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Malta

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Malta. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Valletta

Head of State

President Myriam Spiteri Debono

Head of Government

Prime Minister Robert Abela

Chinese navy escort task forces have operated in the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia since 2008, protecting commercial shipping and supporting counter-piracy patrols. Photo: Xinhua

China-Africa relations

As rival navies turn away, Beijing faces a Somalia test

Piracy off the waters of Somalia is at a decade high, testing Beijing’s role as other naval powers focus elsewhere.

19 Sep 2026 - 10:00PMvideocam

Crime

Businessman acquitted in murder of Malta journalist that brought down government

3 Sep 2026 - 2:27PM

China-EU relations

China’s trade grip tightens in Europe as clock ticks towards October deadline

22 Aug 2026 - 3:06AMvideocam

China exports

China-made vessel carries record EVs in shipment from Shanghai to Europe

A new China-made roll-on, roll-off carrier set a new domestic record for number of vehicles shipped in one voyage.

28 Jul 2026 - 3:00PMvideocam

Vehicles prior to shipment to overseas markets at a port in Shanghai, China on July 14. Photo: AP

Crime

Maltese tycoon on trial over murder of ‘one-woman WikiLeaks’ Caruana Galizia

Yorgen Fenech is accused of ordering the killing of the journalist, in a case that rocked the nation and brought down a government.

2 Jul 2026 - 1:16AM

Ukraine war

36 nations approve tribunal creation to prosecute Russia over Ukraine

The move came on the same day the WHO said Ukraine’s mental health crisis is growing, with ‘work to do until the end of the century’.

15 May 2026 - 9:44PMvideocam

Middle East

Chinese container ships pass through Strait of Hormuz at second attempt, data shows

The two ships, which had turned back on Friday, are the first non-Iranian container ships to leave the Gulf since the war began.

31 Mar 2026 - 4:30AMvideocam

An illustration of a map showing the Strait of Hormuz. Photo: Reuters

Malaysia

Malaysian waters see return of oil transfer by ‘dark fleet’ of tankers

A crackdown against two vessels off Penang was the first disruption of such a ship-to-ship oil transfer in the state for over 10 years.

4 Feb 2026 - 7:48PMvideocam

My Take

My Take | The emerging axis of lawlessness – the European Union, United States and Israel

From Ukraine to the Caribbean and Middle East, we are witnessing the application of the law of the jungle by the West and its ally.

14 Dec 2025 - 10:15PM

Africa

Africa attracts smaller EU nations scrambling for influence

Estonia and Finland are among those seeking to boost their presence on the continent, revamping diplomatic and trade ties over the past five years.

23 Nov 2025 - 5:46PM

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks with EU Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen at the G20 Leaders’ Summit plenary session in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Saturday. Photo: AFP

China-EU relations

Flagging imbalances in China, EU chamber urges course correction in 5-year plan

Exhorting the need for a ‘new, productive development model’, latest chamber position paper airs members’ grievances.

17 Sep 2025 - 5:01PMvideocam

Some of China’s manufacturing industries, including the new-energy sector, have been plagued by low-price competition, or involution. Photo: Xinhua

China-Middle East relations

China urges Israel to halt ‘dangerous’ Gaza siege, calls for Arab unity

Beijing’s representative at the UN says Israel must comply with international law, restore aid access as humanitarian crisis worsens.

6 Aug 2025 - 7:41PMvideocam

China-EU relations

European Parliament names 5 lawmakers targeted in Huawei bribery scandal

Authorities ask lawmaking body to waive the accused’s immunity so that they can be investigated under the two-month probe.

22 May 2025 - 6:50PM

European Union

Malta’s ‘golden passports’ ruled illegal for breaking citizenship law: EU court

The European Court of Justice ruled that an EU nation cannot grant nationality or citizenship for payments or investments, as it would commercialise the process.

29 Apr 2025 - 5:59PM

Skyline from Marsans Harbour at sunset in Valletta, Malta. Photo: Shutterstock

World Trade Organization (WTO)

At WTO, China’s trade policy sparks war of words amid geopolitical unease

Concerns about industrial overcapacity and lack of transparency in state subsidies elicit ‘frank and open’ exchanges, revealing deep schisms.

20 Jul 2024 - 1:45AMvideocam

Employees work on an electric-vehicle production line at a factory under Jiangling Group Electric Vehicle in Nanchang, China, on May 22, 2024. The European Union this week imposed provisional tariffs on Chinese-made EVs. Photo: Reuters

Wellness

Profile | 158cm Singaporean pharmacist on her transition to champion powerlifter

Singaporean pharmacist and record-breaking powerlifter Farhanna Farid talks about how the sport she got into accidentally has helped build her physical and mental strength.

14 Jul 2024 - 7:45AM

Profile

Filmmaker Yang Manman on China’s millions searching for belonging

Yang runs the Floating Population Club, a community art space for some of Guangzhou’s rootless

13 Jul 2024 - 11:45AM

Singapore

Singapore outranks Japan for world’s most powerful passport in 2024

Singapore passport holders have the most flexibility for travel worldwide, with the ability to visit 195 countries without a visa.

29 Jun 2024 - 11:02PMvideocam

Singapore passport holders have the most flexibility for travel worldwide. Photo: Shutterstock

US-China relations

Clash or coexist? Defusing US-China tensions is uncertain, even unlikely: analysts

‘The concept of peaceful coexistence is very laudable as a long-term aspirational goal. But I think it’s a bridge too far in today’s environment,’ one expert concludes.

30 Jun 2024 - 5:57AMvideocam

China-EU relations

Inside the EU’s China EV probe: ‘whole supply chain’ subsidy shock

Dozens of case handlers, 100-plus company visits, piecing together thousands of pages of evidence, tears new rift in an already fraught relationship.

27 Sep 2024 - 10:07AMvideocam

Euro 2024

Czech player forced to miss Euro 2024 after falling off bike in freak injury

Michal Sadilek, who plays for Dutch side FC Twente, recently captained his country in friendly win against Malta but will sit out the European Championship tournament in Germany.

10 Jun 2024 - 1:00PM

Czech Republic midfielder Michal Sadilek will miss Euro 2024 after suffering a freak injury when he fell off his bike. Photo: DPA

European Union

Slovaks and others vote in EU elections under shadow of assassination attempt

Analysts say the Slovak ruling coalition has been using the attack on PM Robert Fico ‘expediently’ to boost his party’s chances of victory.

8 Jun 2024 - 5:10PM

Citizens vote at a polling station in Komrna, Slovakia, on Saturday during the European Parliament elections. Photo: dpa

China's economic recovery

The FOMO is real for China’s eager emigrants who see a move as now or never

Middle-class Chinese with the means to move abroad see a rapidly closing window of opportunity as developed countries tighten immigration policies, and the race is on as applicant interest surges.

7 Jun 2024 - 6:00AMvideocam

European Union

What’s at stake in the 2024 European Union elections

Nearly 400 million European Union citizens can go to the polls over the coming days to elect members of the European Parliament, or MEPs, in one of the biggest global democratic events.

6 Jun 2024 - 3:04PM

China-EU relations

EU members split sharply over measures to de-risk China economic ties

France leads those states eager to protect their industries from any unfair competition by Beijing while Germany and other free-traders say the market can handle it.

4 Jul 2024 - 2:55PMvideocam

An EU investigation is likely to see tougher import duties imposed on electric cars made in China from July. Photo: Chinatopix via AP

Israel-Gaza war

Israeli minister blasts Spain’s plans to recognise Palestinian state

Speaking at a Madrid meeting of global far-right leaders, Israel’s Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli said plans to recognise Palestinian state would be ‘rewarding’ Hamas attack.

20 May 2024 - 4:55AMvideocam

Amichai Chikli, Israel’s diaspora affairs minister, speaks at the Europa Viva 24 event in Madrid, Spain on Sunday. Photo: Bloomberg

Technology

Letters | Mental strength can ensure a future for humans in the AI economy

Readers discuss nurturing the human capacity for learning, embracing the technology and using it ethically and responsibly.

12 May 2024 - 2:30PM

Ukraine war

China sees ‘opportune moment’ as it pushes for direct Russia-Ukraine talks

Special envoy Li Hui’s latest mission to Europe was met with scepticism, and could be seen as ‘signalling’ to the Global South that China is a responsible power.

20 Apr 2024 - 6:25AMvideocam

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Malta

As rival navies turn away, Beijing faces a Somalia test

Piracy off the waters of Somalia is at a decade high, testing Beijing’s role as other naval powers focus elsewhere.

Businessman acquitted in murder of Malta journalist that brought down government

China’s trade grip tightens in Europe as clock ticks towards October deadline

China-made vessel carries record EVs in shipment from Shanghai to Europe

A new China-made roll-on, roll-off carrier set a new domestic record for number of vehicles shipped in one voyage.

Maltese tycoon on trial over murder of ‘one-woman WikiLeaks’ Caruana Galizia

Yorgen Fenech is accused of ordering the killing of the journalist, in a case that rocked the nation and brought down a government.

36 nations approve tribunal creation to prosecute Russia over Ukraine

The move came on the same day the WHO said Ukraine’s mental health crisis is growing, with ‘work to do until the end of the century’.

Chinese container ships pass through Strait of Hormuz at second attempt, data shows

The two ships, which had turned back on Friday, are the first non-Iranian container ships to leave the Gulf since the war began.

Malaysian waters see return of oil transfer by ‘dark fleet’ of tankers

A crackdown against two vessels off Penang was the first disruption of such a ship-to-ship oil transfer in the state for over 10 years.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}My Take | The emerging axis of lawlessness – the European Union, United States and Israel

From Ukraine to the Caribbean and Middle East, we are witnessing the application of the law of the jungle by the West and its ally.

Africa attracts smaller EU nations scrambling for influence

Estonia and Finland are among those seeking to boost their presence on the continent, revamping diplomatic and trade ties over the past five years.

Flagging imbalances in China, EU chamber urges course correction in 5-year plan

Exhorting the need for a ‘new, productive development model’, latest chamber position paper airs members’ grievances.

China urges Israel to halt ‘dangerous’ Gaza siege, calls for Arab unity

Beijing’s representative at the UN says Israel must comply with international law, restore aid access as humanitarian crisis worsens.

European Parliament names 5 lawmakers targeted in Huawei bribery scandal

Authorities ask lawmaking body to waive the accused’s immunity so that they can be investigated under the two-month probe.

Malta’s ‘golden passports’ ruled illegal for breaking citizenship law: EU court

The European Court of Justice ruled that an EU nation cannot grant nationality or citizenship for payments or investments, as it would commercialise the process.

At WTO, China’s trade policy sparks war of words amid geopolitical unease

Concerns about industrial overcapacity and lack of transparency in state subsidies elicit ‘frank and open’ exchanges, revealing deep schisms.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Profile | 158cm Singaporean pharmacist on her transition to champion powerlifter

Singaporean pharmacist and record-breaking powerlifter Farhanna Farid talks about how the sport she got into accidentally has helped build her physical and mental strength.

Filmmaker Yang Manman on China’s millions searching for belonging

Yang runs the Floating Population Club, a community art space for some of Guangzhou’s rootless

Singapore outranks Japan for world’s most powerful passport in 2024

Singapore passport holders have the most flexibility for travel worldwide, with the ability to visit 195 countries without a visa.

Clash or coexist? Defusing US-China tensions is uncertain, even unlikely: analysts

‘The concept of peaceful coexistence is very laudable as a long-term aspirational goal. But I think it’s a bridge too far in today’s environment,’ one expert concludes.

Inside the EU’s China EV probe: ‘whole supply chain’ subsidy shock

Dozens of case handlers, 100-plus company visits, piecing together thousands of pages of evidence, tears new rift in an already fraught relationship.

Czech player forced to miss Euro 2024 after falling off bike in freak injury

Michal Sadilek, who plays for Dutch side FC Twente, recently captained his country in friendly win against Malta but will sit out the European Championship tournament in Germany.

Slovaks and others vote in EU elections under shadow of assassination attempt

Analysts say the Slovak ruling coalition has been using the attack on PM Robert Fico ‘expediently’ to boost his party’s chances of victory.

The FOMO is real for China’s eager emigrants who see a move as now or never

Middle-class Chinese with the means to move abroad see a rapidly closing window of opportunity as developed countries tighten immigration policies, and the race is on as applicant interest surges.

What’s at stake in the 2024 European Union elections

Nearly 400 million European Union citizens can go to the polls over the coming days to elect members of the European Parliament, or MEPs, in one of the biggest global democratic events.

EU members split sharply over measures to de-risk China economic ties

France leads those states eager to protect their industries from any unfair competition by Beijing while Germany and other free-traders say the market can handle it.

Israeli minister blasts Spain’s plans to recognise Palestinian state

Speaking at a Madrid meeting of global far-right leaders, Israel’s Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli said plans to recognise Palestinian state would be ‘rewarding’ Hamas attack.

Letters | Mental strength can ensure a future for humans in the AI economy

Readers discuss nurturing the human capacity for learning, embracing the technology and using it ethically and responsibly.

China sees ‘opportune moment’ as it pushes for direct Russia-Ukraine talks

Special envoy Li Hui’s latest mission to Europe was met with scepticism, and could be seen as ‘signalling’ to the Global South that China is a responsible power.

My Take | The emerging axis of lawlessness – the European Union, United States and Israel

Profile | 158cm Singaporean pharmacist on her transition to champion powerlifter