TUNISI (TUNISIA) (ITALPRESS) – Tunisian President Kais Saied on Tuesday strongly rebuked international condemnation of a controversial mass trial involving dozens of opposition figures, denouncing what he called “blatant interference” in the country’s internal affairs.

“The comments and statements by foreign parties are unacceptable”, Saied said in a statement posted on the presidency’s official Facebook page. “They constitute blatant interference in Tunisia’s internal affairs”.

The remarks follow sharp criticism from the United Nations, France, Germany, and other international actors after a Tunisian court earlier this month sentenced around 40 defendants—many of them prominent opposition leaders, lawyers, and businesspeople—to lengthy prison terms ranging from 13 to 66 years. Charges included “conspiracy against state security” and “belonging to a terrorist group”.

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A new report on media freedom across the European Union has placed Malta under the spotlight, highlighting serious concerns over political interference, lack of transparency, and government hostility toward journalists.

The findings come from the 2025 Media Freedom Report released by the Civil Liberties Union for Europe (Liberties), which warns that media freedom is crumbling across the EU—eroding one of the bloc’s essential defenses against authoritarianism. The annual report, compiled in collaboration with 43 human rights organisations from 21 EU member states—including Malta’s Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation—paints a troubling picture of the media landscape across Europe.

In Malta, the situation is marked by stagnation and regression, with media pluralism and independence increasingly under threat. While the report does not rank countries, existing data provides context: Malta ranked 73rd globally and second-worst among EU countries in Reporters Without Borders’ 2024 Press Freedom Index.

The report criticises the direct ownership of major media outlets by Malta’s political parties, which remain exempt from impartiality regulations enforced by the Broadcasting Authority. This, combined with a lack of ownership transparency, distorts the media landscape and undermines public trust. Government advertising practices have also come under fire.

The report reveals that state advertising is disproportionately allocated to media houses that portray the government in a favourable light—including those owned by the ruling Labour Party. Furthermore, Malta’s public broadcaster is described as biased, with its editorial line shaped by government influence.

Despite the approaching August deadline for EU member states to implement the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), Malta has made little progress. The EMFA aims to prevent political interference, ensure editorial independence, and introduce transparency requirements—areas in which Malta is currently falling short.

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(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has delivered a decisive blow to Malta’s controversial passport sale scheme, ruling that the programme violates EU law and undermines the principles of European citizenship. The judgment comes in response to legal action brought by the European Commission against the scheme, which was introduced by Malta’s Labour Government.

The ECJ concluded that the practice of granting Maltese — and by extension, EU — nationality in exchange for pre-determined financial contributions amounts to a “mere commercial transaction” that is incompatible with European legal standards. In its decision, the Court emphasized that Member States cannot unilaterally commodify EU citizenship, stating that such practices “undermine the mutual trust between EU Member States” and breach the principle of sincere cooperation enshrined in EU treaties.

“This ruling confirms that citizenship cannot be bought”, said a spokesperson for the European Commission. “It upholds the integrity of European values and the legal framework that binds all Member States”. The ECJ’s decision is final and binding on Malta, requiring the immediate cessation of the scheme and potentially opening the door for legal challenges from individuals who acquired citizenship through the program.

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(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

TRIPOLI (LIBYA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A new report from the Mixed Migration Center, affiliated with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), reveals a 25% decrease in the number of migrants departing from Libya to Europe during the first quarter of 2025.

Despite the drop in departures, Libya continues to see a sharp rise in the number of irregular migrants and refugees residing within its borders. According to the data, approximately 9,168 migrants arrived in Italy between January and March of this year, with 93%—around 8,500 people—departing from Libyan shores. At the same time, the number of refugees and asylum seekers inside Libya is growing steadily.

Since the start of 2025, 88,283 refugees have been registered in the country, representing a 12% increase over the last quarter of 2024. Much of this growth is driven by ongoing conflict in Sudan, which has displaced hundreds of thousands. Since the Sudanese civil war began in April 2023, around 256,000 Sudanese refugees have fled to Libya.

Sudan now tops the list of countries of origin for refugees in Libya, accounting for 29% of the total. Migrants from Niger (23%), Egypt (20%), Chad (10%), and Nigeria (4%) follow. Data from IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix shows that the total number of migrants in Libya reached approximately 824,131 by December 2024—a 17% increase from the year prior. Most migrants are concentrated in western Libya (53%), followed by the east (34%) and the south (13%).

The report also highlights a resurgence of irregular migration from eastern Libya toward Greece during the first quarter of 2025, suggesting that smugglers and migrants may be adapting to tighter surveillance and enforcement in central Mediterranean routes.

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Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The jury reconvenes today in the high-profile trial over the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. In the previous hearing, jurors viewed a series of harrowing photographs and video footage depicting the gruesome aftermath of the 2017 car bomb that killed Caruana Galizia—images shown for the very first time since the assassination that left some covering their eyes, others in visible distress, and family members in tears.

Before the photos were projected for the very first time since the assassination, Madam Justice Edwina Grima warned jurors of the content and gave them permission to look away or choose to view the material privately during deliberations. She also offered the same choice to the victim’s family members. Some of Caruana Galizia’s relatives left the courtroom ahead of the presentation, while two of her sisters who stayed broke down in tears. Only one remained during the footage from the post-mortem examination.

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(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – At least seven Russian nationals who were sanctioned following the invasion of Ukraine acquired Maltese citizenship through the country’s controversial investor citizenship scheme, according to an investigation by the Financial Times.

The report reveals that sanctioned individuals managed to partly bypass European Union travel restrictions by holding a Maltese passport—effectively granting them EU citizenship—under the so-called “golden passport” programme. Malta remains the only EU country still offering citizenship in exchange for investment. Among those named is Russian billionaire Albert Avdolyan, a coal and gas magnate, who secured his Maltese citizenship in 2015. Avdolyan is among a group of at least seven Russian nationals who were later sanctioned by the United States, European Union, or Ukraine in connection with the war.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS) – Former Floriana FC head coach, Italian national Gianluca Atzori has been awarded compensation of over €90,000 by FIFA following a lengthy contractual dispute with the Maltese Premier League club.

The FIFA Players’ Status Chamber, and later the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), sided with the Italian coach in a decision that concluded a two-year battle over unpaid wages and contract breaches. Floriana FC must now pay Atzori a total of €87,765 plus interest, after the governing bodies ruled that he had been forced out of his role due to financial and professional mismanagement by the club.

Atzori, a former Sampdoria and Reggina manager, took charge of Floriana in 2021. In his first season, he guided the Maltese club to a second-place finish in the Premier League and clinched the FA Trophy. However, the club struggled the following year, finishing seventh and failing to qualify for European competition.

Despite the club initially announcing in May 2023 that Atzori had voluntarily stepped down with a year remaining on his contract, the Italian coach later revealed in an interview with The Times of Malta that he had been forced to resign due to unpaid salaries and a breakdown in working conditions. Atzori claimed he had not been paid for three months and that additional bonuses, including those related to European qualification, had also gone unpaid. “When I was left with no other option but to step down, my only request was to receive unpaid wages covering my work at the club,” Atzori told The Times of Malta.

These verdicts simply confirm the right and fair way of doing things.” FIFA initially ruled on December 14, 2023, that Floriana FC owed Atzori €25,765 in outstanding wages plus interest, along with €62,000 in compensation for breach of contract. Floriana appealed the ruling to CAS, but their challenge was dismissed on February 28, 2025. Following the club’s continued non-compliance, FIFA imposed sanctions in March 2025, issuing an international transfer ban on Floriana.

The ban, which prevents the club from registering new players internationally, will remain in place for up to three registration periods or until the full amount is paid. FIFA has also requested the Malta FA to enforce a similar ban on a national level. Floriana FC has not issued a statement in response to the ruling. Despite the bitter legal dispute, Atzori chose to reflect on his time in Malta with positivity.

“Floriana FC represents a positive experience in my career of which I have fond memories” he said. “I believe we had started an ambitious football project which could have gone very far. But it was not meant to be. That is football, that is life”. He also thanked the club’s supporters for their ongoing encouragement, urging them to continue supporting the team “in their unique passionate way”.

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(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – As tens of thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square yesterday for the funeral of Pope Francis, Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta called on Catholics around the world to begin praying for the next Pope and to pledge obedience to him, saying that only through faith can the Church’s mission continue.

“Jesus tells us: ‘Choose who you want,’ but the flock is mine. I paid for it with my blood,” Scicluna said after the ceremony. “We must remember that Jesus Christ remains the true head of the Church.” Scicluna spoke of the emotional atmosphere, calling the moment “deeply moving” and consistent with the late Pope’s personal wishes, who had called for sober and intimate celebrations.

“Even before the world leaders arrived, the square was shrouded in silence. This is Francis’ legacy: reflection, not spectacle.” As the Church mourns an era-defining pontiff and prepares for a new phase, Scicluna added: “All we can do is pray. Francis always asked us to pray for him and now he is praying for us. May we find peace, protect our planet and walk together as one people.”

Attention now turns to the future, with the imminent papal conclave on the horizon. The process to choose St. Peter’s successor is set to begin between May 6 and 12, depending on the completion of preparations. Of the 252 members of the College of Cardinals, only 133 are electors, having not yet turned 80 and being present in Rome.

To be elected Pope, a qualified majority of two-thirds is required, at least 89 votes. One of the names that is being quietly circulated in Vatican circles is that of Cardinal Mario Grech, former bishop of Gozo, known for his theological depth and leadership in the synodal process, qualities that have attracted the attention of many.

In 2005, he was appointed Bishop of Gozo, a post he held until 2019, when Pope Francis chose him as Pro-Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, a position he assumed fully in September 2020. This role has given him a particular advantage: in the course of his work, many cardinals have had the opportunity to interact with his office. Francis has attached great importance to the Synod in his project of reforming the Church towards greater inclusiveness and participation.

Initially considered a traditionalist for his stance against divorce, in vitro fertilization and the morning-after pill in Maltese debates, Grech later called on the Church to welcome gay and divorced couples. More recently he has also advocated for greater participation of women in church life.

His more progressive positions have not been free from criticism: In 2022, Cardinal Gerhard Müller, who at 77 will be among the electors, accused Grech of leading a process aimed at “undermining the Catholic faith and the Church” through the Synod, which he called an internal “coup d’état.”

Observers are divided on Grech’s chances of becoming pope: for some he is among the top five papabili, for others he remains on the fringes of predictions. In recent times, conclaves have been held quickly: Pope Francis was elected in 2013 after just five ballots in less than two days. However, if a consensus is not reached after three days, a pause for reflection is foreseen, after which voting resumes.

– Photo Archdiocese of Malta –

(ITALPRESS/MNA)

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta was among 170 countries represented at the state funeral of Pope Francis, held at St Peter’s Square in the Vatican on Saturday.

A sizeable Maltese delegation — including President Myriam Spiteri Debono, Prime Minister Robert Abela, Opposition Leader Bernard Grech, and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola — joined an estimated 400,000 mourners and world leaders to honour the late pontiff.

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, passed away on Monday at the age of 88 after leading the Catholic Church for 12 transformative years. Known as “the People’s Pope,” he was celebrated for his efforts to make the Church more compassionate, inclusive, and globally engaged.

Reflecting on the solemn occasion, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola described Pope Francis as “more than a spiritual shepherd” and “a global voice for compassion, for humanity, for peace, and for those too often forgotten.”

In an interview with Times of Malta, Metsola recounted her last private audience with the pontiff, where they discussed global peace, the role of women in politics, and his fond memories of visiting Malta — especially his crossing to Gozo.

“He used to look at young people and tell them to trust, and be tolerant to one another,” she said. “Even if it is difficult, even if it is sometimes unpopular, I would rather stand for that than for populist quick wins.”

Prime Minister Robert Abela spoke of the powerful emotion that filled St Peter’s Square, describing the homily as especially moving. The message that “we need to build bridges, not walls” drew spontaneous applause from the crowd.

“We need to strengthen peace because war destroys our humanity,” Abela said, adding that the late Pope’s message is especially relevant in today’s sensitive global climate. “His legacy will live on, particularly for those in positions like mine who are entrusted with running a country”.

Opposition Leader Bernard Grech echoed this sentiment, calling the funeral a historic and emotional moment. “It created an opportunity for world leaders to come together,” he said. Grech praised Pope Francis’s courage in addressing political issues and his commitment to the marginalised.

“He was a Catholic pope, but he was also an international figure who influenced politics around the globe,” he said. Malta’s Ambassador to the Vatican, Frank Zammit, also described the funeral as a moment of profound global unity.

“The world met in St Peter’s and thanked the Pope who did so much for the most vulnerable in society,” he said. Zammit highlighted Pope Francis’s humanitarian efforts, including the establishment of a soup kitchen and a clinic for undocumented individuals. He noted Malta’s direct contributions to these efforts, from donating medical equipment to sending Maltese medical students to volunteer at the clinic this summer. “By doing this they will begin to sow the seed of mercy within them,” Zammit said. As the world bid farewell to Pope Francis, Maltese leaders stood united in recognising a pontiff who redefined papal leadership and left an indelible mark on both the Church and global society.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – The funeral of Pope Francis, “the people’s Pope,” was held today in Rome, drawing hundreds of thousands of people to the streets to honour a legacy of compassion and global unity.

Kamel Ghribi, President of GKSD, joined numerous world leaders and prominent figures—including American, European, and African heads of state—to reflect on the essential efforts toward peace and the Pope’s profound moral and practical contributions.

Ghribi, who had the pleasure of personally knowing the Pope, being honoured by his friendship, and sharing thoughts on human fraternity, praised the visionary signing of the Abu Dhabi Declaration in 2019—a bold step toward interreligious dialogue. “He was a man of peace who turned faith into a bridge, not a barrier. His call for unity still echoes even after his passing, as adversaries stand side by side, united in grief and reverence,” Ghribi remarked.

During the funeral ceremony, the President of GKSD exchanged views with several world leaders, including the Prime Minister of Kenya, the President of Congo, the Prime Minister of Qatar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tunisia, the President of Bangladesh, the President of Kosovo, the President of Lebanon, the Prime Minister of Greece, and high-ranking UN dignitaries such as Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.

“I hope that peace in Ukraine, following the meeting at the Vatican between Trump and Zelensky, will be Pope Francis’s first miracle from above,” said Kamel Ghribi after the funeral ceremony.

-Photo GKSD-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews