During a press conference, after a long cabinet meeting that took six hours, the Prime Minister of Malta Joseph Muscat said he is not ready to quit, despite the protesters’ calls outside his office in Valletta to leave the office. In fact, another demonstration is scheduled for this evening in front of the Prime Minister’s office. Muscat reaffirmed that his obligation is to see justice will be done with the Caruana Galicia family.

Also present during the cabinet meeting were the Maltese Police Commissioner and the Attorney General who gave the Labour Government Ministers advice not to recommend the presidential pardon to entrepreneur Yorgen Fenech. Fenech is under arrest for the murder of the Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in October 16 of two years ago. However, the legal advisers representing Fenech, declared that their client is ready to reveal all the truth about the alleged involvement of Keith Schembri and two ex-Labour Ministers Konrad Mizzi and Chris Cardona.

Police Commissioner Lawrence Cutajar and Attorney General Peter Agius declared with the Government Ministers that there was no valid reason after the interrogations, for the approval of a presidential pardon to Fenech. After this official declaration, the Ministers decided to approve the recommendation. By this time, Muscat was not present and left his ministers to decide freely.

Meanwhile, during the Cabinet meeting, the Maltese police released an official statement in which it was declared that Keith Schembri was a free man because there is no connection with the murder of Daphne Caruana Galicia. One of the sons of Caruana Galizia, Matthew, reiterated that the institutions are still protecting Schembri and this situation is completely outrageous. During the press conference, the Prime Minister confirmed that Keith Schembri will not be asked to head his office at Auberge de Castille.
(ITALPRESS/MNA)

L’articolo THE MALTESE PRIME MINISTER WILL STAY… FOR NOW proviene da Italpress.

Source: medNews

“The Alpine crown, seen from space, appears as one of the largest water reserves in Europe, a unique and extremely important territory for all of us. We must decide now to act, all together, to make a difference “. This is stated by Paolo Nespoli, an astronaut who has three space missions and who takes part in the 3RD EUSALP ANNUAL FORUM in the panel ‘Shaping. Future. Toghether. With the next generation ‘meeting dedicated to the relationship between new generations and the environment. “From space we see how we human beings are in every corner of the globe and how our presence is now highly impacting on the environment” says the astronaut on the eve of this meeting. “Measuring, understanding and modifying this impact is fundamental to being able to make informed and responsible choices, in order to coexist in harmony precisely with that environment that allows us to exist on this planet”. And the message he is sending is very clear: “We must decide to become aware and act, all together now, to make the difference”

L’articolo EUSALP, NESPOLI “THE ALPS ARE EUROPEAN WATER RESERVES” proviene da Italpress.

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The Opposition in Malta led by the Nationalist Party left the Parliament building for the second time this week after Prime Minister Joseph Muscat refused to assume his political responsibility. The opposition is accusing Muscat who had protected his Chief of StaffKeith Schembri, who is under arrest in relation to the assasination of the Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galicia. Opposition leader Adrian Delia said the government led by Muscat has lost his legittimacy of governing the country. The business community in Malta has also referred to the difficult situation that the country is experiencing and has called for greater political responsibility and immediate solutions to the serious problems the nation is facing.

There are reports that during the questioning, Maltese entrepreneur Yorgen Fenech mentioned the name of Keith Schembri as the person who planned the murder of journalist Caruana Galizia on 16 October 2017. During the questioning, Fenech said that the original plan of his escape with his yacht before his arrest took place, was to sail from Malta to Tunisia, and then he will travel to Dubai. Fenech stated that this plan was discussed in the residence of his private doctor in the presence of Schembri in Gozo. Adrian Vella was also questioned twice by the investigators today. There is also confirmation from the telephone system that Fenech and Schembri were in regular contact.

According to a local report, Melvin Theuma who is considered as the mediator in the assassination of Caruana Galizia presented a recorded conversation to the investigators about abet between Theuma and Fenech that the Labour Party will win the 2017 general election with a large majority. Theuma, who is known for his involvement in gambling, accepted the 50,000 euro challenge and that election result indeed increased the winning by 150,000 euros. This amount was transferred to a kitty aimed to the financing of the  murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Yorgen Fenech also formally submitted a request for a presidential pardon in exchange for immunity from prosecution and stated that he had information linking Keith Schembri to criminal activity.

Meanwhile, the Maltese police had barricaded the parliament area and the streets leading to the Office of the Prime Minister to block access to the demonstrators. On Wednesday evening, the civil society with the support of the Opposition organized the fifth protest in a week. The protesters blocked the main street that from Floriana leads to Valletta, and gathered in front of the War Monument, chanting slogans ‘Joseph out’ referring to Joseph Muscat to resign immediately as Prime Minister of Malta.

(ITALPRESS/MNA)

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Tourism Minister of Malta Konrad Mizzi has confirmed that he has presented his resignation and Economy Minister Chris Cardona has suspended himself.
Addressing the journalists at the end of an urgent cabinet meeting, Minister Mizzi said that it was his duty to resign in these circumstances.

Even the Chief of Staff of the Maltese Prime Minister’s Office Joseph Muscat presented his resignation. The Maltese police are questioning Keith Schembri about the possibility of his involvement in the case of the murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galicia. The interrogation is also about corruption cases in connection with the secret company 17 Black owned by entrepreneur Yorgen Fenech who is also under arrest.

Last night Keith Schembri met with the Maltese Prime Minister in the Prime Minister’s residential home in Burmarrad.
Yesterday the President of the Republic of Malta George Vella signed an official degree guaranteeing a presidential pardon to Melvin Theuma – the first suspect in the murder of Caruana Galizia. He was arrested last week. Theuma is obliged to give every detail on the assasination of the Maltese journalist.
Meanwhile, the civil society with the support of the Nationalist opposition continued with their protests in front of the Parliament building and the Office of the Prime Minister calling for the resignation of Joseph Muscat and the Minister for Economy Chris Cardona who was also questioned by the Police about the murder of Caruana Galizia.

(ITALPRESS/MNA)

L’articolo MALTA, SCHEMBRI AND MIZZI RESIGN proviene da Italpress.

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The 23 thousand hectares of woods and pastures that the Lombardy Region manages in its territory through ERSAF (Agency for Agricultural Services and Forests) and in particular the 20 forest complexes, will have a New Map of the Forests that will regulate their everyday life, for the coming years, . During the Annual Forum of EUSALP (the European Alpine Region) scheduled in Milan on 28 and 29 November, the president of the Region Attilio Fontana, the councilor for Agriculture Fabio Rolfi and the president of ERSAF Alessandro Fede Pellone will sign with 35 mayors in the Alps, and communities with environmental associations, this important document.
The main element of this Charter will be the extension of the Forest Contract: a formal agreement between the public and the private sector for the best possible management of this fundamental environmental heritage extending from the Alps to the Prealps, from the lakes to the mountain peaks, from the Po Valley to the border with Switzerland, and which constitutes an important mosaic of natural ecosystems, inhabited by an extraordinary variety of fauna and flora. The agreements will allow not only a conservation of flora and fauna, but also a substantial flywheel so that the economic resources that the forest produces remain in the territory and feed this conservation work.

In addition to performing the “ordinary” functions of the forest, forests are a privileged place for teaching, recreation, ecotourism and hiking. And this is why Fabio Rolfi, the Councilor for Agriculture, Food and Green Systems, announced that he is pursuing policies for the recognition of the so-called ‘educational forest’, especially for the youngest, for an essential education in the environment and safeguarding the values of the territory.
“Fifteen years after the signing of the first Charter – explains ERSAF President Alessandro Fede Pellone – I would like to support the same concept. On the one hand, because there has been a substantial continuity between those who managed the heritage. On the other hand, because those who frequent our forests today – for work, for passion, for fun, for sports, in the research for spirituality … -, finds a well-guarded treasure. The Lombardy Forests continue to offer incomparable ecosystem services to their patrons: air, water, wood, animals, fruits … A valuable environment, which is constantly valued “.
(ITALPRESS/MNA).

L’articolo EUSALP, THE NEW CHARTER OF LOMBARD FORESTS AT THE REGION’S FORUM proviene da Italpress.

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Health expenditures posted an annual increase of 17,5% to 165,2 billion Turkish liras ($28.5 billion) in 2018, the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) revealed on Tuesday. “The proportion of current health expenditure to total health expenditure was 93,1% for 2017 and 93,8% for 2018,” the TurkStat said. It added the ratio of government health expenditure-to-total health expenditure was 77,5% in 2018, down from 78% in 2017. “The proportion of total health expenditure to GDP was 4,4% last year. This ratio for general government was 3,4%,” it indicated. It also reported that the number of hospitals in Turkey surged by 11.065 year-on-year to reach 80.701 last year, of which 65.373 were public hospitals while 15.328 were private sector hospitals. The institute said out of pocket health expenditures made by households for treatment, pharmaceuticals, etc. reached to 28,7 billion liras with an increase of 19,4% in 2018. The proportion of household out of pocket health expenditure to total health expenditure was 17,3% last year. “Health spending per capita was 1.751 Turkish liras ($480) in 2017 and then it reached to 2.030 liras ($430) with an increase of 15,9% in 2018,” it said. Health expenditure statistics were presented according to financing agents and service providers. Source: Anadolu Agency.
(ITALPRESS/MNA).

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Cyprus is among the top three EU states for recycling plastic packaging with a rate of 62% well above the European average of 42%.In the EU, an estimated 42% of plastic packaging waste was recycled in 2017. In seven EU Member States, more than half of the plastic packaging waste generated was recycled. The highest recycling rate of plastic packaging waste was recorded in Lithuania (74%), ahead of Bulgaria (65%), Cyprus (62%, 2016 data), Slovenia (60%), Czechia (59%), Slovakia (52%) and the Netherlands (50%).In contrast, less than one third of plastic packaging waste was recycled in Malta (24%, 2016 data), Estonia, France and Finland (each 27%), Ireland (31%), Hungary (32%), Luxembourg and Austria (33%). Compared with 2005, the recycling rate of plastic packaging waste increased by 18 percentage points (pp) in the EU (from 24% in 2005 to 42% in 2017). This increasing trend is observed at varied levels in all EU Member States, except Croatia.
(ITALPRESS/MNA)

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Fabio Grosso è il nuovo allenatore del Brescia. Dopo aver rescisso il contratto con il Verona, il club del presidente Massimo Cellino ha ufficializzato la nomina del tecnico (da calciatore campione del mondo nel 2006 con la Nazionale azzurra) che prende il posto di Eugenio Corini, licenziato domenica scorsa dopo la sconfitta in casa dell’Hellas del Verona.
Si tratta del quinto cambio in panchina dopo 11 giornate di serie A. I primi due dopo il settimo turno: il Milan, nonostante la vittoria in casa del Genoa, caccia Marco Giampaolo sostituendolo con Stefano Pioli, mentre alla Samp, ultima in classifica, finisce l’avventura di Eusebio Di Francesco e al suo posto viene chiamato Claudio Ranieri. Una partita dopo è il turno del Grifone: l’1-5 di Parma e il penultimo posto con appena 5 punti convincono Preziosi a scegliere Thiago Motta al posto di Andreazzoli per centrare la salvezza. Il decimo turno è invece fatale a Igor Tudor: la sconfitta interna per 4-0 con la Roma, a pochi giorni dall’1-7 con l’Atalanta, convincono l’Udinese a dare una sterzata. La sconfitta nella gara di Verona valida per l’11esima giornata è invece fatale a Corini: il Brescia, penultimo, caccia il tecnico della promozione e punta su Grosso.
Nella scorsa stagione furono in tutto dodici i cambi in panchina: anche in quel caso due nel corso della stessa giornata di campionato. Dopo l’ottavo turno, infatti, furono esonerati Lorenzo D’Anna dal Chievo (arrivò l’ex ct azzurro Gian Piero Ventura) e Davide Ballardini dal Genoa (arrivò Ivan Juric).
(ITALPRESS).

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The independent national electoral authority (ANIE) of Algeria communicated, through the official APS news agency, the list of candidates for the upcoming presidential elections of 12 December 2019. The deadline for the submission of candidacies expired Saturday 26 October 2019 at midnight. Twenty-two will then be running for the seat currently occupied by Abdelkader Bensalah, after the forced resignation of Abdelaziz Bouteflika in April 2019. A total of 147 candidates had withdrawn signing forms for the collection of signatures necessary for any application. The Algerian squares still refuse to have these elections organized by the politicians who participated in Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s regime. The protesters proclaimed it again, on Friday 25 October 2019, during the weekly demonstrations taking place from 22 February 2019. On Sunday 27 October 2019, the Algerian judges and prosecutors started an indefinite strike to demand the independence of the judiciary and in particular the cancellation of the assignment of 3,000 of them by the Ministry of Justice. They believe that political power has “invaded the prerogatives of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary” and denounce “the hand of the executive power over the judiciary”. According to the National Union of Magistrates (SNM), the follow-up rate of this movement would reach 96%. Previously the lawyers had also demonstrated for the independence of justice. Two of Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s former ministers are among the candidates: Ali Benflis (75 years), a former prime minister expelled in 2003 and who has already been twice a candidate for this post (and everytime second behind Abdelaziz Bouteflika re-elected with 80% of the votes) and Abdelmadjid Tebbone (73), prime minister who resigned three months after being appointed in 2017. Other personalities presented their candidacy, Azzedine Mihoubi of the National Democratic Rally, a formation that participates in the coalition that supported the former president during his mandate, Abdelkader Bengrina (El-Bina, Islamist party), Abdelaziz Belaid, former leader of the National Liberation Front (FLN) and founder of the Front El-Moustakbel party, close to Abdelaziz Bouteflika. The ANIE must now validate the applications. The previous elections, scheduled for 4 July 2019, were finally canceled due to the lack of successful candidates. This list must pass into the hands of the Constitutional Council for a final validation within seven days.
(ITALPRESS).

L’articolo ALGERIA, 22 CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENTIALS ON 12 DECEMBER proviene da Italpress.

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The president of the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks and the Environment, Stefano Besseghini, met Karem Mahmoud, president of the Egyptian gas regulation authority, GASREG, in Milan. The meeting was made possible thanks to the joint membership of MEDREG, the Association of Energy Authorities in the Mediterranean, of which ARERA is the founder and Permanent Vice President.
GASREG was established in 2017 and has among its various objectives those of monitoring the functioning of the Egyptian gas market, encouraging new investments, regulating activities, promoting competition among operators, allowing access to third parties on a fair and non discriminatory condition. Among the actions planned for the start-up of the Egyptian free market, also downstream of the recent gas discoveries, GASREG intends to collaborate with ARERA to promote the separation of the supply chain to today vertically integrated and the transparent access of third parties to the infrastructures.
Next meeting is the first MEDREG “Presidents meeting” scheduled for December 10 in Rome.
(ITALPRESS/MNA).

L’articolo GAS, ARERA MEETS EGYPTIAN AUTHORITY proviene da Italpress.

Source: medNews