TUNISI (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A Turkish tanker ship owned by a private company has undertaken a humanitarian mission off Tunisia, rescuing 139 migrants on a sinking boat. While en route to Malta, the crew of the tanker named Beks Bodrum/Valut received an urgent distress call and swiftly altered their course to aid the refugee boat. Upon reaching the scene, the crew initiated a rescue operation, successfully evacuating the 139 migrants aboard their ship and providing them with essential food assistance. A video recorded by a crew member captured poignant moments as some of the migrants struggled with the waves before ascending onto the vessel.
Meanwhile the Tunisiàs coastguard recovered the bodies of five migrants off the country’s coast, the national guard said, bringing the death toll in one week to 11 migrants.
Tunisian maritime authorities rescued 1,178 undocumented immigrants off its eastern coast and thwarted 28 attempts at illegal sea crossings to Italy, the Tunisian National Guard said in a statement. The maritime guards intercepted vessels off the coast of Sfax province, saving 1,160 immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa and 18 Tunisians. Additionally, two bodies were recovered during the operations. Authorities also seized 15 boats and arrested nine individuals. Measures against the immigrants are being taken after consultation with the public prosecutor’s office, according to the statement.
Located in the central Mediterranean, Tunisia is one of the main points of access to Europe used by undocumented immigrants.
Meanwhile, the international NGO Alarm Phone said that a boat carrying about 145 migrants is at risk of capsizing. It added the communication with the migrants is very difficult but “we believe they are in the SAR zone of Egypt and south of Crete. They say they are drowning.” Alarm Phone alerted the authorities and urged for an immediate rescue operation.The Mediterranean Sea, where many migrants try to reach southern Europe from northern Africa, continues to be the deadliest route for migrants, with at least 3,129 deaths and disappearances registered last year.
-photo Agenzia Fotogramma-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

NEW YORK (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The United Nations Security Council has approved the resolution for the immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and for the immediate release of the Israeli hostages.
The new draft resolution was given the green light with 14 votes in favour while the U.S. abstained. The document “calls for an immediate ceasefire for Ramadan respected by all parties leading to a lasting and sustainable ceasefire and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, as well as the guarantee of humanitarian access to deal with the their medical and humanitarian needs”.
“This was a long awaited” decision, declared the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres in a comment posted on X, adding: “This resolution must be implemented. Failure would be unforgivable”.
-photo Agenzia Fotogramma –
(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta is amongst four EU countries who are ready to recognise the State of Palestine when the conditions allow for the State to be set up. The other countries are Spain, Ireland and Slovenia. So far, Malta recognises the Palestinian right to a state.
In a press statement, the Office of the Prime Minister said that Malta, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia met on the margins of the European Council summit in Brussels to discuss developments in Gaza and the Middle East: “The four countries agreed that the two-state solution is crucial for peace in the Middle East, and so they are ready to recognise Palestine as a state when the conditions to set up this State allow for this.”
The four countries also agreed that there should be an immediate and permanent stop to the fighting, that all hostages are freed, and that humanitarian aid be provided immediately.
The statement comes after the 27 European Union countries agreed to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, as well as the release of all hostages and provision of humanitarian assistance.
– credit photo agenziafotogramma –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – “The data is more than comforting: in 2022 there was an increase of 20% on the Saudi Arabia route, the one we care about most, an increase of 15% last year and also for this year it is predicting that there will be a double-digit increase”. Fabio Zinanni, Sales & Marketing Manager of Saudi Arabian Airlines for Italy, made this announcement during an interview with Claudio Brachino for the television magazine Italpress Economy.

“From Italy we fly from Rome and Milan to Jeddah and Riyadh. Compared to previous years, we have 8 flights a week to Jeddah, we operate with large aircraft carrying 300 people on board with daily flights from Italy to Saudi Arabia.” “Since 2019”, he explained, “except for the pandemic period, Saudi Arabia has opened up to tourism. This is an absolute novelty because it is one of those countries that had not yet been discovered on a tourism level”.

Zinanni underlined the importance of sustainability for the company. “We are planning a 20% reduction in CO2 between now and 2030, even zero in 2050. We do this thanks to the assistance from our partners, thanks to the efficient airports and bio-fuel. We try hard and want to become absolutely sustainable. We are waiting for the arrival of 30 Airbuses which are the latest model in terms of technology, but not only that!”

He spoke about the comfort experience, and explained, “the Airbuses we currently use in Rome have 20 business seats and 90 economy seats. On board we offer a choice of 3 meals in both economy and business; in business we have the chef on board and everything is extremely comfortable. We will not use certain types of aircraft because we are introducing new features, obviously it takes time but we are working on this too.”

Zinanni also spoke about the routes. “This year we opened the route to Beijing, in addition to the others already in place such as Thailand where we are doing very well, Singapore, Jakarta, all of South East Asia, Africa”.

Finally, Zinanni spoke about the cultural change underway in Saudi Arabia. “I was there for the first time in 2010, from then to now it has grown exponentially from a rights point of view, it’s not all rosy but they are absolutely making giant strides,” while adding, “I invite anyone to go to Saudi Arabia and see how women are doing today. It’s not true that they don’t drive. Women are in Parliament, they are in charge of very important companies, we too now have many women and it was unthinkable until a few years ago. Let’s dispel this myth, Saudi Arabia is a safe, beautiful country to visit,” concluded Zinanni.

– Foto Italpress –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – According to the 2023 World Air Quality Report published by Swiss air quality technology company IQAir, Maltàs air has more than double the number of pollutants recommended by World Health Authority (WHO) guidelines. Last year, Malta recorded an average of 12 micrograms of fine particles per cubic metre. Fine particles include pollutants such as sulfates, black carbon, nitrates and ammonium and refer to those measuring just 2.5 millionths of a metre (PM2.5) – around one-fiftieth the width of a human hair. Such microscopic particles, while small, can be hugely damaging to human health due to being easily absorbed into the lungs and bloodstream, leading to asthma, cancer, strokes and lung disease, and have been linked to car usage and construction, among other factors. These results for Malta appear against a backdrop of rampant construction and increased car use, neither of which have seen sign of slowing down in the last five years. According to Eurostat data showed how Malta had the highest increase in new building permits among EU states between 2021 and 2022, despite permits decreasing in most member countries. Meanwhile, the number of cars in Malta has continued to ramp up over the years, now topping 420,000 with a daily increase of around 30 new cars being added to the roads. The concentration of fine particles in Malta was more than double the recommended WHO threshold of 5 micrograms per cubic metre and put the country in 49th place of the 134 countries included in the report, when listed from best to worst. Maltàs results confirm the country has had little success improving its air quality over the last five years, with fine particle levels hovering at around the same levels since 2018. In Europe, Malta classified at the 26th place when listed from best to worst. The country on the continent with the cleanest air was Iceland, which measured a PM2.5 reading of 4.
(ITALPRESS).
– Photo credit Tourism Office –

Source: medNews

TRIPOLI (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Libya has become Africàs top oil producer according to a recent report by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Libya has seen the most significant increase in oil production among African countries, moving ahead of Nigeria.
Libyàs oil output reached 1.167 million barrels per day in February, an increase from 1.023 million barrels per day in January, marking a rise of 144,000 barrels per day.
This growth has placed Libya at the forefront of African oil production, highlighting the nation’s recovery and potential in the energy sector following years of conflict. Libyàs significant increase in oil production signals l the success of its efforts to revitalize its oil industry amidst post-conflict challenges. With improved security and governance, along with international support, Libyàs oil sector is gradually regaining strength, impacting global oil markets and emphasizing the strategic role of African nations in global energy supplies.
Nigeriàs production in February was reported at 1.476 million barrels per day, up from 1.429 million barrels per day in January, with an increase of 47,000 barrels per day. Nigeriàs slower production growth reflects ongoing challenges such as infrastructure and regulatory issues.
OPEC’s overall production for February was recorded at 26.571 million barrels per day, an increase from 26.368 million barrels per day in January.
Other contributors to this growth include Algeria, with a slight rise in output, and Saudi Arabia, showing a modest increase in its production levels.
-photo Agenzia Fotogramma-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – “Over the years SACE has constantly supported Italian companies involved in exports and investments in Egypt, where we have been present since 2019”. Alessandra Ricci, CEO of SACE, made this announcement during the official inauguration of the new Sistema offices in Cairo.

“In the last five years we have facilitated strategically important infrastructure projects for the country’s development, investments and exports for around 10 billion euros, enabling investments for a further 20 billion euros to support the Made in Italy supply chain, and this confirms the enormous interest that Italian companies in the Egyptian market and our commitment alongside them,” said Ricci.

She added: “our office in Cairo makes Italy the only country in Europe to be able to count on the presence of an Export Credit Agency in this country which for us represents an access bridge to Africa. We are ready to continue in this direction with the Mattei Plan, alongside other means such as Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, Simest and ICE”.

– Photo Sace press office –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese government is currently in talks with a coalition of nations in the setting up of a maritime corridor through which humanitarian aid, specifically food, will reach the Palestinian population in Gaza through land.
The joint mission to open a maritime corridor involves the European Commission, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Cyprus, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In a joint statement from the group nations and regional bodies, this initiative was described as “integral” to enabling the joint effort to launch a maritime corridor. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that this joint effort forms part of a US strategy aimed to “flood the zone” with humanitarian assistance. Blinken held a video conference with officials from Cyprus, Britain, the UAE, Qatar, the European Union and the United Nations to discuss getting the new route up and running. A spokesman for the Maltese Foreign Office said: “we are in touch with various countries, including the US, working towards the establishment of a maritime humanitarian corridor to understand how Malta can better contribute to such initiatives”. The spokesperson added: “Malta welcomes and will continue to contribute to all initiatives that aim to alleviate the humanitarian situation in Gaza by ensuring that food and health supplies arrive uninterrupted, rapidly, and peacefully as much as possible”.
The initiative builds on the model of the Amalthea Initiative, which is a Cyprus-led mechanism for the secure shipping of aid from Cyprus to Gaza via sea.
-photo Agenzia Fotogramma-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – “The verbal attack on Ciro Immobile and his family is shameful”. This was stated by the President of the FIGC Gabriele Gravina, today at the elective assembly of the Malta Football Federation as vice president of UEFA, expressing his solidarity with the Lazio captain, who was attacked while he was with his wife and their kid Mattia in front of his son’s school. “The hostile climate that has been created around the Lazio striker is shameful and goes beyond any tolerable boundary of civility”, underlined Gravina. He said: “I have known Ciro for several years, he is an extraordinary footballer, extremely sensitive, and an exemplary professional, he deserves all my solidarity. I hope that we can immediately go back to speak only about sport”.
– foto Image –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – “For Italy, strengthening the partnership with Africa can have strategic value. The potential expansion of the African continent is evident, as it is an economic delay.” The governor of the Bank of Italy, Fabio Panetta, said this in his speech at the 15th edition of the annual Bank of Italy – Maeci Conference on ‘Economic and political fragmentation: implications on multilateralism and regional partnerships’.

“To the abundance of natural resources, including essential raw materials for the production of renewable energy, there is a young and growing population,” remarked Panetta, adding, “in the absence of far-sighted cooperation and assistance policies, it would be difficult to stem the migratory pressure of African populations towards areas capable of offering better living conditions. While on the one hand this would increase the supply of labour in countries afflicted by a clear trend towards ageing, on the other hand an uncontrolled migratory influx would pose complex problems of social and work integration. The G7 program under the Italian presidency assigns a central role to the issues of development, economic and political relations with Africa, in continuity with initiatives already underway at international level, such as the so-called Partnership for Rise (Resilient and Inclusive Supply-chain Enhancement),” underlined Panetta.

The Mattei Plan put forward by the Italian Government also aims to promote cooperation initiatives with African countries, especially with regards to the construction of infrastructural works, in which Italian companies boast consolidated experience in the continent”.

– Photo Bank of Italy –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews