LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – As Christmas and New Year holidays approach, Malta’s national airline is warning its customers that they should expect delays in the immediate future as a new ground handling company took over the operations as from the begining of this month.
Air Malta has fired its own ground handling services in an attempt to cut the financial costs either by transfering them to other government departments or given a generous financial incentive to leave the national airline. The ground handling services have been outsourced to Aviation Services Handling Limited – a new joint venture between Rome-based Aviation Services Spa (60%) and Air Malta (40%).
Several Air Malta customers complained on social media about the difficulties they have experienced since December 1, some have had their luggage lost and others missing their connection flights because of mistakes made by the newly foreign grounded handling staff.
The Aviation Services Handling Ltd, is actively recruiting new staff, mostly Italians, because of lack of employees. According to local reports, the new employees are not adequately trained, there is a language barrier with the customers, and have received no handover since the takeover took place. The Italian employees were given a three-month define contract.
Air Malta stated that the transition was expected to take place over a period of time in a phased approach that will see passenger handling, baggage handling and cargo handling being transferred to the new operator. Describing the whole operation as “very complex and challenging” due to new employees working in a new environment, Air Malta said it was “doing its utmost to limit disruptions at the Malta International Airport, but the dimension of the transition is such that delays are likely to occur.”
The European Commission is yet to decide on the request made by the Maltese government to provide another state aid package to Air Malta in an effort to save the national airline.
-photo agenziafotogramma.it
(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS) – Former Italian football player Michele Marcolini is Maltàs new National Teams Head Coach. The appointment was announced by the Malta Football Association. Marcolini, 47, will assume his new role as of the 1st of January 2023, until the end of 2024.
Michele Marcolini played for a number of football clubs in Italy, including Bari, Torino, Atalanta and Chievo Verona, and with junior Italian National Team selections. Marcolini has coached several Serie B and C teams and won the Coppa Italia Serie C with piemontese club Alessandria in season 2017-18. Maltàs FA President Bjorn Vassallo said: “we are very pleased that Michele Marcolini has accepted our offer to become the new National Teams Head Coach. We have gone through a thorough process to arrive at this decision. His profile fits the requirements set by the Association, focused on the long-term development of our elite football players. The Malta FA’s priority is to ensure that its technical project proceeds as planned in line with our strategy to achieve a unified game philosophy for all the National teams”. Vassallo added “besides his coaching qualifications, Marcolini brings a wealth of football experience having played in the top tiers of Italian football for almost two decades”. Michele Marcolini will be joined by Davide Mandelli as Assistant Coach. Mandelli is also a former player who started his football career with Monza, and then moved on to play for Serie A and Serie B clubs Torino, Siena and Chievo Verona. Following retirement, he followed Marcolinìs footsteps and assisted him in a number of clubs where he worked as a football manager. Mandelli will join the current technical staff as of 1st January 2023.
Coaches Marcolini and Mandelli will be presented to the local media in the next days.
– foto LivePhotoSport –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The President of Malta George Vella appealed for further discussion on the controversial draft bill reforming Maltàs abortion legislation. In his speech on the occasion of Maltàs Republic Day, President Vella declared he is hoping for a solution that would address all concerns the bill has raised. “I feel that these are very particular circumstances and I should convey my hope that with the ongoing discussions, a solution which duly addresses all the points being raised by the different stakeholders in this debate will be found,” the President said.
The parliamentary debate came to an end yesterday and a vote on the bill in its second reading is scheduled for next Monday.
The bill, is proposing an article to the Criminal Code which states that provisions criminalising abortion do not apply “when the termination of a pregnancy results from a medical intervention aimed at protecting the health of a pregnant woman suffering from a medical complication which may put her life at risk or her health in grave jeopardy”.
The Nationalist opposition, experts and activists are opposing the bill, with the Opposition will present amendments at committee stage.
The government has already said that amendments would be introduced including decisions on the termination of a pregnancy would be taken by a conference of two or three doctors in a bid to minimise the potential for abuse.
President Vella is not ready to sign the bill as it is presented by the government, and he is waiting for the final version of the bill before taking his final decision.
– photo Department of Information –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The President of Malta George Vella is reported that he would be ready to resign if the Maltese Parliament approve the bill which is proposing an amendment to the Criminal Code allowing the termination of pregnancy in case the woman’s life is at serious risk.
The amendment to Maltàs abortion laws presented by the Labour government is being discussed in Parliament. Although the wording of the draft bill could still be changed at the committee stage, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health Chris Fearne has dismissed the possibility of excluding mental health even as he declared himself open to “genuine” suggestions for revision, insisting that the mentality that mental health is somehow less serious than physical health needed to be eradicated.
President George Vella is reported that he was ruling out “crusades, like the one the opposition leader is on,” and he is also ruling out the proposed wording put forward by 80 academics and activists opposed to what they describe as a bill introducing abortion by stealth.
If the Maltese Parliament approves the amendment, the President needs to sign the bill and be published in the Government Gazette for it to become law. If Vella resigns, it would be a first in Maltàs political history. In May 2021, President Vella, a doctor by profession, reiterated his stand against abortion and said he would resign if such a bill came before him.
The Nationalist Opposition said the Labour Party in government has no electoral mandate to introduce abortion in Malta. The Nationalist Parliamentary Group stated that it will vote against government’s proposal to allow the termination of pregnancies when a pregnant woman’s life is at serious risk and adopted the position taken by a group of academics, pro-life activists and adopted by 44 organisations.
Former President of Malta Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca is also endorsing the proposal to redraft with the aim of ensuring that an amendment with the stated aim of ensuring the life and health of pregnant women is protected does not lead to the effective legalisation of abortion.
A national protest is scheduled to take place in Valletta next Sunday to oppose the bill amending Maltàs abortion legislation.
-photo Department of Information-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta and the State of the Vatican held official talks in Rome during an official visit by the Maltese Foreign Minister Ian Borg. Both sides discussed the set up of a Joint Commission which will discuss the management of property owned by State of the Vatican in Malta.
During an audience with Minister Borg in the Vatican, Pope Francis declared that his visit to Malta reminded him of the kindness of the Maltese people. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that during the audience with His Holiness, Minister Ian Borg saidthat Malta is always honored by the visit of His Holiness to Malta. They also discussed the ongoing bilateral work between the two states, as well as the ongoing work by the Maltese government in preparation for the United Nations Security Council with Malta continuing to be an agent of peace and stability around the world.
During this visit to the Vatican state, Minister Borg also met with the Secretary of State of the Vatican, His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher. The long relationship between the two states and the importance of Catholicism in Malta were also discussed. Both sides also discussed the issue of migration in the Mediterranean, the situation in Libya and the conflict between Ukraine and Russia were also on the agenda.

– photo Department of Information – Malta –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta and Libya are exploring further cooperayion in the energy sector, particularly in renewable energy. Minister for Foreign Affairs Ian Borg and Minister for Environment and Energy Miriam Dalli returned Malta from Libya following bilateral talks with the Libyan government last Sunday.
The Maltese governement said that meetings were held in Tripoli with the Minister for Foreign Affairs Najla El Mangoush, with the Minister for Oil and Gas Mohammed Oun and with the Minister for the Environment Ibrahim Munir Al-Arabi.
Maltese Minister for Environment and Energy declared Maltàs commitment to contiue investing in the diversification of its energy sources while Maltese Foreign Minister described the visit to Libya as “a solid demonstartion of Maltàs committment to continue consolidating and improving the relationship with Libya”.
Both sides discussed matters of common interest including migration, the latest political developments in Libya, the need for democratic elections in Libya and Maltàs term on the United Nations Security Council.
– photo Department of Information (Malta) –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela described Malta as a pioneer within the European Union as the Maltese government is committed to include an anti-SLAPP into Maltese law, besides harsher penalties for crimes against journalists.
Abela made the declaration during a meeting with Teresa Ribeiro, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europès representative on media freedom. He added that following the recommendations made by a Committee of Experts on the Media Sector, three draft laws that increase protection for journalists were presented in Parliament. Abela emphasised that his government is committed to ulterior consultation and will remain committed to reforms as it believes freedom of expression and the mediàs role are important in a democratic society.
Following the assassination of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia five years ago and the recommendations by the Daphne Caruana Galizia Public Inquiry, the Maltese government came under increased pressure both locally and internationally to implement a number of reforms to strengthen the institutional framework, good governance and even the media sector.
Teresa Ribeiro thanked the Maltese Prime Minister and his Government for the open dialogue with the OSCE, while noted the work done and which is continuing in favour of strengthening the freedom and important functions of the media.
– photo Department of Information –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS) – Serie A giants Inter will be in Malta for a training camp between December 5 and 9. The visit is being supported by VisitMalta, as part of its campaign to promote Malta as a Mediterranean tourist destination.
The Italian Serie A is set of a two-month break due to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The last preparations are currently underway so that all the necessary facilities will be provided for the Nerazzurri.
During this training camp Inter will play two friendly matches, with a game against the Maltese Premier League club Hamrun Spartans and a possibility of another game against an international team.
– foto Image –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Devis Mangia has resigned as coach of the Maltese national football team with immediate effect. This was confirmed by the Malta Football Association.

In an official statement, Mangia described his resignation as “painful” while denying any wrongdoing. “I would like to reiterate unequivocally, that not only have I not behaved in a manner that offends the dignity of any person sexual or otherwise, but nor has there been any allegation by MFA of any sexual abuse or harassment in my regard.”

Mangia was suspended by the Malta Football Association last September following the alleged sexual harassment of at least two national team footballers. 

While declaring that he has submitted himself to the full scrutiny of the safeguarding process, Mangia added that he will continue to do so. In his letter of resignation Mangia said that his decision was taken in the best interest of the national team to serenely face the football challenges which lie ahead.

Meanwhile, the Executive Board of the Malta’s Football Association confirmed that a report has already been concluded, following an investigation which took almost a month. The report will now be assessed by the association’s Safeguarding Board.

In October, the Malta Football Association filed a police report after two unnamed football players from the Maltese national team came forward alleging unwanted sexual advances by Mangia. The Italian coach has denied any wrongdoing.

A former coach of Italy’s Under-21 football team, Mangia has been Malta’s head coach since December 2019, winning 9 of his 27 matches in charge.

-foto Image –

(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Maltese customs officials have found 610 packets of cocaine weighing 1 kilogram each with an estimated value of €100.6 million. The consignment have been found in a banana shipment on Sunday.
The container was selected by the Customs Monitoring Unit following meticulous risk assessment on containers transiting through the Malta Freeport.
The unit was scanned along with a number of other containers when officers flagged discrepancies in the image of that particular unit.
The Police Drug Squad inspected 20 boxes of bananas containing 20 packets of cocaine each whilst another ten boxes were found to contain 21 packets each.
So far this year, the Maltese Customs have seized 800 kilograms, 1,494 kilograms and 610 kilograms of cocaine in three separate operations.
Over the past three years, the Maltese Customs have seized 750 kilograms of cocaine in 13 separate seizures in 2019, 612 kilograms of cocaine in an operation in 2020, and 740 kilograms in an operation in 2021.
According to a statement by the Maltese Customs, the banana shipment had left Guayaquil in Ecuador and was en-route to Batumi, Georgia. Guayaquil, Ecuador’s second largest city and its main port, has become a hub for drug traffickers exporting tons of cocaine to Europe and the United States.
But amid increasing police checks and seizures, criminal gangs are getting creative by hiding tons of the drug inside food containers, cereal boxes, scrap metal, tea bottles and even in fake fruit like bananas and pineapples.
So far in 2022, Ecuadorian anti-narcotics police have seized 112 tons of drugs across the country, half of which were seized in Guayaquil – where over 85% of Ecuador’s non-oil export cargo is moved.

– photo Dogana Malta –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews