LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Maltàs Home affairs minister, Byron Camilleri, was forced in Parliament to defend the government’s decision to sign up for an EU ammunition procurement initiative that will also serve to replenish Ukrainian stockpiles, highlighting that the arrangement both safeguarded Maltàs neutrality and was clearly beneficial to its interests. The European Defence Agency’s “Collaborative Procurement of Ammunition” project, made it clear that helping Ukraine militarily was one of the project’s main immediate objectives. However, the signing of the agreement by the Maltese government was under scrutiny in Parliament by a government MP.
Minister Camilleri admitted that the decision was bound to cause controversy whilst arguing that any concerns were misplaced. The Minister explained “everyone knows that the price of military equipment has exploded because of the war: including the ammunition that the Armed Forces of Malta use in their training exercises” while adding “finding material to purchase has become challenging”. Minister Camilleri declared that it is with this in mind that Malta joined the EDA initiative so that all countries involved acquire their ammunition jointly with the advantages of guaranteeing lower prices and security of supply. Camilleri suggested that the EDA’s initial statement helped contribute to the controversy, since it declared that all signatories would be helping Ukraine. The EDA’s website now makes clear that “in full respect of sovereign national decisions, the project may be used to replenish member states’ national stockpiles and/or aid Ukraine”. Camilleri emphasised that Malta has made clear that it would be limiting itself to send humanitarian as it has already done.
(ITALPRESS).
-photo credit agenziafotogramma.it-

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Italian Home Affairs Minister Matteo Piantedosi was on an official visit to the Ivory Coast.
During a bilateral meeting held yesterday with the Ivorian Minister of the Interior and Security, Vagondo Diomandè, both sides discussed and underlined the common will to strengthen further the collaboration between the two countries to fight human traffickers and ensure security.
This morning, Minister Piantedosi participated, together with Minister Diomandè, in the launch ceremony of the Civit-Oim project, financed by Italy and which will be implemented together with the IOM. The initiative involves the creation of border outposts and specialized training courses on border control, the fight against the smuggling of migrants and trafficking of human beings.
The Italian Home Affairs Minister signed a cooperation agreement with his Ivorian counterpart which provides, among other things, for the exchange of information and the implementation of joint action to prevent and combat phenomena such as terrorism, organized crime, drug trafficking and arms trafficking, criminal activities related to irregular immigration and technological crime.
“During the bilateral meeting with Minister Diomandè, we shared the need to strengthen cooperation between the two ministries. The Civit-Oim project is part of this direction, which represents an important initiative in the field of security and border control and I thank the IOM for its implementation”, declared Minister Piantedosi.
“I thank Minister Diomandè for his availability for dialogue and for his willingness to give further impetus to our collaboration”, said Piantedosi, adding “the signing of the agreement testifies the common will to work together and implement a strategy to strengthen cooperation in the field of security. This agreement represents a “pillar” on which our police forces will be able to build a solid strategy of action, realizing an effective exchange of information and guaranteeing a profitable action to prevent and combat criminal phenomena”.

– photo Viminale –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Despite Maltàs constitutional neutrality, the Maltese government has opted-in to join the initiative by the European Defence Agency for the collaborative procurement of ammunition to top up stockpiles for Ukraine to combat the Russian military in occupied Ukranian territory.
However, the decision taken by the Maltese government was critizised by leftist organisations insisting that Malta should not have signed up the agreement that will provide military aid to Ukraine and will only lead to further escalation of war, instead of working for a UN peace agreement.
The Maltese government referred to the Foreign Affairs EU Council meeting attending by Maltese Foreign Minister Ian Borg and Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri and reiterated that Malta would continue to support the Ukrainian people “primarily through humanitarian provisions and other products”. The statement highlighted that “Malta joined several other member states in an initiative led by the European Defence Agency in order to make a joint purchase of various types of ammunition”, adding that “through this initiative, Malta will benefit from economies of scale and security of supply for the resources of the Armed Forces of Malta”.
The initiative was designed specifically to allow neutral EU members to participate. At present, the European Defence Agency brings together all EU member states except for Denmark, which benefited from an opt-out.

– photo Agenziafotogramma.it –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The commitment of international donors, who yesterday pledged 7 billion euros to support people affected by last month’s devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria, is a positive first step but for Save the Children – the international organization which for over 100 years worked to save boys and girls at risk and guarantee them a future – there is still a long way to go to ensure the necessary recovery for children and their families.
In both countries, immediate and recovery needs pose incalculable risks to children if they are neglected. In Turkey, more than 15 million people have been directly affected and 2.7 million are still displaced, while rebuilding the hundreds of thousands of destroyed or damaged homes will take years. In Syria, where 12 years of conflict had already made 15 million people, mostly children, dependent on humanitarian aid, the earthquake has aggravated the emergency in the north of the country. Here, the precarious conditions of the displaced population have worsened further by the torrential rains and floods that hit more than 4,000 families two days ago, destroying or damaging hundreds of tents, their only shelter, leaving children in fear to sleep through the night.
“The situation in Syria was already incredibly horrible even before the earthquakes, with children who, after more than 12 years of war, lack sufficient water, food, health care, educational services and, more and more, without hope. The needs of Syrian children have been neglected for too long. It shouldn’t have taken an earthquake for the international community to focus again on the region, but now the time has come to change our approach. We must use these funds to restore schools and hospitals, and ensure that the children have safe homes. Yesterday’s pledging conference was an opportunity to engage with a long-term and sustainable approach to addressing the humanitarian needs of children in Syria and thus begin the long process of recovery that allows them to build a better life. It is clear that we need to do much more to ensure this outcome,” said Rasha Muhrez, Director of Humanitarian Response d Save the Children in Syria.
With yesterday’s commitment, the international community must ensure that children receive the support they need now and in the long term. It is essential that children are listened to better understand their specific needs and ensure adequate protection. Furthermore, it is essential that funds are channeled to Syrian and Turkish organisations, which have so far been at the forefront of the response.
“With €7 billion pledged for both humanitarian response and long-term reconstruction, the work is starting now. Over two hundred thousand buildings, including homes, schools and hospitals, have been destroyed or damaged across Turkey. Children have been torn from their family homes and their safety has been shattered. Funding pledges and the solidarity expressed today give hope to the millions of children and their families across Turkey who are trying to pick up the pieces of their lives again. It is vital that this international support reaches directly and as soon as possible to the frontline organizations so that it can reach the most vulnerable children and their families without delay”, said Sasha Ekanayake, Director of Save the Children Turkey.

– photo Agenziafotogramma.it –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta recorded the highest increase in inflation in over 15 years with official statistics showing that the cost of living has exploded between 2021 and 2022 due to the pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The National Statistics Office confirmed that the increase in inflation reached a rate of over 6% in one year. The latest Eurobarometer also confirms that the issues of uppermost concern for those living in Malta are the rising prices with 61%. Last month, food and non-alcoholic beverages recorded the highest increase – 13.2%, followed by water and energy prices, and housing with an increase of over 9%. According to the National Statistics Office, the higher meat prices left the biggest impact on the increase in food prices. Prices were already rising in the post-pandemic recovery of 2021 due to the rising cost of wheat and agricultural goods, and paper, shooting up the year after the Russian invasion. Inflation in the European Union increased three times as much in 2022 compared to the 2021 annual figures. However, the EU’s record inflation rates are linked to the rise in energy prices as a direct consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to Maltàs Central Bank position, food inflation is expected to start moderating later in 2023.

credits: agenziafotogramma.it

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MOSCOW (ITALPRESS/MNA) – “Since the beginning of last year, there has been a total aggravation of the Ukrainian crisis. China has always taken an objective and impartial position and has made active efforts to promote reconciliation and peace negotiations”. This was stated by Chinese President XI Jinping, in a long article he wrote that was published this morning by RIA Novosti and Rossiyskaya Gazeta. According to the Chinese leader, who begins a three-day visit to Russia today, “China’s recently published position on the proposed peace deal to stop the Ukrainian crisis, taking into account the rational concerns of all parties, reflects the community’s unity of views to the fullest to overcoming the crisis. The document serves as a constructive factor in neutralizing the consequences of the crisis and promoting a political solution. Complex problems have no simple solutions. We are convinced that a rational way out of the Ukrainian crisis and a path towards lasting peace and universal security in the world could be reached if all parties are guided by the concept of common, comprehensive, joint and sustainable security and, continue dialogue and consultations in an equal, prudent and pragmatic manner”.
-photo agenziafotogramma.it-
(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS / MNA) – The increase in the arrivals of migrants in Italy is led by the Ivorians who are buying fishing boats to leave Tunisia. According to statistics released by the United Nations, around 12,000 of this year’s 20,000 arrivals come from Tunisia, up sharply from last year’s 1,000 arrivals. Ivorian migrants are among the sub-Saharan migrants who departed from the Tunisian port of Sfax, with more than 3,000 migrants from Còte d’Ivoire having set sail to reach Lampedusa. 1,500 sub-Saharan citizens were intercepted by the Tunisian coast guard in the second week of March alone. Tunisian traffickers are encouraging large numbers of sub-Saharans to leave Tunisia. Ivorian ambassador Ibrahim Sy Savane confirmed that hundreds of Ivorians have asked to be repatriated from Tunisia. According to official figures, there are around 21,000 undocumented migrants from other parts of Africa in Tunisia. The Ivorian community numbers around 7,000 people.
(ITALPRESS).
-credit photo agenziafotogramma.it-

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Prominent film director Ridley Scott will be returning to Malta next July for the filming of Gladiator 2, the sequel of Gladiator shot in Malta 23 years ago. Thousands of workers are expected to work in this production. Actors who are expected to join for the filming are Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington who is expected to have a major role in the film. The sequel’s antagonist actor is expected to be Barry Keoghan. The film shooting will take three months and the production will be a much bigger one than the original 2000 film. The production will be mainly shot at Fort Ricasoli, the large fortification in Kalkara, which also served as the main setting for the original film. The Malta Films Commission had been in talks for two years on the film’s shooting in Malta. Discussions with Paramount Pictures took place at the same time during other talks for the film Napoleon that the same director shot in Malta during 2022.
(ITALPRESS).
-photo credit agenziafotogramma.it-

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Maltese banks were among other international banks used by a convicted Brazilian money launderer for fraud and money laundering. This was confirmed by the UK Serious Fraud Office which managed to recover over US$7,699,204 from Mario Ildeu de Miranda.
Investigations by the Serious Fraud Office revealed that Miranda channeled money coming from criminal activity through various international bank accounts by using several different company names and channeled through banks in Malta, Switzerland, Portugal, the United Arab Emirates and, the Bahamas before being deposited in London until the Serious Fraud Office froze the account with over $7,699,204.
The 71-year-old was convicted of 37 counts of money laundering in Brazil in 2019 as part of ‘Operation Car Wash’, in which Brazilian authorities uncovered extensive and systemic bribery centered around state-owned oil company Petrobras. Miranda, a former executive at Petrobras, was sentenced to over six years in prison and ordered to pay $24,750,000 in Brazil.
The investigation also uncovered how Miranda spent suspected crime money to fund his extravagant lifestyle. This included over $1 million on hotels and casinos in Las Vegas, as well as $95,000 on a new luxury car.
Miranda is under two ongoing investigations into corruption in Brazil.
credit photo agenziafotogramma.it
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The President of the European Parliament and Maltese MEP Roberta Metsola called on Europe and Malta to lead a renewal process by understanding the real challenges of tomorrow and taking the tough decisions.
Metsola who was addressing the Mabel Strickland Memorial Lecture in Valletta titled ‘Malta in a changing European landscapè.
She declared that the EU must work to fulfill its promises to safeguard the rule of law and standards. Referring to the corruption scandal that hit the European Parliament in December, Metsola declared “we knew we had to take immediate steps or risk people losing trust in politics, in Europe, in our institutions”. She added “wève seen what happens when those in positions of power try to sweep it under the carpet. Corruption cannot pay. That is the message I want citizens to hear. That’s the message I want investors to hear”.
The European Parliament’s President also referred to the ongoing anti-corruption protests in Malta. “People want the standards and accountability that we promised Europe would guarantee. Corruption is the antithesis of what politics should be about. Sadly, it is a crime as old as time, but the true measure of the robustness of our systems is how we respond when it happens” she said.
During her address, she spoke about her vision for Malta with particular attention given to the need for a long-term vision in building planning, clean energy, and the need to improve the working conditions of migrants.
Metsola declared that the issue of migration in Europe cannot be tackled by a country alone. She added that the European Parliament has agreed on a way forward on migration, one that is fair and firm but also humane, that protects borders and ensures that traffickers do not benefit from profiting from human desperation.
-photo agenziafotogramma.it-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews