European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has urged European countries to close golden passports loopholes which are allowing Russians to gain more than a foothold in Europe.In her speech to the European Council on Thursday, Metsola said that &ld...

Russia was stripped of hosting the Champions League final by UEFA on Friday with St. Petersburg replaced by Paris after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.The men's final will still be held on May 28 but now at the 80,000-seat Stade de France after the dec...

Russia pressed its invasion of Ukraine to the outskirts of the capital Friday after unleashing airstrikes on cities and military bases and sending in troops and tanks from three sides in an attack that could rewrite the global post-Cold War security ...

World leaders Thursday condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine as “barbaric” and quickly slapped heavy sanctions on the Russian economy, President Vladimir Putin's inner circle and many of the country's oligarchs.“Putin chose this wa...

After months of defending the project and hinting that the government would steamroll ahead with the development, the Prime Minister announced on Tuesday that the proposed Marsascala marina has been scrapped. The country breathed a collective sigh of...

The Nationalist Party has launched its manifesto for the upcoming general elections during the party’s general council on Thursday night.The 200 or so page document sets out the party’s vision for the country across 30 points which encaps...

BEIJING — China is holding back from labeling Russia’s attack on Ukraine an invasion.At the same time, it is upholding the sanctity of territorial sovereignty, in a nod to its own insistence that Taiwan is part of China.“The soverei...

PN leader Bernard Grech has said that a change in vision for the country can only be achieved through a change in government, and that the PN is best place to offer that change.Grech was speaking at the party’s general council which on Thursday...

Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne took aim at the Nationalist Party’s proposals, stating that they are effectively “debt directives” which will negatively affect the country’s finances. Fearne stated that the Labour Part...

A Transport Malta official has reportedly been arrested by police over allegations of sexual harassment.MaltaToday quoted sources on Thursday, saying that the official – who was described as being close to the Labour Party – was arrested ...

More restrictions are to be eased as from 7 March as Malta gets on with its Covid exit roadmap, Health Minister Chris Fearne said Thursday.Addressing journalists during a press conference which involved the inauguration of another health centre in G&...

Barcelona found its scoring touch again to reach the round of 16 of the Europa League with a 4-2 win over Napoli on Thursday, while Rangers knocked out Borussia Dortmund in Glasgow.Frenkie de Jong scored with a long-range curler and newly signed stri...

The PN’s proposal to give a second chance to people who commit a contravension is in line with what the courts already do with some serious offenders, depending on circumstances, PN Leader Bernard Grech said on Thursday.Speaking in Birzebbugia,...

The government will be cushioning any increase in the prices of oil and gas that may come as a result of the Ukraine crisis, Finance Minister Clyde Caruana has announced.In a video on social media, Caruana referred to the invasion of Ukraine by Russa...

The United States is worried that Russia might be attempting to use Malta as a naval base “for its malign activities in the Mediterranean region”, a report in The Telegraph says.The report, “Why Vladimir Putin is taking his big gamb...

95 new cases of Covid-19 were registered on Thursday, while 106 people recovered.This brings the number of active cases down to 733.There are 44 patients with Covid-19 at Mater Dei Hospital, three of whom are in the ITU.No new Covid-related deaths ha...

Russia launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine on Thursday, hitting cities and bases with airstrikes or shelling, as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee. Ukraine's government said Russian tanks and troops rolled across the border in a "ful...

It was not a surprise that some Nationalist MPs withdrew their candidacy for the upcoming election. The internal strife that the PN continues to face did not subside with the change of leadership.One has to make a distinction between the decision tak...

The European Union is planning the “strongest, the harshest package” of sanctions it has ever considered at an emergency Thursday, as the Russian military attacked Ukraine.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that &ldqu...

The Malta Union of Teachers has come up with proposals for political parties ahead of the upcoming general elections.The MUT wants political parties to have education as a central theme in their agendas.A document listing 60 proposals, entitled Malta...

Fighting corruption, Malta’s removal from the FATF grey list and planning and construction issues may be at the top of certain politicians’ agenda but they are certainly not the top priorities for the public, according to recent research....

The Nationalist Party has proposed 12 measures for the protection of animals that would be implemented if elected as government, including the development of the pet cemetery project.The 12 proposals would seek to address particular challenges such a...

Almost 10% of respondents in a survey commissioner by Faculty for Social Wellbeing said feel that walking alone at night in their neighbourhood is very dangerous. Less than half, 46.2%, said they feel safe. The survey, commissioned by the University ...

President George Vella, Prime Minister Robert Abela, Opposition Leader Bernard Grech, EP President Roberta Metsola and ADPD have condemned the attack on Ukraine by the Russian forces on Thursday.Russian troops launched their anticipated attack on Ukr...

A new Nationalist government would set up a digital system which would automatically freeze traffic contraventions for six months. If during the period of six months, no other offense would be committed, the contravention would be waived, Opposition ...

In the next legislature, there are more plans for pensions to be increased further as the Labour Party believes that the elderly deserve to have a better quality of life, PL Leader Robert Abela said on Wednesday.Speaking in Mellieha, Abela said the p...

Prime Minister Robert Abela will skip campaigning on Thursday and will instead attend an urgent EU meeting on the situation in Ukraine, according to reports.The PM was scheduled to address a political activity in Birzebbugia, but will have to miss it...

Former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat was spotted at a Labour Party activity in Marsaxlokk this morning, as reports circulate that he has started offering endorsements to certain PL candidates.Nationalist media house NET News uploaded a picture of Musc...

There are no negotiations currently taking place between the government and Steward Health Care Malta over the hospitals concession agreement, a spokesperson for the company confirmed with The Malta Independent.The government had often said that it w...

A woman was taken to hospital with grievous injuries after she was hit by a car on Wednesday morning, the police said.The woman, aged 31 of St Paul’s Bay, was hit by a Kia Picanto driven by an 84-year-old man of Sliema.The accident happened in ...

Opposition Leader Bernard Grech on Wednesday did not exclude the possibility that Franco Debono would contest the election as a PN candidate.Asked by Newsbook during a press conference, Grech said he did not “exclude any candidature.”&ldq...

Lawyers for Yorgen Fenech have told a judge this morning that their client had taken so much cocaine before his arrest that even after his arrest, he had tested positive in drug tests for a month.Madam justice Edwina Grima continued to hear Fenech&rs...

Two more people have died while positive for Covid-19, taking Malta’s death toll over the 600 mark, health authorities announced on Wednesday.Authorities said that a 90-year-old woman and a 72-year-old man had died while positive for the virus,...

 Atlético Madrid got nearly everything it wanted against Manchester United in the Champions League on Wednesday — except for the win.Atlético kept old foe Cristiano Ronaldo in check and got a stellar performance from his Port...

Liverpool hasn’t been this close to Manchester City since Christmas Day.The gap is now down to three points in the Premier League title race — which once looked heavily in favor of City — after Liverpool demolished Leeds 6-0 on Wedn...

Tuesday’s PL decision to scrap plans for a yacht marina in Marsascala is just another U-turn, said PN MP Robert Cutajar during a press conference on Wednesday. Speaking in Marsascala, Cutajar said that the planned marina should never happe...

In the case George Borg Marks and Joan Borg Marks (the “Plaintiffs”) vs. Yolo Properties Limited (the “Defendant”), Honourable Judge Audrey Demicoli examined the notion of latent defects, the period within which a claim for la...

The Labour Party is pledging to give €1,000 per year to first-time buyers for 10 years from when they have bought their home.Prime Minister and PL leader Robert Abela announced the proposal while addressing a press conference on Wednesday mornin...

The PN still believes in a permanent link between Malta and Gozo, but party leader Bernard Grech has said that it should be up to the Gozitans to decide on whether it is to be done after having had full exposure of all the necessary studies.Grech ann...

Sébastien Haller can't stop scoring in the Champions League. He now has 11 goals in seven matches for Ajax — and one for Benfica.Haller scored for both teams Wednesday as Benfica came from behind twice to hold Ajax to a 2-2 draw in the f...

The court case launched regarding the cancellation of the hospital concession agreement (which had been filed by PN MP Adrian Delia) is in its final stages, Prime Minister Robert Abela has said. "Whatever the decision taken by the court is, we must r...

Eurowings and the Lufthansa Group have decided to establish the Maltese company Eurowings Europe Ltd. in March 2022 and to apply for an Air Operator Certificate in the country, Eurowings told The Malta Independent.Eurowings is a Lufthansa subsidiary....

Arnold Cassola, independent candidate for the 10th and 11th districts, today presented an open letter to the Prime Minister on what he described as “filth going on in Transport Malta”.In this letter, Cassola wrote that, apart from the cor...

Prime Minister Robert Abela said that the scrapping of the Marsascala marina project is not a vote of no confidence in Minister Ian Borg, who was defending the project until last week.On Tuesday, Abela said that the government was cancelling the plan...

Foreign Affairs Minister Evarist Bartolo has inaugurated the Maltese consulate in Casablanca, as Malta and Morocco seek to strengthen ties.During a visit to the North African country, Bartolo and his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser BouritaSaid the two c...

Europe braced for further confrontation Wednesday and Ukraine urged its citizens to leave Russia after tensions escalated dramatically when Russia's leader got the OK to use military force outside his country and the West responded with a r...

World leaders sought Wednesday to back up their tough words over Russia's aggression against Ukraine, announcing financial sanctions, trade and travel bans and other measures meant to pressure Moscow to pull back from the brink of war.Even as th...

The Aditus Foundation has presented a document with recommendations to political parties, in the hope that they will be included in the electoral programmes.The recommendations have been made in the areas of rule of law, democratic institutions, asyl...

Prime Minister Robert Abela announced on Tuesday evening that after numerous discussions held with Infrastructure Minister Ian Borg as well as Marsascala residents, the Marsascala yacht marina plan has been scrapped.The project has been the topic of ...

Nationalist Party leader Bernard Grech said on Tuesday that the PN, alongside NGOs, local councils and pressure groups, have succeeded in pressuring the government to finally stop the Marsascala yacht marina project.Prime Minister Robert Abela announ...

The Labour Party and the Nationalist Party came out with their first major proposal on Monday, and both hit the ground running.The PN have pledged to invest €1 billion to generate 10 new economic sectors. This is a large amount of money. Ha...

Nationalist Party leader Bernard Grech said that he has not asked any electoral candidates to leave the party or not to contest the upcoming general election.He made this statement while maintaining that he wanted new faces and a youthful element in ...

PL Leader Robert Abela has a 22.2% advantage over PN Leader Bernard Grech in terms of who people think is the best person to lead the country, the results of a survey released by statistician Vince Marmara reads.The survey was carried out between 17 ...

A Labour Party in government pledges to widen the tax bands to leave €66 million in people’s pockets, Prime Minister Robert Abela said.This will be the largest ever widening of the tax bands, which will hit mostly people with low and mediu...

Prime Minister Robert Abela was coy when asked whether he would be involving Joseph Muscat in his electoral campaign, saying that – unlike the PN – he does not reject those whom he disagrees with. Abela was very cautious in answering...

A new Nationalist government will give an annual grant of €300 to parents of students under the age of 18 who take part in a structured extracurricular programme, Opposition Leader Bernard Grech said on Tuesday.The programme must be registered w...

An investment of almost €40 million in the construction of a new apron, which will equip the airport with the aerodrome infrastructure needed to handle future growth, was today given the green light by Malta International Airport's Board of Dire...

The tax refund and supplementary cheques promised in February will be distributed before election day, said Prime Minister Robert Abela on Tuesday.Asked by The Malta Independent whether the distribution of the two "gifts" from the government during t...

Dusan Vlahovic needed just 31 seconds to show Europe why Juventus chose him to fill the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo.The Serbia striker had a dream debut in the Champions League on Tuesday, scoring a superb goal after his first contact with the bal...

Chelsea could rely on Christian Pulisic and Kai Havertz for goals with misfiring Romelu Lukaku rested.The London club resumed its Champions League title defense by cruising to a 2-0 victory over Lille on Tuesday to take control of the round of 16 mat...

Today, ADPD - The Green Party Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo introduced the election campaign theme and slogan: Xkupa Ħadra Tnaddaf - Green Sweeps Clean.The country requires a good clean-up, he said. "Our message is one which proposes a commi...

Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Britain is slapping sanctions on five Russian banks and three wealthy individuals over Russia’s latest military moves on Ukraine.Johnson told lawmakers that sanctions would hit Rossiya Bank, IS Bank, General Ba...

Opposition Leader Bernard Grech said that he will sack anyone who taunted outgoing MP Mario Galea with his medical condition.Grech was reacting to a report in which Galea told MaltaToday that people close to the leadership "called out my mental healt...

Ninety new Covid-19 cases were recorded Tuesday, with one more death.With 91 patients who recovered, the number of active cases dipped by one, to 763.In all, there are 50 patients in hospital, of whom three are in intensive care.The latest victim is ...

Malta has condemned the decision of the Russian Federation to formally recognise the independence of the non-government controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk. This decision is a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, is ...

Plans for the site of the former Jerma Palace Hotel will not see an emphasis placed on building height, meaning that Marsascala’s St. Thomas Tower will be visible from the sea, the locality’s mayor Mario Calleja has been told.Asked about ...

Russia announced Tuesday that its recognition of independence for areas in eastern Ukraine extends to territory currently held by Ukrainian forces — further raising the stakes amid Western fears that Moscow a full-fledged invasion of Ukraine is...

Cheekily, someone on the social media asked whether Pope Francis will be addressing a mass meeting held to celebrate the election victory when he comes to Malta, just one week after the Maltese decide which political party will lead them for the next...

Reported profit before tax for HSBC Malta for the year ended 31 December 2021 was €26.9m. This represents an increase of €16.4m or 157% compared to prior year, the bank said in a statement. Adjusted profit before tax of €29.7m increase...

Almost a third of respondents in a Malta Communications Authority survey reported an increase in the number of parcel mail items received in the preceding 12 months, up from 27% in 2018.The main reason behind this increased parcel activity is the pre...

An American officer of Maltese descent was the only victim of a helicopter crash in California on Sunday.Nicholas Vella, a 14-year veteran, died in the crash, police Chief Eric Parra said Saturday night. Vella, 44 and of Maltese descent, leaves behin...

The Electoral Commission notifies voters registered in Gozo and who wish to collect their voting document/s from Malta and, vice-versa, voters registered in Malta wishing to collect their documents from Gozo, that they need to submit their written re...

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is scrapping the last domestic coronavirus restrictions in England, including the requirement for people with COVID-19 to self-isolate, even as he acknowledged Monday the potential for new and more deadly variants...

This Feb. 22, the world hits an unprecedented milestone. It’s the date itself: 2/22/22. And this so-called “Twosday” falls on a Tuesday, no less. It’s true the number pattern stands out, impossible to miss. But does it mean an...

Opposition Leader Bernard Grech said on Monday that Prime Minister Robert Abela announced a general election because he feared that the Labour Party would lose the majority vote.Grech was addressing a PN activity in Valletta.He reiterated the Nationa...

President George Vella has urged electoral candidates to honest and transparent about what they represent, and called on voters to fulfil their democratic right and vote in favour of the common good, not “sectoral or personal interests.”I...

Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Monday that the Labour Party campaign for the upcoming election has the sole aim of increasing the investment the government makes into the people. Addressing a political event in Qormi, he stated that a clear...

PN MP Claudio Grech said Monday he will not be contesting the upcoming general election in order to make space for newer candidates.He was the fourth MP to announce that he is pulling out of the election. The announcement was made during a PN ac...

The Labour Party has increased support over the 2017 general election, while the PN has lost further ground, according to an election survery by statistician Vince Marmara.The survey, the first to be released by Marmara in this election campaign, giv...

Former Nationalist Party Secretary General Clyde Puli and his fellow PN MPs Kristy Debono and Mario Galea have announced that they will not be contesting the forthcoming general election.Puli had already been listed on the PN’s website as a can...

A long-feared Russian invasion of Ukraine appeared to be imminent Monday, if not already underway, with Russian President Vladimir Putin ordering forces into separatist regions of eastern Ukraine.A vaguely worded decree signed by Putin did not say if...

Substitute Victor Osimhen headed in a late equalizer and Napoli drew at relegation-threatened Cagliari 1-1 on Monday to move within two points of the Serie A lead.Cagliari dominated for long periods before Osimhen redirected a long cross from Mario R...

Those eligible to vote in the upcoming 2022 general election can travel to Malta to cast their vote for €90 via Air Malta, the Department of Information has announced.In a statement on Monday, the DOI said that Air Malta will be making available...

The Court of Criminal Appeal has once again denied bail to brothers George and Alfred Degiorgio, who are indicted for carrying out the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia 2017, saying the risk of public disorder should they be released...

Two more Covid-19 related deaths were recorded Monday, as the number of victims climbs to 598.The latest two victims were two men aged 68 and 78.The number of new cases registered Monday was 74, with 123 people who recovered.This brings the total num...

ADPD - The Green Party has officially announced its list of candidates for the 2022 election.District 1Dr Anthony ButtigiegDistrict 2Mario MalliaDistrict 3Brian DecelisDistrict 4Perit Carmel Cacopardo and Brian DecelisDistrict 5Dr Melissa BagleyDistr...

Nazzareno Bonnici, better known as Żaren tal-Ajkla, will be returning to the ballot sheet in the 2022 general election as a candidate.He will be a candidate on the 3rd and 13th districts.“I am proud to be among the big parties, and I am re...

Two elderly men were injured in a multi-car crash in Valletta on Monday morning.Police said in a statement that they were informed of a traffic accident involving a number of cars at around 11:15 on Monday in Triq Papa Piju V in Valletta.Preliminary ...

A pilot scheme, ‘Irrinova Darek’, for the renovation of privately-owned residential buildings will promote the sustainable regeneration of residential buildings of the Maltese islands and further safeguard our built heritage.Thi...

The Labour Party has expanded on its €700 million green spaces proposal during a press conference on Monday.This investment will lead to, among other things, St Anne's Street in Floriana being turned into a public garden and traffic being redire...

Opposition Leader Bernard Grech said Monday that a Nationalist government will obtain half of the €1 billion to be invested in the generation of 10 new economic sectors from public funds.Addressing his first press conference of the 2022 election...

Daren Debono has been jailed for six months and fined €4,600 for refusing to honour the conditions of his plea deal. His lawyer, Edward Gatt, gave notice of appeal as the sentence was handed down by Magistrate Victor Axiak this morning.Daren Deb...

Gozo has gone from "one extreme to another": from seeing a lack of investment a few years ago, to being overtaken by overdevelopment in the present day, Munxar Mayor Damien Spiteri has said.Spiteri was speaking during an interview with The Malta Inde...

Meikayla Moore scored a hat trick against the U.S. — of own goals.A perfect hat trick entirely in the first half: left foot, right foot and header.“She had a tough day at the office," New Zealand coach Jitka Klimkova said after the Americ...

Commissioner for Animal Welfare Alison Bezzina has called for increased awareness about the prejudices surrounding pitbulls after Foreign Affairs Minister Evarist Bartolo compared the canine breed with violent connotations."Will you vote for a pitbul...

Total outbound tourist trips between January and December 2021 numbered 303,067, an increase of 54.2% over 2020, the National Statistics Office said in a statement.The statistics relate to outbound tourism, which comprises of the activities of Maltes...

Robert Abela on Sunday finally sounded the starting claxon for Malta’s 2022 general election.  We knew it was coming – we just didn’t know exactly when.Now, after weeks, or months actually, of speculation, we know that Malta wi...

Prime Minister Robert Abela this evening presented what he said were the Labour Party’s first five proposals it pledges to carry out if elected to govern the country again.In a press conference given hours after he announced that the election w...

The Nationalist Party has pledged to allocate a billion euros to create 10 new economic sectors as its first electoral pledge.The Nationalist Party held a rally for its supporters on Sunday evening in what can be viewed as the official opening of its...

Prime Minister Robert Abela has finally revealed that Malta will go to the polls on Saturday 26 March, in just over a month’s time.The announcement came while Abela was addressing the Labour Party faithful in a political rally on the Granaries ...