LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – While in the last few days, thousands of migrants have reached the island of Lampedusa, which lies about 150 kilometers from the Tunisian coast, the Tunisian National Guard confirmed that in the first quarter of this year, the Tunisian coast guards intercepted 501 illegal migration attempts towards Italy. A total of 14,406 people, including 13,138 from sub-Saharan African countries, were rescued between January and March while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea towards the Italian coast. A spokesman for the Tunisian National Guard stated that the Tunisian coast guards arrested 63 people for their involvement in organizing illegal immigration voyages and seized 135 boats and 12 cars used for transportation.
The number of undocumented immigrants attempting to reach Italy via Tunisia has been on the rise, despite the strict measures taken by the Tunisian authorities to tackle illegal immigration.
(ITALPRESS).
-photo credit agenziafotogramma.it-

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – At least 23 people have drowned in the Mediterranean when a boat carrying around 50 individuals shipwrecked in Maltàs search and rescue region.
The rescue Ngo Resqship said one of its vessels arrived at the scene and found 25 individuals who had been already some two hours in the water. They rescued 22 individuals and recovered two dead bodies. The prosecutor of Agrigento is investigating the case, with the Italian authorities expected to question the 22 survivors. Meanwhile, the Maltese government once again came under fire and criticized by the German Ngo Sea-Watch, following the instructions given to a cargo ship to give fuel to a fishing boat in distress carrying 400 asylum seekers instead of activating rescue operation. According to Sea-Watch two commercial vessels in the area were ready to intervene, however, Maltàs search and rescue coordination centre issued instructions to the shipmaster to offer fuel to the boat so that it may continue with its voyage. The Ngo warned that those on board the fishing vessel are in “imminent danger” and stressed that the European Union should intervene without further delay.
(ITALPRESS).
-photo credit agenziafotogramma.it-

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Maltàs national airline has started a new recruitment exercise to employ pilots and cabin crew staff, despite it made hundreds of employees redundant as part of a restructuring process to save it from bankruptcy. The advertised vacancies acknowledge the need of more staff to allow the airline operate its upcoming summer schedule. The number of weekly flights between April and October of this year will increase by 20% with 157 flights per week during the peak summer period. There will be three weekly flights to Tel Aviv, two per week to Nice, four flights per week to Palermo and three flights per week to Naples. In addition, there will be an increase in frequency to Geneva, increased to three times weekly, Paris Charles de Gaulle increased to nine services per week, Munich to 13 flights, Rome Fiumicino to 15 flights per week and Catania to 16 flights per week. London will continue to be served with 22 flights per week. In all, the airline will fly to 22 airports:
Between June and October of last year, Air Malta carried 1.1 million passengers. As part of a restructuring plan announced by the government in February last year, it was confirmed that so far 351 former Air Malta employees opted to take the Early Retirement Scheme or the Voluntary Redundancy Scheme.
One of the key changes that the Maltese government is working on is the transforming of Air Malta into a European network carrier, which would mean it would create a base abroad and fly within other countries, such as intra Italy flights. Malta has asked Brussels for permission to pump €290 million into Air Malta in a last-ditch attempt to save the ailing airline. However, the European Commission is not expected to approve the State aid requested by the Maltese government.
foto: ufficio stampa Air Malta

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Tension has increased to dangerous levels in the Middle East. During the night, Israel bombed with violent explosions the south of Lebanon, from which yesterday, rockets believed to be Palestinians, had been fired against the Jewish state. At round 3 pm, a massive air raid has begun from the region of Tyre, south-Lebanese territory, up to the Gaza strip. The Israeli authorities confirmed that ten Hamas sites were hit. The Israel Defense Forces said that military targets, tunnels and weapons depots owned by Hamas in the Gaza territory were hit. A military spokesman also added that at dawn, the air defense system intercepted other rockets fired from Hamas, recalling that “the State of Lebanon is responsible for any aggression originating from its territory”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had immediately threatened a prompt response to yesterday’s attacks in Galilee: “We will strike our enemies and they will pay a price for everything they do.” Hamas believed they are responsible for the 34 missiles fired from Lebanon and five other rockets fired from the Gaza strip towards Israel on the day of the beginning of the Passover. Netanyahu has also warned that Israel will not allow Hamas to “operate from within Lebanon”. A massive attack that Israel considered the most serious since since 2006, and for which Netanyahu had promptly summoned the security cabinet and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in a meeting with senior army officers, who did not rule out the Iranian involvement. However, Unifil, the UN peace force gave reassurance about the situation saying “Israel and Lebanon do not want a war”.
Meanwhile, in Lebanon, the Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto, arrived for a series of meetings in a delicate moment for the south of the country. After meeting the Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, he referred to “the strong bond of friendship” between Italy and Lebanon, and reiterated that “the Italian commitment for regional stability will continue”. This morning, the minister met with General Aoun, Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces in Beirut: “The Lebanese Armed Forces are fundamental for stability and security,” he declared, adding that Italy will continue to provide its support in bilateral relations and within Unifil”.

foto: agenziafotogramma.it
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The fight against arms smugglers in the Mediterranean, off the Libyan coast, will be enhanced in the coming weeks, as the Irish government confirmed it will take part in a European Union coordinated initiative led by Italian Rear Admiral, Valentino Rinaldi as the new Commander of Operation IRINI. Ireland will send a naval ship to the Mediterranean to assist in the operation targeting arms smugglers to Libya. Operation IRINI (EUNAVFOR MED IRINI) is a European naval operation headquartered in Rome. It is tasked with managing the flow of arms into the war-torn North African country.
The deployment of the Irish vessel LE’ William Butler Yeats is expected to begin in June, for several weeks. It will mark the first overseas deployment for the Irish Naval Service since the humanitarian mission, Operation Sophia, in the Mediterranean in 2018-2019.
The main role of the Irish military vessel will be Information, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations.
In 2014, Libya split in two as rival administrations, based in the east and the west of the country, battled each other for supremacy. Much of the recent fighting has been centered around the capital, Tripoli, and involves a diverse number of militias and rebel groups.

foto: agenziafotogramma.it

(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese Foreign Ministry criticized harshly Russia while the Maltese top diplomat at the United Nations walked out from a UN informal meeting in protest as Russiàs children’s commissioner was expected to start addressing the meeting.
Maria Lvova Belova who was addressing the informal meeting for Security Council members was indicted earlier this month by the International Criminal Court together with Russiàs President Vladimir Putin. The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Putin and Belova, and both face war crime charges, including the forceful deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia.
The informal meeting entitled ‘Children and Armed Conflict, Ukrainian Crises: Evacuating Children from Conflict Zonè was organised by the Russian Security Council Presidency.
However, the Maltese Foreign Ministry said “it was yet another clear sign of Russiàs complete contempt for the United Nations. Maltàs presence at the meeting yesterday was purely to counter Russiàs disinformation. The same messages were echoed by other like-minded Security Council members.” The Maltese government added that “Russia invited Maria Lvova-Belova to brief the Council. She has been indicted by the ICC for the alleged criminal responsibility for the war crime of unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia. The Russians further invited two officials of the so-called ‘Donetsk Peoplès Republic’. The US, UK, Albania, and Malta, therefore, walked out in protest when these briefers took the floor,” the ministry confirmed.
Ukraine accuses Russia of having abducted and forcibly deported Ukrainian children to Russia since the start of the invasion more than a year ago. Russia denies its troops have committed war crimes.

– foto agenziafotogramma.it –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

BEIJING (ITALPRESS) – “Whatever tool we choose, we want to resolve issues through dialogue. So, basically, it’s about defusing risks through diplomacy”. This was stated by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in a press conference at the end of the trilateral meeting with the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, and the French President, Emmanuel Macron.
“We are counting on China not to supply any military equipment to Russia, directly or indirectly, because we all know that arming the aggressor would be against international law”.
-photo agenziafotogramma.it-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese government will be subsidizing local farmers to lessen the impact and the sharp increases in animal feed prices due to the war in Ukraine.
Minister for Agriculture, Anton Refalo, said that a research conducted by the Ministry had shown that, due to the war in Ukraine, the prices of straw and hay had increased by 41% respectively. Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds, Chris Bonett, reiterated the Government’s commitment to keep investing in agriculture with the injection of more EU funds. €166 million have been allocated for this sector. From next August, farmers will start receiving allowances to subsidise the sharp increases in animal feed prices. Farmers who will benefit include those who produce milk, beef, sheep and goats. 240 farmers have applied for this scheme, with each of them able to receive up to €15,000. The allocation tops €2 million from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. The payments will vary from €100 to €600 for each animal, depending on the size of the cow, sheep and goat herds.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – “The relations between Italy and Spain are very important and fundamental. In a difficult context in which we live, European funds allow us to grow our economies and create jobs, as well as industrialize our economies”.
This was stated by the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sànchez, at the end of a meeting with the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. “The will of the Spanish government is to continue with the summits between Italy and Spain,”adding “the reason for my visit is also to share our priorities, the objectives are aligned,”referring in particular to the migration and asylum pact while saying “I think an important step forward has been taken: some countries have understood that the problem of irregular immigration is a European problem that requires a European response, even with the allocation of greater resources”.
-photo agenziafotogramma.it-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Maltàs Prime Minister Robert Abela and Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez met on Tuesday night in Valletta and addressed a joint press conference during which they both discussed the international situation and the challenges facing Europe.
Sanchez arrived in Malta from Cyprus as part of a series of official meetings with European leaders, in preparation before Spain holding the Council of the European Union Presidency between July and December. Today, the Spanish Prime Minister will be meeting in Rome the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
In Valletta, Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela spoke on the importance of world peace, while referring to the war in Ukraine, the conflict in Syria, as well as the situation in Libya, Lebanon and Tunisia. He reiterated the need to assist these countries, to avoid people being trafficked. He added that irregular immigration remains an ongoing pressure, and that commerce is the key for these countries to develop.
Maltàs Prime Minister referred to inflation, including energy and food prices, saying that these are challenges that Europe is facing. On the energy sector, Abela said that the Maltese Government has supported families and businesses.
Referring to the economy, PM Abela said that the Maltese government does not believe in austerity, and that prior to the figures, lo there are people, and the Government feels an obligation to provide them with a better quality of life.
Abela expressed his hope that equality is given a push forward during Spain’s Presidency of the Council of the EU. He declared Maltàs commitment to support Spain during its Presidency.
On his part, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that the concept of an open economy needs to be pushed forward.
Sanchez expressed the need for good governance in economy and a structured energy plan. He added that European countries need to be more competitive on the green economy and technology.
Sanchez said that Spain’s Presidency falls on challenging times, in light of the war in Ukraine, among others and emphasized on the importance of a more united EU.
On immigration, Sanchez said that a balance must be struck between helping people in need and looking out for the national interest.

– foto Department of Information

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews