MOSCA (ITALPRESS/MNA) – “About half of the units of the Strategic Missile Force are now equipped with the latest Yars systems. Rearming with modern missile systems carrying Avangard hypersonic warheads is underway”. This was stated by Vladimir Putin in a meeting with graduates of military academies, according to local press reports.
Putin stressed that the strengthening and development of the army and reliable security of the country has always been and remains an unconditional priority. “In light of the new challenges, we will continue to improve the military in every way we can,” he declared.
-foto agenziafotogramma.it-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MALTA (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Shocking statistics compiled in a new report entitled “Victims of Maltàs Construction Boom” by The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation show the cost of human life in Maltàs modern construction industry. The report shows a clear correlation between Maltàs building boom and construction fatalities: as planning permit approvals spiked, so did construction site tragedies. While 10 construction workers died in the four years between 2010 and 2013 and a further 10 died between 2014 and 2017, there were 29 such deaths between 2018 and 2022, the report found. Falls from height were, by far, the most likely cause of death: of the 49 deaths recorded between 2010 and 2022, 25 occurred due to such falls. The average fine given by the Criminal Court for a construction worker fatality from 2010 to 2022 was low at €7,030, with the minimum fine being €1,000 and the maximum only €11,650. Compiled data reveals 68% of construction fatalities remain open in Maltàs justice system. According to the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA), out of 49 fatal accident cases involving construction workers since 2010, 32 are still unresolved, dating back as far as 2010. The trend also shows that the gap in unresolved cases continues to widen each year, leading to a pile-up of unresolved cases.
Only 15 cases have been closed. Of these, five resulted from court decisions, while the rest were closed due to the impossibility of prosecution.

– foto di angenziafotogramma.it –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MALTA (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The number of asylum seekers brought to Malta were down by 46.9% in 2022 when compared to the previous year. The majority were citizens of Asian countries (90.6%), while the remaining 9.4% were citizens of African countries.
The National Statistics Office said that last year 10 boat disembarked in Malta, with 445 migrants being brought to Maltese shores, including persons air lifted at sea. September 2022 saw 176 migrants; the highest recorded, brought to Malta, followed by arrivals in November and August, at 116 and 84 individuals, respectively. So far this year only 92 people, including an unaccompanied child, were brought to Malta after being rescued at sea. Meanwhile in 2022, a total of 1,318 applications for asylum were submitted to the International Protection Agency (IPA), a decrease of 17.4% over the previous year. Slightly over half of the applicants were from African countries (54.5%), while the single largest country of origin by applications was Syria, with 21.2% of the total applicantions. This was followed by Eritrean and Sudanese citizens, at 8.5% and 7.9%, respectively. Slightly over half of the applicants (56%) were males aged between 18 and 34. At the end of 2022, there were 2,974 pending decisions on applications for asylum, a decrease of 25.9% from the previous year. During 2022, the International Protection Agency processed a total of 1,271 applications for international protection; with 15.1% granted a positive decision at first instance, while the remaining applications were rejected. Meanwhile, 258 persons were residing at open centres at the end of 2022, a decrease of 64.1% when compared to the preceding year. Syrian citizens made up the highest share of residents at 17.1%, followed by Eritrean citizens at 16.7%. As of December 2022, there were 1,516 persons benefiting from temporary protection in Malta, with 99.3% being Ukrainian citizens.

– photo agenziafotogramma.it –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Nine crew members arrested for people smuggling after a boat sank off the Greek coast last week will be accused before the criminal court.
They will be accused of piloting the fishing trawler that sank off the coast of Greece on Wednesday leaving hundreds missing and presumed dead in one of the Mediterranean’s worst boat disasters. Greece said nine Egyptian nationals aged between 20 and 40 were arrested on suspicion of setting up a criminal organization, manslaughter by negligence, exposure to danger, and causing a shipwreck.
Greek authorities said 78 dead and 104 survivors – mainly from Syria, Afghanistan, Egypt, and Pakistan – were brought ashore after the overcrowded boat sank about 80km off the southern Greek town of Pylos, days after it set sail from Tobruk in Libya heading towards Italy. It is believed that the number of people aboard was somewhere between 400 and 750, according to various testimonies.
The boat was reportedly in distress since the morning of 13 June. The Hellenic Coast Guard announced a large-scale search and rescue operation on the morning of 14 June, after the boat capsized.
Greek authorities have been criticized for their failure to act more quickly. The Greek coast guard claimed that the boat’s occupants said they did not need any help, but NGOs insisted they received a number of calls for help.

– Foto Agenziafotogramma.it –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The installation of solar panels on every new or renovated building could become a legal requirement from next year. The proposal is in a list of amendments to the minimum requirements for energy efficiency that is up for public consultation.
The Planning Ministry stated that the technical document would introduce new minimum requirements for efficient energy use in new and renovated buildings.
“Malta is determined to reach European targets on reducing carbon emissions and these proposals address a number of goals set out by the European Green Deal with the target of achieving buildings that produce zero or close to zero emissions”, the statement said. “This must be achieved by reducing energy use in existing buildings and installing solar panels on all new builds and certain renovation projects”.

– foto: agenziafotogramma.it –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela stated that there is no need for hundreds of migrants to perish in order for the European Union to comprehend the urgency of this problem as he reflected on the deaths of hundreds of refugees off Greece in what is one of the worst sea tragedies in the Mediterranean in recent years.
During an interview on the Labour Party radio station, Robert Abela also described migration as a common challenge for Malta and Italy, two neighbouring countries, while adding as “crucial” the joint efforts with Italy and Mediterranean countries for this challenge against criminal groups to be addressed by everyone.
Meanwhile, the Maltese Premier announced he will be visiting Libya this week for talks with Libyan Prime Minister Dbeibeh on migration and energy, among other issues. Abela declared that the Government’s vision is for the building of a bridge between Africa and the European Union, adding he sees potential for corridors of clean energy that can link Europe with the potential of renewable energy in neighbouring North African countries.
On migration, Abela said that Malta and Italy agree that human trafficking is putting pressure on both countries, adding that there is a need for the necessary tools to be provided by the European Union, so that countries like Libya and Tunisia will also join in the fight against organised crime.
Abela insisted that the strongest measure was preventing the arrival of migrants in the first place, adding that doing so required preventing departures from countries in North Africa. He called for increased investment in migrants’ and asylum seekers’ countries of origin to provide their inhabitants with an “opportunity for a better tomorrow” in their native lands.
The Maltese Prime Minister insisted on the importance of a united response in the European fora. “We persevered in our message, and have since been joined by Italy, particularly once Meloni became Italy’s prime minister… and with the help of Greece and Cyprus, our message began to be transmitted strongly,” he said. “Now the issue is not only being discussed more frequency at the European Council, but we are also seeing more concrete hopes of a united response”.
– photo credit agenziafotogramma.it-

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Only 287 migrants are actually residing in Maltàs open reception centres according to the latest quarterly report compiled by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. This, is despite that the seven open reception centres may accommodate up to 2,964 migrants.
According to the data on the situation of asylum-seekers and refugees in Malta between 1 January and 30 April 2023, half of the population in the reception centres are adult males, 65% of those who live in ?al-Far Tent Village alone. The top 3 countries of origin identified in the open centres are Eritreans (16%), Sudanese (15%) and Somali (13%) nationals.
The majority of asylum-seekers and refugees manage to find their own place and live in the community, rather than in open centres. According to the UNCHR, 212 individuals living in the community benefit from social assistance. Syrians (33%), Libyans (16%) and Ukrainians (9%) are the main beneficiaries of assistance while living in the community.
In Malta, there are seven reception centres, five of which are run by the Agency for the Welfare of Asylum Seekers. Reception centres provide asylum-seekers with accommodation until they are able to find accommodation.
The open centres are different to detention centres, where migrants are detained automatically upon arrival and prevented from leaving the centres until they are allowed to move to reception centres. In Malta, there are three official detention centres.
The report also provides information on sea arrivals between 1 January and 30 April. According to the data provided, there were 92 migrants reached Malta, including two medical evacuations, while during the same period in 2022, only one person arrived in Malta by sea. All individuals who arrived in 2023 were male and departed from Libya. The new arrivals were Bangladeshi (75), Egyptian (11), and Sudanese (5) origin. The nationality of one person is unknown as the Maltese authorities were not able to officially register him due to his medical condition. All the migrants who arrived in Malta, excluding one migrant, arrived in April.
credit photo agenziafotogramma.it
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta has registered the highest increase in building permits issued in 2022 from all European Union member states. This was confirmed by the EU’s statistical office.
Malta experienced a 29.4% increase in building permits last year, while the registered average in the EU experienced a decline of 4.5%. The number of building permits issued decreased in 18 EU states, while the number rose in only nine countries including, Spain, Croatia, Bulgaria, Italy, and at the top of the table, Malta.
The Maltese government and the entities responsible for the planning issues has recently been at the centre of widespread criticism which led to a national protest attended by thousands of protesters demanding planning reform and an end to environmental destruction.
The Maltese Finance Minister Clyde Caruana warned that Maltàs population must grow to 800,000 by 2040 for the current economic model to be sustained. Following this statement, the Economy Minister added that Maltàs economic model is being adjusted to attract foreign investment that takes up less land and requires fewer workers to generate economic growth.

– foto: agenziafotogramma.it

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The NGO Sea-Watch confirmed that in the past few days, countless migrants have once again been pulled back to Libya, in some instances boats were also burned, and at the same time, hundreds of people drowned in the Mediterranean in the biggest shipwreck in years.
Following yesterday’s shipwreck off the Greek coast, another NGO, Alarm Phone said that there are so many open questions to be answered about what had happened off Pylos. “We need an independent investigation into the actions and inactions of the Greek forces and the role of Frontex.” Alarm Phone is also demanding that the search for the missing should continued and that DNA of all bodies found should be taken and recorded before their burial.
Rescuers saved 104 passengers – including Egyptians, Syrians, Pakistanis, Afghans and Palestinians – and recovered 79 bodies. The 25- to 30-meter boat is believed to have left the Tobruk area in Libya with hundreds of migrants onboard. The trawler was about halfway from Libya to Italy when its engine stopped functioning in the night, started flooding and capsized. Less than 15 minutes later, it sank into one of the Mediterranean’s deepest points, off the coast of Greece.
Meanwhile, the NGO Sea-Watch accused the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni that she held secret talks with Abdul Hamid Ad-Dbeiba in January and Haftar in May 2023. The NGO alleged “Ad-Dbeibàs drone attacks and Haftar’s military offensive are directly related in time to these talks.”
Sea-Watch added that Ad-Dbeiba is the ruler of Tripoli and parts of Libyàs west. He is bombing the western port cities of Al-Maya, Zuwara, and Az-Zawiya with drones where several people have died already.
The NGO added that a similar military offensive in eastern Libya is undergoing on orders given by Khalifa Haftar, local warlord and convicted war criminal. “He is currently imprisoning numerous migrants and he launched a military offensive lasting several days in Tobruk and Musaid.”
Sea-Watch added that various small and large militias profited massively from the refugee business. The SSA, Stabilisation Support Authority, is one of them and it is an umbrella organization of various militias in eastern Libya. The NGO said that the SSA acts as a self-proclaimed security force at sea and on land, indirectly financed by the EU, and accused it of extorting money from the families of people on the move after they have been arrested.

– foto: agenziafotogramma.it

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni met for more than an hour in Palazzo Chigi in Rome. During the official talks, both leaders discussed various issues of interest including the energy sector, immigration, and defence.
Prime Minister Abela described the meeting with Prime Minister Meloni as cordial and declared that the talks will yield more cooperation in areas that are beneficial to both sides.
Italian Prime Minister Meloni said that the meeting with Prime Minister Abela continues to strengthen the work and the political, historical and cultural ties between the two countries who share common positions during official meetings of European leaders in Brussels.
The discussion focused on the energy sector, with the Maltese Prime Minister announcing that a technical group will be set up to see that the second interconnector project between Malta and Ragusa is carried out. He referred to other initiatives involving renewable energy projects between Europe and Africa from which both Malta and Italy can benefit.
“We eagerly await the implementation of this EU funded project and I am delighted to announce a joint technical group to facilitate and oversee its fruition without delays,” said the Maltese Prime Minister. He added “we believe that energy interconnections with North Africa, especially the benefits of solar and with energy should be our main focus. We eagerly anticipate collaboration with Italy.”
The Italian Prime Minister emphasized the need for Malta and Italy to collaborate more on projects that connect the two countries as far as energy is concerned. “We have been collaborating on energy, thanks to Italian companies, with links between the two countries, on Mediterranean and EU levels. The infrastructural issue consists of closer cooperation and common work for the future of Europe. This is important for diversification and security in energy such as gas, hydrogen, and renewable energy,” declared Giorgia Meloni
Regarding immigration, the Italian Prime Minister said that she is hoping that the European Commission will help Tunisia financially so that, among others, the problem of immigration in the Mediterranean is addressed. “We discussed the fact that without defending the European external borders, it would be difficult to talk and address secondary movements,” declared Meloni, while adding, “the challenge is to work on primary movements to solve the problem of secondary movements.” She said that over the recent years, there was good collaboration between Malta and Italy which led to change in the principles by which the EU Commission addresses and decides.
The Maltese Prime Minister referred to immigration as a common challenge for both countries that requires solidarity from the other European countries, while he stressed agreements that should be reached with countries such as Tunisia and Libya. “Migration should not be Italy’s or Maltàs challenge to fend for ourselves. It is a European challenge. We have voiced our concerns that migration requires a holistic European solution,” said Robert Abela, while adding, “I extend my gratitude to Giorgia Meloni, Ursola Von der Leyen, and Mark Rutte for their work with Tunisia focusing on both economic development and important reforms that benefit both Tunisia and the EU itself.” He said that a similar approach should be adopted with other countries like Libya.

– photo Agenziafotogramma.it –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews