News

Spain’s youth minister floats countrywide ban on X

Spain’s youth minister has intensified Madrid's clash with Big Tech after suggesting the country may need to curb — or even ban — access to Elon Musk’s social media platform…

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Russian general hospitalized after ‘several shots’ in Moscow

A Russian general was shot at an apartment building in Moscow on Friday and taken to a hospital, Russian officials said. Investigative Committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko said in a statement that "an…

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US calls for new multilateral arms control agreement following new START expiry

The United States on Friday called for a new arms control agreement after the treaty that set caps on Russian and U.S. strategic nuclear weapons deployments expired on Thursday. Russia…

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Malta News Briefing – Friday 6 February 2026

Morning Briefing Blanket Working Hour Cuts Risk Jobs and Competitiveness, Employers SayMalta Employers has warned that blanket or economy-wide reductions in working hours could undermine competitiveness and threaten jobs. While…

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Italy probes 80-year-old over alleged Sarajevo ‘sniper tourism’

Milan prosecutors have placed an elderly Italian man under investigation as part of an investigation into alleged "sniper tourism" in Sarajevo in the 1990s, two sources with direct knowledge of…

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55,000 Ukrainians killed in war against Russia, Zelensky says

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky told French broadcaster France 2 last night that the number of Ukrainian soldiers killed on the battlefield as a result of the country’s war with Russia…

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Blanket reductions in working hours will undermine competitiveness and jobs – Malta Employers

The Malta Employers' Association is in favour of flexible working arrangements and has an open mind about the concept of a four-day week, when this is viable for a given…

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New START nuclear treaty expires, removing key constraints on Russia and US

Russia and the United States are no longer bound by any limits on the size of their strategic nuclear arsenals after their last arms control treaty expired on Thursday with…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Thursday 5 February 2026

Updated 1000 Malta Lags EU on Cancer Drug Access as Unions Warn Over Health Risks: Malta reimburses just 16% of cancer medicines through the national health service, compared with full…

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Rules of War Under Severe Strain, New Study Warns

An authoritative survey of 23 armed conflicts over the last 18 months has concluded that international law seeking to limit the effects of war is at breaking point, with more…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Wednesday 4th Feburary 2026

Updated 1300 PM Defends Storm Fund Eligibility Despite Planning Irregularities: Prime Minister Robert Abela said businesses with planning or permitting irregularities would still be eligible to benefit from a government…

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Jill Biden’s ex-husband charged with murder

The ex-husband of former US first lady Jill Biden has been arrested and charged with the murder of his wife, officials said. William Stevenson, 77, was taken into custody on…

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Malta Reimburses Just 16% of Cancer Medicines, Patients Left Struggling

Only 16% of cancer medicines are reimbursed in Malta, a stark contrast to countries like Germany and Estonia, the European Cancer Organisation found. While Malta ranks among the best for…

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Police Inquiry into Lord Mandelson: Details on Confidential Information

The Metropolitan Police has begun a criminal investigation into Peter Mandelson. He is a former Labour minister and ex-UK ambassador to the US. This follows allegations of misconduct in public…

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Maltese support for EU Membership and European Parliament Remains Strong

Maltese citizens remain overwhelmingly positive about European Union membership, a Eurobarometer survey has found. 71% of respondents described EU membership as a good thing, a notable 12% increase compared with…

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Updated: Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of ex-Libyan leader, assasinated

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the second son of Libya’s former ruler Muammar Gaddafi, has been killed at the age of 53 in an attack at his residence in Zintan, western Libya.…

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Italy Set to Approve Tougher Security Measures After Violent Turin Protests

The Italian government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, is preparing to introduce a new package of security measures following violent clashes during a protest in Turin last Saturday. The…

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Tensions Rise as US Military Downs Iranian Drone in Arabian Sea

A US stealth warplane has shot down an Iranian drone that approached an American aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea, according to a statement from the US military. The incident…

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Russia Launches Record Missile Barrage on Ukraine’s Energy Sector Amid Deep Freeze

KYIV, Ukraine – Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has suffered its most devastating assault of the year, as Russia unleashed a record number of ballistic missiles and drones in a coordinated overnight attack.…

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Impact of the Panama Papers and Epstein Files on Global Politics

In the past decade, two seismic document releases have shaken the foundations of global power: the Panama Papers in 2016 and, most recently, the Epstein Files in 2025–26. While both…

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Iberian Peninsula braces for more bad weather one week after Storm Kristin

Portugal and Spain are bracing for a new storm that authorities warn could trigger floods and further devastation, as the Iberian Peninsula still struggles with the aftermath of Storm Kristin.…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Tuesday 3 February 2026

Updated 1230 Free Childcare Lifted Incomes but Pushed Poverty Line Higher, Central Bank Finds: Free childcare has driven a surge in female employment and household incomes since 2014, while also…

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US Flags Cyprus Airspace Risks Amid Escalating Iran Standoff

The United States has issued a “notice to airmen” (Notam) for the Nicosia designated flight information region (FIR) covering Cyprus, defence minister Vassilis Palmas confirmed. He described the move as…

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Spain to ban social media access for children under 16

Spain will ban access to social media for minors under 16 and platforms will be required to implement age verification systems, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Tuesday as he…

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Keir Starmer Chairs Meeting Amid Mandelson Controversy

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to chair a cabinet meeting today. Meanwhile, police are investigating claims that former US ambassador Lord Mandelson leaked sensitive government information to disgraced…

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Clintons Set to Testify on Epstein Investigation

Former US President Bill Clinton has agreed to testify before a congressional investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has also agreed. Their…

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Venezuela’s New Government: Transition Under Delcy Rodriguez

Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, has begun shaping her new government following the ouster of Nicolas Maduro. On Monday, Rodriguez appointed several cabinet members. She met with Laura Dogu, Washington’s…

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Sarah’s Trust to Shutdown following Epstein Leaks

Sarah Ferguson’s charity, Sarah’s Trust, will close “for the foreseeable future.” This decision follows renewed scrutiny over the former Duchess of York’s connections to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.…

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Italian Government Responds to Violent Turin Protests

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni convened senior cabinet members and police chiefs on Monday to address security concerns after violent protests in Turin over the weekend. During these protests, around 100…

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Drone incidents at UK military bases doubled last year

Britain's military bases experienced a doubling of drone incidents last year, highlighting the changing nature of warfare and prompting the government to hand more powers to its forces to protect…

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Israel reopens Gaza’s Rafah border crossing to Egypt, with tight limits

Israel reopened the border between Gaza and Egypt on Monday for a limited number of people on foot, allowing a small number of Palestinians to leave the enclave and some…

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Rome introduces Trevi Fountain access fee to curb coin-tossing crowds

Tourists keen to follow tradition by tossing a coin into Rome's Trevi Fountain will need to dig a little deeper from Monday, as the city introduces a new 2-euro ($2.40)…

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Gold and silver prices plunge after Friday’s losses

Gold and silver prices have continued to fall after a dramatic reversal of a rally that had pushed precious metals to record highs. In Asia trade on Monday, spot gold…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Monday 2nd February 2026

Updated 1300 Momentum warns against compensating illegal outdoor structures after Storm Harry: Momentum has urged authorities to exclude illegally placed outdoor furniture from eligibility under the Storm Harry damage assistance…

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Turkey’s Textile Sector Faces Job Losses and Economic Struggles

Turkey's textile industry faces a major crisis, with exports declining amid China and Bangladesh's dominance of EU markets. Once central to Turkey’s economy, the sector now struggles, with wages below…

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Filip Turek Controversy: Czechs Rally Behind President Pavel

Tens of thousands of Czechs gathered on Sunday to show their backing for President Peter Pavel, following his decision to block the appointment of a minister to the new eurosceptic…

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15 Ukrainian miners Killed after bus targeted by Russians attacks

The attacks hitting a miners' bus in Pavlohrad in the Dnipropetrovsk region, and a maternity hospital in Zaporizhzhia, come as Ukraine's president announced trilateral peace talks in the United Arab…

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Lord Mandelson Resigns from Labour Party Amid Epstein Controversy

Lord Mandelson has announced his decision to resign as a member of the Labour Party, stating that he wishes to avoid "causing further embarrassment" due to his associations with the…

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Explosion in Iran: Israel denies involvement

A significant explosion struck the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas earlier today, sending shockwaves through the region. The initial blast occurred in an eight-storey building, resulting in severe…

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Malta News Briefing – Sunday 1st February 2026

US Ambassador to Malta mentioned in Epstein's files Somers Farkas, who became the US ambassador to Malta two months ago and is known for supporting Donald Trump, was referenced in…

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Renewed Violence in Gaza Despite Ceasefire

On Saturday, Israel carried out its most severe airstrikes in Gaza in recent weeks, resulting in the deaths of at least 32 individuals, as reported by Palestinian health officials. Continuation…

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Keir Starmer’s Plan for U.K.-EU Market Engagement

Keir Starmer is seeking deeper engagement between the U.K. and the EU single market, aiming to align more closely where it benefits the country. Last year, Starmer agreed to follow…

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Fico’s Adviser Resigns: Fallout from Epstein Documents

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s national security adviser, Miroslav Lajčák, resigned after being linked to documents released by the U.S. Justice Department regarding Jeffrey Epstein. The files included exchanges between…

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Malta News Briefing – Saturday 31 January 2026

Morning Briefing Majority of business report sales slump over Christmas Nearly half of Maltese businesses experienced a drop in sales during the last festive season, highlighting the pressure many firms…

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Malta News Briefing – Friday 30 January 2026

Morning Briefing Local divisions on Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ Proposals Persist Malta’s political class remains split over the prospect of joining an international “Board of Peace” spearheaded by US President…

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Vatican plans to open bistro at top of St Peter’s

According to Il Messaggero, the Vatican is proceeding discreetly with plans to establish a bistro on the upper terrace of Saint Peter’s Basilica. The Rome-based newspaper reports that the venue…

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Saudi and Israeli officials visit Washington to discuss possible strikes on Iran

The Trump administration is hosting senior defense and intelligence officials from Israel and Saudi Arabia for talks on Iran this week as U.S. President Donald Trump considers military strikes, Axios…

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Złoty to Remain Poland’s Currency, Finance Minister Insists

Polish finance minister Andrzej Domanski was quoted as saying that that keeping the złoty as the national currency gives the economy greater flexibility at a time of global uncertainty, despite…

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Trump warns Iran to make nuclear deal or next attack will be ‘far worse’

U.S. President Donald Trump urged Iran to come to the table and make a deal on nuclear weapons or the next U.S. attack would be far worse. Tehran responded with…

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Croatia Rules Out Joining Trump’s “Board of Peace” Framework

Croatia will not join US President Donald Trump's "Board of Peace," the Balkan country's Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Wednesday without giving specific reasons for the decision. "After thorough…

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Oil prices gain 1.5% on increasing concerns of Iran attack

Oil prices rose more than 1.5% in Asian trade, extending gains for a third day on Thursday, on increasing concerns the U.S. may carry out a military attack on key…

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Britain’s Starmer seeks fresh start with China, economic wins

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday that he wanted to build a "sophisticated relationship" aiming to boost growth and security, signalling a breakthrough in…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Thursday 29 January 2026

Updated 1000 Valletta Retail in Retreat as High Rents and Nightlife Push Out Traditional Shops: The impending closure of the Energy complex on Republic Street underscores deeper problems facing Valletta’s…

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Trump warns Iran ‘time is running out’ as US military builds up in Gulf

Donald Trump has warned Iran that "time is running out" to negotiate a deal on nuclear weapons following the steady build up of US military forces in the Gulf. The…

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Spain to grant around half a million undocumented migrants legal status

Spain's Socialist-led government presented a draft decree to expedite legal status to hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants, in its latest move to integrate migrant workers even as other European…

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Human trafficker who tortured migrants in Libya jailed for 20 years in Netherlands

An Eritrean people trafficker who tortured African refugees and migrants in camps in Libya was jailed for 20 years on by a Dutch court, with a judge saying he had…

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Sweden aims to lower age of criminal responsibility to 13

Sweden is moving forward with plans to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 13 in serious cases as it grapples with a growing number of children recruited…

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