News

EU prosecutors uncover criminal scheme involving Chinese imports via Greece

European prosecutors have uncovered a criminal scheme involving false documentation of Chinese imports to Europe through the Greek port of Piraeus that defrauded authorities of about 700 million euros ($820…

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Germany to stop funding migrant rescue ships in Mediterranean

Germany is cutting financial support for charities that rescue migrants at risk of drowning in the Mediterranean, saying it will redirect resources to addressing conditions in source countries that spur…

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Iran says war with Israel caused ‘serious’ damage to nuclear sites

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that damage to Iran's nuclear sites from the 12-day war with Israel was "serious," as the country begins assessing the conflict's impact. "A detailed…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Friday 27 June 2025

Updated 1000 Landscape Treaty in Effect: Malta Must Report on View Protection: Malta has ratified the European Landscape Convention after a 25-year delay, committing to submit periodic reports on its…

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Taiwan says it is determined to defend itself as China vows to boost combat readiness

Taiwan is determined to defend itself and protect its free way of life, the island's defence minister said on Thursday discussing next month's annual exercises, as China's military vowed to…

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UPDATED: Khamenei hails Iran’s “victory” over Israel and US as CIA says nuclear sites severely damaged

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth is held a news conference to respond to an early leaked intelligence report suggesting US strikes against Iran likely put the country back mere months.…

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North Korea may send more troops to Russia in July or August for Ukraine war

North Korea may deploy additional troops to Russia to fight in the war against Ukraine in July or August and Pyongyang is continuing to supply arms to Russia, South Korean…

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Turkey to start exploring for gas off Libya

Turkey is moving slowly and methodically in its developing relations with Libya so as not to disrupt the delicate balance it has achieved with the United States, as is evident…

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Pope Leo laments ‘diabolical intensity’ of Middle East conflicts

Pope Leo said on Thursday that conflicts in the Middle East were raging with an unprecedented "diabolical intensity" and appealed for greater respect for international law, in comments to Catholic…

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EU to canvass leaders at summit on resolving US tariff conflict

European Union leaders are to tell the European Commission on Thursday if they want a quick trade deal with the United States at the cost of Washington getting better terms,…

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Europe scorched by early heatwave as Italy swelters

Europe is sweltering under an intense early summer heatwave that has sent temperatures soaring to record levels, disrupted daily life, and raised fresh warnings about the continent’s vulnerability to climate…

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Trump says US to hold nuclear talks with Iran next week

U.S. President Donald Trump said he would likely seek a commitment from Iran to end its nuclear ambitions at talks next week and credited U.S. strikes on Iran with bringing…

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Armenia says it foiled coup plot

Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that the security forces had foiled a coup plot involving a senior cleric, the latest twist in his escalating conflict with the powerful Apostolic…

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Trump considers more Patriots for Ukraine, says Putin “has to end” the war

U.S. President Donald Trump indicated he will consider providing more of the Patriot missiles that Ukraine needs to defend against mounting Russian strikes, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin "really…

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NATO clinches defense spending deal in big win for Trump

NATO allies on Wednesday agreed to unleash an avalanche of new defense spending in a show of unity aimed at keeping U.S. President Donald Trump on board and Russian leader…

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Thailand moves to make recreational cannabis illegal again

Thailand is set to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic only three years after the country became one of Asia's first to decriminalize its recreational use. Coming in the wake of…

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Trump likens US air strikes on Iran to atomic bombing of Hiroshima

Donald Trump has likened the US strikes on Iran to his country’s decision to drop atomic bombs on Japan in the second world war. Speaking at The Hague, Trump said:…

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Greece, Libya Call for Dialogue Following Maritime Boundary Dispute

A stiff exchange between the envoys of Greece and Libya at the UN Security Council over an underlying dispute regarding maritime boundaries and hydrocarbon exploration ended in a mutual reaffirmation of diplomatic…

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Pope calls for path of dialogue, diplomacy Middle East

Pope Leo XIV made another call for an end to violence in the Middle East during his weekly general audience at St Peter's Square on Wednesday."May the wounds caused by…

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Russia says it is too early to assess US bomb damage to Iranian nuclear facilities

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that it thought it was too early for anyone to have an accurate picture of the extent of damage inflicted on Iran's nuclear facilities by…

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UK to purchase fighter jets capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons

The British government said on Tuesday that it would purchase a dozen F-35A fighter jets capable of firing tactical nuclear weapons in what it described as the biggest expansion of…

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Dozens hospitalised as heatwave descends on North America

Dozens of people have been hospitalised for heat-related illnesses as the summer's first major heat wave descends on eastern North America. More than 150 people fell ill at an outdoor…

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Malta News Briefing – Wednesday 25 June 2025

Morning Briefing Public transport use rising in MaltaResidents in Malta make around 1.36 million trips daily, averaging 2.8 trips per person, according to a March 2025 survey by 20/20 Strategy.…

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Spain eases visa rules to draw foreign students barred from US by Trump

Spain on Tuesday said it had approved expedited access to its universities for foreign students barred from entering the U.S. to study by President Donald Trump's administration. Students who can't…

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Fragile ceasefire holding, Trump envoy says peace talks with Iran ‘promising’

The ceasefire brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump between Iran and Israel appeared to be holding on Wednesday a day after both countries signalled that their air war had ended,…

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Trump casts doubt on Article 5 commitment

On his way to a summit of NATO leaders, U.S. President Donald Trump undermined the alliance's core collective defense promise — injecting tension into a gathering designed to keep him…

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NATO summit opens in The Hague

Member nations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are holding a summit in The Hague, starting Tuesday. NATO members are expected to approve a boost in defense spending. Leaders,…

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Angry Trump says both Israel and Iran violated ceasefire

US president Donald Trump said on Tuesday that both Israel and Iran violated a ceasefire he announced hours earlier and he was not happy with either country but especially Israel.…

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Libya objects to Greek tender for hydrocarbon exploration off Crete

Libya's internationally recognised government of national unity has objected to Greece's approval of an international tender for hydrocarbon exploration off the island of Crete, saying some of the blocks infringe…

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Busy week for NATO in the Baltics

Last week, on 16-22 June, NATO jets conducting the Baltic Air Policing Mission in Lithuania were scrambled 7 times to identify and escort Russian military aircraft that violated international airspace.…

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Polish, Ukrainian security services thwarted 2024 assassination attempt on Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was the target of an assassination plot to be carried out by a Polish pensioner who had first been recruited by the Soviet Union decades ago,…

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Thailand closes border crossings with Cambodia

Thailand's military has closed border crossings into Cambodia to almost all travellers, including tourists and traders, citing security concerns as tensions between the two Southeast Asian neighbours remain escalated over…

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Portugal tightens naturalisation rules, doubles residency requirement

Portugal's centre-right minority government, under pressure from the far right to reduce immigration, said it would double to 10 years the amount of time most foreigners need to be legally…

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NATO chief: Ukraine’s path to alliance still ‘irreversible’

Ukraine’s path to join NATO is still “irreversible” despite the Trump administration’s public proclamations that the war-torn country will not join the military alliance, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said at…

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US urges Americans in Sweden to remain vigilant, citing threat of attack

The U.S. embassy in Sweden said Americans in the country are "advised to exercise increased caution" due to local media reports on Iran potentially pressuring local criminal gangs to attack…

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Trump says Israel and Iran agree on ceasefire to end 12-day war

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday a complete ceasefire between Israel and Iran, potentially ending the 12-day war that saw millions flee Tehran and prompted fears of further escalation…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Tuesday 24 June 2025

Updated 1300 Malta Moves Closer to Achieving UN Sustainability Goals, Challenges Persist: Malta has climbed 12 places to rank 24th out of 167 countries in the 2024 UN Sustainable Development…

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Iran retaliates against U.S. base in Qatar

Iran's military said on Monday it had carried out a "devastating and powerful" missile attack on the Al Udeid U.S. airbase in Qatar, after explosions were heard across the Qatari…

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Germany to hire 11,000 more military personnel this year

The German government will provide funds for an extra 11,000 military personnel by the end of the year, an increase of around 4%, tabloid Bild reported, citing government sources. The…

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Gift shops and fast food banned in Bergamo Alta in Italy

Fast-food outlets and sex shops are among the commercial activities banned from Bergamo Alta in an ordinance from the local government in the Lombardy town concerning its historic and picturesque…

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Greece sending Navy ships to monitor migrant vessels off Libya

Greece is planning to sent Navy ships outside Libya’s territorial waters “as a precaution” to monitor migrant flows, Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Monday, during a regular meeting with the President…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Monday 23 June 2025

Updated 1300 Cyberattacks Rose as Malta Assumed Top Posts, Secret Service Report Shows: Malta’s heightened international role in 2023–2024 increased its cyber-risk profile, coinciding with several cyberattacks targeting public sector…

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Airlines weigh Middle East cancellations after US strikes in Iran

Commercial airlines around the world on Monday were weighing how long to suspend Middle East flights after the U.S. struck Iran. Singapore Airlines, one of the highest-profile in Asia, had…

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Russian drone and missile attacks in and around Kyiv

Russian drone and missile attacks in and around Kyiv overnight killed five people, injured scores, sparked fires in residential areas and damaged an entrance to a metro station that serves…

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NATO allies agree to 5 percent defense spending goal

NATO members agreed on Sunday to a big increase in their defence spending target to 5% of gross domestic product, as demanded by U.S. President Donald Trump, but Spain said…

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UPDATED:Man arrested on suspicion of spying in Crete and another in Cyprus

A man has been arrested on suspicion of spying in Crete, which is home to a NATO military base. Greek police said the 26-year-old Azerbaijani man was detained on Sunday,…

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World awaits Iranian response after US hits nuclear sites

The world braced on Sunday for Iran's response after the U.S. attacked key Iranian nuclear sites, joining Israel in the biggest Western military action against the Islamic Republic since its…

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US bombs Iranian nuclear sites

US President Donald Trump says American warplanes have bombed three nuclear sites in Iran, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing war between Iran and Israel. "Remember, there are many…

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US B-2 bombers and bunker-busters used in Iran strike

The U.S. Air Force's B-2 Spirit stealth bombers were involved in strikes on Iran's nuclear sites on Saturday. Three Iranian nuclear sites were struck in a "very successful attack," President…

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Italy’s immigration and emigration both soaring, stats agency says

The numbers of Italians leaving their country and of foreigners moving in have soared to the highest in a decade, official data showed on Friday, fuelling national concerns about brain…

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Malta News Briefing – Saturday 21 June 2025

Morning Briefing KM Malta Airlines ranked 4th best regional airline in EuropeKM Malta Airlines, Malta’s new national carrier that began operations on 31 March 2024, has been named the 4th…

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Belgium announces border checks in migration clampdown

Belgium will introduce border checks on people coming into the country to clamp down on illegal migration, the government said, in another limit on free movement across Europe's Schengen zone.…

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China angered by British warship sailing as Taiwan raises alert level

China's military criticised on Friday the sailing of a British warship through the Taiwan Strait as a deliberate attempt to "cause trouble", while Taiwan's president ordered monitoring stepped up in…

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Pro-Palestinian activists damage planes at UK military base

Pro-Palestinian activists in Britain broke into a Royal Air Force base in central England on Friday where they damaged and sprayed red paint over two military aircraft used for refuelling…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Friday 20 June 2025

Updated 1200 WE Media Boss Probed Over Maksar Links: Edmond Mugliett, owner of WE Media, is under investigation for financial links to convicted members of an organised crime group involved…

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Pope Urges Leaders to Reject War, Citing Predecessors in Peace Appeal

Pope Leo XIV issued a back-to-back plea for peace this week, urging the international community to reject armed conflict and embrace diplomacy amid mounting global tensions. Speaking Wednesday during his…

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Violence against children reached ‘unprecedented levels’ last year, especially in Gaza and West Bank, UN says

Violence against children caught in multiple and escalating conflicts reached “unprecedented levels” last year, with the highest number of violations in Gaza and the West Bank, Congo, Somalia, Nigeria and…

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