TRIPOLI (LIBYA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – At least eleven migrants have died after a boat capsized off the Harawa coast, east of the Libyan city of Sirte, in yet another tragic incident along one of the world’s most perilous migrant routes. The accident occurred on April 12, according to a report from the Pakistani Embassy in Tripoli submitted to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Among the dead are four Pakistani nationals, whose identities were confirmed by embassy officials who traveled to Sirte to gather information.

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS/MNA)

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta will not pursue reform of the European Convention on Human Rights during its upcoming six-month presidency of the Council of Europe.

Foreign Affairs Minister Ian Borg confirmed this position, emphasizing that the Maltese government will remain focused on its earlier-outlined priorities. Borg’s comments came during a press event unveiling the official logo of Malta’s presidency, which begins on 14 May.

“I spoke with the prime minister and this is the programme Malta will be pursuing,” Borg stated, reiterating that the priorities, initially set out in February, remain unchanged. These include the protection of children, amplifying youth voices, fighting violence and discrimination—particularly against women—tackling human trafficking and hate speech, and promoting the inclusion of LGBTIQ+ individuals.

-Photo Department of Information Malta-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Ian Borg, reaffirmed the country’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people during a high-level meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Mustafa in Luxembourg.

The meeting took place on the margins of the EU’s inaugural High-Level Dialogue with the Palestinian Authority, where Borg emphasized Malta’s commitment to humanitarian support and a just peace in the region.

“Malta condemns the resumption of attacks on Gaza and calls for Israel to exercise restraint,” Borg stated, urging all parties to uphold the current ceasefire. He also called on Hamas to honour commitments regarding the release of hostages, stressing the critical need to protect civilians and humanitarian workers while ensuring the continuous delivery of aid.

Discussions between Borg and Mustafa focused on recent developments in Gaza and the West Bank, Malta’s ongoing humanitarian assistance, and efforts toward achieving lasting peace through the Two-State Solution.

-Photo Ministero Malta-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

(MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has once again voiced her concerns over Malta’s gender corrective mechanism, arguing that the system, introduced to boost female representation in politics, has failed to achieve its intended purpose and may now be doing more harm than good.

The mechanism, launched in 2021, was designed to address the persistent underrepresentation of women in Maltese politics by supplementing the number of elected female MPs if a gender imbalance is detected. However, in the 2022 general election, only four women were directly elected to Parliament—raising questions about the system’s effectiveness.

Speaking candidly, Metsola described the mechanism as having evolved from a tool of empowerment into a “smokescreen” that distorts democratic representation. “Rather than creating a fairer system, it manipulates statistics and places female candidates at a disadvantage,” she said.

The mechanism has faced criticism from several women in politics, who have called it “insulting” and argued it does not address the structural barriers preventing women from entering politics in the first place.

Metsola called for a broader and more mature conversation about the root causes of gender disparity and democratic dysfunction in Malta. She highlighted that Malta remains the only EU Member State without a full-time Parliament, a factor she believes contributes significantly to the country’s political stagnation.

“If we want to make a real difference,” Metsola said, “it’s time for a mature discussion on why Malta is still the only EU Member State without a full-time parliament; on allowing our MPs to have access to researchers; on fixing political party financing models in a way that stops parties competing with charities to raise funds.”

Beyond structural reforms, Metsola also emphasised the need to overhaul Malta’s political culture. She urged a shift away from tribalism, point-scoring, and hyper-partisanship, which she believes have long plagued the country’s political discourse.

“Changing the tone of politics is just as important as changing the systems,” she added. “Malta deserves a political environment where ideas matter more than allegiances, and where reform is driven by a genuine commitment to progress.”

Metsola’s remarks have reignited debate about how best to achieve gender equality and democratic maturity in Malta, with many now calling for a re-evaluation of the corrective mechanism and a serious look at broader institutional reform.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta’s trade deficit has narrowed slightly in the first two months of 2025, according to newly released figures from the National Statistics Office (NSO), but mounting pressures from U.S. trade policy are casting long shadows over the island nation’s economic outlook.

Provisional data shows that Malta’s trade deficit stood at €486 million between January and February 2025, down from €502 million during the same period last year. This modest improvement came amid a sharp slowdown in both imports and exports, which fell by 10% and 14% respectively.

The figures reveal a stark transformation in Malta’s trading landscape, with the U.S.–Malta trade corridor bearing the brunt of global economic tensions. Exports to the United States collapsed to just €11.9 million in February 2025, down from €138.5 million a year earlier — a staggering 91% plunge. The dramatic fall has reversed what was once a substantial surplus into a €15.7 million trade deficit.

The reversal is widely attributed to U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly imposed 20% blanket tariff on imports from the European Union, which includes Malta. The move, part of a sweeping protectionist policy also targeting China with tariffs of up to 104%, has stoked fears of a full-blown global trade war.

Given that the EU remains Malta’s primary trading partner — accounting for 55% of imports and 34.2% of exports — the implications of these tariffs are significant. Key export sectors are already showing strain, with pharmaceutical exports down 11% and electrical machinery slipping 2%.

Despite the broader headwinds, the data points to some surprising new growth markets. Exports to Turkey skyrocketed to €26.7 million in February 2025, up from just €1.8 million the previous year — a nearly 1,400% increase. Similarly, exports to the Philippines jumped from €0.3 million to €8.6 million.

Germany emerged as Malta’s only major trade partner with a positive trade balance in early 2025, generating a €50 million surplus largely driven by robust exports of pharmaceuticals and machinery. Meanwhile, Malta’s trade deficit with Italy was halved, falling to €62 million as imports from the country dropped significantly from €159 million to €72 million.

In terms of sectors, mineral fuels remained Malta’s largest import category at €345 million over the two-month period, though February’s figure marked a 33% decline year-on-year. Pharmaceuticals showed some resilience, with imports rising 4%, but exports in the same category slumped 11%.

One of the most striking sectoral shifts came in the precious metals and stones category, where exports soared over 5,000% to €25.3 million — suggesting a potential pivot towards high-value, low-volume goods that are less vulnerable to tariff pressures. Similarly, imports of organic chemicals surged by 527%, reaching €25.1 million in February.

However, not all sectors fared well. Machinery and transport equipment exports were particularly hard hit, plunging by €161.3 million in the first two months of the year. Exports of vehicle parts alone dropped 24% to €22.7 million, mirroring wider global supply chain realignments.

For February alone, Malta registered a trade deficit of €183.5 million, down from €198.3 million a year earlier. Imports stood at €534.6 million, while exports totalled €351.1 million — both representing substantial year-on-year declines.

As global trade dynamics continue to shift rapidly, Maltese policymakers face growing pressure to diversify export markets and cushion the economy against external shocks — particularly as tensions with major partners like the U.S. show no signs of easing.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

TRIPOLI (LIBYA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A group of 37 migrants is in urgent need of rescue south of Sicily, after spending several days adrift at sea. According to an alert issued by the organization Alarm Phone, the group departed from Libya and is currently stranded in a boat taking on water. Alarm Phone, which assists people in distress in the Mediterranean, reported that they had contacted authorities regarding the situation.

The organization emphasized the dire condition of the vessel and the immediate danger faced by those onboard. “These people have already been at sea for several days – Alarm Phone stated on X -. Water is entering the boat. Rescue is needed—immediately”.

Meanwhile, in a dramatic rescue operation amid high waves, Sea-Watch International’s vessel Aurora has safely brought approximately 80 people on board after receiving an urgent alert from Alarm Phone about a boat in distress in the Mediterranean. Responding immediately, the crew of Aurora launched a rescue mission despite challenging weather conditions. Thanks to their swift action, all individuals were brought safely aboard.

The Aurora disembarked all the migrants rescued on the island of Lampedusa last night. The 80 people are all alive and receiving assistance on land.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Credit rating agency Morningstar DBRS has reaffirmed Maltàs long-term foreign and local currency issuer ratings at A (high) with a stable outlook, underlining the country’s robust economic growth and resilient external position. The agency also confirmed Maltàs short-term foreign and local currency ratings at R-1 (middle) in its latest report published Friday.
Despite headwinds from global economic uncertainty, DBRS credited Maltàs diversified, services-driven economy for outperforming the Eurozone, while also pointing to mounting pressures from fiscal deficits, population growth, and governance issues.
Maltàs economy expanded by 6% in 2024, a sharp contrast to the 0.9% average growth across the Eurozone. The performance was fueled by strong tourism, professional services, and financial sector exports. While growth is projected to slow to 4% in 2025 and 3.6% in 2026, DBRS expects Malta to continue outpacing its European peers.
“Despite global uncertainties, Maltàs service-driven economy is less vulnerable to trade shocks like higher US tariffs,” DBRS noted. However, it cautioned that the country’s labour-intensive growth model and rising population density could put pressure on infrastructure.
The agency observed that Maltàs fiscal deficit narrowed to 3.7% of GDP in 2024, down from 4.6% in 2023, driven by strong revenues. Nonetheless, DBRS warned of ongoing fiscal pressures, including energy subsidies and new spending commitments like the teachers’ wage agreement.
The Central Bank of Malta projects the deficit to fall below the EU’s 3% threshold by 2026, but DBRS highlighted that new household support measures-such as income tax cuts costing an estimated 0.5% of GDP – could slow fiscal consolidation.
In addition, continued reliance on energy subsidies and uncertainties surrounding revenue from the citizenship-by-investment scheme and corporate tax reforms were flagged as risks to fiscal stability.
Maltàs public debt is expected to rise gradually from 48.9% of GDP in 2024 to 50.1% by 2026, still below the Euro area average. The country’s interest burden remains relatively low, providing the government with fiscal flexibility if economic conditions deteriorate.
“While debt is higher than before the COVID-19 shock in 2019, the current level gives the government valuable space to support the economy if under stress,” DBRS said.
DBRS praised Maltàs banking sector for its strong capital position and low levels of bad loans. Core domestic banks had a Tier 1 capital ratio of 21% and a non-performing loan (NPL) ratio of 2.1%. However, the sector’s high exposure to residential mortgages-accounting for 66% of total private sector loans – was noted as a vulnerability.
Governance remains a “mixed picture,” according to the report. While DBRS acknowledged Maltàs removal from the FATF grey list and ongoing judicial reforms, it also pointed out declining indicators for government effectiveness and control of corruption.
The agency called for “more tangible evidence of enhanced efficiency and effectiveness” in Maltàs institutions, particularly in the judiciary and anti-corruption efforts.
DBRS indicated that a credit rating upgrade could occur if Malta demonstrates significant improvement in debt reduction or increased economic resilience. Conversely, a downgrade could result from a reversal in governance reforms or a deterioration in public finances.
Social and governance factors-especially human capital and institutional transparency – played a significant role in the credit rating assessment, the agency emphasized.

– Foto IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A team from Maltàs Civil Protection Department has successfully concluded a five-day mission in Al-Asabaa, Libya, where a series of fires of unknown origin have destroyed dozens of homes, forcing many families to flee their homes. The operation, carried out under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, aimed to provide direct support on the ground, preliminary assessments and coordination with local authorities to address the growing crisis. The joint mission carried out damage assessments in the affected areas and presented initial findings to the Libyan authorities to help with ongoing investigations. The cause of the fires remains unclear, although officials have ruled out the presence of toxic gases or dangerous chemical or biological substances.

The Minister of the Interior, Byron Camilleri, praised the work carried out by the Maltese team, saying that the mission is an example of Maltàs ongoing commitment to international solidarity and emergency response. Local Libyan authorities are continuing to work to determine the cause of the fires, which occurred in several areas of the Al-Asabaa municipality. Mayor Emad Al-Maqtouf chaired a meeting during which geographical maps of the fire sites, initial data analysis and details of the procedures used to collect and assess environmental samples were presented.

The Al-Asabaa municipality, in coordination with national and international bodies, has formed a scientific team to lead the investigation. As the investigations continue, the Maltese government has reiterated its commitment to supporting further missions and to strengthening the island’s role as a reliable partner in regional and international humanitarian efforts.

-Photo: Maltàs Ministry of the Interior-

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Tunisian Defense Minister Khaled Shili met with NATO’s Special Representative for the Southern Neighborhood and Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, Javier Colomina, to explore ways to deepen collaboration between the two sides.

Shili emphasized the importance of broadening the scope of cooperation and implementing effective mechanisms to ensure the development and follow-up of existing agreements. He particularly highlighted the need to strengthen ties in the areas of military training and the exchange of expertise.

During the meeting, Colomina reaffirmed NATO’s commitment to bolstering its partnership with Tunisia. He expressed the Alliance’s readiness to advance military cooperation toward what he described as a “model strategic partnership,” capable of addressing regional and global security challenges. The discussions are part of ongoing efforts under the Mediterranean Dialogue, a NATO initiative launched in 1994 to promote regional security and cooperation between the Alliance and seven Mediterranean countries, including Tunisia.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Maltese health authorities and experts are raising the alarm following the detection of a new semi-synthetic cannabinoid, CC9—also known as HHC-C9—in herbal material and edible cannabis products circulating in Malta and other parts of Europe. With no scientific literature yet available on CC9, concerns are mounting about its safety and the potential risks to public health. The Forensic Analysis Lab at the University of Malta (UoM) reported that CC9’s profile is largely unknown, but its structure and effects appear similar to CC8 (HHC-C8), a related compound.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews