Weekly News Highlights

Seven vehicles were set ablaze in the space of three hours on Saturday night in Naxxar and Lija. The police suspect all incidents were a spate of linked arson attacks. Fire engines from the Civil Protection Department's Xemxija, Corradino and Floriana stations were utilised during the operation.

Fisherman nets 50 kg of cannabis

A fisherman on Monday afternoon retrieved from the sea a box with some 30 kilos of cannabis resin tightly wrapped in plastic in six smaller boxes, while he was out on his boat fishing off Xlendi. The fisherman returned with the box to land and called the police when he opened it and realised what was inside. The box, containing the largest ever haul of cannabis resin, was not marked in any way.

Three face attempted murder charges

Brothers Charles and Louis Vella, aged 26 and 25, and a 15-year-old boy, whose name cannot be published by court order, on Tuesday charged with trying to kill three brothers, Richard, Robert and Bettega Cuschieri, by assaulting them with a cutting instrument and a knuckleduster at St Luke's Hospital's canteen on Monday evening. They pleaded not guilty. The Vellas were remanded in custody while the boy was granted bail against a personal guarantee of Lm500.

Carnival to be held as planned

The Carnival Committee on Tuesday decided that Carnival is to be held as planned, although it will end a day earlier - on Monday, March 3 instead of Tuesday, March 4 - to allow more time for the run-up to the referendum on March 8. The decision, taken after a number of float organisers asked for a postponement of Carnival, on the grounds that the dates were too close to the March 8 referendum, was reached following consultations with the authorities and with the political parties.

The Nationalist Party said it would not hold any mass activities on Saturday and Sunday, March 1 and 2, while the Labour Party said it would not hold a mass meeting on March 2.

Two critically injured

A 23-year-old man from Qormi on Tuesday morning suffered an electric shock after coming in contact with high tension cables as he jumped into a yard to feed some animals, the police said.

In another accident, a 38-year-old man from Mgarr was seriously injured when the roof of a building caved in while he was doing construction work in Testaferrata Street, Gzira.

Critically injured in explosion

Charles Butler is in critical condition after an explosion in a garage in Birzebbuga on Tuesday, minutes after he moved around some tyres in the garage.

Butler, who that day celebrated his 40th birthday, was pulled out by his son Clive and two other men who had just walked out.

The police have established that the explosion was caused by a bomb.

Croatian minister's visit

Croatian Minister for Europe Neven Mimica told a press conference in Valletta on Wednesday that his country would pursue other alternatives short of European Union membership only in the case of unfavourable developments within the EU. Mr Mimica is visiting the capitals of EU member states and accession countries in order to explain Croatia's aspirations as well as its potential. Croatia is expected to apply for membership this week.

Awarded Lm15,000 after finger amputation

Alfrida Pace, who lost half a finger following medical treatment on Thursday was awarded Lm15,210 in damages by Mr Justice David Scicluna in the Civil Court. Ms Pace had filed her writ in 1993 against Dr Jerzy Kosmyder and the chief government medical officer, after her finger was amputated because gangrene had set in.

The court found Dr Kosmyder responsible since he had discharged Pace prematurely, but he was responsible for 50 per cent of the damages since he could not be held answerable for the interventions carried out by other medical personnel.

New magistrate sworn in

DR Lawrence Quintano, 53, of Balzan, on Friday was sworn in as magistrate by President Guido de Marco, in a ceremony at the Palaces Valletta. Dr Quintano, who is married with two children, has been working at the Attorney General's Office, and is a lecturer in Civil Law at the University of Malta.