LA VALLETTA (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela declared that Malta is experiencing a change in its economic model, confirming that “his government is leading an economic transition based on quality across the board.
During an interview on the Labour Party radio station, Abela said “yes to foreign workers in the sectors needed for economic growth, but no to foreign workers who are not needed.”
Abela was reacting to the growing concerns of the Maltese who are blaming the overcrowding of the Maltese islands on the government’s policy which is causing serious pressures on the infrastructure, including traffic, housing, and garbage crises. He added quality should outperform quantity and workers brought to Malta must have the necessary skills.
Maltàs population increased from 417,000 in 2011 to 542,000 at the end of last year. Recently, Finance Minister Clyde Caruana warned that if Malta wants to maintain an average economic growth rate of 4.2%, the population would have to increase to 800,000 by 2040, unless a new economic model was developed. Last year, some 28,000 non-EU nationals were granted a work permit and this sudden influx has resulted in worker exploitation.
Abela said the health care and elderly care sectors require more skilled foreign workers given Maltàs aging population. However, he stressed that there is an oversaturation of foreign workers in the transport sector. The Maltese Premier added that he wants to see more Maltese people take up highly-paid jobs in other sectors such as in technology.
– photo Department of Information (Doi)-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – According to data published by the United Nation’s refugee agency UNHCR only 231 people arrived by boat in Malta between 1 January and 13 August 2023 while only 282 individuals applied for asylum in the first six months. 84% of arrivals departed from Libya, while the remaining 16% departed from Tunisia. Of the 2023 arrivals, 65% (149) were Bangladeshi, 9% (21) were Syrian, 8% (19) were Guinean, 7% (17) were Cameroonian, 6% (13) were Egyptian, 2% (5) were Sudanese, and 1% (3) each were Palestinian and South Sudanese. The nationality of one person is unknown as it was not possible to register him due to his medical condition.
UNHCR said this marks a change in the composition of nationalities of arrivals in comparison to 2022, where 51% of arrivals were Bangladeshi, 28% were Syrian and 8% were Egyptian.
The majority of arrivals so far in 2023 were adult males (84% (195), compared to 65% in 2021 and 80% in 2022), UNHCR said. Additionally, 7% (16) were adult women and 9% (20) were children, two of whom were accompanied, and 18 of whom were alleged unaccompanied minors at the time of disembarkation.
In the first six months of this year, Malta received 282 applications for asylum, of which 225 were first-time applications, 54 were subsequent applications, and 3 were re-opened or reviewed. Nationals from Bangladesh, Sudan, and Syria were amongst the top three nationalities applying. Analysis shows that the average waiting time for a first-instance decision (substantive, grant, or rejection) issued in 2023 was over 2 years.

– Photo: Angenzia Fotogramma –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese authorities have approved an environmental impact study for the continuation of the work for the second interconnector between Malta and Ragusa in Sicily. Interconnect Malta described the approval by the Environment and Resources Authority as an important step, and work will enter into another phase where the Planning Authority will be assessing the project.
The Environment and Resources Authority stated that the project will not impact negatively on the marine environment.
Interconnect Malta Chief Executive Ismail D’Amato explained how ground samples were taken from the base where the cable will be laid and geo-mapping of the cable route was carried out to avoid future problems. There was coordination to ensure also the cable would not affect the existing interconnector.
D’Amato added that since the competence of Malta reaches midway in the sea, the Italian authorities will now also be involved. The same process being undertaken in Malta is also being carried out in Italy, where the studies have been submitted to the competent Italian authorities.
Malta is adhering to European guidelines in order to achieve certain environmental targets, and projects linked to renewable energy will also be increased in the coming months.
– credit photo Interconnect Malta –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Following an incident involving five Sicilian youths who did not pay the bill after dining in a restaurant while on holiday in Malta, one of the youngsters’ father decided to settle the case by sending a monetary donation to a non-governmental organization in Gozo that promotes the welfare of people with special needs and their families.
The incident happened last Friday at Pasta and Co, a restaurant in Msida. The group of Sicilians fled from the restaurant as soon as they finished dining without paying the bill. The restaurant owners, Bertrand and Jacob, filed a report to the Police including CCTV filming showing the youths escaping from the restaurant. The police immediately started investigating the case.
As soon as the restaurant’s owners recognized the Sicilian accent, they contacted Corriere di Ragusa who reported the incident. Following the publication of the article and photos related to the incident, one of the youths’ father identified his son and reached the owners to settle the pending bill. Instead, the owners asked for a donation to be given to Arka Foundation in Gozo. The father offered his apologies, and instead of 100 euros, he donated 250 euros to the NGO.

– Foto: Sito web ristorante Pasta and Co –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Government of National Unity in Libya confirmed that Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah had sacked Foreign Minister Najla Al-Mangoush, after suspending and referring her to be investigated following a meeting with her Israeli counterpart, Eli Cohen, in Rome last week.
In a statement, the Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the meeting happened in an informal capacity while Al-Mangoush was holding bilateral talks with Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in Rome. While the Libyan Foreign Ministry said Al-Mangoush knew very well the constants of the Palestinian Cause and would not conduct any relations or meetings with any representatives of Israel, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in an official statement that the meeting was official and pre-arranged and lasted for an hour. Al-Mangoush was replaced by Mohammed Al-Zinni, as an acting Foreign Minister. It is understood that the former Libyan minister flew to London from Turkey following her dismissal. Angry protests swept through Libya’s western region to denounce the meeting between F Najla Al-Mangoush and Eli Cohen. Protestors burned tyres and photos of Al-Mangoush and Israeli flags, chanting anti-Libyan government and Jews slogans and demanding immediate dismissal and punishment of the minister. A group of protesters also stormed the exterior gate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but they were prevented from accessing the main building by security guards.
Libya has a law in force that calls for boycotting Israel. Article 7 of the law stipulates: “imprisonment from 3 to 10 years and a fine not exceeding 5,000 dinars as punishment for anyone who concludes an agreement with any kind of organization or person residing in Israel or belonging to it by nationality or working for it”. (ITALPRESS).

Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese government is undertaking drastic measures including change in the economic model and further law enforcement in a tentative to limit the number of non-EU nationals to control the over population in Malta. The Maltese government will turn its focus towards investing in industries that do not require many workers to allow for fewer non-EU nationals and to bring foreign skilled migrants. New regulations were published to manage the cab drivers’ service. Immigration police and the Housing Authority have recently joined forces to tackle overcrowding in rental properties. Police are also conducting immigration checks leading to scores of arrests. In the last 10 years, Malta saw a severe increase in population; from 417,000 in 2011 to 542,000 this year. The influx of third-country nationals led to labour exploitation and tremendous pressure on the country’s infrastructure, although the private renting business has registered an increase over the past decade. Finance Minister Clyde Caruana has warned that if Malta wants to maintain an average economic growth rate of 4.2 percent, the population would have to increase to 800,000 by 2040 unless a new economic model was developed. A third of foreigners in Malta are EU citizens. A further seven percent are from other European countries that are not EU member states. Italians are the most foreign nationality at 12 percent, followed by British residents at just over nine percent. Other common nationalities include Indian and Filipino at just under seven percent each. Malta also has a sizeable Serbian community.
(ITALPRESS).

Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A political instead of a military solution is possible on Crimea. This was clarified by the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, in a television interview filmed by various media in the country. “When we are at the administrative borders of Crimea, I think it is possible to politically force the demilitarization of Russia on the territory of the peninsula”, said Zelensky, who excludes the intention of going with the conflict beyond Russian borders: “It would be a big risk, we would certainly left alone, and the fight to reconquer our territories was supported in a decisive way thanks to relations with the allies”.

– photo: Agenzia Fotogramma –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – While hundreds of migrants were rescued in the Mediterranean over the last few days, migrants are being warned to take precautions not to sail towards Italy due to expected bad weather in the coming days.
SOS Mediterranee which operates the rescue ship ‘Ocean Viking’ has saved 438 migrants of different nationalities who were in distress in the Mediterranean over the last days. The rescues took place in international waters off the coasts of Libya and Tunisia. Some of the evacuations were coordinated with the Italian coast guards.
In July, the Italian authorities detained the Ocean Viking for 10 days at Civitavecchia, after questioning the vessel’s safety standards, before freleasing it.
Meanwhile, the international NGO Alarm Phone issued a weather alert for the Central Mediterranean. “From today on and for the next days, the weather in the Central Mediterranean is very dangerous for crossings,” alerted Alarm Phone, adding “everybody who is planning to leave Libya or Tunisia g should be aware and consider the weather conditions before departure”.
At least 2,013 people have died or gone missing so far this year attempting to cross the central Mediterranean, according to the United Nations migration agency, the International Organization for Migration.
That is significantly higher than its figure for the whole of 2022, which was 1,417.

– Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (ITALPRESS/MNA) – International singer Robbie Williams said that the concert held in Malta at the Floriana Granaries has been one of his favourite ever.
In a Facebook post, he thanked Maltàs public for “such a lovely welcome” on his first visit. He also expressed the wish to visit again.
He kicked off with the song “Hey Wow Yeah Yeah” before indulging in his mega-hit “Let Me Entertain You” and other hits like “Feel”, “Rock DJ” and “Kids”. He closed the concert with his classic “Angels”. Around 20,000 people attended Robbie William’s concert.
The British pop star took a moment during the concert to thank his fans for helping him understand that he is “worthy” and overcome the his personal demons which he described as “hellish”. The 49-year-old singer has a history of drug abuse.
The former Take That singer addressed the mental health issues he faced throughout his career which he temporarily halted in 2006, and opened up about his struggles and thanked fans for “keeping me safe while not knowing that yoùre keeping me safe.”
Speaking to the massive crowd of fans at the Malta concert, Williams described his experiences as “hellish” adding that “a day turned into a week, a week turned into a month, and a month turned into a year, and a year turned into a decade”.
“Waking up every day, with an amazing career, but having to battle demons, and after a while you think to yourself “what is the point if it’s going to be like this, what is the point in living if it all I’m doing is enduring this”.
Pointing out that he has overcome such struggles, Williams said two things kept him safe, meeting his wife, and the fans that show up for his shows all over the world.
He added that “the most important thing that kept me going and know that I was good person, worthy of love, and worthy of my career, that I was just worthy was the fact that you guys exist”.
Williams’s Malta concert is part of his XXV Tour, which will coincide with the release of his new Greatest Hits album marking 25 years of hits, which topped the UK Album Chart, breaking a record previously held by Elvis Presley.
Following his concert in Malta, Williams will be playing in Germany, before setting off to Asia and Australia.
-photo Agenzia Fotogramma –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

FAVIGNANA (TRAPANI) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – For technical reasons, the events scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday 26 August and Sunday 27 August 2023 for the preview of the Egadi Blu Fest, the festival organized by the Municipality of Favignana, have been postponed to September 2023 – Management body of the Marine Protected Area “Egadi Islands” in the context of the project “AMPPA – Marine Protected Areas and Artisanal Fishing Appointment therefore in September in the Egadian archipelago, for meetings, talk shows, tastings and moments of musical entertainment that focus on the sea of the protected area in all its nuances, from fishing to tourism, from history to local culture.
-photo AMPPA –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews