Weekly News Highlights

Senglea clinched the Open Category Shield of the September 8 regatta on Monday, amid scenes of pandemonium and fighting in the Grand Harbour, which forced the postponement of the presentation ceremony. A fracas broke out at the end of the last race, as Marsamxett and Senglea were running neck and neck in points.

The Marsamxett oarsmen claimed that the Marsa boat rammed them at the beginning of the race, effectively putting them out of contention for the honours. When Marsamxett supporters and officials heard these protests they charged for the trophies and medals, kicking and throwing some of them into the sea. The shield was smashed into three parts. A number of policemen were slightly injured, but one had to be treated in hospital.

A total of 19 men were charged in connection with the disturbances. Seventeen of them pleaded guilty and were fined Lm500 each. Three of them were given suspended jail sentences. The other two pleaded not guilty and were granted bail.

Meanwhile, the Marsa Regatta Club called for an inquiry into the incidents, while Youth and the Arts Minister Jesmond Mugliett said that together with the National Festivities Committee and the National Regatta Association, they would be reviewing the regulations and organisational procedures of the national regatta.

Police fire warning shots

Mobile Squad police on Monday fired warning shots as they sought to arrest a driver who pointed a firearm in their direction and who was observed throwing sachets, possibly containing heroin, out of his car at Fgura. Sources said drug squad police were searching some young people close to the Bocci Club in Fgura when they observed a Volkswagen Golf speed off when the driver saw them. Police tried to stop the man, who is well known to them, but he pointed the firearm at them and sped off. Warning shots were fired at this stage. The driver was later intercepted and arrested.

Accidents at work cost Lm1 million in eight months

A total of 3,266 accidents at work were reported in the first eight months of this year, an average of 16 a day, costing the economy Lm1 million in social benefits and labour lost, Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi said on Tuesday.

'Toxic' waste stored in Corradino field

Waste which, according to laboratory tests commissioned by Greenpeace earlier this year, is toxic, has been dumped in unsealed oil drums in a field at Corradino, giving rise to a pungent smell as well as an eyesore. Greenpeace insists the waste, which forms part of the oil sludge removed from the Norwegian ship Kronviken by Malta Drydocks towards the end of last year, is toxic.

Separate tests by the MEPA had given conflicting results. But while Greenpeace had tested sludge from the ship, MEPA had only tested ash. Alfred Vella, who conducted the tests for MEPA, said on Wednesday he had only conducted tests on ash samples, the remains of incinerated ship waste and was never asked to conduct tests on sludge. Any product originating from crude oil, Professor Vella said, was toxic.

Slain Swedish minister 'helped Malta' in EU talks

Foreign Minister Joe Borg expressed his sadness and "big shock" on Thursday following the fatal stabbing of his Swedish counterpart, Anna Lindh. Dr Borg said that Ms Lindh was "particularly helpful" to Malta in difficult moments during the EU membership negotiations.

Financial situation 'not catastrophic'

Despite the existing problems and the remedial action that had to be taken, the country's economic and financial situation was not catastrophic as some would have us believe, Finance Minister John Dalli insisted on Thursday. Although he was not in a position to give details, Mr Dalli said that the situation should improve by year's end. The situation is due to a global phenomenon and many countries are experiencing deficits. In Malta's case it is more of a revenue problem than over-expenditure, he said.

Two youths charged with attempted murder

Emanuel Ciappara, 22, of Qrendi, and a 17-year-old boy pleaded not guilty on Thursday to trying to kill Osama Shalabi, a worker at Ciappara's father's chicken processing factory. The two were also charged with holding Shalabi against his will and threatening to kill him.

Meanwhile, Ciappara's brother Angel, 20, and their father Carmel, 46, were charged with seriously injuring Shalabi during the incident in Siggiewi last Tuesday.

The four were granted bail.

Stolen weapons recovered from seabed

The police recovered 53 firearms from the seabed near Liesse church, in Grand Harbour, on Friday morning. The recovered weapons are believed to have been part of an extensive collection of weapons stolen from the Swieqi residence of a collector last Saturday. Police conducted the search following an anonymous tip-off on Thursday evening. Other weapons, such as swords, are still missing.

Euro Parliament hoping for hotly contested Malta poll

Pragmatic solutions were being sought to the problems faced by some of the European Union accession states, including Malta, of not finding enough qualified linguists to carry out the necessary work relating to membership, Julian Priestley, secretary general of the European Parliament, said on Friday. Mr Priestley said the solutions sought would include looking at the documents that have to be translated and seeing what was really essential.

Mr Priestley said the purpose of his visit was to see how the Maltese Parliament was preparing to scrutinise what was going on in Brussels. This exercise was being carried out in all accession states and the EP also facilitated exchanges between parliaments for best practices to be found. Malta, he said, was participating fully in this exercise.

Mr Priestley said he hoped that next year's Euro elections in Malta, which will probably be held on June 12, would be as hotly contested as the other elections in the country.