Times of Malta: independent news, sport, opinion, top stories, jobs, reviews, obituary listings and classifieds from Malta's top newspaper and website. https://timesofmalta.com https://cdn-assets.timesofmalta.com/logos/RSS_logo.png https://timesofmalta.com en-gb Copyright 2026 Times of Malta. All rights reserved. Fri, 05 Jun 2026 19:19:13 +0200 Fri, 05 Jun 2026 19:19:13 +0200 2026-06-05T19:19:13Z en-gb Copyright 2026 Times of Malta. All rights reserved. https://timesofmalta.com/article/abela-calls-greater-cooperation-europe-faces-geopolitical-challenges.1129555 https://timesofmalta.com/article/abela-calls-greater-cooperation-europe-faces-geopolitical-challenges.1129555 Fri, 05 Jun 2026 19:17:00 +0200 Times of Malta European Union Robert Abela European Parliament Montenegro National Roberta Metsola Prime Minister Robert Abela is in Montenegro attend the EU-Western Balkans Summit discussing ways to further strengthen cooperation between the EU and the region. Photo: OPM Prime Minister tells EU-Western Balkans summit that closer ties are essential for security and stability As the complexities facing Europe increase in the face of the current geopolitical situation, the Prime Minister has urged an expansion of “cooperation with the wider world”.On his first overseas trip just days after returning to Castille, Robert Abela was in Montenegro to attend the European Union-Western Balkans Summit in Tivat.During the summit, leaders discussed... https://timesofmalta.com/article/clint-camilleri-hunting-trapping-minister-cabinet-portfolios.1129553 https://timesofmalta.com/article/clint-camilleri-hunting-trapping-minister-cabinet-portfolios.1129553 Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:58:00 +0200 Times of Malta Government National Clint Camilleri. Photo: Facebook List of cabinet responsibilities published in the Government Gazette Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri will continue to be politically responsible for oversight of hunting and trapping, details of ministers’ remits show.Camilleri, who is himself a trapper, has retained responsibility for Wild Birds Regulation and will therefore be in charge of the entity that drafts legislation for hunters and trappers, the WBRU.The Ornis Committee – an... https://timesofmalta.com/article/maltese-mep-secures-backing-higher-eu-funding-rate-islands.1129551 https://timesofmalta.com/article/maltese-mep-secures-backing-higher-eu-funding-rate-islands.1129551 Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:24:00 +0200 Matthew Bonanno European Parliament National Bajada made the case that Malta and other European islands cannot be treated in the same way as the rest of the continent. Photo: Facebook/Thomas Bajada Bajada says GDP alone fails to capture island costs Maltese MEP Thomas Bajada has secured European Parliament backing for a proposal that would see Malta and other EU islands benefit from a preferential 75% co-financing rate under the EU’s next long-term budget.Writing on Facebook, the Labour MEP said a report he had prepared and negotiated over the past months as rapporteur had received “strong... https://timesofmalta.com/article/man-living-malta-wanted-estonia-kidnapping-charges.1129552 https://timesofmalta.com/article/man-living-malta-wanted-estonia-kidnapping-charges.1129552 Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:19:00 +0200 Emma Borg Court National Estonia The accused has been living in Malta for the past 10 years and his lawyer argued he was not aware of proceedings against him in Estonia. File photo. Defence tells court the accused was not aware of proceedings against him in Estonia and 'had not escaped anything' A European Arrest Warrant has been issued for a Serbian man living in Malta in connection with kidnapping, extortion and racketeering charges in Estonia, a court heard on Friday.Dorde Dudic, 31, who has been living in Malta for the past 10 years, appeared in court after Maltese authorities acted on a European Arrest Warrant issued... https://timesofmalta.com/article/armier-walls-built-days-pa-stop-order-rangers-say.1129547 https://timesofmalta.com/article/armier-walls-built-days-pa-stop-order-rangers-say.1129547 Fri, 05 Jun 2026 17:55:00 +0200 Matthew Bonanno Environment National The owners ofthe site built walls just days after they were ordered to stop works by the PA. Photo: Malta Ranger Unit Malta Ranger Unit says workers fled before enforcement officers reached site Walls were built at an allegedly illegal construction site in Armier just days after the owner was ordered to stop works by the Planning Authority, the Malta Ranger Unit said on Friday.The environmental NGO said its rangers first flagged the site on May 30, after coming across works on land which, according to them, had... https://timesofmalta.com/article/parts-valletta-left-power-low-voltage-cable-fault.1129549 https://timesofmalta.com/article/parts-valletta-left-power-low-voltage-cable-fault.1129549 Fri, 05 Jun 2026 17:14:00 +0200 Times of Malta Energy Valletta Enemalta National Works are underway to repair a low voltage cable fault that affect a number of streets in Valletta on Friday. Photo: Enemalta/Facebook Enemalta says repairs 'started immediately' after low voltage cable fault Updated 6.42pmPower has been restored to a number of streets in Valletta after "more than 12 hours" following a low voltage cable fault which developed overnight.A number of residents in Valletta spent most of Friday without power after the fault affected several streets.A spokesperson for Enemalta said the fault affected buildings in parts of St... https://timesofmalta.com/article/malta-registers-secondbest-gdp-growth-rate-eu.1129546 https://timesofmalta.com/article/malta-registers-secondbest-gdp-growth-rate-eu.1129546 Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:52:00 +0200 Matthew Bonanno Economy National Malta also registered the joint second-best GDP growth rate compared to the previous quarter. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli Abela describes figures as another certificate for Malta’s success Malta has registered the second-highest year-on-year GDP growth rate in the EU in the first quarter of the year. According to figures published on Eurostat, Malta’s growth rate in the first quarter was 4.2% compared to the same quarter in 2025, behind only Denmark (5.9%) and well above the EU average of 0.7% The country... https://timesofmalta.com/article/foundations-stivala-hotel-nearby-buildings-stabilised-bca.1129543 https://timesofmalta.com/article/foundations-stivala-hotel-nearby-buildings-stabilised-bca.1129543 Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:47:00 +0200 James Cummings Construction Sliema National BCA Works are underway to stabilise the foundations of a hotel — and nearby properties — spotted with water-logged foundations. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli (right). The authority was responding to footage showing water-logged foundations and water being ejected from the site Updated 5.58pmWorks are underway at the site of a controversial hotel development on the Sliema front to stabilise its foundations and those of surrounding properties, according to the Building and Construction Authority (BCA).The authority was responding to a Times of Malta article published earlier on Friday featuring video footage showing workers appearing to excavate in... https://timesofmalta.com/article/two-men-deny-laundering-100000-linked-burglary-probe.1129544 https://timesofmalta.com/article/two-men-deny-laundering-100000-linked-burglary-probe.1129544 Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:46:00 +0200 Emma Borg Court National Police traced one of the accused through a series of thefts and robberies dating back to 2023. File photo. Police tell a court that one of the accused was linked to a series of burglaries dating back to 2023 One of two men charged with laundering around €100,000 was linked by police to a series of burglaries dating back to 2023, a court heard on Friday.Simon Grixti, 55, and Syed Abbass a 49-year-old British national originally from Pakistan, both deny money laundering charges.The prosecution told the court that police had been investigating a series... https://timesofmalta.com/article/fourmonth-old-baby-boy-serious-condition-falling-ill-nursery.1129542 https://timesofmalta.com/article/fourmonth-old-baby-boy-serious-condition-falling-ill-nursery.1129542 Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:03:00 +0200 Times of Malta Police National Children The four-month old baby boy was found unconscious at the nursery in Msida. File photo: Shutterstock The baby was found unconscious by childcare centre staff in Msida A four-month-old baby boy was taken to hospital in a serious condition after being found unconscious by staff at a childcare centre on Friday.The police said they received a report requesting assistance at a childcare centre in Triq Garcin, Msida at around noon.When they arrived on site, they found the childcare centre staff giving medical... https://timesofmalta.com/article/driver-fined-crashing-involving-lawyer-magistrate-swieqi.1129537 https://timesofmalta.com/article/driver-fined-crashing-involving-lawyer-magistrate-swieqi.1129537 Fri, 05 Jun 2026 15:35:00 +0200 Giulia Magri Court Swieqi National The site where the accident took place, at the roundabout on Triq Sant Andrija in Swieqi. Photo: Google Maps The accident took place in May 2022 as court finds accused was speeding on the wrong side of the roundabout A man has been fined €1,000 and banned from driving for three months after a court found he was speeding on the wrong side of a Swieqi roundabout before crashing into a car driven by a lawyer, with a magistrate as a passenger.Luke Galea was charged over the collision, which happened at 11.15pm on May... https://timesofmalta.com/article/eu-welcomes-zelensky-call-direct-talks-putin.1129540 https://timesofmalta.com/article/eu-welcomes-zelensky-call-direct-talks-putin.1129540 Fri, 05 Jun 2026 15:34:00 +0200 AFP Russia Ukraine World Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a face-to-face meeting with Vladimir Putin in a rare open letter. Photo: AFP Ukraine leader proposed talks in a rare letter to Russian president The EU on Friday backed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's call for direct talks in a letter to Russian leader Vladimir Putin."We welcome President Zelensky's call for direct negotiations and also the call for a ceasefire -- and from our side, we will go once more through the facts, and this is that Ukraine wants peace,... https://timesofmalta.com/article/driver-injured-two-trailers-bowser-overturn-hal-far-accident.1129536 https://timesofmalta.com/article/driver-injured-two-trailers-bowser-overturn-hal-far-accident.1129536 Fri, 05 Jun 2026 15:10:00 +0200 Times of Malta Accident Ħal Far National Two trailers and a bowser toppled over after colliding on Triq Ħal Far. Photo: Jonathan Borg Road closed after collision, cement and fuel strewn across the road Updated 3.37pmA man was injured after a trailer and a bulk cement tanker overturned in Ħal Far on Friday afternoon.The accident happened just after 2pm on Triq Ħal Far, limits of Birżebbuġa, when the two vehicles were involved in a collision which caused both of them to topple onto their sides.Upon impact, the cement tanker... https://timesofmalta.com/article/britain-exprince-andrew-subletting-royal-lodge-cottages-watchdog.1129534 https://timesofmalta.com/article/britain-exprince-andrew-subletting-royal-lodge-cottages-watchdog.1129534 Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:45:00 +0200 AFP UK World Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and his family and staff had 12 properties, owned by the Crown Estate or Royal Household. Photo: AFP Public spending watchdog examines property arrangements of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Britain's disgraced former prince Andrew earned a private income from subletting cottages while paying a symbolic "peppercorn rent" for a mansion for over two decades, government auditors revealed Friday.The report into the royal family's residences was sparked by controversy over Andrew's living arrangements following his banishment from public life for his ties to late US... https://timesofmalta.com/article/woman-admits-buying-passport-7000-seek-refuge-europe-court-told.1129533 https://timesofmalta.com/article/woman-admits-buying-passport-7000-seek-refuge-europe-court-told.1129533 Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:23:00 +0200 Emma Borg Court National The woman admitted to buying a fake passport in a bid to escape her country and seek refuge in Europe. File photo. The accused arrived in Malta from Istanbul after escaping her country A 38-year-old woman who travelled to Malta seeking refuge has been handed a nine-month prison sentence suspended for two years after admitting to using a forged passport.The woman, who is from the Middle East, arrived in Malta on a flight from Istanbul on June 4.Her name and nationality cannot be published by court order.Authorities approached... https://timesofmalta.com/article/three-arrested-following-13kg-cocaine-bust.1129530 https://timesofmalta.com/article/three-arrested-following-13kg-cocaine-bust.1129530 Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:45:00 +0200 Times of Malta Crime Police Drugs National Photos: Malta Police Force The drugs have an estimated street value of €160,000 Three people were arrested on Thursday after police found 1.3kg of suspected cocaine with an estimated street value of €160,000 in two Mosta residences.The police said in a statement that the suspects, two men aged 31 and 33 and a 31-year-old woman were arrested following an investigation into drug trafficking.The 31-year-old man had been observed... https://timesofmalta.com/article/man-threatens-turn-ex-mincemeat-feed-animals-court-hears.1129525 https://timesofmalta.com/article/man-threatens-turn-ex-mincemeat-feed-animals-court-hears.1129525 Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:15:00 +0200 Emma Borg Court Crime Police National The threats were made through voice notes after the school informed the estranged couple that one of their children has chickenpox. File photo: Shutterstock/PeopleImages Julian Vella also threatened to kill the police if she files charges A 45-year-old man who allegedly threatened to chop up his former partner, turn her into mincemeat and feed her to animals was given a suspended sentence on FridayJulian Vella, a driver from Bengħajsa, pleaded guilty to threatening and insulting his former partner, as well as to potentially becoming violent towards her and their two children.The... https://timesofmalta.com/article/temu-partners-malta-compliance-schemes-cover-waste-expenses.1129520 https://timesofmalta.com/article/temu-partners-malta-compliance-schemes-cover-waste-expenses.1129520 Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:50:00 +0200 Times of Malta Consumers Environment Waste National Temu has partnered with WEEE Malta and Green MT. File photo: Shutterstock/miss.cabul Extended producer responsibility obligations shift financial burden of managing waste away from taxpayers onto producers Temu has partnered with WEEE Malta and Green MT to help sellers meet their so-called extended producer responsibility obligations on the island.The EPR holds manufacturers and importers, among others, accountable for the lifecycle of their products, including when consumers dispose of them. Through this policy tool, the financial and physical burden of managing waste is... https://timesofmalta.com/article/master-cellar-host-open-day-gzira-outlet-saturday.1129523 https://timesofmalta.com/article/master-cellar-host-open-day-gzira-outlet-saturday.1129523 Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:39:00 +0200 Sponsored Food and drink Events Entertainment The Master Cellar outlet in Gżira. A day of exclusive tastings, gourmet experiences and in-store offers The Master Cellar in Gżira is set to host an Open Day on Saturday, June 13, inviting the public to enjoy a full day of exclusive tastings, gourmet experiences and selected in-store offers.Taking place between 10am and 7pm, the event will bring together a selection of local and international brands, offering visitors the opportunity to... https://timesofmalta.com/article/why-qualms-people-fall-it-crypto-scammer-albania.1129503 https://timesofmalta.com/article/why-qualms-people-fall-it-crypto-scammer-albania.1129503 Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:35:00 +0200 AFP Court Crime Cryptocurrency Albania World Handout video released by Albanian Police on June 4, 2026, shows operators in an alleged crypto-currency scam call centre in Tirana on April 13. Photo: AFP Crypto scammers prey on French victims from Albania Despite facing up to 10 years in jail on fraud charges for allegedly luring people into putting their savings into an Albania-based cryptocurrency investment scam, Jon shows zero remorse."I don't see why I should have any qualms if people fall for it," he told AFP in an interview in a Tirana cafe.The Albanian capital has...