News

As death toll rises, Gazans make life-risking journeys to seek food

In the past two days, dozens of Palestinians have also been killed by Israeli fire as they tried to get food from aid trucks brought into the enclave by the…

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Patriot missile systems being moved to Souda base in Crete

An undisclosed number of Greek Patriot missile systems are being relocated to the Hellenic Navy and NATO base at Souda Bay in Crete to provide anti-ballistic protection to American assets…

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Rwanda and DR Congo agree draft peace deal to end conflict

Representatives of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have reached a draft agreement that could end decades of conflict. The breakthrough, mediated by the US and Qatar, provides for…

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Israel says Iran’s supreme leader ‘can no longer be allowed to exist’; nuclear sites in Iran’s Natanz and Arak overnight

Israel’s defence minister said on Thursday that Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “can no longer be allowed to exist” after Soroka hospital in southern Israel was hit during an…

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Spanish operation against migrant smuggling and drug trafficking across the Mediterranean

Europol has supported Spanish authorities (Policía Nacional) in a transnational operation against a highly-organised network involved in both migrant smuggling and drug trafficking between Spain and Morocco. Authorities believe the…

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Israeli and U.S. intelligence differ on status of Iran’s nuclear program. Who’s right?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has argued for decades that Iran was on the verge of producing a nuclear weapon. And he ordered the attack on Iran because he believed…

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Trump has approved attack plans for Iran pending final order

U.S. President Donald Trump told senior aides late Tuesday that he approved attack plans for Iran but has withheld a final order to see if Tehran would abandon its nuclear…

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Trump’s Iran threats set off scramble to protect Americans abroad

The United States is ramping up efforts to protect Americans worldwide, as President Donald Trump mulls wading into Israel’s conflict with Iran. The actions come as Iran’s Islamist leader warned…

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Putin on Iran, Khamenei, regime change, Ukraine and NATO

Russian President Vladimir Putin made the following comments to senior news agency editors on the conflict between Iran and Israel, NATO and the war in Ukraine. The remarks were translated…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Thursday 19 June 2025

Updated 1000 Plastic curbs proposed for takeaway sectorNew draft rules in Malta propose a charge on plastic-lined takeaway boxes and a ban on single-use plastics (SUPs) for food and drink…

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Austria plans to tighten gun control rules after school shooting

Austria plans to tighten its gun control laws following its deadliest school shooting in Graz, where a 21‑year‑old former student killed ten people before taking his own life. Under current…

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How the Air India crash investigation is unfolding

Air India Flight 171 crashed just 40 seconds after take-off from Ahmedabad, plunging into a crowded neighbourhood and killing all 242 people on board. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, bound for…

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EU slaps Greece with record fine over agricultural subsidy fraud

The European Commission has fined Greece €392.2 million for mismanaging EU agricultural subsidies between 2016 and 2023. The penalty relates to serious oversight failures by OPEKEPE, the now-dissolved agency overseeing…

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G7 Summit ends without Ukraine statement as Trump balks at tough Russia stance

The 2025 G7 summit concluded without a joint declaration on Ukraine — and without the U.S. president in the room. Despite early hopes among delegates for unified language, U.S. President…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Wednesday 18 June 2025

Updated 1110 Food drives inflation up in May Inflation in Malta edged up slightly in May 2025, with the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) showing an annual rate of…

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China Offers to Mediate in Escalating Israel-Iran Conflict

China has positioned itself as a potential mediator in the growing conflict between Israel and Iran, although signs of willingness to de-escalate remain limited—particularly on the Israeli side. The ongoing…

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UK parliament votes to decriminalise abortion, repeal Victorian-era law

British MPs have overwhelmingly backed a landmark change to abortion legislation, voting to end the prosecution of women in England and Wales for ending their own pregnancies. This significant move…

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Israel airstrikes target Iranian missile facilities, Trump calls for Tehran’s ‘unconditional surrender’

Thousands were fleeing Tehran and other major cities as Iran and Israel exchanged missile strikes, despite U.S. President Donald Trump urging Iran to surrender unconditionally. Israel reported two waves of…

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Dutch government says children should not have access to TikTok, Instagram before 15

The Dutch government has issued new guidelines advising that children under 15 should not use social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. While it supports allowing those over 13 to…

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Poland adds minefields to protective barrier with Russia and Belarus

Poland has added minefields to its “East Shield” border defence project along Russia and Belarus, as construction continues year-round since starting in November. The fortified barrier, spanning over 20km near…

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London’s Oxford Street to go traffic-free in shopping area makeover

London's Oxford Street, one of Britain's busiest and most famous shopping districts, will be pedestrianised, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said on Tuesday, in a move designed to smarten up…

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Pope to Rest at Castel Gandolfo from July 6 to July 20

The Prefecture of the Papal Household has announced that His Holiness Pope Leo XIV will spend a period of rest at the Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo. The pontiff is…

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249 Dead in Central Mediterranean So Far in 2025: IOM

At least 249 people have died while attempting to cross the Central Mediterranean Sea so far this year, the U.N.’s International Organization for Migration said. Another 226 migrants remain missing…

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Iran Claims Downing of Israeli F-35 Near Tabriz, Missile Strike on Alleged Mossad HQ Near Tel Aviv

Tabriz / Tel Aviv – In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing covert conflict between Iran and Israel, Iranian officials have announced two major military actions: the alleged downing of…

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Jordan: Israel’s attacks on Iran a ‘threat to people everywhere’

Israel's attacks on Iran have broadened its conflicts in the region to a level that poses a global threat, Jordan's King Abdullah said. "With Israel's expansion of its offensive to…

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World oil demand to keep growing this decade despite 2027 China peak, IEA says

Global oil demand will keep growing until around the end of this decade despite peaking in top importer China in 2027, as cheaper gasoline and slower electric vehicle adoption in…

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Italy Extends Classroom Mobile Phone Ban to High Schools

In a move underscoring a growing emphasis on educational discipline and in-class focus, the Ministry of Education announced Monday that the national ban on student cell phone use, previously limited…

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Trump looking for a ‘real end’ to Israel-Iran conflict

US president Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he was aiming for a “real end” to the conflict between arch-rivals Israel and Iran, and not just a ceasefire. I’m not…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Tuesday 17 June 2025

Updated 1130 Malta Scores Big in the European eGovernment Benchmark Report: Malta ranked highly in the European Commission’s eGovernment Benchmark 2025 report, scoring perfect marks in Digital Services, User Support,…

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Britain appoints first female head of MI6 spy agency

MI6 will be led by a woman for the first time in the foreign intelligence service's 116-year history. Blaise Metreweli, who joined the Secret Intelligence Service in 1999, will become…

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Trump urges Tehran evacuation as Iran-Israel conflict enters fifth day

Israel and Iran attacked each other for a fifth straight day on Tuesday, and U.S. President Donald Trump urged Iranians to evacuate Tehran, citing what he said was the country's…

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Oil rises as Iran-Israel conflict spurs uncertainty

Oil prices climbed on Tuesday on concerns the Iran-Israel conflict may intensify, raising the risk of further unrest and the potential disruption of oil supply from the key Middle East…

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Aircraft Carrier USS Nimitz Sailing to Middle East, U.S. refueling aircraft moved to Europe

The Nimitz aircraft carrier group was rerouted from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East, joining the USS Carl Vinson. The move comes amid airstrikes between Israel and Iran. Also, the…

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Russia attacks Kyiv with waves of drones, missiles

Waves of Russian drones and missiles struck districts across the Ukrainian capital Kyiv early on Tuesday, damaging an apartment building, sparking fires and injuring up to 16 people, city officials…

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G7 to explore possible sanctions on criminals linked to migrant smuggling

G7 leaders are set to reaffirm a joint commitment that they agreed to a year ago to prevent and counter migrant smuggling, and will explore using sanctions to target criminals…

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Russia is ready to mediate on Iran, and to accept Tehran’s uranium

Russia remains ready to act as a mediator in the conflict between Israel and Iran, and Moscow's previous proposal to store Iranian uranium in Russia remains on the table, the…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Monday 16 June 2025

Updated 1100 MIDI Seeks Exit Strategy as Manoel Island Plans Falter: MIDI has confirmed it is seeking a settlement with the Maltese government over the Manoel Island project, admitting the…

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Europe and China in midst of record-breaking heat

Temperature records for early June are being broken across large parts of Europe, with the mercury reaching 40.5C (104.9F) in Mértola, Portugal, on Sunday. On the same day, several weather…

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Greece arrests US man with Malta link over mother and child deaths in Rome park

Italian police arrested a U.S. citizen on Friday in connection with the death of a woman and her baby daughter whose naked bodies were found in a park in central…

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UPDATED: Iran lauds ‘new method’ as missiles hit Israel’s Tel Aviv, Haifa

Iranian missiles struck Israel's Tel Aviv and the port city of Haifa in an early morning raid on Monday, destroying homes and fuelling concerns among world leaders at this week's…

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Trump told Israel not to kill Iran’s supreme leader

US President Donald Trump rejected a plan by Israel to kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, three US officials have told CBS News. Trump reportedly told Israeli Prime Minister…

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Trump Administration Considers Expanding Travel Ban to Include 36 Additional Countries

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is considering significantly expanding its travel restrictions by potentially banning citizens of 36 additional countries from entering the United States, according to an internal State…

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Cruise passenger fees in Greece set to rise

Reports in the Greek media indicate that cruise ship passenger fees will increase from July 1. The fee will be imposed per passenger and per port and its amount will…

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Israel and Iran: How do they compare militarily?

Israeli strikes on Iran on Friday and Tehran’s vows of reprisals have brought the two Middle East adversaries closer to an all-out war, which also threatens to draw in the…

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Israel’s state plane, Wing of Zion, departs for Athens amid fears of Iranian retaliation

The Wing of Zion, Israel’s own version of Air Force One, took off from Ben-Gurion Airport on Friday morning as Israel initiated an assault on Iranian nuclear facilities as part…

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Israel and Iran Locked in Escalating Tit-for-Tat Strikes Amid Rising Regional Tensions

Iran launched retaliatory airstrikes at Israel on Friday night, with explosions heard in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, the country's two biggest cities, following Israel's biggest-ever military strike against its longstanding…

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Pope Leo to make Carlo Acutis first millennial saint on September 7

The canonisation of the first Catholic saint of the millennial generation, Carlo Acutis, will take place on September 7, Pope Leo announced on Friday. Acutis, a British-born Italian who died…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Friday 13 June 2025

Updated 1230 40 People Evacuated from Paceville Building After Collapse: Around 40 people were evacuated from buildings in Paceville as authorities continued dismantling what remains of the apartment block that…

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UPDATED: Iranian missiles and drones rain down on Israel

An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson said fewer than 100 missiles were fired in two waves from Iran at Israel. “Most of these rockets were intercepted or fell short,” IDF…

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Airlines divert flights, airspace closed after attack on Iran

Airlines cleared out of the airspace over Israel, Iran and Iraq early on Friday after Israel launched attacks on targets in Iran, Flightradar24 data showed, with carriers scrambling to divert…

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Hegseth says the Pentagon has contingency plans to invade Greenland if necessary

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared to acknowledge that the Pentagon has developed plans to take over Greenland and Panama by force if necessary but refused to answer repeated questions at…

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UPDATED: Israel hits Iran with ‘preemptive’ strikes’

Israel launched a major attack on Iran Friday, drawing their long-running shadow war into the open conflict in a way that could spiral into a wider, more dangerous regional war.…

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UPDATED: Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei alive, Iran launches over 100 drones at Israel

IDF Spokesman Effie Defrin on Friday morning told a press conference that Iran had launched over 100 drones toward Israel in recent hours. He also noted that over 200 IDF…

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Mossad smuggled weapons into Iran ahead of strikes

Israeli security officials say the country’s Mossad spy agency smuggled weapons into Iran ahead of the strikes that were used to target its defences from within.The two security officials spoke…

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UPDATED: Iran ‘must make a deal, before there is nothing left’: Trump

US president Donald Trump has urged Iran to make a deal over its nuclear programme, saying that there was still time for the country to prevent further conflict with Israel:…

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Lithuanian cities prepare their defences

A new defence infrastructure park dubbed the Vilnius Shield has been unveiled in the Lithuanian capital. According to Mayor Valdas Benkunskas, the site contains anti-tank barriers and other equipment that…

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Islamic State eying comeback in Syria and Iraq

Islamic State militants are attempting a resurgence in Syria and Iraq following the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad, according to Western and regional officials. The group is reactivating sleeper…

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