LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – L’ONG internazionale Alarm Phone sta insistendo con le autorità maltesi e italiane a intervenire immediatamente poichè 24 migranti sono in pericolo molto vicino a Malta e alla Sicilia.
Alarm phone ha confermato questa mattina di essere stata contattata da un gruppo di migranti che si trova in difficoltà su una piccola imbarcazione. Hanno detto che la barca a motore si era fermata e che sono alla deriva.
L’Ong ha esortato tutte le autorità a non perdere tempo e a inviare senza indugio una missione di soccorso.

– foto: Agenzia Fotogramma –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese national airline, Air Malta has cancelled a further six flights to and from Catania after the Sicilian airport was damaged by a major fire earlier last month.
The national airline said it had to cancel the flights scheduled for today and tomorrow due to the continued aircraft movement limitations imposed by the Catania airport.
Some two weeks ago, a fire broke out at the Vincenzo Bellini Catania Airport resulting in a partial closure of the Sicilian airport. Although flights resumed, the airport is still facing operational difficulties.
Air Malta said this “is an ongoing situation with more information to be updated as and when received”.

– foto: ufficio stampa Sac –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Italians were the most passengers on board cruise liners arriving in Malta during the second quarter of 2023. This was confirmed by official statistics released by the National Statistics Office. The number of passengers who arrived in Malta on cruise liners increased by almost 88,000 and exceeded 225,000 passengers. More than half the passengers came from EU countries. The main market was Italy with 16.9% of all passengers, followed by Germany at 12.6%. More than 110,000 passengers arrived in Malta from countries outside of the EU, more than half (50.5%) came from the UK and 24.8% came from the US. The NSO said that those passengers who passed through Malta to continue their journey to another country amounted to 186,149 passengers. Statistics shows that between April and June 98 cruise liners visited Malta, which is four less than during the same months of last year. On average, every ship which entered Malta carried almost 2,300 passenger, 953 more than the previous year.

Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The sensational Italian singer and songwriter Marco Masini took the stage with his band during a live concert in Malta at the Ghaxaq Music Festival where he delivered an exceptional performance that left thousands in awe. The Ghaxaq Music Festival, a festival of music spread over two days, reached its peak last night with Masini’s great performance. This was Masini’s fourth visit to Malta. The Italian singer is known for his lyrics, that reflect the various emotions and events man goes through during one’s lifetime. Known for his powerful vocals and emotional performances, Masini mesmerized the audience with his chart-topping hits. During last night’s performance, Marco Masini interpreted the many love songs for which he is known, including Ti Vorrei, Principessa and T’Innamorerai, a 30-year-old melody that also gives its name to his tour. Marco Masini said he is always happy to come over to Malta for a singing engagement, as he feels very welcomed. “It’s lovely to be back, I am always given a great welcome. It is incredibly satisfying for us to deliver new material as well as other material that is part of my recent performances.” When asked about the Italian music scene, Marco Masini said new talent is constantly surfacing, adding that he believes very much in Italian youths and their musical talent. Masini won the San Remo festival on two occasions: in 1990 when he won the Novitá category with the song Disperato, and in 2004 when he again won the festival with the song L’Uomo Volante. (ITALPRESS).

Foto: Foto: Ghaxaq Music Festival

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A Maltese man was arrest by the police after he was found in possession of 7kg of suspected heroin and 100 grams of cannabis hidden inside his van as he was arriving in Malta from Sicily. The 37-year-old man from Fgura was stopped as he dismenbarked from the catamaran on Friday night. The Police searched the Ford Transit van he was driving and found the drug stashed in an axle of one of the van’s rear wheels. Customs officials assisted the police during the operation.
According to the local authorities have placed an estimated street value of more than €400,000 on the drug haul. The man was arrest and taken to a lock-up at police headquarters in Floriana for further investigations. He is expected to be arraigned later on Saturday or on Sunday.

Foto: fonte polizia di Malta

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese government inaugurated a new Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York. Maltese Foreign Minister Ian Borg said this will give Malta a new mission close to the United Nations Headquarters.
This comes during Maltàs rotating membership to the UN Security Council. The Security Council is one of the UN’s six decision-making bodies in charge of peace and international security. All United Nations members must abide by the decisions of the council. Maltàs Permanent Representative to the UN Vanessa Frazier said that the new mission will allow Malta to continue promoting peace and security, sustainable development and human rights during Maltàs membership of the council.

– photo Doi –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese health authorities stated that non-compulsory medical operations at Mater Dei Hospital may have to be postponed from today as the management of Maltàs general hospital is dealing with an influx of patients as a result of the recent heatwave. According to local reports the hospital’s emergency department received 102 admissions between Tuesday and Wednesday. Many patients, especially elderly ones, show symptoms consistent with dehydration or hyperthermia. Health authorities said that four people died of heat-related conditions over the weekend. However, published reports quoting medical sources say that number is far higher than that, published by the Superintendence of Public Health. Malta was hit by record temperatures of over 40 degrees for July, and continuous electricity blackouts, made for a miserable week for several households, with people left struggling to cool themselves in the stifling heat. Overcrowding at Mater Dei Hospital led to patients being transferred to private hospitals. The Health Ministry in its statement reiterated its appeal for people to take precautions because of the high temperatures and call a doctor should they suffer symptoms and feel ill.
(ITALPRESS).
– photo credit Mater Dei Hospital –

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Home Affairs Ministers of Malta and Libya have had official talks in Malta on security cooperation and the training of the Libyan coastguard in search and rescue and combatting human trafficking. The discussions were held at the maritime base of the Armed Forces of Malta in Floriana.
Maltese Minister Byron Camilleri said security cooperation between Malta and Libya was bearing fruit, as was the training of the Libyan coastguard by the Armed Forces of Malta. The purpose of the training, he said, was to save life at sea and also to combat people traffickers.
Camilleri and the Libyan minister, Emad Al-Trabelsi boarded a Maltese patrol boat to watch joint training with the Libyan coast guard at sea.
Trabelsi thanked the Maltese government and the Armed Forces of Malta for their assistance, saying the purpose was to improve law enforcement and eliminate the human traffickers.

– Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese health authorities confirmed that three people died of dehydration and another passed away because of hyperthermia over the weekend as Malta is experiencing one of the longest and worst heatwaves in its history with temperatures reaching above 40 degrees.
The health authorities stated that 34 people had died in the past weekend, mostly due to cardiovascular conditions or chronic exacerbations of other chronic conditions. During the past few days, elderly people needed medical attention from hospitals and health centers. Between July 17 and 21, four patients were admitted to Mater Dei Hospital’s emergency department as a result of heatstroke, sunstroke, hyperthermia, and sunburn.
The deaths come as Malta struggles through a week-long heatwave coupled with a series of power cuts. An outage was also reported at Mater Dei Hospital in the early hours of Tuesday after backup generators failed to operate. An investigation is being carried out by the health authorities.
Malta has entered into its eleventh day of widespread power outages, with the Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela announcing the launch of a compensation scheme to address the recent power outages. The scheme will provide relief to those affected by the faults in the electricity distribution system, offering compensation for losses incurred, particularly spoiled food and essential items stored in refrigerators and freezers during power outages.
The Leader of the Opposition Bernard Grech has asked Prime Minister Robert Abela to declare a state of emergency regarding the ongoing power cut crisis.
Many families spent sleepless nights without electricity and businesses threw away perishable goods and suffered a bad reputation. He insisted that giving the public compensation is not enough, as the people deserve to be helped as soon as possible. Last week, the Nationalist Opposition called for Parliament to urgently convene to discuss the so-called national electricity crisis, however, this request was not accepted by the government.
Meanwhile, the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development will be meeting to discuss the continued power cuts, following a request by the Malta Chamber of Commerce. Prime Minister Robert Abela said that he has asked the MCESD chairman to summon social partners to meet to discuss what he described as “the present climate challenges, energy and the ongoing and upcoming works to strengthen the electricity distribution system”.
The Malta Chamber of Commerce has said that the ongoing electricity crisis has caused a lot of turmoil within the business community, with the hospitality sector saying that the power cuts not only caused hotels and restaurants financial losses but have also led them to suffer reputational damage. “This current state of play cannot persist and worst of all repeat itself – the right decisions and timely investment need to be taken now. This country needs to have a long-term economic and social vision that goes beyond the political spectrum”, it urged.
Power cuts left thousands without water supply. A number of localities’ water supply has been interrupted after a boosting station stopped working.

– Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta registered on Monday a new record of electricity demand on the same day which also set a new temperature record for July. Enemalta, the State energy provider said that the peak energy load reached 649MW surpassing the 600MW mark for the first time last week.
The Meteorological Office has confirmed that the temperature on Monday afternoon peaked at 42.7°C, equaling the highest temperature ever recorded in July in Malta since records started to be kept. The record temperature ever recorded in Malta to date is 43.8°C, recorded during a heatwave in August 1999.
The heatwave has caused an energy crisis that has frustrated and outraged the public and embarrassed the Maltese government. The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association stated that the numerous power cuts that have plagued Malta in the past week have not only caused hotels and restaurants financial losses but have also led them to suffer reputational damage.
“Many tourists who found themselves in hotels without electricity have turned to social media complaining that their vacation was ruined with some also giving low scoring reviews to hotels on booking platforms. The same applies to restaurants affected by power cuts whose patrons were disappointed. These restaurants lost precious peak season opportunities as they were not able to function without electric energy,” it said.
In view that such phonomena caused by climate change is here to stay, the association called on the Maltese government “to take urgent action and address various difficulties which currently are impacting the tourism industry, risking to seriously damage the identity and reputation of Malta being a truly beautiful and authentic Mediterranean destination.”
Meanwhile, power outages persisted on Tuesday for the tenth consecutive day, despite Enemalta assuring the public on Sunday that electricity had been restored to those affected by cable outages. Enemalta said that it has so far repaired 45 out of 64 high voltage cable faults and workers were dispatched to address another five faults that developed over Sunday night, in order to restore electricity supply to the affected areas.

– photo di xf3/Italpress –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews