LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – An analysis by the Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe (CASE) shows that Malta has the highest number of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) per capita in Europe. According to the study, 2022 saw a significant number of SLAPPs lodged in Malta, France, Croatia, Greece, the United Kingdom, Turkey, and Georgia. 44 new SLAPPs were recorded in Malta in 2022, a significant change from 2021 where only 4 SLAPPs were recorded. This was the highest annual number of SLAPPs since 2017, when 33 SLAPPs were filed against murdered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia alone. Malta had the highest number of SLAPPs per capita, with 19.93 cases per 100,000 people, although the data was highly influenced by multiple cases brought by the Robert Abela administration against the online investigative portal The Shift. By the end of 2022, the majority of cases ?led were civil lawsuits (69.6%), while 20.9% were criminal lawsuits. 6.5% of cases were injunctions.
The three most common targets of SLAPPs are all media-related: journalists, media outlets, and editors. Activists and NGOs are the fourth and fifth most common SLAPP targets. The report found that the most common type of SLAPP offenders, were businesspersons (335) followed by politicians (227), and State-owned entities (113) in third place. The European Commission is trying to restrict the use of such lawsuits and last April it put forward proposals for an anti-SLAPP Directive, known as Daphnès Law, in honour of Caruana Galizia. The directive is aimed at enabling judges to swiftly dismiss unfounded lawsuits against journalists and human rights defenders, and establish safeguards – such as compensation for damages and dissuasive penalties – for launching abusive lawsuits. The Daphne Law would also ensure uniform legal protection across member states, where current laws on SLAPPs vary widely.

– Photo: Agenzia Fotogramma –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – While Malta registered its highest annual inflation rates in food and non-alcoholic beverages last month due to higher prices of bakery products, the inflation rate decreased to 5.6% from 6.2%. Data published by the National Statistics Office (NSO) also shows that the inflation rate in Malta is lower than the European Union average but its average rate is higher than that in the Eurozone. Meanwhile, Eurostat data also indicated that Maltàs inflation rate for July was slightly lower than Sloveniàs (5.7%), but slightly higher than the Netherlands’ (5.3%). The highest annual inflation rates were observed in Hungary (17.5%), Slovenia, and Poland (10.3%). The lowest annual rates were reported in Belgium (1.7%), Luxembourg (2.0%), and Spain (2.1%). The Eurostat report said the most significant upward impact on the annual Euro area inflation rate in July came from services, followed by food, alcohol, and tobacco, non-energy industrial goods, and energy. In Malta, the largest upward impact on annual inflation was seen in the food and non-alcoholic beverages index primarily due to higher prices of bakery products. The second and third most significant impacts were observed in the Restaurants and Hotels Index and the housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels Index. This was mainly due to higher prices of restaurant services and rents, respectively. Downward impacts on annual inflation were registered in the Communication Index and the Clothing and Footwear Index.
(ITALPRESS).
– Photo credit: Agenzia Fotogramma –

Source: medNews

FAVIGNANA (TRAPANI) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The sea experience through different and “wonderful” points of view. This is the goal of Egadi Blu Fest, which will be held in Favignana on the weekend of 26 and 27 August. The initiative is organized by the Municipality of Favignana, the entity responsible for the Egadi Islands Marine Protected Area as part of the “AMPPA – Marine Protected Areas and Artisanal Fishing. Integrated management through awareness and environmental education” funded by the INTERREG V-A Programme Italy-Malta.
On Saturday 26 August in Piazza Europa, in Favignana, the cooking show “The sea narrated around the table” is scheduled at 7 pm, curated by chef Peppe Giuffrè. The Ciumara band will perform the music.
Three appointments are scheduled for Sunday 27 August, again in Piazza Europa: at 7pm the presentation of Paolo Balistrerìs book “Favignana, water paths”, at 7.45pm the talk show with the theme “The sea as a resource. Take care of it”, moderated by journalist Jana Cardinale, and at 8.30pm musical show with the Macuccusonu band.
The two days are the preview of an event scheduled from 11 to 15 September which will also involve Levanzo and Marettimo. The Egadi Islands MPA is the leader of the “AMPPA”project which aims to help protect and safeguard the marine and terrestrial biodiversity of marine protected areas (in the islands of Sicily and Malta) through the creation of systems and services for the protection and restoration of cross-border biodiversity.
The project partners are the Regional Department of Mediterranean Fishing, the Municipality of Ustica – Management body of the Marine Protected Area of the Island of Ustica, together with Gharb Local Council and Ghajnsielem Local Council representing Gozo.
“The respect towards the protection of the sea, the territory and biodiversity represent for us a precious wealth to defend and to take care of”, said the mayor Francesco Forgione, adding “the role of the Marine Protected Area must be at the forefront in respect to nature and we must carry out this task with great care”.
-photo mgg –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese government committed itself to pay €46.7 million from taxpayers money to Paramount Studios, the film company producing Gladiator sequel film. According to the Times of Malta, the payment is part of rebate scheme that promises production houses up to 40% cash back if they film in Malta. The payment of €46,653,961 to the subsidiary company of Paramount Studios for the production of Ridley Scott’s epic film breaks the record for the biggest state aid to cinema in the EU. Figures published on the European Commission state aid website show that the second biggest rebate was handed out by Italy, however, it was less than half the rebate Malta promised to Gladiator. When the first Gladiator film was shot in Malta, the cash rebate scheme did not exist. At the time, the film reportedly left around €21 million in the Maltese economy.

– Photo Agenzia Fotogramma –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A study by Eurostat has shown that at least a third of Maltese people have at some point reported their neighbours to the authorities for being excessively noisy. The survey found that 34.7% of Maltese have reported their neighbours about excessive noise, topping the list of persons who have submitted such reports. The Maltese were followed by the Dutch, 32.3%, and the Portuguese, 27.2%. Albania is classified at the bottom of the list, with only 3.1% of Albanians making such reports. Meanwhile, one in every five Maltese has been exposed to excessive noise caused by the traffic on the Maltese roads. The study carried out by the European Environmental Agency found that in 2017, 22.4% of Maltese were exposed to more than 55dB of noise because of traffic. 1.9% were exposed to the same levels of noise because of airplanes. Meanwhile, only 3.7% of Maltese living in rural zones were exposed to excessive noise caused by traffic. The study also found that noise caused by cars negatively affected around 113 million persons in the European Union. As a result, there were 48,000 new cases of cardiac health issues and 12,000 premature deaths in the year of the study. It was also calculated that around 6.5 million persons were unable to sleep due to noise and that approximately 12,500 students possibly did worse in their studies due to noise generated by airplanes. While noise levels have remained the same, the study laments the fact that the EU’s goal of reducing noise pollution by 2020 was not reached.
(ITALPRESS).

Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma

Source: medNews

GHAJNSIELEM (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – As the AMPPA Interreg V-A Italia Malta programme is coming to an end, the Ghajnsielem Local Council in Gozo continued to organise a series of events related with this project.
The Interreg V-A Italy-Malta Programme promotes the development of areas of common interest such as environmental protection, land and sea safety, cultural heritage, quality of life and citizens’ health.
During the events, the local council of Ghajnsielem took the initiative to involve different ages. The ‘Tombola in the Square’ event was aimed to the elderly whilst the ‘Echoes from the Sea’ event was aimed for a mass audience but mainly youths and families. Flyers and freebies for children were available in the information stand. Officials from Department of Fisheries also joined to share information about Marine Protected Areas and the Artisanal Fishing.
Kevin Cauchi, the Major of Ghajnsielem said “we are also excited about the new Environmental Education Center which is in advanced stage of completion”, adding that this project will be the legacy of the AMPPA Interreg V-A Italia Malta programme.
The programme aims to promote the sound scientific management of biodiversity in Sicilian and Maltese marine protected areas.
Three marine protected areas of the central Mediterranean take part, MPA “Isole Egadi”, MPA “Island of Ustica, MPA Gozo (including the municipality of Ghajnsielem).
It is a joint work between the Marine Protected Areas of the Egadi Islands, Ustica and Gozo (Malta) carried out in collaboration with the Regional Department of Mediterranean Fishing and the municipalities of Gharb and Ghajnsielem which aims – through the exchange of good practices and experimentation and awareness – to promote the conservation of marine biodiversity by maintaining the productivity of ecosystems and contributing to the economic and social well-being of human communities. The project also aims to create a new integrated management tool for MPAs that directly involves all operators (public bodies, fishermen, citizens, tourists, etc.) also through awareness-raising and environmental education actions.
The AMPPA project is a measure financed under the INTERREG V-A Italy-Malta Program with priority axis: III (environmental protection and promotion of efficient use of resources); specific objective: 3.1 (To contribute to halting the loss of terrestrial and marine biodiversity in the area by maintaining and restoring ecosystems and protected areas). Lead partner: Municipality of Favignana – Management body of the Marine Protected Area “Isole Egadi”; partners: Regional Department of Mediterranean Fishing; Municipality of Ustica – Management body of the Marine Protected Area of Ustica Island; Gharb Local Council; Ghajnsielem Local Council.
– photo xf3 –
(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – According to a scientific study the Mediterranean and Black Sea are among the highest exposure risk areas for seabirds to plastic pollution in the world. The study published in the scientific journal ‘Nature Communication’ highlights the need for improved international cooperation and collaboration to address the global threat of plastic pollution to marine life, as well as the urgency for strong political action to limit plastic production, use, and disposal. The study used data collected through BirdLife Maltàs successive seabird studies. It was found that Yelkouan Shearwaters breeding on Malta are suffering from the highest plastic exposures of any seabird worldwide. Spending all their life between the Mediterranean and Black Sea, they are constantly exposed to high plastic density throughout their annual cycle.
The Maltese Islands are home to three species of seabirds that formed part of the study – the Scopolìs Shearwater, the Yelkouan Shearwater and the European Stormpetrel. Seabirds are sensitive to plastic pollution as they accidentally swallow plastic which they mistake for food, or become entangled in plastic debris when foraging.
– Photo credit: Agenzia Fotogramma –

Source: medNews

VILNIUS (LITHUANIA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – After the withdrawal of Russia from the grain agreement, the port of Klaipeda could become a new access point for Ukrainian agricultural products.
Lithuania has proposed to deliver Ukrainian grain to the port across the Niman River. The use of an internal water corridor can be the best logistics solution. It would also help to the development of freight transport on the largest river in Nieman. When transporting Ukrainian grain by rail and you recharge in Kaunas, it would be necessary to change platforms and transfer cargo from one train to another, not once but twice. Eliminating the additional grain transfer would reduce costs significantly. Transportation of goods by road inland waterways can be 30-40% cheaper than that by land. In addition, it is possible to improve the capacity of storage and transshipment of the Linas Agro grain company, already operational at the moorings of Nieman. Also, the construction of the European railway line to Klaipeda will take time. However, Lithuania could receive Ukrainian and other grain cargoes in the port of Klaipeda including its internal waterways as part of its transportation chain. The port could also become an alternative to the Polish ports of Gdansk and Gdynia.
-photo Agenzia Fotogramma –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Spanish police has revealed the dismantling of an international network for smuggling Syrian migrants, crossing three continents via Libya, in exchange for 3,500 euros per person. The police said that with the cooperation of Europol and the German Federal Police, it was able to dismantle the logistical structure of a criminal organization specialized in smuggling Syrian migrants, arresting 19 people on suspicion of belonging to the organization, putting six of them in pre-trial detention.Preliminary investigations showed that the migrants were departing from Lebanon, passing through Beirut airport to Egypt for 4,000 euros, and then the Syrians traveled by land to Libya, Tunisia and Algeria for 3,500 euros.(ITALPRESS).

Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Italians remained the most popular market for Malta during July, followed by the United Kingdom. This was confirmed by Malta’s International Airport who confirmed that during last month it has welcomed 848,716 passengers. The company operating Malta’s international airport said that aircraft movements during last month remained in line with July 2019 levels, while seat capacity saw an increase of 3.8% as a result of larger aircrafts being operated on flights to Malta. Being Malta International Airport’s most connected market through flights to 20 airports, Italy showed no signs of ceding the top spot to the United Kingdom, which was the second most popular market for the month. The French market continued to perform exceptionally well, registering growth of 52% over 2019 and outperforming Germany to rank third. Five airlines currently connect Malta International Airport to 10 French airports, contributing to this market’s increasing popularity. Passenger traffic from Spain grew by a marginal 1.2% compared to pre-pandemic levels, with this market retaining the same position it has held since May 2023. The airport said that the August holiday rush is set to bring busier days. Traffic is expected to peak on 17 and 24 August, with each one of these days forecast to see more than 32,000 passengers.(ITALPRESS).

Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma

Source: medNews