Power Crisis & Grid Resilience: Malta’s latest heatwave-driven outages are back in the spotlight, with Prime Minister Robert Abela saying he has full faith in Energy Minister Miriam Dalli and pointing to €161m spent on grid reinforcement over three years, while the PN accuses the government of poor planning and demands accountability as some areas still report unstable supply. Business Response to Peak Demand: Lidl Malta is cutting electricity use by 25% via one-month reduced store lighting across Malta and Gozo, aiming to ease pressure during peak hours. Planning Reform Debate: PN planning spokesperson Rebekah Borg argues Malta’s planning system lacks a clear national direction and calls for a Cabinet-wide vision before legislative changes. Energy Policy Pressure Point: The Malta Chamber of Commerce urges a long-term power grid plan after recurring outages, while the Chamber of Engineers calls for climate-resilient infrastructure. Renewables Context: Eurostat data shows Malta’s renewable share remains low (11.2% of gross final energy consumption), underscoring the challenge ahead. Maritime & Logistics Risk: With Red Sea disruptions continuing, Peninsula warns bunker supply could tighten as ships divert around the Cape, raising fuel demand and costs. Tech & Industry: Trust Stamp’s Malta subsidiary is set to develop biometric identity binding for trusted semiconductors under an EU chip sovereignty funding push. Tourism & Shipping: Viking’s 2028-29 itinerary includes a 16-day “Mediterranean, Malta & North Africa” cruise with an overnight visit to Valletta.