'Daphne Caruana Galizia: Landmark Public Inquiry recommendations must be implemented', 3 August 2021

... On 29 July 2021, the landmark Public Inquiry into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia published its conclusions, finding that “the State has to shoulder responsibility for the assassination because it created an atmosphere of impunity ... leading to the collapse of the rule of law..." The 437-page report ... concludes that all of the evidence heard throughout the inquiry led to a conviction that Caruana Galizia's assassination was either intrinsically or directly linked to her investigative work, which included allegations of administrative irregularities or abuse in major development projects which involved elements of big business... Caruana Galizia’s highly critical reporting of these political and economic power centres “inevitably resulted in a direct confrontation with those in power” leading to a pressing need to contest the journalist and neutralise the repercussions of her writings which reached a climax following the publication of the Panama Papers and revelations about offshore company 17 Black which continued to escalate until the moment she was assassinated. The report outlines in detail the sustained “denigrating campaign that demonised Daphne Caruana Galizia in a scenario of impunity” including incidents of verbal abuse, harassment, stalking and attempts to cripple her financially through SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation)...