News

German president says US is destroying world order

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has strongly criticised the U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump and urged the world not to let the world order disintegrate into a "den of…

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Italy wants stricter 5% safeguard trigger in Mercosur deal

Italy wants a stricter threshold for the suspension of imports under the planned Mercosur trade agreement, its agriculture minister said in an interview published on Thursday, ahead of an EU…

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Trump withdraws US from 66 international organizations

President Donald Trump has ordered the United States to withdraw from 66 international organizations, including major UN agencies, hastening Washington's retreat from multilateral cooperation. Trump signed an executive order on…

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Intense heatwave grips Australia’s southern states

Australia’s south sweltered through a brutal heatwave that is delivering temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in some cities, triggering health warnings, straining power grids and causing bushfires…

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Belgium braces for more bad weather

A storm coming in from the English Channel will create dangerous weather conditions in large parts of Belgium from Thursday and into the weekend, the Royal Meteorological Institute (RMI) has…

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Trump calls for record $1.5 trillion defense budget, a 50 percent jump

President Donald Trump on Wednesday declared he would ask Congress for a $1.5 trillion defense budget in 2027, a massive $500 billion increase from this year’s Pentagon budget. The huge…

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Rubio to meet Denmark leaders next week, signals no retreat on Trump’s Greenland goal

The top U.S. diplomat said on Wednesday he would meet leaders of Denmark next week but signalled no retreat from President Donald Trump's aim to take over Greenland as alarmed…

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Malta News Briefing – Thursday 8 January 2026

Morning Briefing Flu, noravirus infections lead to surge in hospital admissions Hospital admissions have risen in recent weeks due to an increase in flu and norovirus infections, Mater Dei Hospital…

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U.S. military seizes 2 Venezuela-linked oil tankers in North Atlantic and Caribbean

The U.S. carried out operations Wednesday to seize two oil tankers linked to Venezuela — one in the North Atlantic and one in the Caribbean Sea, officials said. The U.S.…

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Venezuela under Maduro shipped gold worth $5.2 billion to Switzerland

Venezuela transported gold worth almost 4.14 billion Swiss francs ($5.20 billion) to Switzerland during the early years of the leadership of ousted President Nicolas Maduro, customs data shows. The South…

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Trump to House Republicans: If we don’t win midterms, I’ll get impeached

U.S. President Donald Trump said that Republicans must win the 2026 congressional midterm elections - or else he will get impeached by Democrats. "You gotta win the midterms 'cause, if…

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European allies working on plan should US move on Greenland

Allies including France and Germany are working closely on a plan on how to respond should the United States act on its threat to take over Greenland, as Europe seeks…

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UPDATED: Amsterdam airport cancels at least 700 flights because of snow and wind

Amsterdam Schiphol airport, one of the largest in Europe, has announced at least 700 flight cancellations because of snow and wind, after days of weather-related travel disruptions. More than 1,000…

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New White House webpage rewrites history of Jan. 6, 2021, and 2020 election

A new webpage under the official whitehouse.gov domain, rolled out five years after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, rewrites the history of the attack on the Capitol that took…

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Severe Weather in Italy: Aniene River Floods Rome as Snow Brings Motorway Disruption

Rome is grappling with severe weather conditions after the Aniene River burst its banks, flooding roads and prompting closures across parts of the capital, while heavy snowfall caused major disruption…

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Somalia condemns Israeli minister’s Somaliland visit

Israel's foreign minister is the first official to visit Somaliland following Israel's controversial recognition of the breakaway region as a sovereign state. Gideon Saar met Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi…

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UK and France to send troops to Ukraine if peace deal agreed

The UK and France have signed a declaration of intent on deploying troops in Ukraine if a peace deal is made with Russia, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has…

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Aldrich Ames, CIA officer convicted of spying for Russia, dies at age 84

Aldrich Ames, a counterintelligence officer for the CIA who spied for the Soviet Union and later Russia, has died, according to a Bureau of Prisons spokesperson. Ames, who was serving…

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Russia sends navy ships to guard oil tanker being pursued by US forces

Russia has deployed navy assets to escort an oil tanker also being pursued by US forces across the Atlantic, CBS News, reported. The ship, which currently isn't carrying anything, historically…

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Magnitude 6.7 earthquake strikes near Baculin, Philippines

A 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck off the Philippines' southern islands on Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said, and there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. USGS said…

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US not excluding use of military to take over Greenland

US President Donald Trump has been discussing "a range of options" to acquire Greenland, including use of the military, the White House said. The White House told the BBC that…

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Malta News Briefing – Wednesday 7 January 2026

Morning Briefing Merkanti Bank to Give Up Licence and Wind Down OperationsMalta-based Merkanti Bank has formally announced plans to surrender its banking licence and transition into an unregulated entity, following…

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Cyprus parties receive €12.7 million in state funding ahead of parliamentary elections

Political parties in Cyprus will this week receive €12.7 million in public funding, providing a significant financial boost ahead of the island’s next parliamentary elections. The funds form part of…

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Hungary will not leave the EU, it will fall apart on its own, Orbán says

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán predicted the European Union would "fall apart on its own" due to "leadership chaos" and said Brussels aimed to cut Hungary off from Russian energy…

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US expands list of countries whose citizens must pay up to $15,000 bonds to apply for visas

The Trump administration has added seven countries, including five in Africa, to the list of nations whose passport holders are required to post bonds of up to $15,000 to apply…

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Poland to introduce digital ID checks for minors on social platforms

Poland’s government is preparing legislation to restrict minors’ access to social media, alongside new mechanisms to enforce age verification, a deputy digital affairs minister said. Dariusz Standerski told broadcaster Polsat…

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UPDATED: Severe Snow, Ice and Cold Disrupt Air and Rail Travel Across Western Europe

Freezing weather gripped swathes of Europe on Tuesday, with snow and icy conditions forcing the cancellation of hundreds of flights in the Netherlands and leading to the deaths of five…

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Starmer Braces for Parliamentary Clash on Upcoming EU ‘Reset’ Legislation

Keir Starmer is set to face fresh battles over his EU “reset” with his plans to lay a bill that could lead to closer regulatory ties with Brussels. The legislation…

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Media workers detained in Caracas as Venezuela Opposition leader Machado praises Trump

More than a dozen journalists were detained on Monday while covering political events in Venezuela’s capital Caracas, including a pro-government march and the swearing-in of a new legislature, according to…

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Iran’s efforts to quell protests complicated by Trump intervention threat

Iranian authorities are struggling to contain a fresh wave of anti-government protests as pressure mounts from both domestic unrest and explicit warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump, officials and insiders…

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Danish Prime Minister Warns a U.S. Move on Greenland Would End NATO

If U.S. President Donald Trump invades Greenland, it will spell the end of NATO, Denmark’s leader warned. Trump, who last week ratcheted up threats to take over the self-ruling Danish…

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A third of Americans support US strike on Venezuela, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds

One in three Americans approves of the U.S. military strike on Venezuela that toppled the country's president and 72% worry the U.S. will become too involved in the South American…

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Malta News Briefing – Tuesday 7 January 2026

Morning Briefing Film Industry Generates €1.5 Billion for Economy Malta’s film industry has generated around €1.5 billion for the national economy over the past eight years and supported more than…

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Belgium records sharp rise in UFO sightings in 2025

Belgium’s UFO hotline recorded 237 reports of unidentified flying objects in 2025, according to its annual report published on Monday. The Belgische UFO-meldpunt, which has been analysing unusual aerial phenomena…

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Anna Falcone, sister of anti-Mafia judge Giovanni Falcone, dies aged 95

Anna Falcone, the elder sister of renowned anti-Mafia prosecutor Giovanni Falcone, has died at the age of 95, her family announced on Monday. Giovanni Falcone was killed by Cosa Nostra…

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32 Cubans killed during US attack on Venezuela, Cuban government says

The Cuban government said the 32 people who were killed were members of the Cuban armed forces and intelligence agencies, with two days of national mourning declared. A government statement…

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UPDATED: Greece says a radio failure that grounded flights is unlikely to be a cyberattack

Greece’s transport minister said Monday that a major radio communications failure that shut the country’s airspace a day earlier is unlikely to have been a cyberattack, though the cause remains…

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Denmark urges Trump to cease threats to take over Greenland

The leaders of Denmark and Greenland on Sunday called on US President Donald Trump to stop threatening to take over Greenland. The appeals come after Trump again insisted that the US needs to control…

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Starmer Indicates Readiness for Selective EU Cooperation on National Grounds

Sir Keir Starmer has said the UK should move towards closer alignment with EU markets "if it's in our national interest". The prime minister told the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg it…

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Trump threatens military operation against Colombia, after Venezuela raid

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday threatened military action against Colombia's government, telling reporters that such an operation "sounds good to me." "Colombia is very sick, too, run by a…

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Malta News Briefing – Monday 5 January 2026

Morning Briefing Malta seeks to position itself as hub for video game development Malta is working to broaden its understanding of gaming beyond iGaming, positioning itself as a hub for…

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Suspected Islamic State facility in Syria targeted in joint operation between UK and France

The British Ministry of Defence announced its joint operation with France on Saturday night. They targeted an underground facility in Syria. This facility is believed to be used by the…

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Significant Ryanair Updates: Route Cuts and Future Prospects

Ryanair is planning significant route reductions through 2026, especially impacting France, Belgium, Germany, Spain, and Portugal, mainly due to rising airport costs and increased aviation taxes. In 2025, Ryanair made…

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Traveling to Russia: High Risks and Essential Preparations

The United States has recently issued stringent travel advice, cautioning its citizens against visiting Russia. This updated advisory urges Americans to exercise the utmost caution and, if they choose to…

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Malta News Briefing – Sunday 4 January 2026

Special Dispatch - Malta’s Official Position and Calls for International Law The Maltese government has emphasized the importance of international law. This emphasis comes after the abduction of Venezuelan President…

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5 scenarios for a post-Maduro Venezuela — and what they could signal to the wider region

Robert Muggah, Instituto Igarapé; Princeton University The predawn U.S. military operation that spirited Nicolás Maduro and his wife out of Venezuela and into U.S. custody marks a watershed in hemispheric…

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US Charges Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro for NarcoTerrorism

Indictment of Nicolás Maduro and Family Federal prosecutors in New York have brought serious charges against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. They have also charged his wife, Cilia Flores, and his…

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European Security Talks: Progress on US-Led Peace Plan

European national security advisers met in Kiev on Saturday. They attended a forum focused on peace talks. These talks were regarding Russia's war in Ukraine. Negotiations continued between Ukraine and…

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EU Calls for Adherence to International Law Amid Maduro’s Arrest

The European Union has called for strict adherence to international law following the announcement by U. S. President Donald Trump regarding the apprehension of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro early Saturday morning.…

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Swiss authotorities initiate criminal investigations into Crans-Montana tragedy

Swiss authorities announced on Saturday that they have initiated a criminal investigation. The investigation targets the two French owners of the Crans-Montana ski resort bar. A tragic fire at this…

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USA will run Venezuela until ‘safe’ transition

President Donald Trump announced that the United States will oversee Venezuela. This supervision will continue until a secure transition of power is achieved. This follows a recent operation in Caracas…

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The Implications of Trump’s Actions in Venezuela

The briefing provides a detailed analysis of the United States' latest military intervention in Venezuela under President Donald Trump in 2026, comparing it with his previous administration's policies and the…

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Trump announces US has captured Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro amid reported strikes

President Donald Trump has said the United States has captured Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro and his wife following what he described as a “large scale strike” against the country, a…

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Wintry weather prompts travel warnings across UK and Netherlands

Travel disruption is expected across parts of the UK and northern Europe as wintry weather brings snow, ice and strong winds, with conditions likely to persist into the weekend. In…

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Xi Jinping vows to reunify China and Taiwan in New Year’s Eve speech

China’s president, Xi Jinping, has vowed to reunify China and Taiwan in his annual New Year’s Eve speech in Beijing. Speaking the day after the conclusion of intense Chinese military…

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Maduro open to US talks

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Thursday he is willing to negotiate an agreement to combat drug trafficking with the United States but declined to comment on last week’s US strikes…

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Trump says US will intervene if Iran violently suppresses peaceful protests

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said that if Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, the United States of America will come to their rescue. "We are locked and…

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