A 36yr old Gozitan man was yesterday charged with assaulting two police officers and slightly injuring one of them on Sunday. Magistrate Paul Coppini, presiding over the Gozo courts, heard Raymond Rotin plead not guilty to threatening and assaulting PS Mario Xiberras and PC Louis Calleja and slightly injuring the sergeant in Victoria. He was granted bail against a Lm300 deposit and a personal guarantee of Lm500. Police Inspector Josric Mifsud prosecuted.

The suspension of the helicopter service to Gozo is another blow to Gozo in general and even more so to the tourism industry there, the Gozo Tourism Association said yesterday. The GTA said yesterday that flying a small fixed wing aircraft between the two islands , with a capacity of about 20 seats, was the only financially viable and sustainable operation. The interests of Gozo, it complained, were being seriously threatened even by being deprived of a service which had been initiated in the late 1980s. Gozo could never be promoted as a tourist destination unless this service was in place as soon as possible.

The price of unleaded petrol is expected to go down by 3c7 per litre in the next few days, Industry and Investment minister Austin Gatt announced yesterday. The price of diesel is also expected to be reduced by 3c4 per litre and the price of thin fuel oil, which is used by industry, by Lm13 per tonne.

Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Harry Vassallo said Gozo deserved a better deal than it received in the budget and that Gozo needed greater attention through focused measures tailored for its particular circumstances. Dr Vassallo said investment in education in Gozo was very welcome but added that it was necessary to bind the government to clear timeframes when it came to specific projects. There also needed to be commitment by the government when it came to road building and repair in residential areas in Gozo. While a list of roads with dates of works has been published in the case of Malta, no such list existed for Gozo, he said. Dr Vassallo said no attention was given to the issue of public transport. "We are pleased to note that, at last, the government is coming around to the view that a plan for Gozo need ... Read more...

The Gozitan priest accused of sexual abuse involving underage boys will be called to Miami to give testimony in court, once the case goes to trial. The legal team representing an unnamed 41yr old man who has filed a $10 million civil lawsuit against the Miami Archdiocese has confirmed it's intentions to call Fr Mercieca to the witness stand. The lawsuit alleges that the Miami Archdiocese had previous knowledge that Fr Mercieca had sexually abused other boys before and within the timeframe it is claimed that he abused the plaintiff. It also alleges that the Miami Archdiocese destroyed a number of incriminating documents and files with the intention of concealing the sexual abuse of minors by Mercieca and other priests.

The internationally renowned Scottish comedian and actor Billy Connolly has confirmed to Gozo News that Gozo is now his permanent home. Speaking to Gozo News this evening, Mr Connolly said that his main reasons for taking up residence in Gozo were the quieter way of life here and the milder winter climate. Mr Connolly particularly values the fact that he can go out and about in Gozo without his well known face attracting too much attention, he added that the local people here have been wonderful towards him. Mr Connolly said that with all the pressure and stress involved in the course of his international work it was a great relief for him to return home to Gozo and it's slower pace of life.

A reminder to our readers that the clocks go back one hour this weekend as summer time officially ends at 2am Sunday morning.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said yesterday that the surcharge on power and water consumption would be reduced to 59.5 per cent in the coming days from the current 63.5 per cent because of a drop in international oil prices, fuel costs will also be going down. Dr Gonzi was speaking in Parliament during the budget debate.

In a statement from his lawyer, Fr. Anthony Mercieca has denied the new molestation allegations made by another former altar boy identified as John Doe No. 26. Fr. Mercieca is quoted as saying that the allegation is, "at best a figment of the imagination and at worst a malicious fabrication." The statement concludes, "Father Anthony Mercieca believes that nothing that happened between him and Mark Foley, some 40 years ago, could provide solid grounds for legal action against him," adding that "He therefore considers the aggressive and unfavorable exposure as being unfair and unjustified."

The Health Department has issued a statement today regarding recently published news stories reporting four Israeli citizens dying after taking the flu vaccine. An investigation by The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has concluded that the four people involved probably died of natural causes and that there is no indication that the deaths can be linked to the flu vaccine. The Health Department said there is therefore no reason to avoid taking the vaccine.