News

Pope Leo to visit Turkey, Lebanon in November in first trip abroad

Pope Leo will travel to Turkey and Lebanon in late November, the Vatican announced on Tuesday, in the first visit outside Italy by the new leader of the 1.4-billion-member global…

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Poland to unveil new citizenship rules by end of October

The Polish ministry's deputy head, Maciej Duszczyk, said the reforms will define a minimum length of stay in Poland - including for those of Polish descent - and introduce requirements…

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France’s political crisis: How did we get here and what comes next?

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu resigned on Monday, just hours after appointing his new cabinet, plunging France straight back into a political crisis it has been stuck in since 2022.…

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Trump says he’s “sort of made a decision” on supplying Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine

President Trump said on Monday that he has "sort of made a decision" about selling long-range Tomahawk missiles to NATO countries in order for them to be supplied to Ukraine.…

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Malta News Briefing – Tuesday 7 October 2025

Morning Briefing Most Maltese Favour Private Pension to Complement State Scheme A national study has found that most people in Malta support the introduction of a private pension scheme to…

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Pope Leo trims powers of Vatican bank, rolling back a Francis reform

Pope Leo cancelled the Vatican bank's sole authority over investments held by the city-state on Monday, rolling back one of the financial reforms of his predecessor Francis. In a short…

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European companies cut jobs in response to slowing economy

Several European companies have frozen hiring or cut jobs this year, citing difficult economic conditions exacerbated by U.S. tariffs. Here are some of the companies that announced layoffs: CAR AND…

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Harrods sets aside more than £60m for abuse compensation

Harrods has set aside more than £60m in its plan to compensate alleged victims of historical abuse. More than 100 employees of the luxury department store are expected to claim…

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Brunkow, Ramsdell and Sakaguchi win Nobel medicine prize for immune discoveries

American scientists Mary Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi from Japan won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine on Monday for their discoveries in peripheral immune tolerance, creating…

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UPDATED: Political turmoil increases after French PM Sébastien Lecornu resigns, less than a day after his cabinet was unveiled

France's Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has resigned, less than a day after his cabinet was unveiled. "The conditions were not fulfilled for me to carry on as prime minister," Lecornu…

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Europe has essentially become irrelevant: Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu

Europe has been absent from a ceasefire plan between Israel and Hamas because it has "basically caved in to Palestinian terrorism (and) radical Islamist minorities," Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu…

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Babiš Strikes Pro-European Tone at Launch of Czech Government Talks

Leader of the ANO movement and former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš vowed loyalty to Europe as talks to form a coalition government began. "We were very reliable partner. And…

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Hamas readies for Gaza talks that US hopes will halt war, free hostages

Hamas officials arrived in Egypt on Sunday ahead of talks with Israel that the U.S. hopes will lead to a halt in fighting and the freeing of hostages in Gaza,…

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Trump says US hit another boat off Venezuela coast

U.S. forces hit another vessel allegedly carrying illegal drugs off the coast of Venezuela on Saturday evening, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday, adding that the U.S. would also…

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Malta News Briefing – Monday 6 October 2025

Morning Briefing Gap between political parties narrows in latest poll The Nationalist Party under new leader Alex Borg has significantly reduced the gap with Labour to just three points, or…

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Storm Amy Brings Chaos to Europe With Hurricane-Force Winds and Heavy Rain

Storm Amy swept across Europe over the weekend, unleashing strong winds and heavy rain that killed at least three people, damaged infrastructure and left tens of thousands without electricity, authorities…

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Malta News Briefing – Saturday 4 October 2025

Morning Briefing Four Maltese Killed in Croatia Road Tragedy Four Maltese citizens, two men and two women—were killed when their car veered off the D8 state road near Bunica, Croatia,…

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Berlin Faces Calls to Let Police Shoot Down Rogue Drones

Drone sightings overnight at Germany's Munich airport led to the cancellation and diversion of dozens of flights on the eve of a national holiday, leaving nearly 3,000 passengers stranded and…

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Sarah Mullally named as new Archbishop of Canterbury

Dame Sarah Mullally has been named as the new Archbishop of Canterbury designate - the first woman to be chosen for the role. A former NHS chief nurse, the 63-year-old…

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Knife Assault Stokes Concern Among UK Jews Over Escalating Antisemitism

The attack on a synagogue in northern England on Thursday sent fear through a Jewish community already dealing with a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents, bringing warnings about the need…

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Protests erupt in Spain, Italy, Ireland, France, Germany and Switzerland

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Europe on Thursday blocked traffic and vandalised shops and restaurants after Israeli forces intercepted a Gaza-bound humanitarian aid flotilla. Israel faced international condemnation after armed Israeli soldiers…

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Four Maltese Killed in Croatia Road Crash

Four Maltese citizens were killed Thursday afternoon when their car plunged off a coastal road near the Adriatic resort of Bunica and into the sea, Croatian authorities said. The crash…

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Israel intercepts last boat in Gaza flotilla

The Israeli military intercepted the last boat in an aid flotilla attempting to reach blockaded Gaza on Friday, a day after stopping most of the vessels and detaining some 450…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Friday 3 October 2025

Updated 1145 Car Dealer Linked to Identità Racket Ordered to Pay €129,000 in Damages: Car dealer Bernard Attard, facing criminal charges in the Identità racket, has been ordered to pay…

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Venezuela criticizes ‘illegal incursion’ by US fighter jets

Venezuela criticized what it called an "illegal incursion" by US fighter jets into an area under Venezuelan air traffic control, accusing Washington of a "provocation" that "threatens national sovereignty." The…

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It’s no Cold War – it’s a ‘fiery’ conflict now with the West, Russia says

Russia said that there was no Cold War with the West because it was now a "fiery" conflict, and that the European Union and the NATO military alliance were lying…

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UK’s Prince William opens up about family fears and plans to change monarchy

Prince William has said protecting his family was the most important thing for him when his wife Kate and father King Charles became ill, and revealed that he will seek…

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Munich airport reopens after drone sightings halt flights

Germany's Munich airport reopened on Friday after shutting overnight due to drone sightings that forced the cancellation or diversion of dozens of flights on the eve of a national holiday…

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UPDATED: London police boost patrols near synagogues after deadly Manchester attack

Police said on Thursday it had deployed additional officers around synagogues and Jewish community sites in London on Thursday, following a deadly attack at a synagogue in Manchester earlier in…

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Unrest Deepens in Morocco as Youth Protests Turn Deadly

Two people were killed and others injured in Lqliaa, near Agadir, when security forces used firearms to prevent a group of individuals from stealing their weapons on Wednesday night, local…

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Strike called in Italy, protests flare over interception of Gaza aid ships

Italian unions called a general strike for Friday in solidarity with the international aid flotilla for Gaza, while protests sprang up in a number of cities late on Wednesday after…

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US to give Ukraine intelligence on long-range energy targets in Russia

The United States will provide Ukraine with intelligence on long-range energy infrastructure targets within Russia, two officials told Reuters on Wednesday, as it weighs whether to send Kyiv missiles that…

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Israel stops 13 Gaza aid boats

Israeli forces have stopped 13 boats carrying foreign activists and aid bound for Gaza, but 30 boats are continuing to sail towards the war-ravaged Palestinian enclave, flotilla organisers said on…

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Malta News Briefing – Thursday 2 October 2025

Morning Briefing President Urges Vigilance on Rights and EqualityPresident Myriam Spiteri Debono has called on European leaders to remain vigilant in protecting democracy, equality and human rights. Speaking at the…

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French military boards Russia-linked oil tanker suspected of launching drones

French military personnel have boarded an oil tanker named on a list of Russia’s “shadow fleet” vessels and suspected of being a launchpad for mystery drone flights that forced the…

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Wildlife advocate, primate expert Jane Goodall dies at 91

Scientist and global activist Jane Goodall, who turned her childhood love of primates into a lifelong quest for protecting the environment, died on Wednesday at the age of 91, the…

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Kremlin Confirms Ongoing Military Expansion After U.S. Comment

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that Russia was also working to strengthen its armed forces when asked about U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's remark that the U.S. must prepare for…

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Caribbean nations launch EU-style deal to let citizens work freely across borders

A landmark free movement agreement comes into force Wednesday across Barbados, Belize, Dominica, and St Vincent and the Grenadines, allowing nationals to live and work indefinitely in each country without…

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Canada Post is on strike

Postal deliveries in Canada have ground to halt as thousands of postal workers across the country walked off the job. The nationwide strike comes after the Canadian government authorised widespread…

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British PM tells BBC he wants to change how international law used in asylum cases

Sir Keir Starmer wants to change how international law is interpreted, to stop unsuccessful asylum seekers blocking their deportation on the grounds they could be sent to worse prisons or…

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Hegseth and Trump declare end to ‘woke’ military – as defence secretary scolds ‘fat troops’

The US defence secretary has said he is ending "woke" culture and political correctness, telling top brass: "We are done with that s***." Pete Hegseth said diversity and inclusion policies…

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Officials Confirm Rising Fatalities Following Philippines Quake

The death toll from a 6.9-magnitude earthquake that hit the central Philippines has risen to 69, a disaster official said on Wednesday as the government mobilised agencies to search for…

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US government shutdown begins as partisan division rules Washington

The U.S. government shut down much of its operations on Wednesday as deep partisan divisions prevented Congress and the White House from reaching a funding deal, setting off what could…

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Malta News Briefing – Wednesday 1 October 2025

Morning Briefing Drop in complaints lodged with MCA Complaints lodged with the Malta Communications Authority during the first six months of the year fell by 40 per cent compared to…

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Northern Ireland Weighs Free Public Transit for Disabled and Seniors

Northern Ireland’s government is considering expanding free public transport to people with disabilities and older adults, part of a wider debate over how to make travel more inclusive despite tightening…

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UK plans tougher residency rules based on English skills, civic conduct

Britain plans to tighten the rules over how migrants can settle permanently by making applicants prove their value to society, including being able to speak a "high standard" of English,…

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Internet blackout hits Afghanistan as Taliban enforce morality crackdown

Afghanistan's Islamist Taliban authorities have ordered a nationwide shutdown of the country's fiber optic internet "until further notice," according to a government source who spoke with French news agency AFP…

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Russia warns of escalation risk if US sends Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine

Russia said that its military was analysing whether or not the United States would supply Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine for strikes deep into Russia, a step that Russian officials…

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North Korea tells UN: We will never give up nuclear program

North Korea will never give up its nuclear program, the country's Vice Foreign Minister Kim Son Gyong told the United Nations General Assembly on Monday, describing it as "tantamount to…

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Trump secures Netanyahu’s agreement to Gaza deal but Hamas support in question

President Donald Trump secured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's backing for a U.S.-sponsored peace proposal to end a nearly two-year-old war in Gaza, but questions loomed over whether Hamas would…

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Malta News Briefing – Tuesday 30 September 2025

Morning Briefing Convicted murderer, partner and doctor face illegal IVF chargesConvicted murderer Erin Tanti, his partner Marisa Gallo and Saint James Hospital founder Josie Muscat have been charged with carrying…

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Medvedev warns Europe of the nuclear danger of war with Russia

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday that Europe could not afford a war against Russia but that if its leaders made the mistake of triggering one then it…

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US is considering selling Tomahawk missiles to European countries to support Ukraine

The United States is considering Ukraine's request to obtain long-range Tomahawk missiles for its continued defensive efforts to push back against Russia, Vice President JD Vance said. After meeting President…

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Italy warns of dangers challenging Israeli naval blockade

An international aid flotilla that paused for several days in Greek waters for repairs has set sail again for Gaza, where activists aim to challenge Israel's naval blockade and deliver…

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UPDATED: Pro-EU party in Moldova wins election mired in claims of Russian interference

Moldova's pro-European ruling party won a resounding victory over its Russian-leaning rival in a key parliamentary election, results showed on Monday, a major boost for the country's bid to join…

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Fighter Jets Scrambled as Poland Restricts Airspace Following Russian Offensive

Poland scrambled fighter jets and temporarily closed some Polish airspace on Sunday after a Russian attack on Ukraine that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said lasted for more than 12 hours.…

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Malta News Briefing – Monday 29 September 2025

Morning Briefing Alex Borg announces new Shadow Cabinet Opposition Leader Alex Borg has unveiled his first shadow cabinet, with notable changes in key portfolios. Former PN leader Bernard Grech has…

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