Times Talk by Times of Malta

A Times of Malta podcast that takes a closer look at the stories shaping Malta today. Hosted by award-winning journalist and assistant editor Mark Laurence Zammit.

Jason vs Jason 02/20/2025

Jason vs Jason 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. /episode/index/show/a16b25fa-6467-4438-a57f-a21b923b3e76/id/35351295

Yorgen Fenech's bail 02/08/2025

Yorgen Fenech's bail 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. /episode/index/show/a16b25fa-6467-4438-a57f-a21b923b3e76/id/35192450

The Biggest Industrial Disaster in Malta's History 02/01/2025

The Biggest Industrial Disaster in Malta's History 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. /episode/index/show/a16b25fa-6467-4438-a57f-a21b923b3e76/id/35108285

The realities facing African migrants in Malta 07/30/2020

The realities facing African migrants in Malta

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.

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Could the unsolved murder case of Lino Cauchi be reopened? 07/23/2020

Could the unsolved murder case of Lino Cauchi be reopened?

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

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Why is the Nationalist Party in such turmoil? 07/16/2020

Why is the Nationalist Party in such turmoil?

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.

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Should Malta's colonial monuments be relocated? 07/09/2020

Should Malta's colonial monuments be relocated?

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?

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Should you be worried about Malta reopening to tourists? 07/02/2020

Should you be worried about Malta reopening to tourists?

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.

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Money, Montenegro and an alleged murder mastermind 06/25/2020

Money, Montenegro and an alleged murder mastermind

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.

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A former police chief is linked to a journalist's murder case 06/18/2020

A former police chief is linked to a journalist's murder case

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.

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Do black lives matter in Malta? 06/11/2020

Do black lives matter in Malta?

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.

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A politician is named in the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder case 06/04/2020

A politician is named in the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder case

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.

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Can Malta's economy survive the COVID-19 pandemic? 05/28/2020

Can Malta's economy survive the COVID-19 pandemic?

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.

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Adoption: Why is it increasing in Malta? 05/21/2020

Adoption: Why is it increasing in Malta?

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 chall /episode/index/show/a16b25fa-6467-4438-a57f-a21b923b3e76/id/35095425

Migration: Will the crisis in Libya push more people towards Malta? 05/14/2020

Migration: Will the crisis in Libya push more people towards Malta?

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 /episode/index/show/a16b25fa-6467-4438-a57f-a21b923b3e76/id/35095430

Tourism: How one organisation is battling COVID-19 fallout 05/07/2020

Tourism: How one organisation is battling COVID-19 fallout

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: /episode/index/show/a16b25fa-6467-4438-a57f-a21b923b3e76/id/35095435

How relevant is the Catholic Church in Malta in 2020? 05/02/2020

How relevant is the Catholic Church in Malta in 2020?

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:

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Coronavirus: Malta's doctor, Charmaine Gauci 04/29/2020

Coronavirus: Malta's doctor, Charmaine Gauci

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: /episode/index/show/a16b25fa-6467-4438-a57f-a21b923b3e76/id/35095445

Coronavirus: Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne 04/25/2020

Coronavirus: Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne

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 /episode/index/show/a16b25fa-6467-4438-a57f-a21b923b3e76/id/35095450

Coronavirus: How long will this last? 04/21/2020

Coronavirus: How long will this last?

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: /episode/index/show/a16b25fa-6467-4438-a57f-a21b923b3e76/id/35095455

Times Talk by Times of Malta

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