Weekly News highlights

Richard Spiteri, known as Rachela, 33, of Sliema and Natal Bonello, 29, of Vittoriosa were charged in court on Sunday with stealing Lm7,000 from a car in Sliema the previous Friday belonging to the detriment of Carmelo Geranze, 65, of Sliema. The two were granted bail on a personal guarantee of Lm1,000 but they may not leave home.

New law to regulate psychology profession

The House of Representatives on Tuesday started to debate a bill to formally establish and regulate the profession of psychology in Malta. Social Affairs Minister Dolores Cristina said the psychology profession was growing fast, hence the need for this bill. Malta also needed to align itself with EU requirements.

The bill established the minimum requirements necessary for one to obtain a warrant to practise the profession and included provisions to protect service users.

Three die in two murder cases

Only some 12 hours after 46-year-old lawyer Michael Grech was found murdered outside his residence in Marsalforn, Gozo (see also page 82), a double killing took place in the area of Tal-Qattus, outside Ghaxaq. Police investigations revealed that Joseph Attard, 60, of Ghaxaq but living in Paola, first shot dead 20-year-old Katia Farrugia, of Paola, and then turned the gun on himself.

The man was found slumped next to a Hyundai Stellar in an alley close to a pumping station at about 11 a.m. The young woman's body was on the passenger's seat. A twin-barrelled shotgun was found in the car. This is the fifth murder this year; no murders were reported last year.

Air Malta agreement

Following weeks of bargaining, Air Malta and four trade unions on Wednesday signed a collective agreement that will lead to savings of some Lm1.3 million a year for the company.

The agreement, described as "historic" by Dr George Abela, the unions' legal adviser, covers the four years up to 2007. It promises not to make anyone redundant and although a three-year moratorium on increments is included, these will be given to the employees over the following three years (2008-2010). And while early retirement schemes will be discussed, the direction taken is not to increase the number of employees. The unions involved are the Association of Airline Pilots, the Union of Cabin Crew, the General Workers' Union and the Association of Airline Engineers.

8,339 unemployed

The number of registered unemployed in April amounted to 8,339 - 6,675 males and 1,664 females, according to the National Statistics Office. This translates into a decrease of 81 persons over March. However, on a year-to-year basis, there was an increase of 859. The unemployment rate was 5.7 per cent.

Charged with rape

A 34-year-old Tunisian who obtained Maltese citizenship in 1995 was remanded in custody on Wednesday after he was charged with repeatedly raping his 19-year-old sister-in-law, threatening her and holding her against her will. He was denied bail.

Man injured as crane topples over

A 27-year-old Swieqi man was seriously injured on Thursday morning when he was hit by a crane that toppled over in Birkirkara. Sources said the man was directing the crane's movements when it accidentally keeled over onto its side and struck him. He was rushed to hospital where he was found to be suffering from serious injuries but not in danger of death.

Drugs seized at public garden

The police drug squad on Thursday seized 30 sachets of heroin and arrested three people after patiently monitoring movements at a public garden in Fgura for a few days. The suspects are expected to be charged in court soon.

Farmers call for safeguard clause to be implemented

Farmers are calling on the government to immediately implement the safeguard clause negotiated in the EU accession treaty, or risk dealing a debilitating blow to the sector. Agricultural produce from Europe, which started coming in with accession, has forced farmers to drastically reduce their prices, forcing on them the possibility of losing their livelihood, they claim.

Association of Farmers general secretary Peter Axisa said many farmers had calculated that the subsidies they received merely made up for the 50 per cent extra premiums they were paying for their National Insurance contributions, after the government stopped paying its share. Farmers were also promised that the 50 per cent extra that they now had to pay would be substituted by a Crop Insurance, but this was nowhere to be seen.

The association is calling an urgent meeting for all farmers at St Agatha's College, Rabat, on Friday at 7.30 p.m. to discuss these issues and determine what action it should take.