Weekly News highlights

Alfred Bone, 59, of Marsascala, was in a critical condition after an accident at the Delimara power station on Monday morning. The man, who is employed as a mooring man by the Malta Maritime Authority, was injured when a vessel's mooring cable snapped and hit him on the head. The man was rushed to hospital where he was found to be in a critical but stable condition.

Paola man stabbed on way to work

Sammy Baldacchino, 54, of Paola, was stabbed in the back as he was about to report for work on Monday morning. The man, a quality controller with Stainless Steel Company Ltd, was stabbed by a hooded man who was waiting for him in the area where employees park their cars behind the factory in Marsa, shortly before 8 a.m. Baldacchino was being treated in hospital and his condition was described as stable.

Death of UHM pensioners' section secretary

the secretary of the pensioners' section of the Union Haddiema Maghqudin, Edward Abela, died early on Monday morning. He was 67. In a statement, the UHM said Mr Abela's death was a big blow to it and to Maltese trade unionism in general. Mr Abela is survived by his wife and two children.

Lawyer turns down post of judge

DR Ray Zammit, who last month was identified to be appointed to the bench of judges, said he will not be accepting the post for "personal reasons". He was expected to replace Mr Justice Franco Depasquale, who retired last month.

PM inaugurates restored Portes des Bombes

The Prime Minister, Dr Fenech Adami, on Tuesday inaugurated the restored Portes des Bombes which has been transformed from a soot-engulfed black to a beautiful honey-coloured stone. Restoration work had started in September.

United for membership

The Prime Minister on Wednesday was joined by representatives of 31 organisations in a press conference at the Auberge de Castille in which they all urged a Yes vote in yesterday's referendum. Dr Fenech Adami noted the uniqueness of the event, addressed as it was by the senior representatives of all major bodies except for the Labour Party and General Workers Union.

Jury clears woman of arson

Emily Muscat, 44, of Safi, on Wednesday was unanimously acquitted of two counts of arson in a trial by jury. After three and a half hours of deliberation she was found not guilty of setting fire to the door of two flats in the block known as Ta' Xbiex Palace, Gzira, on October 30, 1994. John Vella, 50, of Tarxien, and Anthony Felice, 36, of San Gwann, who had filed guilty pleas at the start of the trial, were jailed for four and three years respectively.

Three children hurt in fire

Three children, a three-year-old girl and two boys aged six and 10, who were literally playing with fire were lucky to escape with minor injuries when a mattress in their parent's home in Tarxien caught fire at lunch time on Thursday. The three children were on their own and playing with matches when neighbours noticed smoke coming from the house. The children were taken to hospital where they were treated for smoke inhalation.

Charged with conspiring in drugs

Emanuel Caruana, 23, of Cospicua man on Friday was charged with conspiring to deal in drugs. He pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and to the possession and trafficking of cannabis in Gzira. He was also charged with breaching the conditions of a previous release. Caruana was granted bail against a Lm2,000 deposit and a personal guarantee of Lm2,000.

Former judge heads new police board

Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg has appointed former Judge Franco Depasquale as chairman of the new police board. The board will investigate complaints with regard to members of the police corps. Dr Borg has also appointed Gemma Siroll, Paul Agius, Paul Saliba and Pio Scerri as members of the board. The board was set up through the police code which came into effect on January 1.

Woman critical after fall

A woman was in serious condition after she fell from a window she was cleaning at a St Julian's house on Friday. The police said everything points to the fall being accidental. According to the owner of the house, the woman, 58, from St Paul's Bay, climbed onto the wet window-sill, four metres up, to clean the panes and was buffeted by a gust of wind, causing her to fall into the driveway of the house, situated in Michelangelo Cagiano Street, the police said. The woman was rushed to hospital suffering from critical injuries.