Weekly News highlights

Tenders for the reconstruction of several arterial roads, funded by the fifth Italo-Maltese financial protocol, estimated at Lm12.5 million, have been awarded to three Italian contractors. Two of the contractors will be enrolling Maltese sub-contractors to help them and the third is likely to employ Maltese workers directly on the project.

The work covers the stretches of road from Burmarrad to Tal-Qlejja (limits of Mosta); from Tal-Qlejja to Tas-Srina roundabout (below Mdina); from Tas-Srina roundabout to Qormi; from the bottom of Saqqajja Hill to Attard and from Qormi to Luqa. Work is expected to start in the coming weeks.

Swiss firm wins design for Hagar Qim heritage park

A Swiss architectural firm has won an international competition for the design of the Mnajdra and Hagar Qim Heritage Park.

Walter Hunziger from Berne has won the €20,000 prize for his designs that are not based on permanent structures and can be removed without damaging the site. The structures will not involve the use of concrete, stone, or traditional foundations and will be constructed from wood, using micropiling systems, while the visitors' centre will be low and only visible from the sea, the vice-chairman of the jury, Architect Vincent Cassar, explained.

Malta in talks with Iran

The first foreign delegation to visit Malta since it joined the European Union at the weekend was made on Monday by the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Ahani, who met Foreign Minister John Dalli.

WSC subsidy down by Lm6 million in six years

Public Investments Minister Austin Gatt on Monday heaped praise on the Water Services Corporation for having reduced the government subsidy by Lm6 million in six years by cutting costs and improving efficiency. He also announced that a water polishing plant would be opened at Ta' Cenc shortly, enabling Gozo to become the first area of Malta where water quality would reach EU standards.

Speaking during the opening of the annual debate in Parliament on the WSC's financial estimates, Dr Gatt said the government's subsidy had dropped from Lm14 million at the time of the Labour government, to Lm8.4 million this year; the WSC planned to continue to reduce this by Lm500,000 every year for the next four years.

Man charged with partner's murder

david Norbert Schembri, 28, of Sliema, on Wednesday was charged with killing his partner, Josette Scicluna, 32, in San Gwann the day before. The victim lived in a flat with a young daughter whom she had with Mr Schembri. Ms Scicluna was found in a pool of blood in her flat by relatives who rushed there when neighbours phoned them after they heard her screaming. They in turn phoned the police and called for an ambulance. Sources said the aggressor broke his way into the flat after firing his gun five times at the lock.

A post mortem established she had close to 50 stab wounds, including a fatal blow to the neck that punctured a major artery.

US security system in operation at airport

Malta is the first European Union country to have a state-of-the-art border security system, inaugurated at Malta International Airport on Wednesday after it was donated by the US government.

The Personal Identification Secure Comparison and Evaluation System (PISCES) will also be used by immigration officials at Pinto Wharf Seaport, Ta' Xbiex Marina and Gozo ferry terminals. Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said PISCES was an innovative border management tool that the US was providing to strategic partners engaged in the global war against organised crime and terrorism. The system has already been deployed in about 20 countries around the world but not in any EU country yet.

He said that PISCES was being provided at no cost and assistance would include the installation of the system, training of immigration officials on its use and maintenance of the system.

New EU Commissioners approved

EU Commissioners from the new member states were approved by the European Parliament on Wednesday in a session in which former Economic Services Minister Josef Bonnici was also given the green light to serve on the European Court of Auditors.

The enlarged Commission includes former Foreign Minister Joe Borg, who later that day officially informed the Speaker of the House of Representatives in Valletta that he had resigned his seat.

The new Commission was overwhelmingly approved, with 531 votes in favour, 18 against, and 39 abstentions.

With 525 votes in favour and 18 against, Professor Bonnici was one of eight new appointees to the European Court of Auditors. The Cypriot candidate withdrew his nomination, while the Slovak's nomination was turned down by the European Parliament.

Professor Bonnici will also give up his seat in the Maltese Parliament.

Jailed for corrupting young girl

Kimu Mohamed Hikam, a 30-year-old Egyptian, was jailed on Thursday for three years and one month after he was found guilty of morally corrupting an 11-year-old girl in Attard on January 2 last year. He was further charged with offending public morals.

Schüssel favours EU-wide referendum

Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel, who was on a day-long working visit to Malta, said on Friday that more has to be done for a final compromise to be reached on the EU constitution by June. The Union, he said, should concentrate on the substance of the Constitution, then on the ratification by the parliaments of the different member states and then on national referenda in the countries which were holding them.

Speaking during a joint news conference with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, Mr Schüssel said he believed that one way of avoiding national referenda, which risked holding up the process, was to have a Europe-wide referendum.

Mr Schüssel, who is spending the weekend here on a private visit, also signed a visa agreement with Dr Gonzi, called on President Fenech Adami, met Opposition Leader Alfred Sant, and addressed a meeting of businessmen at the Chamber of Commerce.

Second man arraigned over art theft

Ian Farrugia was remanded in custody on Friday after being charged with the theft of a Caravaggio and other paintings from Judge Giovanni Bonello's residence in Valletta last month.

Farrugia, 30, of St Venera pleaded not guilty. He was also charged with damaging property, receiving stolen goods and relapsing. Joseph Portelli, 32, of Birkirkara faced similar charges on Thursday last week.

In July 1999 Farrugia had been acquitted, in a trial by jury, of the attempted murder of Richard Cachia Caruana, personal assistant to then Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami, in Mdina in December 1994.