LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (MNA/ITALPRESS) – The Minister of Interior of the Government of National Unity, Emad Al-Trabelsi, confirmed on Sunday that Libya would not be a country for settling immigrants, announcing the organization of a trip yesterday for 139 refugees from several countries to be resettled in Italy.
Al-Trabelsi said during a press conference that the government provided all facilities in this matter and it had another aspect with UNICEF regarding refugee children, pointing out that the government granted the right to exempt Sudanese, Palestinians and Syrians because their countries are going through wars and they had been exempted from fees for education, residence among other services.
Al-Trabelsi confirmed that Libya “hosts more than three million illegal immigrants, and that it is the most affected country by the flow of immigration, noting that the increase in the number of immigrants has negatively affected Libyans in the food and health sectors.”
He pointed out the difficulty for Interior Ministry to cover alone the costs of deporting immigrants, calling on the European Union to contribute to the process, highlighting in this context the contributions of Germany, Italy, Spain and some organizations, but he added: “We need more support to enable immigrants to voluntarily return to their countries.”
He called for holding an international conference after Ramadan to obtain support in the file of voluntary return of immigrants, and said: “We are in a dangerous phase and we have fought immigration gangs, but they are cross-border in Europe, and Africa is actively working in human trafficking.” He warned that Libya may resort to forced deportation of immigrants if the international community fails to support them in their voluntary return.

– Foto: Ipa Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A study conducted by Yale University has found that Malta has slipped in its ranking on drinking water quality and other environmental issues. The Environmental Performance Index ranks 180 countries based on their progress in mitigating climate change, improving environmental health and protecting the vitality of ecosystems.
The index ranks Malta 19th globally for drinking water quality, up from two years ago when it was in the top 10. Malta also lags behind in water resources, solid waste and heavy metal pollution. In particular, Malta ranked last among Western countries with the highest average score in overall wastewater management.
Last among 22 Western countries in the heavy metals category and for solid waste. Its ranking also does not improve in air pollution. Among the only positive notes, the improvement for the category related to biodiversity and habitats, fisheries issues, climate change mitigation, ecosystem vitality and environmental health.
(ITALPRESS).
-Photo: Malta Tourism Office.

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (MNA/ITALPRESS) – A Tunisian court sentenced 41 people, including opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi and former Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi, as well as journalists and bloggers, prompting criticism from the opposition movement Ennahda and the National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists as “unjust” and “harsh”. The people including journalists, bloggers, businessmen, and politicians were handed a prison sentence for terms ranging from five to 54 years. Ghannouchi, the Ennahda movement’s leader, has also been sentenced to 22 years in prison. Ennahda condemned the verdict, calling it an “unjust political trial and part of a broader effort to take revenge and attack the most basic rights and freedoms.” The movement also said the trial was “a blatant assault on judicial independence and neutrality, as well as a flagrant politicization of its ruling”. The case began in October 2021, when authorities arrested employees of Instalingo and investigated journalists, bloggers, businessmen, and politicians on charges of “offending President Kais Saied,” “conspiring against state security,” and “espionage.” Ennahda had denied the charges, saying Instalingo was “a media content company that provided various services, including work on election campaigns in 2019-but not for Ennahdàs candidate”. The journalist’s association, for its part, expressed “shock” at the “harsh” ruling against journalist Chaza Haj Mubarak, emphasizing that she was “merely performing journalistic work.” The National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists recalled that a 2023 investigation had cleared her of wrongdoing and announced plans to appeal the verdict. According to Tunisiàs state news agency, the court sentenced Instalingo founder Salem Keheili to 54 years in prison, as well as former Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi and Ghannouchìs son Moaz to 35 years each. Instalingòs Director Haitham Keheili received a 28-year jail term, while Ghannouchìs daughter, Soumaya, who is a journalist, received 25 years.
Some defendants also faced substantial fines, asset seizures, and up to 10-year election bans. Several people were sentenced in absentia, including Haitham Keheili and the children of Ghannouchi, who are still at large. (ITALPRESS).

Foto: Ipa Agency

Source: medNews

VATICAN CITY (ITALPRESS) – “Acknowledging the fact that, despite all the difficulties of the past, today young people, who represent 30% of the Albanian population, are well integrated and successful in Italian universities is a source of great satisfaction for us”. This was stated by Albanian Foreign Minister Igli Hasani, who participated today, alongside with the Minister of Education Ogerta Manastirliu, the Ambassador to the Holy See Majlinda Frangaj and about one hundred students and academics from the Balkan country, in the General Audience of Pope Francis.
“This day – adds the executive representative interviewed by Gazzetta Diplomatica – represented a very important opportunity for Albanian youth to meet in a moment of peace and reflection. I decided to accompany our university students to His Holiness to underline how much our government gives importance to young people, who obviously constitute the future of Albania. We are proud to have been able to meet the Holy Father, on a day dedicated to brotherhood, which offered interesting insights on the importance of human values and the joint commitment to promoting peace, justice and interreligious dialogue. Symbolically, and otherwise, these moments are very important”.
In the Vatican, ministers Hasani and Manastirliu also met with the Secretary for State Relations and International Organizations, Paul Richard Gallagher.
“On this occasion – explains Hasani – we shared the common appreciation for the excellent diplomatic relations that exist between Albania and the Holy See, which we absolutely want to continue to cultivate”.

– Photo Gazzetta Diplomatica –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VATICAN CITY (ITALPRESS) – An appeal “to countries that have great wealth” to reduce military spending and invest more in healthcare, promoting greater equality and justice. This was the request of Kamel Ghribi, president of GKSD Investment Holding Group and the IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, who spoke in the Vatican at the International Summit on Children’s Rights. The summit was chaired by Pope Francis in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace.
“Enough with the commercials, we need concrete actions to help children in the world, as the Holy Father asked,” he added.
“Children are the beauty of life, as God said. However, we often talk, listen and promise, but what are promises if we don’t put them into practice to do something concrete?”, underlined Ghribi, who is also president of the European Corporate Council on Africa and the Middle East (Ecam).
“I had the privilege and honor of being invited and I thought I could not waste this opportunity with empty words,” he added. “It does not matter if you are Christian, Jewish or Muslim. It is humanity that counts, we are all born on this earth to be treated equally. I read, I study the numbers that have less ambiguity than words and I ask myself: where is the equality? And can there be justice without equality? Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the world and 80% of deaths from these diseases occur in developing countries. In Africa in particular, the situation is the most dramatic. There, only 20% of the population has access to basic care and only 5% to cardiac surgery. Furthermore, neonatal mortality from heart disease is 50%, with 330 thousand cases per year. This is why I appeal to countries that have great wealth,” concluded Ghribi, “if they reduced military spending and invested in healthcare, the entire world population would certainly be better off. And perhaps, with greater equality and justice, there would be fewer wars and weapons would be useless”.

– Photo Gksd Investment Holding Group –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – The new way of conceiving relations with the African continent, with Italy’s increasingly central role, is the theme at the centre of a conference discussing “Africa, the womb of the world: Italy at the helm of relations with the EU’, organized by the Foreign and International Cooperation Departments of Forza Italia and by the Italian delegation of the EPP to the European Parliament. The conference is taking place in the Hall of Flags of the European Parliament in Italy, with the participation, among others, of the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani.

“We need a vision and action to be taken on the African continent. We must also make our fellow citizens understand how important it is for Italy to play a role as a bridge between Africa and the EU. Africa is a priority issue and we must not abandon that continent,” stated Minister Tajani, adding, “Even in Africa there is a problem of internal immigration because there are some African countries that do not want to lose their good human resources that flee to Europe”. Tajani remarked that this is a problem not only of public order but also of politics. “This is why we need a vision and a strategy and this government has it. We are moving forward on the Mattei Plan, we are working, and part of our presence in Africa is aimed at promoting the growth of the African continent.” Tajani confirmed that he will be visiting Egypt in the coming days. “I will be in Egypt in the middle of the month, the 17th. We are planning a series of visits to Africa. We also talked about it today in the Vatican during a big event on children’s rights”, he concluded.

“What should we do with the Mattei Plan? First, defend the stability of the States. We need to give something in return if we want the common management of migration. The European mistake and the Italian mistake often did not want to give anything in exchange other than money. That’s not what they’re looking for. Then comes the industrialization of Africa, to transform raw materials locally. Therefore we need to create medium infrastructures, beyond the large corridors”, explained Mario Giro, Head of International Relations for the Community of Sant’Egidio, and former Vice-Minister at the MAECI.

For Emanuela Del Re, former deputy minister for foreign affairs, “It is a very positive sign that a member country of the European Union becomes the leader of a project like the Mattei Plan, in a historical moment in which we need courage and to have leadership. Italy, in the European context, is taking the attitude that I consider most appropriate at this moment.” “The European Union,” he continued, “must move on values, but also think on interests. This is a balance that I must say Italy is currently implementing”.

“The African continent and the European continent share a long history of cultural and commercial interaction,” said Senator Tony Iwobi, “but today, more than ever, it is necessary to develop innovative strategies that enhance sustainability, inclusion, and cooperation. Cultural tourism can build bridges between our communities, enhancing the artistic, historical and gastronomic heritage: we must facilitate connections and accessibility, invest in infrastructure and transport between Africa and Italy, promote cooperation agreements, essential to increase tourist flows bilateral”.

“Africa represents 3% of world trade, while the European Union represents 15.3%. The European Union represents 17% of the world’s GDP, while Africa, with 18% of the world’s population, represents 5.3%. Despite these dysfunctions, Africa and the European Union are facing common challenges that require a united and coordinated response, first and foremost the management of migratory flows,” said Youssef Balla, Moroccòs ambassador to Italy. “The European Union, through Italy, is essential to face the challenges of building a more prosperous future. It depends on our ability to establish truly balanced partnerships and on understanding common challenges. Africa can and must be a strategic ally and a key player in building a more just and sustainable world,” he concluded while emphasizing the importance of infrastructure in Africa as fundamental.

Due to this deficiency, the import-export ratio between African countries is only 4%, while in other continents it is usually around 40%. If you don’t invest in infrastructure, nothing will work. The Mattei plan is very ambitious and we appreciate it. For the development of Africa, we need to create a platform that transmits Italian technology and knowledge to African countries. Italy is the country that can do it. In Italy, there are leaders like Tajani, Meloni, and Salvini who can do it. There is the will, the history, and the possibilities for Italy to invest in the development of Africa”, underlined the Egyptian ambassador to Italy, Bassam Radi.

“Africa has a growing weight in global development. Talking about Africa today means talking about the Mattei Plan, an evolving platform for an investment plan that also attracts financial resources from multilateral development banks and other large partners, supported by shared values with African countries. I believe that through a vision, through good alliances, through resources and a strategic capacity for interventions, the destinies between Italy and Africa and between Europe and Africa can only become more intertwined, with common benefits”, concluded Nicoletta Bombardiere, general director of Globalization of the MAECI.

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (MNA/ITALPRESS) – Malta could see the number of deaths from heat exposure arise over the next century should efforts to tackle global warming prove unsuccessful. A study published in Nature magazine, warns that should temperatures increase by as much as 4°C, Malta could see the number of heat-related deaths rise to 269 per 100,000 by 2095; almost three times the rate registered at the start of the century. Stressing Malta was the “most affected country”, the report said worst-case scenario rates of heat-related deaths in Malta were more than double the average estimated for Southern Europe. Providing estimated per capita death rates for temperature increases of 1.5°C, 2°C, 3°C and 4°C for 30 European countries, the report said Malta was the only country to see an increase in heat deaths across all four scenarios. In all four scenarios, Malta was shown to experience considerably more heat-related deaths than any other European country and significantly more than the European average. Mediterranean countries were found to be particularly affected by rising temperatures, with Eastern Spain, Southern France and Italy singled out in addition to Malta. The report also highlighted “hotspots” of increasing temperatures elsewhere around Europe, including in Romania, Bulgaria, Austria, Southern Germany and Southern Poland. The report added, “Unless strong mitigation and adaptation measures are implemented, most European cities should experience an increase of their temperature-related mortality burden”. The results of the study carried out by researchers from across Europe seem to confirm the findings of a similar analysis published in the medical journal Lancet in August, which estimated that over 1,000 people would die each year with temperature rises of 4°C, the highest per capita rate on the continent. According to the UN, emissions cuts of 42% are needed by 2030 and 57% by 2035 for the world to be in with a chance of limiting temperature increases to 1.5°C. Failing to hit those targets would put the world on track for rises of up to 3.1°C, bringing “debilitating impacts” to the planet, the UN said in a recent report.

Foto: Ipa Agency

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – An investigation by humanitarian organizations has revealed the sale of migrants as slaves in Libya. It is based on extensive field research, including testimonies from survivors held in prisons and detention centers run by Libyan militias.
Several NGOs, including Border Forensics and On Borders, put together the dossier, which was presented by a group of left-wing MEPs to the European Parliament in Brussels. According to the report, migrants in Tunisia are rounded up by Tunisian security forces, detained and sold to Libyan militias and traffickers for 12 euros per person, fueling a brutal system of abuse and exploitation. Women are sold for higher prices – up to 90 euros – because of their exploitation as sex slaves. The report exposes a coordinated system in which Tunisian security forces detain sub-Saharan African migrants before transferring them to Libyan armed groups. It alleges that the Libyan Border Guard and other armed factions are directly involved in the purchase and detention of migrants. Many are sent to Al-Assah prison, a notorious Libyan militia-controlled facility near the Tunisian-Libyan border.
Once transferred, migrants are held for ransom, forced to work or sold back to other criminal networks. Militias contact the families of detained migrants demanding a ransom in exchange for their release. Those who cannot pay are subjected to forced labor, sexual violence or further trafficking. Reports also indicate that migrants are exchanged for fuel and drugs, further integrating human trafficking into Libyàs vast illicit economy. Testimonies from survivors paint a harrowing picture of the situation. Tunisian police and Libyan militia reportedly refer to captured migrants as “black gold”. The report accuses the European Union of directly enabling these human rights violations by funding North African border security forces.
(ITALPRESS).
-Photo: Agenzia Fotogramma-

Source: medNews

BELGRADE (SERBIA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – “We have always had the support of Italy and I believe we will have it in the future too”. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said this, as reported by the Serbian Tanjug agency, during the press conference in Belgrade with the Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, on the sidelines of the Italy-Serbia Business Forum.

“We spoke openly with Tajani about the situation in our country”, underlined Vucic, who explained regarding the student demonstrations. “We believe that the requests have been satisfied. We invite everyone to dialogue and refrain from any form of violence. Of course I am always ready to listen to different points of view and opinions”.

Regarding investments in Serbia, Vucic recalled that surveys show that over 90 percent of Italian companies that have already invested in Serbia would do so again.

As for the government crisis, “I assume that next week, or when the session of the Serbian Parliament is already scheduled, the resignation of the executive will be formalized,” underlined the President, adding, “From that moment there are 30 days for the formation of a new majority in Parliament. If it is not possible to obtain it, we will go to early elections”.

Tajani reiterated Italy’s commitment to supporting Serbiàs accession process to the European Union. “2030 was mentioned. I think it could happen earlier, Italy will certainly work for this,” said the deputy prime minister and foreign minister. Tajani underlined that Serbia is a key factor for stability in the region and for the prosperity of Europe, as well as being a safe country for investments.

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

TUNIS (TUNISIA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Minister of the Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, met during his visit to Tunis, the Secretary of State for Energy Transition, Wael Chouchane. “Italy – the minister highlighted during the meeting – supports Tunisiàs energy transition path with a partnership that offers growth opportunities for both countries, in the spirit of the Mattei Plan. This partnership includes strategic projects, starting with Elmed, a true energy bridge between Africa and Europe, and the Southern Hydrogen Corridor. Our will – he added – is to continue working with you to promote renewables, security of supply, growth and investments, making available experiences and knowledge to promote the further development of the best conditions for producing renewable energy in Tunisia, developing the market and attracting investments”. During the presentation of the “Terna Innovation Zone Tunisia” project, in the presence of the Tunisian Foreign Minister, Mohamed Ali Nafti, the Secretary of State for Energy Transition Ouael Chouchene and the CEO of Terna, Giuseppina Di Foggia, Pichetto highlighted that “in recent months, strategic programs have been launched to strengthen the role of Italy and Tunisia as an energy hub between Africa and Europe”. The minister underlined that “these are infrastructure and cooperation projects that focus on the key role of renewables in promoting economic growth, security of supply and sustainability on both sides of the Mediterranean, in the spirit of the Mattei Plan promoted by President Meloni with a financial allocation of over five billion euros for projects of joint interest with African countries on the basis of mutually beneficial partnerships. The project that is being presented today – he added – is also linked to Italy’s global commitment to a safe and sustainable energy transition in which training and innovation are essential for safer and more decarbonized energy systems”. He then extended his best wishes to Terna Innovation Zone, “an engine for the formation of highly specialized human capital to lead the way in managing the challenges and opportunities of the energy transition and further strengthen the great friendship and collaboration between Italy and Tunisia”.
(ITALPRESS).
-Photo: Mase press office-

Source: medNews