Times Talk by Times of Malta

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 Mużika at 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.