Sunday, 19 February

Road rage
A man is severely injured after being hit on his head with an iron bar in Gzira. Anthony Spiteri, 59, from Ta’ Xbiex was attacked by another man from Birkirkara after a minor traffic accident.

Economy
Addressing the party faithful in Victoria Gozo, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi says the economy is showing signs of improvement and expects it to do better in 2006 than it did last year. Gonzi says more than 4,000 new employment opportunities were created in 2005.

Peace protest
Police officers cut short a protest by a handful of Graffitti activists against the presence of NATO warships in the Grand Harbour after confiscating their banners and ordering the peace activists to move away from Pinto Wharf.

Monday, 20 February

Sliema house
The light extinguishes for a baroque house in Sliema after the Malta Environment and Planning Authority approves its demolition to make way for underlying garages, a shop and apartments.
The baroque house is situated in Ghar il-Lembi street corner with High Street and MEPA’s green light dismays Sliema residents who fought tooth and nail to protect the building.

Damages awarded
A restaurant is awarded damages by the court of appeal after road works in Naxxar Road, Salina back in 2001 took too long to be completed. The court ordered the Director of Roads to pay the restaurant, Fiorino d’Oro, situated on the same road, Lm20,000 in damages.

Tuesday, 21 February

Jury
A man is found guilty of attempted murder after attacking a client of his girlfriend prostitute with a knife in Manoel Island in 2001. Jurors found Keith Galea, 25, of Santa Venera guilty by six votes to three.

Illegal farm
Veterinary officials kill 68 chickens, 53 chicks and one pig after raiding a farm in Zabbar which does not have the necessary permits according to law. Farm owner Emanuel Magro is expected to be arraigned in court shortly. The chickens are tested for bird flu before being destroyed as a precautionary measure. Tests prove negative.

Theft
Thieves strike at the Farsons distribution centre at Tal-Balal in San Gwann running off with an unquantified considerable amount of money after shooting at a drawer that held the cash. Nobody is injured in the robbery and the car used by the thieves is found burnt later on by the police.

Wednesday, 22 February

Immigrants protest
Illegal immigrants held in three separate detention centres hold co-ordinated protests clamouring for freedom and complaining against the length of time it is taking the authorities to decide on their case.
In the largest protest ever to be held by illegal immigrants, around 1,200 detainees at Safi manage to break through a fence and end up protesting in the streets. The army and the police keep the situation under control but the detainees only return to the barracks after a delegation is allowed to speak to the media.

Teacher jailed
Alexander Giacomotto, 53, of St Paul’s Bay is found guilty by the court of defiling a teenage boy in 2000 and is jailed for four years. Giacomotto, a teacher, was accused of showing the 16-year-old boy pornographic material and asking him to commit an indecent act.

Thursday, 23 February

Smartcity@Malta
IT Minister Austin Gatt announces government is close to securing a deal with Dubai-based Tecom Investments for the development of an IT village in the Ricasoli industrial estate, an investment worth Lm110 million.
The project to be known as Smartcity@Malta will be modelled on Dubai Internet City, which is a strategic base for numerous IT companies. Smartcity@Malta is expected to employ around 5,600 people.
Gatt says the heads of agreement between government and Tecom will be signed next month and the detailed agreement will be presented to parliament in May. Gatt says cabinet will be setting up a permanent unit to ensure the project will not be stalled by bureaucracy. Smartcity@Malta is slated for opening by 2008.

Ghallis landfill
The Malta Environment and Planning Authority gives its go ahead for the new engineered landfill at l-Ghallis ta’ Gewwa. The landfill consists of a facility for non-hazardous waste with a seven-year life span and a smaller hazardous waste facility with a 20-year life span.
The original waste management strategy had identified an engineered landfill for non-hazardous waste with a 20-year life span. The shorter life span is a clear indication of government’s strategy to go for incineration or other similar technologies to treat waste.

Human rights
The European Court of Human Rights awards Nicholas Debono, 72, from Marsaskala around Lm1,500 in damages and costs after it was established that the length of a set of court proceedings in Malta had been excessive.
Debono had instituted civil proceedings against the Water Services Corporation, the environment minister and the director of the drainage department in 1996 after foul liquid infiltrated several of his properties. He asked for compensation and in July 2000 the court found in his favour. An appeal was lodged but the first hearing was fixed for December 2002.
The ECHR finds that the length of time to hear the appeal was in breach of Debono’s human rights.

Friday, 24 February

Weather
Inclement weather destroys some carnival floats and disrupts the start of the festivities. The Met Office at Malta International Airport reports winds reaching gale force eight.
The weather also blocks access to Gozo as both the ferry and air transport services are suspended.

Car imports
The long-standing battle between new car importers and second hand car dealers takes on a new twist with the Association of Car Importers, representing 21 importers files a judicial protest claiming that by allowing the untested importation of second hand cars from outside the European Union, the authorities were creating a big market distortion.
The new car importers accused the authorities of failing to test imported second hand cars to verify whether they conformed to EU-imposed standards.

Saturday, 25 February

Calypso cave
The Gozo regional committee of Alternattiva Demokratika voices its concern at the proposed development of a block of apartments in the area next to the Calypso Cave. The committee says that if MEPA gives its green light, irreparable damage can be caused to the area, which is protected by various MEPA policies and guidelines.

Storm
A freak tempest hits Malta during the morning, with heavy rain and hail causing the usual road problems. The weather also disrupts carnival celebrations.