News

Lebanon Labels Israeli Campaign an ‘Invasion’ as Crisis Deepens

Lebanon’s Culture Minister Ghassan Salamé has described Israel’s military campaign in southern Lebanon as an “invasion”, saying entire villages have been destroyed and more than one million people displaced. Speaking…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Friday 27 March 2026

Updated 1030 40% of Core Skills Set to Shift by 2030, Experts Urge Urgent Workforce Adaptation: Around 40% of workers’ core skills are expected to change by 2030, according to…

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NASA Sets Artemis II Moon Mission Launch Window for April 1

NASA has officially announced April 1, 2026, as the latest possible launch date for its Artemis II mission, marking a key milestone in the agency’s return to the Moon. The…

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German Far-right Scales Back Public Ties to Trump as War Backlash Grows

Leaders of Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany are quietly scaling back their public alignment with Donald Trump as criticism of the Iran war intensifies and key regional elections approach. While…

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Spain’s parliament approves €5 billion package to curb impact of war in Iran

Spain’s parliament has approved a €5 billion package aimed at cushioning the economic fallout from the Iran conflict, with a strong focus on cutting energy costs for households and key…

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Trump Extends Iran Deadline as Fighting Continues and Talks Show “Progress”

Donald Trump has extended a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by 10 days to 6 April, saying negotiations are “going very well” despite ongoing military exchanges…

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US Considering Redirecting Weapons from Ukraine to Middle East

The Pentagon is considering redirecting weapons initially intended for Ukraine to the Middle East, as the conflict with Iran puts pressure on US munitions supplies, according to a report by…

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Cyprus Seeks to Reassure Tourists Amid Regional Tensions

Cyprus is pushing back against security concerns linked to the Middle East conflict as it looks to safeguard its crucial summer tourism season. Officials stress the island remains far from…

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European Parliament Pushes for Stronger EU-Canada Ties and Sets Conditions on EU-US Trade Deal

The European Parliament has called for stronger relations between the European Union and Canada, emphasising cooperation in security, trade, and multilateral coordination. In a resolution approved by a strong majority,…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Thursday 26 March 2026

Update 1045 Parliament Extends Auditor General Terms Amid Row Over Successor Delay: Parliament unanimously approved a constitutional amendment allowing Auditor General Charles Deguara and deputy Noel Camilleri to remain in…

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China urges all parties to pursue “meaningful and sincere” peace talks on Iran conflict

China’s Foreign Ministry has called on all sides involved in the US-Israel war on Iran to work toward constructive dialogue. Spokesperson Lin Jian said the “pressing priority is to actively…

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Iran Rejects Claims of Negotiations as War Messaging Continues

Iran has dismissed U.S. assertions that it is urgently seeking a deal to end nearly four weeks of conflict, insisting that no formal negotiations are taking place. Foreign Minister Abbas…

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Italy’s PM Meloni plans closer cooperation with Algeria to boost gas deliveries

Italy, which produces over 40% of its electricity from natural gas according to the International Energy Agency, has been seeking alternative suppliers to replace lost LNG imports from Qatar. During…

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Frederiksen’s Social Democrats Win Amid Historic Low Vote Share

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s Social Democrats emerged as the largest party in Tuesday’s Danish general election, winning 21.9% of the vote—their weakest result since 1903. The left-leaning “red bloc,” made…

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Pope Leo: Life must be defended amid “madness of war”

Pope Leo XIV has said that in a world marked by the “madness of war,” life must be defended from conception to its natural end. Speaking during his Wednesday General…

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London house prices fall for sixth consecutive month

London house prices have fallen for a sixth consecutive month, marking the sharpest annual decline in nearly two years and signalling a sustained slowdown in the capital’s property market, official…

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European countries losing out on LNG cargoes – reports

Europe is losing out on liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes as Asian buyers outbid European utilities in an increasingly tight global market, with several shipments reportedly being diverted mid-voyage. Ship-tracking…

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UK Government Report Calls for Tigher Rules on Overseas Funding of Political Parties

A review commissioned by the British Government has recommended a temporary ban on cryptocurrency donations to political parties, alongside tighter rules on overseas funding, in an effort to strengthen transparency…

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GO plc Marks 50 Years of Leadership with Record Profit Growth and Landmark Fibre Milestone in 2025

GO plc today announced a strong set of financial results for the year ended 31 December 2025, capping a landmark year that coincides with the Group's 50th anniversary. The Group…

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Oil Giants Push EU to Reconsider Arctic Drilling Ban

Oil and gas companies, including Norway’s Equinor and industry groups backed by Shell, TotalEnergies and ConocoPhillips, are urging the EU to reconsider its position on restricting Arctic drilling. More than…

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Iran given 15-point ceasefire plan, Pakistani officials say

Iran has reportedly received a 15-point U.S. proposal aimed at securing a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict, according to two Pakistani officials. The plan is said to include sanctions relief,…

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Democrats Flip Florida Seat in Blow to Trump in His Backyard

Democrats have won a special election in Florida, flipping a state legislative seat in a district that includes President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence, in a symbolic setback for the Republican…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Wednesday 25 March 2026

Updated 1230 ounterfeit Banknotes in Malta Drop Nearly 30% as €50 Notes Overtake €20s: Counterfeit banknotes in Malta declined sharply in 2025, with 1,097 notes removed from circulation, a 29.9%…

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Russian drone strikes Estonia power plant

A drone believed to have come from Russian airspace struck a chimney at Estonia’s Auvere power station in Ida-Viru County on Wednesday morning, in what authorities say was not a…

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Allies Confront Tougher Fight in Hormuz After Red Sea Setback

Western allies weighing how to secure the Strait of Hormuz are confronting a harsh lesson: a similar mission in the Red Sea cost billions and failed to stop Yemen’s Houthi…

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Russia launches 948 drones at Ukraine in largest attack over 24-hour period

Russia has carried out its largest aerial assault on Ukraine since the start of the war, launching a record 948 drones over a 24-hour period, according to Ukrainian officials. More…

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Israel Expands Southern Lebanon Control in Escalation Against Hezbollah

Israel has announced that its forces will take control of a large portion of southern Lebanon as part of an intensified campaign against Hezbollah, according to Defence Minister Israel Katz.…

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Italy Sees First Government Resignations After Referendum Setback

The first political consequences of the referendum defeat are unfolding inside the Italian government, with a wave of resignations and mounting pressure on several senior officials. The crisis follows a…

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Iran Launches New Missile Wave as Tehran Denies US Peace Talks

Tensions in the Middle East escalated further on Tuesday as Iran launched a fresh wave of missile strikes, despite claims from Donald Trump that “very good” talks were underway to…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Tuesday 24 March 2026

Updated 1200 Malta Eyes Wealthy Gulf Exiles as War Fallout Sparks Political Divide: Finance Minister Clyde Caruana said Malta could benefit economically by attracting wealthy individuals fleeing Gulf countries affected…

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Malta Achieves Europe’s Largest Improvement in Air Pollution

Pakistan was ranked the world's smoggiest country in 2025, with concentrations of hazardous small particles known as PM2.5 up to 13 times higher than the recommended World Health Organization level,…

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Denmark heads to polls amid divisions over wealth tax and Arctic policy

Denmark holds an election on Tuesday, with opinion polls showing a narrow lead for Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen's centre-left bloc, boosted by her defiant stand against U.S. President Donald Trump's…

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Five takeaways from local French elections

France held the runoff of mayoral elections on Sunday, and although the results of local contests do not always offer a reliable preview of national elections, the vote provided a…

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Slovenia set for coalition talks after tight election

Slovenia's political parties looked set for urgent coalition talks on Monday after no clear winner emerged from an election that could ‌sway the Alpine country's domestic and foreign agenda. Prime…

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Belgium to Deploy Soldiers in Streets for Security Patrols

Belgium will begin deploying soldiers on its streets from Monday, Defence Minister Theo Francken announced Thursday during a plenary session of the Chamber of Representatives. Up to 200 soldiers will…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Monday 23 March 2026

Updated 1210 Tech Prices Set to Surge as Iran Conflict and AI Boom Disrupt Supply Chains: Electronics retailers in Malta are bracing for price hikes as the Iran conflict drives…

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Cuban military is prepares for potential US military attack

The Cuban deputy foreign minister issued a blunt warning to the U.S. on Sunday: His island’s military is “prepared” for any U.S. aggression as the Trump administration continues to push…

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Oil prices jump as IEA warns of ‘very severe’ crisis

Oil markets moved sharply higher on Monday as the International Energy Agency (IEA) warned the unfolding Middle East crisis is “very severe,” with disruption risks exceeding those seen during the…

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UPDATED: Trump, Iran threaten power, energy targets as war escalates

U.S. President Donald Trump and Iran threatened to escalate their war, targeting energy and fuel facilities in the Gulf, which could again roil global energy and financial markets and deepen…

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Malta News Briefing – Saturday 21 March 2026

Morning Briefing Abela urges EU action on energy as geopolitical tensions rise Prime Minister Robert Abela has called on the European Union to act swiftly to address inflationary pressures, particularly…

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EU membership back on agenda in Norway amid opposition pressure

Norway should reapply to become a member of the European Union in light of their shared security challenges — namely Russia — the leader of the country’s conservative opposition party…

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Swiss government approves anti-money laundering plan

The Swiss government on Friday approved a plan for combating money laundering and terrorist ‌financing that it said would strengthen controls while protecting the integrity of the country as a…

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Ukraine deploys units to intercept targets in Middle East

Ukraine has deployed military units to protect critical and civilian infrastructure against drones in five Middle Eastern ‌countries, Ukraine's security council secretary Rustem Umerov said after a visit to the…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Friday 20 March 2026

Updated 1215 Malta Records EU’s Lowest Fertility Rate as Birth Trends Shift: Malta’s fertility rate fell to 1.01 births per woman in 2024, the lowest in the EU, continuing a…

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Umberto Bossi, firebrand founder of Italy’s Northern League party, dies at 84

Umberto Bossi, a gravel-voiced populist leader who pushed for independence for northern Italy and shook up national politics, died on Thursday at a hospital in Varese, in the north of…

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US Weighs Seizing Iran’s Kharg Island to Reopen Strait of Hormuz

The administration of President Donald Trump is weighing military options targeting Kharg Island as part of a broader effort to pressure Iran into reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz,…

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US weighs military reinforcements as Iran war enters possible new phase

President Donald Trump's administration is considering deploying thousands of U.S. troops to reinforce its operation in the Middle East, as the U.S. military prepares for possible next steps in its…

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Malta News Briefing – Thursday 19 March 2026

Southern EU states push Brussels over drifting Russian tanker risk Malta and four southern EU member states have formally urged the European Commission to trigger bloc-wide emergency coordination mechanisms after…

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Joe Kent resignation shines light on right-wing ties, conspiracy theories and antisemitism

Joe Kent, director of the US National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), resigned from his post Tuesday, citing President Donald Trump's decision to go to war with Iran as the reason. "I…

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Malta joins Europol’s largest-ever action targeting terrorist audio propaganda

Europol has coordinated the largest Referral Action Day (RAD) to date targeting terrorist propaganda shared through audio content, resulting in the referral of 17 298 URLs across 40 online platforms.…

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Airlines cancel more flights as Middle East conflict escalates

Global air travel remains severely disrupted after the war in Iran forced the closure of key Middle Eastern hubs including Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi, stranding tens of thousands of…

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Netherlands Supports European Rules to Safely Reuse Returned Medication

The Netherlands has signalled support for forthcoming European legislation that would allow patients to return unused medication to pharmacies for safe redistribution, in a move aimed at reducing waste, lowering…

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Italy Says Iranian Missiles Unlikely to Reach Sicily, Bases Safe

Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said there is no immediate threat of Iranian attacks on U.S. military bases in Italy, offering reassurance amid heightened regional tensions. “I see no danger…

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Cyprus records fall in asylum applications according to Eurostat

Eurostat data published this week showed a decrease in asylum applications in Cyprus, with 130 first-time claims and 95 repeat applications in December 2025. This represents a decline from November…

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Greece will ‘support Cyprus’ choices’ over Nato accession

Greece will back whatever decision Cyprus makes on joining NATO, Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis said on Tuesday. Speaking alongside Germany’s Johann Wadephul, he said NATO expansion strengthens resilience and solidarity.…

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Malta News Briefing – Wednesday 18 March 2026

President would have final say in government's chief justice anti-deadlock plans The President would have the final say on appointing a chief justice in cases of deadlock under the government's…

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Pope Leo asks media to show suffering of war, not amplify ‘propaganda’

Pope Leo urged journalists on Monday to highlight the suffering caused by war, cautioning against news reports that risk sliding into propaganda by ‌glorifying conflicts or serving as "a megaphone"…

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