News

Belarus releases 52 prisoners, US embassy in Lithuania says

Belarus has freed 52 prisoners of various nationalities and they are now on their way to Lithuania with the U.S. delegation that negotiated their release, a spokesperson for the U.S.…

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Britain sacks Mandelson as US ambassador over Epstein links

Peter Mandelson, Britain's smooth-talking ambassador to the U.S., was sacked on Thursday after his long-term association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein became a further distraction for under pressure Prime…

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Local chikungunya cases soar in France

France has recorded nearly 400 locally-acquired cases of chikungunya this summer, a sharp increase from last year, French health authorities announced. As of Sept. 8, there have been 382 cases…

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Spain’s parliament kills shorter work week bill

Spain's lower house has shelved a bill that would have shortened the work week by 2-1/2 hours, dealing yet another blow to the fragile Socialist-led minority government which is struggling…

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European operation identifies alleged Belarusian spy ring

A joint operation between several central European countries has identified an alleged Belarusian spy ring that reportedly included a former deputy head of Moldovan intelligence. A statement from Eurojust, the…

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‘Block Everything’ protests sweep across France, scores arrested

Protesters across France obstructed highways, burned barricades and clashed sporadically with police on Wednesday in a show of anger against President Emmanuel Macron, the political elite and planned spending cuts.…

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Tunisia says ‘assault’ on Gaza aid ship was ‘orchestrated’

Tunisia said the "assault" on a ship at Sidi Bou Said port was "orchestrated," after the Global Sumud Flotilla, preparing to deliver aid to Gaza, reported one of its boats…

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NATO chief Rutte sends warning to Russia after drone swarm alarms Poland

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Wednesday condemned Moscow after several of its drones were shot down in Polish airspace, warning Russian leader Vladimir Putin that the transatlantic alliance was "ready"…

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Conservative influencer and Trump ally Charlie Kirk shot dead

U.S. conservative activist Charlie Kirk, an influential ally of President Donald Trump, was fatally shot on Wednesday while speaking at a Utah university, sparking a manhunt for a lone sniper…

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NASA rover discovers potential signs of ancient life on Mars

NASA's rover Perseverance has uncovered rocks that may hold potential signs of ancient microbial life on Mars, according to research published Wednesday. Since landing on the Martian surface in 2021,…

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Malta News Briefing – Thursday 11 September 2025

Morning Briefng Alex Borg Sworn in as Opposition Leader, Calls for UnityNewly elected Nationalist Party leader Alex Borg was sworn in as Opposition leader on Wednesday during a ceremony presided…

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Poland vs. Russian Drones — How NATO Articles 4 and 5 Work

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday he had asked NATO to open consultations under Article 4. It comes after Polish forces shot down 19 drones over its airspace,…

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Montenegro hopes to join EU and euro zone in 2028

Montenegro hopes to join the European Union and the euro zone in 2028, Prime Minister Milojko Spajic said on Tuesday, in what would mark some progress in the EU's stalled…

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Western leaders condemn Russia over drones entering Polish airspace

Poland shot down drones that entered its airspace on Wednesday, the first time a member of NATO is known to have fired shots during Russia's war in Ukraine. Here are…

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Serbia to raise minimum wage by 10% starting January

Serbia’s government said it will increase the country’s minimum monthly net wage by 10.1% to 64,554 dinars ($647/551 euros) starting Jan. 1, after failing to reach an agreement with employers…

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Lithuania Heightens Security as Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace and Zapad Drills Begin

Lithuanian authorities placed the country’s air raid alert system on standby and reinforced border security this week amid mounting regional tensions caused by Russian drone incursions into NATO territory and…

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Spain plans smoking ban at bar terraces, beaches, stadiums

Spain's minority leftist government introduced a bill on Tuesday to ban smoking at outdoor venues including beaches, bar and restaurant terraces, bus stops and stadiums. The ban would also apply…

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Sweden to lower age of criminal responsibility

Sweden will lower the age of criminal responsibility from the current 15, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said, following an increase in cases of crime gangs recruiting children via social media…

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Poland is at its closest to open conflict since World War Two, Tusk Requests NATO Consultations

Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Wednesday the country is closer to open conflict than at any point since World War Two after shooting down Russian drones over its territory.…

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Ukraine says NATO, EU anchor its future, calls membership debate necessary

Ukraine’s foreign ministry said Kyiv’s security rests with NATO and its future with the EU, arguing membership talks are strategically necessary after Poland’s president called them premature. In a statement…

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President Sandu Urges EU Path for Moldova Amid Russian Threats

Moldova must join the European Union to survive Russia’s aggression, President Maia Sandu warned. The Eastern European country of 2.4 million people, which shares a 1,200 kilometer border with Ukraine,…

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Macron names ally Sébastien Lecornu as new French PM

President Emmanuel Macron has named close ally Sébastien Lecornu as the new French prime minister, 24 hours after a vote of confidence ousted François Bayrou as head of government. Lecornu,…

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UPDATED: Poland shoots down drones in its airspace

Poland said it scrambled its own and NATO air defences to shoot down drones on Wednesday after a Russian air attack on western Ukraine, the first time in the Ukraine…

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Israel attacks Hamas leaders in Qatar, Trump says he’s ‘very unhappy’ about strike

Israel attempted to kill the political leaders of Hamas with an airstrike on Qatar on Tuesday, escalating its military action in the Middle East with what the U.S. described as…

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Flotilla for Gaza reports second drone attack on boat at Tunisian port

The Global Sumud Flotilla, an international aid initiative to deliver vital supplies to Gaza, said on Wednesday that one of its boats was attacked by a drone at a Tunisian…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Wednesday 10 September 2025

Updated 1200 PM starts consultation meetings for 2026 Budget: Prime Minister Robert Abela has begun consultations with social partners ahead of the 2026 budget, starting with the Chamber for Small…

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EU to slash food and fast fashion waste

Following negotiations between its 27 member states, the EU has introduced 30% reduction targets on food waste generated by households, retailers and restaurants. The goals are to be met by…

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Britain could cut visas from countries that don’t accept migrant returns

Britain said it could cut the number of visas granted to countries that do not accept the return of migrants with no right to remain, after talks with allies including…

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London’s Tube network shuts as workers begin week of strikes

London's underground rail network came to a standstill on Monday as staff began a week of strikes over pay and working conditions, disrupting travel for commuters and tourists. Almost no…

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Strong earthquake strikes Evia island, felt in Athens

An earthquake rattled Athens on Tuesday morning with no reports of any damage or fatalities. The Athens Geodynamic Institute said the quake, of magnitude 5.2, was off Evia island about…

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Vilnius Airport temporarily suspends flights after ‘unidentified object’ detected

Flights at Vilnius Airport were briefly suspended Tuesday morning after air traffic controllers reported detecting a flying object, Lithuania’s National Crisis Management Centre said. The suspension was introduced as a…

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Tunisia denies claims Greta Thunberg’s Gaza flotilla was hit by drone

Tunisian authorities have denied claims that one of the Gaza-bound vessels carrying aid and pro-Palestinian activists including Greta Thunberg was attacked by a drone. The organisers of the flotilla, Global…

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French parliament ousts prime minister, deepening political crisis

France's parliament brought down the government on Monday over its plans to tame the ballooning national debt, deepening a political crisis that is weakening the euro zone's second-largest economy. Lawmakers…

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Norway ruling Labour Party wins reelection

Norway's minority Labour Party government won a second term in power on Monday while the populist right achieved its best-ever election result, official results showed, in a ballot dominated by…

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Malta News Briefing – Tuesday 9 September 2025

Morning Briefing PN stands by leadership election outcome amid voter eligibility claimsThe Nationalist Party has stood firmly by the results of its recent leadership election after reports that Adrian Delia’s…

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Malta News Briefing – Monday 8 September 2025

Morning Briefing Borg Pledges Party Reform After Leadership WinNewly elected Nationalist Party leader Alex Borg has pledged sweeping reforms, promising to restructure the party, strengthen MPs’ work, boost media output,…

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Italian teen, Carlo Acutis, to become first millennial Catholic saint on Sunday

A British-born Italian boy who died of leukaemia in 2006 will become the first Catholic saint of the millennial generation on Sunday, in a ceremony led by Pope Leo in…

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What you need to know about Norway’s upcoming election

Norway's general election on September 7-8 is expected to be a close race between a centre-left bloc led by the incumbent Labour Party, and a centre-right bloc dominated by the…

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Italy rules out sending troops to Ukraine under peace plan

Italy will not send troops to Ukraine as part of any future peace deal with Russia, Premier Giorgia Meloni told a meeting of the “coalition of the willing” Thursday, her…

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US deploying 10 fighter jets to Puerto Rico for drug cartel fight

The U.S. has ordered the deployment of 10 F-35 fighter jets to a Puerto Rico airfield to conduct operations against drug cartels, two sources briefed on the matter said, in…

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UK deputy PM Rayner quits over tax error

British Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner resigned on Friday after she admitted underpaying property tax on a new home, in a new blow for her boss, Prime Minister Keir Starmer,…

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Putin says any Western troops in Ukraine would be fair targets

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that any Western troops deployed to Ukraine would be legitimate targets for Moscow to attack, in a warning to Kyiv's allies as they…

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Polish national held in neighbouring Belarus on suspicion of espionage

Belarusian counter-intelligence agents have arrested a Polish national on suspicion of espionage for having in his possession documents related to forthcoming Belarusian-Russian military exercises, media quoted state television as reporting…

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Trump will seek ‘Department of War’ rebrand for Pentagon

President Donald Trump plans to sign an executive order Friday to rebrand the Department of Defense as the Department of War, his latest effort to project an image of toughness…

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Israeli military says it controls 40% of Gaza City, plans to expand operation in coming days

Israel controls 40% of Gaza City, a military spokesperson said on Thursday, as its bombardment forced more Palestinians from their homes there, while thousands of residents defied Israeli orders to…

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DR Congo reports new Ebola outbreak with 15 dead

The Democratic Republic of Congo declared a new outbreak of the Ebola virus, three years after its last one, in the Kasai Province bordering Angola, east of the capital Kinshasa.…

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Venezuelan military aircraft fly near US warship in ‘provocative move’

Two Venezuelan F-16 fighter jets flew over a U.S. Navy destroyer in the Caribbean, a U.S. official told Reuters, triggering a stern U.S. warning to Venezuela against interfering in intensifying…

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Malta News Briefing – Friday 5 September 2025

Morning Briefing Ryanair Expands Malta Operations with Six New RoutesRyanair will be expanding its winter schedule from Malta with six new routes, Malta Air CEO David O’Brien announced during the…

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Legendary Italian designer Giorgio Armani dies aged 91

The Italian fashion designer and billionaire brand owner Giorgio Armani has died at the age of 91. He was the archetype of Italian style and elegance, reimagining men's and women's…

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Poland says two drones enter airspace

Two incursions of Polish airspace by drones occurred overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, but they were not shot down as they posed no danger, the army said on Thursday. Poland…

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Arrests in crackdown on human trafficking network active across continents

Europol coordinated a joint action day between the Brazilian Federal Police (Polícia Federal) and the Irish National Police and Security Service (An Garda Síochána) against a criminal network involved in…

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UPDATED: Lisbon mourns 17 victims of cable car crash as investigation begins

Flags flew at half-mast in Lisbon on Thursday after at least 17 people were killed and 21 injured in a crash of a hillside funicular railway popular with tourists, while…

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Dubrovnik Moves to Limit Tourist Numbers

Dubrovnik is the latest city to crack down on overtourism after a surge in visitor numbers, due in part to its use as a filming location for Game of Thrones.…

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Russia says potential military troops deployment in Ukraine unacceptable

Russia has no plans to discuss any potential foreign military deployment in Ukraine in any format, calling it "unacceptable", foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters on Thursday. She was…

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UK Deputy PM fights to save her career after admitting underpaying tax

British Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is fighting for her political future after acknowledging she had underpaid property tax owed when she bought an apartment in a southern English seaside…

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U.S. Vows Expanded Campaign Against Drug Cartels

Senior U.S. national security officials said on Wednesday that military operations against cartels would continue, setting the stage for a sustained military campaign in Latin America even as basic questions…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Thursday 4 September 2025

Cab Drivers on Minimum Wage Get €4,000 a Month After 'Adjustments': Cab drivers at WT Global, Malta’s largest cab fleet, appear to be earning around €4,000 a month despite being…

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