ROME (ITALY) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Challenges already won and to be won, relations between Africa and Italy, the role in the Mediterranean, and continental diplomacy were all aspects on which Youssef Balla, ambassador of Morocco to Italy, focused during an interview with Italpress. It was an opportunity to talk about the growth of the country in the last 25 years, on the eve of the Feast of the Throne: in this sense, the changes in progress have been quite a few and the growth prospects are different. Ballàs reflection started precisely from the fact that “the Feast of the Throne is an opportunity to consolidate the mutually beneficial relationship between the monarchy and the people, and the unity of the country. It is also essential to reflect together on recent events and the future. If I have to take stock of these 25 years I would like to focus on harmony and resilience: the king managed to consolidate solidarity between all the components of the Moroccan society, also through courageous initiatives and in the face of challenges such as Covid or the earthquake that hit Marrakech have shown how we have confronted them”.
The ambassador then focused on the excellent results achieved by Morocco in various sectors: “The economy improves year by year and we have created numerous world-class infrastructures. We have the only high-speed train on the continent and Tangier is the first African port in the Mediterranean. Plus we have 2,500 km of highways and next year, the port of Dakhla, on the Atlantic, will be ready to unite America and Africa. On an economic level, we have managed to triple the GDP and double the product per capita in the last 25 years, without forgetting that our automotive industry is in the top 15 globally with 700 thousand vehicles produced every year, while in 1999 there were 90 thousand. Aeronautics is also important in Morocco, with 140 companies present, as is the production of renewable energy. We are the seventh country in the world: there is a clear vision in the direction of progress”.
As for the Mediterranean, Balla defines it as “a central axis on both a diplomatic and economic level: the port of Tangier welcomes 9 million containers, but in general Africa is growing and there are more opportunities than in the past. We are the second country on a continental level in terms of cooperation and development. One of our objectives is to bring the Sahel countries out of isolation to make them grow economically, especially in accessing the Atlantic. The Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline is another important project, because it extends for 6,000 km in eleven different countries, bringing energy and gas to Europe”. More specifically, the ambassador explained how at a diplomatic level “we interact with global challenges at moderate terms. Our leadership in Africa and the Mediterranean is indisputable, furthermore, on the immigration front, we have made great initiatives towards stability and peace, hosting major events on the issue and promoting an asylum policy. These people, around 50 thousand from the sub-Saharan area, need education, health services, and work. It was also essential to provide them with a humanitarian and supportive policy to give them back the dignity they deserve”.
Another front on which activity is constant, says Balla, is the “fight against terrorism and radicalization. Our policy combines security and pedagogy to deradicalize people and this experience has been welcomed by many European countries. We are also present to fight other challenges such as climate change, hosting Cop-16, and building the largest solar power plant in the world. We respect the agreements with the international community and produce 42% of electricity thanks to renewables, with the possibility of reaching 52% in 2030”. On the front of diplomatic relations with Italy, which in 2025 will reach two centuries since their inception, the ambassador highlighted how “it will be an opportunity to further consolidate this bond, which is already excellent. There is a convergence on many issues that affect Africa and the Mediterranean and commercial and tourism relationships are growing. Our community in Italy is active, dynamic, and well-integrated. We are the first community in terms of creating businesses”.
On Algeriàs controversy regarding the recognition of the territories of Western Sahara, Balla explained that “Moroccan diplomacy is not used to reacting to useless controversies or collective hysteria. The dynamics of recognition of Moroccòs sovereignty over the Sahara is fast and composed. 110 UN countries recognize the initiative we presented in 2007 and ours is an agreeable position. We hope that Algeria will also follow this constructive approach because the security and stability of the territory is at stake”.
(ITALPRESS).
– Photo credit: Italpress –

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – “Siamo molto grati all’Ambasciatore d’Italia a Tripoli Gianluca Alberini, all’Addetto Culturale dell’Ambasciata Marcello Matera e al Presidente della Camera di Commercio Italo Libica Nicola Colicchi per il successo della prima missione di Cultura Italiae quale ONG Unesco e per la serie di importanti e proficui incontri avuti a Tripoli, in particolare con Sua Eccellenza la Ministra della Cultura e della Conoscenza Libica Mabruka Toghi Othman con la quale presto firmeremo una serie di protocolli di intesa per attivare vari progetti collaborazione”. Lo dice Angelo Argento, presidente di Cultura Italiae. I progetti su cui il governo libico ha richiesto collaborazione sono di particolare rilevanza, in particolare quelli relativi alla richiesta di assistenza nell’elaborazione dei dossier di candidatura per il riconoscimento Unesco del patrimonio materiale e immateriale libico e per la definizione del piano strategico per il rilancio del turismo e il sostegno alle imprese creative e culturali, con particolare riferimento a quelle artigiane, artistiche e della moda. Altro importante capitolo quello relativo al rilancio del sistema do accoglienza e di realizzazione audiovisiva. Altro incontro importante è stato quello con il presidente del Dipartimento Nazionale di Archeologia presso il Castello Rossi di Tripoli con il quale si è affrontato il tema del recupero dei beni archeologici, in particolare dei 5 siti Unesco, alcuni colpiti dalla recente guerra della loro fruizione e valorizzazione.
“La Libia è un paese giovane e vivace in una fase complessa di transizione che ha lanciato un piano nazionale denominato “Tornare a Vivere”. Un paese che dista appena un’ora e mezza da Roma e 20 minuti di volo da Lampedusa. Un paese che va aiutato a uscire dalla crisi e su cui l’Italia deve investire per due ragioni la prima per antica consuetudine e storia di comunanza la seconda perchè se non lo facciamo noi lo farà qualcun altro e quella che oggi è ancora un’opportunità si potrà presto rilevare come un problema a pochi minuti da casa nostra”, conclude Argento.

– Photo Angelo Argento –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – “The Mattei Plan is first and foremost a process, an equal approach between Italy and the African regions with which it is possible to have a dialogue and it is a development perspective not imposed by Rome and Brussels, but defining the objectives together, nation by nation. It is not something abstract yet to be achieved.” The Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Alfredo Mantovano, said this at Med-Or Day 2024. “A collaboration of this type allows us to address common problems, not least migration. The objective is not only the common regulation of migration flows but it is already being carried out concretely”, he underlined. “The current government has launched a three-year migration flow, with the possibility of going beyond the quota for those who attend qualified training in their country of origin. This requires rectifying the plan which in recent days has already started being analyzed: the fraud in regular entries must be stopped, first and foremost in the interest of the migrants themselves who often risk their lives”, he clarified. Regarding the migrant centers in Albania, “the one on the Adriatic sea is already ready and will serve for the initial screening, while the center located inland is facing problems at construction stage, plus it is very hot now and, in the interests of the workers, work must stop during the central hours of the day and this is leading to further slowdowns. We want to respect the completion of the work in a workmanlike manner. The initiative will be fully operational in a few weeks”, he explained.
For Roberto Cingolani, CEO and General Director of Leonardo, “We look at Africa as the youngest continent in the world, with many raw materials and which needs to be helped, and Italy presents itself with a constructive attitude”. Leonardo’s role is to make available “a series of technologies to modernize the agriculture sector. There is an enormous need for digitalization and literacy. This above all means transferring knowledge and analytical skills”. The difficulties “are those linked to the large projects, but the will is to make them go forward”. Italy in the Mediterranean “is in the ideal position to play the role that belongs to us”.
Fincantieri is interested “in that part of the Mattei Plan which deals with creating a corridor and a pool of skills. We are looking at and promoting together within the structure of initiatives that provide for the creation, for example, skills opportunities in welding within North Africa, to create professionalism on site and manage it in an orderly manner on our construction sites and therefore create a future-proof model to be able to continue to do it in the heavy industry in our country”, added Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and general manager of Fincantieri. “The skills are there, the market is there, but the people are no longer there! The training initiative is one of the axes of the plan to create skills on-site, which we are very interested in”.
-photo xi2 Italpress –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (MNA/ITALPRESS) – Former Ministers Chris Fearne and Edward Scicluna have been placed under a bill of indictment in connection with the concession of the three state hospitals to Vitals Global Healthcare and, eventually, Steward Health Care. Magistrate Leonard Caruana stated that the Prosecution had presented sufficient evidence for former Deputy PM and former Health Minister Chris Fearne and former Finance Minister, today occupying the role of Governor of the Central Bank of Malta Edward Scicluna, together with thirteen other defendants, to stand trial. They were arraigned in Court on a series of charges, on the recommendation of a magisterial inquiry. They are being accused of fraud exceeding five thousand euros and making fraudulent gains. Chris Fearne, Edward Scicluna, former Permanent Secretaries Alfred Camilleri and Joseph Rapa, and Permanent Secretary Ronald Mizzi who resigned yesterday, are also being charged with misappropriation of funds. Apart from this, Camilleri, Rapa, and Mizzi are charged with committing a crime that they were duty-bound to prevent. Other charges against the accused are about participation in a criminal organization and fraud. Chris Fearne had resigned as Deputy Prime Minister and asked for his nomination for European Commissioner to be withdrawn. The failure of Chris Fearne and Edward Scicluna to object to cabinet decisions on a controversial hospitals deal was one of the key reasons the court ruled they should face trial. The criminal case should also continue against 13 other lawyers, civil servants, officials, and a company linked to the deal, which could probably only have happened with the support of a “web” of individuals, the court said. Chris Fearne has confirmed that he will not be seeking another term as Labour deputy leader after the court determined that there was enough evidence for him to stand trial in connection with the fraudulent hospitals concession. In a statement published on Facebook, Fearne asserted his innocence and said that he was certain that the court would ultimately confirm the truth. On his part, his co-defendant – Central Bank of Malta governor Edward Scicluna appears to be staying put in his post. He had said that only the European Central Bank could force him to resign. Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela indicated that Edward Scicluna should resign from his position as Central Bank of Malta Governor. In an interview with Times of Malta, Abela stated that “the role of central bank governor is a sensitive one” while acknowledging Sciclunàs integrity and “how he always prioritized the national interest”. Scicluna was the finance minister when the government controversially negotiated the Vitals hospitals privatization deal in 2015. In January 2021, he was appointed governor of the Central Bank. The Leader of the Opposition Bernard Grech said that the government was approaching its end, and many people were rallying around the Nationalist Party, seeing it as the only means to get the country out of its current limbo. Speaking on the party’s radio station, Grech said the country was rudderless, with the prime minister consistently absent or failing to take decisions that put Malta first. The people, Grech said, were fed up and getting increasingly angry and frustrated at how the country was being harmed because of the interests of the few. The PN, Grech said, had a duty to rally the people and work with the social partners to ensure that no further harm was caused to the country. It needed to prepare itself for the change the people were seeking so that a fresh direction could be set for a better future for the country and a better quality of life for its people.

– Photo Doi (Dipartimento per l’informazione) –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

WASHINGTON (ITALPRESS/MNA) – “For the forces of civilization to triumph, America and Israel must stand together. Because when we stand together, something very simple happens: We win, they lose”. Speaking to the US Congress Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel’s war in Gaza is “not a clash of civilizations. It’s clash between barbarism and civilization”. “We meet today at a crossroads in history. Our world is in turmoil. In the Middle East, the Iranian axis of terror confronts America, Israel and our Arab friends”. “I am fully committed – he adds – in the intense efforts to ensure the release of the hostages” in Gaza. He paid tribute to Joe Biden, thanking him for “half a century of friendship with Israel” and for “tireless efforts for the hostages”.
-photo Ipa Agency –
(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Yemen’s internationally recognized government has reached an agreement with the Houthis, facilitated by Saudi Arabia, to lift economic sanctions and increase the number of Yemenia Airways flights from Sanaa, controlled by the rebels.

The UN special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, said both sides agreed to ease economic hostilities by reversing the most recent actions taken against banks in areas controlled by the Houthis and pledged to suspend all such measures in the future.

They agreed to increase the frequency of national airline Yemeniàs flights from Sanaa to Jordan from one to three a day and to introduce daily flights from the capital to Cairo and India. Additionally, the two sides will discuss administrative, technological and budgetary issues related to the airline.

They will also hold talks on humanitarian and economic challenges under a peace plan proposed by the United Nations known as “the road map”.

After the surprise announcement, Grundberg said the UN stands ready to work with all parties to implement the agreed measures. He also “recognized the significant role of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the implementation of this agreement.”

– Photo Ipa Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – New data published by the European Union shows that the Maltese are twice as likely to face long flight delays as travellers in other EU countries.

30% of Maltese said that their flights were delayed by at least two hours, more than any other country in the EU and twice as high as the bloc’s average of 16%.

One in ten said that they arrived at their destination more than three hours later than expected, second only to travellers in Sweden.

Two-hour flight delays in Malta have more than doubled from the 13% recorded when the survey was last held in early 2019. At the time, Maltàs delay rates were comfortably below the EU average.

Before Air Malta ceased its operations, Maltàs national airline had long been plagued by delays as a result of shortage of aircrafts, technical issues and industrial actions.

Travellers have also been hit by other delays across several airlines, caused by a myriad of factors, from air traffic control issues to wayward drones and, earlier this month, volcanic explosions in Sicily.

The data reveals that people in Malta have faced several other unexpected obstacles in their trips, from flight cancellations (8%), to lost or delayed luggage (7%) and finding that their flight had been overbooked (1%).

The survey asked thousands of people across the EU, including 507 people in Malta, about their travel habits. The survey was carried out throughout January and early February this year.

– Photo Malta International Airport –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Flights between Malta and the Sicilian city of Catania have been cancelled or diverted after Mount Etna erupted for the second consecutive time in a month. The 3,300 metre volcano erupted early on Tuesday morning, firing an eight kilometre column of ash into the area over the island.
Three flights have been impacted between Catania and Malta International Airport. Flight FR367 from Malta to Catania at 1.35 pm, departed to Trapani instead, and passengers had to travel by coach from Trapani to Catania. The return flight from Catania, FR368, is cancelled. Another flight, FR1565, was due to travel from Vienna to Catania but was instead rerouted to Malta, landing at 11.07am. The flight then departed Malta at 1.10pm, en route to Palermo.
This is the second time this month, that Mount Etnàs eruption impacted flights to and from Catania.
“Due to eruptions and ash emissions, it has been decided to suspend flight operations,” Catania airport operator wrote on X, inviting passengers to contact their airline for flight information.
– foto Ipa –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The European Union’s latest taxation report for 2023 said that corporate income tax remains one of Maltàs most significant sources of revenue at almost 15% of its total tax income. Malta ranked third in the EU, after Cyprus (18.1%) and Ireland (21.5%) where corporate income tax forms a significant proportion of its state revenues. Malta still has the highest top statutory tax rates on business profits at 35%, followed by Portugal (31.5%) and Germany (29.9%), while the lowest can be found in Bulgaria (10%) and Hungary (9%). However, Maltàs statutory income tax rate masks the rebates that lead to an effective tax rate of 5% for companies that are owned by non-residents, or by residents without domicile in Malta. Malta has refunded over €13 billion in income tax to corporate shareholders in the last 14 years under its refundable tax credit system. Every year since 2008, Malta refunded an average of 14.2% from the tax owing from these eligible companies. Currently there are 8,012 companies actively registering for tax refunds under the refundable tax credit system. In 2023, finance minister Clyde Caruana said Malta would not be immediately introducing a new minimum tax rate for companies as agreed in the OECD. EU countries can delay the introduction of the new 15% minimum tax by up to six years. The rules apply to companies that have a global income of more than €750 million. This would impact around 660 multinational companies that have a base in Malta, which however employ some 20,000 people.

– Photo Agenzia Fotogramma –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (MNA/ITALPRESS) – Malta’s “product” risks to collapse unless the Maltese government takes drastic action to stop the strain on infrastructure and invests heavily to stop the chronic power cuts. Meanwhile, tourists visiting the island of Gozo have asked the hosts for certain refunds or left their self-catering accommodation earlier than planned as a power outage continues to plague the sister island. At this time of the year, both locals and tourists alike flock to Gozo to soak up the sun and relax. During the same period, the different localities are also celebrating their village feasts. All of this means that restaurants, bars and other businesses in the hospitality sector should be buzzing with activity. Malta’s constituted bodies and social partners issued a stark warning as power cuts continued for the second summer. They added that the situation is harming businesses and residents, inflicting heavy costs in damage, and denting the country’s economic development, they said.

Enemalta, the state-owned energy firm, has now installed 14 diesel-powered generators in various localities around Malta to cope with another power-cuts crisis amid a heatwave.

Poor planning, excessive construction and overpopulation were singled out as the main reasons for an infrastructure on its knees.

The warnings from employer organisations were blunt: “Due to the adverse effects on the quality of service, the private sector may have to curtail its own investment going forward until the government catches up,” said Marthese Portelli, CEO of the Malta Chamber of Commerce. She said the fact that power cuts are significantly affecting residential areas is largely due to the construction of more housing units, hotels and restaurants without the necessary infrastructure to support them. Portelli said that the government needs to commit to a five to 10-year plan of investment in infrastructure, developed in serious consultation with the private sector and with clear milestones and deliverables based on realistic growth projections considering the available skills. “These suggestions and proposals are not new, but they have been systematically and repeatedly ignored. Now even the public is realising the extent to which lack of planning impacts its well-being and quality of life.”

Tony Zahra, president of Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, is concerned that the lack of investment and cohesive planning to address the growing population of residents and tourists in Malta is taking a toll on ‘Product Malta’. He insisted that decisions regarding Malta’s future over the next 15 years must be made now and communicated clearly to all stakeholders.

“The general upkeep and cleanliness of Product Malta is a continuing cause for concern,” he added.

Meanwhile, Michelle Muscat, president of the Association of Catering said she has been inundated by calls from restaurateurs reporting power cuts from all over the island.

Complaints have ranged from restaurateurs forced to throw away stocks to damaged appliances. Muscat said: “We are also losing clients. People are calling restaurants to check whether the power is on or not before booking. Then they go to the restaurant to find that after a few minutes, the power goes off again.” Muscat said her members are helpless because nobody knows how long this situation will persist. “Friday night was the worst. Restaurants were affected in Sliema, St Julian’s, Gzira, Hamrun, Santa Venera, Mosta, Naxxar. Gozo experienced regular power cuts for a day-and-a-half. This is not on.”

Paul Abela, president of the Malta Chamber of SMEs said that the situation was “very complex”. “Before green-lighting new projects, the authorities should start asking themselves whether the infrastructure will hold.”

The Gozo Business Chamber said businesses in Gozo are worried as they can no longer provide the guarantee that their operations will not be affected with the next power cut. “The businesses cannot plan. At the same time, they cannot offer the touristic products to those visiting and are experiencing damages to their appliances and the product itself.”

The Gozo Business Chamber also underlined, “The persistent outages, the huge damage between the Malta-Gozo cable as well as the energy insecurity are all affecting the business confidence,”underlining that operators are no longer sure that they can open their doors to clients while others are opting to foot extra costs by leasing out a generator.

Over 70% of the accommodation in Gozo consists of farmhouses and at this time of the year they would be fully booked. The Gozo Business Chamber added various localities have been hit by power cuts, and in some cases the interruption of the water. It added this is causing considerable damages, loss of customers, consumables, and working hours, and added costs to sustain the power supply in some cases.(ITALPRESS).

Foto: xf3

Source: medNews