Weekly News highlights

Six Maltese MPs took part in the first ever plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg with all the EU candidate countries. The Maltese MPs were Jason Azzopardi, Dolores Cristina and Michael Frendo from the Nationalist Party, and Carmelo Abela, Chris Cardona and José Herrera from the Labour Party.

Guzè Diacono dies

GuZÈ Diacono, playwright, critic, author, lexicographer and a former journalist with Allied Newspapers Ltd, died last Sunday, a week before turning 90. Diacono's most famous work is the TV series Il-Madonna tac-Coqqa (1979), which he published in book form and adapted for stage. Other literary contributions include drama, short stories, critiques and translations.

Transfer of hospital services

A three-year, Lm2.9m plan for the transfer of services from St Luke's Hospital to the new Mater Dei Hospital at Tal-Qroqq was tabled in Parliament on Monday by Health Minister Louis Deguara. The plan was prepared by Cyril Sweett Ltd, which was commissioned by the Foundation for Medical Services in April following a call for tenders.

Valletta Week for schoolchildren

Equal Partners Foundation, a non-profit organisation providing support programmes for adults and children with disability and learning difficulties, organised Valletta Week as part of a series of cultural activities for schoolchildren, called Partners in Culture. The aim was to raise money while contributing to children's education.

UHM launches pro-European campaign

The Union Haddiema Maghqudin last Tuesday launched its pro-EU referendum campaign, starting with the publication of a booklet. UHM president Gejtu Tanti and general secretary Gejtu Vella said it was in the workers' interest for Malta to join the EU.

Italy requests man's extradition

Italian authorities have requesting the extradition of a Maltese man over his alleged involvement in the importation of cocaine and cannabis from Holland and Catania. Romeo Bone, 26, who is among 19 people facing charges of conspiring to deal in drugs in Malta and Italy, is pleading not guilty to the charges brought against him.

Deal reached over civil service collective agreement

The government and unions reached agreement on Wednesday in which public sector employees will receive a minimum Lm2.50 a week wage rise in 2003 and 2004, which includes cost of living adjustments.

Provisions were also included for casual and part-time workers, early retirement scheme, as well as shift, on-call and health hazard allowances.

Columnist, editor guilty of racist comments

Last Wednesday, Magistrate Michael Mallia ordered columnist Simone Zammit Endrich, 39, and Steve Chetcuti, 32, editor of The Malta Independent, to pay a "symbolic" Lm10 fine for passing racist comments in the article "Bitter Harvest", published on April 22.

Magistrate Mallia ruled that rather than inflicting punishment it would be better to resort to a measure that appealed to the local media's sense of responsibility and integrity.

Container ship runs aground off Marsaxlokk

A 54,415-ton container ship ran aground on the Sikka ta' San Lucjan reef, off San Lucjan Tower, on Thursday morning. The Vantage, which was on its way to the Freeport, was pulled away from the reef by two tugboats within two hours after prompt action was taken by the Malta Maritime Authority, which is investigating the incident.

Malta-Germany air services liberalised

Air services between Malta and Germany have been liberalised following an agreement, reached in Berlin on Thursday, giving Air Malta access to all destinations in Germany without any limits set on the number of flights.