the flip charts.

Vella replies that he did not investigate who wrote them and did not examine their contents. He explains that his role was simply to recover items that could potentially be relevant to financial investigations.

17:08 Proceedings are briefly interrupted after defence lawyer Charles Mercieca raises a point of law, arguing that former Inspector Keith Vella should limit his evidence to the facts and refrain from interpreting documents recovered during the searches.

Prosecutor Godwin Cini replies that, as the investigating officer who seized the documents, Vella is entitled to explain why he considered them relevant to the investigation.

Mercieca says that he is not challenging the witness's right to explain why the material was recovered, but argues that he should not interpret its contents by relying on allegations or media reports.

Madam Justice Edwina Grima rules that Vella may testify about the items he recovered, the searches he carried out and the reasons he believed the material could be relevant to the investigation. However, she directs that he must not offer interpretations or commentary on handwritten notes or documents that are not his own.

16:54 The witness continues explaining the contents of the flipchart, pointing to handwritten references to Siemens, Enemalta, SOCAR and GEM Holdings.

He says the names relate to 17 Black.

The defence objects, arguing that the witness should limit himself to describing what is written on the documents rather than drawing his own conclusions.

The court is then shown another page from the flip chart containing references to FSU, LNG, Electrogas, a loan, and a handwritten note referring to €100 million.

The witness says he believes the FSU reference relates to the gas tanker at Marsaxlokk and suggests the €100 million note may relate to a loan.

The defence again objects, insisting that the witness cannot speculate about the meaning of the notes and arguing that his role was simply to recover the evidence.

Madam Justice Edwina Grima responds that the defence will have the opportunity to put its questions to the witness once the prosecution concludes its examination.

16:34 The court hears that a cabinet in the Level 21 boardroom contained a handwritten letter allegedly written by state witness Melvin Theuma.

In the letter, Theuma allegedly claims that Yorgen Fenech and Keith Schembri had engaged him to arrange Daphne Caruana Galizia's murder.

The witness says the signed letter also refers to a government job allegedly secured for Theuma by 'Keith tal-Kasco.'

Theuma later lost this job.

According to the witness, Theuma wrote the letter because he feared for his life.

Investigators also recovered Theuma's employment contract and two payslips from the same cabinet.

16:22: The witness tells the court that his role in the case was limited to the financial crimes investigation and that he had no involvement in the homicide investigation itself.

The prosecution is exhibiting a number of documents and papers recovered from the office at Level 21 of Portomaso.

According to the witness, these were seized because they referred to companies that had been linked in media reports to 17 Black and Electrogas.

He explains that the handwritten notes on the flip charts related to the Electrogas consortium.

He further explains that investigators also recovered a document relating to New Energy.

In the boardroom, officers found an invoice written in French.

The witness reiterates that New Energy Supply Limited forms part of the Electrogas consortium.

Once again, Vella states he was not involved with the homicide investigation.

16:12: Former Inspector Keith Vella tells the court that the flip chart recovered during the search of Level 21 at Portomaso contained handwritten references to Siemens, SOCAR, and Enemalta. Other names were also mentioned.

Asked by Madam Justice Edwina Grima why police had seized the flip chart, Vella replies that the companies mentioned on it were, at the time, being reported in the media in connection with 17 Black.

16:10: Another new prosecution witness, former Inspector Keith Vella, takes the stand.

He tells the court that he served in the Police Corps between 2010 and 2021, before spending the final four years of his service with the Money Laundering Squad.

Vella explains that the searches of Yorgen Fenech's properties began at Level 21 of Portomaso.

He confirms that officers recovered the flip chart which was among the items seized during the search of the apartment.

16:04: During cross-examination, Police Sergeant Antoine Micallef is being questioned about the arrest of Keith Schembri.

Micallef tells the court that Schembri was arrested after 9am but before noon.

He explains that he was driving an unmarked police vehicle escorting the police van carrying Schembri, while a forensic unit vehicle also formed part of the escort.

15:57: A new prosecution witness, Police Sergeant Antoine Micallef, who was stationed with the Drug Squad at the time of the investigation, takes the witness stand.

Micallef tells the court that, following Yorgen Fenech's arrest, Fenech began feeling unwell and a doctor was called to his residence.

He confirms that Dr Adrian Vella examined Fenech in his presence and administered medication, after which Fenech said he was feeling better.

The witness goes on to say that he spent 12 days with Fenech while he was on police bail, during which time Dr Adrian Vella visited him frequently.

However, Micallef clarifies that these visits did not always take place in the presence of police officers, as Fenech was not under arrest during that period.

15:50: Police Officer Kyle Zammit, who is stationed with the Drug Squad, begins giving his testimony before the jury.

He recalls the events surrounding Yorgen Fenech's arrest.

Zammit tells the court that Fenech fully cooperated with police throughout the operation. He also confirms that two Europol officials were present while officers carried out the searches.

15:44: The defence briefly cross-examines Andrea Grech.

Lawyer Giannella de Marco refers to Grech's earlier testimony that Yorgen Fenech appeared relaxed when officers identified themselves as members of the Drug Squad.

Grech explains officers had been instructed to collect electronic devices.

Europol officers and Inspector Kevin Pulis were present during the searches, and that all electronic devices were collected, seized, and catalogued by Pulis together with the Europol officers.

The defence now concludes its cross-examination.

15:41: The witness tells the court that the search of Yorgen Fenech's cabin cruiser began at around 8am, when officers informed Fenech that he was being arrested in connection with the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia.

He says he was personally involved in the searches carried out on both the vessel and the apartment where Fenech was living at the time.

Asked about Fenech's reaction, Grech says he cannot recall him saying anything.

The witness adds that throughout the arrest and the searches, Fenech appeared calm and behaved normally.

15:34: Next to testify is Officer Andre Grech.

At the time of the investigation, Grech was stationed with the Drug Squad and the Rapid Intervention Unit. Today, he serves within the Financial Crimes Investigation Department.

15:32: Judge Edwina Grima and jurors enter the courtroom as we get underway again.

13:34: The proceedings have adjourned for a lunch break.

The hearing will resume at 3:15pm.

13:31: During cross-examination, defence lawyer Giannella de Marco asked Inspector Kevin Pulis whether, when Yorgen Fenech's boat was leaving the harbour, the relevant authorities, including Valletta Port Control, had been informed.

Pulis replied that he did not know and explained that he had never asked whether the relevant authorities had been notified.

13:26: Christopher Saliba tells the court that, just minutes after arriving at Keith Schembri's residence in Mellieħa, officers escorted him to the Police General Headquarters.

He says that at around 2pm, he and Inspector Kevin Pulis were once again instructed to escort Schembri back to his residence in Mellieħa.

Saliba adds that officers from the Major Crimes Unit were also present at the residence at the time.

13:22: Christopher Saliba tells the court that at around 10am on the day in question, he accompanied Inspector Kevin Pulis to Keith Schembri's residence in Mellieħa.

He says they found Inspectors Keith Arnaud and Kurt Zahra there with Schembri.

13:18: The hearing was briefly interrupted due to technical issues affecting the witness's video link.

Proceedings resume shortly afterwards, allowing Christopher Saliba to continue his testimony.

13:03: Christopher Saliba confirms the evidence previously given regarding the items recovered during searches linked to Yorgen Fenech.

He also tells the court that Fenech had informed him he had resigned from the company two days before his arrest.

12:59: Officer Christopher Saliba testifies remotely via video link.

Saliba tells the court that he spent 20 years in the police anti-drug squad. He recalls that he had been instructed by Superintendent Pulis to go to Portomaso.

He says he informed Yorgen Fenech that he was under arrest and identified himself as an officer from the drug squad.

According to Saliba, Fenech responded, "So we won't be here long."

Saliba says he immediately clarified that his presence did not mean the investigation was limited to drug offences, informing Fenech that he was being arrested in connection with the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia.

He adds that Fenech remained calm throughout the exchange.

12:45 During cross-examination by defence lawyer Giannella de Marco, Sergeant Kevin Pulis confirmed that Dr Adrian Vella was arrested at around 1am after being brought from his home by police. De Marco then displayed a photo of a mobile phone on the courtroom screen, which Pulis confirmed was found brand new and still in its box inside Yorgen Fenech's office. Finally, Pulis confirmed his involvement in Keith Schembri's arrest, stating that at 10am that day, he was in Mellieħa to drive Schembri from his home to the police depot alongside Assistant Commissioner Keith Arnaud and Inspector Kurt Zahra. With these questions concluded, Pulis finished testifying. 

12:39 The defence then turns its attention to the searches carried out at Yorgen Fenech's properties, with lawyer Giannella de Marco asking whether the methodical approach adopted by investigators was the appropriate method for searches of this nature.

Pulis replies that, based on his experience, it was the best way to conduct the searches.

He also recalls arriving at the scene of Fenech's arrest, where he found members of the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) together with two police officers who had already reached the location.

The cross-examination then shifts to the search of Fenech's yacht, with Pulis confirming that officers found no illegal substances or weapons on board.

He tells the court that neither drugs nor firearms were recovered during the search.

12:34 The defence begins its cross-examination of Inspector Kevin Pulis, with lawyer Giannella de Marco focusing on the period between Yorgen Fenech's arrest and his arraignment.

Pulis confirms that between 20 and 30 November 2019, Fenech was never left alone by police, except for a few hours on 29 November, when he had been granted police bail.

De Marco now turns to the medical care provided following the arrest.

Pulis agrees that Fenech had told him he did not require a doctor but says Inspector Keith Arnaud nevertheless insisted that Dr Adrian Vella examine him.

The witness once again confirms that Fenech maintained he did not need medical assistance at the time.

12:24 The court is now being shown documents recovered during the investigation relating to energy investments, including a business card from SOCAR, the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan, together with a number of other documents.

12:10 Turning to the events of 29 November 2019, the witness says he was informed by then Police Commissioner Lawrence Cutajar that Yorgen Fenech, who had been released on police bail, was not under police protection.

He explains, following a request by Fenech's lawyers, police officers were immediately dispatched to his residence, where they found him accompanied by lawyer Gianluca Caruana Curran.

11:53 Continuing his testimony, Pulis tells the court that, following the repeated attempts to reach Dr Adrian Vella at his residence proved unsuccessful, he decided to call the doctor's daughter. Instead, Dr Vella picked up the phone himself.

Pulis then informed Vella that the police had been knocking at his door. A few minutes later, the doctor opened his front door.

Vella accompanied officers to the police depot, where Assistant Commissioner Keith Arnaud and Inspector Kurt Zahra were waiting to speak to him.

Pulis says it took Dr Vella around an hour before he was ready to leave, describing him as "emotional and frightened" because, according to Pulis, "he didn't know it was the police."

Pulis adds that he offered Dr Vella the option of driving to the depot in his own car while officers followed behind, but the doctor declined and instead chose to travel with the police.

Sergeant Kevin Pulis resumes his testimony.

11:22 Proceedings will continue at 11:30am.

11:20 Inspector Kevin Pulis testifies that on the morning of 26 November 2019, Inspector Keith Arnaud asked him to accompany him to Dr Adrian Vella's residence to request that he accompany police to the lock-up.

Pulis said officers made several attempts to contact Vella but "the doctor did not answer the door."

The witness stressed that no arrest warrant had been issued against Vella and that he was therefore expected to accompany police voluntarily.

11:08 The court hears that investigators returned to the boat Gio 2 on 28 November 2019, eight days after Yorgen Fenech's arrest aboard the vessel.

Pulis explains that the yacht had remained under continuous police guard following the initial operation, while its keys were kept by Tumas Group.

He says a Europol forensic expert joined officers during the second search, using specialised equipment to carry out a more detailed examination of the vessel for any electronic devices that may have been missed during the first search.

According to Pulis, investigators recovered a number of additional SIM cards, including older and unbranded cards. Among the items seized were also SIM cards issued by the Italian mobile network operators Wind, Telecom, and TIM.

11:02 Pulis goes on to explain that one of the searches at Portomaso was carried out in an office without Yorgen Fenech present.

Instead, the search took place in the presence of Ray Sladden, Tumas Group's Financial Controller, who identified the office as belonging to Fenech.

According to Pulis, investigators recovered a number of items from the office, including documents, a mobile phone, and a computer.

He states that every electronic device seized during the searches was subsequently handed over to Europol for forensic examination.

Pulis also describes another search carried out on Level 21 of Portomaso in Fenech's presence, during which officers recovered a laptop, several USB drives and SD cards.

The witness goes on to list a number of corporate documents recovered during the investigation, including a certificate connected to Wings Investments Limited, invoices, a Memorandum of Understanding relating to New Energy Supply Limited, as well as documentation linked to an offshore company.

He adds that investigators also recovered documents relating to Melvin Theuma.

11:00

Yorgen Fenech was arrested by police while attempting to flee the country on his yacht 'Gio 2'.

10:54

Attention now turns to the items recovered during searches at Yorgen Fenech's Portomaso residence. He says he was present for every search except one.

Pulis says police seized an HD Wi-Fi camera, a rose gold iPhone, a tablet, and a SIM card from Yorgen Fenech's Portomaso residence.

He adds that officers also recovered business cards, along with dozens of other electronic devices being seized during the search.

Pulis also tells the court that the searches were briefly paused after officers became concerned about Fenech's medical condition and Dr Adrian Vella was called to attend to him.

10:38 Sargeant Kevin Pulis tells the court that, according to a statement given by the boat's captain Logan Wood, the vessel had been due to travel to Pozzallo for its annual maintenance.

Pulis explains that Wood told police the maintenance had originally been planned for December. However, after speaking with Yorgen Fenech, they decided to leave immediately instead.

Wood also explained that, although he had travelled alone for the annual maintenance in previous years, the plan this time was for Fenech to remain in Pozzallo while the captain returned to Malta alone.

Pulis also tells the court that he asked Wood for the passcode to his mobile phone but, as far as he could remember, Wood did not provide it.

10:24 During the searches of Yorgen Fenech, his captain, his yacht, his penthouse, and two Tumas Group offices at Portomaso, Sergeant Kevin Pulis testified that officers seized several items from the yacht, including a MacBook wrapped in clingfilm, an internet key, approximately 7,000 euros in cash, and a black iPhone belonging to Fenech.

10:19 Sergeant Kevin Pulis, a 20-year veteran of the police corps, took the witness stand to recount the arrest of Yorgen Fenech. He testified that on November 19, 2019, Assistant Commissioner Keith Arnaud briefed him and instructed him to monitor airports as part of a plan to arrest Fenech. The following morning on November 20, Arnaud informed Pulis that Fenech was leaving the port aboard his yacht, the Gio, prompting Pulis to alert the Portomaso marina and Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) soldiers. Pulis stated that he went to the marina holding Fenech's arrest warrant, found Fenech seated on the boat alongside the captain, read him his rights, and handed him the warrant. Around 8:00am, Europol experts and a scene-of-the-crime officer arrived at the location. 

10:06 Defence lawyer Giannella De Marco begins her cross-examination of Sergeant Gary Scerri by focusing on his testimony about the operation at Keith Schembri's residence.

She asks why Scerri had not mentioned the presence of workers at the property during his testimony at the compilation of evidence.

Scerri replies that his evidence at the time had been limited to the "Leaks" investigation.

De Marco points out that Scerri raised the issue of the workers during today's testimony without being asked about it and suggests he is trying to "patch up" his evidence.

Scerri rejects the allegation, replying: "Not at all. I have no reason to patch up anything."

The defence also questions Scerri about whether he remained in the police van during what he had described as an operation rather than a search, which he denies.

Asked whether investigators Keith Arnaud and Kurt Zahra had already seized any items before he entered the residence, Scerri says he does not know. He adds that Arnaud never informed him that any material had already been recovered from the property.

The defence concludes its cross-examination of Scerri.

10:00 The court hears that in 2021, after Vince Muscat, known as Il-Koħħu, admitted to police that he had been involved in the case, investigators visited several locations he identified as part of the ongoing investigation.

Among them was the garage where the bomb used in the assassination had allegedly been stored.

9:52 Under questioning from the prosecution, Sergeant Gary Scerri is asked to explain how the operation at Keith Schembri's residence was carried out.

Madam Justice Edwina Grima intervenes, asking the witness to first outline how police searches are normally conducted.

Scerri tells the court that, in this instance, the operation was not a conventional search but was instead aimed at recovering specific items on the instructions of lead investigator Keith Arnaud.

He says Keith Schembri himself identified the items to be collected by police.

The witness adds that this was not unusual, explaining that during his career he has dealt with other investigations in which suspects themselves indicated the location of items sought by investigators.

9:44 Scerri tells the court that Keith Schembri was arrested in the early hours of the morning by investigators Keith Arnaud and Kurt Zahra.

He says that at around 2pm, other police officers and himself carried out a search of Schembri's residence.

Scerri testifies that the search was conducted in the presence of Schembri's lawyers, who, to the best of his knowledge, had requested to accompany the police during the operation.

He says those present at the residence also included Schembri's wife, an elderly couple, Neville Gafà and several workers.

9:42 Scerri testified that he was involved in the police search of Keith Schembri's Mellieħa residence, which was ordered by Assistant Commissioner Keith Arnaud. Scerri was instructed to escort Schembri to Mellieħa at around 2pm in an unmarked police vehicle - used by the plainclothes officers to avoid alerting journalists lingering outside police headquarters - to collect uncollected electronic devices. The search was attended by Scerri, two other police sergeants, Schembri's lawyers Edward Gatt and Mark Vassallo, and two scene-of-the-crime officers who had testified earlier in the week. Additionally, Scerri was tasked with checking surrounding buildings near the villa to gather any relevant CCTV footage. 

9:38 Scerri tells jurors he was present during the arrests of George and Alfred Degiorgio and Vince Muscat at the potato shed in Marsa, where he also carried out searches of the premises, the suspects' vehicles and an apartment in St Paul's Bay.

Scerri clarifies that he had no direct role in the suspects' interrogations.

Turning to events on 23 November 2019, Scerri recounts escorting Yorgen Fenech to Mater Dei Hospital after Fenech's doctor, Adrian Vella, requested that he be taken there urgently while he was under arrest in the police lock-up.

9:34 Police sergeant Gary Scerri from the homicide squad takes the witness stand as the first witness on day 27 of the trial, detailing his involvement in the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder investigation from day one, which ranged from retrieving CCTV and conducting fieldwork with Europol experts to participating in the raids that led to the arrest of the hitmen. Scerri also provided details regarding Yorgen Fenech's hospitalisation following his arrest, noting that Dr Adrian Vella ordered Fenech to be taken to Mater Dei Hospital and requested medicine be administered, after which Fenech could not continue giving his police statement due to anaesthetic. 

9:08 As day 27 of the Yorgen Fenech trial gets underway at the Valletta law courts, the court addressed a uniquely Maltese disruption by announcing that break times may be shifted due to nearby fireworks. Proceedings began with both prosecutors and defence lawyers successfully requesting sections of a document to be redacted for irrelevant personal information and professional relationship details

This increase in debt was partially offset by a drop in Foreign Loans (€80.1 million) and in the 62+ Malta Government Savings Bond (€37.8 million). Moreover, higher holdings by government funds in Malta Government Stocks resulted in a decrease in debt of €22.7 million, the NSO said.

By the end of June 2026, the Government's Consolidated Fund reported a deficit of €463.5 million.

Between January and June 2026, Recurrent Revenue amounted to €4,155.2 million, €681.0 million higher than the figure reported a year earlier. The largest increases were recorded under Income Tax (€287.7 million), Grants (€156.8 million) and Value Added Tax (€137.4 million). On the other hand, lower revenue was recorded under Fees of Office (€13.8 million), Reimbursements (€2.1 million) and Sales - Others (€0.9 million).

Total expenditure by the close of June 2026 stood at €4,618.7 million, €687.1 million higher than the previous year.

During the reference period, Recurrent Expenditure totalled €3,952.9 million, an increase of €506.5 million compared to the €3,446.4 million reported the year prior. The main contributor to this increase was a €262.2 million rise reported under Programmes and Initiatives. Further increases were also recorded under Operational and Maintenance Expenses (€96.3 million), Personal Emoluments (€82.6 million), and Contributions to Government Entities (€65.5 million).

The main developments in the Programmes and Initiatives category involved higher outlays towards Social security benefits (€88.1 million), Medicines and surgical materials (€25.7 million) and EU own resources (€24.4 million).

The interest component of the public debt servicing costs totalled €158.5 million, an increase of €14.6 million when compared to the previous year.

By the end of June 2026, Government's capital spending amounted to €507.3 million, €165.9 million higher than the comparative period in 2025. Higher outlay was, among others, reported towards the Acquisition of property for public purposes (€49.1 million), Property, Plant and Equipment (€18.6 million) and Road construction and improvements (€15.0 million). The rise in spending was partially offset by drops recorded under the Investments in Physical Assets (Agricultural EU funds) (€5.3 million) and Investment Incentives (€5.1 million).

The difference between total revenue and expenditure resulted in a deficit of €463.5 million being reported in the Government's Consolidated Fund at the end of June 2026, in comparison to the €457.4 million deficit registered the year prior. This difference mirrors an increase in total Recurrent Revenue (€681.0 million), offset by a higher rise in total expenditure, which consists of Recurrent Expenditure (€506.5 million), Interest (€14.6 million) and Capital Expenditure (€165.9 million).

In a heartfelt statement, the Rossoneri said: "AC Milan is in tears following the passing of Franco Baresi. His example and integrity will forever remain, just like his iconic No. 6 shirt, an integral and fundamental part of the club's DNA. AC Milan extends its deepest condolences to Franco Baresi's family."

Baresi had undergone surgery in 2025 to remove a lung nodule and initially appeared to be on the road to recovery. However, his condition deteriorated following a relapse. Earlier this week, the club had been forced to deny false reports of his death, urging respect for his privacy as he battled serious health problems.

His death marks the end of an era for AC Milan. A one-club man throughout his professional career, Baresi made his first-team debut at just 17 years of age in 1978 and went on to become the symbol of the Rossoneri for two decades. He remained loyal to the club through its greatest triumphs as well as its darkest moments, including two relegations to Serie B, before captaining Milan to unprecedented domestic and European success under Arrigo Sacchi and Fabio Capello.

Following his retirement in 1997, AC Milan retired his famous No. 6 shirt, ensuring that no player would wear it again in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to the club.

Baresi's achievements with Milan remain among the finest in football history. He won six Serie A titles, three European Cups/UEFA Champions League trophies, two Intercontinental Cups, two UEFA Super Cups, four Italian Super Cups, two Serie B championships and the Mitropa Cup.

His influence extended well beyond club football. Although he did not feature during Italy's victorious 1982 World Cup campaign, he later became the cornerstone of the national team, helping the Azzurri finish third at the 1990 World Cup before captaining them to the final of USA '94. Despite suffering a serious knee injury during the tournament, he made a remarkable recovery to play in the final against Brazil, producing a memorable performance before missing a penalty in the decisive shootout.

Baresi remains the only footballer to have finished first, second and third at FIFA World Cups - champion in 1982, third in 1990 and runner-up in 1994.

Widely regarded as one of the finest defenders of all time, Franco Baresi leaves behind a legacy built on elegance, leadership, loyalty and sporting excellence. His name will forever be synonymous with AC Milan and with one of the greatest generations in Italian football history.

At least 34 migrants have died in the process.

"The situation that Ceuta is going through is absolutely unsustainable," said Juan Jesús Vivas on Friday.

The border crisis boiled over Thursday and continued on Friday with security forces clashing with migrants on the Moroccan side of the border.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned the breach of the border on Friday speaking in Ceuta, describing the events as "a violation of Spain's territorial integrity."

The Spanish leader cast blame on human smugglers, saying they "deceive so many young people, and ultimately lead many of them to their deaths - whether in the ocean or, as in this case, at Spain's border in the autonomous city of Ceuta."

Live footage of the border showed hundreds of migrants gathered on a hill overlooking Ceuta being dispersed with tear gas by Moroccan forces, while others continued to swim to the Spanish territory.

At the same time, large groups of migrants walked back from Ceuta toward Morocco to return home.

Rachid Sbihi, who leads a local workers association representing Civil Guard officers, called the situation a "serious humanitarian crisis," saying thousands of migrants, including unaccompanied children, were left sleeping in parks and on sidewalks, while others roamed the streets aimlessly.

"People are still entering. The reinforcements, including Spanish military troops, that have arrived are only helping the injured and other humanitarian efforts," he said. "It's chaotic."

People died in border chaos

Among the 18 who died, many drowned, Sbihi said, but some were also killed in a stampede to cross the breakwater fence at Tarajal beach, an urban beach near a border checkpoint with Morocco.

Ahmed Karim, a 33-year old Moroccan, said he had crossed into Ceuta because of the lack of jobs in his country.

"Many people want to go to Europe, America, but they don't have the opportunity," Karim said.

On Friday morning, the waters near the border fence were littered with buoys, shoes and other belongings left behind.

Moroccan police deployed additional personnel, used water cannons and fired warning shots into the air to prevent migrants from crossing into Ceuta, according to rights groups in Morocco.

"Despite the heavy police presence, people crossed through the waterway, while the land border remained closed," said Achraf Maimouni, a human rights activist in Fnideq, the Moroccan city bordering Ceuta.

Migrants arrested at the border were taken farther into Morocco, away from Ceuta, "but people are still coming," he said.

Morocco's ambassador to Spain expressed hope that those who crossed from Morocco into the Spanish exclave would return. Karima Benyaich described the situation in Ceuta as difficult, saying it had unfolded against Morocco's wishes.

"We have always prioritized legal, orderly and safe migration for all," she said. Benyaich did not comment on what prompted the migrants to cross into Ceuta.

But authorities in both Ceuta and Madrid, linked it to a recent decision by Spain's Supreme Court that ruled migrants arriving by sea could not be summarily deported, unlike those who cross by land or climb the border fence.

Sánchez said migrant smugglers misinterpreted the ruling, but acknowledged that it may have played a role in sowing chaos.

"It appears that this interpretation of the Supreme Court's ruling spread like wildfire over the past few hours through the networks of human trafficking organizations, triggering the kind of mass surge we witnessed yesterday," Sánchez said.

Spain is a main point of arrival into Europe for migrants seeking better economic opportunities or an escape from violence in their home countries.

To reach Ceuta, located on the northern African coast, migrants often swim from the Moroccan town of Fnideq, covering about 3 miles (5 kilometers) to reach Spanish territory. Others attempt the crossing from the nearby town of Belyounech, where the distance is shorter.

Spanish leader criticized at home and abroad

Sánchez has bucked the anti-migration trend that has gained ground across Europe and in the U.S.. While the Trump administration and other European countries have tightened their borders and stepped up deportations, Spain earlier this year moved to give residency and work permits to hundreds of thousands of migrants already living in the country without permission.

Sánchez, a Socialist, argued that it would be good for the economy and the demographics of an aging Spain. Migrants who entered irregularly after January 1, 2026, were not included.

But his critics have jumped the opportunity granted them by the endless reels of young Moroccans streaming into Ceuta to attack his policy, saying it encouraged more migrants to come to Spain.

"Sánchez allows Spain to be invaded through Ceuta," Spanish conservative politician Isabel Díaz Ayuso wrote on X.

Sánchez on Friday distanced the migrant legalization push from the events unfolding in Ceuta.

The chaos had ripple effects abroad as well. Premier Giorgia Meloni threatened to suspend Italy's open-border Schengen agreement with Spain "to defend our borders and ensure the safety of our citizens," even though Italy doesn't share a border with Spain and is also a main entry point for tens of thousands of migrants crossing the Mediterranean from North Africa each year.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said France would also strengthen border checks with Spain, writing on X that he had activated the Rapid Intervention Border Force.

"This crisis in Ceuta has nothing to do with the regularization of migrants adopted by the Government of Spain, as is being falsely claimed by some," the Spanish government said in a statement late Thursday after Meloni's announcement. It also summoned Italy's ambassador in Madrid.

"This crisis stems from an interpretation of a Supreme Court's decision, according to which people who swim illegally across the border cannot be returned," the Spanish government said. The decision has been exploited by smugglers who take advantage of vulnerable migrants, it added.

Some activists in Morocco expressed doubt that the ruling was behind the surge, arguing most migrants would have been unaware of such legal decisions.

Migrants cross into another Spanish exclave

Migrants from Morocco also attempted to cross into Melilla, Spain's other territory at the tip of North Africa.

There was widespread chaos in Bni Nsar, the Moroccan town bordering the Spanish territory, where migrants clashed with police, throwing rocks and setting police vehicles ablaze, according to local media and rights groups. They reported injuries among security forces and the arrest of dozens of people attempting to cross.

Omar Naji of the local branch of the Moroccan Association of Human Rights told the AP that the crossing attempts into Melilla appeared to be linked to the situation in Ceuta.

Like Ceuta, Melilla is a Spanish autonomous city on the North African coast. Many Moroccans consider both cities to be occupied territory.

Ceuta authorities had warned of a looming crisis

Juan Jesús Vivas, the head of Ceuta's regional government, had warned earlier this week that migrant reception centers were overwhelmed as arrivals by sea had steadily been increasing before the chaos erupted Thursday.

Spain's Interior Ministry would not confirm the number of migrants who had made it to Ceuta but said it would publish its next migration report on Monday.

Spanish media, citing unnamed government and security sources, estimated between 30,000 and 49,000 migrants had crossed in the past 24 hours. A member of Spain's civil guard who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release figures to the media said that 49,000 people were estimated to crossed. That's more than half of Ceuta's nearly 84,000 population.

Sbihi, of the civil guard workers association, said it was difficult to know exact numbers but believed tens of thousands of migrants had made it through.

Ceuta has been a Spanish possession since 1580. Its mixed population of Christians and Muslims, Spanish and Moroccan residents and day workers, lives in relative harmony.

Full-time and part-time fishermen operating vessels registered under the MFA and MFB categories will benefit from a 55% reduction in electricity service charges and a 57% reduction in water service charges.

Electricity charges for other vessels registered under the MFC category will meanwhile be reduced by 17%.

The reductions apply to charges linked to the use of electricity and water service pillars by fishing vessels.

Abela announced the measures following an informal meeting with fishermen in Marsaxlokk. He was accompanied by Permanent Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Supply Sharlo Camilleri and Fisheries and Aquaculture Director General Bjorn Azzopardi.

The Prime Minister said the reductions were intended to ease the operational costs faced by fishermen and provide improved conditions for them to continue working and investing in their businesses.

The government also plans to begin discussions with fishermen's organisations over the future of an abandoned building at Xatt is-Sajjieda.

According to the Office of the Prime Minister, the building would be transferred to the Malta Food Agency and converted into a facility serving the fishing sector. The proposed development would include cold-storage facilities for fishermen.

The government said the project would seek to address the practical needs of the sector while supporting the competitiveness and sustainability of Malta's fishing industry.

During the Marsaxlokk visit, Abela was also accompanied by Local Government and Public Works Minister Alison Zerafa Civelli.

The Prime Minister visited the local council building and met Mayor Steven Grech and other councillors to discuss the locality's needs and priorities.

Minister Fearne was speaking during a working breakfast hosted by the Embassy of Ireland, bringing together Heads of Mission of EU Member States for an exchange on key challenges facing the European Union and its neighbourhood.

Focusing on Libya, Minister Fearne called for continued European engagement in support of the country's stability and security, underlining that developments in Libya have direct consequences for the wider Mediterranean and Europe. He reiterated Malta's commitment to dialogue and international efforts aimed at supporting a stable and unified Libya.

On Ukraine, Minister Fearne reaffirmed Malta's support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, stressing that any just and lasting peace must be grounded in international law. He also reiterated Malta's support for the European Union's enlargement process, provided that candidate countries continue to meet the required standards on the rule of law, democratic governance and the Union's fundamental values.

Turning to the Middle East, Minister Fearne reiterated Malta's unequivocal support for a Two-State solution as the basis for lasting peace and security for both Palestinians and Israelis, while stressing the need for continued diplomatic efforts, de-escalation and respect for international law. He also noted that Malta supports a political Council decision restricting trade from Israeli settlements.

The discussion also addressed Europe's competitiveness and the rapid development of artificial intelligence. Minister Fearne stressed that Europe must not limit itself to regulating emerging technologies, but should also strengthen its capacity to develop and deploy them while ensuring that technological progress remains centred on people and the public interest.

On the next Multiannual Financial Framework, Minister Fearne underlined that cohesion must remain a cornerstone of the European Union's budget and stressed the importance of safeguarding Member States' ability to determine their national priorities.

Minister Fearne welcomed the exchange between European partners and reaffirmed Malta's commitment to working towards a stronger, more secure and competitive European Union.

The court action, supported by CABS, Green Impact, Federazione Nazionale Pro Natura and LEAL, challenged the decision to bring forward the hunting season, among other concerns due to a lack of sound scientific data on the risks facing migratory species.

Sicily and Malta are both important stops along the Mediterranean migration route between Europe and Africa.

If the Italian courts found the killing of the Turtle-dove in autumn unjustified, one can only imagine how much worse it is for spring hunting of this species, when it is about to breed, BirdLife said, a reference to its battle to have spring hunting abolished in Malta.

"This is a fight that BirdLife Malta has taken to court since 2022, challenging Malta's spring hunting seasons for Turtle-doves," BirdLife said. "Birds know no borders - their protection shouldn't either."

The first PAC meeting of this legislature was held on Wednesday, and it was every bit as contentious and thorny as PAC meetings tend to be, with disagreement on the subject matter of what the committee should be discussed starting from the very beginning.

The Opposition members on the PAC had filed a request to kick off the committee's work by discussing an NAO report which two years ago exposed serious problems in Malta's electricity distribution network during the summer of 2023, when Malta was affected by widespread power cuts.

The NAO report in question had concluded that there were serious shortcomings in Enemalta's planning and investment and a lack of investment in the distribution network. 

It had offered a damning indictment: the actual expenditure on the network was significantly lower than the allocated budgets and declined despite rising demand. Between 2014 and 2023, spending on the distribution network was cut to one-third of the level recorded before 2014.

Since then, the government has said that it has spent €140 million on upgrading the country's distribution network - yet during a heatwave last week, the same power cuts which afflicted the nation in 2023 reappeared.

The Opposition's request for a discussion on this first report however was denied by the government, who opted to have it postponed until November.

The Government members on the PAC formally requested that the Auditor General update his report, which covered the situation up to 2023, to also reflect the extensive work and investment undertaken between 2023 and 2026, saying that this would offer the best picture possible for a discussion to take place.

In a press release while the meeting was ongoing, the government announced that this request had been made and made it seem like that the NAO was analysing the last three years of investment due to this request.

This suggestion is misleading: the NAO's Auditor General Charles Deguara told the members of the committee that a follow-up on the NAO's report published in 2024 had already been started, and had actually been ongoing for over a month.

The government and the Labour Party are trying to take credit for a decision that the NAO had already taken independently over a month ago.

One can understand the logic that it could be worth waiting for this follow-up report to be drafted and published, and then be able to analyse its contents - but one can also understand this is a very current issue, and that it warrants discussion right now.

The biggest and most cardinal fact is that Malta faced a heatwave in 2023 which resulted in the power grind not being able to cope with electricity demand, and therefore left tens of thousands to sweat out the heat in the dark.

Fast forward to 2026, the outcome remained unchanged: Malta faced a heatwave, the power grid was not able to cope with the demand, and tens of thousands were left to sweat out the heat in the dark.

The people will have to wait until at least November for a discussion to take place within one of Parliament's most important committees on the matter.  By then, the power cuts will most likely be long forgotten and summer would be long gone.

It's something of a political gamble by the PL, because if come November the NAO issues a report which finds that Enemalta's investment in the country's electricity grid remains bereft with shortcomings, then it will be the greatest indictment of the government's energy credentials yet.

But, unfortunately, the people are going to have to wait to see whether that's the case or not.

The project, which was approved by 10 votes to one, will reclaim approximately 2,230 square metres of seabed between Balluta Bay and Spinola Bay. NGO representative Romano Cassar was the only Planning Board member to vote against the proposal, arguing that it conflicts with policies protecting the coastal zone.

The development will include a main competition pool built to international standards, enabling Malta to host international water polo competitions. Other facilities will include a training pool, a children's pool, deck areas, changing rooms, a gym, committee rooms, technical facilities and other ancillary amenities.

The project also incorporates two restaurants-one at promenade level and another at deck level with outdoor seating. However, project architect Edwin Mintoff stressed that the catering facilities will remain ancillary to the sports complex, noting that their combined floor area will be the same as that of the club's existing restaurant.

Construction is expected to take around two years. During this period, only the section of the promenade immediately adjacent to the club will be closed to swimmers and bathers.

The revised design significantly reduces the environmental impact of the original 2019 proposal. Direct loss of protected Posidonia seagrass has been reduced by around 80%, with approximately 197 square metres of habitat now expected to be affected after the deck area was scaled back.

The project nevertheless includes a 148-square-metre bullnose-shaped breakwater, which is expected to have the greatest remaining impact on the protected seagrass through shading and changes to water movement.

Mintoff said the breakwater will remain accessible to the public and is primarily intended to reduce wave action, protect the facility and serve as a navigational marker through the installation of lighting. While the current application does not include boat moorings, he acknowledged that a separate application could be submitted in the future.

During the Planning Board meeting, St Julian's resident and environmental policy academic Marguerite Camilleri expressed support for the water polo club but questioned the need to extend the development into the bay, describing it as a "sea grab". She also raised concerns about the loss of views from the promenade and questioned whether the project had adequately considered the long-term impacts of climate change and rising sea levels.

"How much space on our beaches can we afford to continue losing?" she asked, urging the Planning Authority to assess the climate resilience of major developments. Executive Chairperson Johann Buttigieg replied that such assessments do not fall within the authority's remit.

Responding to these concerns, project consultant Joe Bugeja said the facility had been designed using wave modelling specific to Balluta Bay.

According to the case officer's report, the revised proposal substantially reduces the impact on protected marine habitats compared with the original application.

The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) concluded that the amendments had lowered the project's environmental impact from major to minor-to-moderate and therefore raised no objection, subject to a number of environmental conditions.

However, ERA noted that the remaining land reclamation will still affect Posidonia seagrass through shading and scouring. It also warned that some changes to wave conditions identified in the original environmental assessment will remain, although the smaller platform will lessen the project's visual impact.

The case officer also noted that the commercial element has been reduced compared with previous proposals and concluded that the project complies with coastal planning policies, preserves public access along the shoreline and should be approved subject to conditions.

Founded in 1949 as the Balluta Water Polo Club, the San Ġiljan Aquatic Sports Club is one of Malta's most successful water polo clubs, having won 14 Premier Division championships and 16 Knock Out titles. It most recently secured both the 2025 Premier Division championship and the 2026 Winter League.

Despite its success, the club currently lacks a permanent pool that can be used when rough sea conditions make training and competitive matches impossible. The new facility is intended to address that long-standing limitation.

The White House announcement comes nine months after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire was signed. Negotiations between Israel and Hamas had largely deadlocked over the implementation of its second phase, including the disarmament of Hamas and the reconstruction of Gaza.

"The agreement will be carried out in carefully structured phases," Trump said on social media. "As disarmament is completed, Israeli forces will withdraw, and the International Stabilization Force will work with a new Palestinian police force to take responsibility for Gaza being safe for its residents and its neighbors."

Trump's 20-point ceasefire plan calls on the militant group to surrender its weapons and destroy its vast network of tunnels. It also envisions Israeli forces withdrawing from Gaza, the arrival of a new technocratic Palestinian government, deployment of an international security force and the rebuilding of the battered Palestinian enclave.

Trump announced what he said was an agreement to realize one of the most difficult portions of the Gaza ceasefire while negotiations have stalled and military attacks have escalated in the war that the U.S. and Israel in February launched against Iran, a key sponsor of Hamas.

Officials offer long or unspecific timelines for Hamas to disarm

U.S. and Board of Peace officials, describing the deal to reporters on condition of anonymity under guidelines set by the White House, gave an extremely optimistic assessment of the agreement that laid out a scenario very similar to the one described by Trump and his top aides when the Board of Peace, an international body established by Trump to oversee the ceasefire in Gaza, was first formed.

The officials were unable to offer specific timelines for the disarmament of Hamas or other groups that operate in Gaza, such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad, but said the Gaza police force would turn over weapons to the technocratic Board of Peace-backed Gaza administration in the next two weeks.

The Gaza police force, however, does not include the vast majority of Hamas militants and heavy weaponry is not included in that part of the agreement, according to the officials.

Instead, the surrender of heavy weapons and the decommissioning of Hamas tunnels and other infrastructure are to come later in a process that could take between 200 and 350 days, a Board of Peace official said.

Israel has not responded but has been deeply skeptical

A U.S. official said Israel, which has been deeply skeptical about Hamas' willingness to give up its guns or relinquish at least behind-the-scenes control of Gaza, had been consulted at every step of the negotiation.

However, the official said Israel was not being asked to do anything more than what it had initially committed to when it agreed to Trump's 20-point plan, which essentially involves withdrawing its forces from Gaza and committing to ending airstrikes on the territory.

The official said Trump would be "very, very disappointed" if Israel didn't adhere to the agreement. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met at the White House on Tuesday, but neither said much about what was discussed in their first face-to-face meeting since launching the war against Iran.

Israel's U.N. Mission said it had no immediate comment.

The official added that Iran remains a wildcard in the equation because although it counseled Hamas members not to accept a deal, it is also not in a position to offer the group much support because it is preoccupied with the conflict with the United States.

Hamas previously had insisted on implementing the first phase of the ceasefire before moving to discuss its weapons. The group's founding charter calls for armed resistance against Israel, and it has been reluctant to give up an arsenal, including rockets, anti-tank missiles and explosives, that lies at the heart of its identity.

Hamas announced earlier this month, however, that it had dissolved its government in Gaza and was preparing to transfer power to a technical committee backed by the United Nations as part of the ceasefire deal.

The war in Gaza began after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killed around 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage. Israel's retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians, including those killed since the ceasefire, Gaza's Health Ministry said.

Israel's military now controls more than half of Gaza, leaving Palestinians confined to squalid tent camps and heavily damaged urban neighborhoods.

De Marco's questioning centred on the evidence given by several prosecution witnesses, including Melvin Theuma, Johann Cremona, Kenneth Camilleri, Dr Adrian Vella and police officers, with Schembri rejecting much of their testimony and insisting that numerous witnesses had lied about him.

Fenech has pleaded not guilty to two principal charges: complicity in the wilful homicide of Daphne Caruana Galizia and criminal association to commit the murder.  Caruana Galizia, a columnist with The Malta Independent, was killed in a car bomb on 16 October, 2017.

Five men have already been convicted in connection with Caruana Galizia's assassination. Vince Muscat admitted his role in the murder in 2021 and was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment. Alfred and George Degiorgio each received 40-year prison sentences after pleading guilty in 2022, while Robert Agius and Jamie Vella were sentenced to life imprisonment in 2025 for supplying the bomb used in the attack.

The hearing opened with questions about the circumstances surrounding Schembri's arrest in November 2019. He maintained that his mobile phone, which has never been recovered, had most likely been stolen after police arrived at his Mellieħa home. He said the last activity on the device was a call from Dr Adrian Vella informing him that police were knocking on his door and reiterated that he had resigned as chief of staff the night before his arrest after being informed that Yorgen Fenech had implicated him.

Schembri also denied allegations that he had selectively pointed out electronic devices for police to seize during the search of his home, insisting that the telephones visible in police photographs belonged to his mother and the family's nanny. He challenged investigators' version of events, accusing them of lying.

Part of the cross-examination focused on Dr Adrian Vella's evidence that Schembri had handed him a document to pass on to Yorgen Fenech.

Schembri denied ever giving Vella such a document, maintaining instead that the doctor had regularly visited his home because of his medical condition and had gone upstairs himself to collect medical papers. He insisted he never knew what document Vella allegedly took and rejected suggestions that he had instructed the doctor to retrieve it.

When confronted with Vella's testimony that Schembri had told him to take whichever document he needed, Schembri again insisted he had merely been referring to blood test results. He denied ever touching the document in question, despite acknowledging that police had shown it to him during his interrogation.

De Marco then shifted her attention to Schembri's contacts with Melvin Theuma, the self-confessed middleman in the murder plot.

Schembri acknowledged meeting Theuma once at Castille after the latter requested government employment but rejected Theuma's account of the meeting.

The former chief of staff also flatly rejected allegations that he had instructed Office of the Prime Minister security officer Kenneth Camilleri to calm Theuma down or to arrange meetings through Johann Cremona. He described testimony by Camilleri and Cremona as false, suggesting that Cremona had merely been bluffing when discussing Schembri in secretly recorded conversations.

The cross-examination became more direct when De Marco repeatedly asked Schembri whether he had ever instructed anyone to murder either Melvin Theuma or Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Schembri firmly denied both allegations.

Asked whether he had sent Kenneth Camilleri to kill Theuma, Schembri replied that he had never done so. He also rejected allegations that he and Theuma had ever agreed to kill Caruana Galizia, insisting that their only interaction concerned Theuma's request for government employment and an espresso at Castille. Later, when asked whether he had ever personally told Theuma to kill the journalist, Schembri responded: "What? Of course not."

The hearing also touched on intelligence surrounding secretly recorded conversations involving Theuma.

While acknowledging that then Prime Minister Joseph Muscat occasionally told him that his name had come up in Theuma's recordings, he said he never attached importance to this because he believed he had done nothing wrong and considered Theuma to have "a vivid imagination". He denied ever discussing the recordings with the police commissioner before his arrest.

One of the more unusual moments of the morning came when questioning turned to lawyer David Gatt.

Schembri requested that the courtroom be cleared before discussing Gatt, claiming investigators Keith Arnaud and Kurt Zahra had encouraged him to meet Gatt once and then "burn him". He alleged that on one occasion before the murder he briefly left his office only to return and find Gatt waiting for him naked, prompting visible surprise in the courtroom.

De Marco pointed out that mobile phone evidence placed both men in the same area on the morning of 16 August 2017, before Caruana Galizia's assassination. Schembri replied that Gatt had been persistently following him because he wanted assistance in becoming Malta's ambassador to Israel and denied being able to explain subsequent contacts between Gatt and George Degiorgio.

The defence lawyer concluded the morning session by examining WhatsApp exchanges between Schembri and former prime minister Joseph Muscat.

Messages shown to the jury referred to police recordings, with Schembri telling Muscat that a story was "made up" and that then Police Commissioner Lawrence Cutajar had informed him there was "nothing there". De Marco questioned why Cutajar would have been discussing the matter with Schembri after his resignation from office, while Schembri maintained there was nothing unusual about such conversations.

Further exchanges between Schembri and Muscat were also exhibited, but Schembri repeatedly said he could not remember the discussions when questioned about them.

In the afternoon, questioning resumed with de Marco focusing on Schembri's evidence from the previous day, when he testified that Yorgen Fenech had given him the impression that he was involved in Caruana Galizia's murder.

Pressed on where that conversation had taken place, Schembri said he could not remember the exact location, explaining that years had passed and he had tried to put the matter behind him.

He later recalled another occasion after a meal in Valletta when Fenech allegedly told him: "They gave me cocaine" and "I made a mistake."

De Marco also highlighted inconsistencies between Schembri's testimony and his earlier police statements regarding Johann Cremona, pointing out that while he had recently said Cremona arranged a meeting through his secretary, he had previously told investigators he did not know how the meeting had come about.

Schembri replied that he only truly came to know Cremona after the latter was arraigned and said he would not even have recognised him had he not seen him in court earlier this week.

The defence then turned to the meeting between Schembri and Melvin Theuma after Theuma had requested to see him.

Schembri said he had heard that Theuma wanted to blackmail both him and the government by claiming to possess a photograph with him in an effort to secure a presidential pardon.

He denied discussing anything of significance during the meeting and rejected Theuma's claim that he had emerged from it feeling more powerful.

De Marco also questioned Schembri about his relationship with Caruana Galizia and the numerous articles she wrote about him, including references to his cancer diagnosis.

Schembri said the reporting had not affected him personally but had deeply hurt his family because details of his illness became public before his children and parents knew about it. He recalled filing one or two libel suits against the journalist, saying he withdrew one after her death.

Asked whether, regardless of his views on Caruana Galizia's reporting, she deserved to be killed, Schembri replied unequivocally: "Never."

He also referred to comments he said had been made by foreign investors questioning why the government did not "get rid of" the journalist, insisting he had rejected such suggestions outright.

Much of the afternoon centred on allegations made by prosecution witnesses linking Schembri to the murder plot.

Confronted with George Degiorgio's testimony that he commissioned the assassination, Schembri dismissed the claim outright.

He similarly rejected lawyer David Gatt's evidence concerning an alleged "number one" hand gesture and denied Johann Cremona's claim that Kenneth Camilleri had been sent on his behalf to calm Melvin Theuma.

When De Marco suggested several witnesses had implicated him, Schembri insisted not all had lied but said he believed Johann Cremona had been unable to tell the full truth while testifying.

Schembri also denied Kenneth Camilleri's claim that he feared him and said he would sue Camilleri for libel over his testimony.

He likewise rejected Dr Adrian Vella's evidence that he had personally handed him a disputed document, insisting Vella had been free to collect whatever papers he wanted from his office.

Turning to Melvin Theuma's testimony, Schembri branded him "the biggest liar in Malta" and denied repeatedly urging him to have Caruana Galizia killed.

He claimed Theuma had previously told Assistant Commissioner Keith Arnaud that Schembri had nothing to do with the murder and questioned suggestions that police or others had reassured Theuma after his arrest.

The defence also explored the impact Caruana Galizia's reporting had on Schembri personally.

Referring to Yorgen Fenech's testimony that Schembri had been particularly distressed by articles mentioning his daughter, De Marco asked whether he had been hurt by the journalist's reporting.

Schembri replied that every night before going to sleep he asked his mother to "pray for Daphne", while adding that the journalist had hurt many people through her writing.

Asked directly whether he had engaged Theuma to have Caruana Galizia killed, Schembri replied: "I had no connection whatsoever with any of the people you've mentioned."

When De Marco concluded by telling him, "You use people and hide your hands. Your fingerprints are everywhere," Schembri responded: "My fingerprints are everywhere because of politics."

Following the end of the defence's cross-examination, prosecutors asked Schembri why, despite everything that had happened, he continued to say he was still helping Yorgen Fenech.

"We were very close friends," Schembri replied. "He cost me my job. I went through martyrdom, even with my wife. But I don't forget the friendship we had." Jurors indicated they had no questions for the witness.

Proceedings ended unexpectedly after Schembri told the court that people had approached him while he was under constant police supervision.

He alleged that a court employee had spoken to him during a break and requested a transfer. Madam Justice Edwina Grima immediately questioned how anyone had been allowed to speak to the witness, summoned the Chief Marshal to testify and ordered the Chief Executive of the Courts to investigate the incident and report back to the court before adjourning proceedings for Friday.

The cross-examination started Thursday after, on Wednesday, in his most consequential admission so far, the former OPM chief of staff told jurors that Yorgen Fenech had privately hinted at being involved in Daphne Caruana Galizia's assassination.

Although insisting Fenech never explicitly confessed, Schembri said his long-time friend gave him the impression he had been involved, leaving him "frozen". Schembri admitted his "one mistake" was not immediately informing then-prime minister Joseph Muscat, but maintained he still does not believe Fenech acted alone.

Yorgen Fenech, a businessman, has pleaded not guilty to two principal charges: complicity in the wilful homicide of Daphne Caruana Galizia and criminal association to commit the murder. 

Caruana Galizia, a columnist with The Malta Independent, was killed in a car bomb on 16 October, 2017.

Five men have already been convicted in connection with Caruana Galizia's assassination. Vince Muscat admitted his role in the murder in 2021 and was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment. Alfred and George Degiorgio each received 40-year prison sentences after pleading guilty in 2022, while Robert Agius and Jamie Vella were sentenced to life imprisonment in 2025 for supplying the bomb used in the attack.

The prosecution is being led by Attorney General lawyers Godwin Cini, Anthony Vella and Danika Vella, assisted by Assistant Commissioner Keith Arnaud and Inspector Kurt Zahra. Fenech is represented by lawyers Charles Mercieca, Gianella Demarco and Gianluca Caruana Curran, while lawyers Therese Comodini Cachia and Jason Azzopardi are appearing parte civile on behalf of the Caruana Galizia family.

Judge Edwina Grima is presiding.

Please refresh for updates

18:00 That's a wrap. We will be back tomorrow at 9am with more live coverage, and a roundup of today's sitting will be available on our website shortly. Thank you for following.

17:50 Proceedings took an unexpected turn after Keith Schembri told the court that people had approached him while he was under police supervision. Schembri has remained under constant police watch since beginning his testimony on Tuesday.

Schembri: While I was here, people came up to me asking for transfers.

Judge Edwina Grima immediately interrupted him.

"You weren't supposed to speak to anyone. What's this?"

Schembri replied that a court employee, whom he referred to as "Charlie Wires", had approached him.

"He told me, 'Do me a favour and move me from here because I've had enough.' I asked him, 'Where do you want to go?' Roderick was there and was laughing."

Judge Grima immediately summoned the Chief Marshal to the witness stand.

Asked whether anyone had spoken to Schembri, the Chief Marshal replied: "No. He was escorted from here to the holding area and back again. One person tried to speak to him, but we moved that person away."

The judge notes that the court had heard allegations that a court employee approached the witness and orders the Chief Executive of the Courts to investigate the incident and report back to the court.

The jurors are then escorted out of the courtroom.

17:47 The prosecution immediately points out that, although it had referred to several individuals, it had made no mention of Yorgen Fenech.

The prosecution then asks Schembri why, despite everything that had happened, he continued to insist he was still helping Fenech.

"Throughout your evidence and cross-examination, you said you would have gone through fire for Yorgen, that you helped him and are still helping him. You even told Dr De Marco today that you're helping him. Why?"

Schembri: We were very close friends. He cost me my job. I went through martyrdom, even with my wife. But I don't forget the friendship we had.

Jurors had no questions for Schembri.

17:43 De Marco asks Schembri whether he was hurt by Daphne Caruana Galizia's reporting about him and his family.

Schembri: "Every night before I go to sleep, I tell my mother to pray for Daphne. Pray for Daphne."

He adds, however, that Caruana Galizia had hurt many people, mentioning Joseph Muscat and Edward Zammit Lewis among them.

De Marco then puts the central allegation to him.

De Marco: Did you engage Melvin Theuma to have Daphne Caruana Galizia killed?

Schembri: I had no connection whatsoever with any of the people you've mentioned.

In her final challenge to the witness, De Marco says:

"You use people and hide your hands. Your fingerprints are everywhere."

Schembri replies: "My fingerprints are everywhere because of politics."

De Marco then informs the court: "I have no further questions for the witness."

17:39 De Marco brings up Yorgen Fenech's testimony that Schembri had been particularly distressed by Daphne Caruana Galizia's reporting, recalling an occasion when his daughter had asked him: "Are you going to die?"

Schembri replies: "This is the first time I've heard Yorgen mention my daughter."

As De Marco moves on to Melvin Theuma's evidence, Schembri interrupts before she can complete her question.

"You're mentioning the biggest liar in Malta," he says.

He then addresses De Marco directly.

"You're much braver than you're showing, and I know you understood what I meant when I told you I'm certain that if Yorgen was involved..."

De Marco abruptly changes tack.

"Why did you throw away your mobile phone?"

"I didn't throw it away. It was taken from me," Schembri replies.

Asked whether he kept a laptop in his office, Schembri says he did not.

"I always worked from my mobile phone. Joseph [Muscat] and I always worked from our mobiles. Robert Abela is the same - you send him a message at 9pm and he replies at 9.02pm."

Judge Grima then steps in, telling the witness: "Stick to the point."

17:34 De Marco returns to Kenneth Camilleri's testimony, reminding the court that he had said he feared Schembri. She also notes that, after testifying during the public inquiry, Camilleri claimed he was approached by a man in Valletta who told him: "You testified against Keith."

She further points out that Camilleri had said he did not know either Melvin Theuma or Yorgen Fenech.

Schembri: I'll sue him for libel because he's lying.

De Marco then turns to the testimony of Dr Adrian Vella, who said Schembri had handed him the disputed document.

Schembri: Bring him here and let him explain!

De Marco: Do you think he's going to change his version?

Schembri: I didn't give it to him. I told him to go upstairs and take whatever he wanted. Bring his wife here to testify because Vella said she was present when he took the document.

De Marco then moves on to Melvin Theuma's testimony.

Before she can finish her question, Schembri interrupts.

Schembri: So now you're believing him?

De Marco: I didn't say I believe him.

Schembri: Then why are you quoting him?

De Marco notes that Theuma had alleged Schembri repeatedly urged him to have Daphne Caruana Galizia killed.

Schembri: He's lying. Melvin told Keith Arnaud: "I swear Keith has nothing to do with it."

De Marco suggests that after Theuma secured a presidential pardon, he no longer implicated Schembri.

Schembri: He didn't leave me out. It was a false version.

De Marco: After he was arrested and reassured...

Schembri: Reassured by whom?

De Marco: The powers that be.

Schembri: Who reassured him?

De Marco: The police commissioner?

Schembri: What have I got to do with the police commissioner? Who told him he was going to get a presidential pardon? I was against him getting a pardon.

17:25 De Marco then refers to Johann Cremona's testimony that he had been tasked with calming Melvin Theuma after the latter threatened to go to Castille, and that he had done so on Schembri's behalf.

Rather than responding directly, Schembri launches into a defence of the Muscat administration.

"Can I say something? During our time in government, is it possible nobody noticed how much better people were living? A property worth €100,000 is worth €400,000 today. As a businessman, I used to be mocked... I'll repeat it, I used to be mocked. I was pleased when Yorgen showed me the Tumas Group balance sheet. My job was to create wealth."

De Marco: You're talking about the politics you embraced.

Schembri: If I had all that work on my shoulders, do you really think I had time to get involved in these affairs?

De Marco: So all these people we've mentioned have lied about you?

Schembri: No, not all of them lied. When I saw Johann Cremona, I felt sorry for him. He was sitting there in his cream suit wanting to speak, but he couldn't. Everyone knows what he wanted to say.

De Marco then turns to Kenneth Camilleri's testimony.

De Marco: Kenneth Camilleri said he was afraid of you.

The prosecution objects, arguing that this was not what Camilleri had testified.

Madam Justice Edwina Grima intervenes, saying: "Yes, that is what he said."

A brief argument breaks out between the prosecution and defence before the judge calls for order.

17:20 De Marco then confronts Schembri with allegations made against him by several prosecution witnesses.

De Marco: George Degiorgio said you commissioned Daphne Caruana Galizia's murder.

Schembri: Isn't the answer obvious? No.

De Marco then refers to the testimony of lawyer David Gatt, who claimed he made a "number one" hand gesture to indicate Schembri had commissioned the murder and was pleased with what had happened.

De Marco: Was he lying?

Schembri: Isn't it obvious?

The questioning then shifts to the secretly recorded conversations involving Johann Cremona.

De Marco notes that Cremona had claimed Kenneth Camilleri was sent by Schembri to meet Melvin Theuma. However, Camilleri testified that he did not know Yorgen Fenech and that Theuma had asked him for money before unsuccessfully trying to contact Schembri.

The defence lawyer also refers to Camilleri's testimony that he later approached then prime minister Joseph Muscat through Kurt Farrugia, asking: "What have you dragged me into?"

She notes that Muscat was quoted as replying: "I'd rather not know."

De Marco: So Kenneth Camilleri was lying?

Schembri: Yes

17:15 Proceedings resume with De Marco questioning Schembri about his meeting with Melvin Theuma.

De Marco: When Melvin Theuma was arrested, he asked for a lawyer who was Nationalist and not a criminal lawyer. Was he trying to threaten you? Did Theuma already know he was going to receive a presidential pardon?

Schembri: I had heard Melvin was saying he had a photo with me and wanted to blackmail not only me, but the government as well, in order to obtain a presidential pardon.

De Marco then refers to Theuma's claim that, after meeting Schembri, he felt he had gained influence.

De Marco: Theuma said that after that meeting he had "the power". Was anything discussed during that meeting?

Schembri: No. No such discussion took place. Once I later learnt how he behaved towards Yorgen Fenech, I couldn't...

16:42 The judge has ordered a short break, we will continue shortly.

16:40 De Marco asks Schembri whether, regardless of differing opinions about Daphne Caruana Galizia's writing, she deserved to be killed.

Schembri: Never.

De Marco notes that Caruana Galizia had written extensively about Schembri.

Schembri: Oh yes. She wrote about my father... about when I went to England...

De Marco: More than one article a day.

Schembri: Sometimes even more. She wrote about Joseph (Muscat), about his children, about Chris Cardona.

De Marco then refers to Schembri's earlier testimony that foreign investors had asked why the government did not "get rid of" Caruana Galizia.

Schembri: Yes, it's true. I told them, "What do you mean, get rid of her? Is that what we do here?" They were people looking to invest in Malta. They used to tell us, "Instead of applauding us for investing in this country, you create all this shit." They didn't only say it to me. They said it to Joseph Muscat and Chris Cardona too. What are you supposed to tell them?

De Marco: But you never entertained that.

Schembri: No, you don't.

Schembri adds that many of the investors they dealt with were from the Middle East.

De Marco then reads extracts from five blog posts in which Caruana Galizia wrote about Schembri's cancer treatment.

Schembri: I was a very private person. People trusted me. I helped Joseph during the election campaign, but I wasn't in politics. I came from the private sector.

De Marco: You weren't used to being in the public eye, then suddenly you found yourself the subject of these articles.

Schembri: I used to laugh.

De Marco: You laughed?

Schembri: I was in the UK and later in the US. I started reading them and laughed. But when I came back to Malta for my second cancer treatment, that was when it hit me... then my father found out.

16:30 The defence then turns to Schembri's legal disputes with Daphne Caruana Galizia.

De Marco: You told the court you filed one or two libel cases against Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Schembri: One... perhaps two.

De Marco: Do you remember what they concerned? Was one related to Tillgate?

Schembri: I think it was about 17 Black.

De Marco then displays a screenshot of Caruana Galizia's blog post Egrant - hiding in plain sight, published on 15 April 2017.

Schembri: As far as I remember, the libel case was about 17 Black.

Madam Justice Edwina Grima intervenes, asking whether the libel action related to the article being shown.

Schembri: No, I don't think so.

De Marco: How many libel cases did you file?

Schembri: I definitely remember one.

De Marco: Why did you withdraw it?

Schembri: Because the person died.

The questioning then shifts to Caruana Galizia's reporting on Schembri's cancer diagnosis.

De Marco: When she wrote about your cancer, did she cross a red line?

Schembri: Not with me. But she wrote about it before my children and my parents knew. It didn't make a difference to me, but it did to my children and my parents. That's what hurt me. The rest, you move on from.

Schembri adds that Caruana Galizia had also written about Dom Mintoff and had said she would "open a bottle of champagne" when he died.

"Why, in such a small country, was there so much antagonism?" Schembri asks.

16:16 De Marco points out that Schembri had testified newspapers reported the presidential pardon had been signed, when in fact it had not yet been signed by the prime minister.

Schembri: I don't remember.

De Marco then reads from Schembri's police statement, in which he had said:

"I laughed because the pardon had not yet been signed. I had taken it into the office myself for the prime minister to sign."

Schembri replies that several ministers, together with the Cabinet Secretary, had begun telling the prime minister they did not agree that he should sign the presidential pardon on his own.

De Marco then turns to a document recovered during the search of Schembri's office.

The handwritten notes included the phrases "DCG story 31/10/2016", "DCG (on her blog)" and "DCG died".

De Marco notes that on 31 October 2016, Daphne Caruana Galizia had published a blog post about Pierre Darmanin, describing him as the "black sheep".

Schembri says the document was among the papers Assistant Commissioners Keith Arnaud and Kurt Zahra seized during the search of his office. He adds that MaltaToday had reported he told publisher Saviour Balzan that Caruana Galizia's murder had been commissioned over diesel smuggling (a theory that was debunked later, with the public inquiry highlighting that this narrative was pushed into the mainstream media to disinform).

Schembri: That was the same information Daphne had published. The same information had also been reported by the Italian media.

16:04 As De Marco brought up a chat with lawyer Edward Gatt, Schembri interrupted to object, stating he would not answer questions about conversations with his lawyers and citing an earlier request by Charles Mercieca to strike similar evidence from the record, though Judge Grima noted De Marco had not yet asked her question. When De Marco asked if a Signal chat existed between Schembri and Edward Gatt, the prosecution and defence engaged in a legal argument over lawyer-client privilege, leading Judge Grima to announce she would examine the conversation herself before deciding whether the question could be asked.

15:53 De Marco asked why Schembri never mentioned this detail to the police, to which Schembri replied they had not asked him, prompting De Marco to read from his police statement where he had previously answered "Never" when asked if Fenech had spoken to him about the murder. When Schembri attempted to ask De Marco, "Have you ever had a friend?", Judge Edwina Grima immediately intervened twice to remind him that witnesses cannot question counsel. After De Marco retorted that she had many friends, she asked directly if Schembri had lied to the police, and upon the judge's prompt, Schembri answered that he did not know, explaining that he viewed it as a final blow for Fenech, that everyone from Joseph Muscat to police investigators had told him Fenech was involved, and that he was trying to preserve a friendship and calm things down while opposing a presidential pardon for Melvin Theuma.

15:47 Defence lawyer Giannella de Marco continued pressing Keith Schembri on the location of his conversation with Yorgen Fenech, with Schembri complaining that she expected him to remember minor details from years ago when he had tried to put the matter out of his mind, reiterating that Fenech never explicitly confessed to murder but simply gave that impression, after which they hugged and left. Schembri then recalled another specific occasion, stating they had gone to eat rabbit at the House of Four Winds in Valletta with about ten people, and afterwards got into his car where Fenech told him, "They gave me cocaine" and "I made a mistake."

15:40 de Marco asks Schembri about his testimony from the previous day where he stated that Yorgen Fenech gave him the impression of being involved in the murder. When asked where the conversation occurred, Schembri stated he could not remember the exact location because it was years ago, prompting de Marco to express scepticism that such a crucial detail could be forgotten, to which an indignant Schembri retorted that Fenech had said the same thing to Melvin. Pressing for details on how Fenech gave that impression and what he said, Schembri suggested they were at Fenech's house having a drink, leading to a brief back-and-forth when De Marco assumed he meant a bar, before Schembri insisted he was not imagining things. 

15:31 Defence lawyer Giannella de Marco points out a contradiction between Keith Schembri's testimony that Johann Cremona made an appointment through his secretary and his earlier police statement where he claimed not to know the circumstances of how they met. Schembri confirmed his police statement, adding that he only truly came to know Cremona after he was arraigned two or three months later. De Marco then read further from the police statement, highlighting that Schembri had told Assistant Commissioner Keith Arnaud he only met Cremona once for about 30 minutes regarding a third-party request, never discussed the murder or recordings, and never met Cremona and Yorgen Fenech together, despite also having stated elsewhere that Cremona had been trying to meet him for some time. Schembri responded that if he had not seen Cremona in court on Tuesday, he would not even have recognised him. 

15:20 Defence lawyer Giannella de Marco asked Schembri if he was aware that Melvin Theuma had also secretly recorded him, to which Schembri replied that he was not. After the defence requested to play a portion of one of Theuma's recordings in court - in which Theuma tells Johann Cremona that "He knew everything" and indicates he had secretly recorded Keith Schembri - De Marco reiterated the question, and Schembri maintained that he had no idea Theuma had recorded him.

15.09 Following a break, the proceedings resumed in Hall 22 with Keith Schembri back on the witness stand to face further questions from the defence lawyers, promptly opening with a complaint that lawyer Charles Mercieca had muttered the word "liar" under his breath during cross-examination.

13:10:  That takes us into today's lunch break.  The session will resume at 3pm.

13:02: The defence lawyer continues to read from the WhatsApp exchange.

Muscat: "Who's behind him?"

Schembri: "Today is the 16th, her anniversary. But Arnaud needs to put his foot down."

Muscat: "Is someone backing him?"

Schembri: "Isn't it enough that he got what he wanted and left me to swim on my own?"

Muscat: "He won't be left on his own."

De Marco asks whether the witness remembers this exchange, but he says that he doesn't.

She turns to another contact - one listed as "ir-Rukkell".  Schembri says that this might have been Johann Cremona, but De Marco says that he had saved him as "ix-Xlukkajr."

A call from this Rukkell contact was made and answered, and De Marco says that Kenneth Camilleri had testified that he had phoned Schembri that day and been told that he was in a meeting.

Schembri says that the call could have been when Camilleri called "to ask me for the €30,000 and we met at the counting hall in Naxxar."

12:55: De Marco tells Schembri that Cremona told the jury that he had been summoned to Castille because he wanted to know what had happened with Yorgen Fenech after speaking to him about his gaming company.

Schembri replies that he was making an assumption, and that he had always maintained the same version on this: that Cremona had a problem relating to his gaming company, that he spoke to then MGA CEO Joseph Cuschieri who said that the issue would be resolved within the next ew months.

"Before Johann left, he asked me how long it had been since I'd spoken to Yorgen. I told him it had been a while and asked him to pass on my regards," Schembri says.

De Marco then turns to messages between Schembri and former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

The defence lawyer says that Schembri has told the jury that he never spoke to Melvin Theuma, never listened to the recordings and that the police commissioner never discussed them with him.  

She shows a screenshot of a WhatsApp exchange between Schembri and Muscat in which Muscat asks 'Which recording is it?' - to which Schembri replies 'Not the ones mentioned in court... It's a made-up story. Lorry (Police Commissioner Lawrence Cutajar) told me there's nothing there, but I'll keep digging.'

De Marco asks why the Police Commissioner needed to tell him that there was 'nothing there' -Schembri replies questioning the suggestion that the Commissioner could not speak to the chief of staff; but De Marco says that this exchange was after his arrest, which means that he had already resigned as chief of staff.

12:33 When De Marco noted that the story about Gatt being naked was something he had never mentioned before, Schembri said he had told the prime minister and his secretary. After De Marco suggested Gatt might have undressed to prove he was not recording him, Schembri defensively asked what she was trying to imply. Pressed on why he called Gatt that same day when their phones were in the same area, Schembri stated it was most probably because Gatt was constantly pestering him and the Foreign Affairs Ministry about becoming Malta's ambassador to Israel. When De Marco asked him to explain why David Gatt called George Degiorgio shortly after, Schembri answered that he could not. 

12:30 De Marco asks Schembri if lawyer David Gatt had ever visited his office, to which Schembri replied that he did once before the murder, recounting that he left to use the toilet and returned to find Gatt waiting in his office naked, an unexpected remark that caused surprise in the courtroom. When de Marco asked if he had ordered Gatt's arrest, Schembri stated he was still trying to understand what happened. Asked what police inspectors Keith Arnaud and Kurt Zahra meant when they allegedly told him to "burn" Gatt, Schembri explained they had told him Gatt would try to meet him and instructed him to meet him once and then burn him, leading to the bizarre office encounter. De Marco pointed out that on the morning of August 16, 2017, both Schembri and Gatt's phones connected to the same mobile phone mast, placing them in the same area. After confirming that Daphne Caruana Galizia had not yet been murdered at that time, Schembri suggested they were likely both on their way into Castille because Gatt seemed to be following him wherever he went. 

12:19 Defence lawyer Giannella de Marco asks Keith Schembri if he had asked Prime Minister Joseph Muscat or the police commissioner about the recordings, leading to a brief exchange where Schembri noted the commissioner was not involved. When asked who first told him about the recordings, Schembri stated that Assistant Commissioner Keith Arnaud mentioned them during his interrogation upon arrest. When de Marco pointed out he had been told his name was coming up during meetings, Schembri clarified that everyone was being told, not just him. De Marco then shifted the questioning to lawyer David Gatt, asking Schembri if he knew him. Schembri abruptly asked for the courtroom to be cleared so he could speak about Gatt, alleging that police investigators Keith Arnaud and Kurt Zahra used to ask him to do them a favour and "burn him." Schembri added that Gatt had wanted to become Malta's ambassador to Israel and that even the Israeli ambassador had spoken to him about it, but he had told the ambassador to forget it.

12:02 Keith Schembri notes that the civil case regarding Melvin Theuma's alleged phantom job had been decided in his favour and was currently under appeal. When De Marco pointed out that witnesses testified Theuma needed to be calmed down because he kept threatening to go to Castille and reveal everything at the police depot, Schembri stated Theuma could have gone wherever he wanted and reiterated that he never sent anyone to kill him. Turning to Theuma's secret recordings, Schembri denied ever being told that Theuma was mentioning him while the Security Service was intercepting conversation. Schembri said the prime minister did not want then Minister Michael Farrugia signing off on the interception warrants and wanted to sign everything himself. When asked if he knew his name was being mentioned, Schembri admitted he knew it had come up but took it with a pinch of salt, explaining that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat would occasionally tell him Theuma mentioned him again, but he never gave it much importance because he knew he had done nothing wrong and viewed Theuma as having a very vivid imagination. 

11:56 Following the break, de Marco resumed direct questioning by asking Keith Schembri if he had ever seen Melvin Theuma before Theuma came to Castille, and directly asked if he had sent OPM bodyguard Kenneth Camilleri to kill Melvin. Schembri firmly denied it, stating he never did. De Marco then read out a message sent by Theuma to Yorgen Fenech prompting de Marco to repeat the question of whether Schembri had tried to kill Theuma. Schembri again denied the accusation, insisting Theuma was lying about him just as he lied about everyone else, and adding that he did not even have Theuma's phone number. When de Marco asked if they had agreed to have Daphne Caruana Galizia killed when Theuma visited Castille, Schembri replied, "Of course not," reiterating that Theuma had only come to speak about a job, after which Schembri offered him an espresso. 

11:23 Proceedings have stopped for a short break

11:20 Schembri says Melvin Theuma never visited his house, though Yorgen Fenech had visited twice for lunch and Christmas drinks. When de Marco directly asked if he had ever told Melvin Theuma to kill Daphne Caruana Galizia, Schembri appeared visibly taken aback and answered, "What? Of course not."

De Marco proceeded to read from a transcript of a secretly recorded conversation where Theuma said he would tell Keith to remember how much he cried before their arrest. Schembri claimed Theuma was about to recount something he had said downstairs during the compilation of evidence to defence lawyer Charles Mercieca. This prompted lawyer Charles Mercieca to interject, shouting, "Don't invent any more stories about me!", to which Schembri replied while turning to face him, "Relax, I'm not inventing anything about you."

11:11 De Marco brought up further testimony from Kenneth Camilleri placing him in Żurrieq where Melvin Theuma spoke of needing bail and bags full of cash, which Schembri denied any knowledge of, stating he only learned about it through the media and noting they hardly ever spoke. When de Marco pointed out that secretly recorded conversations played during the trial featured Johann Cremona saying Schembri was the one who sent Camilleri, Schembri countered that it was "just a bluff." After de Marco highlighted that Cremona did not know he was being recorded at the time, Schembri argued that people lie either out of malice or to calm a situation down, ultimately agreeing with de Marco's suggestion that Cremona was simply bluffing to calm Melvin Theuma down.

11:06 de Marco asked Keith Schembri how OPM bodyguard Kenneth Camilleri ended up contacting Johann Cremona if Schembri claimed not to know him, prompting Schembri to dispute the connection and share a previously unmentioned incident involving Camilleri. Schembri stated that the prime minister had seven security officers, that he was close to six of them but not Camilleri, and that he and Camilleri frequently argued because Camilleri walked around Castille with his holster on and once accidentally discharged his firearm while bending over near Joseph Muscat's wife, after which Schembri threatened to fire him. When asked why he never reported this to MSS head Joe Bugeja, Schembri admitted he never did. De Marco then pressed Schembri on testimony from both Camilleri and Cremona alleging that Schembri called Camilleri after 8 and told him to contact Cremona to take someone - later identified as Melvin Theuma - to calm them down, which Schembri flatly rejected as lies.

10:55 Defence lawyer Giannella de Marco noted that Keith Schembri attended Castille meetings about the murder investigation, with Schembri saying that when he learned they were considering a presidential pardon for Melvin Theuma, he disagreed at the time and told them they already had enough evidence to arraign him. When asked if there was a disagreement between the police and Europol over arresting Theuma, Schembri attempted to ask a question back, prompting Judge Edwina Grima to intervene and remind him that he could not ask questions. Schembri said he never attended discussions with Europol officials. De Marco asks if Schembri used to call the police commissioner, to which Schembri stated he never called him about the case, only to request someone's transfer. When asked about Johann Cremona, Schembri denied knowing him beforehand, explaining that the first time he met him was at Castille after his secretary, Charlene, scheduled an appointment for a friend of Yorgen Fenech regarding a gaming-related matter. 

10:45 Defence lawyer Giannella de Marco questioned Keith Schembri about his past interactions with murder middleman Melvin Theuma, pointing out a discrepancy between Schembri's previous testimony about finding Theuma waiting in his office and Theuma's claim that Schembri came down to the main entrance to meet him and give him a tour of Castille. Schembri acknowledged going downstairs and bringing Theuma up, but dismissed the claim that he gave him a tour, stating he only asked his secretary to make Theuma an espresso while Theuma asked for a job. Schembri argued that if he truly held the status of being "next only to God" as Theuma claimed, Theuma would not have needed to ask for a photo, adding that everyone visiting Castille wanted a picture with him. Schembri further explained that Sandro Craus was called in, after which Theuma went downstairs to give officials details relating to the job before leaving, and denied that Theuma told him he was a taxi driver, noting instead that someone downstairs had asked Theuma about being registered under a Portomaso contract, to which Theuma replied that the conditions were poor and he wanted to work for the government instead. 

10:37 Defence lawyer Giannella de Marco noted Schembri had previously mentioned fingerprints from both of them but now insisted he never touched it. When de Marco asked about the contents of the letter, Schembri maintained he only learned about its contents and handwriting from the media. After de Marco asked if the letter had been provided to him as part of disclosure while he and his lawyers waited before interrogation, Schembri initially denied receiving documents, then corrected himself to acknowledge they showed it to him while reiterating that he never touched it and had never seen the document before. When pressed about Vella's claim that Schembri gave it to him, Schembri denied it. Finally, shifting focus to when Vella was being interrogated by police, Schembri denied that the police commissioner had contacted him directly, by phone, or through a relative's phone. 

10:27 de Marco pressed Keith Schembri about Dr Adrian Vella's statement that Schembri told him to go upstairs and take whichever document he needed, to which Schembri replied by citing his history with cancer and explaining that Vella was often at his house. De Marco tells Schembri he could not answer every question by mentioning his cancer. Schembri sayshe had lots of blood test results upstairs and told Vella to take what he wanted. When De Marco argued that a doctor could certainly tell the difference between a blood test and another document, Schembri brought up that an expert had been appointed during the inquiry to examine fingerprints because they had both touched the document. After De Marco noted that Assistant Commissioner Keith Arnaud showed him the document during his interrogation at the police depot, Schembri insisted he never touched it, stating that Arnaud had held it out to him and explicitly told him not to touch it. 

10:23 De Marco brings up allegations by Dr Adrian Vella that Schembri gave him a document to pass on to Yorgen Fenech. Schembri denies this, claiming instead that Vella went upstairs and picked up the document himself without him knowing what was on it. When De Marco questioned if Vella would simply walk into his house and help himself to documents, Schembri maintained that is what happened and accused de Marco of repeating a lie when she suggested Vella was telling the truth, telling her to ask Vella again while insisting he himself was telling the truth.

10:18 de Marco asks Schembri about visits from Dr Adrian Vella, specifically questioning if the doctor had gone to Schembri's house on November 19, to which Schembri replied that Vella visited like many other people although he could not specifically recall that date. When asked if Vella came over during the week of his arrest, Schembri noted that if he was not mistaken, it coincided with the day of Dr Joseph Muscat's party at Girgenti, and acknowledged it was possible he called Vella to come over before heading to that event.

10:16 Giannella de Marco asks Keith Schembri about the search of his Mellieħa home, noting that Assistant Commissioner Keith Arnaud did not seize electronic devices personally before scene-of-crime officers were called and Schembri was taken to the police depot in an unmarked van. When asked about phones seen in police photographs, Schembri stated they belonged to his mother and the nanny, rejecting the claim that he selectively pointed out devices for officers to take. Schembri challenged the court to bring Arnaud and the forensic officers back to look him in the eye, insisting they were lying about him just like many others. 

10:07 De Marco noted Schembri's testimony from the previous day about having cancer twice and travelling to the United States for treatment. Schembri says that Fenech and Dr Adrian Vella travelled to the US with him. Schembri explains that shortly before that, he had undergone surgery in the UK where doctors discovered something else similar to multiple sclerosis, requiring tough treatment where he had to stop chemotherapy and receive injections in his eyes, only for the cancer to return afterward. When De Marco remarked that Fenech had supported him through it all, Schembri agreed, clarifying that the support was personal rather than financial, and stating he would never forget it. 

10:03 Schembri states that he used to go the extra mile with anyone who needed help because that was his job, prompting defence lawyer Giannella de Marco to suggest that having an open-door policy and trying to help everyone did not mean those people were his friends, to which Schembri replied that he was an open character with everyone who spoke to him.  Schembri says that while the prime minister remained the prime minister, he would have gone through fire for Yorgen, admitting that doing so was a mistake. 

9:59 When De Marco notes that Assistant Commissioner Keith Arnaud testified Schembri had said his phone was lost during the November 2019 police search, Schembri clarifies that he did not call it lost, but rather stated he did not know where it was, a fact he maintains to this day. De Marco then referenced Schembri's testimony from the previous day, recalling that Schembri had described Fenech as one of Malta's top five businessmen, a generous man who never asked for anything in return, and noted Schembri's comment that he entered politics knowing there would be life after politics. While Schembri nodded to these points, he rejected De Marco's suggestion that he had wanted to invest in his friendship with Fenech for future business opportunities, clarifying instead that they had been friends for years and that he had friends from all walks of life. 

9:50 Defence lawyer de Marco asks Schembri about the timeline of his arrest, asking if workmen were really present at 5:30am, to which Schembri replied that they arrived at 5:45am. When de Marco asked if he was arrested at 5:30am, Schembri denied it firmly, noting he would never forget that his daughter had already gone to school. Recalling the moment police arrived, Schembri stated he was still in bed when officers knocked on the door, his wife answered it, and he went downstairs after the officers asked for him. 

9:43 Under continued cross-examination by de Marco, Schembri stated he was never told about allegations that he had engaged Melvin Theuma, noting that investigators were certain he did not know Theuma, let alone engage him. When asked who informed him that Yorgen Fenech had turned on him and that an arrest was imminent, Schembri maintained he did not know who specifically told him, though he acknowledged that the prime minister was being kept informed of developments. Schembri reiterated that he handed his resignation to Joseph Muscat at the prime minister's house the night before his arrest, denied that the police commissioner had briefed him on the investigation, and insisted he assumed the police were at Dr Adrian Vella's house simply because they were friends, just as he was friends with the Fenech family, rather than due to any letter. 

9:38 De Marco: Could you turn and face me?

Schembri: I'd prefer to look at the jurors.

9:34 De Marco asks Schembri about his missing mobile phone, with Schembri saying he suspected it had been stolen. Schembri explains that the final recorded activity on the device at 5:03am was a phone call from Dr Adrian Vella informing him that the police were knocking on his door. He said he had been informed by the police about a statement made by Yorgen Fenech.

9:27 Keith Schembri took the stand to face cross-examination from Yorgen Fenech's defence lawyer, Giannella de Marco.

9:20 Harmionen confirms two additional reports regarding data extractions from electronic devices seized on November 14, 2019, in Xgħajra and Marsascala, followed by three more reports concerning devices seized that same day from a garage in Marsascala and Melvin Theuma's residence in Żurrieq, concluding his testimony with no cross-examination. 

9:15 Before Keith Schembri took the stand, Europol digital forensics expert Sami Harmionen testifies as the day's first witness, confirming his first report on the forensic extraction of data from electronic devices seized during a December 22, 2017 inquiry at a Mosta farmhouse, as well as a second report concerning data extracted from devices seized from a St Paul's Bay apartment linked to one of the Degiorgio brothers.

9:10 In a statement issued on Thursday morning, the Daphne Foundation accused Malta's government of failing to act to deliver the reforms needed to protect journalists, noting that most public inquiry recommendations remain unimplemented and emphasising that true justice requires dismantling the systems that allowed corruption, impunity, and organised crime to flourish, rather than just securing murder convictions.

9:05 The court is in session

"UEFA and its national associations will not participate in FIFA competitions," the European soccer body said after an urgent online meeting of its 55 member nations.

The next scheduled FIFA tournament is within weeks in Europe - the Women's Under-20 World Cup hosted by Poland from Sept. 5.

"Some things are simply too important to sell," UEFA said in a statement. "The FIFA World Cup belongs to football. It always will. And so long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale."

The strategy meeting was called to counter Infantino's offer of $20 million to each of FIFA's 211 global members that has to be accepted by mid-September.

Infantino's secret project was revealed Tuesday to spin off its commercial operations in a new $20 billion subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) 20% owned by private investors. The core investor would be a New York investment firm created by Joshua Kushner, the brother of U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Infantino wrote Tuesday to the 211 members - already the effective owners of FIFA as a non-profit association under Swiss law - that if they approve FFE their promised $10 million basic funding for the next four years will double to $20 million. He projected their FIFA funding through 2038 would be $86 million each, instead of about $36 million.

"This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of FIFA's duty as the custodian of world football," said UEFA, where Infantino was a long-time staffer and its CEO-like general secretary when he was first elected to lead FIFA in 2016.

Infantino's presidency at risk?

Infantino's high-stakes financial gambit now could threaten his previously secure 11-year presidency of FIFA as anger and frustration with him rises among soccer stakeholders including three of the six continental bodies.

FIFA has set a Nov. 18 deadline for potential candidates to declare in a presidential vote of the 211 members scheduled next March in Rabat, Morocco.

Infantino had seemed - 11 days ago after the World Cup final in East Rutherford, New Jersey - to have a clear path to being re-elected unopposed for a fourth and final term in office through 2031.

Soccer officials have said privately Infantino eyes a commissioner-like role at the FIFA Forward Enterprise spinoff beyond 2031.

"Game over, Gianni #InfantinOUT," the Football Supporters Europe group, which advises UEFA on fan issues such as ticket prices, posted after the boycott threat.

Football's concern at investor pressure

UEFA detailed Thursday why soccer officials fear external investors owning a stake of the global game's biggest events, including World Cups and Club World Cups for men and women.

"The moment external investors acquire ownership interests in FIFA competitions, football changes forever," UEFA said. "Commercial return becomes a permanent obligation. Investor expectations become a daily pressure."

Infantino has presented the private equity offer as a chance to "turbocharge" funding development of soccer across the world, where a majority of the 211 FIFA members rely on its funding.

Officials from about 40 UEFA member spoke at the urgent meeting, with anger expressed that FIFA is not using some of its multi-billion reserves to fund extra development programs.

"As a result of today's discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive," the European soccer body said, "unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership."

The announcement came after local authorities in Ceuta had asked the central government in Madrid for reinforcements to manage a border crisis that boiled over Thursday with large crowds of people breaching the border fence.

Spain's government said it would send the Armed Forces to help the Civil Guard "maintain security in the city of Ceuta." It also announced that Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez would join Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska in a visit to Ceuta on Friday.

"The situation is absolute chaos," Rachid Sbihi, head of the association that represents Spain's Civil Guard officers who police the border in Ceuta, told The Associated Press. "It's not possible to give precise numbers, but there are thousands of migrants crossing," he said, adding that the border had "totally collapsed."

Achraf Maimouni, a member of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights in northern Morocco, described the situation as "exceptional."

"The Tarajal border was opened under unusual circumstances this morning and people crossed," he said.

Video footage showed crowds of people, mainly Moroccans, walking around the breakwaters at Tarajal beach onto local roads. While most appeared to be young men, there were also families with women and small children.

"Viva España!" some shouted to a freelance photographer working for the AP. It was not immediately clear what prompted so many migrants to cross to Ceuta.

Spain's government delegation in Ceuta said at least nine people died Thursday during the chaos. It did not provide details on the circumstances of the deaths but bodies could be seen floating in the water. Dozens have died this year trying to reach Ceuta, according to local authorities.

Arrivals had been increasing, but reasons are still unclear

The escalation at the frontier between Spain and Morocco comes after a surge in migrants attempting to reach the small exclave, mainly by swimming, on Wednesday.

Moroccan authorities have not publicly commented on the crossings, and Morocco's Interior Ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

Spain's Interior Ministry said the Moroccan government was "closely cooperating" with Spain to handle the situation and that Moroccan police are stopping "numerous people" who are trying to cross the border. Both countries agreed to work together "for the return, as soon as possible, of all the people who entered Ceuta illegally."

The ministry earlier said it would guarantee the safety of citizens and the integrity of the nation's border but that the Spanish government could not declare a national emergency - as local authorities had asked - over migration concerns.

The chaos had ripple effects in Italy, another key destination for migrants. Premier Giorgia Meloni threatened to suspend Italy's open-border Schengen agreement with Spain "to defend our borders and ensure the safety of our citizens," though Italy doesn't share a border with Spain.

Ceuta authorities had previously linked the surge to a Spanish Supreme Court ruling earlier this month that barred authorities from immediately returning migrants who arrive by sea without due process. The ruling does not apply to migrants who enter Spain by land, including by climbing over the border fence.

But some activists in Morocco expressed doubt that the ruling was behind the surge, arguing most migrants would have been unaware of such legal decisions.

Spain is a main point of arrival into Europe for migrants seeking better economic opportunities or an escape from violence in their home countries.

To reach Ceuta, located on the northern African coast, migrants often swim from the Moroccan town of Fnideq, covering about 3.1 miles (5 kilometers) to reach Spanish territory. Others attempt the crossing from the nearby town of Belyounech, where the distance is shorter.

The scenes of people streaming across the frontier recall the border crisis of May 2021 when more than 8,000 migrants poured into Ceuta in just two days.

At the time, Morocco was accused of easing border controls and allowing migrants to cross into Ceuta after Spain allowed Polisario Front leader Brahim Ghali to receive treatment at a Spanish hospital, triggering a diplomatic crisis between Rabat and Madrid. The pro-independence Polisario Front for decades has claimed to be the legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people of the Western Sahara. Morocco claims Western Sahara as its own.

Ceuta authorities ask Madrid to declare emergency, send army

Juan Jesús Vivas, the head of Ceuta's regional government, called for the national government to declare an emergency on grounds of national security, asking for more police and for the army to be deployed on the border "to guarantee the inviolability of the frontier and citizen safety."

He had warned Wednesday that migrant reception centers were overwhelmed with hundreds of people sleeping on the streets after more than 1,500 migrants entered the territory in the past week. Thousands more crossed overnight and on Thursday.

Spain's Interior Ministry, which tracks irregular migration, would not confirm the number of migrants who had made it to Ceuta in the last few days but said it would publish its next migration report on Aug. 3. As of July 15, nearly 3,000 migrants had entered Ceuta by land or sea this year, according to ministry figures.

Legislation covering a declaration of national emergencies does not consider migration flows as a risk to national security, according to the ministry, which said government agencies are "coordinating to respond with speed and efficacy to the situation in Ceuta."

Ceuta, which is perched on a historical isthmus, has been a Spanish possession since 1580. Its mixed population of Christians and Muslims, Spanish and Moroccan residents and day workers, lives in relative harmony behind a border fence that many desperate migrants from across Africa attempt to cross for a better life in Europe.

During the visit, the Prime Minister heard the story behind the business, including how its name carries special personal significance for the family, a statement said.

Today, the family members running Eman Patisserie said they are looking to the future with optimism as they continue to build on more than three decades of work.

Abela praised the family's courage, determination and entrepreneurial spirit, noting that family businesses such as Eman Patisserie not only create economic opportunities but also form an integral part of the identity and social fabric of Gozitan communities.

The visit continued with a meeting at the Rabat Local Council, where Abela and Camilleri met Mayor Brian Azzopardi and councillors to discuss the locality's priorities, the challenges facing residents and ongoing collaboration between the government and the local council.

Abela said local councils are key partners in strengthening communities and improving residents' quality of life.

The Prime Minister also visited Dar Emmaus, an emergency shelter for adults experiencing homelessness and a refuge offering shelter and support to victims of domestic violence.

Run by the 'Kenn u Tama' Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, Dar Emmaus consists of two apartments equipped to provide residential services for adults and their children, as well as care and rehabilitation programmes.

During the visit, Abela also met employees of the Foundation for Social Welfare Services (FSWS), which works closely with the management of Dar Emmaus through its Gozo directorate.

Social workers support people who have become homeless for various reasons and continue assisting residents to help them rebuild their lives independently, the statement said.

Between 2022 and 2025, the government and the 'Kenn u Tama' Foundation entered into an agreement worth more than €500,000 to strengthen the services provided by Dar Emmaus to vulnerable people in Gozo.

That investment is being extended through a partnership agreement between the Kenn u Tama Foundation and the Ministry for Social Policy and the Family covering the period between 2025 and 2027. Under the agreement, total funding of €565,020 will be allocated over three years.

Abela thanked all the employees and volunteers involved in the work carried out at Dar Emmaus and reaffirmed the government's commitment to continue investing in services that protect people's dignity and provide practical support to those facing difficult circumstances.

He said investment in Gozo should encompass every aspect of life on the island, from supporting businesses and strengthening local councils to assisting the most vulnerable members of society.

MEIA said it will not comment on the specific facts or merits of the case, but the issues raised are unfortunately reflective of challenges regularly encountered by many cultural and creative professionals across Malta.

The MEIA was referring to legal action taken by a coalition of prominent Maltese singers and performers, including Eurovision stars Ira Losco, Destiny Chukunyere, and Gaia Cauchi, against choreographer Felix Busuttil Galea. The filing, presented in the First Hall of the Civil Court against Busuttil operating on behalf of YADA Dance Company, accuses the director of failing to pay top local artists for their professional services in a major stage production.

The case, MEIA said, also reflects a reality that MEIA encounters all too often: disputes of this nature rarely come into the public eye, not because they are uncommon, but because many artists are reluctant to come forward or act collectively, fearing that doing so may jeopardise future employment opportunities or lead to professional repercussions.

MEIA unequivocally condemns any instance in which artists and creative workers are not paid for work that they have legitimately carried out. Fair and timely remuneration is not optional; it is a fundamental principle of professional practice and a prerequisite for a sustainable cultural sector.

"We also acknowledge the courage shown by the artists involved in coming together to pursue what they believe they are rightfully owed," the MEIA said. Collective action is never an easy decision, particularly within a small sector where professional relationships are closely intertwined and where the perceived cost of speaking out is borne individually even when the grievance is shared. Many practitioners absorb losses rather than risk being seen as difficult. Their willingness to stand together sends an important message that artists deserve to be treated with the same professionalism and respect expected in every other industry.

Unfortunately, cases involving unpaid or delayed payments, unclear contractual obligations, and breaches of agreed terms remain among the most common issues brought to MEIA. Approximately 80% of the casework we handle on behalf of our members relates to these matters.

One of the greatest challenges facing our sector is not simply the existence of poor payment practices, but the fear many artists and creative professionals have of speaking out. Time and again, practitioners tell us they are reluctant to pursue what they are owed because they fear losing future opportunities, being overlooked for work, or being informally blacklisted-particularly when disputes involve larger organisations or public institutions.

As a result, MEIA said it regularly receives anonymous reports detailing concerning situations. While these accounts help us identify recurring systemic issues, anonymity inevitably limits the action that can be taken on individual cases. An association can advocate, support, and represent, but meaningful change ultimately requires artists to feel safe and empowered to come forward. Without their voices, our ability to challenge unfair practices is constrained.

This reality is one of the reasons MEIA has recently advocated for the establishment of a Legal Aid Support Fund through Arts Council Malta. Access to justice should not depend on an artist's financial means or their willingness to risk future employment. The barriers are often not only economic, but psychological and professional. Many practitioners simply cannot afford lengthy legal proceedings, while others feel isolated or intimidated by the potential consequences of asserting their rights.

The sector must move towards a culture where honouring contracts, paying artists on time, and respecting professional commitments are considered standard practice rather than exceptions. Equally important is creating an environment where practitioners can report abuses and seek redress without fear of retaliation.

MEIA said it remains committed to supporting artists and cultural workers facing these challenges through advocacy, mediation, and continued lobbying for stronger protections, fair contractual practices, timely payment, and structural reforms that establish dignity, professionalism, and fairness as the standard across Malta's cultural and creative sectors. Through our collaboration with Solidarjetm, MEIA members also have access to legal support and representation, recognising that some disputes require not only advocacy but also practical legal assistance.

"We encourage anyone experiencing similar issues to reach out to MEIA or Solidarjetm for support, guidance, or simply to discuss their situation. Not every case needs to result in legal action, sometimes practitioners simply need independent advice, help understanding their rights, assistance in navigating a difficult situation, or the reassurance that they are not facing these challenges alone. Whatever the circumstances, MEIA remains committed to standing alongside artists and cultural workers in defending fair and professional working practices."

A 39-year-old woman appeared before the court charged with multiple offences allegedly committed against her two minor children over a number of years.

According to the prosecution, the police investigation commenced in April 2026 after the Family Court issued a decree directing investigators to examine allegations that the accused had engaged in sexual conduct involving her daughter and had repeatedly touched her son's intimate parts both over and underneath his clothing.

The alleged offences are also said to have taken place in the presence of her other minor children.

The court heard that, as part of the investigation, police first interviewed a 13-year-old witness whose account was found to be consistent with the allegations contained in the original report.

Investigators subsequently gathered further evidence indicating that the alleged abuse of one of the children, who is now nine years old, had begun when the child was approximately three years old and continued until the end of last year.

She pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The court heard she described herself as a housewife who also runs her own business.

The mother was arrested following the police investigation and arraigned before the court. The defence did not contest the validity of her arrest before requesting bail.

The prosecution strongly opposed the request, describing the proceedings as involving offences of a particularly sensitive nature and arguing that there remains a real risk of interference with the evidence if the accused were to be released.

It submitted that, despite the ongoing proceedings, the accused had allegedly continued attempting to communicate with the minor children even though they did not wish to have contact with her. The prosecution further alleged that she had attended school activities where the children were present.

In reply, the defence argued that the accused had never breached any bail conditions and is not a recidivist.

After hearing submissions from both parties, the court rejected the request for bail, ruling that the proceedings are still at a very early stage and that several witnesses have yet to testify, making the granting of bail inappropriate at this stage of the proceedings. The court also issued a protection order in favour of the minor children.

The prosecution was led by Assistant Attorney General Mirayha Borg together with Police Inspector Ryan Vella.

Defence lawyers Franco Debono, Fleur Abela, Adreana Zammit and Eman Scicluna appeared for the accused.

Magistrate Elaine Rizzo presided over the case.

The SME Barometer for Q2 of 2026 was published by the Malta Chamber of SMEs in collaboration with MISCO Malta on Thursday.

Although 36% of respondents believe Malta is moving in the right direction, 64% believe Malta is moving in the wrong direction, the Chamber of SMEs said in a statement which heralded the publication of the barometer.

A majority of businesses (56%) remain uncertain whether the next twelve months represent a good time to invest, while only around one in five businesses believe it is the right time to make new investments.

Among those who believe Malta is moving in the wrong direction, the principal reasons relate to concerns over quality of life, economic pressures, infrastructure and national planning, and cost of living, reinforcing the importance of sustainable long-term planning alongside continued economic growth.

The survey found that employee shortages remain the single biggest challenge facing SMEs, cited by almost four in every ten businesses (38.8%), slightly down from the previous survey.

"Despite ongoing efforts to increase employee supply, recruitment continues to constrain business growth across multiple sectors," the Chamber of SMEs said.

Unfair competition remains the second most pressing concern (19.2%), with businesses increasingly pointing towards inadequate enforcement of regulations as the primary source of market distortion.

Nearly one quarter of respondents believe that businesses failing to comply with existing laws and regulations enjoy an unfair competitive advantage, while others highlighted competition from public entities and inconsistent enforcement.

Compared with previous quarters, concerns regarding the processing of Third Country National (TCN) visa applications and inflation have increased again, reflecting continued pressure on businesses trying to recruit workers while managing operating costs, the Chamber said.

The Chamber also said that concerns relating to transport costs and the international crisis situation have declined significantly since Q1 2026.

When it comes to issues which require government action, businesses ranked overpopulation as the most important issue, with concern increasing further compared with previous quarters.

At the same time, safeguarding quality of life and improving the ease of doing business registered some of the largest increases in importance, indicating that businesses are increasingly seeking a better balance between economic growth, public services and the overall business environment.

While good governance, inflation and corruption remain important concerns, all three registered lower levels of concern than in the first quarter of 2026.

The survey was based on responses from 402 businesses operating in Malta collected between 1st and 22nd July 2026. The survey provides an important snapshot of business sentiment, operational challenges and national priorities among Malta's SMEs. 

The survey published by the Chamber of SMEs for the second quarter of 2026, covering April to June, once again confirms that the reality facing businesses is far removed from the positive picture the Government attempts to portray.

While more than half of SMEs, 56%, remain uncertain, 22% said they are not prepared to invest over the next 12 months. Only 22%, around one in five, believe that this is an opportune time to invest. This means that three in four SMEs in Malta and Gozo do not foresee positive prospects in the coming months.

Furthermore, the same SME Barometer survey, carried out by the Chamber of SMEs in collaboration with MISCO, shows that the majority of SMEs believe the country needs change because it is heading in the wrong direction.

While 64% believe Malta is not heading in the right direction, only 36% believe the country is doing well. More concerningly, the proportion of respondents who believe Malta is heading in the wrong direction has increased since the first quarter of the year, when it stood at 59%, while the proportion who believe the country is doing well has fallen from 41% between January and March 2026.

This further confirms what the PN has long maintained: Malta needs an improved economic model based on quality and capable of attracting investment, the party said.

The survey also lists the reasons why small and medium-sized business owners believe the country is heading in the wrong direction. In order of priority, these include concerns about quality of life and wellbeing, a lack of planning and infrastructure problems, the cost of living and affordability, a lack of leadership and political direction, economic and financial pressures, the state of the environment, government regulation, and concerns relating to social issues and governance.

The SME Barometer confirms what the PN has long argued: Malta needs a different economic direction that inspires confidence and optimism among business owners and Maltese and foreign investors.

As part of the survey, SMEs were also asked to identify the most urgent issues the Government should address. These included population growth, cited by 40%; the lack of good governance, cited by 27%; the rising cost of living, cited by 22%; the protection of quality of life, cited by 21%; and corruption, cited by 18%.

Of particular significance is the increase in the number of SMEs identifying unplanned population growth as an urgent issue that the Government must address, compared with the previous three months. SMEs in Malta and Gozo now view overpopulation as the country's most pressing problem, the PN said.

When asked what is having the greatest negative impact on their businesses, owners identified challenges including labour shortages, unfair competition, the traffic crisis, the processing of visas for workers from outside the European Union, and the rising cost of living.

The Opposition said it has been calling on the Government for years to address these challenges and has put forward several proposals to ensure that the Maltese people no longer have to face problems and difficulties created by this Government itself. Unfortunately, every proposal presented by the Opposition has been ignored by the Labour Government.

The statement was signed by Michael Piccinino Shadow Minister for the Self-Employed, Small Enterprises and Cooperatives, and Darren Carabott, Shadow Minister for the Economy, Technology and Strategic Projects

Government rejects PN claims on SME confidence, says investment sentiment is improving

The government has rejected the Nationalist Party’s interpretation of a recent survey of small and medium-sized businesses, arguing that the Opposition focused on one figure while ignoring signs of improving investment sentiment.

In a statement, the Ministry for the Economy, Technology and Strategic Projects said the proportion of respondents who believed it was not a good time to invest had fallen from 32% to 22%.

The number of businesses that considered the next 12 months a good time to invest had also increased, the ministry said, insisting that the same survey cited by the PN showed an improvement in confidence towards the Maltese economy.

The government was replying to a PN statement expressing concern that 78% of SMEs were either uncertain about investing or believed it would be unwise to invest over the coming year.

The figures emerged from the SME Barometer for the second quarter of 2026, covering April to June and carried out by the Malta Chamber of SMEs in collaboration with MISCO.

The survey found that 56% of respondents were uncertain about investing, 22% believed it was not a good time to invest and another 22% considered it an opportune time.

“The Opposition has once again chosen to focus on a single figure and present it in a misleading manner, while ignoring the broader picture reflected in the survey,” the ministry said.

It also accused the PN of criticising the government without presenting credible alternatives or solutions.

The government acknowledged that further improvements were needed and said it would continue working to improve quality of life, strengthen business competitiveness and move the economy towards higher productivity and greater value-added activity under Malta Vision 2050.

The ministry highlighted the MicroInvest scheme, which supports wage increases, as well as an annual €100 million investment in automation, digitalisation, artificial intelligence and skills development.

It also referred to Malta Enterprise schemes intended to help businesses invest in technology, improve productivity and reduce their reliance on low value-added work. BusinessFirst continued to provide guidance and support to SMEs, it added.

According to the ministry, these measures were helping Malta attract investment in high value-added sectors including medtech, semiconductors, microchips, esports and digital industries.

The government said Malta continued to benefit from a strong and resilient economy that was creating quality jobs and sustainable economic growth, as recognised by institutions including the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank.

In its statement, the PN had also highlighted that 64% of respondents believed Malta was heading in the wrong direction, up from 59% during the first quarter of the year.

Businesses identified population growth, governance, the cost of living, quality of life and corruption among the most urgent issues requiring government action.

The government called on the Opposition to move beyond what it described as “criticism for criticism’s sake” and to work in the interests of Maltese and Gozitan families.

“At a time of global economic challenges, our country needs seriousness, responsibility and a shared commitment to the national interest,” the ministry said.

The application, submitted by Pecunia European Properties Ltd, proposed the restoration of the 18th-century Knights-era palazzo in Triq il-Kbira together with the construction of 21 hotel rooms, 17 swimming pools and new accommodation blocks extending into the property's historic garden.

Although the proposal had initially been recommended for approval by the Planning Authority's Development Management Directorate, the Planning Commission deferred its decision earlier this month after questioning whether the project complied with policies protecting gardens and open spaces within Urban Conservation Areas (UCAs).

Rather than deciding the application on 9 July, the commission directed the applicant to submit revised plans significantly reducing the scale of the development. While commissioners indicated they were willing to support the restoration and adaptive reuse of the historic palazzo for tourist accommodation, they requested the removal of the proposed accommodation wings on the north, west and east sides of the property, as well as all planned swimming pools.

No revised plans were submitted before Thursday's meeting, leading the commission to refuse the application.

In its decision, the commission said that although the restoration of the palazzo itself was acceptable, the additional development remained excessive and incompatible with the site's historic significance and its location within an Urban Conservation Area.

The refusal reflects the conclusions reached by the Planning Authority's case officer following the commission's earlier directions. The proposal was found to breach Policy G21 of the Development Control Design Policy, Guidance and Standards 2015, which protects gardens and backyards within UCAs, as well as Policy P27, which restricts the depth of development to 30 metres.

The commission also concluded that the scale and intensity of the proposed intervention would erode the site's historic character and negatively affect both the historic core of Qormi and the surrounding community.

The application had attracted widespread opposition from the Qormi Local Council, Mayor Josef Masini, residents, Nationalist MP Jerome Caruana Cilia, Vuci Kollettiva, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar and Moviment Graffitti, all of whom argued that the development would irreversibly damage one of the locality's few remaining historic gardens.

The decision represents a significant reversal from the Planning Authority's original recommendation, which had concluded that the project complied with planning policies and would promote the conservation and adaptive reuse of the historic palazzo.

The project, delivered by Infrastructure Malta, forms part of the Vjal Kulħadd initiative, which continues to prioritise people through investment in more accessible, greener and more sustainable public spaces.

Addressing the inauguration, the Minister said that the project reflects the Government's vision of placing communities, the environment and quality of life at the heart of every infrastructure investment.

"When we invest in infrastructure, we are not simply building roads, pavements or public spaces. We are building stronger, more united and more resilient communities. These investments improve people's daily lives while leaving a positive legacy for future generations," the Minister said.

 Attard explained that Tommaso Dingli Square is one of a series of projects being implemented under the Vjal Kulħadd scheme, which is transforming urban spaces by giving priority to people rather than vehicles.

In this context, he also referred to the recent inauguration of a new public square in Msida and the launch of a new project near Junior College, where a road which few days ago used to be open to traffic will be transformed into a pedestrian and recreational area.

The Attard project includes approximately 1,500 square metres of public green space featuring 50 newly planted trees. These will provide additional natural shade, improve air quality, reduce the urban heat island effect and further enhance biodiversity in the heart of the locality.

Among the project's innovative features is a rainwater harvesting and storage system, with an underground reservoir that will allow collected rainwater to be reused for irrigation and for cleaning the square. The Minister said this is a practical example of the Government's commitment to the sustainable use of resources.

The Minister thanked the Mayor and the Attard Local Council, the Chief Executive Officer and the team at Infrastructure Malta, as well as the architects, engineers, contractors and workers who contributed to the successful delivery of the project. He also thanked residents for their patience and cooperation throughout the construction works.

"As a government, we will continue investing in projects that make a tangible difference in people's lives and help create more sustainable, inclusive and high-quality communities. I am confident that Tommaso Dingli Square will become the social heart of Attard - a place where the community can come together, strengthen relationships and create new memories," the Minister added.

Infrastructure Malta Chief Executive Officer Steve Ellul said that this square is more than an infrastructure project, "it is a new public space designed to serve as a meeting place for the community.

"Through the Vjal Kulħadd programme, we are changing the way we view public spaces by creating safer, more attractive and more accessible environments where people can meet and enjoy their locality. For us, modern infrastructure means a better quality of life and direct investment in our communities. We will continue delivering projects that return public space to people while further improving the quality of life across our localities," Ellul said.

 Attard Mayor Stefan Cordina said that the project was launched by Infrastructure Malta after the Local Council had applied under the scheme. He expressed his satisfaction that the locality had been given this opportunity.

The inauguration was followed by a family-friendly evening featuring live music, interactive games, arts and crafts activities, and other entertainment.

During a visit to the Primary HealthCare Telemedicine Centre in Siġġiewi, Borg met staff operating the 24/7 service, which offers free medical advice, symptom assessments and non-emergency healthcare support.

The service, launched in 2020, receives up to 350 requests for medical consultations each day. According to the Primary HealthCare Department, around 70% of callers receive the medical support they need without requiring a visit to a health centre or other healthcare facility.

In addition to providing medical advice, the centre coordinates home visits by government medical services, books healthcare appointments, assists patients in interpreting recent medical test results and directs callers to the most appropriate healthcare services. Overall, including medical consultations and general enquiries, the centre handles around 90,000 telephone calls every month.

Speaking during the visit, Borg said the figures highlighted the impact of continued investment in primary healthcare and the commitment of healthcare professionals.

He said he had seen first-hand during visits to health centres, community clinics and the Telemedicine Centre how services are becoming more accessible, convenient and efficient for the public.

"We will continue supporting this Centre and its team of doctors, healthcare professionals and other workers so that they can assist even more people in the years ahead. Through their commitment and professionalism, they are providing invaluable support to thousands of people every month," Borg said.

Primary HealthCare CEO Karl Farrugia said the telemedicine service continues to grow and is helping ease pressure on Malta's health centres.

"This Centre helps reduce pressure on our Health Centres while providing the public with easier, faster and more convenient access to healthcare. People can call to receive a medical consultation or be directed to the most appropriate service without the need to visit a healthcare facility in person," he said.

The Telemedicine medical advice service is available 24 hours a day on 21231231 and 21222444. In the event of a medical emergency, the public is advised to call 112 immediately, while those unsure whether their condition is an emergency can call 1400 for guidance.

In line with Strategy 2030, the new agreement recognises the role that structured collaboration can have on the development of the arts in Malta. Such collaborations are expected to increase participation in culture while supporting increased professionalism in the sector and encouraging more student engagement in Arts Council Malta's programmes and initiatives.

The agreement was signed in relation to the 10^th edition of the MCAST ICA Festival which is celebrating the students' works of art from 12 Bachelor of Arts (Honours) courses.

Through this agreement, Arts Council Malta shall be offering its support in the MCAST ICA Festival by contributing to the costs of production, and the remuneration of a professional curator. The curator shall be training the students in the curatorship profession, while also taking on the role of curator during the exhibition. In this way, students will benefit from real-life contacts and practice in this profession.

This agreement strengthens the practical link between education and the professional, cultural sector, and also gives students better visibility to available opportunities beyond their studies. Furthermore, through this agreement, both institutions will be better able to cater to the needs of artists as well as cultural practitioners, educators and emerging creative professionals.

Executive Chairman of Arts Council Malta, Dr Luke Dalli said, "Arts Council Malta believes that investment in the arts education and in creativity means directly investing in the future of our cultural sector. Through collaborations such as this, we are helping students and educators have access to tools, experiences and opportunities that strengthen their professional development. This is an important step in our work of further promoting greater professionalism within the sector and supporting the future generation of Maltese artists and creatives."

MCAST Principal, Steven Vella said, "This agreement helps us strengthen the link between creative education and the professional sector which our students are preparing to enter. The MCAST ICA Festival already provides students with a public platform where they can present their high-quality work and their ambitions. This further collaboration will add another dimension to this experience by providing students with access to curatorship and closer links to the professional sector."

For more information on the Council's work, please visit https://artscouncilmalta.gov.mt.

The project, titled EcoJam - Where Creativity Connects Communities, was launched by youth organisation Generation Change? and is funded through the Voluntary Organisations Projects Scheme administered by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector.

Participants will use recycled objects, including old items donated by members of the community, to build instruments and other creative resources. These will later be used to establish spaces where children, young people and residents can explore music and artistic expression together.

The project is divided into three stages, comprising 12 skills-building workshops, six implementation workshops and three community activities.

During a visit to one of the workshops in Valletta, Inclusion and Volunteering Minister Julia Farrugia said the initiative demonstrated the government's continued support for voluntary organisations carrying out community-based work.

She said projects such as EcoJam gave young people an active role in building more creative and inclusive communities.

"This is the model of society that we want to continue to build, where volunteering, participation and innovation go hand in hand for the good of all," Farrugia said.

The project is intended to provide participants with practical skills while encouraging collaboration and giving them the opportunity to contribute to a wider community initiative.

Through the workshops, young people will work together to transform discarded materials into functional instruments, combining artistic expression with lessons about environmental sustainability.

Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector chief executive Mauro Pace Parascandalo thanked the youth workers and volunteers involved in organising the initiative.

He said it was encouraging to see organisations use council funding to strengthen local communities and develop new skills, particularly in creative fields.

Generation Change? youth worker Christian Mizzi said EcoJam highlighted the important role youth work could play in helping children and young people learn, develop and contribute positively to their communities.

He said participants were being guided through a practical learning experience in which creativity, teamwork and sustainability were brought together.

By working on practical tasks, participants were developing problem-solving skills and greater environmental awareness, Mizzi said.

The project was also helping young people build their confidence, improve their communication and teamwork, and understand the importance of taking responsibility for an initiative that would benefit the wider community.

Once the instruments and resources are completed, they will be used during community activities involving children, young people and residents from different areas.

The ministry said the project was intended to create inclusive spaces in which people could collaborate, express themselves and use music as a way of connecting with others.

Total tourist expenditure was estimated at €1,795.6 million, 14.8 per cent higher than that recorded for the same period in 2025. Total expenditure per capita decreased to €842 from €866 in 2025.

The number of tourists visiting Gozo and Comino, including both same-day and overnight visitors, totalled 1,123,572, or 52.7 per cent of total tourists.

Total inbound tourists in June 2026 were estimated at 458,223, an increase of 18.5 per cent when compared to the corresponding month in 2025, the NSO added.

During the month under review, a total of 427,333 inbound tourists visited Malta for holiday purposes, and 22,148 tourists came for business purposes. The largest share of inbound tourists consisted of persons aged between 25 and 44 (37.2 per cent), followed by the 45-64 age bracket (28.9 per cent). British, Italian and Polish residents made up 45.6 per cent of total inbound tourists.

Total nights spent went up by 3.9 per cent when compared to June 2025, reaching 2.6 million nights. The largest share of guest nights (89.2 per cent) was spent in rented accommodation establishments. The average length of stay of total inbound tourists stood at 5.6 nights.

Total tourist expenditure stood at €456.0 million, an increase of 15.2 per cent over the corresponding month in 2025. The average expenditure per night was estimated at €176.8.

The number of tourists visiting Gozo and Comino, including both same-day and overnight visitors, totalled 277,985, or 60.7 per cent of total tourists.

The 2021 public inquiry report concluded that the Maltese State must shoulder responsibility for Daphne's assassination because:

It failed to protect Daphne when there was a real and immediate risk to her life;

It actively increased the dangers which Daphne faced by isolating, dehumanising, financially crippling, and discrediting her, despite her investigations into government corruption being supported by evidence, as confirmed by the public inquiry;

High-level corruption created a powerful network of interests within government and business that shared a common interest: to "neutralise" Daphne's reporting and to protect those responsible for her murder;

The Office of the Prime Minister led an "orchestrated plan" to undermine the political impact of Daphne's reporting - this was a groundbreaking confirmation of the crucial role political propaganda played in her death;

The Office of the Prime Minister fostered a culture of impunity that "spread like an octopus" throughout the entire State and its regulatory bodies, enabling those exposed by Daphne's reporting to retaliate without consequence;

Senior Government officials sought to mislead Police investigators and journalists in the aftermath of Daphne's assassination, in an effort to help the culprits escape justice and media pressure.

Only by fully implementing the public inquiry's recommendations can Malta address the systemic failures that enabled Daphne's assassination, protect journalists, address organised crime, restore confidence in the rule of law, and ensure that no journalist is ever murdered again, the foundation said.

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In a statement by the Office of the Principal Permanent Secretary, it said that the new council aims to ensure that AI technologies are implemented in a way that enhances the design and delivery of public services while generating tangible value for citizens.

The council will be chaired by the Government's Chief AI Officer and will be supported by the Artificial Intelligence Governance Unit. It will provide central strategic oversight of AI initiatives across Government, bringing together key stakeholders to promote a unified approach to AI governance.

Among its key responsibilities, the council will help ensure compliance with the European Union's AI Act while reducing fragmented or duplicative AI projects across the Public Administration. The initiative is intended to strengthen coordination, encourage responsible innovation and support the effective use of AI in Government operations.

According to the Office of the Principal Permanent Secretary, the establishment of the council reflects Government's commitment to harnessing the benefits of artificial intelligence while maintaining appropriate governance and oversight.

The Government has also designated a central point of contact for AI-related matters. All communications concerning AI governance, policy, projects and related queries should be directed to governance.ai@gov.mt.

There is truth in both arguments.

A government is, by its very nature, more active than an opposition. It governs, takes decisions, launches initiatives and administers the country. News organisations cannot simply ignore these developments in pursuit of mathematical equality.

Yet public broadcasting is held to a higher standard than any other media outlet. It is not owned by the government of the day. It is funded by taxpayers, regardless of how they vote. It belongs equally to Labour supporters, Nationalist supporters, supporters of smaller parties and those with no political allegiance at all.

That is why PBS has a duty not merely to be impartial, but to be seen to be impartial.

Unfortunately, this is not a new argument. Every administration has faced accusations of exerting influence over the national broadcaster. Governments change, opposition parties change, the faces on television change, yet the complaints remain remarkably similar. Whoever sits on the Opposition benches invariably claims that PBS favours the government. Whoever occupies Castille insists that the broadcaster is simply reporting the government's work.

Perhaps that alone should encourage a period of honest reflection.

The challenge for PBS is not simply one of counting sound bites or measuring airtime. True impartiality is far more subtle than that. It is reflected in editorial judgement, in the prominence given to stories, in the questions that are asked, in the voices that are chosen and in the willingness to subject those in power to the same level of scrutiny expected of everyone else.

There is another issue that deserves greater attention.

Government communication no longer appears only in news bulletins. Increasingly, magazine programmes and lifestyle broadcasts devote generous airtime to government services, schemes, projects and initiatives.

Informing the public about available services is a legitimate function. Citizens should know what benefits, schemes and assistance exist. But there is a fine line between informing and promoting.

When programmes repeatedly showcase government initiatives without meaningful questioning or alternative perspectives, they risk becoming vehicles for soft propaganda. The political message is less obvious than in a news bulletin, but it can be just as effective. Viewers are presented with a steady stream of positive government messaging wrapped in the appearance of ordinary television programming.

This is precisely why public broadcasters must exercise constant vigilance. Editorial independence is not demonstrated only during election campaigns or political debates. It must be evident every single day, across every programme.

PBS occupies a privileged position in Maltese society. With that privilege comes responsibility. It should aspire to be the broadcaster that every citizen trusts, regardless of political preference. That trust is earned not through defensive statements or political arguments, but through consistent, transparent and demonstrably fair journalism.

Public broadcasting should never be another battlefield in Malta's endless political war. It should be the institution that rises above it.

The taxpayers who finance PBS deserve nothing less.

According to preliminary police investigations, the child was struck by a Mercedes Benz GLA 250 E driven by a 37-year-old resident of Mġarr.

A medical team administered first aid at the scene before an ambulance transported the boy to Mater Dei Hospital, where medical professionals certified his injuries as serious.

Police investigations into the incident remain ongoing.

In a Facebook post, the minister said amendments to the law came into force on Wednesday but alleged that Uber had failed to implement a number of required changes.

Bonett said that, among other issues, the ride-hailing platform had "without any legal basis" prevented self-employed drivers and small operators from working.

He said Transport Malta was taking all legal steps available to ensure compliance.

"If Uber fails to comply within the timeframes established by law, Transport Malta will proceed to suspend the company's operating licence," Bonett said.

He added that Uber had been aware of the legislative changes for months, noting that the reforms had been drafted following discussions with ride-hailing platforms, fleet operators and both employed and self-employed drivers.

"The laws were written to strengthen the sector and enhance the credibility of this service as a reliable and effective alternative means of transport," Bonett said, adding that Uber's actions were harming both the industry and its workers.

The warning comes after the government introduced a package of reforms aimed at overhauling the Y-plate sector.

Among the new measures, Transport Malta has been granted the power to enforce a maximum 12-hour daily driving limit for cab drivers through access to real-time data from ride-hailing platforms. Drivers who exceed the limit face escalating penalties, including warnings, fines of up to €500 and the possible suspension of their driver tag.

During a number of discussions and meetings held by the Opposition in recent weeks with stakeholders in this important sector, emphasis was placed on the need for a more focused approach towards greater sustainability in healthcare, based on an agreed plan that delivers improvements in quality of life in this area as well, the PN said in a statement.

It is encouraging to see a strong budget for the national health service and healthcare. However, there must be greater accountability in how taxpayers' money is spent.

"We need to curb waste and excessive spending on medicines that end up being discarded for various reasons. Solutions are also needed for surplus medicines collected through the Pharmacy of Your Choice (POYC) scheme that ultimately go unused," the PN said.

This wasted money could be put to better use and invested in measures that genuinely improve healthcare in our country.

One clear example is innovative cancer medication that is not yet available through the POYC scheme and must therefore be purchased by patients who need it. Another is the Continuous Glucose Monitoring service, which should be extended to everyone with diabetes rather than being provided only to a select group, the PN said.

Unplanned spending on the outsourcing of services, including emergency services, is another example. This expenditure has become necessary because the Government failed to plan for adequate infrastructure capable of meeting ever-increasing demand.

This service is costing the Maltese public millions of euros in taxpayers' money. These funds could be used more effectively to build new hospitals that provide the space urgently needed to improve the quality of healthcare and the services offered in our country, the PN said.

Malta and Gozo need serious planning and a long-term vision, not reactive measures.

This is the way forward towards a truly sustainable healthcare system that benefits everyone.

The Opposition stressed the need for a carefully considered plan to be discussed and agreed upon by all stakeholders in the sector, with the aim of improving quality of life through better healthcare.

The deaths on Crete brought a fatal new dimension to a wildfire emergency stretching from the Atlantic coast to the eastern Mediterranean. At the peak of the evacuations, a third of a million people were driven from homes and vacation sites in France and Spain.

In France's Gironde region, the country's biggest blaze had not spread during a calm night, authorities said. But as temperatures approached 40 C (104 F) Wednesday afternoon and winds strengthened, the reprieve threatened to be short-lived.

The landscape was so combustible that investigators believe routine brush-clearing work near a high-voltage line may have sparked the inferno, even though the work appeared to comply with regulations.

At the command center in Lège, firefighters bent over maps spread across a car hood, tracking three danger zones: northern Cap-Ferret; the wooded corridor around Marcheprime, Cestas and Saint-Jean-d'Illac; and a military site near Martignas, where a major outbreak forced a large deployment.

Both firefighters and residents mobilize against the blaze

More than 2,200 firefighters and over 20 aircraft remained mobilized, backed by crews from across France and European partners.

"We strike quickly and strike hard at any new smoke emissions," Gironde fire commander Matthieu Jomain said.

Beyond the command center, civilians were trying to hold the line themselves. At Souge, volunteers flooded the edges of dirt tracks while a local digger driver plowed through still-burning soil, trying to keep flames from crossing back when the expected west wind arrived. In Lacanau, residents pumped water from a lake into tanks headed for hot spots and firefighters' cisterns.

"If one day the fire starts in our neck of the woods, I know very well that all the people here would do the same for us," said Flavien Dubuch, 33, who drove from Saint-Émilion with his father to help.

Hottest day this week

The advance of major fires in the Landes and Var regions has been halted. That left Gironde as France's biggest remaining wildfire battle, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said.

The Gironde fire forced 220,000 people to flee at the peak of the crisis. Tens of thousands have since been allowed home, but authorities warned that the danger had not passed.

Extreme heat strips moisture from vegetation and drives down humidity, turning grasses, brush and forest litter into faster-burning fuel.

Investigators believe contractors working near a high-voltage line for power-grid operator Enedis ignited the blaze while using a brush-cutting machine, Bordeaux prosecutor Renaud Gaudeul said.

Météo-France said Wednesday would be the hottest and driest day of the week, with elevated wildfire danger across every region of France. Drought now covers mainland France and Corsica, with soils nearing the record dryness reached in August 2022.

Smoke from the Gironde and Landes fires also pushed particulate pollution higher across both departments, regional air-quality monitors said.

More evacuations ordered in France

Gironde authorities ordered 4,000 more people out of tourist sites along the Atlantic coast on Tuesday, widening what may be France's largest peacetime evacuation.

"The situation remains complicated. That's clear. We're not out of the woods," said Gironde prefect Sophie Brocas, who also authorized 60,000 evacuees to return to three Bordeaux suburbs untouched by fire.

The opposing movements - thousands ordered out of coastal resorts as others returned with mobile phones on and emergency bags packed - captured how precarious the situation remains.

The disruption was spreading beyond the burn zone into Bordeaux's peak tourism season.

Edouard le Grix de la Salle, who runs Château du Grand Verdus with his brother, said official appeals to avoid the region threatened its wine-tourism trade. "How did they not think about protecting that sector?" he told The Associated Press.

At one point the Gironde blaze created a black thundercloud, electrified and lit from within, that generated lightning, violent winds and new fires beyond the original front. The pyrocumulonimbus was the first recorded in France.

Fire in Greece turns deadly for firefighters

Two firefighters died Wednesday while battling a wildfire in the Rethymno region of Crete, Greece's fire department said. They were among about 125 firefighters confronting flames fanned by strong winds, with four helicopters and four water-dropping planes deployed.

The circumstances of their deaths were not immediately clear. The department said they died "in the line of duty to protect the lives and property of citizens and the natural environment."

A third firefighter also died Wednesday outside the fire perimeter, after tackling a separate blaze in Greece's southern Peloponnese region.

Tens of thousands begin returning home in Spain

At the height of the crisis, roughly 330,000 people were driven from homes and vacation sites across France and Spain.

Tens of thousands of people began returning home in central Spain after firefighters made progress around Madrid and Ávila. Evacuation orders were lifted for about 20,000 people in the Madrid region, while stay-at-home restrictions ended for another 14,000.

But 10,000 people remain under evacuation orders in Castellón, where a fire was still out of control as Spain braced for its fourth heat wave of the summer.

More than 1,160 square kilometers (448 square miles) have burned across France this year, according to the Interior Ministry.

Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent, warming at more than twice the global average, according to the European Union's Copernicus climate service. Western Europe recorded its hottest June on record, with extreme heat and widespread dryness contributing to the spread and intensification of fires in France and Spain, Copernicus said.

The plan will receive €45.4 million in EU financing from the Social Climate Fund, which was negotiated by PN Head of Delegation MEP David Casa, one of the European Parliament's lead negotiators on the legislation, working alongside Dutch EPP MEP Esther de Lange, who jointly steered the negotiations through Parliament, a statement by the EPP said Thursday.

"This is an important milestone for Malta and the concrete result of years of work to ensure that climate policy improves people's lives rather than placing new burdens on those who can least afford them," Casa said.

"The Social Climate Fund was designed as the social safety valve of Europe's climate transition. Its purpose is clear: to reduce energy bills, tackle energy and transport poverty, and help vulnerable families and small businesses move away from expensive fossil fuels."

Malta's plan includes energy-efficiency improvements and renewable-energy installations in public social housing, including roof insulation, photovoltaic panels, battery storage and heat-pump water heaters. It will also provide door-to-door community transport for more than 30,000 vulnerable users and support vulnerable micro-enterprises switching to electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.

Casa recalled that the final Social Climate Fund agreement secured a substantially larger allocation for Malta than had originally been envisaged.

"When we negotiated this legislation, I fought for Malta's share to be increased significantly. Today, more than €60 million is being mobilised for Maltese and Gozitan citizens as a result," Casa said.

"The investments now approved reflect what we set out to achieve: more renewable energy, better-insulated homes, cleaner transport and long-term savings for citizens."

Casa stressed that the approval of the plan must now be followed by timely and transparent implementation.

"Approval cannot be the end of the process. The government must ensure that these funds reach the people who need them without unnecessary delay. Implementation must be transparent, properly targeted and subject to rigorous oversight," Casa said.

"The green transition will only succeed when it is also a socially just transition. Nobody should be left behind, and Malta must now turn this opportunity into lower costs, better services and improved living conditions for thousands of families."

The filing, presented in the First Hall of the Civil Court against Busuttil operating on behalf of YADA Dance Company, accuses the director of failing to pay top local artists for their professional services in a major stage production.

The legal action represents a united front across Malta's creative community. Joining Losco, Chukunyere, and Cauchi in the court action are celebrated singers Mary Rose Mallia, Sarah Bonnici, Deborah Ann Vella, Pamela Kerr, and music producer Elton Zarb.

The court document details how the performers were personally engaged by Busuttil to deliver professional vocal, dance, and musical composition services for the production Divas II - The Dance Show. The spectacle was held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta, consisting of six live performances staged across two weekends in March 2025, from 7 March to 9 March and 14 March to 16 March.

In addition to the six performance dates, the legal filing highlights the extensive labor required behind the scenes. The artists dedicated long hours to mandatory preparations and regular rehearsal schedules prior to opening night, a commitment that effectively prevented them from accepting other professional contracts during that period.

According to the court document, all performers executed their duties to the highest professional standard, contributing directly to the success of the production. At no point during or after the show were any complaints raised regarding the quality of their work or their adherence to obligations.

Despite the production's conclusion, invoices issued by the performers remain entirely or largely unpaid. The artists emphasised these fees constitute their primary source of livelihood, making timely payment essential.

The protest points out that the artists made repeated individual and collective attempts to resolve the debt amicably out of court.

While Busuttil offered multiple assurances that payments would be made shortly, these promises were never honoured. Furthermore, the filing alleges that on certain occasions, Busuttil falsely informed some performers that other artists had already been paid, when in reality no such settlements had occurred.

Represented by legal counsel Zackariah Esmail and Kayleigh Borg, the artists have formally placed Busuttil in legal default.

The court protest gives Busuttil a strict ultimatum of three days from notification to settle all outstanding balances, warning that full judicial action will follow immediately without further notice.

On Wednesday, all Labour Government members on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) voted against discussing the electricity supply cuts and scrutinising the Auditor General’s report, which two years ago exposed serious problems in Malta’s electricity distribution network during the summer of 2023.

The report by the National Audit Office (NAO), which the Government is refusing to discuss, showed how a lack of investment in the electricity distribution network contributed to the supply crisis that left Malta and Gozo in darkness three years ago, the PN said.

“The same shortcomings resurfaced in recent weeks, when thousands of Maltese and Gozitan people, including vulnerable individuals, were once again left without access to electricity,” the party said.

The discussion, requested by the Nationalist Opposition members serving on the Committee, was blocked by Government members on the pretext that it should be postponed until the report is updated.

“This decision was taken without any consideration for what tens of thousands of people endured over recent days. This is clearly a delaying tactic intended solely to avoid and postpone until after the summer parliamentary scrutiny of a report that exposes the Government’s failure in the energy sector,” the party said.

“It is evident that Government members no longer have their finger on the pulse of the people, and care even less about their suffering now that they no longer need their votes.”

The PN said that the Government has not only adjourned Parliament until October without continuing the debate on the most serious energy crisis our country has ever experienced, but it is now also refusing to discuss the crisis within the Public Accounts Committee. Through its members on the PAC, the Government has chosen to shield Minister Miriam Dalli and the Government from every form of transparency and accountability.

“For this Government, it appears that the people are only there to vote and pay taxes. In return, they are getting a Government that is not even capable of discussing the electricity cuts, let alone solving them,” the party said.

The statement was signed by PN MP and PAC chairperson Darren Carabott, and PN MPs and PAC members Graham Bencini and Eve Borg Bonello.

Meanwhile, the PL said in a statement that it wants a discussion based on facts while the PN wants to “stop halfway through.”

The PL said that it has “absolutely no objection” to the PAC discussing the work that has been carried out on Malta’s electricity distribution network. “On the contrary, it believes that such a discussion should take place based on the full facts and the most up-to-date information available,” the PL said.

“This is precisely why the Government members on the PAC formally requested that the Auditor General update his report, which covered the situation up to 2023, to also reflect the extensive work and investment undertaken between 2023 and 2026,” the party said.

The Auditor General said that a follow-up on the report was already being carried out.

The PL said that over the past three years, the largest investment programme ever carried out on Malta's electricity distribution network has been implemented, including the construction of new substations, the installation of underground cables, new transformers and other critical infrastructure.

“The Labour Party therefore welcomes a discussion at the PAC once the Auditor General has completed this update, ensuring that the Committee can examine the subject based on a complete and up-to-date picture, rather than a report which, by its very nature, could not include developments that took place after 2023.”

The Labour Party said it will continue to support robust and responsible parliamentary scrutiny of the Government's work. “However, that scrutiny must be based on complete, up-to-date and objective information, not halfway through this report,” it added.

Several parts of Malta have recently been hit by a spate of power cuts, in some instances lasting more than one day. The Nationalist Party has accused the government of not investing in its distribution network, while Prime Minister Robert Abela a few days ago said that the company should speed up its work.

A Department of Information statement on Wednesday said the request was made by government members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). They explained that, following discussions with Minister for Energy, the Environment and the Regeneration of the Grand Harbour, Miriam Dalli, it had been decided to ask the Auditor General to examine the infrastructure works carried out by Enemalta between 2023 and 2026.

The review will serve as an update to a report published by the Auditor General in 2023, which examined works undertaken from 2014 onwards.

According to the government, the audit will assess the substantial investment carried out across various localities in Malta and Gozo to reinforce the electricity distribution network. It said the investment was aimed at addressing the growing challenges posed by extreme temperatures and the increased electricity demand resulting from changing climatic conditions.

The government said it is confident that the Auditor General's scrutiny will provide a precise and independent account of the work carried out and the investment made.

It added that the exercise reflects its commitment to transparency and openness, while demonstrating that it is implementing a serious plan to address the realities faced by families and businesses in a modern and growing country.

The issue is also expected to feature in discussions with the social partners during a meeting of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD) on Friday.

As he continued giving evidence in Fenech's trial by jury, Schembri also insisted that he repeatedly urged the businessman not to flee Malta on the eve of his arrest, denied leaking details of the murder investigation to him, and maintained that he played no role in Melvin Theuma's presidential pardon.

Fenech has pleaded not guilty to two principal charges: complicity in the wilful homicide of Daphne Caruana Galizia and criminal association to commit the murder. 

Caruana Galizia, a columnist with The Malta Independent, was killed in a car bomb on 16 October, 2017.

Five men have already been convicted in connection with Caruana Galizia's assassination. Vince Muscat admitted his role in the murder in 2021 and was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment. Alfred and George Degiorgio each received 40-year prison sentences after pleading guilty in 2022, while Robert Agius and Jamie Vella were sentenced to life imprisonment in 2025 for supplying the bomb used in the attack.

Questioned Wednesday by prosecutor Godwin Cini about recordings between Fenech and middleman Melvin Theuma, Schembri confirmed that Fenech had never explicitly admitted involvement in the assassination but had gradually dropped enough hints for him to understand what he was implying.

Schembri recalled that as Fenech's name increasingly surfaced in connection with the investigation, the businessman spoke to him while they were alone, probably over drinks.

"He hinted at it without saying it," Schembri said, adding that he "froze" when he understood what Fenech was trying to tell him.

He admitted that, looking back, he should have immediately informed then Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and tendered his resignation, describing that omission as his "one mistake."

Pressed further about his reaction, Schembri said he felt "very sad" because what he had feared for Fenech had happened.

He said he believed Fenech had been under the influence of drugs at the time and added that he still does not think the businessman acted alone.

Instead of confronting him, Schembri testified, he hugged his friend because he did not know what else to do.

Asked whether he had previously offered Muscat his resignation, Schembri said he had done so three times, telling the then prime minister to "leave me out of it." The resignation was not accepted.

The prosecution also focused extensively on recorded conversations in which Fenech and Theuma appeared to discuss Schembri and the investigation.

Schembri repeatedly denied supplying Fenech with inside information.

Questioned about references in the recordings to investigator Keith Arnaud, Minister Owen Bonnici and others, Schembri insisted that whatever information Fenech had obtained, it had not come from him.

He likewise denied allegations that he had sent Kenneth Camilleri to relay messages or that he had instructed Fenech to communicate with people connected to the investigation.

"I never sent Kenneth," Schembri repeated, while insisting that several remarks attributed to him in the recordings were simply untrue.

Earlier, Schembri was questioned about a meeting with Fenech's lawyers shortly before he was due to testify. On Tuesday, Schembri had told jurors that Johann Cremona had been offered up to €400,000 by Yorgen Fenech's lawyers to testify in the businessman's favour, only for the witness to repeatedly refuse to answer the court's questions before ultimately insisting he had "made it up".

Testifying yesterday, Schembri confirmed that lawyers Charles Mercieca and Gianluca Caruana Curran had asked him to "help" Fenech.

"They asked me to help him as much as possible," Schembri said.

Asked what that meant, he replied that he had already helped his friend by ensuring he did not harm him in previous testimony.

"The benefit of the doubt goes to my friend," Schembri said, while refusing to elaborate on what additional assistance the lawyers expected from him.

"I could have said much more," he added.

Schembri also described the events preceding Fenech's arrest.

He testified that Joseph Muscat informed him that the Malta Security Service had received information that Fenech was attempting to flee Malta aboard his yacht and instructed him to telephone the businessman.

According to Schembri, the pair spoke for around 25 minutes, during which he urged Fenech not to leave because doing so would only attract greater suspicion.

Although Fenech maintained that his yacht was due for servicing in Sicily, Schembri said he repeatedly pleaded with him to remain in Malta.

"I told him, 'Please, don't leave,'" Schembri recalled.

When Fenech later messaged him saying, "Maybe it's best if I go," Schembri testified that he encouraged him to "keep fighting" instead of escaping.

"I told him to stay in Malta and keep fighting," he said.

The prosecution also questioned Schembri about Melvin Theuma's request for a presidential pardon.

Schembri insisted he had no involvement whatsoever in the process.

He said the only time he saw the pardon document was when it was lying on the desk of Joseph Muscat's personal assistant, Ray Caruana, and that he simply walked past it.

"I was not involved at all," he testified, adding that he knew nothing about pardons because he is not a lawyer.

Asked why Fenech had repeatedly questioned him about Theuma's pardon, Schembri replied that anyone fearing exposure for involvement in a murder would naturally be concerned about whether a pardon would be granted.

"If Theuma got a pardon, it would all land on Yorgen Fenech," Schembri said.

As the afternoon session kicked off, Cini noted that in another text, Schembri and Fenech discussed the draft terms of Theuma's pardon and went over them together.

Cini then presented a document found in Fenech's possession upon arrest, containing a statement by Melvin Theuma claiming he was the middleman in the Daphne Caruana Galizia case, providing evidence of who engaged and paid for the bomb, and stating he did this because he discovered Fenech and Schembri were working to get rid of him.

When Cini asked why Theuma wrote that, Schembri said Theuma would be the best person to ask, and recalled Theuma admitting he used the photo to blackmail him.

When asked if he ever tried to get rid of Melvin Theuma, Schembri answered no, and when asked why Fenech kept the document, Schembri again told the court to ask Fenech.

Schembri was shown the letter implicating former minister Chris Cardona in the murder - which Adrian Vella previously claimed he was given by Schembri to hand to Yorgen Fenech while Fenech was hospitalised under police bail.

Schembri testified that he only discovered this document after his arrest when police showed it to him, adding that none of his fingerprints were found on it. He was then shown a second document, which Fenech had told investigators Schembri gave him prior to his arrest, but Schembri firmly denied this, stating it was the first time he was seeing it. 

Schembri recounted his arrest, stating he did not know it was coming.

Schembri noted that around 6:10am, workers arrived at his house for ongoing home renovations, which was filmed by Newsbook, and at 6:30am, investigators Keith Arnaud and Kurt Zahra arrived, searched the house, seized everything they saw, and took him to police headquarters.

Questioned about his infamous missing phone, Schembri stated he has been trying to figure out what happened to it for nine years and acknowledged that people laugh or smile when he speaks about it, but he insisted that he does not know where it went.

When prosecutor Cini pointed out that a report showed the phone was last used at 5:03am in Mellieha where Schembri lives, Schembri replied that he was stating facts and noted that workers arrived at 5:30am to move things outside.

He claimed he did not realize his phone was missing until police started putting things in sealed bags at the depot and noticed it wasn't there. When Cini questioned how he could fail to realise he didn't have his phone from the moment of his arrest until arriving at the depot, Schembri maintained he did not know, adding that workers might have found it, and noted he was in bed at 5:03am.

The court heard that Neville Gafa was present, and the prosecution probed about Schembri's relationship with him, as he was present at Schembri's house during the search.

"He's a family friend. He also worked with me at Castille," Schembri replied. They were quite close, and used to walk from Mellieħa to Selmun every day - but have since not been as close. "He started attacking people within the Labour Party. That bothered me," Schembri said.

Turning to photographs taken during the searches of Schembri's home, showing electronic devices that were not seized, Schembri says that the devices in question most likely belonged to members of his family.

My parents, Gafà, and the nanny were there. Those devices belonged to them. One hundred per cent. Not 99 per cent," he said.

He challenged the prosecution to call police officers who testified about only seizing what Schembri told them to seize into the courtroom to confront them over this.

Prosecutor Godwin Cini reminded the court that George Degiorgio testified Schembri had sent Melvin Theuma to the potato shed to arrange for Daphne Caruana Galizia to be killed.

"An outrageous lie!" Schembri replied. "I have never met George Degiorgio. I don't even know who he is. No way (Ma' tarax)."

Cini read out a series of claims allegedly made by Fenech in his police statement, beginning with an assertion that the plan to murder Daphne Caruana Galizia originated from Schembri.

"No, no, no. Definitely not," Schembri replied.

The prosecutor went on to suggest that Fenech had told police Schembri instructed him to "find a way" to have Caruana Galizia killed.

Schembri paused before answering "definitely not."

Cini then asked whether Schembri had ever told Fenech: "Mexxi, mexxi, mexxi" ("Go ahead, go ahead, go ahead").

"No," came the reply.

Asked whether Muscat had expressed concern during that meeting about whether Theuma could be trusted, Schembri replied: "I never heard that. Never."

When Cini suggests Fenech had told police he no longer trusted Theuma because he was recording him, Schembri said: "I definitely wasn't at that meeting."

Cini said that when Yorgen Fenech implied that he was involved in the murder, Schembri said he "froze". "Was that because you were shocked, or because your fears had come true?"

"Both. First, I had an obligation to keep the government going. Second, he was my friend. Third, as I have said many times, I never believed - and I am not saying that I now believe - that this person acted alone. I keep saying that, but I have no evidence," Schembri replied.

Asked why Fenech was linking him to the homicide, Schembri replied: "He didn't implicate me from the start. I'll leave it at that."

Asked what he meant by that, Schembri replied: "Initially, he didn't implicate me."

A point of law was raised on this because it appeared to allude to a matter the jury has been expressly instructed not to hear about - Yorgen Fenech's request for a presidential pardon.

The prosecution rephrased the question and asked Schembri what his reaction was when Fenech later implicated him.

"I was shocked. I was with the prime minister and I said, 'What's he making up about me?'I went to Joseph's house and told him I was going to resign. He accepted my resignation, and I went home," Schembri replied.

That brought the prosecution's questioning to an end. Schembri will be cross-examined on Thursday as the trial continues.

Photo: Miguela Xuereb/Newsbook Malta

Continuing his testimony in the trial by jury of Yorgen Fenech, Schembri also described the frantic hours before Fenech's arrest in November 2019, saying he repeatedly urged the businessman not to flee Malta, denied ever passing confidential information about the murder investigation to him, and maintained that he played no role in Melvin Theuma's presidential pardon. 

Yorgen Fenech, a businessman, has pleaded not guilty to two principal charges: complicity in the wilful homicide of Daphne Caruana Galizia and criminal association to commit the murder. 

Caruana Galizia, a columnist with The Malta Independent, was killed in a car bomb on 16 October, 2017.

Five men have already been convicted in connection with Caruana Galizia's assassination. Vince Muscat admitted his role in the murder in 2021 and was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment. Alfred and George Degiorgio each received 40-year prison sentences after pleading guilty in 2022, while Robert Agius and Jamie Vella were sentenced to life imprisonment in 2025 for supplying the bomb used in the attack.

The prosecution is being led by Attorney General lawyers Godwin Cini, Anthony Vella and Danika Vella, assisted by Assistant Commissioner Keith Arnaud and Inspector Kurt Zahra. Fenech is represented by lawyers Charles Mercieca, Gianella Demarco and Gianluca Caruana Curran, while lawyers Therese Comodini Cachia and Jason Azzopardi are appearing parte civile on behalf of the Caruana Galizia family.

Judge Edwina Grima is presiding.

Please refresh for updates

17:00 Madam Justice Edwina Grima adjourns proceedings for the day.

Schembri will remain under court supervision overnight and will return to the witness stand tomorrow, when he is due to face cross-examination by Fenech's defence lawyers.

The jurors then leave the courtroom. Thank you for following our live blog, we will return with more live coverage tomorrow. A roundup will be available on our website shortly.

16:55 The prosecution resumes by rephrasing an earlier question.

Cini: In a recording played in court today, Yorgen Fenech said you "froze" when he told you. He also said you would walk through fire for him and that the two of you cried together when you realised he was involved. What was your reaction when Fenech later implicated you?

Schembri: I was shocked. I was with the prime minister and I said, "What's he making up about me?" I went to Joseph's house and told him I was going to resign. He accepted my resignation, and I went home.

That is all from the prosecution.

16:49 The legal issue centres on Keith Schembri's reply that Fenech "didn't implicate me immediately", which appeared to allude to a matter the jury has been expressly instructed not to hear about.

The court upholds the defence's objection and rules that jurors will be instructed to disregard the final question and answer.

The jurors are then brought back into the courtroom.

16:42 Cini: In the recording, Yorgen Fenech said you "froze" and that you would walk through fire for him. He also said the two of you cried together when you learnt he was involved in the murder. So why is Yorgen Fenech linking you to the homicide?

Schembri: He didn't implicate me from the start. I'll leave it at that.

Cini: What do you mean?

Schembri: Initially, he didn't implicate me.

Madam Justice Edwina Grima asks Schembri to explain what he means.

The prosecution then requests to raise a point of law. The jurors and Schembri are escorted out of the courtroom while the matter is discussed.

16:40 Cini: Yorgen Fenech repeatedly mentioned you to Melvin Theuma. Why would he do that if you were not involved?

Schembri: Ask him.

Cini: When Yorgen Fenech implied that he was involved in the murder, you said you "froze". Was that because you were shocked, or because your fears had come true?

Schembri: Both. First, I had an obligation to keep the government going. Second, he was my friend. Third, as I have said many times, I never believed - and I am not saying that I now believe - that this person acted alone. I keep saying that, but I have no evidence.

I was upset because he was my friend. My children were close to his children, and my ex-wife was close to his wife. It came as a total, total shock.

16:35 Cini reads out passages from Yorgen Fenech's police statement.

Schembri immediately turns to Judge Edwina Grima.

"Didn't you tell us yesterday that these statements couldn't be mentioned?" he asks.

"No," the judge replies.

Cini then reads out a series of claims allegedly made by Fenech, beginning with an assertion that the plan to murder Daphne Caruana Galizia originated from Schembri.

"No, no, no. Definitely not," Schembri replies.

The prosecutor goes on to suggest that Fenech had told police Schembri instructed him to "find a way" to have Caruana Galizia killed.

Schembri pauses before answering.

"Definitely not."

Cini then asks whether Schembri had ever told Fenech: "Mexxi, mexxi, mexxi" ("Go ahead, go ahead, go ahead").

"No."

The prosecutor also asks whether Schembri, Fenech, and then-prime minister Joseph Muscat had once met.

Schembri agrees he met Fenech and Muscat, but says it did not happen at Castille.

Asked whether Muscat had expressed concern during that meeting about whether Theuma could be trusted, Schembri replies:

"I never heard that. Never."

When Cini suggests Fenech had told police he no longer trusted Theuma because he was recording him, Schembri says: "I definitely wasn't at that meeting."

16:29 Prosecutor Godwin Cini reminds the court that George Degiorgio testified Schembri had sent Melvin Theuma to the potato shed to arrange for Daphne Caruana Galizia to be killed.

"An outrageous lie!" Schembri replies.

"I have never met George Degiorgio. I don't even know who he is. No way (Ma' tarax)."

16:19 Cini returns to the file of printed Daphne Caruana Galizia articles that Schembri says he kept for years.

Schembri says the file contained every article she had written about him.

"I wanted to know what she was saying about me. It's very, very normal," he tells the jury.

"I was one of the few-one of the only-members of the Labour government to sue her for libel," he says, gesturing with his hands.

He says he would be upset when she wrote about then-prime minister Joseph Muscat, his wife Michelle, and their children.

"She did the same thing when Lou Bondì went after Toni Abela over the blokka bajda affair," Schembri adds.

Asked how the articles affected him personally, Schembri replies: "The hardest part was when she wrote about my mother, my father and my ex-wife."

"I keep a record of everyone who writes about me. It's very, very normal."

Schembri says he would often discuss the articles with his family and with then-prime minister Joseph Muscat because they concerned his work.

Schembri says he saw no reason to get rid of the file while Caruana Galizia was still writing about him.

Schembri then adds that, even today, he tells the people who work for him that he prays for Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Asked what eventually became of the file, Schembri replies:

"I think I shredded it."

16:10 The prosecution challenges Schembri over his account of the searches carried out at his home.

Cini refers to Schembri's earlier testimony that a female officer searched through his clothes, checking the pockets of his suits and jeans and "turning everything upside down".

Cini replies that investigators had testified they did not simply seize everything, but only the devices Schembri pointed out to them. He also says that it doesn't appear that much had been upended.

"Let's have a confrontation," Schembri responds. "Call them here and we'll talk."

The prosecutor repeats that investigators had testified they collected the devices Schembri indicated.

"Call them here," Schembri insists. "If you want, call Kurt Zahra. Call Keith Arnaud as well."

16:05 The prosecution turns to photographs taken during the searches of Schembri's home, showing electronic devices that were not seized.

Schembri says the devices most likely belonged to members of his family.

"After they arrested me, strip-searched me and put me through the mill [ġennewni]. My relatives arrived at the house, as they should have. My parents, Gafà, and the nanny were there," he says.

"Those devices belonged to them. One hundred per cent. Not 99 per cent."

15:57 "How did Mr Gafà happen to be there?" Cini asks, referring to his presence during the search of Schembri's home.

"He's a family friend. He also worked with me at Castille," Schembri replies.

Schembri says he got to know Gafà through work around five or six years earlier.

Asked how close they were, he replies: "We used to walk from Mellieħa to Selmun every day - me, him, and Kenneth Azzopardi."

Cini then refers to evidence from Kenneth Camilleri, who testified that he had tried to pass a message to Schembri through Gafà when Schembri was giving him the cold shoulder.

"Did Neville Gafà speak to you?" the prosecutor asks.

"I don't remember," Schembri replies.

Cini asks whether Schembri had been in contact with Gafà before his arrest.

"I didn't know I was going to be arrested," Schembri says.

Asked whether the two still speak today, Schembri says: "More or less."

"What happened between you?"

"I don't know. We still say good morning and so on, but he's always abroad, and some of his actions don't sit well with me."

"He started attacking people within the Labour Party. That bothered me."

15:55 Prosecutors cited a document listing attendees during a police search, including various officers, Schembri, his lawyers Edward Gatt and Mark Vassallo, his wife, his parents, his older daughter, and Neville Gafà. When Cini asked what all those people were doing there, Schembri deflected by asking if the police couldn't find his phone, prompting the judge to warn him to answer the question. Looking over police photos of the search which he claimed to have never seen before, Schembri stated he could not remember who went through his things or which police officers were present for the second search following the initial one by Arnaud and Zahra, though he recalled a woman might have been there.

15:52 Schembri claimed he did not realize his phone was missing until police started putting things in sealed bags at the depot and noticed it wasn't there. When Cini questioned how he could fail to realise he didn't have his phone from the moment of his arrest until arriving at the depot, Schembri maintained he did not know, adding that workers might have found it, and noted he was in bed at 5:03am.

15:46 Questioned about his infamous missing phone, Schembri stated he has been trying to figure out what happened to it for nine years and acknowledged that people laugh or smile when he speaks about it, admitting he does not know where it went. When prosecutor Cini pointed out that a report showed the phone was last used at 5:03am in Mellieha where Schembri lives, Schembri replied that he was stating facts and noted that workers arrived at 5:30am to move things outside.

15:40 Keith Schembri recounted his arrest, stating he did not know it was coming and explaining that Dr Adrian Vella called him at 5am to say police were knocking on his door and asking what to do, to which Schembri told him to open it. Schembri noted that around 6:10am, workers arrived at his house for ongoing home renovations, which was filmed by Newsbook, and at 6:30am, investigators Keith Arnaud and Kurt Zahra arrived, searched the house, seized everything they saw, and took him to police headquarters where they removed his shoes, belt, and trousers.

15:38 Keith Schembri was shown the letter implicating former minister Chris Cardona in the murder - which Adrian Vella previously claimed he was given by Schembri to hand to Yorgen Fenech while Fenech was hospitalised under police bail. Schembri testified that he only discovered this document after his arrest when police showed it to him, adding that none of his fingerprints were found on it. He was then shown a second document, which Fenech had told investigators Schembri gave him prior to his arrest, but Schembri firmly denied this, stating it was the first time he was seeing it. 

15:27 Cini noted that in another text, Schembri and Fenech discussed the pardon's draft terms and going over them together. Cini then presented a document found in Fenech's possession upon arrest, containing a statement by Melvin Theuma claiming he was the middleman in the Daphne Caruana Galizia case, providing evidence of who engaged and paid for the bomb, and stating he did this because he discovered Fenech and Schembri were working to get rid of him. When Cini asked why Theuma wrote that, Schembri said Theuma would be the best person to ask, and recalled Theuma admitting he used the photo to blackmail him. When asked if he ever tried to get rid of Melvin Theuma, Schembri answered no, and when asked why Fenech kept the document, Schembri again told the court to ask Fenech.

15.20 Prosecutor Godwin Cini showed Keith Schembri a photo of a message thread discussing lawyers, in which Schembri asked Fenech if he was still considering lawyer Giannella de Marco, to which Fenech replied that she was the best option and Schembri questioned if she would accept. Schembri then suggested speaking to lawyer Stephen Tonna Lowell, while Fenech remarked that if not, he would have to go for Franco Debono. When Cini asked if there was any prior discussion about Giannella, Schembri stated he had heard about it from Adrian Vella in Gozo, who mentioned that Giannella did not intend to accept the brief.

13:10: Cini asks for more context on the reference to Jacob Borg, and Schembri instead refers to another Times of Malta journalist at the time, Ivan Camilleri.

He says that Camilleri was suspended from the newspaper after they found out that he had been in contact with Fenech.

"Jacob Borg was just doing his job and trying to get a comment from Yorgen. He wasn't fired," Schembri said.  "Everyone knew" on the other hand, that Ivan Camilleri "was writing stories in Yorgen Fenech's favour," Schembri adds.

Camilleri was sacked from the Times of Malta soon after Fenech's arrest.

The session now takes a pause for lunch.  It will return at 3pm.

13:03: Fenech sent Schembri a link to a Malta Today article which connected Melvin Theuma to the murder.  Asked why he thought Fenech had sent this link, Schembri replied that the question would be better placed to Malta Today managing editor Saviour Balzan.  "He's after clicks," Schembri says.

Asked why he felt that Fenech was interested in the pardon, Schembri said that it was because it affected him: "If Theuma got a pardon, it would all land on Yorgen Fenech," he says.

Prosecutors move onto another text exchange between Fenech and Schembri - prosecutor Cini reads out a text from Fenech: 'maybe it's best if I go.'

Schembri says that he would tell Fenech not to leave the country and not to escape.  Cini says he texted him 'keep fighting' and 'either one or the other.'

"I told him to stay in Malta and keep fighting," Schembri says, as he notes that Fenech told him that he had been informed that Times of Malta journalist Jacob Borg and a cameraperson were present at the marina.

"I told him 'please, don't leave,'" Schembri says.

12:52 The prosecution read a text message Schembri sent to Fenech that night telling him to be aggressive and fight, and when Cini asked what he meant by that, Schembri replied that he was helping him. When asked what sort of help, Schembri noted that there are things you can promise that do not come to pass and he wanted to show he was helping even when there were things he could not assist with, emphasising that after speaking with investigator Arnaud, he would have never given Melvin Theuma a pardon with all that money involved.

12:48 Schembri discussed his contact with Fenech on the eve of his arrest and escape attempt, stating that during their phone call he told Fenech on behalf of himself and the prime minister not to leave because it would draw more attention to himself, while Fenech claimed his boat was due for a service in Sicily. Prosecutor Cini referred to a text message where Fenech told Schembri not to leave him alone and to give him support, to which Schembri explained that Fenech was asking him and the prime minister for help as everyone was panicked. Schembri confirmed he called Fenech twice to try and calm him.

12:35 Referring to Fenech's arrest, Schembri testified that on the night before the arrest, the prime minister told him the MSS had informed him Fenech was trying to flee the country on his yacht and instructed Schembri to call Fenech. Schembri recounted that they spent 25 minutes on the phone, during which he told Fenech to stop drawing attention to himself.

12:31 Cini asked where Fenech was the weekend before his arrest, to which Schembri replied he did not know, but noted that Dr Adrian Vella had told him something a week prior, explaining that Vella was in Gozo and told Fenech's lawyer Gianluca Caruana Curran to go there a day after Melvin Theuma was arrested, as they tried to get Fenech legal representation from a bunch of lawyers including Giannella De Marco, but nobody wanted the case before Fenech came back to Malta. When asked who told him that, Schembri said he knew Yorgen had told them to go to Gozo, initially claiming both Gianluca Caruana Curran and Charles Mercieca went before correcting himself to say only Caruana Curran went, as Mercieca joined the legal team later.

12:21 When prosecutor Cini asked Schembri if he had been questioned about Melvin Theuma's pardon request during his interrogation, Schembri confirmed that Fenech had spoken in an aggressive tone asking about it, to which Schembri replied that they do not dish out pardons. When asked why Fenech would ask him about it given their friendship, Schembri explained that the matter was open source and noted that anyone worried about being found out for involvement in a murder would do everything to ask about a pardon.

12:09 The prosecution exhibited Melvin Theuma's presidential pardon in court, prompting Schembri to state that he only saw the pardon on the desk of Joseph Muscat's personal assistant, Ray Caruana, adding that he just kept walking and was not involved at all in the pardon or discussions surrounding it. When Cini asked if anyone spoke to him when Theuma first asked for a pardon and meetings began, Schembri maintained that he was not in those meetings, received no information about the pardon, and knew nothing about pardons as he is not a lawyer.

12:05  Prosecutor Godwin Cini continued the questioning by asking what happened to Melvin Theuma after his arrest, to which Schembri replied that Theuma stated he had things to reveal and asked for lawyers and former PN MPs Simon Busuttil and Jason Azzopardi, noting that Theuma had an ice cream box containing a photo of himself with Schembri. When Cini asked why Theuma put the photo in the box, Schembri explained that it was to threaten him because Theuma thought Schembri was helping Yorgen Fenech, adding that when the photo was taken, Theuma had asked to move so the prime minister's picture would also be in frame, making it clear that Theuma wanted to involve the prime minister as well.

12:01 The judge and jury returned to court, allowing Keith Schembri's testimony to resume.

11:29 Cini pointed out that in the recording, Yorgen Fenech implies he was getting information from Schembri and relaying it to Melvin Theuma, which Schembri denied. When asked about what happened to Theuma, Schembri noted that Theuma received a pardon after being investigated and having a quantity of money and property discovered. Following this exchange, the court ordered a 15-minute break.

11:25 The prosecution played another recorded conversation between Yorgen Fenech and Melvin Theuma in which Melvin says to see what Keith says, and Yorgen replies that Keith tells him what he always says - that Yorgen should have told him earlier. When prosecutor Cini asked Schembri if Yorgen ever told him he did something bad and received that response, Schembri replied that it would depend on what it was about and that he did not know.

11:17 Explaining what he meant by saying he should have spoken to the prime minister, Schembri testified that he offered Joseph Muscat his resignation three times, telling him to leave him out of it, and stated that he still believes Fenech was not alone and understands why Fenech did not go to the police given that he was under the influence of drugs. Describing the moment Fenech told him, Schembri recalled that they burst into tears, hugged one another, and went home, and when asked what he meant by going into fire for Fenech, Schembri replied that he had already told the court everything and asked what else he could say.

11:10 Pressed about how he felt when Fenech hinted at his involvement, Schembri stated he felt very sad because what he did not want for Fenech had happened, believing Fenech was likely under the influence at the time, adding that he does not think Fenech was the only one involved. Schembri reiterated that rumours were circulating and Fenech gave him that indication during a time when they were holding meetings at Castille regarding the murder, explaining that he did not remember where they were or how long it was before Fenech's arrest, and that his reaction was simply to hug him because he did not know what else to do.

11:05 When asked about Yorgen Fenech's expression when he mentioned the murder, Keith Schembri digressed to recall joking with Silvio Valletta prior to Daphne Caruana Galizia's death, telling him that if she were ever killed, files would go flying and they might as well shred everything they had on her, noting he had made the remark around the time she wrote about Dom Mintoff's death.

11:02 Schembri says that he never did anything special for Fenech and simply treated him as a friend. When Cini quoted Fenech saying that when he told Schembri the truth Schembri froze, Schembri confirmed that Fenech had hinted at being involved in the murder without stating it clearly. When pressed for Fenech's exact words, Schembri explained that as Fenech's name began surfacing in the investigation, Fenech started dropping hints while they were alone, likely out for a drink, making Schembri understand his involvement. Schembri recalled that he froze and did not speak to anyone about it, admitting that his one mistake was not going to the prime minister immediately to inform him of his resignation. 

10:55 "This time, it's Yorgen saying you did walk through fire for him," Cini points out.

"That's true," Schembri replies.

He says he stood by Fenech when the businessman was struggling with health problems, just as Fenech had stood by him.

"So the only reason you walked through fire for him was his health?" Cini asks.

"Yes."

Asked when that was, Schembri says he cannot remember the exact period.

10:48 Schembri adds that he would worry a lot about Fenech and insisted he never tried to harm him when they discussed the murder case during meetings at Castille, noting that he, deputy police commissioner Silvio Valletta, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, Commissioner Lawrence Cutajar, and investigator Keith Arnaud would all leap to Fenech's defence by saying "non si quadra" ("this doesn't add up").

Prosecutor Cini asks about the relationship between Keith Schembri, Silvio Valletta, and Yorgen Fenech. Schembri explained that they shared a group chat-which also included Joe Cuschieri and Kenneth Azzopardi, as previously revealed in the media-and would meet at the ranch to share jokes.  He insists they never discussed the murder investigation. "Never. Never, never, never."

10:40 Cini points Schembri to another passage in the recording in which Yorgen Fenech claims Schembri had sent "ix-xufier tax-Xiħ" - nickname used in court for former prime minister Joseph Muscat and mentions Kenneth Camilleri.

"I never sent Kenneth," Schembri repeats.

Fenech again quotes Schembri as saying: "I haven't got rid of my own problem, so why would I get rid of someone else's?"

"I'd like to know what he meant by 'get rid of'," Schembri says. "At the time, I wasn't even charged, or out on bail."

10:38: Prosecutor Godwin Cini continued questioning Keith Schembri about recordings mentioning investigator Keith Arnaud and an individual named Owen in relation to developments in the murder investigation. When asked who Owen was, Schembri identified him as Minister Owen Bonnici. Asked how Yorgen Fenech came to know details concerning the investigation, Schembri maintained that he could only say it was not through him. 

10:29 Prosecutor Godwin Cini read from the transcript where Melvin Theuma says he wants the Keith thing sorted and Yorgen Fenech replies that he does not think Keith has the power to do it, to which Schembri responded that he had no idea and did not even know what they were talking about. When Cini asked what Fenech expected from him, Schembri stated he did not know. 

10:18 Prosecutor Godwin Cini reads further lines from the recorded conversation, pointing out a remark that as soon as a problem is seen, the government will panic, to which Schembri stated he did not have a clue what it meant. When Cini noted that Melvin said he got word to Keith and that Keith got him into this problem with Yorgen replying that it was a big problem, Schembri denied it, reiterating that he had only spoken to Melvin once in his office.

10:15 Cini read further lines from the recording in which Melvin Theuma is heard saying that Keith will come and send Kenneth, to which Schembri repeated his denial from the previous day, asserting that he did not send Kenneth. When Cini pointed out that Fenech tells Theuma that someone instructed him to figure out how to get word to the people inside, Schembri dismissed the claim as untrue.

10:13 Prosecutor Godwin Cini played an unclear audio recording to Keith Schembri, who identified the voices as belonging to Yorgen Fenech and Melvin Theuma and noted one speaker saying that the person who arranges something does not have as many problems as the person who carries it out. When Cini asked why Fenech was talking to Theuma about the hitman known as Il-Kohhu, Schembri stated that he did not know.

10:03 Prosecutor Godwin Cini asks whether Johann Cremona had ever told Keith Schembri he was afraid of someone or something.

"He never told me," Schembri replies. "But yesterday he showed me he was afraid."

"So, he told you he was afraid?" Cini asks.

"Not even you could get it out of him," Schembri responds.

Cini then returns to Schembri's earlier reference to the "trauma" he and Cremona had both experienced.

"What trauma was that?"

"The situation," Schembri replies. "I'm not going to mention it. I nearly lost all my businesses."

"Who created that situation?" Cini asks.

"Yorgen Fenech's arrest," Schembri eventually says.

09:59 The prosecution turns to the messages between Keith Schembri and Ruben 'ta' Fonzu'.

The screenshots were later passed on to Johann Cremona.

Cini asks Schembri why he appeared upset.

"What upset you?" the prosecutor asks.

Schembri sighs before replying: "Charles is the son of one of my closest friends."

Cini asks him to explain what he means by the "trauma" he referred to.

"Depression?" Cini says.

"Don't ask me what depression means, friend," Schembri shoots back.

The prosecutor then says that both Schembri and Johann Cremona had gone through difficult periods in their lives.

"What were you both going through? Did you have something in common?"

"Obviously. You'd be going on with your life as normal..." Schembri replies.

"What happened in your life?" Cini asks.

"Everyone knows."

Judge Edwina Grima interjects: "You'll have to tell us."

Schembri then begins speaking about his health problems before asking the court: "Is that enough?"

9:56 Prosecutor Godwin Cini returns to the meeting Keith Schembri had with Yorgen Fenech's lawyers just days before he was due to testify.

Cini asks what was said during the meeting.

"They asked me to help Yorgen, and I told them I had already helped him as much as I could," Schembri replies.

"What did you mean by that?" the prosecutor asks.

"I never harmed him when I testified," Schembri replies.

Pressed to explain, Schembri says: "The benefit of the doubt goes to my friend."

Cini wants specifics: "What sort of help did the lawyers want? And how could Schembri help Fenech just days before taking the witness stand?"

"They told me to help him as much as possible," Schembri repeats.

"How?" Cini asks.

"I don't know."

Asked again how he could have helped Fenech two days before testifying, Schembri replies: "Ask him."

"I'm asking you, Mr Schembri," Cini shoots back.

Schembri shrugs off the question.

He then adds: "They asked me certain questions and I said I didn't want to harm him because he's a good friend. I had visibility on many things. I mentioned some yesterday, and you didn't take me seriously. I could have said much more."

Prosecutor Godwin Cini opens by returning to the WhatsApp messages between Keith Schembri and lawyer Charles Mercieca eight days before he was due to testify.

Cini asks: "Was that before or after Schembri received the summons to testify?"

Schembri's answer barely changes: "I don't remember... I don't remember."

Cini presses on.

Was it before or after he was asked to meet Fenech's lawyers?

Again, Schembri digs in: "I don't remember."

The prosecution then turns to the meeting itself. Schembri says lawyers Charles Mercieca and Gianluca Caruana Curran were present, along with two of his colleagues.

Speaking to journalists after a Chamber of Commerce meeting, Borg was asked to respond to Abela's recent comments. Borg described the Prime Minister's accusation as untrue, arguing that the Opposition had instead stood "on the side of those who wanted a voice but did not have one."

He said that 26 non-governmental organisations from across different sectors of Maltese society had publicly expressed concern over what they described as a lack of consultation by the government before presenting the legislation.

Among the organisations raising concerns, Borg mentioned the Richmond Foundation, the Chamber of Commerce, the Malta Insurance Association, the Malta Chamber of Pharmacists and the Malta Gay Rights Movement (MGRM), among others.

He stressed that the PN was not calling for the Bill to be scrapped but rather amended following proper consultation.

"We were clear. We are not saying the Bill is bad or that it should be scrapped. We are saying it should be brought in line through consultation and discussion so that it can be presented in the best possible way," Borg said.

He added that once the necessary consultation had taken place and the concerns raised by stakeholders had been addressed, the Nationalist Party would be prepared to vote in favour of the legislation.

Borg also rejected suggestions that the PN was opposed to equality.

"We have no issue with equality. Far from it," he said, pointing to his parliamentary speech in which he acknowledged the need for Malta to establish a National Commission for Human Rights and Equality.

He noted that Malta remains one of only a small number of countries without such a commission, saying the PN recognises both the need for the institution and the importance of introducing it.

However, Borg criticised the government's approach, arguing that it should not steamroll legislation through Parliament without engaging with stakeholders.

He said the concerns raised by the 26 NGOs should not have been ignored, maintaining that broader consultation would ensure the legislation better addresses the issues identified by civil society and serves the interests of the Maltese and Gozitan public.

“This will ensure that the site is protected and safeguarded, with public access, recreational use and conservation being given the highest priority. Project Green will be responsible for the administration of the Park,” the government said.

This also fulfils the commitment that public parks and gardens developed in recent years will be legally protected through legislative amendments to safeguard them from any future development.

The government said that this step marks not only the beginning of the implementation of another electoral manifesto pledge, but also builds on the Government's commitment demonstrated during the first five weeks of parliamentary work in this legislature.

During this period, the Government advanced seven major reforms, all of which either came into force or reached completion before Parliament adjourned for the summer recess. These reforms had been identified by Prime Minister Robert Abela as Government priorities when he addressed Parliament in his reply to the President of the Republic's speech at the opening of the 15th Legislature.

In recent days, Parliament approved constitutional amendments recognising disability as a protected characteristic under the country's highest law. At the same time, the Government advanced to the third reading a Bill establishing the National Human Rights and Equality Commission.

The parliamentary process also commenced for reforms aimed at creating a fairer planning system in Malta. The first reading of a Bill was presented which would prevent any new development or construction from commencing while a planning permit remains under appeal, while also introducing clear timelines to provide greater certainty for all parties concerned. This parliamentary process is running in parallel with the public consultation period.

The first reading was also presented of a Bill aimed at strengthening the legislative framework governing the voluntary sector. Among other measures, it seeks to reduce bureaucracy for voluntary organisations and support the important work they carry out in building a strong and inclusive society.

In recent days, the commencement notice was published bringing into force two new laws that will further strengthen the rights of persons with disabilities: the Personal Autonomy Act and the Protection of Adults in Situations of Vulnerability Act.

Through a Legal Notice, the list of genetic conditions eligible for Pre-implantation Genetic Testing for Monogenic Disorders (PGT-M) has also been expanded, representing another step that confirms the Government's commitment to showing greater empathy towards individuals undergoing the IVF process.

Finally, in recent hours, Parliament approved two further Bills aimed at strengthening the rule of law through greater independence, transparency and access to justice.

These include a new independent system for appointments to the Specialised Administrative Tribunals, thereby fulfilling another electoral pledge, as well as increased scrutiny of decisions taken by the Attorney General when deciding, under criminal law, not to institute criminal proceedings.

In a reaction, the Nationalist Party said it welcomed the legal notice establishing White Rocks as a national park, but insists on a clear definition of what constitutes a national park.

The Maltese and Gozitan people must be guaranteed that they will be able to enjoy, whenever they wish and free of charge, every area the Prime Minister promised would become a national park.

Therefore, while welcoming the legal notice issued by the Government declaring White Rocks a national park, the PN insists, as it has done from the outset, that there must be a clear definition of what constitutes a national park.

People know what has happened in other locations and must have peace of mind that every area classified as a national park will be open to the entire public, in its entirety and free of charge.

The PN said it will continue to insist on a clear definition of what constitutes a national park, so as to prevent any interpretation by those seeking to deceive the public once again.

The 44-inch (112-cenimter) steel-tipped pole passed through the flesh beneath Cifaldi's left arm, missing any vital organs, and protruded from his back. After conferring with his friends - and considering the high cost of a helicopter rescue - Cifaldi knew who would save him: himself.

"I was like, 'We've got to get off this mountain.' And they're both like, 'I don't know about that,'" Cifaldi said of his friends' initial reaction. "I'm pretty confident this is outside my chest wall. 'Tis but a flesh wound."

The 32-year-old nurse, who works in wound care at a Billings, Montana, hospital, did a self-assessment. He was alert. There was little pain or blood. And the pole wasn't moving. The group used a satellite-based communication device, a Garmin inReach, to contact local authorities and inform them of their plan to self-rescue.

Then they started hiking out. They carefully descended from the plateau along an unmarked route, navigating through boulders and snowfields before bushwacking their way to an established trail.

After more than six hours in which they traveled about 10 miles (16 kilometers) and descended roughly 5,000 feet (1,500 meters), the group reached a trailhead where one of them, Cifaldi's friend Jesse Ross, had parked a vehicle.

"The only reason it was possible at all was his confidence," Ross recalled. "Who are we to say anything? He's the medical person. Our job is just to support at that point."

Cifaldi had long wanted to climb Granite Peak. At 12,800 feet (3,900 meters), Montana's tallest mountain is prone to unpredictable weather including dangerous lightning storms and bitter cold. Hundreds of people annually try to reach the rocky summit; many come up short. In 2019, authorities said a 65-year-old Minnesota man who was an experienced climber fell about 150 feet (45 meters) to his death after reaching nearly the top of Granite Peak with his son.

As Cifaldi and his companions started hiking out, the pole awkwardly sticking out of his side, Stillwater County Search and Rescue team commander Ty Williams monitored the group's progress via a dispatcher who took calls from the group.

The first call came in at 9:44 a.m. on July 20, right after Cifaldi impaled himself. At 1:30 p.m. the trio said they were getting closer to the trailhead and to let the nearest hospital know they were coming, Williams said.

"There was no danger to anybody else. He didn't want our help and so we're not going to essentially violate his rights or go against his wishes by forcing our help on him," Williams said.

By about 3:30 p.m. the hikers were in Ross' vehicle headed to the nearest clinic, Cifaldi said.

When they arrived, they were told Cifaldi needed more advanced treatment, in Billings. So they got back in Ross' truck and kept driving to the hospital where he works, St. Vincent Regional Hospital.

Doctors removed the pole, bandaged him up and Cifaldi was back at work this week.

"I think 99 times out of a hundred I would make the same decision," Cifaldi said as he sat in Ross' front yard in Billings. "Search and rescue coming to help you is free. The flight's not. That was a factor in me deciding to self-rescue. But the fact that I had two experienced great friends with me and we had the ability to contact search and rescue if something went wrong made that a lot more of an easy decision."

Against a backdrop of evolving market conditions, geopolitical uncertainty and continued investment across strategic, regulatory and technology initiatives, the Group continued to deliver solid underlying performance. Core operating income increased to €251.3 million, while net interest income rose by €18.3 million to €207.0 million, supported by growth in lending and treasury activities and demonstrating the strength of the Group's earnings profile.

While profit before tax was lower than the exceptionally strong comparative period in 2025, the prior year benefited from favourable market conditions and certain non-recurring income items. The Group's underlying operating performance remained strong, with the year-on-year decrease in profit before tax primarily reflecting higher impairment charges, less favourable fair value movements and the absence of those one-off benefits.

The Group continued to strengthen its balance sheet during the period, with total assets increasing by €1.1 billion, to exceed €17.6 billion, compared with the €16.5 billion at the end of 2025. Customer lending reached approximately €8.6 billion, while customer deposits increased to approximately €14.5 billion. These developments reflect the continued confidence placed in the Bank by households and businesses, and reinforce its role in supporting customers and the wider Maltese economy.

Reflecting the Group's strong financial performance, capital position and confidence in its outlook, the Board of Directors approved an interim gross cash dividend of €51.6 million, equivalent to €0.0805 gross per share. This represents a net dividend of €33.6 million and a payout ratio of 42.5% of profit after tax.

Financial Performance

The Group remains firmly on track to achieve its FY2026 Profit Before Tax guidance of between €210 million and €250 million. Based on its performance during the first half of the financial year, management is satisfied that the Group continues to progress in line with expectations, underpinned by resilient earnings, sustained balance sheet growth, strong capital and liquidity positions, and ongoing improvements in asset quality.

Building on Strong Foundations for the Next Phase - Dr Gordon Cordina, Chairperson

"The first half of 2026 demonstrated the resilience of Bank of Valletta's business model and the strength of the foundations built over recent years. Despite an operating environment characterised by heightened geopolitical uncertainty and evolving market conditions, the Group continued to generate strong results while maintaining the financial strength and flexibility required to support future opportunities.

During the period, we also achieved an important milestone through our second issuance in the international capital markets. The strong response from institutional investors reinforced confidence in the Bank's financial standing, strategic direction and long-term prospects, while further strengthening our funding profile.

As we continue developing our strategy for the period 2027 to 2029, our focus remains firmly centred on sustainable growth, customer relevance, operational efficiency, risk discipline and long-term value creation. We remain committed to supporting the evolving needs of our customers and the Maltese economy, while delivering sustainable returns for shareholders and maintaining the resilience that has long characterised our organisation."

Delivering Today, Investing for Tomorrow - Kenneth Farrugia, CEO

"Customer expectations continue to evolve rapidly, and our objective is to ensure that Bank of Valletta evolves with them. Throughout the first half of the year, we continued investing in the capabilities that will define the next generation of banking, with a strong focus on personalisation, simpler customer journeys and deeper, more meaningful relationships.

The continued rollout of our Omnichannel Banking Platform, together with significant progress in our Customer Relationship Management programme, is enabling us to create a more connected banking experience across every customer touchpoint. These investments are helping us move beyond traditional banking models towards a more proactive, relationship-driven approach that better anticipates customer needs and delivers greater value.

At the same time, we remain focused on strengthening the foundations that support long-term success, including operational resilience, cybersecurity, data capabilities and the development of our people. These are critical enablers of the Bank we are building for tomorrow; a Bank that remains firmly rooted in the trust of its customers while continuing to innovate, adapt and grow in a changing environment."

The Social Climate Fund provides significant financial support to EU Member States to finance measures and investments identified in their national Social Climate Plans, ensuring that the clean transition is fair and leaves no one behind. Running from 2026 to 2032, the Fund is expected to mobilise at least €86.7 billion, combining revenues from the new emissions trading system for fuel combustion in buildings, road transport and additional sectors (ETS2) as well as Member States' contributions (at least 25% of the costs of their plans). 

Malta's plan will help vulnerable households improve the energy efficiency of their homes and renovate apartments in public social housing buildings, the statement said. It will do so through energy-efficiency upgrades, such as roof insulation, and the installation of renewable energy systems, including heat pump water heaters and photovoltaic systems with battery storage.

The plan will also expand sustainable transport options for more than 30,000 vulnerable transport users through door-to-door community transport services. In addition, it will support vulnerable micro-enterprises in transport-dependent sectors by improving access to affordable electric mobility and charging infrastructure, helping them transition to electric vehicles.

From 2026 to 2032, the measures will help to tackle energy poverty in the country and are expected to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 3,500 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent.

The plan was developed in consultation with national stakeholders and the Commission and reflects the needs of the country. The Commission concluded that it adequately addresses the social impacts of extending GHG emissions trading to buildings and road transport under the ETS2.

Malta will be able to request a first payment to the Commission once implementation has started and the initial investment results have been achieved, the statement said.

Addressing the PN's delegation, Chamber President William Spiteri Bailey said the business community was looking beyond political criticism and wanted clear solutions to the country's growing economic and infrastructural challenges.

He said Malta's credibility depended not only on the government of the day but also on having an Opposition that was prepared to govern.

"When we speak to government, we ask for accountability, implementation and results. When we speak to the Opposition, we ask for vision, preparation and a credible alternative," Spiteri Bailey said.

He argued that businesses invest in certainty, direction and confidence rather than criticism, before challenging the Opposition to explain what kind of Malta it wanted to lead.

Spiteri Bailey described Malta as being at a crucial moment, saying that while the economy had grown, so too had problems including traffic congestion, energy, infrastructure, pressure on public services, competitiveness, governance and quality of life.

He said these were not isolated issues but symptoms of an economic model that had served Malta well for many years but had now reached its limits.

The Chamber reiterated its long-standing call for Malta to transition from an economy driven by volume to one based on value, moving away from population-led growth towards higher productivity, and competing through quality, innovation and efficiency rather than price alone.

Spiteri Bailey argued that national success should no longer be measured solely by GDP or population growth but also by productivity, competitiveness, quality of life and people's wellbeing.

He posed a series of questions to the Opposition, asking how it intended to increase productivity, reduce dependence on continuous population growth, attract higher-value investment, strengthen innovation, research, digitalisation and artificial intelligence, and help businesses become more productive and competitive.

He also stressed that competitiveness depended not only on tax policy but also on strong institutions, good governance, efficient public administration, modern infrastructure, reliable energy and a modern education system.

The Chamber President said good governance was not simply a matter of reputation but an economic necessity, arguing that countries with stronger institutions attracted more investment and achieved more sustainable growth.

Referring to the government's Vision 2050 strategy, Spiteri Bailey said a vision alone was insufficient unless it was translated into concrete plans and action. He pointed to the Chamber's own policy proposals on productivity, tourism, digitalisation, artificial intelligence and governance as examples of practical contributions to the national debate.

He called for cross-party consensus on issues such as productivity, education, energy, competitiveness, justice, governance and Malta's international reputation, saying these national priorities should not change with every electoral cycle.

Closing his address, Spiteri Bailey said the Chamber did not engage in partisan politics but in economic policy.

"We are not interested in who wins the election. We are interested in Malta winning," he said, adding that the country needed long-term leadership willing to take difficult decisions while placing productivity, competitiveness, governance and quality of life at the centre of policymaking.

Replying to the Chamber, Opposition Leader Alex Borg agreed that Malta needed to focus on improving quality of life alongside economic growth.

Borg said the Nationalist Party believed Malta should invest more heavily in energy to reduce dependence on foreign countries.

He also described traffic congestion as having a significant impact on businesses. Borg said this was why the party had proposed introducing a mass transit system during the general election campaign.

The Opposition Leader also highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence in industry, saying he had visited several businesses that had invested significantly in AI, particularly within the manufacturing sector, helping improve national productivity.

Borg cautioned that headline GDP figures did not necessarily reflect people's daily lives.

"On paper GDP can look a certain way, but quality of life can look completely different," he said.

While acknowledging the importance of economic growth, Borg argued that the wellbeing of workers should remain the country's principal priority.

He added that future development should be guided by a clear long-term plan that reflected today's realities.

However, while drawing a clear line over future broadcasts, the court refused to order the removal of videos and posts already published.

It ruled an injunction is meant to prevent future conduct rather than roll back actions that have already taken place.

The judgment, delivered on Monday by Judge Giovanni Grixti, grants a warrant of inhibition sought by the Directorate for Child Protection against the children's parents Stefan Gatt and Carolien Agius, and social media broadcaster Publius Said, better known as Leo Said.

Last July, Said was acquitted of possessing extreme child sex abuse material and misusing electronic equipment due to lack of evidence.

Said had protested that he was a victim of "a frame-up by the Americans".

Parents vowed to keep broadcasting

The Directorate had removed the couple's children from their parents' care under the Child Protection (Alternative Care) Act.

The parents insist the children were removed unlawfully and placed with their aunt through "deceit".

They then took their fight to social media, appearing in a series of broadcasts criticising the authorities and calling for Malta's child protection laws to be changed.

Recordings exhibited by the directorate showed the couple displaying photographs of the children, discussing sensitive details of the case and accusing the children's aunt of deception.

Said also featured in the broadcasts, voicing support for the parents.

While Said denied ever publishing official documents, one of the parents made it clear the campaign was far from over, telling the court she intended to continue speaking out "until the law is changed."

Earlier court warning fell on deaf ears

Judge Grixti said the campaign continued despite an explicit warning from the Court of Appeal, which had reminded all parties that child protection proceedings are heard behind closed doors.

The appellate court had instructed them "not to publish the facts of this case on social media or through other means," warning that doing so "would be considered a direct act of contempt towards this court."

Despite that warning, the broadcasts carried on. 'Unstoppable Family' and Said continued to air information, including the medical condition of one of the children and the identity of the person caring for them, the court heard.

The recordings placed before the court, Judge Grixti said, pointed to a possible breach of the confidentiality protections laid down in Malta's child protection legislation.

'Without any doubt' the children could suffer

More importantly, he said, the broadcasts posed a genuine risk to the children's wellbeing.

"The public is constantly warned," the judge observed, that publishing photographs and personal details of children "can leave very negative effects on their lives, not only in the future but also in the present."

Yet instead of discussing the law in general terms, the couple repeatedly delved into the specific facts of the case.

"Without any doubt," the court said, this could result in "serious prejudice" to the children, particularly in a country as small as Malta.

Campaign may continue - but not at children's expense

The judge said that the ruling is not a gag order preventing criticism of the authorities or debate about Malta's child protection laws.

In fact, he expressly recognised the parents' right to campaign for legislative reform.

They remain free, he said, to discuss "the law as it stands" and "how they understand the powers of the directorate", including arguing that "the law should be changed."

But the judge said it would be "in the interests of their own children" for the respondents to avoid referring to the ongoing proceedings altogether.

Why existing videos will stay online

Although the directorate also asked the court to order the removal of videos and social media posts already published, that request was refused.

Judge Grixti held a warrant of inhibition is designed to prevent future acts from taking place, not to reverse acts that have already occurred.

Unstoppable Family and Leo Said were therefore ordered to stop making any further broadcasts revealing details of the case, but were not required to delete existing content.

Costs were reserved for the final judgment.

Lawyer Christian Camilleri appeared for the Directorate.

Lawyer Carmelo Gatt appeared for Stefan Gatt and Caroline Agius. 

Said appeared unrepresented.

This is a status granting the site protection from activities that could have an adverse impact on the area. 

The area is managed by the Swieqi Local Council after afforestation funds were provided by the Ministry for Energy, the Environment and the Regeneration of the Grand Harbour through ERA’s Environment Fund. 

Following the designation by ERA, the Madliena Woodland (il-Masġar tal-Madliena) now joins a list of 60 tree protection areas in Malta and Gozo as well as in Comino, forming part of the national inventory of important trees and woodlands. 

With approximately 60 tree species native to the Maltese Islands - 66% of which are rare or endangered -- TPAs provide essential protection against activities that may adversely affect them. 

“Here, we have a large stretch of land that will be protected through legislation designating this area as a Tree Protection Area. This means that the trees within the area will benefit from a higher level of protection, while the land as a whole will continue to be cared for with the aim of allowing it to develop into woodland over time.” 

“Considerable tree planting has taken place here over the years, and this is work that we want to continue strengthening as a country. Our aim is for this area to develop into woodland that is protected and enjoyed not only by present generations, but also by future ones, for the benefit of the Swieqi community and the country as a whole,” Minister Dalli said during the announcement. 

“By protecting this site, we are further contributing to the proportion of protected areas in Malta, moving further towards EU and national targets, including commitments made through Malta’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan,” said Marie Therese Gambin, ERA’s Manager responsible for Biodiversity and Natural Resources. “Trees are an important component of urban and rural biodiversity. Their essential life-supporting characteristics are often taken for granted -- natural climate regulation, soil stabilisation, storm water control, a safe haven for birds and insects, and of course shade for us humans. Tree Protection Areas help us protect important areas for a variety of tree species from adverse activities.” 

With its elevated hilltop position and proximity to Fort Madliena, the Madliena woodland’s prominence makes it a distinctive and highly visible landmark within the surrounding landscape, which lies outside the development zone and is government-owned. 

The woodland is primarily composed of mature Aleppo pines, originally planted in the 1970s. In 2019, around 1,000 trees of different species were planted by Ambjent Malta and the Swieqi Local Council. Invasive and alien tree species were also replaced with native trees and shrubs. 

Through the BELLUS Call under the Environment Fund, which is a Fund administered by ERA, the Authority has also awarded over €60,000 towards the regeneration of the reservoir at Fort Madliena, which will be used for; water conservation; irrigation of the surrounding vegetation, and wildfire incidents. 

The Environment Fund is financially supporting various projects in aid of applying nature-based solutions in urban, peri-urban and rural areas to implement more green spaces within public areas and improve our local biodiversity through afforestation initiatives.

"While we acknowledge and appreciate the recent instances where the authorities have taken action to enforce the law, particularly following incidents of anti-social behaviour by foreign visitors, isolated enforcement is simply not enough," the residents said in a statement. "These cases have demonstrated that action is possible when there is the will to act. Residents now expect that same level of commitment to be applied consistently, every day, across every locality."

For years, residents have been promised a balance between tourism, commercial activity and the wellbeing of the communities in which they live. That balance is now long overdue. "We now call on all competent authorities, including the Malta Tourism Authority, the Malta Police Force, the Lands Authority, the Planning Authority, the Building and Construction Industry, Transport Malta, Local Councils and all other enforcement agencies, to fulfil their responsibilities without delay and without passing responsibility from one entity to another," the residents said.

Residents should not have to repeatedly report the same illegalities only to receive replies stating that discussions are taking place with operators or that sanctioning applications may eventually be submitted, they added. Illegal occupation of public land, excessive noise, abuse of public spaces and breaches of regulations should be addressed through immediate enforcement, not prolonged negotiations.

The residents said they are equally concerned by the continued abuse and unlawful appropriation of our coastline and surrounding waters. Public access to the sea is increasingly being restricted through the illegal occupation of coastal areas and maritime spaces, while residents repeatedly witness infringements that remain unchecked despite being reported. Our coastline and our seas are a national asset belonging to everyone. They must be protected from abuse and unlawful occupation with the same determination expected in every other public space.

"If the law prohibits amplified music outside soundproofed premises, why are residents still forced to endure music from bars, restaurants and takeaways, sometimes broadcast through speakers installed in outdoor areas? Why is enforcement so inconsistent, allowing some operators to behave as though the law simply does not apply to them? Likewise, residents continue to experience excessive noise from holiday accommodation, including tourists shouting and playing loud music at all hours. At the same time, public streets, pavements and piazzas are increasingly obstructed by tables, chairs, umbrellas, sandwich boards, skips, rubbish bins, planters and other structures that limit accessibility and diminish public spaces that belong to everyone."

Residents should not be expected to fight every day simply to enjoy what is already theirs by right: peaceful neighbourhoods, accessible public spaces and respect for the rule of law, the statement said.

This is not about being against tourism or businesses. Visitors are welcome in Malta and Gozo, and tourism remains an important pillar of our economy. Businesses also have every right to operate, invest and succeed. However, neither tourism nor commercial activity can continue to come at the expense of residents' dignity, wellbeing and quality of life. Prosperity cannot be built on the erosion of the rights of the communities in which these activities take place.

Residents are not asking for special treatment. They are asking for fairness, accountability and the consistent enforcement of the laws that already exist. Rules must apply equally to everyone: residents, visitors and businesses alike. Communities deserve to be places where people can live in peace, rest at night, walk safely through unobstructed public spaces and raise their families with dignity. These are not unreasonable expectations; they are fundamental rights.

"Today marks the beginning of a collective effort by residents from across Malta and Gozo to ensure that their voices are no longer ignored. We will continue to speak out, highlight failures where they occur and acknowledge those authorities that fulfil their responsibilities. The time for promises has passed. Residents are now calling for decisive action, meaningful enforcement and genuine respect for the communities that make Malta the country people choose to visit and invest in," the statement said.

This press statement is being issued by Lehen ir-Resident, which includes the following resident communities:

1. Attard
2. Birgu (Vittoriosa)
3. Cospicua (Bormla)
4. Isla (Senglea)
5. Marsaskala (Wied il-Ghajn)
6. Marsaxlokk
7. Mellieha
8. Pembroke
9. Sliema
10. St Paul's Bay (San Pawl il-Bahar)
11. Swieqi
12. Valletta

And has been further endorsed by the following NGOs:

1. Azzjoni Tuna Artna Lura
2. Din l-Art Helwa
3. Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar
4. Friends Of the Earth Malta
5. Ghawdix
6. il- Kollettiv
7. Marsaskala Residents' Network
8. Moviment Graffitti
9. Ramblers Association 

The Planning Authority currently has applications before it for three major tower developments in the area, which, if approved, would join the existing ST Tower and create a cluster of four high-rise buildings within an area roughly equivalent to three and a half football pitches.

Asked by The Malta Independent about the council's stance on the proposed developments, Chetcuti said it was still assessing the applications and their possible effects on the locality.

"While the council recognises the importance of investment and regeneration, developments of this scale need to be carefully considered, particularly in terms of their impact on residents, the surrounding area and existing infrastructure," he said.

He went on to highlight concerns over whether the existing infrastructure in Gżira would be capable of supporting developments of such magnitude.

"Issues such as traffic, parking, waste management, sewage and other essential services need to be properly assessed," he said, adding that the cumulative impact of all three proposed developments should be considered rather than examining each application individually.

Chetcuti stressed that the area's ability to accommodate additional demands should be analysed comprehensively before any decisions are taken.

On whether the developers had consulted the local council before submitting their plans, Chetcuti implied that they hadn't.

"They should have come to the council with their proposals before submitting the plans, so we can work and discuss together and see what the council, the residents and the developer can benefit from this project with the least impact possible," he said.

The proposed developments have renewed debate over the future shape of Gżira, an area that has experienced significant transformation in recent years.

The announcement was made by Minister for Home Affairs and Security Glenn Bedingfield during his first official visit to the department. Minister Bedingfield highlighted that this certification is far more than a formal credential; it is concrete proof that every department member is trained to rigorous international standards and fully prepared to handle any emergency with utmost professionalism and confidence.

He emphasized that the achievement reflects years of continuous investment in personnel, training, technology, and equipment, ensuring that citizens can rely on first responders equipped to the highest global benchmarks.

During the visit, the Minister expressed his gratitude to all personnel for their dedication, particularly praising their intensive efforts in managing multiple fires and emergencies amidst recent high temperatures.

He also referenced a recent World Bank report commending Malta's emergency preparedness and response, which described the Civil Protection Department as a professional service characterized by advanced training, specialized capabilities, and strong inter-agency coordination.

Concluding his remarks, Minister Bedingfield shared that the government and the Maltese public take immense pride in the tireless work and commitment of the department's workforce.

Rescue teams from Stations 3, 7, and 8 launched a swift operation late last night in the rugged terrain between Mġarr and Ġnejna after receiving urgent reports of a missing 83-year-old man.

Working in close coordination with the Malta Police Force, emergency responders combed the area and successfully located the elderly man within just 90 minutes of the initial call.

He had suffered a fall into a remote field, sustaining injuries that required immediate attention.

Rescuers safely extracted him from the difficult location and handed him over to the Mater Dei Hospital Emergency Department medical team for urgent care and transport to the hospital.

The Civil Protection Department has expressed its gratitude to the police and medical personnel for their exceptional cooperation, emphasizing how vital inter-agency teamwork is in saving lives.

The case stemmed from events dating back to February 2015.

The case centred on a search carried out on 21 February 2015 at a garage in Fgura, where Customs and police officers discovered 176 cartons of contraband cigarettes.

Prosecutors alleged that the two accused had knowingly possessed the cigarettes with the intention of evading excise duty, import duty and VAT.

Evidence presented during the proceedings showed that the garage was rented by one of the accused, who immediately cooperated with officers and explained that another man also had access to the premises. He contacted the co-accused to come to the scene, while both men consistently denied ownership of the cigarettes.

The second accused also told investigators that he occasionally lent the garage key to workers.

In its judgment, the court found that although both men had access to the garage, the prosecution had failed to establish that the cigarettes were actually in their possession or under their control.

It also noted that the two accused had given substantially the same version of events independently, having been kept apart during the investigation and therefore unable to coordinate their accounts.

The court stressed that merely having access to premises where illegal goods are found does not automatically amount to possession. It further observed that the investigation had not excluded the possibility that other individuals had access to the garage, leaving reasonable doubt as to who was responsible for the contraband.

Finding that the prosecution had not discharged its burden of proof in the criminal proceedings, the court acquitted both men of all charges.

The accused were being represented by lawyers Arthur Azzopardi and Roberto Montalto.

The roots of this situation are well known. Since 2013, the Labour government pursued a model of economic expansion heavily dependent on population growth, driven largely by foreign workers needed to sustain economic activity. Whether one agrees with that policy or not, one fact cannot reasonably be disputed: the increase in population was not matched by adequate long-term planning for the infrastructure and services required to support it.

Successive years of strong economic growth came at a cost that is now becoming increasingly visible. Roads became busier, public transport came under greater strain, demand for electricity and water increased, housing prices climbed sharply, and public spaces became more crowded. Add to this the record number of tourists visiting Malta every year, and the sense of overcrowding becomes impossible to ignore.

It serves little purpose for Labour to deny the obvious or attempt to rewrite history. The government's own ministers have, at different times, projected significant population increases while simultaneously appearing uncertain about where the country's demographic trajectory is heading. If the government itself cannot confidently estimate future population levels, how can it realistically plan transport systems, hospitals, schools, housing projects or utility networks that require decades of preparation?

Yet the Nationalist Party should also recognise that merely criticising Labour is not enough. Population management cannot become another subject for partisan point-scoring. There will almost certainly come a day when the PN finds itself in government, inheriting exactly the same demographic realities. Population trends cannot be reversed overnight, nor can the country simply wish away the challenges created over the past decade.

This is why the issue demands cooperation rather than confrontation. Malta needs a national population strategy that extends beyond one legislature and survives changes in government. The country's demographic future should not depend on whichever party happens to occupy Castille.

The latest National Statistics Office figures underline the urgency. Foreign nationals now account for more than 31 per cent of Malta's population. Meanwhile, births continue to decline while deaths increase, meaning that all population growth is now driven by migration. Given Malta's persistently low birth rate, immigration will almost certainly remain an important component of the labour market for years to come.

This reality should neither be celebrated uncritically nor feared irrationally. It should simply be acknowledged and planned for responsibly. Malta needs clear projections, transparent targets and honest discussion about how many people the islands can sustainably accommodate while preserving quality of life, economic competitiveness and social cohesion.

That discussion must include infrastructure, healthcare, education, housing, environmental protection and labour market requirements. It must also address integration, ensuring that those who choose Malta as their home become part of society rather than simply contributors to the economy.

The political exchanges of recent days demonstrate that both parties recognise population as a major national issue. The next step is far more important than assigning blame. Malta requires a coherent, evidence-based population plan that looks decades ahead rather than one electoral cycle at a time.

Better late than never. The country cannot continue to drift without a roadmap while its population continues to grow. Planning for Malta's future is no longer optional. It is an urgent national necessity.

A dramatic confrontation unfolded in court as Tuesday's afternoon sitting centred on testimony by Schembri, who told jurors that Johann Cremona had informed him he was first offered €200,000 and later €400,000 to give evidence favourable to Yorgen Fenech.

Schembri also said that he remained friends with Yorgen Fenech after Daphne Caruana Galizia's assassination, denied having business arrangements with the accused, and insisted he never leaked sensitive information from the murder investigation during hours of testimony in Fenech's trial by jury.

Yorgen Fenech has pleaded not guilty to charges of complicity in the wilful homicide of Caruana Galizia and criminal association to commit her murder.

Caruana Galizia, a columnist with The Malta Independent, was killed in a car bomb on October 16, 2017.

After the lunch break, Schembri claimed that around two days before he was due to testify in 2020, a "very important person" contacted him to say lawyers Gianluca Caruana Curran and Charles Mercieca wanted to meet him.

"I met them and they told me, 'Help Yorgen,'" Schembri testified. "I told them, 'How can I help him more than I already have?'"

Earlier in his testimony, Schembri described Fenech as "a very good friend" and confirmed that he had previously said he would "go into fire" for him.

He denied ever asking Kenneth Camilleri to calm Melvin Theuma, rejecting Camilleri's earlier testimony that he had sent him to reassure the middleman. Schembri also denied arranging meetings between Camilleri and Johann Cremona, insisting he did not even have Camilleri's phone number.

Schembri said he knew Cremona as one of Fenech's business associates and recalled meeting him at Castille over an issue concerning small gaming enterprises.

Part of Schembri's testimony then continued behind closed doors after he said he wanted to refer to information received from the Malta Security Services and did not feel comfortable discussing it in open court.

When proceedings resumed in public, Schembri said he only discovered Melvin Theuma had been Fenech's driver after the latter's arrest.

Asked why Fenech had disappeared after Vince Muscat, known as il-Koħħu, started cooperating with police, Schembri replied that Fenech had developed a cocaine addiction but said he did not know the reasons behind it.

The prosecution also produced a screenshot showing Schembri sending lawyer Charles Mercieca a WhatsApp message urging him to "use Signal", the encrypted messaging application. Schembri said he could not remember the context and suggested it "may have been a joke", though prosecutor Godwin Cini noted the message had been sent just eight days before Schembri was due to testify.

Following Schembri's evidence, prosecutors requested that Cremona be recalled to answer questions about what they described as a serious allegation that defence lawyers had attempted to bribe a witness.

Despite objections from the defence, Madam Justice Edwina Grima upheld the request and ordered court marshals to immediately bring Cremona back into the courtroom.

What followed was one of the most tense exchanges of the trial.

Judge Grima repeatedly asked Cremona whether lawyers Charles Mercieca and Gianluca Caruana Curran had approached him about his testimony and whether anyone had offered him money.

Initially, Cremona refused to answer. "I don't want to hurt anyone," he repeatedly told the court, before adding: "I don't want to answer."

The judge warned that witnesses could not simply refuse to reply and cautioned him that he could be arrested if he continued withholding answers.

Questioned about Schembri's allegation that he had spoken of offers of €200,000 and €400,000, Cremona repeatedly pleaded with the court, saying: "I will take the blame. I will assume all consequences."

Asked directly who had offered him money, he eventually replied: "Maybe I made it up."

Judge Grima challenged that explanation, telling the witness she did not believe he had fabricated such serious allegations only after being questioned.

At one point, Schembri glared towards Cremona, prompting the judge to intervene and tell him: "Don't look at him, Mr Schembri."

The prosecution requested that Cremona continue testifying behind closed doors, arguing that he appeared frightened and might fear repercussions, but the request was refused.

As the questioning continued, the judge repeatedly told Cremona she did not believe he was telling the truth and warned he could remain under arrest until the following morning if he continued refusing to answer.

"I'm not believing you. You didn't make it up," she told him.

Cremona eventually insisted that he had fabricated the claims and said he had felt compelled to tell Schembri those things. He denied wanting to harm anyone and said he could no longer remember exactly when the conversations had taken place.

The tense exchanges prompted defence lawyer Giannella de Marco to request that the jurors leave the courtroom while she raised a legal objection.

She argued that the judge's repeated statements that she did not believe the witness risked prejudicing the jury and could create the impression that the court did not trust the defence lawyers.

De Marco also argued that Schembri had suddenly introduced the bribery allegation "out of the blue" after damaging testimony about him had emerged during the trial, noting that he had twice been reprimanded by the judge for staring at Cremona.

The prosecution countered that Cremona had appeared visibly frightened throughout his evidence and had never immediately denied Schembri's allegations, instead only later claiming that he had invented the story. Prosecutors argued that remarks such as "I no longer have anyone" and "I will take all the blame" showed he was withholding the truth and even requested a psychological assessment and suicide watch for the witness.

In her ruling, Judge Grima dismissed both the defence's objection and the prosecution's request for a psychological assessment.

She said the court had been justified in warning Cremona that he could be arrested because he had repeatedly refused to answer questions about whether he had been offered money, whether anyone had discussed his testimony with him and whether he had spoken to Schembri. The judge stressed that it would ultimately be for the jurors alone to determine whether they believed the witness.

Once jurors returned, Cremona again denied ever being offered money, replying simply: "I made it up."

As the sitting drew to a close, prosecutor Godwin Cini questioned Cremona about an earlier courtroom exchange with defence lawyer Gianluca Caruana Curran, during which he had told him: "You'd better not open your mouth."

An emotional Cremona said he had felt like "the victim" as the defence attacked his credibility and feared the impact the case would have on the small business he was trying to build.

Asked who he was afraid of, he replied: "Only God. I'm in bits (iżżarmajt). I've been through a lot. I haven't laughed since 16 May, 2019. I'm afraid of hanging out with my friends."

After bursting into tears and telling the court he was seeing a psychiatrist, Cremona was dismissed from the witness stand.

Earlier, Schembri opened his testimony by confirming that he had known Fenech since they were teenagers. Although they had lost contact for some years, he said they renewed their friendship after he became chief of staff at the Office of the Prime Minister in 2013.

He described their relationship as a personal friendship, saying they communicated through WhatsApp and Signal, sometimes speaking daily and at other times going weeks or months without contact. According to Schembri, their conversations revolved around family matters and business interests, while Fenech also visited Castille in connection with the Electrogas project in which he was involved. Schembri also recalled that Fenech visited him during his battle with cancer in 2015, while he himself visited Fenech's residence, ranch and boat.

Questioned about business links, Schembri insisted that he and Fenech never conducted business together, although his father had sold land to the Fenech family.

The prosecution also focused on Melvin Theuma, the self-confessed middleman in the murder. Schembri testified that Theuma had visited his office during the 2017 election campaign seeking employment and had asked to take a photograph with him. He said he did not know who Theuma was at the time, explaining that many people visited his office, and maintained that nobody had informed him in advance that Theuma would be coming. He attributed some gaps in his recollection to the effects of his cancer.

Schembri acknowledged meeting Theuma on only two occasions, one of which was at Fenech's ranch. However, he insisted that he did not recognise Theuma at the ranch and only realised afterwards that he had been present when someone pointed him out.

Asked about visits to Fenech's ranch, Schembri estimated that he had been there between five and ten times and confirmed that he continued visiting even after Caruana Galizia's murder. He also recalled seeing former lead murder investigator Silvio Valletta at the property.

Schembri testified that he was at Castille with then prime minister Joseph Muscat and government communications chief Kurt Farrugia when news of the explosion emerged. He described being shocked and said Muscat immediately instructed that those responsible be caught, prompting him to request assistance from Europol.

The prosecution also questioned Schembri about Daphne Caruana Galizia's reporting on him. He said the journalist had written extensively about him and his family, including his cancer treatment and the Panama Papers revelations. Schembri admitted he disliked her reporting, particularly references to his children.

A significant portion of the testimony centred on 17 Black and offshore structures linked to Schembri and former minister Konrad Mizzi.

Schembri confirmed that Tillgate was his Panama company but insisted it had been established as part of a trust structure and denied having any arrangement involving 17 Black. He acknowledged that 17 Black had been listed as a potential target client but maintained that there had been no agreement and that discussions with Fenech concerned possible business ventures after his political career, including recycling projects.

He also rejected allegations concerning financial links between 17 Black and companies connected to himself and Konrad Mizzi, describing claims relating to Egrant as "a coup d'etat against Malta's prime minister" and insisting the company belonged to nobody.

Questioning later shifted to the murder investigation itself.

Schembri testified that he organised meetings at Castille involving investigators, the Attorney General, senior Armed Forces officials and others to receive updates on the investigation, although he said he usually remained present only briefly before leaving. He acknowledged that the dates of police raids leading to the arrest of the alleged hitmen were discussed during those meetings but denied passing any information to anyone.

He also confirmed that he had been informed Vince Muscat had been prepared to cooperate with investigators but denied any involvement in discussions concerning a possible pardon, adding that information had been relayed during official briefings. Schembri said he only became aware of Melvin Theuma's recordings through media reports.

Before Schembri began testifying, Madam Justice Edwina Grima reminded him of his right not to answer questions that could incriminate him. The court also reiterated an earlier ruling prohibiting any reference before the jury to a presidential pardon request made by Fenech.

Earlier in the morning, the jury also heard testimony from digital forensics expert Martin Bajada, who said screenshots allegedly showing communications involving Schembri could not be verified from the devices he examined, while Europol experts Margarita Louka and Daniel Fernandes Mallheiro testified on forensic examinations carried out on devices belonging to Melvin Theuma and members of his family.

Schembri spent more than two hours on the witness stand on Tuesday morning, facing extensive questioning by prosecutors on his relationship with Yorgen Fenech, his contacts with murder middleman Melvin Theuma, and the investigation that followed the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Yorgen Fenech, a businessman, has pleaded not guilty to two principal charges: complicity in the wilful homicide of Daphne Caruana Galizia and criminal association to commit the murder. 

Caruana Galizia, a columnist with The Malta Independent, was killed in a car bomb on 16 October, 2017.

Five men have already been convicted in connection with Caruana Galizia's assassination. Vince Muscat admitted his role in the murder in 2021 and was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment. Alfred and George Degiorgio each received 40-year prison sentences after pleading guilty in 2022, while Robert Agius and Jamie Vella were sentenced to life imprisonment in 2025 for supplying the bomb used in the attack.

The prosecution is being led by Attorney General lawyers Godwin Cini, Anthony Vella and Danika Vella, assisted by Assistant Commissioner Keith Arnaud and Inspector Kurt Zahra. Fenech is represented by lawyers Charles Mercieca, Gianella Demarco and Gianluca Caruana Curran, while lawyers Therese Comodini Cachia and Jason Azzopardi are appearing parte civile on behalf of the Caruana Galizia family.

Judge Edwina Grima is presiding.

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19:50 Cini asks Cremona who he is afraid of.

"Only God," the witness replies.

"I'm in bits (iżżarmajt). I've been through a lot. I haven't laughed since 16 May, 2019. I'm afraid of hanging out with my friends."

Judge Grima dismisses Cremona from the witness stand and adjourns the case until 9.30am tomorrow.

Schembri is to remain under court surveillance while he continues giving evidence.

19:46 Prosecutor Godwin Cini asks Cremona about an earlier exchange with lawyer Gianluca Caruana Curran, when the witness pointed at him and said, "You'd better not open your mouth."

"I was very angry, and I saw that I was the victim," Cremona replies. "When I saw how the defence was attacking me, I felt like a failed man. I'm trying to start a small business and I don't want it to fail."

Cini then asks why Cremona had earlier said he had "no one else".

"Because everyone betrays you," the witness replies.

"Tell the jurors the truth. It's your last chance. Tell the truth, and be at peace," Cini tells him.

"Dr Cini, I'm seeing a psychiatrist because I'm not well," Cremona replies before bursting into tears.

"Just tell the truth, and you will rest. The truth will ease your worries," Cini says.

At that point, defence lawyer Giannella de Marco interjects, saying, "Hold on."

"I want to be alone. I want to be alone," Cremona says.

19:44 After the court delivers its ruling, Judge Edwina Grima once again asks Johann Cremona whether he was ever approached or offered money by anyone.

Cremona gives the same reply as before: "I made it up."

19:38 Jurors are brought back to the courtroom, as well as Cremona.

19:36 Judge Grima dismisses both the defence's objection and the prosecution's request for a psychological assessment of Cremona.

Delivering the court's ruling, the judge says courts have the power to order the arrest of a witness when they believe it is necessary and that exercising that power "does not mean they are being partial".

The court notes that Cremona was asked whether anyone had offered him money, whether anyone had spoken to him about his testimony, and whether he had discussed his evidence with Keith Schembri.

According to the ruling, the witness was visibly unwilling to answer those questions and repeatedly pleaded with the court not to respond. It was only afterwards that he claimed he had made the story up.

The court says it was therefore justified in warning Cremona that he could be arrested if he continued refusing to answer.

Judge Grima adds that it is ultimately for the jurors alone to decide whether they believe the witness, and that nothing said by the court should influence their assessment of the evidence.

19:25 The prosecution argues that Cremona was clearly frightened and holding back during his testimony.

Prosecutors say he never denied Schembri's allegations outright, but instead lacked the courage to explain what had really happened, only claiming much later that he had made everything up.

They point to remarks such as, "I no longer have anyone to be with in this world," and "I will take all the blame," arguing these showed he was too afraid to admit he had been offered money.

The prosecution says Judge Grima recognised this and warned Cremona he could be arrested if he continued refusing to tell the truth.

Prosecutors add that if Cremona had truly been afraid of Schembri, he would not have claimed in Schembri's presence that he had fabricated the story. Instead, they argue, the witness is afraid of Yorgen Fenech.

They ask the court to order a psychological assessment of Cremona and place him under suicide watch.

19:20 De Marco formally enters her objection into the court record.

She argues that Cremona has repeatedly said he was making things up, including his claims that he met Schembri at Castille and that the two discussed their testimony.

De Marco says Schembri is angry at the defence because of what has emerged about him during the trial, and "came up with this claim that Cremona was offered a bribe out of the blue". She also notes that Schembri had to be reprimanded twice by Judge Grima for staring at the witness.

She further argues that the judge's warning that Cremona could be kept under arrest until he tells the truth could prejudice the jury, suggesting the court does not trust lawyers Charles Mercieca and Gianluca Caruana Curran.

De Marco adds that it could also leave Cremona believing he would remain under arrest unless he said he had been offered money.

19:07 Jurors and Cremona are ordered out of the courtroom as defence lawyer Giannella de Marco raises a legal objection.

19:00 Judge Grima asks Cremona when Schembri told him he had met Yorgen Fenech's lawyers.

"Around two days before his testimony in 2020. I told him he was crazy," Cremona replies.

Judge Grima asks: "So you made this up like you used to make things up to Melvin Theuma?"

Cremona remains silent.

"I'll ask you one more time," the judge says.

"I made it up, your Honour," Cremona replies.

Prosecutor Godwin Cini then asks why he had earlier said, "I'll take all the blame."

"That's what came to mind," Cremona says.

Judge Grima warns that she can have him arrested until the following morning "to help refresh his memory."

18:57 Judge Grima refuses the prosecution's request for Cremona to continue testifying behind closed doors.

"I made it up," Cremona insists.

Judge Grima asks: "Did you want to harm someone, or did someone tell you to harm someone?"

"I don't want to harm anyone," Cremona replies.

"I'm not believing you. You didn't make it up. If you had, you would have said so immediately. You will be held under arrest until you speak the truth," the judge tells him.

"Please, Mrs. Please, please," Cremona pleads.

"You're not telling the truth," Judge Grima replies.

"I made it up. I felt I had to tell Mr Schembri that," Cremona says.

Judge Grima asks how long ago that happened.

"I don't know. We sometimes text about football, but we hadn't spoken about the case in a long time," Cremona replies.

"Did you speak face-to-face?" the judge asks.

"I don't remember," Cremona says.

18:55 Cremona insists he may have invented the story he told Schembri.

"Maybe I told him that because I made it up," he says.

Judge Grima questions why he would fabricate such allegations.

"Why would you make that up to Schembri? Why did you speak last week?" she asks.

"It wasn't last week. It's been a while since we discussed this."

"You felt you had to make things up about the lawyers? Did you agree on your testimony?" she asks.

Turning to Schembri, the judge asks whether he still stands by his account.

"You still maintain that he told you these things?"

"Yes, absolutely," Schembri replies.

The prosecution then asks for Cremona to continue his testimony behind closed doors, arguing that the witness is clearly frightened and may fear repercussions because he was mentioned in Melvin Theuma's recordings.

Cremona suddenly turns towards defence lawyer Giannella de Marco and shouts: "Don't create more trouble!"

18:47 Judge Grima continues pressing Cremona over what he told Schembri.

"What did you tell Keith Schembri?" the judge asks.

"Please..." Cremona replies, looking down.

The judge asks whether he mentioned specific sums of money to Schembri.

"I will take the blame. I will assume all consequences," Cremona says, even if he ends up in prison.

He then adds: “There's no one left for me in life.”

Judge Grima warns that he will remain in court until he tells the truth.

"Are you afraid of someone?" she asks.

"No," Cremona replies.

"So tell me. Who offered you money?"

"Maybe I made it up," Cremona says.

"I heard another version," Judge Grima tells him.

"I'm not saying Schembri is lying," Cremona replies.

"I don't believe you made it up," the judge says.

18:41 Judge Grima asks Cremona whether he spoke to Keith Schembri.

18:37 Judge Edwina Grima warns Cremona that he could be arrested if he refuses to answer the court's questions.

18:35 The judge asks whether lawyers Charles Mercieca and Gianluca Caruana Curran ever approached him about his testimony.

"I can take the blame for everything... I don't want to hurt anyone," Cremona replies.

The judge presses him to answer, asking what he is afraid of.

"I don't want to harm anyone," Cremona says.

The judge repeats the question, asking for a simple yes or no answer.

"I don't want to answer," Cremona replies.

18:24 Cremona is in court at the judge's orders, as is the judge and jurors. He will be answering questions posed by Judge Edwina Grima

17:37 Proceedings are temporarily paused while court marshals bring Johann Cremona back to court.

Once he arrives, the judge will question him directly.

17:35 Prosecutors ask the court to order a confrontation between witnesses following Keith Schembri's testimony.

Schembri had claimed that Johann Cremona was offered a €400,000 bribe by Yorgen Fenech's lawyers before giving evidence. However, Cremona made no mention of any such offer during his own testimony.

The prosecution argues that Cremona should be recalled to answer questions about what it describes as a serious allegation that the defence attempted to bribe a witness.

Fenech's lawyers object to the request.

The court rules in the prosecution's favour and orders that Cremona be brought back to court immediately. Court marshals are instructed to fetch him.

17:00 The screenshot shows Schembri sending a WhatsApp message to Charles Mercieca telling him to "use Signal", the encrypted messaging application that, at the time, offered disappearing messages unlike WhatsApp.

Asked about the exchange, Schembri says he cannot remember the context.

"It may have been a joke," he says.

Prosecutor Cini questions that explanation, asking whether it was really a joke given that the message was sent eight days before Schembri was due to testify.

"I don't know," Schembri replies.

Cini then asks whether the message was sent before or after Schembri's meeting with Fenech's lawyers.

"I don't remember," Schembri says.

The court then adjourns for a 15-minute break.

16:53 Court technicians are still unable to display the screenshot on the courtroom monitors.

16:50 The prosecution turns to a Signal message sent by Yorgen Fenech's lawyer, Charles Mercieca, to Schembri on 14 June, 2020.

Prosecutor Cini asks Schembri whether he recalls the message and whether he spoke to Mercieca on that date.

The contents of the exchange remain unclear, as the court has been attempting to display a screenshot of the conversation on courtroom monitors for the past 10 minutes.

16:40 Cini asks Schembri whether he told anyone about his meeting with Yorgen Fenech's lawyers.

Schembri replies that he informed his lawyers, Edward Gatt and Mark Vassallo.

Cini then asks whether he updated the very important person he had mentioned earlier about the meeting.

Schembri replies that he did not.

"I had no need to," he says.

16:33 Schembri is asked to identify the "very important person" he referred to.

However, the judge orders that this part of the testimony cannot be reported by the media.

16:27 The prosecution returns to Johann Cremona.

Schembri claims he was informed that Cremona had been offered first €200,000 and later €400,000 to testify in Yorgen Fenech's favour.

He goes on to recount another incident, saying that around two days before he was due to testify, "somebody important" called him to say that Gianluca Caruana Curran and Charles Mercieca wanted to meet him.

"I met them and they told me, 'Help Yorgen,'" Schembri says. "I told them, 'How can I help him more than I already have?'"

16:20 Cini asks Schembri when he first started receiving information about Melvin Theuma.

16:15 Schembri describes Melvin Theuma as being "money hungry".

He claims Theuma owned more than €900,000 worth of property and had large amounts of cash hidden away.

Schembri adds that former police commissioner Lawrence Cutajar had told them that charging Theuma with money laundering "would have been too easy".

16:05 Testimony resumes in open court after Schembri concludes his evidence behind closed doors. Prosecutor Godwin Cini continues his questioning.

Cini asks Schembri when he first learned that Melvin Theuma was Yorgen Fenech's driver.

Schembri replies that he found out after Theuma was arrested.

Cini then asks when Fenech had told him that Theuma was his driver.

"I don't know," Schembri replies.

Cini presses further, asking whether, despite his frequent meetings with Fenech, he had never been told that Theuma was his driver or that the two had travelled abroad together.

Schembri says too much time has passed for him to remember.

15:50 When prosecutor Godwin Cini asked Keith Schembri what else he knew about Johann Cremona besides his business relationship with Yorgen Fenech, Schembri stated that Cremona worked on lotto booths. When further asked what he knew about Melvin Theuma in 2018, Schembri replied that he could testify about it behind closed doors because the police commissioner and the attorney general kept them updated on what was happening. When Cini asked what he meant by that, Schembri said he did not feel comfortable testifying about what the Malta Security Services had told them and requested to speak only if the media was not in the courtroom. The court agreed to his request, precluding reporters from covering the  testimony until the judge allows the media back in. 

15:43 Schembri confirms that he knew Johann Cremona as a business partner of Yorgen Fenech, noting that Cremona had many nicknames like Ix-Xlukkajr and is-Cigar. When the prosecution asked how long he had known Cremona by April 2018, Schembri replied it had been two or three years, recalling that they once met at Castille regarding an issue with small gaming enterprises and that before Cremona left, he asked if he had seen Yorgen and to send him regards. Asked why he asked Cremona about Yorgen Fenech, Schembri explained that Fenech had vanished from the face of the Earth and he hadn't spoken to him in months.

15:36 Schembri denies asking Kenneth Camilleri to do anything for him in 2018, countering Camilleri's testimony that Schembri had sent him to calm down Melvin Theuma. When asked how he knew Camilleri, Schembri explained that Camilleri was one of Joseph Muscat's security guards, noting that he would be locked up in his office and did not see him much, and whenever he did, he just kept walking. Schembri also denied telling Camilleri in 2018 that Johann Cremona was going to pick him up and drive him to meet someone, stating that he did not even have Kenneth's phone number.

15:30 When asked to describe his relationship with Yorgen Fenech, Keith Schembri characterized Fenech as a very good friend. Schembri also confirmed that he had previously stated he would go into fire for Fenech. 

15:23 The sitting is expected to resume soon. Former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri will continue his testimony.

13:25 The sitting is adjourned for lunch

13:20: Schembri is asked why Fenech would have wanted to interfere with the murder investigation, but Judge Edwina Grima disallows the question.

Prosecutors move onto a screenshot of a Signal message found inside Melvin Theuma's ice-cream box, which was between Fenech and the middleman and reads: "Bit by bit. Stay calm. They have informed Ta' Maksar that he has already said the bomb was assembled in the Żebbuġ garage."

Asked how Fenech knew about the Maksar gang, Schembri says he doesn't know and that not even he knew at the time.

The defence raises a point of law, and the jury and witness are ordered out of the courtroom while it is discussed.

13:15: Schembri confirms that Vince Muscat had been ready to speak to the police, but says that he wasn't involved in that - he had only been told about it by Arnaud and Joseph Muscat.

"The attorney general and police commissioner agreed that a pardon for Kohhu would be useless because it was all hearsay," he says, adding that he had been told this at a briefing.

The briefings did not delve into exactly what Vince Muscat had been saying.

Asked about Melvin Theuma's recordings, Schembri says he only listened to them through the media.

Prosecutors ask Schembri how Fenech seemed to know that the police knew that the Maksar brothers had provided the bomb that killed Caruana Galizia, but Schembri replies that he does not know.

12:58: Schembri says that he would plan meetings about the murder investigation involving the Attorney General, investigators, army chiefs and others.  He says that Arnaud would ask for the meetings, while sometimes the Prime Minister asked for an update.

These meetings would be held at Castille, and Schembri says that he would only be there for five minutes to make sure everything was ok and then he'd leave.

He said that the dates of raids that led to the arrest of the hitmen - raids which the hitmen said they knew about weeks in advance - were discussed during those meetings.

Asked whether he had told anyone about the raids, Schembri says he hadn't but adds that MaltaToday's managing editor Saviour Balzan had published an article the day before saying 'now you'll know tomorrow.'

Asked how Theuma knew about the arrest date and whether he had mentioned it to Fenech, Schembri says he doesn't know how Theuma knew and that he did not say anything to Schembri.

He also says that Fenech never told him why he had sent Theuma to warn the hitmen about their upcoming arrest.

12:40: After a brief discussion without the jury present as to what can and cannot be asked to the witness, Schembri is confronted with reportage that had revealed the financial links between 17 Black and companies belong to Schembri and Konrad Mizzi.

He replies that the allegation was not true.

He is also asked about the offshore firms Hearville - which belonged to Konrad Mizzi, Macbridge - which belonged to Cheng Chen, and Egrant.

Schembri describes Egrant as a "coup d'etat against Malta's prime minister. It was a shell company for nobody."

12.17 Keith Schembri confirms that Tillgate was his Panama-registered company, explaining that when he opened his New Zealand trust, he was told he needed a company in Panama to transfer money from. When the prosecution noted that one of its main clients was 17 Black and asked if he ever discussed it, Schembri denied doing so, stating that they only talked about future business they could do once he was out of politics, including recycling ventures. Asked about the plan for 17 Black after politics, Schembri replied that they had no arrangement, and when asked if he had any connection to 17 Black at the time of the blog post, he answered that he had none, apart from 17 Black being listed as a potential target client for Tillgate. 

12:09 The prosecution asks Keith Schembri about Daphne Caruana Galizia mentioning the company 17 Black, to which Schembri responded that his time in politics was transitory because he had planned on doing business with important people after leaving office. He explained that he originally opened a trust at the Bank of Valletta and placed all his assets in it, but after learning that the Nationalist Party knew about it, he decided to open a trust in New Zealand. Schembri denies ever discussing Caruana Galizia's blog posts with Fenech. 

11.59 Keith Schembri testifies that Daphne Caruana Galizia had written about him, including reporting on his trip to the USA for cancer treatment and claiming he did not have long to live, which left his parents and children shocked. He stated that he disliked her writing about him and his family, noting she would detail when they went abroad and leave their children home alone, and added that he also disliked when she wrote about Joseph Muscat's children. Schembri acknowledged she wrote about the Panama Papers and claimed he had money seized, and mentioned that he was advised by Kurt Farrugia and Matthew Carbone to keep a copy of everything she wrote about him. When asked how he felt, he explained he would be angry for the first week before it died down, discussing her writings with Joseph Muscat, Mark Farrugia, and his children, and confirmed that he also discussed them with Yorgen Fenech, recalling that Fenech had once told him to look at what she had written about him while Schembri was in the United States. 

11:53 Turning to the day of Daphne Caruana Galizia's murder in October 2017, Schembri testified that he was at the office with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and head of government communications Kurt Farrugia, recalling that he was shocked and that Muscat turned to him saying they had to catch the perpetrators, prompting Schembri to immediately request help from Europol.

11:50 Schembri explained that he only realized Melvin Theuma was at the ranch when someone walked up to him, pointed at Theuma, and told him, "That's Melvin Theuma."

11:48 When asked about politicians and businesspeople hosted at Yorgen Fenech's ranch, Keith Schembri stated he could not remember most of them, but nodded in confirmation when the prosecution asked if he had seen police officers there, specifically recalling former lead murder investigator Silvio Valletta, while adding that he visited the ranch between five and ten times.

11:46 Schembri stated that he could not recall the exact number of times he visited Yorgen Fenech's ranch, mentioning that he started going both before and after the 2017 general election, and confirmed under questioning by the prosecution that he continued visiting the ranch even after the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia.

11:43 Keith Schembri testifies that he met Melvin Theuma on only two other occasions - once in his office and once at Yorgen Fenech's ranch - though he did not realize who Theuma was at the time and failed to recognize him because Theuma wore a suit in the office but dressed differently at the ranch. When the prosecution asked how he knew Theuma had been at the ranch if he didn't recognise him, Schembri explained that someone told him, though he could not recall who, and added that he could not remember who else was present at the ranch that day.

11:33 Keith Schembri testifies that if Melvin Theuma was present at Yorgen Fenech's ranch, he did not recognise him. When the prosecution asked what Theuma told him during their meeting in his office, Schembri stated that Theuma asked for a job and that he told him he would connect him to the person who could help. Denying that Theuma mentioned working as a taxi driver, Schembri was reminded by the prosecution that during his previous testimony before Magistrate Rachel Montebello, he had stated he had heard of Theuma before because he sometimes served as Fenech's driver. 

11:29 Keith Schembri was questioned by the prosecution about the infamous photo of himself with Melvin Theuma, explaining that it was taken during the run-up to the 2017 general election when Theuma came to his office. Schembri states that he did not know who Theuma was at the time because he would see many people, but he offered him a coffee, after which Theuma asked for a photo with them standing in front of the prime minister's photograph. Schembri added that he called Sandro Craus into his office to take the picture and noted that people would normally call OPM customer care to book appointments. When the prosecution asked if he knew Theuma was coming or if Yorgen Fenech had told him about it, Schembri replied that nobody told him and that he did not recall, citing that his memory had been affected by his cancer. 

11:26 Schembri states that while he and Fenech never did business together, his own father had sold some plots of land to Fenech's family. When asked about visiting Fenech's house, Schembri recalled one specific visit on the day after Boxing Day, which fell on December 27.

11:19 Keith Schembri testifies that he was closer to Yorgen Fenech's brother, and although he and Fenech lost touch for some years, they remained friends and reconnected after meeting at the Axis nightclub and when Schembri became the Prime Minister's Office chief of staff in 2013. He explains that they chatted over WhatsApp or Signal just like he would speak to many others, discussing family and business sometimes daily or sometimes going weeks or months without speaking, and noted that Yorgen would also visit Castille at times due to the Electrogas project, given that Fenech was a shareholder in the power station consortium. Schembri added that when he had cancer in 2015, Yorgen came to his house twice and he went to Yorgen's place twice, sometimes visiting his ranch where his family would be present, and that he also went on his boat once.

11:11 Schembri says he was OPM chief of staff when the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia happened in 2017. He adds that he and Yorgen Fenech have known each other since when they were young, 14 and 12.

11:07 Before his testimony begins, the court instructs Schembri not to make any reference to Yorgen Fenech having requested a presidential pardon.

The judge also reminds Schembri of his right not to answer any question if his reply could incriminate him.

"I will testify about everything," Schembri replies.

"It is in your hands," the judge tells him.

11:06 Keith Schembri is next on the witness stand. The former OPM chief of staff is the court's next witness.

10.40 The judge calls a 30-minute break. 

10:37 Europol digital forensics expert Daniel Fernandes Mallheiro also testifies via video link.

His testimony largely mirrors that of his Europol colleague, Margarita Louka. He carried out the forensic examination as part of a money laundering investigation involving Melvin Theuma.

He explains that his role involved the extraction and analysis of data from the exhibits seized from Theuma and members of his family.

Referring to his report, Mallheiro confirms that he personally carried out the forensic extractions and analysis of the listed devices.

10:22 The witness is questioned about one of her reports. She explains that the police asked her to verify the date and time attached to the voice recordings found on one of the exhibits. 

To do this, she obtained a brand-new device of the exact same make and model as the one from which the recordings originated.  

⁠She tested how the device records voice notes. 

Her findings were that the timestamps shown on the recordings are the actual timestamps generated by the device.

However, she cannot confirm that the recordings were actually made on those real-world dates and times.

09:53 Europol digital forensics expert Margarita Louka takes the stand. Referring to her forensic report, she tells the court that a request for assistance came from the Maltese police.

She confirms that she carried out the forensic extraction of devices belonging to Melvin Theuma, Charmaine Zammit, Shianne Zammit and Ryan Farrugia.

Louka explains that the forensic acquisition took place in Malta at the Malta Security Service premises in Valletta in 2019.

09:45 The jurors enter the courtroom and digital forensics expert Martin Bajada is first on the witness stand.

Bajada tells the court that he was appointed to examine the screenshots presented by Johann Cremona in court, which were used to accuse Fenech's defence lawyers of colluding with Keith Schembri the day before Schembri was due to testify in the compilation of evidence. 

Explaining his analysis, Bajada says the material consists of two separate screenshots-one showing a WhatsApp message and the other a phone call.

He says the image appears to have been cut between the two and that it would not be possible to capture both elements in a single screenshot of that type because WhatsApp displays calls and messages in separate sections of the application.

Presenting his findings, Bajada tells the court that the screenshots were not found on either of the mobile phones he was ordered to examine, namely those belonging to Keith Schembri and Johann Cremona. He also says he is unable to match the screenshot with the extracted call profiles. 

Under questioning by prosecutor Godwin Cini, Bajada acknowledges that if a conversation had been deleted, it might no longer be recoverable.

Bajada also confirms that he examined the WhatsApp chats between Keith Schembri and defence lawyer Charles Mercieca and found no conversation between the two.

At one point, Mercieca objects to the prosecution's line of questioning. The exchange escalates into a heated argument between Mercieca and prosecutor Godwin Cini, prompting the court to intervene. "Your reaction to the screenshot says alot," Cini jabs. 

"I will find both of you in contempt of court. I am fed up with this fighting," the judge warns.

Bajada adds that he cannot say whether the screenshots ever existed, only that he did not find them during his examination.

Defence lawyer Giannella de Marco then asks whether the screenshot shown in court appears to have been "constructed".

Bajada replies that, based on his analysis, it consists of two distinct parts. He explains that WhatsApp stores messages and calls in separate sections of the application, meaning they cannot appear together in a single screenshot of that type.

09:23 A legal point is being discussed before jurors enter the courtroom.

Fenech's legal team asks the court to instruct Keith Schembri not to mention that Yorgen Fenech had requested a presidential pardon, relying on an earlier court ruling that barred witnesses from referring to the pardon request before the jury. The defence also says that if the court prohibits any reference to the pardon but Schembri mentions it anyway, it will ask for the jury to be dissolved.

Prosecutors object to the request, arguing that there is no reason why Schembri should be prevented from mentioning it.

They maintain that the defence is attempting to censor the truth and stressed that Schembri is not an investigative witness, meaning he is entitled to refer to facts within his own knowledge.

In its decision, the court agrees with the defence and noted its original ruling, that no witness should make any reference to the accused himself having made a request for a presidential pardon.

9:08 The sitting has started

The PN said in a statement that it is continuing to work to place the electricity crisis at the very top of the country's agenda.

In light of the power cuts crisis, the PN said that it will request that the Public Accounts Committee, which is due to meet on Wednesday, begin discussing the Auditor General's report on the 2023 energy crisis, entitled High-Level Review: Enemalta's Planning and Investment in the Local Electricity Distribution Network.

The PN said that this report by the National Audit Office (NAO), published in July 2024, found that the extensive power cuts during the previous summer were caused by widespread faults across the electricity network, particularly in high-voltage cable joints, at a time of high temperatures and demand.

The report concluded that there were serious shortcomings in Enemalta's planning and investment and found that the lack of investment in the distribution network was the main cause of the crisis. Actual expenditure on the network was significantly lower than the allocated budgets and declined despite rising demand. In fact, between 2014 and 2023, investment expenditure on the electricity distribution network was cut to one-third of the level recorded before 2014.

"It appears that, despite this report and despite Miriam Dalli telling us that €140 million was spent over the past three years to strengthen the distribution network, the problem has not been resolved but has instead become worse," the PN said.

The PN said that it is demanding a clear explanation and a detailed account of how and where this €140 million was spent, a breakdown which Minister Dalli thus far is refusing to provide in Parliament.

The party said that it is also demanding an explanation as to why the Government left this report on the shelf for three whole years, as it has done with many other reports, and failed to implement the recommendations it received.

The party noted that this particular report has never even been discussed at parliamentary level. In addition, the report found that Enemalta repeatedly failed to publish and submit its Network Development Plans to the regulator, as it is required to do under European directives.

"In light of these circumstances, and with our country once again finding itself in an energy crisis, the PN had no alternative but to request that this report be discussed by this parliamentary committee," the party said.

The Nationalist Opposition said that it is demanding accountability from the Government over the basic service of electricity supply. "At this stage, it appears that the Opposition is the only one concerned about the energy crisis we are facing, while the Government is saying very little about what is happening," the party said.

In addition to the request for the PAC to discuss this crisis, Leader of the Opposition and of the PN Alex Borg has already requested the urgent convening of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD), so that the situation may be discussed at national level with all social partners, its consequences for families, workers and businesses may be assessed, and concrete and immediate solutions may be demanded from the Government.

"The Government is also running away from a parliamentary debate on this crisis and is refusing to discuss this national emergency in the House of Representatives. It even ignored the request for the Opposition's motion of no confidence in Minister Miriam Dalli to be debated, as Parliament adjourned for the summer on Monday," the PN said.

"This means that the Government has placed the power cuts crisis on the shelf until the first week of October, while families and businesses remain without electricity and have been left to fend for themselves throughout the summer. The Government also ignored the Opposition's request for automatic compensation to be provided whenever the electricity supply is interrupted,"the party concluded.

The statement was by PN MP and PAC Chairperson Darren Carabott together with fellow PN MPs Graham Bencini and Eve Borg Bonello, who are the Opposition members on the PAC.

Labour Qormi councillor Daniel Ablett, 35, was granted bail after pleading guilty to several charges related to an incident involving a LESA officer in Valletta, while contesting the most serious accusation against him.

Earlier in the day, the Labour Party said in a statement that it was suspending Ablett – although they did not name him in their statement – from all party roles.

The prosecution, led by Inspectors Dylan Pace and Abigail Pomroy, told the court that at around 7:30pm on Sunday, 27 July, Valletta Police Station received a report from the Police Control Room that a LESA officer had been assaulted in the capital.

Police officers arrived at the scene and found Ablett arguing with the LESA official. After informing him that he was under arrest and reading him his rights, the accused allegedly also threatened one of the police officers, telling him he would kill him.

Following his arrest, Ablett gave a statement to the police before being arraigned in court. He was represented by lawyers Ishmael Psaila and Nicholas Cachia.

Ablett contested the first charge, which accuses him of using violence or resistance against a public officer, namely a LESA enforcement officer, while the officer was carrying out his official duties.

However, he admitted the remaining charges, which include threatening and insulting public officers, causing slight injuries to the LESA officer, threatening a police constable, refusing to obey lawful police orders,  disturbing the public peace, throwing bodily substances in a public place, and being intoxicated in a public area.                                                           

Due to his admission regarding the majority of the charges, the Court initially suspended the hearing of the case. However, at the request of the defence, the proceedings resumed to allow for the submission of a request for release from arrest.

The defence requested bail and argued that there was no risk of evidence being tampered with since the alleged victim is a public official. The prosecution objected, citing the seriousness of the offences and noting that the charges carry the possibility of an effective prison sentence.

After hearing submissions from both sides, the court granted Ablett bail under several conditions.

He was ordered not to leave Malta, to attend all court sittings, refrain from committing further offences, report daily to a police station, observe a curfew between 9:00pm and 6:00am, deposit €3,000, and provide a personal guarantee of €7,000.

At the prosecution's request, the court also issued protection orders in favour of both the LESA officer and the police officer involved in the case.

In a statement, the PL said that it is aware of the case, and decided to “with immediate effect and as a precautionary measure, suspend this councillor from representing the Labour Party in any structure, including in the Local Council.”

The PL offered scant details about the incident, and did not name Ablett as the councillor involved.

 Ablett was the party’s third most popular candidate in the 2024 local council elections in Qormi – where the PL holds a 7 to 4 seat advantage over the PN.

“While stressing that the individual remains presumed innocent, the Labour Party believes that public trust in the work being done by its representatives should be safeguarded,” the PL said.

It offered its full support to law enforcement officials and authorities, and their commitment to the performance of their duties with respect, integrity and proper use of authority.

The Party said that it will continue to follow the case and take any further decisions necessary in the light of the developments and resulting facts.

The fire was brought under control and the surrounding area was made safe. No injuries were reported.

Police officers from the 10th District also responded to the incident.

The fire was successfully brought under control, and no injuries were reported.

Police officers from the 7th District and a medical team from the emergency department of Mater Dei Hospital were also present to assist with the operation.

The road was temporarily closed to allow emergency personnel to operate safely. We thank the public for their patience and cooperation.

Background

The Plaintiffs cultivate and work agricultural land situated in the area known as Wicc ir-Rahal, within the limits of Zebbug. They say that during the Feast of St Joseph in both 2021 and 2022, fireworks fired by the band club, or people working for it, set their fields alight, damaging trees, vines and crops, and they went to court seeking compensation. The Club fought the case on almost every front. As a first line of defence, it argued it couldn't be sued in its own name, that the 2021 claim had expired with time, that the farmers hadn't properly proven their title to the land, and that the case had been filed too late. On the substance, it denied acting carelessly, denied the fireworks caused the fires at all, and argued that even if they did, the farmers had contributed to their own losses.

The Two Fires

In 2021, the farmers say sparks or debris from the display landed on their fields, wrecking vines and killing mature olive, carob and fruit trees. Alexander Sciortino testified that the blaze was serious enough for Civil Protection to call in reinforcements, and that it destroyed five carob trees outright, wiped out the vines entirely, and damaged several olive trees, some of which were only saved by firefighters' intervention. Joseph Caruana backed this up, describing damage to vines, carob, olive and peach trees, some of which were already dead the following day despite attempts to save them by watering. The Club admitted setting off fireworks nearby but insisted it checked for fire afterwards and found none, even though Civil Protection was later called out, and the farmers themselves reported the matter to the police.

The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) inspected the site days after the 2021 fire. Its officer, Graziella Tabone, drew up a schedule recording two carob trees totally destroyed, six carob, thirteen olive, two peach and five pear trees partially destroyed, plus a further nine almond and eight olive trees affected or within a 20-metre danger radius of the blaze. The Club did not seriously dispute that a fire had happened in 2021; its defence rested on whether the fireworks were really to blame.

In 2022, a second fire broke out. This time the Respondent Club's own witnesses admitted burning material had landed on the farmers' land, but described it as a minor grass fire, quickly contained with extinguishers and by clearing surrounding vegetation before it reached any trees. Civil Protection officers largely backed this account, saying that by the time they arrived there were no active flames, only burnt patches of dry grass which they wetted down as a precaution, and no burnt trees. No ERA inspection schedule was produced for 2022 with the officer who had inspected the 2021 fire testifying that she no longer had access to that file, leaving the Court to consider photographs taken by one of the farmers and a single valuation from agronomist Carmelo Briffa. The dispute over 2022, then, was less about whether a fire happened and more about how much real damage it caused.

Court's Considerations

Before getting to the facts, the Court threw out the Club's preliminary pleas one by one. It ruled that the Club, registered as a voluntary organisation under number VO/8283, has a distinct legal identity separate from its members, and so can be sued directly in its own name. There was no need to file the proceedings against its president, secretary or treasurer. It also rejected the argument that the case was invalid since the Plaintiff's had failed to file a judicial letter demanding compensation before the lawsuit was filed. The Court noted Maltese law imposes no such requirement, and that the Club already knew a dispute was brewing, since the incidents had already been the subject of correspondence between the parties. The absence of a demand letter might affect who pays legal costs, the Court said, but it does not make a lawsuit invalid or premature.

Was the club to blame?

This was the heart of the case. Under Maltese law, anyone running a "dangerous activity" and the Court treated fireworks as exactly that, is held to a strict standard of diligence and care. Formal paperwork wasn't enough. The Club had a valid pyrotechnics licence, permits and insurance, but the Court said none of that amounts to actually keeping people safe. It found the club fell short in several ways:

●    It never seriously assessed the risk of firing rockets next to tinder-dry summer fields.

●    No real evidence was given of how wind and weather were checked before the displays.

●    Neighbouring farmers were never warned in advance, so nobody could wet the ground or clear dry grass beforehand (precautions the club's own men later proved were both possible and effective when they used them to fight the 2022 fire).

●    Nobody told the farmers a fire had even happened on their land in 2022; and when asked why, the Club's officer simply said he "had no reason to," relying on the Club's insurance.

●    The Club is legally required to search for and clear away unexploded firework debris afterwards. Its evidence that it had done so was shaky, and two of its own witnesses contradicted each other on whether anyone had actually checked the farmers' field.

●    No fire engine was on standby for the morning displays, when both fires broke out, despite an evening fire engine being arranged for the feast itself.

●    Crucially, the fact that fires broke out two years running undercut any claim that 2021 was a freak accident and should have pushed the club to tighten things up in 2022 which, the Court found, it largely failed to do.

●     

Proving the fireworks caused the fires

The Club argued strongly that no witness had actually seen a firework or its debris land and ignite anything, and that no fire-cause expert had been engaged by either party. The Court accepted that much of the evidence was circumstantial but held that causation in cases like this can be properly established through circumstantial factors, how close in time and place the fire broke out, whether fresh pyrotechnic residue was found, and whether any credible alternative explanation existed, without needing an eyewitness to the exact moment of ignition.

On the 2021 fire, the Court found the case compelling: some damaged trees stood within twenty metres of the firing point, fresh-looking pyrotechnic debris. Described by the ERA officer as days old, not months, was found on the farmers' land, and the fire was noticed within a couple of hours of the display finishing, even on the Club's own account. It rejected the Club's suggestion that the debris could have come from a separate feast held a month earlier and found inconsistencies in the club's account of how thoroughly its members had checked the surrounding fields afterwards. Drawing on established case-law on dangerous activities, the Court held that once the farmers established a prima facie link between the fire and the fireworks, the burden shifted to the Club to prove some intervening cause, accident or force majeure, which it failed to do. On the 2022 fire, causation was barely disputed at all; the club's fight there was over how much damage was really done, not whether its fireworks caused the fire.

The Court concluded that the Club had failed to demonstrate it took all precautions reasonably required to prevent or reduce the inherent risk of harm from this dangerous activity, notwithstanding its formal compliance with licensing and insurance requirements.

Did the farmers share the blame?

The Club argued the farmers should have taken precautions themselves, given years of fireworks in the area, and criticised one farmer for calling club contacts rather than Civil Protection when he first spotted smoke in 2021. The Court wasn't persuaded. Landowners aren't expected to reshape their farms because someone else chooses to do something risky nearby. That responsibility sits with whoever is setting off the fireworks. Since the Club never warned the farmers in advance or coordinated any precautions with them, it couldn't now blame them for not doing more. This defence was dismissed entirely.

Liquidation of Damages

Agronomist Carmelo Briffa valued the losses at €22,865 in total:

a)    €4,100 to Joseph Caruana for 2021 - replacement trees, years of tree care and lost fruit and olive harvests, irrigation, pruning and valuation costs.

b)    €1,175 to Alexander Sciortino for 2021 - similar losses, on a smaller scale.

c)     €11,140 jointly to both men for 2021 - mostly for six mature carob trees, some around 150 years old, including a statutory minimum penalty for destroying protected carob trees under the Trees and Woodlands Protection Regulations.

d)   €6,450 to Joseph Caruana for 2022 - a destroyed mature loquat tree, care for fourteen olive trees (ten mature, four younger), and lost fruit and olive harvests projected over five and eight years respectively, of which the single biggest item was €3,200 for lost olive harvest.

The farmers had also asked the Court to recognise further, unquantified losses beyond Briffa's figures, but the Court declined, holding that damages can only be awarded on the basis of concrete, quantified proof actually placed before it and not vague or open-ended claims of additional harm.

The Club attacked all of this. It stated that Briffa's valuations weren't court-appointed, no receipts were shown, his harvest-loss figures used general averages, and the 2022 fire was allegedly too minor to justify tree damage claims at all. The Court wasn't swayed. It noted that the Respondent Club never asked for its own expert, so couldn't complain none was used. Receipts weren't essential either, since much of the claim was about future losses, properly proven through expert estimates, photos and witness evidence rather than invoices. Briffa's use of standard yield figures stood unchallenged by any rival expert, and the Court repeated a point that ran through the whole case: a tree can be seriously and permanently damaged even if only its trunk or base is scorched, whatever it looks like on the surface. The farmers' request for extra, unquantified damages was refused, however, the Court would only award for losses that were actually proven.

Conclusion

In its judgment, the Court rejected all of the Respondent Club's preliminary pleas, including its legal-personality argument, the time-bar claim, the land-title point, the timing objection, and its case on causation, force majeure and shared blame.

The court found the Club liable for the damage suffered by the Plaintiffs as a result of the fires that occurred on the 25 July 2021 and 25 July 2022 in the area of Wicc ir-Rahal, Haz-Zebbug. It awarded the Plaintiffs a total of €22,865 in damages and ordered the Club to pay the sums due together with interest running from the date of judgment until date of effective payment.

Krista Refalo is an Associate within Ganado Advocates' dispute resolution team

Disclaimer: Ganado Advocates is responsible for contributing this law report but was not in any way involved as legal advisor for the parties in the judgment being covered in this law report.

During a visit to Identità, Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Employment Jonathan Attard met with various employees across this Agency's departments.

The Minister together with Permanent Secretary Ronald Mizzi was welcomed by Identità's Chairperson Marlene Mizzi and Chief Executive Officer Colonel Dr Edric Zahra. 

Dr Zahra, alongside representatives from the agency's different divisions, outlined the work currently being carried out within their respective areas, highlighting ongoing achievements, challenges and future objectives aimed at further improving the services provided to Maltese and Gozitan citizens throughout every stage of life. 

Minister Attard praised the agency's performance and the progress achieved in meeting its strategic objectives, particularly within the National Identity Card Division. The agency has successfully completed the renewal process of around 160,000 Identity Cards, an important milestone that further strengthens the quality and security of Malta's identity documents. 

"The national Identity Card renewal process has now been successfully completed. Infact the Identity Card Division has recorded a decline in new applications compared with the same period last year, following the conclusion of this extensive and complex renewal exercise. At the same time, we continue to strengthen our digital services. During the first half of this year alone, more than eight million transactions were carried out through the eID account," said Minister Attard. 

Identità said that it remains committed to investing in efficient, citizen-centred services and advanced technology, while reminding all cardholders of their responsibility to ensure that their Identity Card is kept valid at all times. 

During the meeting, it was revealed that in the first six months of this year, Identità processed a total of 250,000 applications across the wide range of services it provides. It was also confirmed that the service of the identity card renewals which are offered through our Local Councils will also continue to be available in the weeks and months ahead. 

"The organisation and professionalism we witnessed across every department of Identità clearly demonstrate a shared vision between the Agency's leadership and the Ministry. This vision places people at its core through continued investment in our workforce, including improved working conditions and ongoing professional development opportunities. At the same time, we remain committed to investing in modern, efficient digital tools that will further enhance the quality of service we provide to our citizens," Minister Attard said. 

Chairperson Marlene Mizzi stated "Our goal is to ensure that citizens who rely on the agency's services at every stage of their documentation journey continue to receive an increasingly high-quality service. This is made possible through the dedication and experience of our employees, who are provided with opportunities to develop professionally while continuing to raise the standard of service we deliver."

Chief Executive Officer Dr Edric Zahra outlined the agency's ongoing work across several key areas, including human resources where equal opportunities are being promoted for all employees, artificial intelligence, infrastructure development and customer care. Dr Zahra also noted that approximately 4% of the Agency's workforce is made up of persons with disabilities. 

Identità delivers a broad range of services through its network of branches across Malta. In recent months, it also inaugurated a new branch in Gozo, further improving accessibility and bringing services closer to the communities it serves.

The FOI request, the party said, seeks information on the number of hospital admissions related to extreme heat conditions during the month of July and the localities of the respective patients, the daily number of deaths recorded, the number of sudden, unexpected or unattended deaths, any existing records or assessments relating to deaths suspected or considered to have been associated with extreme heat conditions and the patients' respective localities. It also requests comparative mortality figures for July in 2023, 2024, and 2025.

The FOI states clearly that it does not request any information that identifies any individual and that any information provided should be anonymised and supplied in a manner that does not disclose any personal identifying information

The request follows public concern in recent days about possible deaths during power outages and the impact of extreme heat on public health.

Katya Compagno, executive member of Momentum said, "We want to establish the impact the electrical outages and the heat wave had on the health of our community. For the sake of transparency and accountability we are asking for timely access to accurate information to help in an informed public discussion."

Momentum said it looks forward to the authorities responding to the request in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act and making the relevant anonymised information available in the public interest.

Across France and Spain, roughly 330,000 people have been driven from homes and vacation sites by fires of exceptional scale. Spain braced for its fourth heat wave of the summer, with several blazes still out of control, including the largest in its recorded history.

France may never have seen an evacuation on this scale in peacetime. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said Saturday it was "very likely" the largest civilian evacuation operation ever carried out in the country outside of a period of war.

Firefighters held the Gironde blaze in check through a calm night, bringing flare-ups near coastal dunes under control and keeping the burned area unchanged at 420 square kilometers (162 square miles).

Authorities called the fire stabilized, not fixed - held for now, but still capable of breaking loose as temperatures rose and humidity fell.

Temperatures are forecast to rise again

The precautionary evacuation order covered campsites, holiday villages, tourist residences and leisure parks around the resort of Lacanau, Gironde regional authorities said.

"We are at a point of fragility," Eric Brocardi, spokesperson for France's national firefighters federation, told BFMTV on Tuesday. "We will continue attacking this fire despite the forecast rise in temperatures."

Even as homes burned nearby and authorities urged tourists to stay away, some holidaymakers told French media they were still weighing whether to press ahead rather than lose thousands of euros sunk into summer rentals and train tickets.

France's national weather service placed Gironde under a yellow heat warning from midday Tuesday, forecasting inland temperatures of 33 to 35 C (91 to 95 F). Southeast winds were expected across the department, with westerly sea breezes along the coast.

More than 1,160 square kilometers (448 square miles) have burned across France this year, according to the Interior Ministry.

Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent, heating at more than twice the global average, according to the European Union's Copernicus climate service. Western Europe recorded its hottest June on record, with extreme heat and widespread dryness contributing to the spread and intensification of fires in France and Spain, Copernicus said.

The Gironde blaze has raged since last week and proved wildly unpredictable, transforming at times into a self-feeding firestorm. Above it towered a gargantuan, electrified black thundercloud that generated lightning, violent winds and new fires beyond the original blaze - the first recorded in France.

In Le Porge alone, west of Bordeaux, the municipal government said about 150 homes were destroyed.

Officials warned that smoldering vegetation, rising temperatures and falling humidity could produce fresh outbreaks along the fire's vast perimeter.

Military engineers and forest-fire prevention crews resumed cutting firebreaks early Tuesday. Authorities said 103 kilometers (64 miles) had been completed.

Ninety-three firefighters have been injured, the prefecture said.

The A63 highway remained partly closed, while rail traffic south of Bordeaux was suspended except on the route toward Toulouse.

Thousands return as second fire stops advancing

In Landes, about 15,000 evacuees - half of the total - were allowed home after a separate wildfire stopped advancing.

"The fire is fixed, which is good news in Landes," French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday evening. Regional authorities said that meant its advance had been stopped and there were no new fire starts.

Those allowed back included residents of Sanguinet, Parentis-en-Born, Biscarrosse's aviation village and a large campground. Several other neighborhoods remained inaccessible.

Authorities warned that the Landes fire was not extinguished. Residual hot spots, wind and drought could cause flare-ups, and surveillance and damping-down operations were expected to continue for days or possibly weeks.

Spain braces for worsening conditions

Hundreds of firefighters backed by military emergency brigades and water-dropping aircraft continued battling several major wildfires in Spain.

Smoke from the fires reached Madrid itself, where residents in central and eastern districts could smell smoke and ash in recent days, emergency services said. Municipal monitors recorded increased particulate pollution in the capital.

Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said Tuesday that nonstop work through the night left him "reasonably positive," though officials warned that crews had only a brief window before extreme heat returned.

Spain's national weather service said the country was bracing for its fourth heat wave of the summer, with temperatures expected to exceed 40 C (104 F) in some areas.

Authorities have evacuated about 79,000 people and ordered another 30,000 to remain in their homes. The government declared a national emergency over the fires.

The greatest concern remained two large fires that had at times come close to merging into a single blaze in wooded hills about an hour's drive west of Madrid.

A fire in hilly, rural terrain in Ávila, west of Madrid, has become Spain's largest on record, scorching more than 500 square kilometers (193 square miles), the government said.

Another fire in the eastern province of Castellón also forced mass evacuations.

"Look at how the valley is burned. Look at the houses, the people," said David Gonzalez, a 48-year-old gardener who used his van to deliver supplies to firefighters in Ávila.

"We are feeling a lot of anger and helplessness. It's something inhuman," he said.

Fires have burned 1,530 square kilometers (590 square miles) this year in Spain, Ecology Minister Sara Aagesen said.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called for a national pact to fight wildfires, saying climate change is making them worse.

In a bilateral meeting Tuesday, the two ministers discussed several overlapping themes, such as migration, security, law enforcement cooperation, and civil protection. Both ministers underscored the importance of close coordination in addressing shared challenges in the central Mediterranean.

On migration, the two ministers discussed the positive results achieved through joint efforts, such as the sustained reduction in irregular arrivals along the Central Mediterranean route. 

These discussions centred on the implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, as well as improving return systems, enhanced cooperation with key countries of origin and transit, and the development of practical and innovative solutions to tackle irregular migration more effectively.

Minister Bedingfield spoke about Malta's support for a stronger external dimension of EU migration policy, continued engagement with Libya, and the importance of implementing effective measures to reduce irregular migration and in combatting smuggling networks. On the latter point, Bedingfield referenced the establishment of return hubs.

The Ministry for Home Affairs and Security said that in this meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration in promoting a secure, orderly, and sustainable approach to migration while bolstering stability and security across the region.

The two ministers also reviewed the "excellent cooperation" between Maltese and Italian law enforcement authorities. The Ministry noted that this collaboration "continues to deliver concrete results in tackling organised crime, financial crime, drug trafficking, and other cross-border threats." 

Minister Bedingfield also took to the opportunity to thank Minister Piantedosi for Italy's ongoing support, which includes providing specialised training, operational cooperation, and knowledge exchange.

Talks on maintaining this bilateral cooperation extended to civil protection and emergency preparedness. Both ministers reaffirmed each country's commitment to improving cooperation in firefighting efforts, disaster responses, and in emergency management.

At the end of the meeting, both ministers stressed that shared challenges in the Mediterranean Sea require shared solutions. Bedingfield and Piantedosi agreed to continue working closely together for the sake of bolstering security, promoting stability, and advancing "a more effective and sustainable European approach to migration," the Ministry said. 

Home Affairs Minister Glenn Bedingfield deserves credit for recognising that some of the existing on-the-spot fines are simply too low. If penalties fail to act as a deterrent, they lose much of their purpose. A fine that is considered little more than the cost of another night out is unlikely to discourage anti-social behaviour.

The recent introduction of on-the-spot fines was an important first step, and the fact that police have already issued penalties following complaints from residents shows that the system is being put to use. But enforcement must not stop there. If experience demonstrates that the penalties are inadequate, then they should be revised upwards without delay.

The minister himself has acknowledged that fines should reflect the harm suffered by residents. That is the correct approach. The inconvenience, distress and loss of sleep experienced by families and elderly residents deserve to be taken seriously. People should not have to endure repeated disturbances simply because the consequences for offenders are insignificant.

The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association has also struck the right note in supporting stronger enforcement while calling for comprehensive legislative reform. It is correct in arguing that enforcement authorities can only be as effective as the laws they are expected to apply. Ambiguous legislation, overlapping responsibilities and weak legal provisions make it harder for police and other authorities to perform their duties efficiently.

The MHRA's proposals merit serious consideration. Better regulation of late-night alcohol sales, clearer and measurable noise standards, and a review of legislation that may inadvertently encourage the perception that Malta is permissive towards drug use are all issues that deserve careful examination. Whatever reforms are introduced should have one objective: creating legislation that is practical, enforceable and effective.

The broader issue, however, extends beyond fines and legislation. Malta has unfortunately developed a reputation as an easy destination where anti-social behaviour is tolerated. That perception has not emerged by accident. For years, tourism policy has focused heavily on increasing visitor numbers. Record arrivals have been celebrated, but far less attention has been given to the type of tourism being attracted and the pressures that growing numbers place on communities.

Quantity cannot remain the sole measure of success. A sustainable tourism industry depends on quality. Visitors who respect the country, contribute positively to the economy and appreciate what Malta has to offer are the kind of tourists the country should seek to attract. Those who come expecting unrestricted partying with little regard for residents should receive a very different message.

That message begins with consistent enforcement. Higher penalties, however, will only achieve their purpose if there are enough officers to impose them. Government must therefore back its policy with the necessary resources. The police, the Malta Tourism Authority and all other enforcement agencies require adequate staffing, proper training and the legal tools necessary to carry out their responsibilities effectively.

Protecting residents and protecting tourism are not competing objectives; they go hand in hand. A destination known for safety, order and respect is far more attractive than one associated with disorder and lawlessness.

Malta still has time to reverse the negative perception that has been allowed to develop. Stronger legislation, tougher penalties and better-resourced enforcement authorities will not solve every problem overnight, but they represent an essential step in restoring discipline, protecting communities and rebuilding Malta's reputation as a quality tourism destination rather than one where anything goes.

These works are being carried out in parallel with the plant's detailed engineering and process design, marking a major milestone in one of Malta's largest waste management investments.

The project represents a total investment of €75 million, including approximately €45 million in co-financing through the European Union Cohesion Fund. The new facility will more than double Malta's capacity to treat organic waste and further strengthen the country's transition towards a circular economy. This project is also part of the government's electoral programme.

Minister for Energy, the Environment and the Regeneration of the Grand Harbour Miriam Dalli, Minister for European Funds Keith Azzopardi Tanti, and WasteServ CEO Richard Bilocca visited the site to view progress on the ongoing works.

"The start of works on this new facility marks another important milestone in a project that will enable us to recover more resources, generate more renewable energy, and continue building a stronger circular economy for Malta," said Minister Miriam Dalli.

Minister Keith Azzopardi Tanti highlighted the important role of European funding in delivering strategic national infrastructure projects. "Through a €45 million investment co-financed by European funds, WasteServ is implementing a crucial project that will bring our country closer to a circular economy. We are demonstrating in practical terms how European funds can be invested in Malta's real needs, while treating waste as a valuable resource from which we can generate clean energy and compost."

Once operational, the new facility will increase annual organic waste treatment capacity from around 36,000 tonnes to more than 74,000 tonnes. As waste separation continues to increase, this additional capacity will enable significantly larger volumes of organic waste to be converted into renewable energy and high-quality compost, while increasing electricity generation from the current 8.5 GWh to up to 20 GWh annually.

The facility will also incorporate advanced technology and higher levels of automation to maximise efficiency, improve operational performance, and further enhance environmental safeguards.

WasteServ CEO Richard Bilocca said the project is progressing according to plan. "Construction has now entered its first phase, with excavation works underway across the site. General excavation is being carried out using specialised surface planer excavators that are specifically suited to the scale of the project while helping to minimise environmental impacts, particularly noise and vibration. In line with WasteServ's commitment to sustainability, excavated material is also being reused on site to backfill low-lying areas to the required design levels. Works have also started on the construction of the facility's perimeter retaining wall, while detailed process and engineering designs are currently being finalised."

The Organic Processing Plant is expected to be completed within two years and will become another key component of the ECOHIVE strategy.

Italian soccer federation Giovanni Malagò announced Mancini as the new Italy coach on Tuesday, adding that Claudio Ranieri will become the new technical director after Paolo Maldini stepped down the previous day - just 16 days after being appointed.

The 61-year-old Mancini led the Azzurri to the European Championship title in 2021 but shockingly resigned as Italy coach in August 2023, taking over Saudi Arabia's national team two weeks later.

"Time was running out ... I believed the person who should become the new coach of Italy is Roberto Mancini, for a whole list of reasons," Malagò said. "There will be a press conference tomorrow with both Claudio Ranieri and Roberto Mancini."

The Italian national team is in crisis after failing for a third straight time to qualify for the World Cup, prompting the resignations of FIGC president Gabriele Gravina and coach Gennaro Gattuso in April.

French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo announced Zidane's appointment at the FFF headquarters in Paris on Tuesday, saying he has been given a 4-year contract.

"This is an exceptional moment, exceptional because of the person sat next to me," Diallo said. "Zinedine is one of the legends of French soccer and for many years he said one of his dreams was to take charge of the France team."

The 54-year-old Zidane has not coached since leaving Real Madrid in 2021.

"I would like to thank Didier Deschamps and his staff for their work," Diallo said. "For 14 years he led the France team to the top."

Deschamps won the 2018 World Cup and stepped down after the recent World Cup, where Les Bleus lost in the semifinals to Spain.