A powerful explosion occurred at the Lourdes Fireworks Factory in Malta. As a result of the incident, buildings were damaged and two people were injured.
Artist Alina Grosu has baptized her one-and-a-half-month-old son, Mark Gabriel. Iryna Bilyk became the godmother, officially becoming the singer's 'kuma' for the first time.
Malta's Labour Party has won its fourth consecutive election with a turnout of 87%. Prime Minister Robert Abela announced that he had received a strong mandate.
Ukraine's representative LELÉKA will perform seventh in the Eurovision final in Vienna. 25 countries will compete for victory, with Finland being the favorite.
The second semi-final of Eurovision 2026 will take place in Vienna, where LELÉKA will perform under number 12. Bookmakers estimate Ukraine's chances of reaching the final at 94%.
The EU is preparing the 21st package of sanctions against Russia's shadow fleet, banks, and military-industrial complex. New restrictions are planned to be presented in early summer to increase pressure.
The Netherlands propose directing 210 billion euros of Russian assets toward Ukraine's defense. The initiative was discussed at a closed-door meeting of EU finance ministers.
Zelenskyy has appointed the Ambassador to Belgium, Yaroslav Melnyk, as the representative to Luxembourg concurrently. Previously, the diplomat headed the Ukrainian mission in Italy.
In 2025, the number of immigrants in the European Union increased by 2. 1 million. Germany remains the leader in the number of people accepted and asylum applications filed.
The Maltese vessel Celestial Discovery is heading to Oman without passengers. Iran and the US announced the opening of the strategic waterway for shipping.
EU foreign ministers visited Bucha on the fourth anniversary of the tragedy. Participants of the meeting confirmed the establishment of a commission to compensate for damages.
In February, 865. 4 thousand cars were sold in the EU. Germany became the largest market with 211.3 thousand units, and Malta the smallest with 521 registrations.
Italy, Spain, Greece, Cyprus, and Malta are urging the EC to intervene due to the risk of an oil spill. A damaged vessel from Russia's shadow fleet has lost control.
The damaged vessel Arctic Metagaz, carrying 60,000 tons of gas, threatens an environmental catastrophe. The crew was evacuated after a drone attack in international waters.
The Verkhovna Rada supported Ukraine's accession to the Convention on International Access to Justice. This simplifies the procedure for Ukrainian citizens to appeal to foreign courts.
A sailor was killed due to sabotage against the vessels Safesea Vishnu and Zefyros. Iraq has suspended the operation of oil terminals for the safety of maritime navigation.
The European Union revised its decision after Georgia's commitments not to service sanctioned vessels. Kulevi Port avoided restrictions thanks to guarantees.
Russia confirmed the damage to its LNG tanker Arctic Metagaz in the Mediterranean Sea, blaming Ukraine. The crew of the sanctioned vessel was not injured.
Greece and Malta have expressed concerns about the EU's proposal to replace the price cap on Russian oil with a services ban. They fear the impact on the shipping industry and energy prices.
Russia attacked the Chornomorsk port pier with a ballistic missile, where a civilian vessel under the Maltese flag was located. One crew member was wounded, and the vessel was preparing to transport container cargo.
The draw for the group stage of the 2026/2027 Nations League will take place on February 12, 2026, in Brussels. The Ukrainian national team will compete in League B.
European Union leaders have not reached an agreement on using frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine. Discussions on providing a loan will continue on December 19 at the summit in Brussels.
EU diplomats are trying to find a compromise on financial aid to Ukraine ahead of the bloc's leaders' summit. Options being considered include a loan based on frozen Russian assets or joint EU debt.
The European Parliament has voted for a scheme that would allow women from countries with restrictive abortion laws to have free abortions in another EU member state. The European Commission is expected to decide on this proposal in March.
European Council President António Costa stated that the EU will not impose a reparation loan for Ukraine at the leaders' summit if Belgium opposes it. This is a departure from his previous position, where he noted that the scheme only required a qualified majority.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the possibility of financial support for Ukraine through the issuance of joint EU debt, as an alternative to using frozen Russian sovereign assets. This comes ahead of a meeting of EU leaders where ways to finance Ukraine will be discussed amid its expected deficit of 135 billion euros by 2027.
The European Commission is trying to persuade Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever to support a proposed loan to Ukraine, financed by immobilized Russian assets. De Wever expresses concerns about the risks to the Belgian economy if Russia tries to reclaim the assets.
Belgium opposed the European Commission's proposals to unblock a €210 billion loan for Ukraine, financed by frozen Russian assets. This dashes the EU's hopes for a deal before the leaders' summit, as Belgium considers the guarantees provided insufficient.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that frozen Russian assets totaling up to $210 billion are a financial security guarantee for Ukraine. He presented two scenarios for their use: for post-war reconstruction or for annual financial assistance of 40-45 billion euros for the Armed Forces of Ukraine in case of continued aggression.
EU ambassadors in Brussels today are discussing the European Commission's amendments to the reparations loan proposal for financing Ukraine. These amendments aim to address the concerns of Belgium, as well as Italy, Bulgaria, and Malta, who are calling for alternative options.
