Malta Philharmonic Orchestra: The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra has launched its 2026–27 Symphony Season, with a Beethoven-focused “Beethoven200” series culminating in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in Gozo, plus major names like Bruckner, Mahler, Shostakovich and more, while keeping Maltese music in the spotlight. Culture & community: Rock in the Forest returned to the Greek Amphitheatre at Ta’ Qali, raising proceeds for the SiGMA Foundation, with returning vocalists and a move to a bigger venue for a growing fundraising tradition. International arts in Valletta: The Shanghai Chinese Orchestra brings Mid-Autumn Festival events to Valletta on 2–3 September, including a China Cultural Centre evening and a full concert at the Manoel Theatre. Local society & equality: Malta’s NSO survey finds strong support for shared household responsibilities and rejection of gender stereotypes, but also shows discrimination and harassment concerns remain widespread. Housing debate: PN calls for education investment to grow with the economy after Eurostat data, while Metsola continues to push affordable housing as a crisis that needs supply and supportive policies. Sports & politics: In Malta’s Daphne Caruana Galizia murder trial, defence argues investigators failed to pursue leads pointing to former chief of staff Keith Schembri. Travel & visas: The US has published an updated list of countries eligible for H-2A and H-2B work visas, with Belize added. Human stories: A Cuban cruise worker living in Malta says she was barred from returning to Cuba for five years after remaining abroad following her contract.