Yard's downsizing way off target
The number of shipyard workers that have so far applied for the early retirement scheme stands at only just over one quarter of what the government had originally estimated. Approximately 520 workers from the Malta Drydocks and Malta Shipbuilding have applied for the early retirement scheme, which is well off the 1,900 that the government was looking for initially.

Inflation up, up and away
The rate of inflation may have spun out of control with the figure for February reaching an all-time high of 3.48 per cent, 0.21 per cent higher than the January average, which had broken the three per cent barrier for the first time since August 1998..

French tourism down but not alarming
By Ray Abdilla
Although Malta’s leading tour operator responsible for incoming French tourists has experienced a drop of around 7.5% following the 11 September attacks, he is confident that the sector is already showing signs of picking up.