LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) (ITALPRESS) – Malta registered the second-highest increase in overnight stays during the first half of the year when compared to the rest of the EU. The increase was by over 30% when compared to the same period last year. According to a recent Eurostat report, only Cyprus registered more overnight stays, an increase of just over 39%.
The report said: “The EU tourism industry is experiencing a strong recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic”, adding “in the first half of 2023, the number of nights spent in tourist accommodations reached its highest level in the past decade, signalling a notable resurgence in the industry’s performance in many countries”. From January to June, Malta registered over 4.3 million overnight stays, a remarkable increase from the 3.3 million in the same period the year before. June was the strongest month with 900,000 stays, accounting for just over one-fifth of the total. However, it was also the month that saw the least increase, at over 86,000 more stays. Meanwhile, March registered the greatest increase in the number of stays, with nearly 230,000 more overnight visits than in the same month in 2022. All months recorded an increase when compared to the previous year before. Across the EU, there were almost 1.2 billion overnight stays in tourist accommodation from January to June, an increase of nearly 11 million from the same period the year before and far above the 400 million in 2021.
(ITALPRESS).
– Photo credit Tourism office of Malta –

Source: medNews

FAVIGNANA (TRAPANI) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Success for the Egadi Blu Fest: the sea at the center of events, meetings, and tastings. A week of events on environmental awareness organized by the Municipality of Favignana, the managing entity of the “Egadi Islands” Marine Protected Area as part of the “AMPPA – Marine Protected Areas and Artisanal Fishing”, financed by the INTERREG V-A Italy-Malta Programme.
A series of environmental awareness initiatives on the themes of artisanal fishing, environmental sustainability, and the protection of protected areas characterized the festival which, through different means and languages, involved a large and attentive audience.
Following the “marine” workshops for children and the information points on the islands of Levanzo, Marettimo, and Favignana, the event came to life with two days dedicated to history, music, food, and local traditions. The underlying theme of the initiatives was one of the founding objectives of the cross-border cooperation project “A.M.P.P.A.”, which is the spreading of culture on the good and sustainable use of natural heritage. On stage, various protagonists took part and conveyed messages from different points of views about their passion and love for the sea.
Yesterday the festival ended with a cooking show dedicated to the importance and value of the blue fish, a unique show thanks to the talent of Peppe Giuffrè Cuciniere who cooked and shared a world of millenary traditions linked to cooking, fishing, and music of the Ciumara who fascinated those present with traditional “songs and enchantment”.
“We are happy to have seen great participation in the information and entertainment events of the AMPPA Project”, underlined the director of the Marine Protected Area Salvatore Livreri Console. “It is important to work in this sense to increase the sense of community and responsibility of citizens, tourists, and new generations for the protection of our great cultural and environmental heritage linked to the sea as well as artisanal and sustainable fishing.” “In addition to the protection of the sea and its natural habitats, the challenge in the coming months is that of concrete support for artisanal fishing activities so as not to lose, especially among the new generations, a profession which is a heritage of wisdom that our fishermen have been handed down over the centuries”, said the mayor Francesco Forgione. “But European regulations and the crisis in the sector also due to fuel costs risk bringing the entire sector to its knees”.
The “Egadi Islands”, the leader of the “AMPPA” project aims to contribute to the protection and safeguarding of the marine and terrestrial biodiversity of the marine protected areas (on the islands of Sicily and Malta) through the creation of systems and services for the protection and restoration of cross-border biodiversity. Project partners are the Regional Department of Mediterranean Fisheries, the Municipality of Ustica – the managing body of the Marine Protected Area of the Island of Ustica, the Gharb Local Council, and the Ghajnsielem Local Council.

– photo press office Amppa –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – During the recent days, high level talks between the United States and China were held in Malta. Tension between the world’s largest two economies was incited by a number of factors. Relations between the two sides are not considered good following the incident of the Chinese spy balloon that was dropped in the United States and Chinàs support to Russia in the war against Ukraine. The bilateral talks hosted in Malta focused on a potential leaders’ meeting and other issues in the relationship including Chinàs support to the Russian war in Ukraine. The meeting is being seen as “a significant step in US efforts” to repair the deeply strained relations. The last time the two presidents met was last November during the G20 summit in Indonesia. The diplomatic meeting was between Jake Sullivan, the United States national security advisor to President Joe Biden, and Wang Yi, the Peoplès Republic of China Foreign Minister, who were also accompanied by their respective delegations. A meeting was also held between Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela and Jake Sullivan. Both highlighted that the stability of the Mediterranean region is of paramount importance for global peace and security. Abela underlined the importance of global peace as a fundamental prerequisite for a prosperous world where the quality of life for people and communities enables nations to cooperate and address global challenges. In a statement, the Office of the Prime Minister said the weekend hosting of these discussions by Malta reaffirmed Maltàs longstanding role as a natural and safe place for holding high-level diplomatic discussions. “When called upon like these past days, Malta will continue to give its part to facilitate more open channels of communications in line with its longstanding position of advocating for a more just, peaceful and prosperous future”.
– Photo credit Doi –

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The EuroPride activities, held in Malta for the first time, reached their peak late last night with Christina Aguilera entertained a jam packed concert at Florianàs main square just outside Valletta.
The 42 year old Grammy-award-winning singer and songwriter took the stage following Maltàs most joyful and colourful Pride March with the participation of thousands of Maltese, and foreigners in a symbolic march in favour of love, diversity and inclusion.
Aguilera kicked off the much-anticipated concert with her electro song ‘Your Body’ which immediately electrified the party as the crowd danced and sang along to hits like ‘Dirty’, ‘Hold Us Down’, ‘Moves like Jagger’, ‘Genie in a Bottlè.
While referring to her beautiful moments in a beautiful place like Malta, Aguilera spoke up about her personal life. “I was at a point in my life where I had a lot of questions, where to go next, what to do,” she said. “In the end, you have to be your own voice and have faith that there will be better days.”
Then she went on to perform ‘Say Something’ and the 2002 award-winning track ‘Beautiful’, where many people were seen holding hands or hugging friends and partners. The song is known to be an unofficial anthem for the LGBTIQ+ community for its message of self-empowerment, self-love, and acceptance.
“Our message for everybody tonight is to love each other,” the singer told the crowd. Aguilera ended her show with the track ‘Let There Be Lovè, with the stage screen showing a background of rainbow colours and hearts.
A festive atmosphere dominated the streets of Floriana and Valletta throughout the day with thousands holding the rainbow flags, painted faces, all with a common goal, to celebrate love. Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela and Opposition Leader Bernard Grech were also present for yesterday’s Pride March.
Earlier in the day, Labour MEP Cyrus Engerer and Labour MP Randolph De Battista, a couple and two prominent LGBTQ+ personalities in Maltese politics, became the first gay couple to deliver speeches in the Maltese Parliament. Their heartfelt and inspiring addresses served as an evidence to the progress made in Malta on LGBTQ+ rights and the work that still lies ahead.

– Foto: Europride Malta –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese government will be sending a team from the civil protection department and the armed forces to Libya after Storm Daniel caused unprecedented flooding, leaving at least 5,200 dead only in Derna and a further 5,000 people are missing and 7,000 injured. Malta is to send a contingent of 73 officials to assist in the rescue operations; 12 officers from the Armed Forces including a medical team and 31 members of the Civil Protection Department. They will be joined by another 30 soldiers on board the P61, which already left Malta. Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri said this was the third time in a few months that Malta was offering assistance to other countries going through a difficult time. Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior in the government appointed by the House of Representatives, Tariq Al-Kharaz, said that the death toll of Storm Daniel, which struck the eastern region of the country, reached 5,200 people in Derna alone, adding that 1,300 bodies out of that number were buried after the families had identified them, while there were entire families who died. Al-Kharaz said the number of bodies that had not been identified was massive and could not be buried at present because of the lack of resources and support, expecting the death toll from the floods in Derna to rise to more than 10,000 people. He also said there were still many unrecovered bodies, adding that specialized rescue teams from Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt were working to recover the bodies that had been swept into the sea by the torrents. In the meantime, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan National Army (LNA) issued instructions to provide urgent medical supplies, and offer shelter to those affected by storm Daniel.
Haftar directed the allocation of all necessary medical and military resources to support those affected, and facilitate the transportation of the wounded to hospitals. He called on the eastern-based government to form committees for damage assessment and losses, as well as to initiate immediate road repairs. expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, and highlighted that this “rare climatic catastrophe in Libyàs history has resulted in thousands of deaths, thousands more injured, and ongoing search efforts for the missing”. Storm Daniel swept through several areas in eastern Libya on Sunday, especially the cities of Derna, Benghazi, and Al-Bayda, in addition to Sousse and Al-Marj, leaving thousands dead and missing, and causing major infrastructure damage. On Monday, the Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah declared all the municipalities that were hit by Storm Daniel and ensuing floods in the east of the country as disaster areas. He also declared, during an emergency Cabinet session, mourning for a period of 3 days, directing all “officials and ministers without exception to assess the conditions in the eastern region”.

– Photo: Department of Information Malta –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

FAVIGNANA (TRAPANI) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Egadi Blu Fest is scheduled until 17th September, a week full of events and initiatives organized by the Municipality of Favignana, the managing entity of the Marine Protected Area “Egadi Islands” as part of the project “AMPPA – Marine Protected Areas and Artisanal Fishing. Integrated management through environmental awareness and education” financed by the INTERREG V-A Italy-Malta Programme.
A festival to discuss the sea through different and good points of view; a widespread event that embraces the islands of Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo proposing various cultural, environmental, food and wine initiatives and tasting, talk shows, music, insights and meetings on sustainability and the value of artisanal fishing.
We start on Sunday, 10th September in Levanzo, where environmental awareness initiatives will be held in the morning. Qualified operators will be available to tourists and citizens to provide information on the issues of environmental sustainability, the protection and the good use of Marine Protected Areas. Workshop activities dedicated to children will also be held.
Other environmental awareness days will be held in Favignana on 11th, 12th and 13th September between Piazza Europa (information stands) and Spiaggia Praia (workshops for children). Furthermore, a traveling musical show is also scheduled for September 13th through the main streets organized by the Egadi Dixie Band.
The island of Marettimo will also have its environmental information and awareness day on Friday, 15th September with stands and workshops for the little ones in Piazza Scalo Nuovo. On Saturday 16 September starting from 8 pm in Piazza Madrice in Favignana, there will be the launch of Paolo Balistreri’s book “Favignana, water paths” and the Talk Show “The sea as a resource. Take care of it”, moderated by journalist Jana Cardinale, followed by the musical show with the Macuccusonu band. Sunday, 17th September will be the turn of the cooking show “The sea narrated at the table” by Chef Peppe Giuffrè (also in Piazza Madrice from 8pm). The musical entertainment will be curated by the Ciumara – Canti di cunti Siciliani band.
The “Egadi Islands” MPA is the leader of the “AMPPA” project which aims to contribute to protecting and safeguarding the marine and terrestrial biodiversity of the marine protected areas (on the islands of Sicily and Malta) through the creation of systems and services for the protection and restoration of transboundary biodiversity. Project partners are: the Regional Department of Mediterranean Fisheries, the Municipality of Ustica – managing body of the Marine Protected Area of the Island of Ustica, Gharb Local Council and Ghajnsielem Local Council.
-photo Amppa –
(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A couple of thousands attended a protest called by the Nationalist Opposition late Monday evening following another protest held in the morning by the anti-corruption NGO ‘Repubblikà in Valletta after more details were revealed accusing high officials at the Office of the Maltese Prime Minister regarding their involvement in social benefits fraud scandal. A number of beneficiaries have spoken on illicit claims resulting in monthly payments from the Social Security Department, averaging approximately €450 per month.
Nationalist Party leader Bernard Grech called on police commissioner Angelo Gafà to investigate the benefits-for-votes scandal that has engulfed Robert Abelàs administration. He accused the Prime Minister of “corrupt practices” to rig the 2022 election in his favour, and added that despite claiming his innocence, the prime minister was the “ring-leader” of what he described as “organized crime.” “This happened under Robert Abelàs direction and protection,” Grech said. He added that Abela “deceived” voters, who have been arraigned in court, the people who orchestrated the racket, and who forged medical certificates have not been brought to justice or shouldered political responsibility. On Sunday, Abela insisted that the government immediately put an end to the racket which saw hundreds of people receive severe disability social benefits despite not being eligible.
However, according to testimonials given by various beneficiaries, they were approached to benefit from the racket just before the election; months after former Labour MP Silvio Grixti resigned from parliament in December 2021 who was implicated as the point of reference in the scandal. Beneficiaries of fraudulent disability benefits revealed that middlemen linked with the government or the governing Labour Party encouraged people to obtain the benefits that they were not entitled to, and that in return they expected a vote and kickbacks.
Another protest was held in front of the Office of the Prime Minister with ‘Repubblikà President Robert Aquilina, stating “vulnerable individuals have been turned into accomplices in a criminal system which saw the involvement of persons of trusts, canvassers, and Labour Party officials.” The NGO’s president insisted that the brains behind the system, which saw hundreds fraudulently receive severe disability benefits to which they were not entitled, should be investigated and arraigned in court.
Meanwhile, the European Parliament President Roberta Metsola emphasised that the racket was far more than simply benefit fraud: it was, among other things, “corruption in exchange for votes.” “This is what happens when corruption is allowed to continue unabated when the crooks are protected, when politics is seen as a get-out-of-jail-free card,” Metsola said. Malta, she added, needed zero tolerance for corruption and politicians who protect the public interest – who are held accountable if they don’t. “We need to clean up the system. And we will,” she concluded.

– Photo: fonte Partito Nazionalista –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

TRIPOLI (LIBYA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Over 2,000 people have lost their lives, and over 5,000 others are between injured and missing so far in different cities and towns in eastern and southeastern Libya due to the torrents of rainwater and strong winds of Storm Daniel that revaged the region on Sunday and Monday. International solidarity and support statements are flooding in to Libya, in the wake of the devastating storm.
The Libyan Prime Minister-designate in eastern region, Osama Hammad, confirmed that they had registered 2,000 deaths only in the coastal city of Derna, confirming that entire neighborhoods had been ravaged and washed away by the storm. The Interior Minister, Essam Abu Zariba, also said that the number of missing persons could be over 5,000.
Meanwhile, the Government of National Unity and Presidential Council based in Tripoli declared three days of mourning and flew the Libyan flag at half mast to honor the victims, while the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives issued a distress call to the international community to help Libya respond to the weather catastrophe, saying the situation was sprawling out of control in some areas.
Storm Daniel arrived in eastern Libyan coast in the early hours of Saturday, after it had hit Greece and Bulgaria and a number of Mediterranean countries including South Italy and Malta. Once it hit Libya, the scale of destruction became bigger given the poor infrastructure and the nature of the areas within the storm’s zone.
The United Nations said it is assigning an emergency team to support the authorities in eastern Libya. Italy, Tunisia, Qatar and Turkey already confirmed their committment to send urgent assistance to the areas hit by the storm in coordination with the Libyan authorities to overcome the ordeal of floods. The United States Embassy in Libya said; we are closely monitoring the situation and are reviewing reports indicating the work of all Libyan authorities in their response to the affliction.

– Photo: OpenStreetMap –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – An Italian tourist was fined 400 euro for damaging the main entrance of the Office of the Prime Minister in Valletta. A 20-year-old from Crotone, was tracked by the police after he went up and down the steps using a scooter in-front of the Office of the Prime Minister. Police checked CCTV footage after the Italian posed for a photo. He admitted to willfully damaging the steps which are protected as part of Maltàs cultural heritage. He was detained by the Police overnight and escorted to court on Monday. The damage was assessed by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, which amounted to 400 euro.
– Foto: DOI –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The European Statistics Office, Eurostat, said that in the second quarter of the year, Malta together with Lithuania and Portugal had the largest growth rate in employment among the twenty-seven countries of the European Union. The growth rate in Malta of 1.3 percent was five times more than the average in the Euro Zone of 0.2 percent. Eurostat said that the biggest decrease was recorded in Estonia at 1.5%, Romania at 0.8 percent and Croatia at 0.7 percent.
The European Statistics Office added that in the second quarter of this year, Malta registered the fourth largest increase in economic growth among the countries of the European Union.
The Gross Domestic Product in Malta between last April and June increased by 1.1 percent and reached 3.9 percent compared to the same three months last year.
(ITALPRESS).
– Photo credit: Agenzia Fotogramma –

Source: medNews