VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – New data published by the European Union shows that the Maltese are twice as likely to face long flight delays as travellers in other EU countries.

30% of Maltese said that their flights were delayed by at least two hours, more than any other country in the EU and twice as high as the bloc’s average of 16%.

One in ten said that they arrived at their destination more than three hours later than expected, second only to travellers in Sweden.

Two-hour flight delays in Malta have more than doubled from the 13% recorded when the survey was last held in early 2019. At the time, Maltàs delay rates were comfortably below the EU average.

Before Air Malta ceased its operations, Maltàs national airline had long been plagued by delays as a result of shortage of aircrafts, technical issues and industrial actions.

Travellers have also been hit by other delays across several airlines, caused by a myriad of factors, from air traffic control issues to wayward drones and, earlier this month, volcanic explosions in Sicily.

The data reveals that people in Malta have faced several other unexpected obstacles in their trips, from flight cancellations (8%), to lost or delayed luggage (7%) and finding that their flight had been overbooked (1%).

The survey asked thousands of people across the EU, including 507 people in Malta, about their travel habits. The survey was carried out throughout January and early February this year.

– Photo Malta International Airport –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Flights between Malta and the Sicilian city of Catania have been cancelled or diverted after Mount Etna erupted for the second consecutive time in a month. The 3,300 metre volcano erupted early on Tuesday morning, firing an eight kilometre column of ash into the area over the island.
Three flights have been impacted between Catania and Malta International Airport. Flight FR367 from Malta to Catania at 1.35 pm, departed to Trapani instead, and passengers had to travel by coach from Trapani to Catania. The return flight from Catania, FR368, is cancelled. Another flight, FR1565, was due to travel from Vienna to Catania but was instead rerouted to Malta, landing at 11.07am. The flight then departed Malta at 1.10pm, en route to Palermo.
This is the second time this month, that Mount Etnàs eruption impacted flights to and from Catania.
“Due to eruptions and ash emissions, it has been decided to suspend flight operations,” Catania airport operator wrote on X, inviting passengers to contact their airline for flight information.
– foto Ipa –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The European Union’s latest taxation report for 2023 said that corporate income tax remains one of Maltàs most significant sources of revenue at almost 15% of its total tax income. Malta ranked third in the EU, after Cyprus (18.1%) and Ireland (21.5%) where corporate income tax forms a significant proportion of its state revenues. Malta still has the highest top statutory tax rates on business profits at 35%, followed by Portugal (31.5%) and Germany (29.9%), while the lowest can be found in Bulgaria (10%) and Hungary (9%). However, Maltàs statutory income tax rate masks the rebates that lead to an effective tax rate of 5% for companies that are owned by non-residents, or by residents without domicile in Malta. Malta has refunded over €13 billion in income tax to corporate shareholders in the last 14 years under its refundable tax credit system. Every year since 2008, Malta refunded an average of 14.2% from the tax owing from these eligible companies. Currently there are 8,012 companies actively registering for tax refunds under the refundable tax credit system. In 2023, finance minister Clyde Caruana said Malta would not be immediately introducing a new minimum tax rate for companies as agreed in the OECD. EU countries can delay the introduction of the new 15% minimum tax by up to six years. The rules apply to companies that have a global income of more than €750 million. This would impact around 660 multinational companies that have a base in Malta, which however employ some 20,000 people.

– Photo Agenzia Fotogramma –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (MNA/ITALPRESS) – Malta’s “product” risks to collapse unless the Maltese government takes drastic action to stop the strain on infrastructure and invests heavily to stop the chronic power cuts. Meanwhile, tourists visiting the island of Gozo have asked the hosts for certain refunds or left their self-catering accommodation earlier than planned as a power outage continues to plague the sister island. At this time of the year, both locals and tourists alike flock to Gozo to soak up the sun and relax. During the same period, the different localities are also celebrating their village feasts. All of this means that restaurants, bars and other businesses in the hospitality sector should be buzzing with activity. Malta’s constituted bodies and social partners issued a stark warning as power cuts continued for the second summer. They added that the situation is harming businesses and residents, inflicting heavy costs in damage, and denting the country’s economic development, they said.

Enemalta, the state-owned energy firm, has now installed 14 diesel-powered generators in various localities around Malta to cope with another power-cuts crisis amid a heatwave.

Poor planning, excessive construction and overpopulation were singled out as the main reasons for an infrastructure on its knees.

The warnings from employer organisations were blunt: “Due to the adverse effects on the quality of service, the private sector may have to curtail its own investment going forward until the government catches up,” said Marthese Portelli, CEO of the Malta Chamber of Commerce. She said the fact that power cuts are significantly affecting residential areas is largely due to the construction of more housing units, hotels and restaurants without the necessary infrastructure to support them. Portelli said that the government needs to commit to a five to 10-year plan of investment in infrastructure, developed in serious consultation with the private sector and with clear milestones and deliverables based on realistic growth projections considering the available skills. “These suggestions and proposals are not new, but they have been systematically and repeatedly ignored. Now even the public is realising the extent to which lack of planning impacts its well-being and quality of life.”

Tony Zahra, president of Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, is concerned that the lack of investment and cohesive planning to address the growing population of residents and tourists in Malta is taking a toll on ‘Product Malta’. He insisted that decisions regarding Malta’s future over the next 15 years must be made now and communicated clearly to all stakeholders.

“The general upkeep and cleanliness of Product Malta is a continuing cause for concern,” he added.

Meanwhile, Michelle Muscat, president of the Association of Catering said she has been inundated by calls from restaurateurs reporting power cuts from all over the island.

Complaints have ranged from restaurateurs forced to throw away stocks to damaged appliances. Muscat said: “We are also losing clients. People are calling restaurants to check whether the power is on or not before booking. Then they go to the restaurant to find that after a few minutes, the power goes off again.” Muscat said her members are helpless because nobody knows how long this situation will persist. “Friday night was the worst. Restaurants were affected in Sliema, St Julian’s, Gzira, Hamrun, Santa Venera, Mosta, Naxxar. Gozo experienced regular power cuts for a day-and-a-half. This is not on.”

Paul Abela, president of the Malta Chamber of SMEs said that the situation was “very complex”. “Before green-lighting new projects, the authorities should start asking themselves whether the infrastructure will hold.”

The Gozo Business Chamber said businesses in Gozo are worried as they can no longer provide the guarantee that their operations will not be affected with the next power cut. “The businesses cannot plan. At the same time, they cannot offer the touristic products to those visiting and are experiencing damages to their appliances and the product itself.”

The Gozo Business Chamber also underlined, “The persistent outages, the huge damage between the Malta-Gozo cable as well as the energy insecurity are all affecting the business confidence,”underlining that operators are no longer sure that they can open their doors to clients while others are opting to foot extra costs by leasing out a generator.

Over 70% of the accommodation in Gozo consists of farmhouses and at this time of the year they would be fully booked. The Gozo Business Chamber added various localities have been hit by power cuts, and in some cases the interruption of the water. It added this is causing considerable damages, loss of customers, consumables, and working hours, and added costs to sustain the power supply in some cases.(ITALPRESS).

Foto: xf3

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (MNA/ITALPRESS) – Italian Admiral Valentino Rinaldi has taken command of the European Union’s “Operation IRINI,” succeeding Admiral Stefano Turchetto. This naval operation enforces the United Nations arms embargo on Libya, a country mired in conflict since the 2011 uprising that overthrew Muammar Gaddafi.

Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Italy’s Chief of Defense, hailed Rinaldi’s appointment as a “strong message of confidence” from the EU, emphasizing Italy’s vital role in Mediterranean security.

Admiral Rinaldi’s leadership marks a new chapter for Operation IRINI, emphasizing robust maritime surveillance and enforcement. The operation’s success is crucial for the EU’s foreign policy goals in the Mediterranean, seeking to foster a stable and secure environment that will eventually support political dialogue and reconciliation in Libya.

Operation IRINI is a crucial element of the EU’s strategy to stabilize Libya. The mission has inspected thousands of vessels, monitored 1,480 suspicious flights, and conducted checks at 25 airports, 16 seaports, and numerous oil facilities. These efforts aim to prevent weapons from fueling the ongoing conflict in the war-torn country.

In a recent decision, the European Union extended the enforcement measures of the arms embargo on Libya for another year. This extension authorizes EU member states to inspect vessels in international waters off the Libyan coast suspected of violating the UN arms embargo.

Libya’s strategic location and significant oil reserves have attracted regional and international powers, intensifying the conflict. Persistent instability has enabled various factions, supported by different foreign actors, to compete for control.

Launched in March 2020, Operation IRINI is part of a broader international effort to support peace and stability in the region. The mission not only enforces the arms embargo but also aims to curb the illicit export of petroleum, train the Libyan Coast Guard, and disrupt human trafficking and smuggling networks.

(ITALPRESS).

Foto: EUNAVFOR MED

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Several localities across Malta and Gozo are experiencing long interruptions to their electricity supply. Portable generators are appearing across Malta as summer power cuts continue to leave residents sweltering in their homes with temperatures of above 35 degrees Celsius are hitting Malta. Tourist sought localities like Gzira, Sliema St. Julian’s, Bugibba and St. Paul’s Bay were also hit by electricity outages. Residents are left in the dark as the authorities are not providing an estimate of when residents and businesses in affected areas could expect power to return.
Enemalta the only Maltese energy company that provides energy services and is entrusted with the distribution of electricity, and the development of the national electricity distribution network said problems in affected regions were due to high voltage faults.
Energy Minister Miriam Dalli said, “The infrastructural work needed to bring Maltàs electricity distribution network up to scratch will have to be done in phases. She remarked, “I promised the biggest ever investment into electricity distribution, and €55 million has already been spent on improving the infrastructure,” she said. “However, you cannot carry out these works across the whole country at the same time. I wish it were possible but it must be done in phases.”
Enemalta, the state-owned energy firm, said problems were due to faults on its high-voltage cable network and that alternative energy supplies were being used where possible.
A National Audit Office report concluded that Enemalta investment on the distribution network was lacking for several years until 2023, when a series of nationwide power cuts sparked by an abnormally long heatwave forced the government and Enemalta into action.
As social partners demanded action, Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela pledged to double investment in electricity infrastructure to €30 million a year. That pledge came just one year after Dalli, as energy minister, had said Enemalta was accelerating its investment in energy Infrastructure. But despite itensified works to improve Maltàs high voltage infrastructure, problems with power supply consistency have continued to plague Malta this summer.
A €37 million emergency power station will be functional as a fallback in case one of Maltàs main sources of energy generation developed problems.
Enemaltàs forecasts last year were that power demand would rise by 3%, when in reality demand rose 14%.
Enemalta confirmed that temporary generators were the power company’s second plan. “That plan includes transporting large generators directly to substations and feeding electricity to households through portable generators.”
Enemalta has installed 14 diesel-powered generators in various localities around Malta to cope with another power-cut crisis amid a heatwave. “More generators are on the way after a tender was awarded. These units will be on standby and will be used only if necessary.”

foto: xf3/Italpress

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Foreign and local travelers at Malta International Airport faced up to 10 hours delay in a crowded departure lounge as a global IT outage led to a series flights delays.
Some 85% of all flights at the Malta International Airport have been impacted by a global IT outage, with passengers looking out for a space to sit in the airport, which is already operating at maximum capacity this summer.
In a statement, Malta International Airport said multiple airlines were experiencing “network disruptions” affecting numerous airports worldwide, including in Malta. “As a result, delays are expected. Please be assured that we are working diligently to manage the situation with minimal disruption,” it said.
Airlines, banks, TV channels, and other businesses worldwide were scrambling on Friday to deal with one of the biggest IT crashes in recent years, caused by an update to an antivirus program.
Around 85% of yesterday’s flights to and from the airport have been affected, resulting in delays to process passengers for their flight or subsequent slot changes,” the Malta International Airport said.
Although MIA’s IT systems were not affected by the outage, the IT team was monitoring the situation closely with the impacted airlines to ensure their systems become operational as soon as they are restored.

– Photo xf3/Italpress –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Summer Dinner was held on 18 July at Villa Miani in Rome. Hosts: Angelino Alfano, President of the San Donato Group Kamel Ghribi, President of GKSD Investment Holding and Vice-President of the San Donato Group Paolo Rotelli, Vice-President of the San Donato Group and Ettore Sequi, former Secretary General of the Foreign Affairs Office and now General Secretary of ECAM Council. Also present Ignazio La Russa, President of the Senate Licia Ronzulli, Vice President of the Senate Maria Elisabetta Casellati, Minister for Institutional Reforms and Regulatory Simplification, Orazio Schillaci, Minister of Health Adolfo Urso, Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy, Paolo Zangrillo, Minister for Public Administration, Gianni Letta, former Undersecretary of State for PM Silvio Berlusconìs government, Maurizio Enzo Lupi, President of Noi Moderati-MAIE Parliamentary Group, Alessandra Ricci, CEO and General Director of SACE and journalist Roberto D’Agostino.
Elenoire Casalegno presented the event during which GKSD Investment Holding and Gruppo San Donato awarded the Most Inspiring Woman award to Mays Anber, Afef Jnifen, Rajae Bezzaz, and Eleonora Daniele. The four women share the same commitment to supporting civil and human rights, more effectively through their professional successes, which make them influential and trusted voices on current political and social issues.
Mays Anber, with 5 million followers on social platforms to defend the rights of refugees around the world, is executive director of the 7 Dimension Medical Center in Dubai, an excellence in the healthcare sector. Anber, with a 15-year career in the media, is currently undertaking a PhD focusing on organizational justice and employee wellbeing in international organizations in the United Arab Emirates. She is a “Celebrated Supporter” of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Afef Jnifen, model and television presenter, was the first Arab female face of L’Orèal, soon becoming, thanks to her reputation, a supporter of civil and human rights. She is currently an ambassador for Action Innocence, a Foundation that helps protect the dignity of children online against the risks of pedophilia and sexual abuse. In the past, she has also collaborated with Telefono Azzurro and inaugurated the Inter Campus in Tunisia in 2011, which secures the rights of thousands of children in the suburbs of Tunis, using the values ??of sport and football as educational tools. She was honoured at the Fashion 4 Development Annual First Ladies Luncheon, in New York, with the title of new Goodwill Ambassador for the Middle East.
Rajae Bezzaz, a correspondent for Striscia La Notizia since 2015, was born in Tripoli, Libya, to Maghrebi parents, and at the age of nine years, she moved to Italy. Her investigations highlight a marked common thread: the delicate balance between the reception and hospitality of immigrants and the intracultural differences between the West and the Islamic world, themes that fascinate and divide public opinion in Italy. In 2021, she wrote the book “The Happy Arab – The Revealed Life of an Unorthodox Muslim” in which she tells with irony and deep insight about her point of view on being a woman on the borders of two worlds and cultures very distant from each other.
Eleonora Daniele is an Italian journalist and television presenter. She founded the Life Inside Onlus association, intending to support people with autism and their families. The association was founded in memory of her brother Luigi, who suffered from autism and passed away in 2015.

– Photo press office San Donato Group –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

RABAT (MOROCCO) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Italpress press agency and MAP, Agence Maghreb Arabe Presse, have signed an international partnership in Rabat which will allow them to enhance information on the Euro-Mediterranean area for their respective subscribers through a mutual exchange of news.
Italpress and MAP will share editorial content in English and Arabic and will collaborate on special projects, the organization of events in Italy and Morocco, forums and round table meetings on Mediterranean issues, an increasingly strategic geographical area in the international geopolitical panorama.
The agreement was signed by the director of Italpress, Gaspare Borsellino, and the general director of MAP, Fouad Arif.
“Signing this collaboration with MAP, Maghreb Arab Press Agency, one of the most important and authoritative press agencies in the Mediterranean, is a source of great pride and satisfaction for us,” said Gaspare Borsellino. “I am convinced that this partnership will bring mutual benefits for the growth of our agencies both nationally and internationally”.
“This agreement – said Fouad Arif – opens new exciting prospects for our agencies. We share with Italpress a common vision of excellence in journalism and a constant commitment to the highest standards of professionalism”.
The Italpress news agency was founded by Gaspare Borsellino in Palermo 36 years ago. Today, the agency has its central editorial office in Palermo, and has editorial offices and television and multimedia studios in Rome and Milan, and a correspondence office in New York and international partnerships with other European and Med area agencies.
The Maghreb Arab Press Agency was founded 65 years ago and broadcasts 7 days a week in Arabic, French, English, Spanish and a local dialect.
The Italpress delegation, was led by Gaspare Borsellino accompanied by Emanuele Borsellino, member of the agency’s Board of Directors. They were welcomed by the top management of Map led by the General Director Fouad Arif and the managing director Moahammed Rida Brain.
During the signing of the partnership, there were also other representatives of MAP, including Hind Ben Abdennebi and Lamyaa Bouamar, advisor to the director general, and Hinde Nejjar, Head of Bilateral and Multilateral Cooperation.
After signing the agreement, the director of Italpress Gaspare Borsellino visited the various departments of the Moroccan Agency and subsequently also the headquarters of M24 (Group Television) and RIM (Radio AllNews of the Map dedicated to 24-hour information), where he was welcomed by Noujoum Dabssi, broadcast director of MAP.

– Photo MAP –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (MNA/ITALPRESS) – Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela welcomed Ursula Von der Leyen’s decision to include Malta’s idea of having a European Commissioner for the Mediterranean in her work programme. He said this shows that despite Malta’s small size, it can be effective and make a difference.

Prime Minister Robert Abela proposed the appointment of a European Commissioner for the Mediterranean to better tackle the challenges of the region.

“This augurs well for the next five years where we look forward to work with President von der Leyen to develop further our comprehensive partnerships with southern neighbours,” the PM said on X.

Last November, Robert Abela insisted that the Mediterranean region had a lot of potential and should be given the importance it deserved. He proposed the appointment of a European Commissioner for the Mediterranean. Abela said this while attending a European Council meeting with other European leaders last November in Croatia, following an invitation by European Council President Charles Michel, to discuss the European Union’s Strategic Agenda for the period between 2024-2029.

The Maltese Premier added that Malta had given her its support and voted in her favour in the European Council, because he maintained that she is the person best suited to push forward European priorities in the next five years. (ITALPRESS).

Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma

Source: medNews