LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The organization SOS Humanity will open its search and rescue ship Humanity 1 to the public from 2 to 11 September in the port of Syracuse, Sicily.
The open deck areas will be freely accessible for visitors, supporters and journalists every day from 10am – 6pm. There will be special events such as guided tours and a panel discussion.
In a photo exhibition on board, photographers will show their impressions from rescue operations. All 10 photographers have been part of the crew aboard the Humanity 1 during recent operations and shed light on the search and rescue activities of SOS Humanity in the Central Mediterranean. Their photos were taken between December 2022 and July 2024 and portray different angles and perspectives of a search and rescue mission. Furthermore, guided tours through the exhibition will be offered every day at 3pm, 4pm and 5pm. No registration needed.
On 12 September from 14pm to 16pm a panel discussion open to members of the European Parliament and journalists will be held. SOS Humanity welcomes among others the following speakers on the panel: Sandro Gallinelli, retired Admiral of the Italian Coast Guard; Chiara Denaro, legal expert on migration and Mirka Schàfer, Head of Advocacy and current Human Rights Observer on board Humanity 1. Together, they will discuss the humanitarian and political situation in the central Mediterranean and how to ensure human rights in this contested context.
– photo credit SOS Humanity –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – According to data issued by Eurostar, the Maltese graduates are the most likely in Europe to find immediate job, with almost 96% of graduates finding a job within three years of finishing their studies. The employment rate of graduates in Malta has remained high throughout most of this century but had dipped below the 90% mark for the first time in two decades in 2021 and 2022, as graduate employment rates dropped throughout Europe following the outbreak of COVID-19.
But 2023 saw this bounce back to an almost all-time high of 95.8%, well above the European average of 83.5% and just above second-placed the Netherlands. Malta remains the only Mediterranean or Southern European country to register a rate above the EU average. Other Mediterranean states, from Cyprus (80.6%) to Spain (78.7%), France (80.1%) and Greece (72.3%) drag the EU average down, with neighbouring Italy propping up the European table at 67.5%. Just over 96% of graduates with a tertiary education find a job within one to three years of graduation, while this figure drops slightly to 90% for those with a non-tertiary education. Although Malta is succeeding in getting graduates into jobs, it is battling to get students to stay in school in the first place, with a government strategy launched last year hoping to bring Maltàs rate of early school leavers in line with the EU average. Currently, one in ten 18-24 year-olds in Malta are early-school leavers. This remains above the EU median, with the strategy aiming to bring this down to 9% by 2030.
(ITALPRESS).
-Photo credit: Agenzia Fotogramma-

Source: medNews

RIMINI (ITALPRESS/MNA) – “The crucial problem remains the reduction of public debt in relation to the product. High debt makes financing for businesses more expensive, slowing down their competitiveness and incentives to invest; exposes the Italian economy to the erratic movements of the financial markets. It takes resources away from counter-cyclical policies, social interventions and measures in favour of development. Italy is the only country in the euro area where public spending on interest on debt is almost equivalent to that on education. I highlight this comparison because it is emblematic of how high debt is weighing on the future of young generations, limiting their opportunities. Addressing the debt issue requires budget policies oriented towards stability and the gradual achievement of adequate primary surpluses”. This was stated by the governor of the Bank of Italy, Fabio Panetta, while he was speaking at the Rimini Meeting.

“Debt reduction will be difficult without accelerating economic development. The right direction is prudence in the management of public finances, accompanied by a decisive increase in productivity and growth. This virtuous circle would significantly increase the chances of success and strengthen the credibility of our policies, and lightens the burden of interest expenditure”, added the governor, while underlining how “the discussion on the” European “rules is not the most important one; we must not reduce the debt because of European rules, but because it is appropriate to do so. Debt is sustainable but if it is so high it leads to inefficiencies and forces us to spend money to deal with past mistakes. Therefore the need to reduce debt is independent of European rules.”

Panetta highlighted the “signs of vitality” for the Italian economy and this progress allow us to look to the future with confidence. “Without indulging in excesses of optimism, we must start to build sustained, lasting and inclusive development. Growth remains the fundamental objective for Italy, but to achieve it we must decisively address the unresolved structural problems.”

He referred to the Recovery and Resilience Plan. “I believe there are the conditions for the RRP to have positive effects on the Italian economy. From 2021 to 2026 it will have an effect of 9% on the GDP due to demand, the potential income will be 4% higher.” He added, “these are estimates subject to high uncertainty. For example the impact will depend on the quality of the reforms, on how much we will strengthen competition, but I believe the conditions exist to have a persistent and potentially permanent effect on the Italian economy. What is important is that the RRP indicates a system where the State intervenes with investments and reforms. If this becomes the way, the effects will be greater”.

Fabio Panetta spoke at length about Europe, recalling how over time European integration “has brought important benefits to citizens. The abolition of internal customs tariffs has favored productive specialization and the creation of economies of scale, stimulating efficiency and competition and increasing employment and enhanced the well-being. It is estimated that in the absence of the single market, the income per capita in Europe today would be one fifth lower.”

He underlined, “to overcome its weaknesses and keep pace with global progress, the European Union will have to initiate profound reforms and make huge investments in the coming years. Among the reforms, I have already underlined the importance of creating a common fiscal capacity, without which the current European governance – characterized by a single monetary policy and fragmented budgetary policies at the national level – remains unbalanced. The idea that the EU can function effectively without centralized fiscal capacity is simply an illusion, and must be overcome. A common fiscal policy would correct this imbalance and strengthen cohesion between member countries, facilitating the realization of large-scale strategic investments. European authorities now have the difficult task of ensuring prosperity for citizens in a less stable and less open world. This goal requires progress in multiple directions. First of all, it is essential to continue the path of integration. A test bed for the new European legislature will have the ability to confirm the use of common spending projects and to advance towards a more complete and more integrated union on both a financial and fiscal level”.

The governor of the Bank of Italy also touched on the topic of the demographic crisis, recalling that in the coming decades “the number of European citizens of working age will decrease and the number of elderly people will increase. This dynamic risks having negative effects on the stability of pension systems, on the healthcare system, on the propensity to undertake and innovate, on the sustainability of public debts. To counter these effects, it is essential to strengthen human capital and increase the employment of young people and women, particularly in countries – including Italy – where the gaps in participation in the labor market by gender and age are still too wide. Measures that encourage an influx of regular foreign workers also constitute a rational response on an economic level, regardless of other considerations. The entry of regular immigrants, he observed, will have to be managed in a coordinated manner within the Union, balancing production needs with social balances and strengthening the integration of foreign citizens into the education system and the labor market”.

Finally, he referred to the European Central Bank policies. “The ECB’s restrictive policy occurred due to the flare-up of inflation. Its intervention prevented this flare-up from becoming persistent, obviously it had some effects: it reduced inflation and slowed down growth, but the end of the restriction has already begun. I believe it is reasonable to expect that we are moving towards a phase of easing of monetary conditions”, concluded Panetta, therefore hoping for a rate cut on interest rates.

The discussion was introduced by Giorgio Vittadini, President of the Foundation for Subsidiarity. For Vittadini “we cannot think of development” if we do not discuss “how to relaunch productivity, the relationship between the product and the people employed. If we are not able to carry out this type of structural intervention, we can enjoy all the contingent interventions, including the RRP, but we must also ask ourselves how to make a leap”.

He stated, “We are in a moment of transition: from the financial economy to another idea of ??economics in which we talk about sustainability and mistakenly think that it is only the issue of climate change”. Instead, for Vittadini, “there is much more”, that is, “the idea of ??putting the human development and a real economy back at the center of economic life”.

– Photo xb1/Italpress –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

RIMINI (ITALIA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Since 7 October, after the Hamas attack on Israel, the Holy Land has been devastated by a conflict so profound that reconciliation appears like a utopia. This was one of the issues addressed during the inaugural meeting of the 45th Meeting for Friendship between Peoples, in Rimini.
The President of the Meeting Foundation for Friendship among Peoples, Bernhard Scholz discussed the latest developments with Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. “We are in a decisive moment for dialogue. I hope that with the ongoing negotiations we will arrive at something, I have my doubts, but it is the last train” to reach a ceasefire, said Cardinal Pizzaballa. “What is happening in Gaza is something never seen before, it has an impact on feelings that were already there, but have now become common language. There is this inability to recognize each other’s existence and this refusal has become something that is experienced every day. It is something dramatic. The war will end, but rebuilding from hatred and mistrust will require enormous effort,” he added.
“Today inter-religious dialogue is in crisis,” underlined the cardinal. “The representatives of religions find it difficult to talk to each other, at least in a public way.” “At this moment we are unable to meet,” he continued. “Over the years, inter-religious dialogue has produced very important documents, and what has been done so far should not be thrown away, but a lot of work will have to be done, provided that in the future the dialogue should be less elite and look more at real situations and the communities”.
“We need to relate,” he underlined, “and this by accepting each other for who we are. The impression is that we have returned to being islands, but we need to look up and understand that we are not islands”. “Never in the history of our humanity have cultural, social, technological and political changes been as pervasive and accelerated as the changes we are experiencing in this historical moment. But how is it possible to face these changes without naively accessing their fascinating but ambiguous aspects? How is it possible to build peace in the midst of such atrocious and ongoing wars? These questions led us to choose the title of the Meeting”, underlined Scholz as he opened the Meeting, which this year has the theme, “If we are not looking for the essential, then what are we looking for?” We must “rediscover what is essential, what allows us to be free, in solidarity with any authority and power”, he added.
“We hope that peace can be found to silence the weapons, and we hope that diplomacy helps at an international level. However, the fundamental theme remains: how to reconcile peoples; above all we talk about this in the Meeting, that is, creating moments of meeting and reconciliation and hopefully also forgiveness that will allow people to build a different future together. This is the most important part in building peace and we will talk about this at the Meeting”, Scholz explained to Italpress on the sidelines of the first day of the event.
“The challenges are to understand what is changing in the economy, in culture, in politics, in social life, we must then find a way to address the problems that arise. What is the possibility of creating an economy that serves the common good? What are the criteria with which we try to educate our children so that they can face the many issues of the future? What is the possibility of creating a welfare system that serves the good of everyone? Because the essential thing that this Meeting talks about is not a reduction to some necessary remnants, but to take all opportunities we have to create in the future”, he continued.
“The theme of this edition expresses the cultural roots of the Meeting by offering an open look at the extraordinary transformations we are experiencing. We want to search for the essential, just as global flows of information are becoming swollen rivers, while technological sciences show us solutions that were unimaginable until yesterday, while opportunities offered to single people once again suggest the fallacious flattery of the omnipotence of mankind”, said the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, in his message to Scholz at the opening of the Meeting. “And yet, faced with so many new opportunities for humanity, we experience first-hand horror, the atrocities and the escalation of wars, the desire for domination, with a dramatic return to the past. Feelings of fear, mistrust, sometimes indifference, not infrequently resentment and hatred, resurface,” continued Mattarella. “For this reason, it is essential to put the person back at the centre. The desire for life and fullness, in the relationship with the community. Because the essential thing does not lie in an isolated, separate, self-sufficient self, but in the encounter with the others, in the discovery of the truths brought by the others, and thus, walking together towards tomorrow that must be conceived and built. The educational and cultural commitment, of which the Meeting bears witness, is of great value”, concluded
Mattarella.
(ITALPRESS).
-Photo credit: Press Office Meeting for Friendship among Peoples-

Source: medNews

RABAT (MOROCCO) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – International recognition of Moroccòs sovereignty over the Sahara region continues. As reported by the Moroccan news agency MAP, after the announcement by French President Emmanuel Macron in support of the autonomy initiative presented by Morocco as the only basis for the solution to the regional dispute, the President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, has conveyed to the King of Morocco Mohammed VI “the Dominican Republic’s firm support for Moroccòs sovereignty over the Sahara”. President Abinader also announced the upcoming opening of a consulate in the city of Dakhla in the Sahara region. This is what was released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic, following the meeting of the Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita with the Dominican president, who “considers the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco as the only solution to the dispute over Sahara”.

Along the same lines, the Republic of Chad also reiterated its “constant position in favor of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Morocco throughout its territory, including the Sahara region, and support for the Autonomy Plan under Moroccan sovereignty presented by the Kingdom in 2007, as the only basis for a credible and realistic solution for the resolution of this regional dispute”. This is what emerges in the joint statement between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Chad, Abderaman Koulamallah, and his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita following the inauguration of the headquarters of the Consulate General of Chad in the city of Dakhla, joining the numerous African, Asian countries and Latin Americans who have already opened their diplomatic missions in the same city as a sign of support for Moroccòs sovereignty over the Sahara.

– Photo MAP –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Two major transit countries for illegal immigration to Europe; Tunisia and Libya, has tightened health surveillance in response to the World Health Organization’s declaration of a global mpox emergency. While confirming that no cases of the virus, formerly known as monkeypox, have been detected, the Tunisian Health Ministry added, “The situation is under constant monitoring”. Mpox is transmitted through body fluids, respiratory droplets, and contaminated materials. Symptoms include fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes.
Meanwhile, the Libyan National Center for Disease Control announced that it had taken urgent measures for international health control offices at all land, sea and air ports, raising the state of alert and readiness amid the outbreak of monkey pox (Mpox).
The Libyan National Center for Disease Control also reassured everyone that so far no case had been recorded in Libya and confirmed the readiness of all departments to confront this disease and take all necessary measures for the safety of citizens and residents according to its competencies across the country.
However, health experts warn that Libyàs fragile healthcare system could be overwhelmed if monkeypox begins to spread. The combination of unchecked migrant entry and a weakened public health infrastructure could make containing an outbreak extremely challenging.
Tunisia and Libya are facing the looming threat of a monkeypox outbreak as thousands of African migrants enter both countries without undergoing any medical screenings.
As key transit point for migrants from Africa en route to Europe, Libya is particularly vulnerable to the spread of infectious diseases, including monkeypox, due to the lack of health checks at its borders.
The African Center for Disease Control announced a state of health emergency in the entire African continent after the increase in Mpox cases in 16 countries so far, as the disease entered some countries for the first time.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared monkeypox a global health emergency following a significant outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that has spread to neighboring African countries. In 2024 alone, the WHO recorded over 14,000 cases and 524 deaths across Africa, with more than 96% of these occurring in the DRC. The virus has already spread to countries such as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, leading the WHO to issue its emergency declaration.

– photo: Agenzia Fotogramma –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Gaza Freedom Flotillq boat ‘Handalà arrived in Malta where several Maltese NGOs joined activists onboard the boat supporting the humanitarian mission for the children of Gaza.

After more than two years and three months sailing through European ports, the Freedom Flotilla boat “Handala” made its 19th stop. It arrived from Sicily and will depart in the coming days.

Organisers said they intend to sail directly to Gaza, but did not rule out another stop for additional supplies.

For 14 years, the Gaza Freedom Flotilla Coalition has sailed to Gaza, seeking deliver much-needed humanitarian aid.

In a statement issued by the Maltese activists, it was said that despite these attacks, the Gaza Freedom Flotilla Coalition remains undeterred, sailing for freedom and demonstrating the unwavering value of international solidarity with the Palestinian people.

The Freedom Flotilla mission “For the Children of Gaza” began in April 2023, visiting ports in various European countries and holding events with the “Handala”‘s crew and participants from more than a dozen countries.

Almost 700 people had applied to join the Handalàs 17-strong crew. Coalition representatives said crew members from Italy, France, Norway, Australia and the Netherlands had boarded in Malta, joining Palestinian crew members and other nationalities.

The coalition is an international organisation of NGOs attempting to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza.

– Photo Graffitti –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

WASHINGTON (UNITED STATES) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The ceasefire in the Middle East is “closer than it has ever been.” U.S. President Joe Biden said on the sidelines of a ceremony in the Oval Office. Biden added that a truce agreement has not been rea he yet, but is “much closer than it was three days ago”.
-photo Agenzia Fotogramma –
(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Malta Fiscal Advisory Council (MFAC) has issued a comprehensive assessment of Maltàs government’s Annual Report 2023, highlighting several areas of concern and offering specific recommendations for fiscal management. In its report, the MFAC emphasised three critical issues: the need to curb government spending, address revenue shortfalls despite economic growth, and develop an exit strategy for the fixed-energy-price policy. “The government should avoid inflating government spending to ensure adherence with the benchmark fiscal expenditure path,” the council said. However, it also cautioned against curtailing productive capital expenditure that promotes medium to long-term growth. While noting Maltàs economy outperforming expectations in 2023, the MFAC also underlined a concerning trend, warning that “government revenue did not exhibit a corresponding increase”. The council pointed out that both direct and indirect tax elasticity to GDP growth remained low compared to previous years, calling for an investigation into these discrepancies. Weighing in on the exorbitant energy subsidies which are costing the taxpayer €320 million annually, the MFAC reiterated “its recommendation to prepare an adequate exit strategy in relation to the fixed-energy-price policy, adopting a more targeted approach and enhancing incentives for energy savings”. This aligns with previous warnings from the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund. The European Commission has recommended that Malta phase out energy-related emergency support measures in 2024 to reduce its deficit. The Commission suggests that savings from cutting these subsidies should address the deficit, but the government has not indicated when it will end them. Ending the subsidies could lead to a spike in the cost of living, a politically unpopular move for the Labour government already facing challenges after recent election results. The government did not address the subsidies in its response to the Commission. In addition to these key points, the MFAC report outlined several other important recommendations. These include:
Export-Led Growth: The Council emphasised the need for Maltàs economic growth to be export-led, reducing reliance on domestic drivers, particularly private consumption. They stressed the importance of enhancing labor productivity and addressing skills gaps to maintain a robust competitive position. Private Sector Investment: The MFAC called on firms to direct excess profits into productive investments and initiatives to enhance labor productivity, viewing this as crucial for improving competitiveness and sustainable economic growth. Fiscal Consolidation: The Council advised that fiscal consolidation efforts should exceed the minimum required under the Excessive Deficit Procedure. They suggested targeting an annual structural adjustment greater than 0.5 percentage points of GDP, especially given the current high economic growth environment. Debt Management: While Maltàs debt ratio remains below the 60% of GDP reference value, the MFAC recommended maintaining this buffer and closely monitoring various components contributing to debt changes, particularly interest expenditure and stock-flow adjustments. These recommendations come as Maltàs debt continued to rise, reaching €9,976.2 million by the end of March, equivalent to 50.4% of GDP. Last month, the EU launched excessive deficit procedures against Malta and seven other member states, Belgium, France, Italy, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. EU treaties mandate that member states’ deficits should not exceed 3% of their GDP, with debt below 60%. Malta, with a 2023 deficit of 4.9%, faces an excessive deficit procedure from the European Commission.

– Foto Agenzia Fotogramma –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta International Airport (MIA) is gearing up for an unprecedented surge in passenger traffic as the peak summer travel season reaches its highest point during these days. The airport said it anticipates over 200,000 travellers to pass through the terminals in the coming week, coinciding with the Santa Maria public holiday weekend. The airport expects to handle more than 33,700 passengers on its busiest days – 15, 22 and 29 August. The peak travel week is forecasted to be until 18 August, with a staggering 216,922 passengers either departing from or arriving in Malta. This surge follows a record-breaking July, which saw 951,861 passengers pass through Maltàs International Airport, marking a 12.2% increase compared to the same period in 2023. July 2024 now stands as the busiest month in the airport’s history, being the first to surpass 900,000 passenger movements. The airport’s seat capacity rose by 11.5%, with an impressive 89.7% seat occupancy rate. Italy remained the top market, capturing 25.5% of the market share, followed by the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Poland. Notably, Poland emerged as the fastest-growing market among the top five, with a 51.4% increase. As Maltàs tourism industry continues to rebound strongly from the pandemic-induced slowdown, these figures show a promising picture for the island’s economic recovery. The year-to-date traffic has reached 5,017,275 passenger movements, a 17.1% increase over 2023.

– Photo Aeroporto Internazionale di Malta –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews