Public Broadcasting Under Fire: Malta’s PBS is again accused of acting as a government mouthpiece after figures showed TVM news bulletins aired 532 sound bites from government representatives versus 66 from the Opposition over a year, with the debate now centring on what “impartial” should look like for a taxpayer-funded broadcaster. SME Investment Mood: A new Chamber of SMEs barometer finds 64% of businesses think Malta is moving in the wrong direction, while 56% are uncertain about investing in the next 12 months and only about one in five see it as a good time to invest. Tourism Pulse: NSO data shows inbound tourists rose 18.1% in the first half of 2026 to 2.13 million, with nights up 10.1% and spending up 14.8% to €1.80bn, though per-capita spend dipped. Climate Finance for Households and Firms: The European Commission endorsed Malta’s €60.6m Social Climate Plan (2026-2032), backed by €45.4m EU funding, targeting energy-efficiency upgrades in social housing, door-to-door community transport for 30,000 vulnerable users, and support for small businesses shifting to electric vehicles. Banking Results: MeDirect returned to profit with €2.4m profit before tax for the first half of 2026, while Bank of Valletta reported €119.8m profit before tax for the same period. Tech and Chips Money: GlobalFoundries signed a letter of intent for a $300m US Department of Commerce CHIPS award to accelerate silicon photonics R&D for AI data centres, building on earlier investment plans that include Malta. Transport Regulation Clash: Transport Minister Chris Bonett warned Uber its licence could be suspended unless it complies with new Y-plate rules, alleging the platform failed to implement required changes.