Weekly News highlights

Two Brothers were charged on Monday with assaulting and slightly injuring surgeon Alex Manchè at St Luke's Hospital the previous Friday after he told one of them to stop smoking. Carmelo Micallef, 52, of Floriana and his brother Louis, 58, of Luqa, pleaded not guilty.

Their lawyer, Dr José Herrera, told Magistrate Abigail Lofaro that the incident happened just after the brothers were told their mother had passed away. Louis, in a state of distress, lit a cigarette and when Mr Manchè told him to put it out he pushed him away. Dr Herrera added that his clients had been through a tough day due to the death of their mother.

The brothers were granted bail on condition they did not leave home and were bound by a personal guarantee of Lm1,000 each.

Family jailed for over 40 years

Concetta Decelis, 57, and her son Jason, 29, will be spending a total of 40 years behind bars after being found guilty of allowing 18-year-old Rachel Bowdler to die of a drug overdose to avoid getting into trouble with the law.

The mother was jailed for 15 years and her son for 25 in the first ever conviction in Malta for what is known as murder by omission.

Carmel, the father, also 57, was jailed for one-and-a-half years as he was cleared of murder but was found guilty of involuntary homicide.

The body of the girl was found in a field in an area known as Ras Il-Gebel, limits of Mgarr, on May 13, 2001.

Government mulls ILO public holidays ruling

The government is studying the repercussions of a decision by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) calling for an amendment to the law relating to public holidays that occur on a weekend.

The ILO's Committee on Freedom of Association last Friday week upheld the argument made by the General Workers Union that the current law on public holidays does not automatically render null any existing collective agreements. It also said that employers and unions should have a right to negotiate and agree on whether a public holiday, which occurs on a weekend, should be added to a person's leave.

The decision - described as a "historic victory" by GWU general secretary Tony Zarb - was confirmed by the ILO's governing body last Monday.

The Malta Employers Association later in the week called on the government to fulfil its aim of improving national competitiveness by removing four public holidays in the light of the ILO's decision.

ADT hires temporary driving test examiners

The Malta Transport Authority (ADT) is hiring temporary examiners to carry out driving tests after five of its regular staff were suspended in the course of investigations into a bribery scandal. The suspension resulted in a backlog and postponement of driving tests last week.

The scandal, being investigated by the police, is said to involve examiners and at least one driving school that was supposedly asking applicants to pay money to ensure they would pass the test and get their driving licence.

Sliema residents object to planned development

Residents OF Dingli Street, Sliema, are protesting against the proposed development of flats and commercial property in the narrowest part of the street where a building would be higher and deeper than the current block and wipe out the existing gardens.

In a letter to MEPA's director of planning, the residents said that the then Planning Authority had stated in November 2004 that the proposed development ignored depth and height restrictions. While other townhouses along this part of Dingli Street are 21 metres deep, the proposed development would be 35 metres deep. Residents also argue that it will obstruct natural sunlight.

They criticised the lack of consideration given to parking requirements, especially since the ground floor would be used for commercial purposes.

Film companies' claims on counterfeit DVDs upheld

Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco upheld a writ filed by nine foreign film companies against Alexander Camilleri for supplying counterfeit DVDs in a case filed by Dr Patrick J. Galea on behalf of the companies.

The claims stated that Mr Camilleri had violated their rights of intellectual property and copyright when he had imported into Malta and distributed a number of counterfeit DVDs. The court noted that a Customs officer had testified that 274 DVDs had been found in Mr Camilleri's possession at the airport.

Mr Camilleri, the court noted, had failed to prove that the DVDs were intended for his personal use, and that, in any case, he had no right to violate the companies' copyright.

The court concluded that the companies' copyright had been violated but, given the circumstances, it did not order Mr Camilleri to make good the damages sustained.

Church report urges tighter control on fireworks

A Report published by the Archdiocese's Environment Commission has reflected on the environmental impact of religious feasts from fireworks to waste - 450 tonnes of waste are collected from village streets each year after feasts.

One of the issues that struck a discordant note was the noise level of fireworks, which, in certain instances, was much higher than the acceptable maximum of 120 decibels.

Commission chairman Victor Axiak pointed out that there were no international standards or regulations limiting the acceptable noise levels of fireworks, but a number of countries had developed their own and these varied between 112 and 120 decibels.

The commission is calling for regulations that would set limits on the different kinds of shells that can be let off at particular hours, as well as the noise levels permissible.

The report also highlights the fact that the production of fireworks involved the use of a number of chemicals - a total of 200 tonnes a year.

It also pointed to the loss of life as a result of fireworks-related accidents - 14 people died (19 per cent of whom were 16 years old or under) and 38 others sustained injuries between 1997 and 2006.

The commission is recommending that the criteria for granting a licence for the production and firing of pyrotechnics be stricter and more objective. It is also suggesting that abuse should not be tolerated and that licensees be monitored regularly, every fireworks factory should appoint a safety officer, and refresher courses should be organised for those who manufacture and let off fireworks.

Malta to keep inflation down for euro entry

After European Union leaders on Friday gave the go-ahead for Slovenia to become one of the new member states to introduce the euro in 2007, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said he was cautiously optimistic that Malta would follow suit at the beginning of 2008.

He agreed to adhere to the Maastricht criteria despite growing fears that in a year's time Malta might be penalised for its high inflation. Dr Gonzi insisted that Malta's priority is to keep inflation down so that the country could remain competitive. Malta has targeted January 1, 2008, as the date for joining the Eurozone. The EU is expected to make the final evaluation and recommendation on Malta next May.