Malta’s fertility rate as a nation, at 1.11 in 2024, marks it as the lowest birth rate in the European Union, Archbishop Charles Scicluna noted as he delivered his homily on the 50th anniversary of the Republic of Malta.Sixty years ago, he rema...

A man found guilty of attempted murder by a jury was sentenced to a 32-year imprisonment term on Thursday.Paul Borg, of Ħaż-Żebbuġ, was convicted by a jury of attempting to kill Mario Grech in 2020, and of causing him grievou...

The police have arrested two people, three days after the dismembered body parts of a man were found in a suitcase floating at sea off the Sliema Ferries promenade.In a statement, the police said that "intensive investigations led to the police arres...

The Nationalist Party said in a statement that it is extremely concerned about the drug situation in Malta, saying that the recent murder – which saw an unidentified man found dismembered in a suitcase with 101 drug capsules in his stomach &nda...

“The Republic of Malta is sick,” the ADPD-The Green Party Chairperson Sandra Gauci said on the 50th anniversary of the Republic of Malta. “Whilst we celebrate this historical national milestone achieved 50 years ago, our county...

A mega-development proposed within Fort Chambray in Gozo and the dismantling of a British barracks building within the same complex has been approved by the Planning Authority. Both – which were separate applications – were approved by a ...

A five-storey development proposed alongside Mosta's Wied il-Ghasel has been refused by the Planning Authority Board.It was refused with a five to three majority during a sitting held on Thursday, having already been recommended for refusal by the Pl...

Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) said Friday it has secured a significant victory in its ongoing battle to protect Malta's cultural heritage as the Court has revoked the controversial permit PA/08677/21 to add six floors on Ramel Buildings...

NGO aditus expressed shock that a Syrian woman with a group of very young children is being detained at Safi Barracks."We are further shocked at the news that they have been locked up for around five days, and that the children (or at least some of t...

The Court of appeal has revoked the original permit for the Villa Rosa development.The application in question dealt with the renewal of an application that was approved in 2016. The description of works read:  "Demolition of all existing buildi...

The Malta Union of Teachers will be organising a demonstration with MCAST employees in relation to the fact that the government "is not willing to continue negotiations on the MCAST Collective Agreement which expired three years ago", the union said ...

In the third quarter of 2024, the number of job vacancies stood at 8,579, an increase of 7.1 per cent over the same period in 2023, the NSO said Thursday.This news release presents the findings of the Job Vacancy Survey (JVS), a quarterly enterprise-...

The European Central Bank has cut rates by a quarter percentage point amid signs of weakening growth and concern about the impact of political chaos in France and the possibility of new U.S. import tariffs.The bank's rate-setting committee made the d...

Valletta Empire Pharmacy (Branch), 46 Triq Melita; Marsa Vivien Pharmacy, Triq Patri Magri; Qormi Evans Pharmacy, 96/98, Triq San Bastjan; Birkirkara Brown's Pharmacy, 32, Triq Fleur-de-Lys; Swatar Collis Williams - St. Mark's Pharmacy, Triq P. ...

The last time Italy played at a men's World Cup, Giorgio Chiellini was bitten by Luis Suárez and minutes later the four-time champion was dumped out at the group stage by Uruguay.On Friday, more than a decade on from that dramatic 20...

Rasmus Hojlund scored twice after coming off the bench and Manchester United rallied to beat Viktoria Plzen 2-1 in the Europa League on Thursday.The Denmark striker netted in the 88th minute after collecting Bruno Fernandes' pass off a free kick to s...

Nationalist Party MPs Ivan Castillo, Graziella Attard Previ, and Ian Vassallo have submitted a private members' anti-bullying bill in Parliament on Wednesday, Castillo said during a conference in Parliament alongside Attard Previ.Castillo remarked th...

The Corradino Correctional Facility has a shortage of correctional officers, the National Audit Office has found.The National Audit Office (NAO) conducted a follow-up review of the Corradino Correctional Facility, to determine whether recommendations...

Tertiary-level graduates totalled 5,833 during 2023 - an increase of 6.6 per cent over the previous year, the NSO said Thursday.This news release includes graduates from formal education programmes with a minimum duration of one semester of full-time...

So many activities and events are taking place all across Malta and Gozo as the country prepares to celebrate Christmas and the New Year.Apart from government-led initiatives, several local councils have also come up with their own ideas to hold publ...

Malta International Airport welcomed more than 8.3 million passengers between January and November this year, with the 8 millionth passenger milestone being reached for the first time in the airport's history on the 12th of November, 2024. "Mark...

The Court of Appeal has revoked a development permit that would have allowed developer Michael Stivala to build an 11-storey hotel in a residential area in Gzira, Moviment Graffitti said in a post on social media. "This hotel would have towered over ...

The Health Ministry on Wednesday said that the government had been proven right by an international arbiter in the case concerning the Paola Health Centre, which is yet to open its doors owing to a dispute with a contractor.In a statement, the Minist...

The uncertainty Malta College of the Arts, Science and Technology students are currently living in, including the repercussions on their mental health, has been highlighted in a petition MCAST lecturers have passed on to the government, college and u...

The first phase of the Msida Creek project, which started a few weeks ago, is proceeding at a fast pace, the Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure, and Public Works said in a statement on Wednesday.The Ministry said that the architects of the projec...

The National Audit Office has flagged limited internal controls and inadequate project management, in a report it submitted to the Speaker of the House on Wednesday.Auditor General Charles Deguara, presented the Annual Audit Report on the Public Acco...

A court has granted bail to a cleaner accused of vandalising the Grand Master's Palace, with strict conditions imposed on his whereabouts and a substantial amount of money to cover his bail deposit and personal guarantee.Amrit Bhatta, a 23-year-old c...

A woman was grievously injured on Wednesday morning in a fight between neighbours in Marsaxlokk, the police said.The incident took place in Lepanto Street at 8.15am.The woman, aged 30, was injured in the face by a pointed instrument.The police later ...

The Nationalist Party has labelled a report by the Labour Party's media that MP Joe Giglio had resigned as fake news.Labour and Super One cannot stoop any lower, and they seem to have no limits when it comes to lying, the PN said in a statement.Today...

Isabelle Bonnici, the mother of Jean Paul Sofia, has called on the Maltese government to introduce revised building codes.Sofia had died in a building collapse in 2022.Bonnici spoke during a round table discussion titled "Justice for Victims of Const...

Manchester City plunged deeper into trouble in the Champions League by losing 2-0 at Juventus on Wednesday, the latest setback in a scarcely believable run of poor results for the ailing English champions.City dropped to 22nd place in the 36-team sta...

New life is being breathed into the gardens adorning the 19th-century Villa Portelli in Kalkara through a joint collaboration between Project Green and Heritage Malta, the government said.The gardens of the historic property date back to the early Vi...

The Archdiocese of Malta and Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna (FWA) have reached an agreement for the study, conservation and restoration of St Barbara's Church in Valletta, a project expected to be completed in approximately five years. Situated on ...

Independent candidate Arnold Cassola has asked the Auditor General to investigate the lawyer who runs the Prime Minister's legal office after he was given a direct order to represent Festivals Malta to the tune of €17,000.In his letter, Cassola ...

A motorcyclist suffered serious injuries after losing control of his vehicle and crashing into a skip, the police said in a statement on Wednesday evening.The victim is a 54-year-old Englishman who lives in Mellieha and the incident happened at aroun...

Saudi Arabia has been officially confirmed by FIFA as host of the 2034 World Cup in men’s soccer, giving the oil-rich kingdom its biggest prize yet for massive spending on global sports driven by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.The Saudi bid w...

The first medical use of the direct helicopter link between Gozo and the Mater Dei Hospital was carried out on Tuesday 10th December 2024, Health Minister Jo Etienne Abela said on Wednesday. Detailing the situation, Abela said that a Gozitan patient ...

The company which operates the Lidl supermarket chain in Malta has concluded the purchase of the former General Soft Drinks factory for the princely sum of €12.75 million, a company announcement filed with the Malta Stock Exchange shows.The anno...

Israel carried out a wave of heavy airstrikes across Syria as its troops advanced deeper into the country, a Syrian opposition war monitor said Tuesday, and the Israeli defense minister announced that his forces had destroyed Syria's navy.I...

Labour MEP Daniel Attard has been unanimously appointed to the Steering Group of the European Parliament's Tourism Task Force. This cross-party endorsement underscores the trust placed in Attard's dedication to bolstering a sector pivotal to economic...

Health Minister Jo Etienne Abela has launched the long-awaited second National Strategy for the safeguarding of Sexual Health for 2025-2030 for public consultation, which includes recommendations such as adding the emergency contraceptive pill to the...

Principal Permanent Secretary Mr Tony Sultana appointed a new Permanent Secretary, after his nomination was approved by the Public Service Commission, and announced some changes in the responsibilities of other Permanent Secretaries.These changes wil...

In November 2024, the number of final deeds of sale and promise of sale agreements relating to residential property amounted to 997 and 1,165, respectively, the National Statistics Office (NSO) said.The number of final deeds of sale relating to resid...

We are in the middle of a legislature, getting closer and closer to Christmas, and yet we seem to be right in the middle of an election campaign.Both major parties are intent on trying to score points, issuing one statement after another, in reply to...

A total of 28,045 people acquired Maltese citizenship between 2013 and 2024.Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri divulged the details in response to a parliamentary question filed by PN MP Chris Said, asking how many people have been granted Maltese...

On 26th September 2024, the Second Chamber of the Court of Justice of the European Union (the "CJEU"), in Case C‑432/23, 'F SCS and Ordre des Avocats du Barreau de Luxembourg v Administration des Contributions Directes', addressed a request for...

The dismembered body found in a luggage off the Sliema Ferries promenade on Monday is that of a man aged between 40 and 60, police sources said.An autopsy carried out today revealed that the man's stomach contained drugs, TVM reports.TVM also reports...

A man who was vandalising the main staircase of the Grand Master's Palace in Valletta on Tuesday afternoon was caught in the act and arrested soon afterwards, Heritage Malta said.The man, employed by a contractor to carry out cleaning duties at the P...

Malta has temporarily suspended the examination and processing of new and existing asylum applications from Syrian nations.In a statement, Malta’s International Protection Agency said that the decision was being taken in light of recent events ...

A court of appeal has sentenced Elliott Paul Busuttil, aged 39 from Attard, to 35 years in prison for killing Mario Farrugia and attempted to kill Emil Marinov.The judgment was handed down by Mr Justice Neville Camilleri on Tuesday.Busuttil had alrea...

With continuous issues stopping the Paola health hub from coming into service, St Luke's Hospital remaining abandoned and Karin Grech Hospital waiting to be refurbished, it is no surprise that people don't want to work in the medical sector, PN MP Ad...

Real Madrid's big stars turned on the style to revive the Spanish giant's faltering Champions League title defense on Tuesday.Galacticos Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham all scored in a thrilling 3-2 win at Italian league ...

82% of people working in Malta work in the private sector as of April 2024, while only 18% worked in the public sector, Prime Minister Robert Abela said.Abela was replying to a parliamentary question filed by PN MP Ian Vassallo, where he asked for th...

A man was found guilty of an attempted murder in a trial by jury which ended on Monday. A sentence is expected on Thursday.Paul Borg, 68, was found guilty of trying to kill Mario Grech by throwing brick tiles at his neighbour's father as he stood on ...

St Edward's College, one of the oldest independent schools in Malta, has announced that the school will transition to a fully co-educational model starting in September 2025."This significant development marks the next chapter in the school's long an...

A working group has been established for the review of the Civil Code, the Ministry for Justice said in a statement on Tuesday. It said that this specialised body will be tasked with reviewing the laws within the Civil Code and the Code of Organisati...

Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri has tabled the second reading of the electronic monitoring bill in Parliament, as part of reforms aimed at creating more modern corrective legal systems. Camilleri spoke in Parliament on Monday, mentioning that t...

They came from all over Syria, tens of thousands. The first place they rushed to after the fall of their longtime tormentor, former President Bashar Assad, was here: Saydnaya Prison, a place so notorious for its horrors it was long known as "the...

A man suspected in the brazen Manhattan killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEO was arrested and charged with murder Monday after a quick-thinking McDonald's customer in Pennsylvania recognized him from a surveillance photo and police officers fo...

There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that, in terms of economic growth, Malta is doing well.Indeed just last week, S&P Global Ratings affirmed its 'A-/A-2' long- and short-term sovereign credit ratings on Malta, saying that the outlook remain...

The Access Bank UK Limited proudly announces the establishment of its first fully owned subsidiary in Malta, The Access Bank Malta Limited. The subsidiary's banking license application has been approved by both the European Central Bank (ECB) and the...

 Lawyer and former PN MP Jason Azzopardi has been charged with unauthorised filming inside the law courts.Azzopardi allegedly filmed Prime Minister Robert Abela and Justice Minister Jonathan Attard while speaking with aides inside the law c...

Culture Minister Owen Bonnici has revealed that the infamous Valletta Christmas tree that is placed in front of the Maltese Parliament cost the Valletta Cultural Agency €19,447, excluding value-added tax (VAT).The Minister for the National Herit...

The importance of local biodiversity, sustainability, and environmental education through creative expression was highlighted during an international initiative organised as part of the Global Network of Water Museums (WAMU-NET).The event, which saw ...

Ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad fled to Moscow and received asylum from his longtime ally, Russian media said Sunday, hours after a stunning rebel advance seized control of Damascus and ended his family's 50 years of iron rule.Thousa...

Health Minister Jo Etienne Abela said that government would extend the parameters of organ donation laws to introduce organ donation after circulatory deaths.Abela was speaking in parliament in reply to questions by PL MP Rosianne Cutajar, saying tha...

Two projects being led by the University of Malta benefitted from the government's financial support. Through the R&I investment scheme under the Energy and Water Agency, Teamwire and MaltaVGSS collectively received €400,000 in funding.Pro-R...

A body has been found in a suitcase in the sea off the Sliema Ferries promenade, the police have confirmed.The police were alerted to the scene when the suitcase was seen floating around at around 1.30pm, the police said in a statementUpon retrieving...

The Nationalist Party on Monday slammed a government decision to “increase private cars and worsen traffic” instead of investing in electric buses.“A few weeks after a budget that promised quality, and after more scandals involving ...

The Nationalist Party is showing its double standards, Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg has said, mentioning the PN's own "hypocritical" lack of transparency and good governance, despite its heavy criticism of the government, giving as an example the P...

The selling of Maltese citizenship must stop immediately as it is "a window for corruption and organised crime", Repubblika said in a statement on Monday.The NGO referred to a Times of Malta report which read that Semen Kusov, a Russian man who acqui...

A consultation with young people has resulted in important recommendations related to the Labour Migration Policy, Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Monday, adding that the recommendations will be included in the final document which will be publis...

NGO Din l-Art Ħelwa has told the Planning Authority that two applications dealing with Fort Chambray, that have both been recommended for approval, 'pose a serious threat to our cultural heritage'.The first application (PA 03884/23) proposes the...

Corinthia has announced "the rebirth and reopening" of Brussels' historic Grand Hotel Astoria after completing an extensive €150 million rebuild and restoration.The Corinthia Brussels, situated on Rue Royale, opens today amidst the Maltese group...

The situation surrounding the MCAST collective agreement negotiations seems to be getting worse, while a new trade dispute has now also been registered at ITS.The government and the Malta Union of Teachers cannot seem to finalise a collective agreeme...

The Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA) has ordered a total of five children's footwear products to be recalled by online platforms Shein and Temu after tests revealed these products to be non-compliant with the REACH Regulation ...

The APH Veterinary Hospital in Ta' Qali, which has been closed for over a year since August 2023, would have likely reopened by now had the government's proposed amendments of the hospital's emphyteusis gone through, Parliamentary Secretary for Fishe...

With reports indicating that this year's lampuki (dolphinfish) season has been considerably weak compared to other years, The Malta Independent on Sunday asked the Aquaculture and Fisheries Parliamentary Secretary, Alicia Bugeja Said, what the possib...

The Maltese public this weekend was given free entry to the Malta International Contemporary Arts Space (MICAS) where various activities such as live music and exhibitions were held.Between 7 and 8 December, the public had the opportunity to visit th...

The Nationalist Party is in the process of drafting a Private Member's Bill that would again propose changes to the composition of Parliament's Standards in Public Life Committee, PN spokesperson for Justice Karol Aquilina told The Malta Indepen...

The annual Christmas in the Park organised by the Environment Ministry has returned to the Salini National Park.The third edition of Christmas in the Park was officially launched by the Environment Minister Miriam Dalli, during which the Salini Park ...

With doors being smashed and roads closed-off during migrant raids, Beth Cachia of JRS Malta told The Malta Independent on Sunday that such aggressive immigration control is being made a "public spectacle" with the intention to drill the public into ...

Witnessing a traffic accident and feeling powerless to help is what inspired St John Malta Operations Commissioner Christopher Borg Cardona to learn first aid and rescue skills, he told The Malta Independent on Sunday. Borg Cardona said that he has b...

"As a small state with negligible military power and no imperialistic ambitions Malta needs to be active with likeminded states in pursuit of international peace, be a friend to all, a foe of none" - Roderick Pace, political scien...

1,676 officials from the Armed Forces of Malta, Police, Civil Protection Department, LESA, and Detention Services provided security services during the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting which took place this week in Malta, the Ministry for Home Affair...

The government has never had a plan except to seize things for itself, Nationalist Party Leader Bernard Grech said on Sunday as he made an appearance on party media.Grech remarked that the government has no plan to address the people's issues, and ad...

Beppe Fenech Adami said that doctors have told him that he has overcome cancer "after 10 years of therapy, medical interventions, a major operation, and 34 trips to a London hospital".The Nationalist Party MP announced this development on social medi...

Don't listen to Enzo Maresca. Chelsea really is a Premier League challenger this season.In a wild London derby, Chelsea conceded twice in the opening 11 minutes before recovering brilliantly for a 4-3 win at Tottenham to move four points be...

Danilo Cataldi texted hospitalized Fiorentina teammate Edoardo Bove to say that he would score for him Sunday and then fulfilled his promise in a 1-0 win over Cagliari on Sunday.It was Fiorentina's first Serie A match since Bove c...

Lando Norris ended McLaren's 26-year wait for the Formula 1 constructors' title as he won the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.There was drama at the start as champion Max Verstappen collided with Oscar Piastri's second-place Mc...

The Nationalist Party said that it is attentively following recent developments in Syria, particularly the fall of Damascus into the hands of rebel forces and reports that President Bashar al-Assad has fled the country. This marks a historic shift th...

Blaming the Nationalist Party is the easy way out.But anyone who puts political blinkers aside could certainly understand why the nomination of Edward Zammit Lewis as Malta's representative on the General Court of the European Union was never going t...

The Syrian government collapsed early Sunday, falling to a lightning rebel offensive that seized control of the capital of Damascus and sent crowds into the streets to celebrate the end of the Assad family's 50 years of iron rule.Syrian state te...

Pope Francis was seen with a significant bruise on his chin Saturday, but presided over a ceremony to install new cardinals without apparent problems.A Vatican spokesman said later Saturday that the bruise was caused by a contusion on Frida...

Pope Francis on Saturday installed 21 new cardinals, many of whom are key figures in his reform agenda: A Dominican preacher who acted as the spiritual father for Francis' recent gathering of bishops, a Neapolitan "street priest" like himself, a...

Heritage Malta has launched The Republic of Malta: The First Fifty Years, 1974-2024, an exhibition at the Grand Master's Palace in Valletta, commemorating five decades of the nation's journey as a republic. The exhibition runs until March 2025.H...

The Malta Union of Teachers has declared another trade dispute with the government, this time at the Institute of Tourism Studies.The unwarranted developments of this week when the Government chose to close negotiations at MCAST by refusing the claim...

S&P Global Ratings has affirmed its 'A-/A-2' long- and short-term sovereign credit ratings on Malta. The outlook remains stable.In their review published late on Friday, S&P noted that Malta's economy has continued to expand rapidly and that ...

Women survivors of violence, who benefited from Fondazzjoni Sebħ's support services, have opened up about the traumas they faced, underscoring financial stability as critical to escaping abusive relationships. Sharing their lived experiences of ...