legislation

A protester against the new law curtailing magisterial inquiries, in Valletta. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

New impunity for offenders

Weakening of the magisterial inquiry law introduces an ominous new phase in Labour’s cultivation of impunity for special citizens

12 hours ago| Arthur Muscat
Fort Manoel and Comino. Photos: Shutterstock.com

The Public Domain Act was called 'revolutionary', then ignored for nine years

Nine years since it was passed into law, the act has never been applied

April 21, 2025| Marc Galdes
Justice Minister Jonathan Attard. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Watch: New magisterial inquiry law ‘constitutionally sound’ − justice minister

Jonathan Attard says law would ‘strengthen’ access to justice

April 14, 2025| Daniel Ellul
The new law has received a lot of backlash from the Opposition and rule of law NGOs. File photo: Times of Malta

Controversial magisterial inquiry law enacted

New law was published in the Government Gazette on Friday

April 11, 2025| Marc Galdes
Demonstrators during a protest against the magisterial inquiry reforms held in February. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

PN dismisses calls for referendum on inquiries reform, pins change on election

Nationalist Party dismisses Momentum's call, says general election will decide

April 8, 2025| Giulia Magri
File photo: Times of Malta

Today's front pages – April 3, 2025

The top stories in Malta's newspapers

April 3, 2025| Times of Malta
A demonstrator holds a placard at an event held in February to protest the proposals. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Repubblika-led NGO coalition to protest outside parliament on Wednesday

NGOs vow one 'final appeal' against magisterial inquiry reform plans

March 28, 2025| Times of Malta
Animal rights activists demonstrate while the Mexico City Congress debates an initiative to ban bullfighting in the capital on March 18. Photos: Yuri Cortez/AFP

Watch: Mexico City, home to world’s biggest bullring, bans killing bulls

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum last week threw her support behind the initiative

March 19, 2025| AFP
Justice Minister at the launch of a new agency that will regulate the activities of property market intermediaries. Photo: DOI/Justice Ministry

Government agency to regulate property market officially launched

Property Market Agency will issue standards linked to brokerage and related services

March 19, 2025| Times of Malta
The reforms aim to revolutionise the maritime sector. Photo: Shutterstock.com

A new era of maritime excellence: Malta’s maritime reforms set sail

New leglisation introduces a groundbreaking finance charter instrument, among others

March 16, 2025| Sarah Demicoli
From left to right: Michael Debono, Luke Bjorn Scerri, Luke Collins (who has since been left out of the charges) and Giorgio Grigolo were arrested after trying to warn a popular student app about security flaws. File photo: Times of Malta

'Drop the charges against students, lecturer and reform law': Momentum

PN joins calls for legislative reform

March 6, 2025| Times of Malta
Anti-SLAPP laws in Malta should be extended to cases initiated in the country. Photo: Times of Malta Archives

Malta missed opportunity on anti-SLAPP protection - Council of Europe report

Press Freedom Report also flags delays in the trial of Daphne Caruana Galizia alleged murderers

March 5, 2025| Claudia Calleja
Representatives of political parties and civil society groups endorsing the call. Photo: Momentum

Suspend inquiry reform bill and allow consultation, parties and NGOs urge

Politicians, activists join forces to push for government to slam brakes on bill

March 1, 2025| Times of Malta
60 per cent of construction site developers have a project supervisor on the OHSA's competent people list. File photo: Matthew Mirabelli

New law requires qualified health and safety supervisors on construction sites

Right now, 60 per cent of construction sites have a qualified supervisor

February 27, 2025| Daniel Ellul
PN leader Bernard Grech outside parliament on Tuesday. Photo: Jonathan Borg

PN will not repeal cannabis law, despite Grech vowing a 'war on drugs'

Spokesperson says party wants a 'national review' of cannabis law

February 27, 2025| Daniel Ellul
On Thursday, Justice Minister Jonathan Attard was asked if the government had done enough to consult on the controversial inquiry reforms. Photo: Jonathan Borg.

Magisterial inquiry reforms: justice minister rules out public consultations

Jonathan Attard says government has ‘enough knowledge’ to move ahead

February 22, 2025| Daniel Ellul
Urban greening projects, including the installation of benches or irrigation, could get fast-tracked permits under the proposed changes. Photo: Project Green/Facebook

PA moves to cut red tape for urban greening projects

Project Green initiatives could bypass Planning Authority altogether

February 19, 2025| Times of Malta
Jeremy Harbinson (inset) says he has no intention of testifying in Malta's law courts as he fears for his safety. Photo: Jonathan Borg

'Government failed to enact rules allowing Vitals expert video testimony': NGO

UK-based forensic accountant said he will never return to Malta

February 19, 2025| Times of Malta
The crowd that met outside parliament marched along Republic Street towards the law courts. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

'You Kant be trusted': crowd protests magisterial inquiries reform in Valletta

Demonstrators concerned about impacts a reform of the court inquiry system would have on ordinary people's rights

February 16, 2025| Sarah Carabott, Emma Borg
A bill proposing changing how citizens can request a magisterial inquiry was tabled by the government last month. File photo: Times of Malta

SMEs Chamber fears inquiries reform 'undermines independence of judiciary'

'Any changes should reinforce trust in the system rather than diminish it'

February 13, 2025| Times of Malta
According to official information given in 2020, 64 tigers were known to be held in captivity in Malta. Photo: Shutterstock.com

Amnesty to be given to owners of dangerous exotic pets

Lions, tigers, bears and snakes are on the list of animals that can be registered

February 13, 2025| Daniel Ellul
Photo: Malta Police CMRU

Parliament approves tougher jail sentences for assaulting police

Legal amendments will apply to all public officials and follow Ħamrun brawl shock

February 12, 2025| Times of Malta
File photo: Times of Malta

Today's front pages – February 12, 2025

The top stories in Malta's newspapers

February 12, 2025| Times of Malta
Ex-opposition leader Simon Busuttil (centre) heading to court in May 2017 to trigger an inquiry against ex-OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri. File photo

Magisterial inquiry reforms fall foul of EU laws – Simon Busuttil

Former opposition leader says proposed changes are a ‘regression in existing rights’

February 11, 2025| Jacob Borg
The exterior of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Headquarters is seen on February 10, 2025 in Washington, DC. Photo: AFP

Trump team orders work pause at US consumer protection agency

Bureau protects American consumers from corporate misconduct

February 10, 2025| AFP
The Chamber of Commerce has called for a rethink of aspects of the magisterial inquiries reform bill, now before parliament..

Chamber of Commerce calls for a rethink of aspects of the inquiries reform

Undue haste in pushing the reform will only serve to fuel suspicion

February 10, 2025| Times of Malta
In many EU states, the functions of NHRIs are part and parcel of the Office of the Ombudsman. File photo: Times of Malta

Ombudsman proposes law for recognition as a human rights institution

Malta one of very few EU states that has not yet established National Human Rights Institution in line with UN principles

February 5, 2025| Sarah Carabott
Robert Abela addressing a political activity in Birżebbuġa. Photo: PL.

Robert Abela slams Vitals inquiry experts

PM claims 'supposed experts' refusing to testify after €11 million inquiry

February 2, 2025| Jacob Borg
Robert Abela and Jonathan Attard have a distorted notion of the rule of law. Photo: Jonathan Borg

Editorial: The truth and the rule of law

What the government is proposing reeks more of an attempt to introduce a ‘safety valve’

February 2, 2025| Times of Malta
A commuter rides on an electric scooter in Barcelona on January 24, 2025. Photos: Josep Lago/AFP

Barcelona makes helmets mandatory for e-scooter users

To protect pedestrians, e-scooters will no longer be allowed on pavements

January 30, 2025| AFP