LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – According to a scientific study the Mediterranean and Black Sea are among the highest exposure risk areas for seabirds to plastic pollution in the world. The study published in the scientific journal ‘Nature Communication’ highlights the need for improved international cooperation and collaboration to address the global threat of plastic pollution to marine life, as well as the urgency for strong political action to limit plastic production, use, and disposal. The study used data collected through BirdLife Maltàs successive seabird studies. It was found that Yelkouan Shearwaters breeding on Malta are suffering from the highest plastic exposures of any seabird worldwide. Spending all their life between the Mediterranean and Black Sea, they are constantly exposed to high plastic density throughout their annual cycle.
The Maltese Islands are home to three species of seabirds that formed part of the study – the Scopolìs Shearwater, the Yelkouan Shearwater and the European Stormpetrel. Seabirds are sensitive to plastic pollution as they accidentally swallow plastic which they mistake for food, or become entangled in plastic debris when foraging.
– Photo credit: Agenzia Fotogramma –

Source: medNews

VILNIUS (LITHUANIA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – After the withdrawal of Russia from the grain agreement, the port of Klaipeda could become a new access point for Ukrainian agricultural products.
Lithuania has proposed to deliver Ukrainian grain to the port across the Niman River. The use of an internal water corridor can be the best logistics solution. It would also help to the development of freight transport on the largest river in Nieman. When transporting Ukrainian grain by rail and you recharge in Kaunas, it would be necessary to change platforms and transfer cargo from one train to another, not once but twice. Eliminating the additional grain transfer would reduce costs significantly. Transportation of goods by road inland waterways can be 30-40% cheaper than that by land. In addition, it is possible to improve the capacity of storage and transshipment of the Linas Agro grain company, already operational at the moorings of Nieman. Also, the construction of the European railway line to Klaipeda will take time. However, Lithuania could receive Ukrainian and other grain cargoes in the port of Klaipeda including its internal waterways as part of its transportation chain. The port could also become an alternative to the Polish ports of Gdansk and Gdynia.
-photo Agenzia Fotogramma –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Spanish police has revealed the dismantling of an international network for smuggling Syrian migrants, crossing three continents via Libya, in exchange for 3,500 euros per person. The police said that with the cooperation of Europol and the German Federal Police, it was able to dismantle the logistical structure of a criminal organization specialized in smuggling Syrian migrants, arresting 19 people on suspicion of belonging to the organization, putting six of them in pre-trial detention.Preliminary investigations showed that the migrants were departing from Lebanon, passing through Beirut airport to Egypt for 4,000 euros, and then the Syrians traveled by land to Libya, Tunisia and Algeria for 3,500 euros.(ITALPRESS).

Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Italians remained the most popular market for Malta during July, followed by the United Kingdom. This was confirmed by Malta’s International Airport who confirmed that during last month it has welcomed 848,716 passengers. The company operating Malta’s international airport said that aircraft movements during last month remained in line with July 2019 levels, while seat capacity saw an increase of 3.8% as a result of larger aircrafts being operated on flights to Malta. Being Malta International Airport’s most connected market through flights to 20 airports, Italy showed no signs of ceding the top spot to the United Kingdom, which was the second most popular market for the month. The French market continued to perform exceptionally well, registering growth of 52% over 2019 and outperforming Germany to rank third. Five airlines currently connect Malta International Airport to 10 French airports, contributing to this market’s increasing popularity. Passenger traffic from Spain grew by a marginal 1.2% compared to pre-pandemic levels, with this market retaining the same position it has held since May 2023. The airport said that the August holiday rush is set to bring busier days. Traffic is expected to peak on 17 and 24 August, with each one of these days forecast to see more than 32,000 passengers.(ITALPRESS).

Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta is registering an increase in Covid-19 cases and in respiratory infections this summer. This was confirmed by the local health authorities saying that positive cases of coronavirus continued to be detected.
According to the local health authorities, between June 5 and August 6, an average of 12 positive cases of Covid-19 were reported daily. Between July 31 and August 6, one person died while COVID positive and 151 new cases were registered.
Breaking down the ages of reported COVID-19 cases from June 5 to August 6, most positive cases (169) were over the age of 80 and those aged between 50-69. Another 163 cases were reported between the ages of 30 to 49 and 147 cases aged between 70-79.
There is no longer a legal requirement to report positive cases to health authorities. This means that the number of COVID-19 cases in the community could be much more than what is being reported.
Local doctors reported that this summer more patients are turning up with coughs, sore throats and nose infections, which is all very unusual for this time of year.
Patients who have COVID-like symptoms are advised to take a rapid medical test and, if found positive, should isolate and retest on the seventh day.
This spike is not a local phenomenon. In recent weeks, US public health officials have warned of a “mild summer surge” of COVID-19 while the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention noticed that hospitalisations for COVID were up 12 per cent for the week ending July 22. According to studies, the new coronavirus variant – EG.5 – is causing 17 per cent of new COVID-19 cases in the US.
Symptoms associated with this variant are a sore throat, runny nose, fever, cough, fatigue, muscle aches and headaches.
According to the local health authorities no new variants have so far been detected in Malta and herd immunity remains high in Malta, thus, most cases are mild.

– Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Three individuals, two Italian and an Albanian have been arrested on suspicions that they form part of an organised crime group and were involved in drug trafficking.
The police said that the Italians aged 44 and 40, and the Albanian aged 40, were arrested following an investigation into an alleged drug transfer.
On Saturday morning, the police monitored the vehicle being used by the 44-year-old Italian man. He was later stopped, and the police found ten kilos of substance believed to be cocaine in ten packets with an estimated street value of €1.3 million.
The two other individuals who were also under police surveillance were arrested some time later in Hal Qormi.
The three men are expected to be arraigned over the coming days.
Photo: CMRU
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – World-renowned Italian singer and songwriter Gianni Morandi gave a beautiful, energetic show in front of thousands of people who were present last night at Forti Manoel on Manoel Island, in Gzira. Morandi continued with his ‘GoGiannigò summer tour in Malta where he was given a warm welcome four years after his last concert in Malta. Against the backdrop of the capital, Valletta, Gianni Morandi interpreted and sang some of his best songs of all time. Among these “Occhi di ragazza” and “Scendi la pioggia” where those present danced to the rhythm of the songs. His electrifying performance captivated the audience and this tour was no exception. Those present sang along to classics like “C’era un ragazzo che come me amava i Beatles e i Rolling Stones” e “In ginocchio da te”. Morandi also interpreted his iconic song “Fatti mandare dalla mamma”. Introducing this song, Morandi said he imagines that when God calls him, televisions and newscasts will be at the forefront to broadcast excerpts from this song. During the concert he did not fail to pay homage to the late Lucio Dalla, a great friend of Morandi, where he performed “Caruso”, which was very well received by the audience. The concert was organized in collaboration with the Italian Embassy in Malta. The President of Malta George Vella and the Italian Ambassador to Malta Fabrizio Romano were present at the concert.

foto: xf3/Italpress

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Dozens of migrants and foreign workers were arrested in recent days and weeks by the Maltese authorities during raids and inspections in various localities around Malta and Gozo. During the inspections, the police are targeting third-country nationals suspected that they are living or working in Malta without the necessary permits.
Upon arrest, the people are escorted on a police bus, taken to a detention centre, and following further investigations, they will be deported from Malta. Most of them are being rounded up in streets and on public transport.
The mass arrests of people from African and Asian countries are being carried out by the Policès Immigration Squad, assisted by the Detention Services. However, other joint inspections involving two government agencies; Identity Malta and Jobplus are targeting construction sites on suspicion of employing third-country nationals without the required working documents.
Identity Malta urged Maltese employers to take the required steps to determine their employees’ legal status, adding that “foreign workers, particularly those from countries outside the European Union, should have a Residence Permit that includes the employer’s information as well as the role for which he or she is employed.”
The police confirmed the raids and inspections will continue in the coming days and weeks.

– foto: CMRU – Polizia di Malta

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The legendary Italian singer and songwriter Gianni Morandi returned to Malta as part of his Summer 2023 tour ‘Go Gianni Gò when on Saturday night he will take the stage at the iconic venue of Fort Manoel on Manoel island in Gzira.
The last time Gianni Morandi visited Malta was in 2019. “I love music, I love to be surrounded by people, I love what I do,” Italian pop culture icon Gianni Morandi told journalists at the Italian Cultural Institute in Valletta.
Asked about his relationship with the younger generations especially younger fans, Morandi explained that he continues to be himself, and to keep himself updated with contemporary music by listening to a lot of it. He does not only look back on his past hits but also works on new things. “I like to experiment. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t,” he said.
“I don’t make any efforts or try to become someone else. I try to give people courage and hope and send positive messages through my music,” he added.
The Italian Ambassador to Malta Fabrizio Romano, observed that having Morandi in Malta is a great asset for the embassy’s work, highlighting the importance of culture in bringing the two nations together.
Maltese Culture minister Owen Bonnici also spoke about the concert as an opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations between Malta and Italy.
During the press conference, Morandi also proceeded to call Pupo, who is in Malta for Notte Italiana with Pupo, which was held on Thursday.
In 2022, Morandi placed third at Sanremo with Apri tutte le porte. He also bagged the press room’s Lucio Dalla award.

– foto: Doi

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The employment rate in Malta for young people following their graduation from tertiary level is one of the highest amongst the EU countries. This results from a report published by the the European Union’s statistics office; Eurostat. According to Eurostat figures, last year 91% of all new Maltese graduated were in employment. The highest rates were registered in Germany (92%) and the Netherlands (93%). On the other hand, Italy, Romania, and Greece are the three countries whose graduates struggle the most to penetrate the job market. During 2022, 82% of European young people aged between 20 and 34 who graduated, found employment. Eurostat said that the rate for this group of individuals increased by 7% between 2014 and 2022, with the pandemic being the only stumbling block. However, the figures also show that last year Europe registered a new record, surpassing the 81% figure registered in 2018. The rate of male graduates in employment around Europe was slightly higher than that of females with just over two percentage points. This is also due to the demand in the job market, and the trends in subject choice, where more men than women tend to graduate in sciences and technology. However, it was also observed that this difference was the smallest on in the last 8 years. In Malta, the difference between the gender is minimal, with young women graduates in employment standing at 0.3% more than their male counterparts, at a rate of 90.9%.

– Photo: Agenzia Fotogramma –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews