Business

Oil up on news the US intercepted an oil tanker off Venezuela

Oil prices rose on Monday after officials said the U.S. had intercepted an oil tanker in international waters off the coast of Venezuela, raising fresh supply uncertainty. Brent crude futures…

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Gold breaks $4,400 for first time, silver hits new high

Gold jumped past the $4,400-per-ounce level for the first time on Monday, riding on growing expectations of further U.S. rate cuts and strong safe-haven demand, with silver also joining the…

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Christmas travel chaos: All the forthcoming European airport strikes in December

Heading home this Christmas or taking a winter holiday? Travel strikes have become a familiar part of the festive season as workers target one of the busiest periods of the…

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EU Crypto Rules Pose Challenges for National Bans on Service Providers

Two local analysts have cautioned that any attempt by EU Member States to block or restrict the passporting of crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) authorised under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA)…

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ECB holds rates as brighter growth outlook points to prolonged pause

The European Central Bank kept its key interest rate unchanged at 2 percent on Thursday, as updated staff projections pointed to a more positive outlook for the eurozone economy following…

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Global Food Brands Turn to Chinese Partners to Expand in China

Major global food and beverage companies are increasingly collaborating with Chinese capital to strengthen their presence in China’s competitive market. From Starbucks to Häagen-Dazs, global names are handing over equity…

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Six Women Shaping Malta’s Financial Services Sector

Marina Grech, Partner, Ganado Advocates As a Partner within Ganado Advocates’ investment services and funds department, Marina Grech has built a career advising clients across Malta’s financial services industry. Her expertise…

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Captive insurance market in Malta reaches new highs

“Insurance was never the most glamorous of financial sectors. In fact, it is broadly seen as an industry quietly ticking away in the background, a necessity, but hardly an exciting topic of…

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The New Credit Review Office Bill – An Analysis

Today’s column examines the new Credit Review Office Bill, which has received its first reading and has just been published. Bill 156 of 2025 purports to establish a Credit Review Office. Upon a first glance, my reaction was one of perplexity at the unfamiliar…

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Roomba manufacturer files for bankruptcy in the US

iRobot, the company behind the popular Roomba robot vacuum, has filed for bankruptcy in the United States, marking a major turning point for the brand that revolutionised automated home cleaning.…

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Reforms, Resilience and the Road Ahead for Malta’s Capital Market

Maltese companies continue to launch corporate bonds that are often oversubscribed within hours. Once seen as opaque and bureaucratic, Malta’s capital market now appears to be thriving. At the forefront…

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M&A’s: A Question of Readiness and the Courage to Evolve

By James Vella Clark At first glance, the surge in mergers and acquisitions across Malta over the past two years might suggest a maturing market finally finding its rhythm. But,…

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Take the Bus on 20 December and Contribute to L-istrina’s Cause

Malta Public Transport will hold the ninth edition of Tallinja għal L-istrina on Saturday, 20 December 2025, once again supporting L-istrina through its long-standing collaboration with the Office of the…

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Tech helps, but accountability in Pharma must remain human

Artificial Intelligence is reshaping global healthcare but, for the pharmaceutical sector, this represents not only a technological leap but a call for stronger regulatory alignment, ethical oversight, and human accountability. The draft EU…

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AMLA Proportionality To Boost Europe’s Competitiveness

By Christoper Buttigieg The EU’s new Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) is still taking shape, with governance structures and operational capacity being built from scratch. Yet from its inception, the agency faces…

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Building Better Boards: How Good Directors Strengthen Corporate Culture

“Directorship is not simply a title but a profession, and today’s aspiring directors need to commit to lifelong learning, ethical leadership, and accountability,” says Dr ETIENNE BORG CARDONA, chair of IFSP’s…

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Less New York, more Nashville: Europeans head to smaller US cities

European travelers, nearly a year into President Donald Trump's administration, are popping up in less-heralded - and often more affordable - destinations in the U.S. like Tennessee, Montana and Idaho,…

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Hili Finance Company €60,000,000 Bond Issue Approved

Hili Finance Company plc has received MFSA approval for a €60,000,000 bond issue to be listed on the Official List of the Malta Stock Exchange which will open for subscription…

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Oil gains on Venezuelan supply concerns, but poised for weekly loss

Oil prices rose on Friday supported by concerns of Venezuelan supply disruptions, though they remained on track for a weekly drop amid cautious market sentiment and optimism over the prospects…

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STMicroelectronics opens new 1-billion-euro credit line with EIB

Chipmaker STMicroelectronics said on Thursday it had established a 1 billion euro ($1.2 billion) credit line with the European Investment Bank (EIB). The first 500-million-euro slice will be used to…

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Portugal braced for mass disruption in first general strike for 12 years

Portugal is facing severe disruption to transport, flights, hospitals, schools and other public services on Thursday, as the two main union federations stage a general strike over unprecedented labour reforms.…

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Eurozone’s new star: Portugal crowned 2025 ‘economy of the year’

Portugal has quietly turned into the eurozone’s star performer, topping The Economist's 2025 ranking of global economies. It earned this distinction based on inflation, gross domestic product, jobs, and market…

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Oil little changed as investor focus returns to Ukraine peace talks

Oil prices were broadly stable on Thursday as investors shifted their focus back to Russia-Ukraine peace talks while watching for any fallout from a U.S. seizure of a sanctioned tanker…

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Premier Capital Celebrates 10th McDonald’s Restaurant in Malta, 200th in Europe

Premier Capital has officially opened its 10th McDonald’s restaurant in Malta, a milestone that also marks the group’s 200th restaurant across in Europe. Located in Mrieħel, the new restaurant will…

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Malta Public Transport announces special services for NYE celebrations in Valletta

Malta Public Transport announces that it will be operating special bus services for the national New Year’s Eve celebration taking place on 31 December 2025 in Valletta. The additional trips…

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Ryanair to cut Brussels winter schedule over Belgium ticket tax hike

Ryanair said it would cut 1 million seats and 20 routes from its Brussels 2026/27 winter schedule over Belgium's decision to raise tax on air passenger tickets to 10 euros…

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Microsoft announces $17.5 billion AI investment in India

US tech giant Microsoft announced that it will invest $17.5 billion (€15 billion) in India over the next four years as it looks to strengthen the country's cloud and artificial…

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Oil steady as supply concerns cap gains, market eyes Ukraine peace talks

Oil prices held steady on Wednesday after falling about 1% in the previous session, as concerns over supply outpacing demand capped gains and investors watched for progress in Russia-Ukraine peace…

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Minimum wage in Cyprus set to rise to €1,125

The minimum wage will be raised to €1,125, outgoing Cypriot labour minister Yiannis Panayiotou confirmed during Monday’s formal handover to newly appointed minister Marinos Moushiouttas. Panayiotou said the increase reflects…

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Microsoft to invest heavily in Canada over next two years

Microsoft Corporation announced on Tuesday that it plans to increase its total artificial intelligence investments in Canada to 19 billion Canadian dollars ($13.7 billion) over the period from 2023 to…

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Netflix, Paramount fight for Warner Bros Discovery in Hollywood power tussle

US production company Paramount said that it was looking to challenge Netflix's takeover of Warner Brothers Discovery with a hostile bid of its own. Netflix reached a $72 billion (€62…

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Oil edges down with Ukraine peace talks, US rate decision in spotlight

Oil prices edged down on Tuesday, extending losses from the 2% drop in the previous session, with markets keeping a close eye on peace talks to end Russia's war in…

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Netflix agrees to buy Warner Bros Discovery studio and streaming business

Netflix has agreed to buy Warner Bros Discovery in an $82.7bn (£62bn) deal that will dramatically reshape the established Hollywood film and TV industry. The streaming company will take control…

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War insurance costs spike for ship owners as Black Sea threats grow

War insurance costs for ships sailing to the Black Sea have spiked again, with insurers reviewing policies daily as the conflict in Ukraine spills into sea lanes, five shipping and…

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LG Elec says Microsoft and LG affiliates pursuing cooperation on data centres

South Korea's LG Electronics Incsaid on Friday that Microsoft and LG affiliates are pursuing overall business cooperation regarding data centres, but no specific deal has been signed at this time.…

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Bundestag approves big tax relief for restaurants

Germany has passed a wide-ranging tax relief package that includes a slashing of the sales tax rate for restaurants. The tax reform bill, was approved Thursday by the Bundestag, Germany's…

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WTI heads for weekly gains as Fed hopes boost market and Venezuela tensions loom

WTI oil prices were poised for a weekly gain on Friday, supported by an expected Federal Reserve interest rate cut, escalating U.S.-Venezuela tensions and stalled peace talks in Moscow, though…

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German lawmakers consider slashing restaurant taxes

The German parliament is discussing a plan to permanently lower sales tax on restaurant food to the same level that it was at during the coronavirus pandemic. The move is…

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HSBC’s long-term vision called into question

HSBC's appointment of Brendan Nelson as chairman on a permanent basis raises questions about the Asia-focused bank's succession planning and long-term vision, corporate governance experts and analysts said. Nelson's elevation…

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Oil prices firm after Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil infrastructure, stalled peace talks

Oil prices gained on Thursday after Ukrainian attacks on Russia's oil infrastructure signalled potential supply constraints, and stalled peace talks tempered expectations of a deal restoring Russian oil flows to…

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Prada completes acquisition of Versace

Prada has completed its $1.38bn acquisition of Versace, a price significantly below the roughly $2bn paid by former owner Capri Holdings in 2018. The deal strengthens Prada’s portfolio – which…

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Tariffs, AI boom could test global growth’s resilience, OECD says

Global growth is proving more resilient than expected, with a surge in artificial intelligence investment helping to cushion the impact of recent U.S. tariff increases, the OECD said on Tuesday.…

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MMF commissions second study on the economic contribution of maritime transport

The Malta Maritime Forum will be undertaking a second study on the economic contribution of Malta’s maritime transport. This was announced by MMF Chairman Godwin Xerri, with the project being…

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Oil rises on OPEC+ output plan, supply worries

Oil prices rose on Monday after OPEC+ members reaffirmed a plan to hold output steady, as the Caspian Pipeline Consortium halted exports after a major drone attack and U.S.-Venezuela tensions…

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Focal Logistics Group announces consolidation of end-to-end logistics services

Focal Logistics Group has officially been launched as a new group of companies, bringing together the logistics operations of Focal Maritime Services, Greenwaveshipping.mt, Combined Maritime Services and Delta Container Services…

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Brent little changed as investors zoom in on Russia-Ukraine talks, OPEC+

Brent crude oil futures were little changed on Friday as investors eyed the progress of the Russia-Ukraine peace talks and the outcome of the OPEC+ meeting on Sunday for clues…

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The U.S. and Black Friday

Retailers in the U.S. are gearing up for Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, which kicks off the holiday shopping season that typically account for a third of U.S. retailers'…

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Finnish Workplaces See Rapid Rise in Foreign Recruitment

A big shift is underway in Finnish working life — and not even poor employment numbers have managed to slow it down. Finnish working life is undergoing internationalisation. Workplaces now…

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Microsoft launches tracker to manage autonomous AI in the workplace

In Microsoft's view, humans are not the only ones to manage in a workplace. Artificial intelligence needs a manager, too. The software maker on Tuesday announced Microsoft Agent 365, a…

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Oil falls on expectations of ceasefire in Ukraine unlocking Russian supply

Oil prices fell on Thursday on expectations of a Ukraine‑Russia ceasefire which could pave the way for the unwinding of Western sanctions against Russian supply, though trading was set to…

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Italy Braces for Surge in Winter Visitors as International Demand Climbs

Italy’s tourism sector is preparing for a buoyant winter season as foreign arrivals surge. A Demoskopika study previewed by ANSA estimates that 14 to 14.4 million international travellers will visit…

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Gold climbs to near two-week high

Gold climbed a near two-week high on Wednesday, after new U.S. economic data bolstered expectations of an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve in December and weighed on the…

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Oil climbs after hitting one-month low; supply glut weighs

Oil prices climbed on Wednesday after sliding to a one-month low in the previous session, though an expected supply glut and a potential Russia-Ukraine peace deal capped gains. Brent crude…

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European car sales rise 4.9% in October, ACEA says

New car sales in Europe rose 4.9% in October as electric cars outpaced petrol and diesel registrations, European Automobile Manufacturers' Association data showed on Tuesday. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT The European…

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Apple cuts jobs across sales team

Apple said it is cutting jobs across its sales teams to strengthen its customer engagement efforts, noting that only a small number of roles will be impacted by the layoffs.…

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Oil falls as Ukraine peace talks edge toward a solution

Oil prices slipped Monday, extending losses from last week, as Russia-Ukraine peace talks edged closer to a solution and the U.S. dollar strengthened. Brent crude futures fell 14 cents, or…

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Zara workers plan Black Friday protests at stores across Europe

Workers at Zara plan to protest outside stores in seven European countries on Black Friday, a key sales day, to demand a profit-sharing scheme be reinstated, the European Works Council…

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