News

US, UK forces shoot down Houthi missiles, drones in Red Sea -US military

WASHINGTON, Jan 9 (Reuters) - U.S. and UK forces shot down 21 drones and missiles fired by Yemen-based Houthis on Tuesday into the Southern Red Sea towards international shipping lanes,…

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Real Political Will Is Needed For A Better Valletta

A report with a list of actions for a holistic strategy on the future of Valletta as a better entertainment and tourist destination is meant to be drawn up by…

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Polish PM says president is obstructing justice in case of convicted MPs

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk accused President Andrzej Duda of obstructing justice after two lawmakers who are due to be taken to prison were seen at the presidential palace on…

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UPDATED – Gabriel Attal becomes France’s youngest PM as Macron seeks reset

French President Emmanuel Macron appointed 34-year-old Education Minister Gabriel Attal as his new prime minister on Tuesday, seeking to breathe new life into his second mandate ahead of European parliament elections. The…

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Architecting for Successful Cloud Adoption

By Jonathan Vella, Senior Cloud Solution Architect (Azure Core) at Microsoft Cloud adoption is no longer just a fad – it is a vital necessity for businesses that want to…

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Ukraine has deficit of anti-aircraft guided missiles – air force

Ukraine has a deficit of anti-aircraft guided missiles nearly two years after Russia's full-scale invasion, Air Force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat said on Tuesday. Ukraine has relied heavily on military and…

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Blinken carries Arab message to Israel: keep Palestinian state hope alive

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on his latest mission to rein in the Gaza war, told Israeli leaders on Tuesday there was still a chance of winning acceptance from…

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Malta Law Academy holds Annual Company Law Conference 2023

One simply cannot escape companies. It would take a bold lawyer to ignore company law because most business in Malta is carried out by the 120,000 companies registered here. The…

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Geo-Politics in 2024: Out With The Old, In With The Same

Tonio Galea, Editor www.cde.news Most years in the geopolitical sphere end with more or less the same issues, though their intensity somewhat varies year in year out. Though then as…

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Startups Need To Strive For Digital Disruption

Startup FOMO Awarded ‘Best Digital Disruptor’ Award At Recent Pitchora Competition After participating in the recent highly anticipated Pitchora, a pitching competition showcasing innovative startups and a diverse group of…

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WSC With €315 Million Investment In Water Strategy

Amidst rising concerns over climate change and local rainfall decline, Malta's Water Services Corporation (WSC) has a decade-long, €315 million investment plan to strengthen the nation's water and wastewater sector.…

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Biden denounces ‘poison’ of white supremacy in South Carolina Black church

U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday denounced white supremacy and political violence in a direct message to Black voters during a visit to South Carolina aimed at shoring up a…

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Slovak ruling coalition’s Pellegrini to run for president, sets vote for March

Slovak parliament speaker Peter Pellegrini on Monday called a presidential election for March and April this year and said he planned to run to replace retiring pro-western liberal opponent Zuzana…

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Italy: G7 working with Israel on ‘rapid’ end to Gaza war

G7 major powers are working with Israel to secure a "rapid" end to its devastating war in Gaza and reduce civilian casualties, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Monday. An Italian…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Tuesday 9 January 2024

Updated 1220 Maritime forum tells government, opposition to stop ‘political bickering’ over new shipping rules:TheMalta Maritime Forum (MMF) has urged both the Government and the Opposition to set aside theirpolitical…

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CDC says JN.1 variant accounts for about 62% of COVID cases in US

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Friday that COVID subvariant JN.1 accounts for about 62% of cases in the U.S. as of Jan. 5, according to…

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Pence says he believes the FBI was not involved in Jan. 6 riot

Just over three years since rioters stormed the Capitol and targeted him, former Vice President Mike Pence pushed back against the theory popularized by former President Donald Trump and members…

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Germany will not oppose further Eurofighters for Saudi Arabia

TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Germany is prepared to allow further deliveries of Eurofighter jets to Saudi Arabia, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said. Berlin halted arms sales to Saudi Arabia…

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US government shutdown: What would close, what would stay open?

By Andy Sullivan Jan 8 (Reuters) - The top Democrat and Republican in the U.S. Congress have reached a deal to fund the government through the current fiscal year, but…

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US fighter jets to fly over Bosnia in warning to ‘secessionist’ Serbs

SARAJEVO, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Two F-16 fighter jets will fly over Bosnia on Monday to underline U.S. support for its territorial integrity against "secessionist activity" by Serbs at odds…

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Pope calls for global ban on surrogacy

Pope Francis on Monday called for the practice of surrogate motherhood to be banned worldwide. "The path to peace demands respect for life, for every human life, starting with that…

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Sicily among Italian regions on extreme-weather alert

The civil protection authority has put eight regions on yellow alert for potentially dangerous weather events on Monday as a wave of violent winds and snow that arrived at the…

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Bangladesh PM Hasina secures fourth straight term in vote boycotted by main opposition

PM Hasina's ruling party wins 223 out of 298 seats Fifth term overall for Hasina and Awami League Independent candidates bag 61 seats By Sudipto Ganguly and Ruma Paul DHAKA,…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Monday 8 January 2024

Updated 1200 Robert Abela, Bernard Grech in court as government intervenes in hospitals case Prime Minister Robert Abela and Opposition Leader Bernard Grech attended the initial court hearing on Mondayregarding…

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North Korea’s Kim Jong Un turns 40. Maybe.

SEOUL, Jan 8 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is believed to have turned the big four-oh on Monday, but state media continued its decades of silence on…

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UPDATED:Israeli strike on Lebanon kills senior Hezbollah as Blinken seeks to head off wider war

BEIRUT, Jan 8 (Reuters) - An Israeli strike on south Lebanon on Monday killed a senior commander in Hezbollah's elite Radwan force, three security sources told Reuters. "This is a…

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Delivery of Danish F-16 jets to Ukraine delayed by several months

Denmark’s donation of F-16 war jets to Ukraine will be delayed by up to six months, Danish newspaper Berlingske reported, citing the country’s Ministry of Defense. Kyiv has long argued…

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Cyprus replaces defence, health, justice, farm ministers in reshuffle

NICOSIA, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides axed his health, justice, defence and agriculture ministers on Monday in a widely expected reshuffle almost a year into his term.…

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UPDATED: Four killed in combined Russian air strike on Ukraine

By Dan Peleschuk and Pavel Polityuk KYIV, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Russia sent dozens of missiles across Ukraine early on Monday, killing at least four civilians and hitting residential areas…

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Mass killer Breivik sues Norway in bid to end prison isolation

OSLO, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Anders Behring Breivik, the far-right fanatic who killed 77 people in a bombing and shooting rampage in Norway in 2011, will ask a court on…

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Trump says he will attend federal appeals court arguments on presidential immunity

Jan 8 (Reuters) - Donald Trump said he will be attending an appeals court hearing regarding the scope of his presidential immunity in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, in comments in…

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UPDATED: Moon lander from US company launches to space aboard Vulcan rocket

By Joey Roulette WASHINGTON, Jan 8 (Reuters) - A robotic lander built by a private company was bound for the moon on Monday in an attempt to make the first…

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Colombia, Ecuador bust drug ring exporting five tons of cocaine a month

By Luis Jaime Acosta BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia and Ecuador broke up a criminal organization responsible for sending up to five tons of cocaine per month to the U.S. and…

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German train drivers to strike this week – GDL union

FRANKFURT, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Germany's GDL train drivers' union said on Sunday that it was calling on members to strike this week, an escalation of a wage dispute with…

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London underground strikes from Mon-Thurs suspended, union says

LONDON (Reuters) - Strikes planned by rail union RMT members working for London Underground from Monday to Thursday have been suspended after the union said it had made progress in…

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Top US Congress Democrat, Republican reach spending deal, starting race to pass it

By Kanishka Singh and Richard Cowan WASHINGTON, (Reuters) - The top Democrat and Republican in the U.S. Congress on Sunday agreed on a $1.59 trillion spending deal, setting up a…

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UPDATED: US investigators recover key part from Alaska Airlines 737 MAX jet

By David Shepardson, Valerie Insinna and Tim Hepher WASHINGTON, Jan 8 (Reuters) - The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said late on Sunday the "key missing component" from the…

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Ignoring Taiwan’s complaints, more Chinese balloons spotted over strait

TAIPEI, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Taiwan's defence ministry said it detected three more Chinese balloons flying over the Taiwan Strait on Sunday, one of which crossed the island, the latest…

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House Speaker Johnson invites Biden to give State of the Union address March 7

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) - Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson invited President Joe Biden to give the State of the Union address on March 7. Johnson, a Republican,…

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US appeals court prevents California from banning guns in most public places

By Nate Raymond (Reuters) - A federal appeals court allowed a judge's ruling that barred California from enforcing a new law that bans the carrying of guns in most public…

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NASA warns Moon’s resources could be ‘destroyed by thoughtless exploitation’

Science and business are heading for an astronomical clash – over the future exploration of the moon and the exploitation of its resources. The celestial skirmish threatens to break out…

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Russia launches 28 drones, three missiles at Ukraine – Ukraine’s air force

Jan 7 (Reuters) - Russia launched 28 attack drones and three cruise missile at Ukraine overnight, Ukraine's air force said on Sunday, adding that its air defence systems destroyed 21…

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PM Sunak makes election appeal for Britain to ‘stick with’ his plan

Sunak says his plan will deliver 'long-term change' UK PM faces hurdles for polices from fractious party Starmer accuses Sunak of vanity By Elizabeth Piper LONDON, Jan 7 (Reuters) -…

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Switzerland expects high numbers of asylum seekers in 2024

Switzerland expects to see 30,000 asylum seekers this year, around the same number of people as in 2023. The number of asylum applications increased again last year. Although conclusive statistics…

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Libya’s NOC declares force majeure at Sharara oilfield

DUBAI, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Libya's National Oil Company (NOC) on Sunday declared force majeure at its Sharara oilfield on the back of protests. The force majeure is effective as…

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Bangladesh turnout low in election set to keep Hasina in power

Voting ends at 1000 GMT, results by early Monday PM Hasina's ruling party set for fourth straight term Main opposition BNP boycotting poll Turnout 27.5% an hour before polls close…

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Tube strikes to affect commuters over several days

Tube strikes will affect commuters over several days from 7 January as London Underground workers walk out over pay. A strike by Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) members is…

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Blinken presses Arab states to discuss the future of Gaza

By Simon Lewis and Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN, Jan 7 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was set to push Israel’s Arab neighbors on Sunday to play a future…

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British NHS asks patients to choose from 12 genders, 10 sexual preferences and 159 religions

NHS patients are being asked to choose from 159 religions, 12 genders and 10 sexual preferences before they attend hospital appointments. The questions are asked when patients register with an…

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North Korea firing shots again near border with South

SEOUL, Jan 7 (Reuters) - North Korea on Sunday was firing shots into the sea north of South Korea's Yeonpyeong island, Yonhap news agency reported, citing the South's military. Meanwhile,…

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COVID hospitalisations in Italy down but flu cases raising concern

COVID-19 hospitalisations in Italy are down slightly but a spike in flu cases is concerning, hospital group FIASO said this week. The rate of occupancy in ICUs has risen from…

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Three months in, deaths mount and diplomats vie to stop Gaza war’s spread

By Maayan Lubell and Simon Lewis JERUSALEM/AMMAN, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Top international diplomats discussed strategies for keeping the Gaza war from spreading beyond Israel and the Palestinian territories on…

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Vatican moves to calm bishops over same-sex blessings approval

By Philip Pullella The Vatican this week moved to calm Catholic bishops in some countries who have balked over last month's approval of blessings for same-sex couples, telling them that…

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Italy court clears Maradona of tax evasion years after his death

Italy's highest court cleared the late Agentine soccer legend Diego Maradona of tax evasion charges, ending a 30-year-long legal battle between the ex-Napoli striker and revenue authorities. Known as "El…

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Trump, in Iowa, demands release of those jailed for 2021 Capitol attack

By Gram Slattery and James Oliphant Donald Trump downplayed his role in the siege of the U.S. Capitol on the third anniversary of the attack, arguing that those prosecuted for…

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Controversy after secret hospitalization of US defense secretary

By Phil Stewart and Jeff Mason WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that he took "full responsibility" for secrecy surrounding an ongoing, week-long hospitalization…

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On Orthodox Christmas Putin vows to back soldiers who ‘defend’ Russia

President Vladimir Putin vowed on the eve of Orthodox Christmas to back soldiers who "with arms in hands" defend Russia's interests, ordering his government greater support of those who fight…

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