ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – From Monday 20 to Wednesday 22 March Xi Jinping will be on a state visit to Moscow. This was confirmed by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, explaining that the leader “will exchange views on major international and regional issues with Russian President Vladimir Putin”. The goal of the visit is “to further deepen bilateral trust”.
It is Xìs first visit to Russia since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

– photo Agenziafotogramma.it –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Uproar in the Maltese Parliament and protests in the streets of the capital city Valletta on Thursday night, as the Opposition MPs walked out of Parliament in a sign of protest.
The Opposition led by the Nationalist leader Bernard Grech left the Parliament building after the Labour government presented at the very last moment and without any notice amendments which effectively nullified the Opposition request, asking the Labour government to recoup around 400 million euros granted to Vitals Global Healthcare and Steward Healthcare in a concession to administer three state hospitals.
Just before the parliamentary session started, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health Chris Fearne confirmed that Steward will “abandon” the managing of the hospitals with immediate effect.

The Opposition Leader accused the Speaker of the Maltese Parliament of irregularity and of “failing in his duties towards the Maltese people” after he allowed the government amendments to be presented, even though the government had no more allocated time. “This side of the Parliament does not intend to participate in today’s vote, given that you have turned it into a parody of democracy,” the Leader of the Opposition said, before he led his party’s MPs into a walkout. As the Nationalists MPs walked out of the Parliament building, they threw up in the air a number of fake cheques of €400 million in public funds given to Steward Health Care on behalf of former Labour Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Labour Prime Minister Robert Abela.
While addressing hundreds of protestors outside the Parliament building, the Leader of the Opposition said that Prime Minister Robert Abela chose to defend the interests of himself and the fraudsters – a reference to Steward and Vitals – instead of the interests of the Maltese people. In a statement, the Nationalist Party declared that what had happened in Parliament confirmed that in the case of the sale of public hospitals to Vitals and Steward, Prime Minister Robert Abela is an accomplice with both companies in fraud, theft and bribery.

The PN leader said that the Prime Minister should be ashamed to mention Daphne Caruana Galizia, after she was killed during the time of the Labour Party in government. He also asked what action the Police Commissioner and the Attorney General are taking.
Following the protest by the Nationalist Opposition, the civil society organisation Repubblika held a vigil in honour of assassinated journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
Repubblika accused the Attorney General and the Police Commissioner of working against the interest of justice and protecting the criminals behind Pilatus Bank.
Daphne Caruana Galizia was the first journalist to accuse Pilatus Bank of being involved in corruption and money laundering.

– foto Department of Information Malta –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

NAIROBI (KENYA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – “The protection of the environment and the fight against climate change represent inevitable responsibilities, which fall on all humanity, without exception. That said, I am firmly convinced that on this issue, as well as on many others, Africa and Europe can and should jointly take the lead”. This was stated by the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, in his speech at the University of Nairobi, on the occasion of the state visit in Kenya.
“Cooperation between Europe and Africa – whose future is shared – is crucial for promoting ambitious goals,” said the Italian President, adding “Africa holds the essential keys for the success of strategies to de-carbonise the planet. Production of clean energy and its effective distribution are crucial for Africa’s development, as outlined in the African Union climate strategy”.
“The energy transition, with its emphasis on renewable energies and the circular economy, opens up new and promising horizons of collaboration for our continents. In this regard, with the establishment of a specific Climate Fund, Italy intends to propose itself as a leading player to intervene financially. From large projects for the use of solar and wind energy, to agriculture and the production of green hydrogen,” explained Materella, “the potential for the partnership between Africa and Europe is countless and highly promising.” Mattarella continued “the key to a lasting and shared success lies in strengthening awareness between Africa and Europe, a complementarity that such a complex historical phase makes it even more evident. We share the tension towards a new humanism, which places the man and his aspiration to live with dignity at the centre, nationally and internationally into more equitable, inclusive and sustainable societies”.
“It is the moment of unity, of cohesion, not of divisions between North and South, between East and West. Facing the human challenges, all together, means abandoning the scenarios of war and internal conflict that unfortunately weigh on the destinies of many populations and instead plan the future together,” the President underlined while referring to “the brutal aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine that is taking international relations back eighty years, almost as if the progress in the field of independence, freedom and democracy, the civil growth of many nations did not happen. Mattarella added “we have grown in the interdependence between our destinies and the consequences of the Russian Federation’s actions are very serious on food security, on the energy security of many countries, on peace, including the African continent, and the Middle East”.
“Combating climate change is a unifying objective that calls for multilateral dialogue, respect freely the commitments undertaken at an international level. The implementation of plans for the energy transition is in itself a way that can allow us to reach a fairer, more sustainable, more just global economic system,” said Mattarella. “It is a great opportunity to give life to balanced forms of international cooperation, which address the issue of development in a sustainable way, with the necessary technology transfer from the most advanced countries and the provision of the necessary financial resources for the benefit of the most vulnerable countries”.
-photo Quirinale –
(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The national information technology agency in Malta has blocked the social media application TikTok on all government electronic devices over concerns that the software may be used as a means of spying and surveillance by groups linked to China and suspicions that data will be leaked to the Chinese government.
The Malta Information Technology Agency (MITA) said that the dangers related to TikTok access and use may be data gathering, personal identifiable, possible software tampering by TikTok and possible manipulation of material designed to influence public opinion.
The European Council and the European Parliament has instructed that TikTok should be removed from work devices by 20 March. The European Commission is of the opinion that TikTok spied on journalists by utilising their IP addresses. TikTok is used by over 250 millions European citizens.
The European authorities filed a series of complaints contesting the use of TikTok.
Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands and Romania opened investigations that are costing the social media platform millions in fines.
Some other European countries, like Belgium and Finland have completely restricted TikTok, other countries are assessing the situation before making a final decision. The United Kingdom, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Greece, Latvia, and Austria are all keeping an eye on the situation in neighbouring countries before making a decision. In Luxembourg, Bulgaria, and Poland TikTok is under investigation.

– photo Malta Information Technology Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – A prominent news agency has reported that according to “unspecified” sources the Global Combat Air Programme would progress with a non equal participation of the three member countries. This information is totally speculative. The UK-JPN-ITA activities on GCAP endeavour are well progressing getting pace in the Programme in accordance with the principles jointly recorded by the Memorandum Of Cooperation signed in last December.
The three Nations are steadily and swiftly working together on a partnership informed by the shared principle of equal partnership as stated by the three Prime Ministers with the joint Ministerial declaration of last December.

– photo Agenziafotogramma.it –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

TRIPOLI (LIBYA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Italian Embassy in Libya announced a new collaboration initiative with the Italian company Almaviva for the collection of visa applications in Libya. The company will operate from three Libyan cities – Tripoli, Benghazi and Misrata.
The Italian Embassy stated “an innovative appointment system will be soon available to secure unequivocal identification of users with facial recognition and advanced biometric security checks.”
Meanwhile, the Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani confirmed that the Italian governement “is in talks with all parties in Libya, in an effort to achive stability in the country”. In a statement to SkyNews Arabia, Tajani said that “if the situation in Libya stabilises, this will reflect positively on the security of North Africa as a whole, and countries south of the Sahara”.
Tajanìs statements came a day after the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily announced his plan to advance the political process and pave the way for holding Presidential and legislative elections during 2023.

– photo Agenziafotogramma.it –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese Finance Minister Clyde Caruana confirmed that 351 Air Malta workers have received a payout after applying for an early retirement scheme or a voluntary redundancy scheme offered by the government.

The payouts range from €40,000 to €210,000 for workers who accepted voluntary redundancy, depending on their years of service. Workers aged 50 and over eligible for the early retirement scheme are expected to receive a maximum of €300,000, based on their take-home pay.

The Maltese national airline is undergoing a restructuring process, however Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela while confirming Malta will retain a national airline, did not categorically deny that the government has the plan to dissolve Air Malta and be replaced by a new airline.

The Maltese government is awaiting a decision from the European Commission on a proposed bailout of Air Malta. The EU has so far refused to sanction the demand by the Maltese government to inject €290 million into Air Malta.

– photo press office Air Malta –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

TBILISI (GEORGIA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The political tension in Georgia continued as anti-European protesters in Tbilisi lowered the flag of the European Union and burned it near the Parliament building.
The activists, belonging to the Conservative Movement, are requesting a referendum on the law related to “foreign agents” which the ruling Georgian Dream party had revoked in recent days after several pro-European demonstrations in the capital. The protests led to clashes with the police while dozens ended injured.
Yesterday the President of the European Council Charles Michel had met Georgian President Salomè Zourabichvili in Brussels
to discuss, among other things, the necessary reforms to advance Georgiàs membership bid
to the European Union.

– photo Agenziafotogramma.it –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta is calling on the European agency Frontex to fight the illegal trafficking of migrants from Northern African countries to Europe. Maltàs Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri declared In Parliament that Malta and other Mediterranean countries are expecting the EU border agency to fight against human trafficking.
“How many people have to die before we decide to take a stand against human trafficking? The keys to Europe cannot be in the hands of human traffickers”, Camilleri said. “I am fed up with the situation”.
He insisted that prevention can save lives. “Prevention prevents people from crossing illegally from Africa towards Europe”.
His remarks in Parliament came following another tragedy when around 30 migrants are presumed drowned after their overcrowded boat capsized during a rescue operation off the Libyan coast. “Prevention can save lives. If we had prevention policies in place, those people would not have died”, he said.
The latest tragedy occured in the Libyan search and rescue area. However, the Libyan authorities, responsible for search and rescue efforts in this area, reported “a lack of availability of boats” and asked the Italian authorties for help, which sent three other merchant ships to the area towards the boat of the migrants.
Minister Camilleri also declared that the Maltese government will only grant asylum status to those migrants who really deserve it and will enhance its commitment to work with third countries to ensure the return of individuals once the asylum status is rejected.

– photo Agenziafotogramma.it –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela is under fire following his remarks on the judiciary, with the Opposition and the Law Student’s Association accusing him of undermining the autonomy of the judiciary. Meanwhile a leading judge harshly criticised the government for failing to provide the necessary resources for the judiciary to function effectively and deliver justice within a reasonable time.

The Prime Minister’s remarks were made in a statement when he rejected the Opposition’s request for a public inquiry into the death of a 20-year-old man in a building collapse accident that happened on December, 4 and instead the Prime Minister urged the inquiring magistrate to conclude the process “without further delay”.

The Nationalist Opposition and the Law Students’ Association condemned the Prime Minister’s statement. The Opposition described the statement as “irresponsible, unjustifiable and solely to offload the political responsibility” for the death. The Law Students’ Association said the Prime Minister’s remarks weaken the autonomy of the Maltese judiciary and noted that while a criminal inquiries are aimed to conserve traces of a possible offense, a public inquiry is aimed at identifying potential administrative failures, and therefore not related and do not impact or prejudice one another.

The Association for the Judiciary and members of the judiciary have no right to reply and cannot comment on matters relating to issues that are still before the courts. However, a leading judge took the opportunity to make his voice heard when he was delivering a judgment over what he described as “shameful” the delay in a case instituted by a Maltese firm owed almost €100,000 by a bankrupt Italian catering company, International Catering SRL. The Maltese courts took five years to appoint the debtor’s appeal for hearing.

The leading judge also criticised the government for failing to provide the resources necessary for the judiciary to function effectively and deliver justice within a reasonable time. He added the number of sitting judges and magistrates remained much lower than that in any other European state and staff numbers were constantly dropping because of the meager salaries offered to those working in court.

Both the Opposition and the Law Students’ Association echoed the criticism with the Opposition insisting that the Prime Minister should instead have assured the judiciary that they would be given the human and financial resources necessary to carry out their work effectively and within a reasonable timeline.

Some magistrates are burdened with more than 160 inquiries, in addition to all the other cases assigned to them.

– photo Department of Information Malta –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews