VALLETTA (ITALPRESS/MNA) – HSBC Holdings plc is undertaking a strategic review of its 70.03% ownership stake in its Maltese bank. This development comes just over a year after HSBC Malta dismissed reports about its possible exit from the Maltese market as ‘speculative.’
In a company announcement, HSBC Bank Malta stated, “HSBC Holdings plc yesterday evening informed the Board of Directors that it will undertake a strategic review of its indirect 70.03% shareholding in the Bank.”
This strategic review could potentially lead to significant changes, including the sale of HSBC Holdings’ shares or alterations to its involvement in the Maltese bank. The news of the bank’s possible exit will inevitably send ripples through Maltàs financial sector and economy while raising questions about the future of one of Maltàs major banks.
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(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – The objectives of the Saudi Association, presented to the Italian Senate aim to create a bridge between Italy and Saudi Arabia to facilitate interconnections between the economic operators of the two countries. These include the start of the first discussions with the Italian and Saudi governments to identify the means to achieve the strategic objectives to obtain recognition of the Italian Chamber of Commerce abroad, carry out activities in favor of commercial exchanges between Italy and Saudi Arabia, assist the economic operators of the two countries, encourage the development of economic relations and collaboration between entrepreneurs and promote the dissemination of economic information, useful for developing business opportunities.

“SaudIta is a voluntary association of non-profit entrepreneurs. Our members are companies and trade associations, engaged in different economic sectors present in some regions to expand and cover the entire national territory”, explained the president of the Saudita Association consortium, Bruno Calvetta.

Italy recalled the Fratelli d’Italia senator Cinzia Pellegrino, “is the second country for trade with Saudi Arabia among European countries and the ninth in the world. The companies that have joined this consortium are of quality: I am convinced that the consortium itself will work because we are very attractive from a commercial point of view and for our professionalism. I am sure that in a short time, we will be able to carry out the bureaucratic process for the effective establishment of the Chamber of Commerce”.

In a greeting message read during the press conference, the deputy foreign minister, Edmondo Cirielli, recalled that “our companies are the first ambassadors abroad. The partnership between Italy and Saudi Arabia is expanding and strengthening at all levels. The Saudi market has a high strategic importance”, just think that “exports to Riyadh in 2023 reached 4.9 billion euros (+19% on 2022). The creation of an Italian Chamber of Commerce in Riyadh “is essential to make the most of a context rich in opportunities such as the Saudi one”. In Saudi Arabia “there are 36 million inhabitants, SMEs are over one million and they are growing every year: it is a fabric with which we can dialogue. Furthermore, it is close to all trade routes and is a thriving country, with a healthy economy. It is opening up to renewables, manufacturing has started to have an effect, and for the Saudis, it is important to follow the development of hi-tech”, explained Giovanni Ricci of the SaudIta Consortium. “The objective is very ambitious: to become a case of excellence. Behind each product we would also like to bring training initiatives”, he added.

For Andrea Marino, councilor of the SaudIta Consortium and director of Federolio, “Made in Italy is extremely interesting for foreign markets, especially for Arab ones. The Saudi market is expanding, and the task of trade associations is fundamental in making local buyers understand the characteristics of our quality products”.

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(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – In the latest effort to crack down on worker exploitation while preventing the influx of foreign workers in saturated industries, the Maltese government will launch a new economic migration policy. Home Affairs and Employment Minister Byron Camilleri explained that the new policy will aim to better align migration with the actual needs of the labour market. “The policy will strengthen employment rights, ensure fair working conditions for all, and reward employers who invest in upskilling their workers, regardless of nationality”.
The initiative comes amid concerns of a massive increase in third country national workers in Malta, especially in the last decade.
In an interview with The Times of Malta, Minister Camilleri said: “The government’s policy is built on four key principles: prioritising the needs of those already contributing to the local economy, safeguarding the dignity of all workers, promoting stability and retention, and encouraging the upskilling and reskilling of employees”. Minister Camilleri added: “It will be a policy in favour of workers, it will push for more stability and retention in all sectors, it will invest in worker upskilling and re-skilling and adopt a skills-based approach that identifies which industries need more workers and which have enough”.
He emphasised that economic migration will only be permitted to address labour or skills shortages identified in the labour market. “Some sectors, like healthcare need more workers but other sectors like cabs and food delivery services, have enough, and this policy will help the national employment agency Jobsplus identify where and when workers are needed”.
(ITALPRESS).
-Photo credit: Agenzia Fotogramma-

Source: medNews

MILAN (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Peace, security, and stability to make all citizens of the world equal, starting with children. This is one of the messages that emerged on the occasion of the 50th edition of the Ambrosetti Forum in Cernobbio, which was attended by the President of GKSD Investment Holding and vice-president of the San Donato Group Kamel Ghribi.
“Even on this occasion,” said Ghribi, “I had the opportunity to appreciate the quality of the contents and to note the intensity of an experience of meeting with global leaders, with whom I had the opportunity to delve deeper into the topics that are dearest to me: peace, security, stability, a health that can make all citizens of the world equal, starting with children. Only safe and stable societies and nations can foster business.”
For Ghribi “it is a mistake to consider peace only as an element of security; peace is also an essential prerequisite for the orderly development of markets, for the good performance of the economy and the growth of nations, whether rich or poor. This is why peace and prosperity walk together. And to cultivate them better we must not forget the Mediterranean and Africa. I wanted to represent all this to the many leaders I met, whether they were African, from the Middle East, from the European Union, from the United States or Eastern Europe”.
Events like the one in Cernobbio “essentially serve this purpose: to circulate good ideas and good intentions and ensure that they become a source of virtuous deeds between leaders and people”.
-photo GKSD –
(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

ABU DHABI (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Italian ambassador to Abu Dhabi Lorenzo Fanara met with the president of the Federal National Council of the United Arab Emirates, Saqr Ghobash, to “enhance the excellent bilateral relations and the commitment to dialogue and peace”, as stated on the Instagram profile of the Italian embassy in the United Arab Emirates. The next possibilities for interparliamentary cooperation were also discussed.
– Photo: Instagram profile Italian embassy in the United Arab Emirates –
(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (MNA-ITALPRESS) – The police in Malta have not yet taken action against a man who placed a threatening message at Malta’s European Commissioner front door last July.
EU Commissioner Helen Dalli confirmed an article published by the Opposition newspaper Il-Mument including images taken from security footage showing a man parking a car outside Dalli’s residence in Marsascala, leaving an item on her doorstep and taking a photo of it. The paper said the item was a jar of marijuana, along with a threatening note stating ‘Next time I will be prepared with something for your children’. Dalli said the disturbing incident occurred on 31st July. “I immediately reported this threat to the police along with the security footage, in which a man can be seen approaching our house and his car is visible too. Since then I haven’t received any communication on this case. Last week I asked for an update on the investigation and was told that they don’t have one yet”. Over the recent weeks, the Dalli family was in the public eye, especially after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reportedly suggested that the Maltese government should nominate the outgoing commissioner for a second term and replace prime minister Robert Abela’s nominee and former head of secretariat, Glenn Micallef.
Last week, Dalli’s son, Luke, a host on Labour media for the past 14 years, announced that he will not be hosting a programme in the upcoming winter schedule. In a Facebook post, Dalli said it was a very “hard decision” for him but had come to it following several events over the past years, months and weeks. Helena Dalli’s husband, Patrick, went a step further and alleged that two senior Labour Party officials are attempting to politically harm Dalli’s chances for commissioner. He also said that “soon you will know the manoeuvres that were made in the appointment of the President of Malta by two high-ranking officials of the Labour Party to harm Helena’s credibility.” “It was a fascist attack on a woman who dedicated her life to the Labour Party and the Maltese people.” Dalli was touted to be in the running for President of the Republic, but eventually Myriam Spiteri Debono was appointed.
Helen Dalli is in the last weeks of her five-year-term as European Commissioner having previously served as minister under Joseph Muscat and Robert Abela.(ITALPRESS).

Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (MNA/ITALPRESS) – Foreign nationals applying for residence permits in Malta should prepare for stricter scrutiny of their lodging documentation, as Identità agency continues to tighten its verification processes and to combat to fraudulent applications. The new requirement comes in response to a scandal where the Maltese authorities allegedly issued thousands of fake Identity Cards to foreigners in exchange for bribes. A magisterial inquiry into these claims is currently underway, with several cases of suspected identity theft reported by local citizens. The Nationalist Opposition has currently a request for an investigation before the Auditor General, made by the three Nationalist Party members on the Public Accounts Committee, apart from a magisterial inquiry into the Identità agency scandal, initiated by lawyer Jason Azzopardi. Azzopardi revealed the scam within Identità that saw ID cards being issued on the basis of forged documents. He publicly claimed that about 18,000 ID cards were fraudulently issued. The state agency introduced the new requirement for third-country nationals applying for a residence permit, to present a lease agreement that has been officially attested by a notary, lawyer or legal procurator. The national agency stated that this additional verification step, which involves notarised agreements, aims to enhance the accuracy and reliability of information submitted by applicants. Professionals have so far been unwilling to have their members comply with the new requirement, with both the Notarial Council and the Chamber of Advocates directing its members not to put their signatures on these new forms over verification concerns. However, Identità will allow a “grace period” for applications from third-country nationals, as it remains locked in a stalemate with notaries and lawyers who are refusing to comply with a new requirement in the application for residence permits. Previously, residence permit applicants in Malta only needed to present a lease agreement registered with the Housing Authority. (ITALPRESS).

Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (MNA/ITALPRESS) – The NGO Alarm Phone announced that a group of migrants off the Southern coast of Lampedusa are in serious difficulties. The group of 29 people are adrift following their escape from Libya. Alarm Phone confirmed that it has alerted the authorities to take immediate action to rescue the group of migrants who are very exhausted and asked for immediate help. “They report they are out of fuel and there are kids and some sick, together with elderly people onboard. There is no food and no water. They are very exhausted and ask for immediate rescue!”. (ITALPRESS).

Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta has joined other European states in providing assistance to African countries in dealing with the Mpox outbreak. The initiative Team Europe led by DG Health Emergency Preparedness and Response HERA, will see European countries donating vaccines and mobilising resources to assist in slowing down the disease. Around half a million vaccines are being donated by the countries taking part in this initiative. The Maltese government said together European countries, Malta will be donating around half a million vaccines. Laurent Muschel, head of the EU’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority arrived at the city of Kinshasa in Kongo to deliver the first consignment of vaccines against Mpox. Mpox, also known as Monkeypox, is a viral infection first identified in humans in the 1970s in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals. Human-to-human transmission can also occur, particularly through close physical contact with an infected person, including sexual contact. Mpox made headlines after the rise of the Clade I variant, which spread to a number of African regions, prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a public health emergency of international concern in August.

– Photo Agenzia Fotogramma –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Following the rescue of 289 migrants on August 31, 2024, the Italian authorities detained the ship Sea-Watch 5 for 20 days. The ship had previously been assigned the port of Civitavecchia, almost 1000 kilometers far, where the rescued people went ashore. The basis for the detention is the so-called Piantedosi Decree introduced in January 2023. On the morning of August 31, the crew of the Sea-Watch 5 was able to save 289 people from drowning in four operations in international waters off Libya. The people had previously been spotted scattered on four unseaworthy wooden boats. After the Italian authorities assigned Civitavecchia, a 17-year-old had to be medically evacuated by Maltese emergency services as his medical condition did not permit the long journey. After landing the remaining 288 survivors, the Sea-Watch 5 was detained by Italian authorities and fined up to €10,000. Italy accuses Sea-Watch of having rescued without permission from the Libyan authorities.
The NGO said: “The accusations made by the authorities are false: Following the 1982 UNCLOS regulation, permission for the rescue is not required under international law. In addition, the state authorities in Italy, Malta and Germany were informed about the sea emergencies and rescues. Although the coordination center in Libya does not meet the necessary international standards, it was also informed by Sea-Watch.” Chiara Milanese, head of operations on the Sea-Watch 5: “Italy is punishing us for complying with international law and our duty to rescue. The price is paid by people on the move who drown with no prospect of rescue. Who will put those responsible for the mass murder in the Mediterranean to court?”

– Foto xf3/Italpress –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews