Power & Infrastructure: Malta’s heatwave-driven power cuts stay in the spotlight as the PM backs Energy Minister Miriam Dalli, citing €161m spent on grid upgrades, while the Opposition accuses government of poor planning and points to lingering outages in multiple localities. Energy Demand Response: Lidl Malta announced a one-month 25% lighting reduction across its stores in Malta and Gozo to ease peak load. Agriculture Policy: Prime Minister Abela says revised rules will overhaul how farmers are classified, shifting support toward those who rely most on agriculture, and confirmed Ta’ Qali Farmers’ Market works will start in September. Planning Authority Decision: The PA has put on hold an application to convert Mosta’s historic Busbesija barracks into a five-star hotel, with officials saying the proposal overdevelops a sensitive ODZ site. Beverage Recycling: BCRS Malta reports 2025 collection rates held up despite higher container volumes, with the overall rate rising to 84.5%. Business Climate: Malta Chamber President William Spiteri Bailey told ministers “Malta deserves better growth,” urging productivity and a value-over-volume approach. Shipping & Trade: A Malta-flagged car carrier, Glovis Nova, shipped a record 7,738 EVs from Shanghai to Europe, underscoring Malta’s links to global logistics. Tourism Demand: A European Travel Commission report shows Malta ranked third for tourism growth in early 2026, with arrivals up 16%. Maritime Industry: Nominations open for the Malta Maritime Awards 2026 as the Malta Maritime Summit launches its awards programme.