News

New Dutch PM Jetten faces uphill task as minority government installed

Rob Jetten became the youngest prime minister in Dutch history on Monday when his minority government was formally confirmed in power by King Willem-Alexander. Jetten, 38, propelled his progressive, pro-EU…

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A year of upheaval sets the stage for Trump’s State of the Union address

U.S. President Donald Trump will use his State of the Union address on Tuesday to sell his turbulent, norm-breaking second term to American voters who will decide in November whether…

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Zelenskiy marks war anniversary vowing to fight on, with Ukraine’s allies divided

Ukraine will not betray the sacrifices made by its people in four years of war just to make peace with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy vowed on Tuesday, as divisions among…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Tuesday 24 February 2026

Updated 1145 Judge Mintoff Accuses PM Abela of Bias Over Chief Justice Post: Judge Lawrence Mintoff has accused Prime Minister Robert Abela of prejudice in a letter to the Cabinet…

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US pulling non-essential staff from embassy in Beirut amid Iran tensions

The State Department is pulling out non-essential government personnel and their eligible family members from the U.S. embassy in Beirut, a senior State Department official said, amid growing concerns about…

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Sarandos Rejects Trump Call to Oust Susan Rice as Netflix Faces $83bn Merger Showdown

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos has dismissed President Donald Trump’s demand that the streaming giant remove former national security adviser Susan Rice from its board, as the company battles for regulatory…

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Updated – News Briefing – Monday 23 February 2026

Updated MMH Eyes €15m Bond Repayment Backed by New 49% Investor Deal: Mediterranean Maritime Hub Finance PLC (MMH) says it expects to generate sufficient cash flow to repay its €15…

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Iceland Weighs August Referendum to Revive EU Membership Talks Amid Security Concerns

Iceland could hold a referendum as early as August on restarting EU accession talks, accelerating a pledge to vote by 2027. The move comes amid shifting geopolitical dynamics, including renewed…

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Malta News Briefing – Saturday 21 February 2026

Morning Briefing Court rejects Muscat’s human rights claim over hospitals inquiryA Maltese court has dismissed a human rights case filed by former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, who argued he was…

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Jeffrey Epstein’s estate agrees to pay up to $35m to settle survivors’ lawsuit

Jeffrey Epstein’s estate has agreed to pay up to $35 million to settle a class-action lawsuit accusing two of his longtime advisers of aiding and abetting his sex trafficking of…

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Climber convicted of manslaughter after leaving girlfriend on Austria’s highest peak to seek help

An Austrian court has convicted amateur mountaineer Thomas P, 37, of gross negligence manslaughter for leaving his girlfriend behind on Austria’s highest mountain, the Grossglockner, during a failed climb in…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Friday 20 February 2026

Updated 1437 Government puts forward Miriam Hayman's name for Chief Justice - reports The government has put forward Judge Miriam Hayman as its nominee for Malta’s next chief justice. The…

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Spain’s Sánchez defies Washington as domestic popularity surges

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is walking a fine line between rising popularity at home and growing tension abroad, as his refusal to align with key US positions cements his…

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Indonesia and Morocco Commit Troops for Gaza Stabilisation Force

Indonesia and Morocco have pledged to send personnel to the newly proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF) in Gaza, according to US Army General Jasper Jeffers, who heads the initiative under…

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Malta Marathon: motorists advised to plan ahead as 7,000 athletes take to the roads

Malta is preparing for a major sporting weekend as the 41st LifeStar Malta Marathon opens the 2026 Running Europe Tour this Sunday. This year’s edition has drawn a record 7,000…

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Trump orders government release of UFO records

US President Donald Trump has directed federal agencies, including the Pentagon, to begin identifying and releasing government records related to unidentified flying objects (UFOs), unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) and possible…

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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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