ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – “As a country at the center of the Mediterranean, Italy knows it has a great responsibility: this government has shown it wants to play its part in global dynamics, in particular with regard to opportunities related to the development of economic interconnections”. This was stated by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during the tenth edition of the Rome Med Dialogues.

“I am thinking, for example, of the development of Imec, which aims to connect Europe with India,” continued Meloni, adding, “connecting the port cities of the Middle East and our continent, including Italy with Trieste on the map, would allow us to unleash enormous potential for our economy and our trade. Conceiving the Mediterranean as a global energy region is an extraordinary opportunity for everyone. We have already proposed Italy to become the main hub for connecting energy between Africa and Europe. Energy connections are one of the pillars of the Mattei Plan with which we aim to become the European gateway for Mediterranean with regard to gas and hydrogen”.

Meloni emphasized, “We want to build an increasingly secure and stable geopolitical space based on equal cooperation, not on exploitation or charity.”

“Our challenge is to enable African nations to make the best use of the resources they have and live with stable governments and prosperous societies. Until now, the right not to emigrate has not been guaranteed,” she continued. “We need to give these people a chance to have a future of dignity, growth, work and opportunities: true solidarity and respect can only be achieved in this way and that is what we have been working on since we took office. We are trying to Europeanize the Mattei Plan to create synergies between different tools that operate with the same objective.”

Meloni said that following the Italian government’s suggestion at our instigation, Von der Leyen has decided to introduce a portfolio dedicated to the Mediterranean into the new European Commission and to work on a plan for the Mediterranean, an initiative we are looking at with great attention and towards which we are ready to provide full cooperation. “This scenario demonstrates a change towards the southern area of Europe and this is due to the Italian motivation: this change is particularly visible in the way of managing the migratory flows, as demonstrated by the support for the memoranda signed with Tunisia and Egypt. The commitment is on the one hand to create development, on the other to fight traffickers’ networks: it is a path that must be consolidated to increasingly combat illegal immigration”.

– Photo Agenzia Fotogramma –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Maltàs Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo has resigned following a report published by The Times of Malta, that his wife, Amanda Muscat received payments which amount to around 50,000 euros from a private company linked to Italian cyclist Valerio Agnoli in 2023, and which financial investigators suspect were a kickback for a Malta Tourism Authority contract.

The payments considered as “suspicious” by the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit – Maltàs anti-money laundering body – have been flagged to the police on suspicion of money laundering.

The Times of Malta reported that the payments were transferred to Bartolòs wife Amanda Muscat over a period of about six months. The Italian cyclist describes himself on social media as Visit Maltàs head of sponsorship.

Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela forced Clayton Bartolo to resign as a minister and Labour MP after the newspaper sent questions querying the matter last week.

Agnoli was hired by the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) in 2021 on an “ad hoc” basis to promote cycling tourism. The arrangement was formalised last year with Agnoli being put on what a Tourism Ministry spokesperson described as an” all-inclusive remuneration of 20,000 euros per annum”.

Muscat was hired by an Agnoli-linked company in mid-2023, roughly 18 months after her job as a ministry consultant was terminated. Her work at the Agnoli-linked company ended in December of that year.

Bartolo was also forced to resign from Labour’s parliamentary group and will now serve as an independent MP.

A spokesperson for Clayton Bartolo confirmed that his wife was “given work on an assignment basis” by an international company connected to Agnoli. The work consisted of Muscat “assisting” in a number of cycling related international initiatives in Equatorial Guinea, Italy, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. “This assignment had absolutely nothing to do with Malta and bore no relation with the work being done by Agnoli for the MTA. Muscat was not employed with the said company, but was providing an assignment-based service, as every private citizen has a right to do. Indeed, she fulfilled her tax obligations in accordance with her income”.

The Tourism Ministry spokesperson said Agnoli provides his professional services in the product and marketing directorates at the Malta Tourism Authority, mainly focusing on cycling tourism. “He has been pivotal in Visit Maltàs strategy to penetrate the cycling world, notably the Giro D’Italia. He lends his expertise to the Authority in managing its branding partnership with the professional cycling team Eolo-Kometa”, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said Agnolìs brief includes the organisation of an annual training camp in Malta, coordinating the activities between the MTA and Vatican Cycling, coordinating the activities relating to the Giro D’Italia, advising the authority on the international cycling world, and assisting the MTA with the development and implementation of cycling tourism product within the Maltese islands.

This is the second time a job given to Bartolòs wife has landed the former Minister in deep trouble. In 2020, Bartolo made his wife and then-girlfriend a ministry consultant. Muscat was his secretary at the time. In March 2021, she was transferred to Clint Camillerìs Gozo Ministry and given a pay bump, shifting her salary up to €68,000 a year. However, Muscat continued to work as Bartolòs secretary, while earning a consultant’s salary – including a €20,000-a-year “expertise allowance” that regulations state should only be given in “exceptional circumstances”.

The Standards Commissioner found no evidence that Muscat – whose sole qualifications were a couple of A levels and whose previous job experience focused on secretarial work and not on any consultancy work for either ministry.

Bartolo initially offered a conditional apology for the breach, saying “no one is perfect” and saying calls for him to resign were based on “political spin”.

– Photo Department of Information Malta –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

RABAT (MOROCCO) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Morocco plans to launch the first tenders in 2025 for the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project, a strategic infrastructure intended to connect the two countries through several African states. The announcement was reported by the Telquel newspaper.
The project, initially presented in 2016 during the official visit of King Mohammed VI in Abuja, aims to strengthen energy cooperation in Africa, with a particular focus on the supply of natural gas and the development of renewable energy.
The first phase of the pipeline will involve Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal, where tenders for the construction of the infrastructure will be issued. A private company will be in charge of managing the operations, including construction, operation and maintenance of the pipeline.
With a planned length of over 5,600 kilometers, the pipeline will cross 16 countries located mainly along the Atlantic coast of Africa. The total investment is estimated at 25 billion dollars, while the maximum capacity of the pipeline will be 30 billion cubic meters of gas per year.
In addition to meeting local demand, a significant part of the gas will be exported to Europe. Economic and technical studies already carried out have confirmed the feasibility and profitability of the project.
In addition to the transportation of natural gas, there is the possibility of including a pipeline dedicated to the transportation of green hydrogen, a step towards the growing needs of renewable energy.
The National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines of Morocco (ONHYM), in charge of implementation, plans to establish a project management authority in 2024. This supervision will be essential for the final approval of the agreements between the participating countries, paving the way for the start of construction scheduled for 2025.
The Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline is a key project for the energy integration of the African continent and for strengthening Moroccòs role as a regional energy hub.

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta’s Environment Minister Miriam Dalli expressed satisfaction with the significant increase in financial support for vulnerable nations following two weeks of rigorous discussions which were held in Baku, Azerbaijan during COP29 summit. The fund is set to increase from $100 billion to $300 billion each year by 2035, aimed at assisting these nations in adapting to the effects of climate change.
Meanwhile, Malta has shown a measured sense of hope regarding the end results where a worldwide consensus on climate action was achieved.
“This conference particularly highlighted the annual financing that will be allocated to the most vulnerable nations,” Dalli stated. “Malta was one of the voices advocating for increased contributions, from both public and private sectors, to ensure the effective support of this fund.”
Malta played a significant role in influencing the global adaptation goals, as Minister Dalli and her Austrian counterpart engaged in negotiations on behalf of the European Union. The established stance sets the stage for ongoing dialogues at the upcoming climate conference in Brazil next year.
Malta voiced its disappointment regarding the insufficient advancements in mitigation, greenhouse gas emissions. “Reaching a robust agreement on adaptation is gratifying,” Dalli remarked, “yet it is evident that some nations showed minimal readiness to engage in initiatives that could truly tackle mitigation and lower greenhouse gas emissions.”
Dalli pointed out that numerous countries continue to depend on fossil fuels like coal and heavy fuel oil for their energy needs, which poses a significant obstacle to making substantial progress in reducing global emissions.
-photo Agenzia Fotogramma-
(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The number of Maltese residents who travelled abroad this summer increased by 10 per cent over the same period last year. According to the National Statistics Office Italy remained the most popular destination, with a share of 44.1 per cent of total tourist trips. During the quarter under review, a total of 196,271 outbound tourist trips were for holiday purposes, followed by 44,598 trips for visiting friends and relatives. Most outbound tourists were aged between 25 and 44 (44.9 per cent), followed by those within the 45 to 64 age bracket (26.6 per cent). Outbound tourists towards EU and non-EU countries increased by 11.6 and 4.4 per cent respectively, when compared to the same quarter of 2023. The total nights spent by outbound tourists in the third quarter of 2024 almost reached 1.9 million nights, an increase by 3.6 per cent. The total estimated expenditure by outbound tourists between July and September stood at €267.5 million, equivalent to an average of €979 per capita.
(ITALPRESS).
-Photo credit: Agenzia Fotogramma-

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela met with Antònio Costa, who is set to take over as president of the Council of the European Union. The meeting was held at the Auberge de Castille in Valletta, and focused on the agenda for the EU’s new legislature, with an emphasis on advancing the bloc’s policy agenda under Costàs leadership.
Costa, formerly Portugal’s socialist prime minister, is on a European tour visiting various capitals ahead of his appointment to the council presidency next month. The Council of the EU, comprised of heads of government from EU member states, plays a central role in shaping the bloc’s policies and direction.
The council defines the general political direction and priorities of the European Union, grouping EU heads of government.

– Photo Department of Information Malta –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALY) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A training course dedicated to Italian companies that wish to acquire skills to operate in the geographies included in the Mattei Plan, which aims to create commercial relationships and enhance Italian excellence. It is the “Africa Champion Program”, launched by Sace with the patronage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and with the support of the mission structure for the implementation of the Mattei Plan of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers together with institutional actors such as the Ice Agency, Cop, Simest, Confindustria Assafrica & Mediterraneo and Càmara de Comèrcio Mocambique-Itàlia, which will officially start in 2025.
“It is a training and meeting program with those who may be the new players with whom Italian companies can interact in Africa. Together with the world of Italian institutions and the actors of the system, we want to accompany this approach towards Africa and we can do it because we start from what is our knowledge of that territory. Since the beginning of the Mattei Plan we have already carried out 1.2 billion initiatives and we are starting from here to ensure that there is even greater impetus for SMEs to enter Africa”, explained Alessandra Ricci, CEO of Sace, underlining how the current geopolitical situation is not creating difficulties because “it has affected other areas. We had already identified Africa as one of the potential so-called gate countries, in fact, we are opening a new office in Rabat in Morocco in addition to the other two offices in Cairo and Johannesburg”.
For Alessandro Terzulli, Chief Economist of Sace, it is “a continent with high potential, it is positioned to capture some macro trends that will increasingly assert themselves such as the demographic one, that of the development of a middle class, urbanization, the technological one. A driving approach is necessary for our companies to be able to seize the potential, but it is also important to shape the bilateral aspect”.
The project is divided into two phases: a training course divided into 3 modules with vertical insights on Ivory Coast, Egypt, Morocco, Mozambique, Tunisia, Kenya and on three key sectors: energy, infrastructure and agri-food; Business Matching, or a second phase dedicated to the creation of business opportunities through business matching sessions, between Italian companies and African counterparts, also within the scope of Sacès push strategy program.
Africa Champion Program is just the beginning of a series of opportunities for discussion and sharing of visions and concrete tools to support Italian companies that are interested in approaching the African market or that are already present and intend to strengthen their presence in the geographical area. Africa looks to the future with the momentum of a region that, after difficult years, aims to be the next protagonist of global growth. Despite the usual, profound differences between the over 50 countries that make up the African continent, positive signals are emerging from markets of interest for our companies. Trade between Italy and Africa has already shown considerable potential during 2024, reaching 60 billion euros, as shown by Istat data collected by Sacès Sudi Office. The forecasts for 2025 are positive: an increase of 7.7% is expected in North Africa and 8.5% in Sub-Saharan Africa, considering 14 billion and 6.5 billion respectively of Italian exports recorded in 2023. In this context, Sacès new approach for Africa has seen a growing exposure to the continent: from 2022 Sace has approved 1.2 billion in 2024, the start date of the Mattei Plan. To the traditional export credit offer, in collaboration with the Mission Structure of the Mattei Plan, Sace has added push operations to strengthen the role of Italian companies in Africa, identifying high-potential geographies such as Ivory Coast, Senegal and the first Push Strategy operation in Benin, granting a guarantee to cover a loan of 120 million euros destined for the Ministry of Finance of Benin. Furthermore, Sace has guaranteed the first financing of 100 million euros to the multilateral development bank Trade Development Bank (TDB) to promote sustainable growth and African regional integration, increasing export opportunities for Italian companies.
(ITALPRESS).
-Photo credit: xb1/Italpress-

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and the commander of Hamas’ military wing, Mohammed Deif. According to a statement published today, the court in The Hague unanimously issued two decisions rejecting the Jewish statès appeals regarding the court’s jurisdiction “over the situation in the State of Palestine in general and over Israeli citizens in particular” and on Tel Aviv’s request “to discontinue any proceedings before the Court in the situation in question, including the examination of the requests for arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, submitted by the Prosecutor’s Office on 20 May 2024”. In September, International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan requested “as a matter of urgency” arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif. The request was prompted by the deteriorating situation in Palestine and the war crimes and crimes against humanity documented in previous arrest warrants filed in May. Khan also called for Ismail Haniyeh to be removed from the list, as he was killed in July.

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

CITTA’ DEL VATICANO (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Pope Francis received a delegation from the “Bambino Gesù del Cairo” Association, represented by the President Monsignor Yoannis Lazhi Gaid, former personal secretary, the President of the Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital of Rome, the President of Agostino Gemelli IRCCS University Polyclinic Foundation, the President of the Italian company RI Group, the President of the Hospitals Without Borders Foundation, the President of the Human Fraternity Foundation in Egypt, representatives of the Teladoc Society and the Butterfly Society and by some members and benefactors who contributed to this initiative.
?Pope Francis blessed the two Mobile Clinics, located in Piazza dei Protomartiri Romani, which will be available for the treatment of sick children and victims of war and their families, in places where healthcare facilities are lacking.
?The two Mobile Clinics are part of the initiative called “Salus”, promoted by the “Bambino Gesù del Cairo” Association, by the Human Fraternity Foundation in Egypt and by the Hospitals Without Borders Foundation.

Pope Francis expressed his joy and blessing towards this initiative: “I thank all the people and organizations who have worked and contributed to the set up of these two Mobile Clinics which will provide assistance and care to numerous children and sick people and reflect the spirit of the Document on Human Brotherhood. I am pleased to see the Bambino Gesù Hospital, Gemelli, the Italian authorities and other associations and foundations cooperating together in this beautiful Salus project. I encourage you to continue to support these concrete charitable initiatives that Don Gaid, with you, is able to carry out. With affection I greet all of you present and the delegations from the USA, the United Kingdom, Egypt, Argentina and Italy. May the Lord bless you and may Our Lady keep you under her maternal mantle and please pray for me!”
?Monsignor Gaid expressed his gratitude to the Holy Father and to all the benefactors who made this project possible which represents a small light in a world shocked by too much pain and suffering and supports the Association’s motto: “All the darkness in the world does not put off the light of a small candle.” An initiative that unites everyone to serve everyone without distinction or preference in the spirit of the Document on “Human Brotherhood for World Peace and Common Coexistence” signed by Pope Francis on 4 February 2019 in Abu Dhabi.

The news was published in Italy and abroad by journalist Biagio Maimone, Director of Communications for the Bambino Gesù Association of Cairo.
?Fuad Sweiss, President and Founder of (HWB) expressed his joy and gratitude to the Holy Father, assuring the commitment to continue and collaborate on other humanitarian initiatives.
?The other projects of the Bambino Gesù Association of Cairo are the “Oasi della Pietà” orphanage, which was inaugurated on May 5, 2024 in the city of Cairo; the “Human Fraternity Restaurant Chain”, called Fratello, which offers free meals for Egyptian families in need inaugurated on 9 January 2024. Next year, work will begin on the construction of the “Bambino Gesù del Cairo” Hospital, the first “Popès Hospital” outside Italy.
?The ceremony was also attended by an Egyptian delegation led by Nabila Makram, Head of the Technical Secretariat and Executive Director of the National Alliance for Civil Development Work, Mahmoud Talaat, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the Holy See, Enas Mekkawy, Ambassador of the Arab League in Rome, Kais Abu Dayyeh, Ambassador of Jordan to Italy, Luciano Pezzotti, Ambassador of Italy to Jordan.

– Photo Biagio Maimone –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – In its annual country report, the International Monetary Fund has projected that the Maltese economy will grow by 5% in 2024 and 4% in 2025, in line with projections made by the European Commission last week. That will be among the highest in the EU. However, the IMF said fixed energy price policies should be phased out and the funds allocated for investment (including green) and productivity-enhancing policies. The energy subsidies account for a fifth of Maltàs financial deficit. However, the finance minister last month declared that the energy subsidies will stay, because they support investment, and their cost as a percentage of GDP and in real terms is well below what it was when they were introduced at the peak of the Covid crisis. The Fund warned once again, that Malta should ensure financial stability by maintaining close monitoring of risks that can arise from banks’ concentrated lending to the real estate sector. The fund said developing a long-term fiscal framework is essential for strengthening Maltàs policy decision-making and aligning fiscal planning with strategic priorities. In other parts of its report, the IMF said Maltàs tourism sector “requires more effective management”.
Malta is experiencing numerous hotel projects and an increase in other types of accommodation. The IMF added tourism may continue to grow significantly, potentially exacerbating labour shortages, infrastructure bottlenecks, and social and environmental concerns, while priority should be given to steadily implementing the Malta Tourism Strategy 2021-2030, which aims to promote sustainable and high-quality tourism.
(ITALPRESS).
– Photo credit: Tourism Office of Malta-

Source: medNews