News

Putin Prepares New Call-Ups as Russia Struggles to Replace Battlefield Losses

New analysis suggests Russian President Vladimir Putin may be preparing further involuntary reserve call-ups as Moscow seeks to offset mounting battlefield losses in Ukraine. This has been revealed by a…

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Police search at Royal Lodge continues as Andrew released under investigation

Police have released Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor after arresting him earlier on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The former prince was photographed returning to Sandringham Estate in Norfolk shortly after leaving…

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Macron Urges Political Extremes to ‘Put Their Houses in Order’ After Activist’s Death

French President Emmanuel Macron has called on political extremes to “put their houses in order” following the death of a far-right activist during clashes in Lyon over the weekend. Speaking…

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US military ready for Iran strike from Saturday, reports claim

Senior US officials have reportedly indicated that the military could be prepared to launch strikes against Iran within days, as President Donald Trump weighs his options. According to several American…

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Nearly half of Maltese non-homeowners doubt they will ever buy property

Nearly half of Europeans who do not own their home believe they will either never be able to buy one or are simply not interested, according to the RE/MAX European…

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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the Duke of York and brother of King Charles III, has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, according to Thames Valley Police. In a statement,…

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Bulgaria to hold snap election in April as Radev enters race

Bulgaria will hold a snap general election on 19 April, in what could mark a turning point after years of political instability. President Iliana Yotova announced on Wednesday that she…

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Denmark’s king visits Greenland, showing unity in the face of Trump threats

Denmark’s King Frederik X arrived in Greenland on Wednesday for a three-day visit widely viewed as a symbolic show of support for the autonomous Danish territory, according to Agence France-Presse.…

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Germany plans to give spies vast new powers in rollback of postwar restraints

Germany is preparing to significantly strengthen its foreign intelligence service amid growing concern that the United States could scale back intelligence sharing with Europe, according to a report by Politico.…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Thursday 19 February 2026

Updated 1240 Malta Opts Out of Washington ‘Board of Peace’ Meeting: Prime Minister Robert Abela confirmed Malta will not attend Thursday’s first formal meeting of the US-led Board of Peace…

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‘Difficult’ Ukraine peace talks end after Zelenskiy says Russia stalling

The second day of peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian officials in Geneva ended abruptly on Wednesday morning after just two hours of discussions, according to Time. The shortened session…

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High-flying Meloni bets big on a referendum

Italy’s right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is taking a calculated political risk by putting judicial reform to a referendum on 22–23 March, a move that could either strengthen her dominance…

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Vatican says no to Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’

The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Leo XIV will not join Donald Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace”, dealing a blow to the US president’s efforts to assemble a new global…

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EU, UK close on agreement on Gibraltar

The European Commission has adopted proposals for the signing, provisional application and conclusion of a new EU-UK agreement on Gibraltar, completing the legal framework governing relations over the territory. Gibraltar…

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Trump administration ‘woke Europe up’ from slumber, US ambassador tells Euronews

US Ambassador to the EU Andrew Puzder has said the Trump administration has helped Europe “wake up” and stop “hitting the snooze button”, in remarks to Euronews. Speaking on the…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Wednesday 18 February 2026

Updated 1250 Construction Boom Drives 17.6% Surge in Malta’s Waste to 3.5 Million Tonnes: Malta generated 3.5 million tonnes of solid waste in 2024, up 17.6% from 2023, largely driven…

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Malta News Briefing – Tuesday 17 February 2026

Morning Briefing Government Extends Clean Transport Schemes with €33 Million InvestmentThe Transport Ministry has announced an extension to seven financial schemes promoting cleaner and more sustainable transport systems. These initiatives…

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MMF applauds efforts cross-party initiative for island-clause in EU climate laws

The Malta Maritime Forum has applauded the joint initiative undertaken by Maltese Members of the European Parliament Peter Agius and Thomas Bajada who recently called for the introduction of an…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Monday 16 February 2026

Updated 1230 Malta’s FDI Stock Reaches €485.1bn by Mid-2025: Malta’s stock of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) stood at €485.1 billion at the end of June 2025, up €18.9 billion year-on-year,…

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Malta News Briefing – Saturday 14 February 2026

Morning Briefing Maltese Citizens Concerned Over Security Amid Global TensionsA recent Flash Eurobarometer survey shows that 60% of people in Malta believe the country faces security threats due to global…

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NATO will become more European-led, NATO Chief Rutte says

The NATO alliance will become more European-led, with a continuing strong presence of the United States, as European allies significantly increase military spending, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on…

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Second US aircraft carrier to head to Middle East amid Iran tensions

The U.S. is sending a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East amid tensions with Iran, U.S. media outlets reported late on Thursday. The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Friday 13 February 2026

Updated 0930 Youths’ Home Loans Jump 32% as Property Prices Surge: Young people in Malta are taking on significantly higher home loans, with Central Bank data showing the median loan…

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The Netherlands is in the grip of a winter flu epidemic

The Netherlands is officially in the grip of a flu epidemic, as the number of people who visited their family doctor with flu-like symptoms rises for two weeks in a…

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Storm Fronts Lash Italy, Spain and Portugal With Snow, Floods and High Winds

Severe weather conditions are continuing to affect several parts of southern Europe, triggering transport disruption, infrastructure damage and safety warnings as authorities brace for further deterioration in conditions. In Italy,…

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UK Finance Minister Urges EU to Admit Britain to ‘Made in Europe’ Framework

Britain should be part of any “Made in Europe” club giving preference to European goods, the U.K.’s finance chief has said. Rachel Reeves said she was in favor of the…

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Sweden to send fighter jets to patrol around Greenland as part of NATO’s Arctic Sentry

Sweden will patrol around Iceland and Greenland with Gripen fighter jets as part of NATO's Arctic Sentry mission, it said on Thursday. NATO said on Wednesday it had launched the…

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Train and airport strikes in Italy to disrupt thousands of travellers this month

Travellers to Italy should prepare for disruption to flights and rail services this month. Nationwide strikes will hit air transport on 16 February, while trains across the country will be…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Thursday 12 February 2026

Updated 1205€1m Fraud Case Sparks Scrutiny of BOV Security Controls: A €1 million fraud affecting 200 victims has raised concerns over local banks’ safeguards, with former journalist Norman Vella accusing…

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North Korea’s Kim positioning daughter as successor

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appears to be taking steps to consolidate his daughter's position as successor, and there are signs she is providing input on policy matters, South…

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German government pushes Syrians to return to their homeland

Last year, 5,976 Syrians applied for voluntary repatriation to Syria, which was funded by the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), submitting all the necessary documents. Of these,…

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Europol Operation Blocks €1.2 Billion in Fake Banknotes, With China-Linked Shipments Under Scrutiny

Law enforcement authorities from 18 countries have stopped an estimated EUR 1.2 billion in counterfeit banknotes and coins from entering circulation during Operation DECOY III, a Europol-coordinated action led by…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Wednesday 11 February 2026

Updated 1200 Ryanair Adds Ninth Malta Aircraft, Targets 6 Million Passengers in 2026: Ryanair will base a ninth aircraft in Malta for Summer 2026, launching four new routes to Gothenburg,…

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Malta News Briefing – Tuesday 10 February 2026

Morning Briefing Malta’s Trade Gap Narrows Sharply in DecemberMalta’s trade deficit narrowed significantly in December, according to provisional data published by the National Statistics Office on Monday. The trade gap…

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Home ownership in Malta declines, approaches EU average

Home ownership in Malta continued to decline, Eurostat data shows, with the island's housing landscape approaching the European Union average. About 68.1% of residents in Malta live in owner-occupied homes,…

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UK Labour veteran tells MPs removing Starmer would be a bad idea

Veteran Labour minister Jacqui Smith backed Keir Starmer on Monday, warning MPs and Cabinet colleagues against plotting to remove him as prime minister. Smith, who served under Tony Blair and…

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Takaichi’s landslide victory: A New Era for Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has reaffirmed her commitment to reducing the sales tax on food, following a landmark election win that paves the way for new stimulus measures. The…

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Prince Andrew’s Epstein Fallout: Latest Revelations Explained

The 65-year-old second son of the late Queen Elizabeth, Prince Andrew, is once again under the spotlight following new revelations from the recently released Epstein files. Despite consistently denying any…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Monday 9 February 2026

Updated 1045 Grand Harbour Revival Could Be Completed Within 15 Years, Architects Say: The architects behind the Grand Harbour Revival Plan say the large-scale redevelopment could be completed within 15…

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William and Catherine say they are ‘deeply concerned’ in first statement on Epstein revelations

The Prince and Princess of Wales have said they are “deeply concerned” by the latest revelations surrounding Jeffrey Epstein, marking their first public statement on the ongoing scandal. A Kensington…

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Hong Kong Media Tycoon Jimmy Lai Sentenced to 20 Years Amid Beijing’s Crackdown

Former Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been given a 20-year prison sentence. This concludes a legal saga that symbolizes Beijing’s broad clampdown on civil liberties in the city.…

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Venezuelan Opposition Ally Kidnapped After Prison Release

María Corina Machado is a prominent figure in Venezuela’s opposition. She has reported that one of her closest associates, Juan Pablo Guanipa, was abducted. This occurred mere hours after his…

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Seguro Clinches Portuguese Presidency with Landslide Victory

António José Seguro, representing Portugal’s centre-left Socialist Party, has decisively won the presidential election, securing 66.7% of the vote compared to André Ventura of the far-right Chega party, who garnered…

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Starmer’s Chief of Staff Resigns Amid Mandelson Controversy

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government is facing turmoil after the resignation of Downing Street chief of staff Morgan McSweeney over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington.…

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Portugal’s Pivotal Presidential Election: Socialist vs. Far-Right

Portugal is voting in a decisive second round of its presidential election, as centre-left Socialist candidate António José Seguro faces off against far-right populist André Ventura. The election, overshadowed by…

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Dignitaries and Performances at Milano Cortina 2026

The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics officially commenced with a dazzling opening ceremony at Milan’s iconic San Siro Stadium on Friday. The three-hour show featured performances by international stars including…

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Malta News Briefing – Saturday 7 February 2026

Saharan Dust Pushes Air Pollution Far Above WHO Limits in MaltaMalta has been blanketed in Saharan dust over recent days, with air pollution levels soaring to more than six times…

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Italian police to get new arrest powers

Italian police will be able to detain suspected troublemakers temporarily before street rallies to prevent them from spreading unrest under a new law-and-order decree adopted on Thursday by Prime Minister…

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Spain’s youth minister floats countrywide ban on X

Spain’s youth minister has intensified Madrid's clash with Big Tech after suggesting the country may need to curb — or even ban — access to Elon Musk’s social media platform…

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Russian general hospitalized after ‘several shots’ in Moscow

A Russian general was shot at an apartment building in Moscow on Friday and taken to a hospital, Russian officials said. Investigative Committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko said in a statement that "an…

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US calls for new multilateral arms control agreement following new START expiry

The United States on Friday called for a new arms control agreement after the treaty that set caps on Russian and U.S. strategic nuclear weapons deployments expired on Thursday. Russia…

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Malta News Briefing – Friday 6 February 2026

Morning Briefing Blanket Working Hour Cuts Risk Jobs and Competitiveness, Employers SayMalta Employers has warned that blanket or economy-wide reductions in working hours could undermine competitiveness and threaten jobs. While…

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Italy probes 80-year-old over alleged Sarajevo ‘sniper tourism’

Milan prosecutors have placed an elderly Italian man under investigation as part of an investigation into alleged "sniper tourism" in Sarajevo in the 1990s, two sources with direct knowledge of…

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55,000 Ukrainians killed in war against Russia, Zelensky says

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky told French broadcaster France 2 last night that the number of Ukrainian soldiers killed on the battlefield as a result of the country’s war with Russia…

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Blanket reductions in working hours will undermine competitiveness and jobs – Malta Employers

The Malta Employers' Association is in favour of flexible working arrangements and has an open mind about the concept of a four-day week, when this is viable for a given…

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New START nuclear treaty expires, removing key constraints on Russia and US

Russia and the United States are no longer bound by any limits on the size of their strategic nuclear arsenals after their last arms control treaty expired on Thursday with…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Thursday 5 February 2026

Updated 1000 Malta Lags EU on Cancer Drug Access as Unions Warn Over Health Risks: Malta reimburses just 16% of cancer medicines through the national health service, compared with full…

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