Finance Minister warns global minimum tax rate proposals at risk
Finance Minister Clyde Caruana has warned that the global minimum tax rate of 15% may be at risk, as several EU member states reconsider their commitments. Speaking at a Finance Malta conference, he said momentum has shifted since the US withdrew from the agreement earlier this year under President Donald Trump. The OECD framework, aimed at taxing large multinationals earning over €750 million, had been adopted by the EU in 2022, with Malta securing a derogation allowing a delay of up to six years. Caruana noted that recent discussions among EU finance ministers revealed a growing list of countries questioning the deal, raising doubts about whether the long-touted reform will ever be fully implemented. (Times of Malta)
Malta unveils updated AI strategy
Malta has entered a new phase of its digital development with the launch of an updated national AI strategy, announced by Prime Minister Robert Abela during a public Cabinet meeting for Techxpo 2025. Abela recalled that Malta was one of the first EU countries to adopt an AI strategy seven years ago, achieving 80% of its targets ahead of schedule. The new framework aims to strengthen digital infrastructure, upskill the workforce and expand the use of AI across essential public services. Citing international indicators, Abela said Malta is well-placed to benefit from global AI advances and reaffirmed the government’s ambition to become Europe’s most AI-friendly country, ensuring technology continues to empower people rather than replace them. (TVM)
Data reveals increasing risks for young children oline
New research presented during Malta’s International Children’s Day conference has laid bare the scale of online risks facing young people. Roberta Attard, Deputy Dean for Social Wellbeing, revealed that 15.5% of children have communicated with unknown adults online, while 12.1% were unsure about who they were speaking to. Even more concerning, 8.6%,118 children surveyed, said they had met an adult in person after first encountering them online. These findings, highlighted by Commissioner for Children Antoinette Vassallo and Social Policy Minister Michael Falzon, underline the urgent need for stronger digital safeguards and policies shaped directly by young people’s lived experiences. (The Malta Independent)
