Times Talk by Times of Malta

The trial of Lorin Scicluna, charged with the 2019 racially-motivated murder of Lassana Cisse entered its second week.

In this Times Talk episode, court correspondent Clara Farrugia examines the former soldier’s testimony, the prosecution’s challenges to his account and the questions jurors wanted answered.

A black man was shot dead late one night seven years ago. His murder has since been called the first racially motivated homicide in Malta's history.

One of the alleged killers has gone on trial this week, and in this Times Talk episode, court reporter Clara Farrugia tells Mark Laurence Zammit how the first few days in the trial of Lorin Scicluna unfolded - and why this will likely be remembered as a landmark case.

In an exclusive interview with Times of Malta, Melvin Theuma, the middleman who helped arrange Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder, tells Mark Laurence Zammit why he stands by every word of his evidence against Yorgen Fenech, and why the acquittal has not changed what he knows.

At the end of an intense trial that lasted over two months, the nation held its breath on Wednesday evening as the jury announced a verdict that acquitted Yorgen Fenech of all charges over the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, by eight votes to one.

Reactions, comments and protests stretched late into the night. And the morning after the verdict Clara Farrugia sat down with Mark Laurence Zammit to unpack what happened during the verdict and its aftermath, for a Times Talk episode that will be the last in the series produced during the trial.

Editorial note: A version of this episode with English subtitles will be available on the Times of Malta YouTube channel

As the trial of Yorgen Fenech approaches its end, Clara Farrugia answers some of the many questions readers have sent us about this trial.

Is any vote by jurors valid? If Fenech is acquitted, will Melvin Theuma be charged with perjury? Why don't courts use lie detectors during trials?

Herman Grech hosts this episode in the absence of Mark Laurence Zammit.

A version of this show with English subtitles will be published on the Times of Malta YouTube channel.

Yorgen Fenech is the man in the dock. This past week, he was the man on the witness stand, too.

The Tumas Group heir and business magnate spent four days testifying in his own trial, as he seeks to defend himself from charges of complicity in the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Fenech said many things while testifying. Some we had heard before. Others were new. His central argument - that he is being framed by his old friend Keith Schembri and taxi driver Melvin Theuma - remained unchanged throughout.

In this Times Talk episode, Mark Laurence Zammit and Clara Farrugia go over what Fenech said, what prosecutors asked and what jurors will have to think about after hearing from the man at the heart of this criminal trial.

One of the biggest and most consequential criminal trials in history almost fell apart on Friday.

After 45 days of intense hearings, the defence demanded the judge dissolves the trial of Yorgen Fenech after court was told that the jurors had access to news headlines about the trial.

In the short time judge Edwina Grima allowed herself to come to a decision, court reporter Clara Farrugia left Hall 22 to sit down for the weekly Times Talk rundown with Mark Laurence Zammit.

The two explain what happened, what led to this point and why the judge's decision matters so much in the bigger picture.

Before they could finish recording the episode, the second bombshell of the day dropped: Yorgen Fenech took the stand for the first time since he was arrested in 2019, and he began to lay out his version of events.

When the live blogs from the trial of Yorgen Fenech went silent on Friday, social media was flooded with people asking why no journalist would tell them what was going on.

In this special episode of Times Talk, court reporter Clara Farrugia and Mark Laurence Zammit unpack all that happened when Yorgen Fenech, the judge, witnesses and all jurors, lawyers and journalists visited the sites connected to the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia in a convoy of vans and armoured vehicles amid high security police escorts and army surveillance.

The taxi driver who says Yorgen Fenech paid him €150,000 to have Daphne Caruana Galizia spent five gruelling days on the witness stand this week, answering questions from prosecutors and defence lawyers.

Melvin Theuma - the pardoned middleman who is the prosecution's star witness in the case - had a lot to say.

Mark Laurence Zammit and Clara Farrugia unpack a week's worth of blistering testimony in one of the most important criminal trials in Malta's history.

From WhatsApp chats and an infamous video to a huge Electrogas investigation, a lot happened this week

A week is a long time in politics, they say, and so it seems in the trial of Yorgen Fenech as well. A lot has happened in court this week, and Times Talk unpacks it all in the latest episode about the murder trial.

Court reporter Clara Farrugia and journalist Mark Laurence Zammit go over the heartbreaking testimony of Daphne Caruana Galizia’s son, Matthew, who described the day of his mother's murder and what the two were doing at home just before. He also shed light on a major Electrogas investigation they were both working on.

In June 2025, a retired Maltese bishop caused a stir when he said on TV that abuse victims should first be encouraged to forgive their abusers before going to the police.

As backlash grew, George Frendo apologised, saying he had not meant that forgiveness should substitute reporting such crimes to authorities.

But the bishop’s initial statement left its mark on one woman. They were the same words Frendo had told her years ago, when as a child she was abused by a man they both knew.

In this Times Talk episode, the woman speaks out about her years of abuse at the hands of a relative, the damage Frendo’s advice did to her and why she has decided to go public now.

We also speak to Frendo, who explains why he felt it was not his place to report the abuse at the time, and what he wishes he had done differently.

The latest episode of Times Talk unpacks the last two days of Keith Schembri's testimony during the trial of Yorgen Fenech earlier this week.

In the 30-minute episode, court reporter Clara Farrugia and Mark Laurence Zammit take a deep dive into some of the toughest questions the former OPM chief of staff faced from Yorgen Fenech lawyer Giannella de Marco.

How did police find Schembri and Fenech when they arrested them? What was the two men's reaction as they were being detained? How did Schembri learn when his name was raised during police investigations into the murder, and what is the deal with the alleged naked lawyer at Castille?

This week Schembri also revealed some new details about that time he claims Yorgen Fenech hinted to him that he had been involved in the murder and how the pistol of one of Joseph Muscat's security staff went off by mistake inside Muscat's own home.

Catch the latest episode on Times of Malta, YouTube, Spotify, Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Times Talk on the trial of Yorgen Fenech usually comes out on the weekend and includes a run-down of all that happened that week.

But as former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri took the witness stand on Tuesday, things got heated and prompted this mid-week episode about what happened before and during his testimony.

How is Yorgen Fenech reacting to all of this in the courtroom, and what is the atmosphere like in the room at this stage?

Times Talk unpacks what all of this means and why it matters, as more details continue to emerge in the trial that has got the country glued to its screens.

It was a week of claims, counterclaims and secret recordings as the fourth week of the Yorgen Fenech trial drew to a close.

Times of Malta court reporter Clara Farrugia and editor-in-chief Herman Grech sat down for a new episode of Times Talk to unpack the latest courtroom drama gripping the country.

At the centre of the week’s proceedings was Johann Cremona, a business associate of Fenech, who spent four days on the witness stand before his testimony ended in a tense exchange with the defence team.

The episode also examines the testimony of former police commissioner Lawrence Cutajar and Edgar Brincat, known as il-Ġojja, who had links to murder middleman Melvin Theuma.

Hours of complex testimony, distilled into a 20-minute episode of Times Talk, with one key question in the end: what happens when other people are being implicated in the crime?

Watch the full episode on Times of Malta or YouTube, or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

As the third week of Yorgen Fenech's trial comes to a close, Times of Malta court reporter Clara Farrugia and editor-in-chief Herman Grech sat down for a new Times Talk episode to unpack the details of the courtroom drama that is gripping the country.

Among the most chilling moments in Hall 22 this week was the testimony of Alfred and George Degiorgio, two of the three convicted hitmen, who linked Keith Schembri and Chris Cardona to the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia.

The episode also explains the role of the other witnesses who testified this week, including Vince Muscat, il-Koħħu.

As the second week of Yorgen Fenech's trial comes to a close, Times of Malta court reporter Clara Farrugia and Mark Laurence Zammit sit down for a new Times Talk episode to unpack the details of the courtroom drama that is gripping the nation.

Among the most chilling moments this week was the testimony of Frans Sant, the last man to see Daphne Caruana Galizia alive. Sant shared a heartbreaking account of her final seconds, describing how she panicked behind the wheel after a small initial spark, just moments before the main bomb tore through her car.

The episode explains how experts discovered the assassination unfolded in this two-stage explosion, giving the victim a brief, terrifying realisation of what was about to happen.

The trial of Yorgen Fenech, who is charged in connection with the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, is one of the most consequential criminal trials in Malta's history.

Three days into the proceedings, Mark Laurence Zammit sits down with Times of Malta's court correspondent Clara Farrugia to unpack the prosecution's opening case, explain how the jury was selected and discuss what to expect in the weeks ahead.

Times of Malta will bring you weekly round-ups of the trial until the jury delivers its verdict.

Political analysts Pierre Portelli and Robert Musumeci help Mark Laurence Zammit dissect the current state of Maltese politics.

They discuss the performance of the Labour and Nationalist parties in the 2026 general election, Robert Abela's cabinet appointments and the (in?)justice of parliament's gender corrective mechanism.

The country's going to the polls in less than 48 hours, and this latest episode of Times Talk is an essential guide for the perplexed.

It breaks down the mechanics of Malta’s electoral system - one of the most democratic, yet complex, in the world.

Our speakers trace where your vote will go from the moment you slide it in the ballot box on Saturday till all MPs are elected next week.

But the episode also uncovers the lid on a second election at play – an often overlooked, but perhaps more heated – battle between candidates of the same parties within districts.

With just over a week remaining before Maltese voters head to the polls to choose Malta's next prime minister, the latest episode of Times Talk delves into the science and controversy behind political polling, as current surveys continue to indicate a significant lead for the Labour Party.

Times of Malta fact-checker Neville Borg and Esprimi CEO Morgan Parnis joined the podcast. Borg gives an overview of what the polls are showing while Parnis explains the results and why some polls differ from others, even when they are carried out during the same period.

If you have questions about the polls, this episode will attempt to answer as many of them as possible.

It is very worrying the the election campaign has, so far, almost entirely revolved around 'what's in it for me', according to political analysts Lou Bondi and Michelle Attard Tonna.

The two were speaking on the latest episode of Times Talk Campaign Watch during which they dissected the third week of the election campaign.

The lavish promises are creating a sense of entitlement in people while making it very hard for the next prime minister - whoever it may be - to lead effectively in a very volatile global climate, they warned.

Even worse, there are several issues no party seems to be addressing during the campaign.

Watch the episode on Times of Malta, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

The second week of Malta’s 2026 general election campaign sparked its first controversies. As Labour leader Robert Abela and Nationalist Party leader Alex Borg make their political pitches, mainly through cash bonanzas, are the country’s (medium-to-long term) problems being ignored?

In this episode of Times Talk, Times of Malta editor-in-chief Herman Grech sits down with former Labour deputy leader and president Daniel Micallef and former PN chief of staff Ray Bezzina to dissect the campaign narratives, the long-term economic impact of today’s pledges, the racism directed at Omar Rababah, and the growing debate over overdevelopment.

It was a candid discussion on the issues shaping Malta’s election, and the ones politicians may prefer to avoid.

Prime Minister Robert Abela has called an early general election for May 30.The campaign’s opening days have already seen a wave of pledges and voter-focused measures, as the main parties begin to draw their battle lines.

With the Labour government firmly in the driving seat and making full use of its incumbency advantage, the question remains: can the Nationalist Party, led by a relatively new leader, close the gap and defy the opinion polls?

In the first political Times Talk podcast of the campaign, Herman Grech, editor-in-chief of Times of Malta, sits down with Kurt Sansone, executive editor of MaltaToday, and sociologist Michael Briguglio to discuss Election 2026.

The youngest daughter of Ġiġa and Leli Camilleri has called for the reopening of the Twannie Aquilina murder case, claiming her parents were wrongfully convicted of a brutal crime committed by someone else.

In a rare and emotional interview on Times Talk, Marthese Camilleri insisted that her brother was sexually assaulted before his throat was slit – a detail she claims was confirmed by an autopsy but never emerged in court.

Accompanied by the Times Talk team, Marthese returned to the very flat in St Dominic Street, Valletta, where the murder occurred 66 years ago, marking the first time she stepped into the crime scene since the time of the murder.

“People continue to judge us and hurt us, and I believe it’s time they hear our side of the story,” she said.

Broadcaster Peppi Azzopardi said he learned English as a young boy because the school he went to forced students to wear a sign around their neck that read: ‘I must speak in English’.

And while he admitted the sign was demeaning, he insisted that it propelled him to learn English, as his parents did not know how to speak the language.

Azzopardi was defending his controversial Popolin proposals during a heated exchange on the latest Times Talk episode. Poet and writer professor Immanuel Mifsud and pedagogy expert Jacqueline Zammit were also on the panel, and they dismissed his suggestions as illogical, arguing they would do little to bridge the success gap for working-class children.

There is a Russian oil tanker adrift about 100km to the South East of Malta right now.

Its crew abandoned it two weeks ago after it was hit by a huge explosion.

Russia hasn't come to pick it up and no country - including Malta - will touch it.

Still though, all eyes are on it, as it is loaded with some 700 tonnes of fuel and it could blow up.

In a 20-minute episode that will be out on Wednesday, Times Talk will discuss the inside story of how the Russian tanker story was discovered and revealed, what the authorities are saying and fearing behind closed doors, and how the government went from denying concerns to asking the EU for help.

What are the chances that aliens are real? And if they are, what do they look like, where are they and how come they never visit? And if they were to visit, how would they even do it?

Is time travel to the past and to the future possible? It turns out it is – at least one way.

And what is the likelihood that there are other worlds like ours out there? The short answer is: very likely. The long answer is even more interesting.

In a wide-ranging 90-minute discussion on Times Talk, astrophysicist professor Joseph Caruana breaks down the staggering reality of our existence – from the probability of humanity living in a computer simulation to the probability of time travel.

During the episode the 39-year-old Oxford-educated researcher and University of Malta lecturer explains why most of the universe is still a mystery and how scientists have managed to trace back its beginning 14 billion years ago. And along the way he answers a myriad of other questions.

When will the world end? Will the universe end? What happens to us after we die? And how is human consciousness the way the universe finally knows about itself?

And from all that he knows about the universe, does it look like there is a God? Does the universe need a creator to keep it going? Did it even need a creator?

And is it possible that we are all living in a computer simulation? Short answer is: quite possibly.

Watch the full 90-minute Times Talk episode to find out.

Forty-six years ago, a man walked into Castille with a gun.

Gunshots rang out. The man was dragged out bleeding. He was accused of trying to kill Prime Minister Dom Mintoff.

That same day, thugs destroyed Times of Malta offices and ransacked the home of Mintoff’s rival, Eddie Fenech Adami.

In this episode, Times Talk explores one of the darkest days in Malta's modern history.

There was no single news event that overshadowed all other Times of Malta headlines in 2025.

But that does not mean it was a year without interesting events.

From a building collapse in Paceville to family tragedies, the (second) rise of Donald Trump and the potential sale of HSBC Malta, Times of Malta journalists were kept busy right to the end of the year.

In this episode, Mark Laurence Zammit sits down with Times of Malta editor-in-chief Herman Grech, online editor Bertrand Borg, print editor Anthony Manduca and news editor Diana Cacciottolo to get their insights into the stories that made 2025

In a world often dominated by bad, sometimes even depressing, news, Times of Malta journalists Mark Laurence Zammit, Emma Borg and Daniel Ellul sat down to look back on just the happiest stories of 2025.

Former Chamber President Marisa Xuereb said most people can only produce top quality work for five hours a day

A five-hour work day is sufficient for most employees to produce high-quality work in today’s technology-driven economy, according to former Chamber president Marisa Xuereb.

Speaking on Times Talk, the long-time entrepreneur and employer said most people including herself can only produce top quality work for five hours a day, and if they worked for 25 hours a week (five hours a day for five days) they would likely produce around the same amount of work they do when they work eight hours daily.

Adrian Delia and Jonathan Attard clashed in their first face-to-face debate since the conclusion of international arbitration between Malta and Steward Health Care, during a Times Talk episode filmed on Wednesday.

Throughout the fiery debate, the pair butted heads over who emerged on top in the arbitration proceedings, whether the government could have pursued a different legal route, and what the tribunal actually said about a €400 million sum supposedly stolen by Steward.

Armed with a stack of meticulously annotated documents in hand, almost certainly the various court sentences, reports and rulings handed down throughout this multi-year saga, neither Attard nor Delia held back once the cameras were rolling.

Attard was speaking as justice minister while former opposition leader Delia waged a lengthy legal campaign that ended with a court annulling all contracts awarded to Steward and its predecessor Vitals Global Healthcare.

When Karl Schembri was a boy, his father carried a dark and unspoken history – years of sexual abuse at the hands of a priest.

The trauma left deep scars, and as an adult, his father’s mind began to unravel. The voices that haunted him eventually drove him to commit an unthinkable act: the murder of Schembri’s mother.

Schembri, an author, journalist and activist, has now finally broken a decades-long silence through his new novel Eħlisna mid-Deni (Deliver us from Evil).

He tells Times Talk the book - a work of fiction inspired by his real story - is his way of achieving justice for a human tragedy that the authorities systematically overlooked for years.

Days after announcing major tax cuts for parents, Finance Minister Clyde Caruana tells Mark Laurence Zammit he is not happy with people who are upset that families are to get some extra help.

In a one-hour interview about Budget 2026 measures, Caruana also speaks frankly about mass public transport, worker productivity and the end of cash-for-passports income.

Traffic has become the single biggest problem with living in Malta. Transport Malta's traffic team is responsible for ensuring it flows smoothly.

We joined the team on a Monday morning as they monitored traffic flows, cleared roads and responded to crashes.

Michael Stivala is one the country's biggest developers and president of the Malta Development Association (MDA). Wayne Flask is a long-time environmental activist and secretary general of the NGO Il-Kollettiv.

The two agree on almost nothing when it comes to construction and development - which is why this week they went head to head in this Times Talk debate on the highly controversial planning reform.

A woman was convinced she was chatting on Facebook with Pope Leo XIV and was sending him money for his projects – and she simply did not believe Bank of Valletta when it told her the ‘pope’ was a scammer.

Another man lost his life savings to a fictitious Canadian woman whom he chatted with for months, and after she took all his money, he went to look for her abroad, only to discover the address she gave him didn’t exist.

And another woman spent seven years and €170,000 trying to buy a dog that never even existed.

These are not plot lines from a film but real-life stories of Maltese people who have lost a lot of money to sophisticated online scams during the past months. Their stories are detailed in this episode of Times Talk.

The episode delves into a wave of increasingly sophisticated and insidious online scams that is sweeping across Europe, leaving a trail of financial and emotional devastation.

Alex Borg won a nail-biter of a leadership race a week ago. Now, as Malta's new Opposition leader, he must lead the PN out of the political doldrums and make it electable once again.

In this Times Talk interview, the PN's new leader speaks about the party's future and finances, his relationship with leadership rival Adrian Delia and perceptions that he is close to big business.

As Times of Malta celebrates its 90th year, we speak to editor-in-chief Herman Grech and deputy online editor Chris Scicluna about 50 years of history and news in Malta.

Grech has overseen the Times' shift from a primarily print-based newspaper to an online one. Scicluna joined the Times of Malta newsroom 45 years ago, following in his father's footsteps.

Together, the two recall some of the most significant events in Malta's modern history in his interview with Mark Laurence Zammit

Planning Minister Clint Camilleri found himself in the eye of a storm right in the middle of July this year - and it was a storm of his own doing.

Proposals to reform planning laws caught people off guard and led to howls of outrage, as activists noted they would effectively give the Planning Authority unfettered power.

Now, Camilleri says the critics are right.

In this exclusive interview, the minister vows to revoke many of the proposals' most controversial clauses, while arguing others parts of the reform are necessary.

"Despite our good intentions, the activists and NGOs are right," he says.

Karl Gouder was one of the PN's brightest young hopes. He had served as a mayor and as an MP, and was months away from being made the party's general secretary.

Then, one morning last September, Gouder took his own life.

In this Times Talk exclusive, Karl Gouder's brother Simon opens up about that tragedy and the days leading up to it.

We also speak to a young man who survived multiple suicide attempts, and psychiatrist professor Anton Grech and Richmond Foundation CEO Daniela Calleja about men's mental health and the risks of suicide.

One is a lawyer, the other a TV presenter.

But for the next few weeks, Cynthia Galea and Sarah Bajada have had to put part of their personal lives and careers on hold to support their partners, who are running to be the country's next opposition leader and - they hope - the next prime minister.

In this episode of Times Talk, Adrian Delia's partner Cynthia and Alex Borg's partner Sarah, bring Mark Laurence Zammit behind the scenes on the campaign trail.

The Nationalist Party has forbidden Adrian Delia and Alex Borg from debating each other as they compete to become the party's next leader.

So we had to adapt.

In this Times Talk episode, we interview the two candidates separately about their vision for the Opposition party, but present their replies to you in a single take.

Toni Abela was a key figure in Malta's political scene before transitioning to the judiciary.

A former president and deputy leader of the Labour Party, Abela can now add 'retired judge' to that resume, having served for nine years in the judiciary.

In this rare interview, Abela reveals what it's like to be a judge in Malta and opens up about how the power of deciding a person's fate weighed on him.

The Nationalist Party is at a crossroads, again.

Bernard Grech’s surprise decision to step aside midway through the legislature caught the party off guard. And with Roberta Metsola deciding not to contest, the PN’s future appears uncertain.

Lou Bondi played a key role within the PN during its electoral heyday. George Vital Zammit was tasked by the party’s outgoing leader with writing its electoral manifesto.

In this Times Talk episode, we ask these two thinkers where the PN got it wrong, and what it needs to do to get back on track.

Joseph Portelli and Andre Callus met for the first time in their lives at the top of Mercury Towers, for a Times Talk debate that saw the two trade talking points, accusations and even the odd insult.

Portelli is one of Malta’s biggest construction moguls. Callus is arguably Malta’s best-known environmental activist. It is safe to say there is little love lost between the two.

The hour-long debate was moderated by Times of Malta assistant editor Mark Laurence Zammit.

Cardinal Mario Grech was among a handful of names mentioned in Catholic circles as being a potential successor to the late Pope Francis.

In this exclusive interview recorded inside the Vatican, Cardinal Grech says he was relieved he was not the man chosen to lead the Catholic Church.

Cardinal Grech sheds light on the conclave that led to the election of Pope Leo XIV and also touches on various challenges the Church faces, including the problem of many priests not wanting to become bishops.

Bajd u Bejken has carved out a particular niche in Malta's podcasting landscape. Crude, rude and dark, the comedy show has attracted a dedicated audience that delights in its brand of humour.

The laughs stopped this month, though, when the show was accused of humiliating Terry Muscat, a transgender social media personality.

One of the show's three hosts apologised and quit.

In this exclusive interview, Times Talk speaks to the remaining two, Max Vassallo and PJ Xerxen, about that joke, their plans for the show and whether there should be red lines in comedy.

Rebecca Buttigieg has unveiled government proposals for 'Assisted Voluntary Euthanasia' - proposals that, if they become law, would grant people the right to die in certain circumstances.

Although the proposals are not a draft bill yet, they could lead to one, and on Times Talk, Buttigieg fields questions on what could go wrong if the country were to introduce some form of euthanasia.

As cardinals gather in Rome to select the Catholic Church's next leader, Times Talk speaks to Ambassador and Vatican expert Frank Zammit about the conclave and its mysteries.

Zammit explains how the process will unfold and why he believes it could take slightly longer than usual for a puff of white smoke to emerge from the chapel chimney.

He also weighs in on the internal politics that take centre stage during the event, in an election meant to be the work of the holy spirit.

Four men are in the dock, charged with playing a key role in two separate murders.

One of those killings, the 2017 assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, is arguably the most significant crime in Malta's history.

In this episode, Mark Laurence Zammit speaks to Times of Malta court reporter Monique Agius and online editor Bertrand Borg about the ongoing trial. This episode was recorded on April 29, 2025.

Malta’s new traffic plan has everyone talking but will it actually reduce traffic? In this week’s Times Talk, we sit down with Chris Bonett to clear the air: Who really qualifies for the €25k car grant? What happens if people just switch to cabs? And is asking young people to ride motorbikes really a viable solution? Bonett admits traffic won’t be solved overnight but says a cultural shift is the goal.

A new, groundbreaking discovery has revealed that Malta's human history is at least 1,000 years older than previously thought.

In this episode of Times Talk we meet the first people of Malta - hunter-gatherers who reached the island 1,000 earlier than previously believed, navigating vast open waters before the age of agriculture.

Times Talk follows the journey of the scientists that traced back these prehistoric pioneers and redefined what we thought we knew about the dawn of civilisation in the Mediterranean.

This episode was produced by Mark Laurence Zammit and edited by Karl Andrew Micallef.

In this week's episode of Times Talk, we sit down with the unstoppable Jamie Cardona.

Cardona has been on an incredible winning streak this past year - writing and performing in Malta's longest-running solo show, starring in critically acclaimed musical and theatre productions and now, winning the prestigious music competition Mużika Mużikaat the first attempt.

Mark Laurence Zammit sits down with Cardona to learn more about what makes him tick, and what he makes of his sudden burst of success.

This episode was edited by Karl Andrew Micallef.

Malta’s nightlife is fueling a rise in cocaine use, with Valletta emerging as a hotspot for open drug consumption.

Times of Malta investigation reveals how the drug culture has seeped into bars, bathrooms, and beyond.

Mark Laurence Zammit speaks to Times of Malta journalists Marc Galdes and Emma Borg as well as medical experts Anton Grech and Godwin Sammut to explore the seedier side of Maltese nightlife.

Hosted by Mark Laurence Zammit. Edited by Karl Andrew Micallef.

Malta’s COVID-19 response was among the best globally, but former Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Chris Fearne acknowledged areas for improvement.

Corradino Correctional Facility is Malta's only prison. It is home to 673 men and 59 women serving time or awaiting trial. And yet very little is known about it, or about prison life in Malta.

Mark Laurence Zammit was granted an exclusive, unprecedented four-hour filmed tour of the facility by prisons director Chris Siegersma, one month after a damning report by the Ombudsman which saw Corradino described as a "factory of evil" by one inmate.

This is what he saw.

Produced by Mark Lawrence Zammit. Filmed by the Correctional Services Agency. Edited by Karl Andrew Micallef.

Foreign affairs minister. Tourism minister. Deputy prime minister.

If Ian Borg's many hats are weighing him down, he doesn't show it.

In this interview with Mark Laurence Zammit, Borg - one of Malta's most powerful and recognisable politicians - delves into his plans to reform the tourism sector, "fix" Comino and adapt Malta's diplomatic neutrality to the geopolitics of today.

This episode was produced by Mark Laurence Zammit and edited by Karl Andrew Micallef.

You'd be hard-pressed to find two political figures more different than Jason Azzopardi and Jason Micallef. 

They share a first name and a flair for bombastic posts on social media. The similarities end there. 

Azzopardi is a lawyer and former Nationalist Party MP who crusades against the Labour government. Micallef is a Labour official who has vocally defended Labour figures facing corruption allegations. 

In this hour-long discussion moderated by Mark Laurence Zammit, the two Jasons go head-to-head on some of the hottest political issues in present-day Malta. Expect fireworks. 

Produced by Mark Laurence Zammit. Edited by Karl Andrew Micallef. 

Yorgen Fenech is out of prison, more than five years after he was taken into police custody and charged with complicity in the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia.

We still don't know when Fenech - the millionaire heir to the Tumas Group fortune - will stand trial on those charges. What we do know is that he will be sleeping at home until that happens. 

Times of Malta journalist Claudia Calleja was in court when a court granted Fenech bail. Her colleague Daniel Ellul was outside prison when he was released. 

Mark Laurence Zammit speaks to both of them to get some insight into this major event. 

This episode was produced by Mark Laurence Zammit and edited by Karl Andrew Micallef. 

On February 2, 1995, a blast rang out at the Malta Drydocks.

The Um el Faroud, a Libyan oil tanker, had exploded "like a tin can".  Nine people lost their lives. 

30 years on, we revisit that disaster with the help of two people who were among the first to reach the scene: court analyst and University of Malta Rector Alfred Vella and Times of Malta deputy online editor Chris Scicluna. 

This episode was produced by Mark Laurence Zammit, written by Matthew Bonanno and edited by Karl Andrew Micallef. 

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In Marsa, dozens of migrants wait by the roadside every morning, hoping to be picked up for casual construction work. Sarjo Conteh, a 31-year-old Gambian man who died in a construction site collapse on July 23, was one of them.

On this episode, we hear the stories of some of those men.

In part two, we catch up with Claudio Camilleri, a marathon runner who found time to stop and help a stranded tourist despite being in the middle of a 190km charity run.

Find out more at https://times-talk.pinecast.co

Lino Cauchi's murder remains one of the great unsolved cases in Maltese criminal history.

Cauchi vanished in 1982, but his body wasn’t discovered until three years later. His family are now seeking compensation for how the investigation was handled by police and the government at the time.

We speak to forensic expert Anthony Abela Medici, who was one of the first people to go down the well where Cauchi's body was found.

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The Nationalist Party is reeling. Its leader, Adrian Delia, has lost the trust of most of his MPs but is refusing to give up the party leadership.

In this episode, Times of Malta journalist Ivan Martin explains how the PN got here and where things may end up in the weeks to come.

In part two, we speak to ultra-runner Claudio Camilleri, who’s attempting to run 190km around Malta and Gozo later this month, all in the name of charity.

Have an idea or story suggestion? Email us at timestalk@timesofmalta.com

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All across the world, protest movements are tearing down monuments and statues which represent more divisive moments in different countries' histories. Is there a case for Malta to do something similar?

On this episode, historians Charles Xuereb and Simon Cusens debate whether some of Malta’s colonial monuments should be removed or relocated.

In part two, we speak to John Edward DeMicoli about his fascinating World War II discovery inside a German antique he bought at auction.

Send your suggestions or story ideas to timestalk@timesofmalta.com

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Malta International Airport reopened its doors to commercial airlines on July 1, after more than three months of coronavirus-imposed shutdown. We speak to some of the first tourists to visit Malta in the summer of 2020.

In part two of this episode, we ask epidemiologist Neville Calleja what Malta has done right during the pandemic and get his take on whether we should be concerned about a second wave.

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Times of Malta journalist Jacob Borg explains how he worked with Reuters to expose a 2015 deal linking Malta's energy provider Enemalta to the man accused of masterminding the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Borg was speaking before former minister Konrad Mizzi was kicked out of the Labour Party and economic crimes unit chief Ian Abdilla was replaced.

In part two of the episode, expats who used to call Malta home tell us they are packing their bags and leaving for good... because they sense rising xenophobia.

Have a story or suggestion to share with us? Email us at timestalk@timesofmalta.com

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Former police commissioner Lawrence Cutajar is now the subject of a criminal investigation over suspicions he may have tipped off a middleman in the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Hours before that probe began, he sat down with Times of Malta for an exclusive interview. Ivan Martin provides insight into the latest developments in a case that keeps twisting and turning.

In part two of this episode, we speak to Valletta business owners about their eight months of misery which began with national protests and continued with a global pandemic. Many tell us they're struggling to stay afloat.

Have a tip, idea or suggestion? Get in touch at timestalk@timesofmalta.com

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We take to the streets of Valletta and speak to people who attended a Black Lives Matter demonstration and ask if they think Malta has a problem with racism.

In part two of the episode, we hear from swimmer Neil Agius about how he's preparing - mentally and physically - to cross from Sicily to Malta later this month.

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Chris Cardona's name has swirled around the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder case in the past. But this week, the former minister was thrown right into the thick of things. Times of Malta's Ivan Martin walks us through the latest developments in the case of the century.

Plus, teenager Leon Bartolo talks about the strains of being a student in Malta, after a global study found that local 15-year-olds face the most schoolwork pressure in Europe.

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How will Malta fare economically once the pandemic blows over? Economist and financial adviser JP Fabri gives his prediction on how the country will weather the fallout from COVID-19.

We also speak to national long jump record-holder Claire Azzopardi about the mental challenges she faced when training during lockdown.

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We speak to Angie Farrugia, who cannot fly to India to pick up her newly-adopted daughter because airports are shut due to COVID-19. Angie is one of a growing number of Maltese choosing to adopt a child. Shirley Mifsud from one of Malta's three private adoption agencies tells us why it's becoming more popular.

Plus, Times of Malta reporter Claire Caruana talks us through the challenges the media has faced while covering the pandemic, as daily COVID-19 briefings come to an end.

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With the situation in Libya deteriorating because of civil war and now coronavirus, will more people try and make it to Malta to escape the desperate situation? Regional expert Mark Micallef explains what life is like in the north African country.

Plus: wondering if you should get swabbed for COVID-19? Times of Malta online editor Bertrand Borg went and took the test, all in the name of research.

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Heritage Malta CEO Noel Zammit explains how he plans to keep the organisation alive during the coming months, without the income from tourists who usually visit Malta's museums and heritage sites.

Plus, musician Glenn Sacco talks about his virtual collaboration with rock legend Jon Bon Jovi.

Background reading: 'Tourism will be the last sector to recover'

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Archbishop Charles Scicluna discusses whether the Catholic Church is relevant in Maltese society anymore. He also shares his thoughts on greed, social media and hate speech.

Plus, marine biologist Alan Deidun tells us how and why he believes wildlife is thriving across the islands since the COVD-19 pandemic forced us all indoors.

Background reading:

Archbishop slams 'cardboard institutions with no teeth' Dolphins arrive on a coastline quietened by coronavirus

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She's become a household name ever since coronavirus reached Malta in early March. But who is Charmaine Gauci? We speak to the Superintendent of Public Health to get to know her a little better.

Plus, Times of Malta journalist Jacob Borg explains how Malta gets its electricity, what are the rules it must play by, and why those contracts make it tricky for the government to lower utility rates.

Background reading: Gas is more expensive than interconnector - Electrogas advisers The $1 billion energy deal that's costing Malta millions Enemalta 'is not just the government's company' - Edward Scicluna The multiple problems found in Electrogas' winning bid

Music: Verdi - Un Ballo in Maschera (Abbado)

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Seven weeks into the coronavirus pandemic lockdown, Malta's deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne discusses how and when he feels restrictions will be lifted, and warns "this might not be the only pandemic we see in our lifetime".

In the second part of the episode, we speak to a Maltese teen activist who managed to secure a one-hour meeting with Prime Minister Robert Abela to discuss the rights of migrants.

Learn more about these stories and more at www.timesofmalta.com.

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As those living in Malta continue to stay indoors to stop the spread of COVID19, we ask epidemiologist Neville Calleja what the options are when it comes to reopening the country and staying safe.

And 100 days into the tenure of Prime Minister Robert Abela, we speak to Times of Malta editor-in-chief Herman Grech about how Malta's new leader is handling the hot seat.

Background reading: https://www.um.edu.mt/newspoint/news/2020/04/covid-19-risk-management?fbclid=IwAR1suOPHnezFTyc8Vc8FJ_N2F137jh8PA2HncWw6T7c5k311TlxoM1iJ358

https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/from-construction-to-corona-100-days-of-robert-abela.786539