LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta observed a national day of mouring in respect to Queen Elizabeth II as her majesty is laid to rest. National flags on all government buildings and public areas have been flying at half-mast throughout the day. A gun salute was fired across the Grand Harbour by the Armed Forces of Malta. Queen Elizabeth died on September 8, aged 96 marking the end of a 70 year long reign in the British history. The President of Malta George Vella attended the state funeral service. Malta was also represented by Judge Joseph Galea, honorary president of the George Cross Island Association, as one of the only three collective recipients of the George Cross, awarded for military gallantry. As a princess, Queen Elizabeth II lived for two years in Malta while her husband, Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh was serving with the Royal Navy in Malta. The house where the queen lived in Guardamangia will undergo restoration works. King Charles III is well-informed about this restoration project, and according to the President of Malta, this project will be a sign of respect to the Queen’s memory. Her majesty was also Queen of Malta for ten years; from 1964 until Malta became a republic in December 1984. In London, the President of Malta George Vella paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Hall, where her coffin was lying in state. He also signed the condolences book at Lancaster House. President Vella said that King Charles III knows Malta very well and added that even Prince Edward, the youngest of the Queen’s children said that when the Royal Family mentions Malta it considers the island “as family”.
(ITALPRESS).
-credit photo agenziafotogramma.it-

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Commercial flights between Malta and Libya resumed after years of suspension due to the political instability and the civil war caused by the revolution in Libya that lasted from 2014 to 2020.
The commercial flights between the two neighbouring countries resumed with a flight to Misurata following the inauguration of the new terminal. The first flight was operated by two aviation entities based in Libya, MedSky Airlines, a Libyan company and the other Maltese, Malta MedAir.
The duration of each flight is one hour and two flights a week are scheduled, on Wednesday and Saturday afternoon.
The Executive Head of Malta MedAir, Paul Bugeja said Misurata is one of the safest and secure airports, and the city is a destination in central Libya. There are new developments and various plans to connect Malta and Misurata while the long-term plan is to consider the use of other airports in Libya. There is a new terminal in Misurata and together with Medsky there is collaboration on aviation aspects including security. He added that although this was a first flight there seems to be a good demand.
The Executive Head of Malta Med Air said that this positive development is a result of months of collaboration between the Maltese and Libyan Authorities. “It is expected that this will create more employment and services opportunities in the aviation and other sectors.”
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela announced that the government will soon start offering free gender reassignment surgery for trans people in Malta.
He added that the Maltese government is committed to carry out further reforms for the LGBTIQ+ community following the recent lifting of a ban on gay men donating blood.
While declaring the next step will be free gender reassignment surgeries, Prime Minister Robert Abela, added that “they will be placed on the national health service, which means the state will finance the procedure”.
(ITALPRESS).
-photo agenziafotogramma.it-

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Maltàs Prime Minister Robert Abela and President George Vella have joined international leaders in expressing grief at Queen Elizabeth II’s death.
In a tweet, Robert Abela expressed his condolences to the Royal Family and recalled the special connection the Queen had with Malta. “Malta joins the rest of the world in mourning the death of HM The Queen Elizabeth II. As monarch and Head of the Commonwealth, she was loved by all.” He also reminded the brief period the Queen had spent living in Malta. “We will always remember her fondly, especially living here as a young princess,” Abela said.
The President of Malta George Vella tweeted: “On behalf of the government and people of Malta I salute the memory of Queen Elizabeth II. Her Majesty leaves a strong legacy within the Commonwealth. We will all cherish her special bond with Malta.”
Malta and Gozo were memorable by Queen Elizabeth and she always considered the time spent between 1949 and 1951 as among the happiest years of her life where she could live a relatively a normal life. Of the 100 countries she visited during her reign, she said publicly that Malta was one of her favourite countries.
Throughout her reign, Elizabeth visited Malta and Gozo several times in 1954, 1967, 1992, 2005 and 2007 when together with Prince Philip, the couple also celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in Malta. The Queen’s last visit overseas was in Malta when in November 2015 as the Head of the Commonwealth countries, when the CHOGM was held in Malta. She wanted the last country she visited to be a country which held a special place in her heart.
She is also the only Queen of Malta, having served as Maltàs head of state between its independence in 1964 and the adoption of a republican constitution in 1974.

foto: credit DOI

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Gay men in Malta will no longer find the doors closed to them when they seek to donate blood. The policy change came after the acquisition of advanced blood testing equipment. This development was announced by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health Chris Fearne. Thus, Malta has lifted the restrictions on sexually-active gay men which were in force since the 1980s in the midst of the AIDS epidemic. Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela declared that these new and fairer protocols will eliminate discrimination against LGBTIQ+ persons. The Malta Gay Rights Movement (MGRM) said that the government’s decision is as another step forward and toward full equality while urged gay men to donate blood. The change in policy was announced as Malta is celebrating the Pride Week. This means that as from today anyone who has had the same sexual partner for more than 4 months can donate blood, irrespective of their gender or that of their partner. The National Blood Transfusion Service had enforced a lifetime ban on blood donations from men who had ever had sex with other men. Subsequently, a one-year deferral period was introduced: blood donations could be made by those who had not been sexually active for at least 12 months. Minister Fearne explained that the new equipment will analyse the blood thoroughly.
(ITALPRESS).

– credit photo agenziafotogramma.it –

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Armed Forces of Malta are being accused by the international NGO Alarm Phone for turning a blind eye and letting a group of around 80 migrants on board in serious difficulties in Maltàs search and rescue area.
Alarm Phone confirmed that two merchants ship; the Nordic Hamburg vessel ‘Brucè and another vessel ‘Sibì registered in Pakistan waited on site indicated to them by the Maltàs Rescue Coordination Centre but subsequently continued with their respective voyage without providing assistance following orders received by the Armed Forces of Malta.
Alarm Phone added that the migrants in distress informed the NGO that they could see two big ships, but none offered any assistance.
“Before we lost contact 6h ago, they also said that they probably couldn’t make it through the night,” the NGO added ominously on Thursday morning. “We are extremely worried and wonder if the Armed Forces of Malta just let a tragedy unfold before their eyes,” Alarm Phone asked in a Tweet. “Why tell ships to divert course and merely stand-by watching while people are suffering?”

Foto: agenziafotogramma.it

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Libyan Prime Minister of the Tripoli-based government, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah met Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela in Valletta late this afternoon.
Following an official meeting between the two leaders, Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela reiterated Maltàs commitment and support to the Libyan nation. “The past days in Libya have been difficult. The peace and stability in the past two years was something we were happy to see.” Abela added “Malta will remain friends with the people of Libya and we will also continue to push for proactive involvement in the European Union.”
Dbeibah arrived in Malta on Wednesday afternoon for a two-day visit following Saturday’s deadly clashes that took place in the Libyan capital, Tripoli.
Without refering to any third countries, Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela declared that Libyàs future should be determined by the citizens and leaders of the country and not by any external influences.
The Libyan Prime Minister said he is confident that Malta will help Libya through the tougher times. He specifically pointed out that Libya has to stop the few individuals who want to take advantage of the instability and added that the Libyan people look forward to the next elections in order to guarantee peace not only in Libya, but also in the whole region including Europe.
Abdul Hamid Dbeibah is accompanied by the Governor of the Central Bank of Tripoli.
According to local reports, although there was no fixed agenda, both leaders discussed the issue related to Libyan money held in Malta. The first case is about a considerable amount of money held at the Satabank which is being liquidated and all the funds are held at the Central Bank of Malta. Also, in 2019 the Maltese Customs siezed two containers packed with $1.1 billion in a parallel Libyan currency, printed in Russia. To date, this amount of money was not released. Last June, a Maltese court ordered Bank of Valletta to return over 90 million linked to the heirs of former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. However the case is still subject of an appeal before the Maltese courts.
Dbeibah’s last visit to Malta was in September of last year.
The fighting in Libyàs capital, Tripoli, on Saturday was the worst in two years. At least 23 people were killed and dozens more were wounded during the clashes. Following the deadly clashes, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah stressed the need for elections and called on all Libyan parties to forget the conflicts of the past, stressing that the solution lies in elections.
Libya failed to hold elections for a president and parliament on 24 December 2021 partly due to rows over the eligibility of three controversial candidates, but also a wider fear that armed militia across the country would not accept the result if their candidate lost.
(ITALPRESS).
– photo Department of Information (DOI) –

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A marine survey for the second interconnector between Malta and Sicily is being carried out by the Italian company Fugro S.p.A., as a 60 metre long vessel ‘Urbano Montì has set sail from the port of Valletta. The vessel is analyzing 600 metre corridors in the proposed route which extends about 100 kilometres from Bahar Ic-Caghaq to Marina di Ragusa. The maximum depth that will be reached is 160 meters.
This study is considered crucial for the construction of the best and safest route for the second interconnector on the seabed. It will also provide the necessary information on how the interconnector will be installed with the best protection systems. Interconnect Malta designed the preliminary route to avoid areas of ecological importance as well as bunkering, aquaculture, tourist, fishing and trawling areas as well as other restricted areas. This route also ensured that this cable would be as far as possible from the first interconnector. This interconnector has been used since 2015 as the first undersea electricity cable between the two countries. The survey works close to the shore in Sicily started last week using a smaller vessel, while the survey works in Ba?ar ic-Cag?aq will start shortly, the offshore survey will continue until mid-October. The contractor will then be able to analyze the data and complete the necessary reports. Interconnect Malta has recently issued other public calls for tenders, which include the front-end engineering design for this project and for the environmental impact assessments. These are necessary to obtain the development permits from the Maltese and Italian authorties. The second interconnector will increase the security of supply for today’s and future energy demand and will also provide the necessary capacity reserve to deal with intermittency in energy production with renewable sources. As a result, it will help Malta reach the country’s environmental goals to curb climate change.

– credit photo agenziafotogramma.it –

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A Sicilian who works in the construction industry admitted before a Maltese court that he stole tools belonging to his employer after he was not paid for his work. G.A. 32 years old from Catania was accused of theft, breaching the public order and assaulting his employer.
On August 20, the police at the Qawra police station received a report on an argument in the vicinity of Bugibba. At the scene, the police found that community police officers had already detained the Sicilian, who was then taken to the police station for further investigations.
C.L. who used to employ G.A., told the police that the accused had stolen around 1.500 euro in construction tools from a building site. However, some of the items were later returned.
The accused was detained as he was about to return to Sicily. G.A. pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to one year in prison suspended for three years and ordered him to pay the remaining 1.200 euro to C.L within three months.
credit photo agenziafotogramma.it
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta together with France has registered the lowest annual inflation rate when compared to the rest of the European countries. This was confirmed by the European agency – Eurostat when comparing July 2022 with the same month of last year.
While the average rate of inflation in the European Union states reached 9.8%, Malta has reached its record of 6.8% annual inflation.
The Baltic countries reached the highest rate of inflation – Estonia once again reached the highest annual rate, this time at 23.2 per cent, followed by Latvia, at 21.3 per cent, and Lithuania, at 20.9 per cent.
The largest contributors to annual inflation in Malta were food and non-alcoholic beverages, at 11.8 per cent, followed by housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, at 9.2 per cent.
On the other hand, the lowest annual inflation rates were registered in alcoholic beverages and tobacco (1.4 per cent) and communication (1.4 per cent). Italy reached the rate of 8.4%.
In July, the highest contribution to the annual euro zone inflation rate came from energy (+4.02 percentage points), followed by food, alcohol & tobacco (+2.08pp), services (+1.60pp) and non-energy industrial goods (+1.16pp).
(ITALPRESS).
– photo agenziafotogramma.it-

Source: medNews