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

TUNIS (TUNISIA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The new Terna Innovation Zone, the first innovation hub managed by the Italian group in Africa, was inaugurated today in Tunis, to strengthen the strategic partnership between Italy and Tunisia. The Terna Innovation Zone is a corporate social responsibility project aimed at promoting technological innovation and fostering the development of competences in the Tunisian energy sector, further consolidating the ties between the two Countries and contributing to the achievement of the Mattei Plan’s objectives for Africa.
The initiative was presented in Tunis by Giuseppina Di Foggia, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of Terna, in the presence of Faycel Tarifa, Chairman and General Manager of STEG (Sociètè Tunisienne de l’E’lectricitè et du Gaz) and Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Italian Minister of Environment and Energy Security. Attending authorities included H.E. Mohamed Ali Nafti, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad of the Republic of Tunisia, Wael Chouchane, Secretary of State for Energy Transition of the Republic of Tunisia, Fabrizio Saggio, Coordinator for the implementation of the Mattei Plan and Diplomatic Advisor of the Italian Prime Minister, and Alessandro Prunas, Italian Ambassador in Tunis.
The purpose of the Terna Innovation Zone is to strengthen the innovation ecosystem and support innovative entrepreneurship, acting as a specialized training laboratory that will contribute to the Tunisiàs progress in the energy sector. Specifically, the Terna Innovation Zone in Tunis will host open innovation and acceleration programs, through which Tunisian startups will have access to resources, competences and opportunities resulting from Ternàs global partnership network, in several international innovation ecosystems, and benefit from the technical know-how provided by the Italian group. The first initiative in this sense will see the launch, in February, of a “call for startups”, followed by a scaling program dedicated to the most promising Tunisian startups, active in the energy and digital transition sectors. In line with the principles of a just energy and digital transition, the activities of the Tunisian Terna Innovation Zone will also focus on the training and development of engineers and technicians in the energy field, including by means of partnerships with local universities. The goal is to build a new generation of professionals in this field, by providing the technical skills and promoting a culture of innovation, as well as functional elements to manage electricity infrastructures, while adopting innovative technologies to enhance the efficiency of the Tunisian energy system.
“With the Terna Innovation Zone in Tunisia, we confirm our commitment to a just and inclusive energy transition, enhancing outstanding local enterprises, contributing to the growth of the Tunisian innovation ecosystem, and creating new opportunities for startups, professionals and young talents in the energy sector”, said Giuseppina Di Foggia, Ternàs CEO and General Manager. “This project embodies the values of corporate social responsibility, by combining innovation, training, knowledge sharing and international cooperation, to build a sustainable energy future, together with our Tunisian partners. The Terna Innovation Zone will be much more than a physical place, shared with the Italian Cultural Institute in Tunis and the Tunisian-Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, it will become a symbol of our commitment to enhance talent and fuel technological progress”, concluded Giuseppina Di Foggia. Being in an emerging ecosystem, with strong opportunities for growth, the Terna Innovation Zone in Tunisia represents a reference point for energy innovation and sustainability in North Africa. The initiative is linked to Elmed, major infrastructure project, and the first direct current electrical interconnection between Europe and Africa, involving the construction of approximately 200 km of submarine cable between Italy and Tunisia. The infrastructure will be realized by Terna and STEG and will ensure greater integration between energy from renewable sources, and provide an energy bridge between the two continents, with many benefits in terms of safety, diversification of the energy supply, and sustainability, in line with the European decarbonization objectives.
The initiative launched today represents not only a technological boost but also a concrete project of international cooperation and social-economic development, sealed by the extension of the industrial Cooperation Agreement between Terna and STEG – the Tunisian national electricity grid and gas operator. Based on the Agreement, the two companies will carry out a series of knowledge-sharing activities focused on common interests, with the aim of pursuing excellence in the management of the electricity transmission grids, and to meet the challenges of the energy sector. In this way, Terna and STEG wish to consolidate the role of Italy and Tunisia as protagonists of the energy transition in the Mediterranean – an energy and innovation hub – by strengthening the integration between Europe and Africa, and promoting new synergies between Italian and Tunisian companies, in line with the strategy outlined by the Mattei Plan.
This is Ternàs second global Innovation Zone, following the innovation outpost located in San Francisco. The US-based Innovation Zone is dedicated to scouting technological solutions, supporting the growth of Italian startups in the Silicon Valley, the cradle of technology. It also deals with generating leads and strategic partnerships with all stakeholders, such as companies, large investment funds, universities and research centres, active in the most important innovation ecosystem worldwide.
(ITALPRESS).
-Photo: Terna press office-

Source: medNews

TIRANA (ALBANIA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A collaboration agreement between ATA, the Albanian state press agency, and the Italpress agency was signed today in Tirana, in the presence of the Italian Ambassador Marco Alberti. The partnership was signed by the general director of ATA Valbona Zhupa and the Editor-in-Chief of Italpress Gaspare Borsellino. The meeting was also attended by the Editorial Director of the Italpress agency Italo Cucci, the Head of Communications of the Italian Embassy in Tirana Giacomo Montemarani, Almarina Gegvataj, Director of News for ATA and Arian Jorgaqi, Head of the Foreign Desk of the Albanian agency.
“I am truly happy and proud of this further step, because it demonstrates the growth of Italpress at an international level and especially in the Balkans, an increasingly important geographical and geopolitical area,” said Gaspare Borsellino, founder and editor-in-chief of Italpress, adding “This agreement with ATA will certainly help us grow and provide our subscribers with increasingly high-quality services, directly from an area such as Albania and the Balkans”.
“When I see an initiative born in our world, the world of journalism, my heart expands,” commented Italo Cucci, editorial director of Italpress. “While on one side there is an attempt to close, there are still brave people who manage to open up; and this is a joy for a veteran journalist. The fact that I am in Albania is a double joy, because it seems that I am of Albanian origin”.
Valbona Zhupa, General Director of ATA, underlined that this agreement represents “a very important step, because our countries are friends. We are very happy to reach this agreement with Italpress. I think that our agencies have the opportunity to exchange news about tourism, politics, art and culture, everything that our countries love most. The agreement is important,” she added, “given Albania’s geopolitical position”.
According to Marco Alberti, Italian Ambassador to Albania, “it is a further opportunity that strengthens the ties of friendship between two countries, that are turning into a strategic partnership. Communication in itself, is part of the strategy of relations between two countries. We are confident that from this agreement will arise other opportunities to further strengthening our friendship and collaboration between both countries”.
-photo ATA –
(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The advisor to the Prime Minister of the Libyan Government of National Unity for Electricity and Renewable Energy Affairs, Osama Al-Darrat, announced that Libya was in the process of communicating with Turkey to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation in the field of renewable energy.
Al-Darrat added that Turkish companies were pioneers in the energy field, especially in the manufacture of solar panels and wind turbines. He added: “We communicated with a number of Turkish companies, held meetings, and signed memoranda of understanding with them to transfer expertise to Libya in the fields of renewable and wind energies”. He has explained that Turkey is cooperating with Libya in electricity turbines that operate on gas and fossil fuels, pointing to the allocation of an area for investment in renewable energy east of the capital, Tripoli, where Turkish companies will play a major role in implementing these investment projects. Al-Darrat added that Turkish companies are a key partner in power stations, such as West Tripoli and Misrata stations, in addition to a new contract for the South Tripoli station, saying that they also work in the field of maintenance. Regarding the possibility of an electric power connection between Libya and Turkey, Al-Darrat said that the matter would be discussed with the Turkish side.
(ITALPRESS).
-Photo: Agenzia Fotogramma-

Source: medNews

TIRANA (ALBANIA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The top management of the Italpress agency were received today in Tirana by the Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama. During the long meeting, the editor-in-chief Gaspare Borsellino together with the editorial director Italo Cucci illustrated to Prime Minister Rama the development of Italpress in the Balkan countries with a series of agreements and strategic partnerships to continue growing in this important geopolitical area. They also discussed some collaborations that will see the Italpress agency and the Albanian Government as protagonists in the coming months, in some important sectors such as Tourism, Sport, the Environment and the Economy.
Prime Minister Rama greatly appreciated the initiatives launched by Italpress in the Balkan area and hoped for collaboration on some important issues such as Tourism, which is seeing constant growth in terms of tourist flows to the country, and also sports. In May, in fact, the Giro d’Italia will start from Durrës and will also touch the cities of Vlorë and Tirana.
-photo Italpress-
(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

DAR ES SALAAM (TANZANIA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – During the Africa Head of State Energy Summit, held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Italy confirmed its support for the “Mission 300” programme. It is an initiative of the World Bank and the African Development Bank that aims to guarantee access to clean electricity to 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.
“We adhere to this multilateral instrument,” explained the Undersecretary for the Environment and Energy Security, Claudio Barbaro, speaking on behalf of the Italian Government at the Summit, “because we are convinced of its suitability to guarantee large-scale impact, in favour of African nations. We now expect that the first financing proposals can be approved within the year, in close coordination with the World Bank and governments, as part of Italy’s efforts and commitment to the Mattei Plan”.
Italy has already activated permanent discussions with the World Bank to examine the best opportunities for joint intervention, starting with projects in the Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.
“These new initiatives are strengthened by the GRANT resources that the Ministry of the Environment already provides to specific leveraging tools of the World Bank and the African Development Bank. These invaluable resources, allocated within a strategy, allow the design of large-scale operations that also involve private individuals. For Italy, in fact, as Prime Minister Meloni indicated, Africa is a priority in which it is possible to generate the conditions for a proper, thriving and resilient economy. On the topic of energy transition, in particular, MASE supports and has supported: the Energy Sector Management Assistance programme, the programme for managing the energy sector with a 10 million euro donation; the Clean Energy Access Programme which promotes the renewable energy market, with a 40 million dollar donation; the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa, which supports projects on renewable energy, energy efficiency and access to the grid by promoting universal access to energy in Africa, with a contribution of 12 million euros as a gift and in the refinancing phase; the Rome Process Financing Facility with the African Development Bank, where 27 million euros out of the 47 million euros are insured by Italy as a donation and 90 million euros granted by the Italian Climate Fund through the Mattei Plan”. The Summit in Dar es Salaam, which was also attended by Alessandro Guerri, the Director General of the International Affairs Department of MASE, was also an opportunity to remember that Tanzania has been indicated among the new Nations for the implementation of the Mattei Plan for Africa.
Undersecretary Barbaro and Ambassador Giuseppe Coppola expressed appreciation for the commitment of the Tanzanian Government to promote access to electricity, especially in rural areas, and for the international commitment of President Samia Suluhu Hassan in promoting in particular “clean cooking”, with benefits from an environmental and health point of view.
(ITALPRESS).
-Photo: Mase press office-

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Maltàs Energy Minister Miriam Dalli met with her Egyptian counterpart Mahmoud Esmat to discuss opportunities for collaboration between the two countries in the renewable energy sector. Both spoke of their desire to turn the Mediterranean into a hub for clean energy.
“Malta and Egypt are friendly nations, and together we can continue promoting the initiative we launched in Malta through MED9 for the Mediterranean to become a hub for clean energy. Both countries believe that by increasing our collaboration, we can create economic opportunities in the energy sector that will bring greater stability to the Mediterranean”, said Dalli.
Dalli and Esmat also discussed ways of making electricity systems more resilient in the face of climate change, and shared information on future projects in the pipeline, such as Maltàs work to build a second interconnector linking Malta to the European energy grid and Egypt’s work to boost its connections to Europe. In this regard, both countries are exploring the possibility of a virtual interconnection once these projects are implemented. The Energy Ministry said both countries were “exploring the possibility of a virtual interconnection once these projects are implemented”. It did not elaborate or explain what it meant by a “virtual interconnection”. During her visit to Egypt, Dalli also visited various companies in the energy, tech and manufacturing sectors.
(ITALPRESS).
-Photo: Maltàs Department of Information-

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (MNA/ITALPRESS) – Danilo De Dominicis, a 36-year-old Italian national has been identified by the Maltese authorities as the man who died in an Msida motorcycle crash last Thursday. The Italian national who lived in Birkirkara, was riding a Honda motorcycle when he lost control and crashed into a wall. Friends and colleagues have expressed their sadness at his death. De Dominicis from the town of Santa Maria Capua Vetere, which is in the Caserta province of the Campania region, had been riding his motorcycle through the Tal-Qroqq tunnels when he lost control of the bike and collided with the tunnel walls. An ambulance took him to Mater Dei Hospital for treatment where he succumbed to his serious injuries. Craft beer shop POPP said on Saturday that De Dominicis was a colleague and a customer and that they had been saddened by the loss of a “very special human with a big heart and a solar energy that left a mark on anyone who knew him”. Posting a picture of De Dominicis enjoying himself at a party, they said that this is how they wanted to remember him. “We want to remember him like this, surrounded by beer and good people, as he loved for all those who knew him, raise a glass to him this weekend,” they said. De Dominicis’s employer, RiskCap International said they were sad to receive news of his passing. “He was a valued member of our compliance team in Malta and contributed greatly to our organisation. His presence and outgoing personality will be missed, and our thoughts are with his wife, family during this difficult time”.(ITALPRESS).

Foto: Polizia di Malta

Source: medNews