The new head of the European Union commission Ursula von der Leyen has demanded a “thorough and independent” probe into the 2017 killing of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
On only her fourth day on the job in Brussels, Ms von der Leyen said she expected an investigation “free from any political interference".
"It is crucial that all those responsible are put to justice as soon as possible," she explained, referring to Ms Caruana Galizia’s murder in a car bomb near her home.
The 53-year-old had reported on corruption at the highest levels in Malta politics and economy and had received threats shortly before her death.
In a breakthrough in the investigation into the killing, prominent Maltese businessman Yorgen Fenech has been charged with orchestrating the murder. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges in court.
The case has shaken the Maltese political establishment to its core with thousands of protesters in Valetta, the island nation’s capital, demonstrating over perceived government complicity in the killing.
Earlier this month Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announced he would step down but delays in his departure have reignited the protests against him.
Two EU delegations have travelled to Malta and raised questions over the police handling of the murder investigation and the government’s credibility in the wake of the murder.
As the case against Mr Fenech continues, a court in Malta has heard testimony from a taxi driver that the businessman and hotelier was the sole mastermind of the plot to kill Ms Caruana Galizia.
Sreesanth's India bowling career
Tests 27, Wickets 87, Average 37.59, Best 5-40
ODIs 53, Wickets 75, Average 33.44, Best 6-55
T20Is 10, Wickets 7, Average 41.14, Best 2-12
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The biog
Hometown: Birchgrove, Sydney Australia
Age: 59
Favourite TV series: Outlander Netflix series
Favourite place in the UAE: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque / desert / Louvre Abu Dhabi
Favourite book: Father of our Nation: Collected Quotes of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
Thing you will miss most about the UAE: My friends and family, Formula 1, having Friday's off, desert adventures, and Arabic culture and people
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
