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

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Palumbo Shipyard was ordered to compensate the mother of a 27-year-old Italian man who died when he was hit on the head by a dislodged roller from a machine used to release a mooring rope in 2016. A Maltese civil court found Palumbo Shipyard responsible for the fatality and that it did not take the necessary precautions that would have prevented the death. It was ordered to pay €209,000 in compensation to Maria Matruscelli, mother of Aniello Fariello, originally from Marina di Pisciotta, who lost his life on January 18, 2016, while he was working on a ship docked at the Palumbo Shipyard in Paola. He was certified dead on the site. The shipyard worker had only been employed one month before the fatal accident. Fariello, an engineer, was performing his duties on board the vessel MV Galaxy, registered in Limassol in Cyprus. MV Galaxy was in such a bad condition that it had its certification revoked, had to be towed to Malta from Greece, and was in Malta for a total refurbishment. While the vessel was being moored, a reel through which one of the ropes was passed gave way and hit Fariello in the head with fatal consequences. The vessel was owned by Moby S.p.A and its captain was Antonio Scotto Ciccariello. Both were also sued by the mother, but the court found that they were not to blame for the incident that cost Fariello his life.(ITALPRESS).

Foto: Palumbo Shipyard Malta

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Greek officials confirmed that 91 migrants arrived on Gavdos island, south of Crete, on a vessel from Libya, highlighting the recent increase in migrant arrivals to the region. The migrants were found on a beach on Gavdos island and are being relocated to Crete for further assistance. The migrants’ nationalities remain undisclosed. It is believed that the migrants embarked on their journey from Libya’s eastern coast, covering a distance of approximately 170 nautical miles to reach Gavdos. Gavdos has seen a rise in migrant arrivals recently, with over 600 individuals reaching the area or being rescued at sea in the last month alone. The Greek Coast Guard reported that these migrants often travel from Tobruk, Libya, across the Mediterranean Sea, with some paying up to $5,000 to smuggling groups for the voyage. Meanwhile, the German NGO SeaWatch stated that its Seabird aircraft observed the Libyan coastguard intercepting another three boats with migrants and “illegally abducting them” in another pushback to Libya. The NGO declared that “it will stand up against the normalization of injustice!” (ITALPRESS).

Foto: ufficio stampa Sea Watch

Source: medNews

STRASBOURG (FRANCE) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The European Parliament has approved a resolution asking the European Commission to clarify the circumstances linked to the disbursement of funds to Tunisia. In the non-binding resolution approved by MEPs with 243 votes in favour, 41 abstentions and 167 against, the European Parliament invites the Commission to clarify why it chose to provide 150 million euros in aid as a special measure for Tunisia in a single tranche.

According to the MEPs, a gradual disbursement based on concrete goals or objectives achieved would have offered the possibility of suspending further disbursements in the event of a clear erosion of fundamental values.

The resolution calls on the Commission to clarify how it believes Tunisia meets the criteria on fundamental values, as stated in its action document, which refers to “satisfactory progress” justifying the provision of budget support.

MEPs highlight the deterioration of the rule of law in Tunisia since July 2021, as stated in an EP resolution of 16 March 2023, regarding recent attacks on freedom of expression, and express doubts on the respect of principles relating to democracy, human rights and the rule of law in the country.

In light of the Tunisian President Kais Saied’s refusal in October 2023 to accept €60 million in budget support from the EU, the European Parliament asked the Commission to clarify why it believes the Tunisian authorities are willing to accept the support provided for by this special measure. The European Parliament also contested the Commission’s decision to use an emergency procedure for the disbursement, as decided on 21 December 2023, given that the announcement of the support of 150 million euros had already been made on 11 June 2023 , leaving sufficient time to resort to the normal procedure.

MEPs believe that this decision demonstrates a failure to respect parliamentary scrutiny, and regret that the Commission “did not proactively make this financing agreement available to Parliament”.

Finally, MEPs want guarantees that Parliament will be able to visit the sites of EU-funded projects in Tunisia to exercise its supervision and control rights.

– Photo: Agenzia Fotogramma –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews