Monday 9 April

Man dies of overdose at Ta’ Giorni
A 40-year-old man is found dead at Ta’ Giorni Street, Ta’ Giorni. The man was found lying dead on the ground and was certified dead by a medical team called on site. Duty Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna appointed experts to assist him in an inquiry.

Malta replies to EU Commission
Malta finally sent its official reply to the European Commission contesting the Spring hunting infringement procedure opened last July. The government insisted it had acted in line with its EU obligations in applying the derogation for spring hunting under article 9 of the Birds Directive.

Tuesday 10 April

Multigas cylinder blasts factory roof
An explosion of an air-compressed cylinder at the Multigas factory in Kirkop ripped through the roof of the gas plant. Luckily there were no employees in the area at the time of the incident. The company said the explosion was caused by a fault in its dedicated compressed air station, which was shut down afterwards.

Irregular migrants land in Malta
A boat carrying 28 irregular immigrants was escorted to Marsaxlokk by the Armed Forces of Malta after it was spotted off the Birzebbuga oil tanks.

Wednesday 11 April

Three men die in separate tragedies
An Enemalta Corporation employee died after he fell two storeys from a ladder while working on the extension of a new power line while a young foreign visitor died after finding himself in difficulty while swimming at Marsalforn, Gozo. Also in the afternoon, a 33-year-old man from Qormi was found dead at Tal-Handaq, limits of Qormi.

Frendo nominated for top Commonwealth post
Foreign Minister Michael Frendo is nominated for the post of Secretary General of the Commonwealth. In a letter circulated to all Commonwealth High Commissions in London, the Prime Minister named Frendo as Malta’s candidate in a bid to succeed incumbent Donald McKinnon.

Thursday 12 April

Crane driver injured
A crane operator was slightly injured after his crane toppled over onto a block of flats in Stella Maris Street, Sliema. The crane was on the construction side of a hotel being built by AX Holdings behind the Victoria Hotel – the same company involved in the heavy damage inflicted to a neighbouring chapel and residence earlier this year.

Friday 13 April

Armenian journalist deported through Malta
Gina Khachatryan, an Armenian journalist, is deported from the UK via Malta to Moscow en route to Armenia together with her family despite pleas from human rights organizations and journalists’ associations calling for a halt to her deportation. The journalist had fled to the UK in 2003 after exposing electoral fraud.

Maltese sea passenger found carrying pistols
A Maltese man was arrested after arriving by catamaran from Pozzallo carrying two pistols and alcoholic drinks. Customs officers became suspicious when they saw two large reinforced bags being carried by the man and he was stopped as he entered the terminal. A spokesman for the Customs Department said a search of the bags produced 120 bottles of whisky and vodka, two pistols, and a frame press, a piece of equipment used to load cartridges. Three bullets were also found when the man’s clothes were searched.

Saturday 14 April

Labour announces May Day activities
The Malta Labour Party announced its activities for 1 May, which will include international stars Alessandro Canino, Toto Cutugno, Alex Tamburini and Katrina and the Waves.