VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – “Maltàs neutrality does not imply indifference to the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia”. The string declaration came from the President of Malta George Vella in a message to the people of Ukraine on the first anniversary of the war.
He emphasized that “Malta continues to stand by Ukraine,” clarifying once again that “Maltàs neutrality does not imply indifference to attacks on our shared principles, the deplorable loss of life and the suffering brought to innocent civilian people”.
In a message addressed to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine, George Vella described the Russian invasion as “unjustified” and that has “shaken us all to the core”.
He referred to Maltàs commitment to “continue assisting the people of Ukraine across the board within the limits, and to the best of our capabilities. We will continue to provide humanitarian assistance and give special medical treatment in our health facilities”.
The Maltese President added: “the scenes we have witnessed over this past year should have us all recoil in shame and reflect on human frailty in the face of the brutality of war”.
Referring to the senseless unrelenting violence, Vella insisted “our collective message has to be a clear, unanimous and resounding one. We definitely cannot accept that the cardinal principles of respect for sovereignty and self-determination be swept aside by aggression and military might. Our message remains unchanged – the fundamental principles which lie at the heart of a civilised international order are there to be respected by all. We rightfully expect all countries, big or small, to honour this basic tenet of global diplomacy”.
The invasion of Ukraine, Vella said, constitutes a direct threat to the multilateral system, with the United Nations at its core. “We have to remain united, and not leave any room or pretext for the convenient dilution of the norms and standards that have clearly guided the international community for decades. This is a heartfelt appeal that needs to reach all our international partners and global actors who could have a say in contributing to an end of this indiscriminate violence, and work towards a possible path to peace once the opportunity arises”.
While saluting the people of Ukraine for their inspiring bravery and courage, Vella praised “the bravery of those who stayed to defend what is rightly theirs”.
He referred to the courage of those, especially women, who left their homeland and travelled thousands of kilometres to save the lives of their loved ones. “Our admiration towards all of you is boundless as you continue to be a symbol of hope and the protection of our shared values as determined by the UN Charter”.
The President of Malta concluded his message by conveying, on behalf of the People of Malta, his strong solidarity and support to the President Zelenskyy and to the brave People of Ukraine.
Meanwhile the Ukrainian community in Malta put up billboards in various prominent parts of Malta marking the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the killing of thousands of innocent civilians. The billboards show Russian President Vladimir Putin holding a knife, accusing him of killing innocent civilians for a whole year. The Ukrainian community in Malta will hold a rally in Valletta this evening emphasizing that “an Ukrainian victory is the whole world’s victory”.
– photo agenziafotogramma.it-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

NEW YORK (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Maltese Foreign Minister Ian Borg declared that the only way forward in the aggression against Ukraine is by “halting it”. He was addressing the United Nations General Assembly Emergency Special Session on Wednesday afternoon.
Malta has taken charge of the United Nations’ Security Council last month, the first time in 39 years.
Minister Borg is currently in New York attending the UN General Assembly Emergency Special Session – an unscheduled meeting of the United Nations General Assembly to approve urgent recommendations on a particular issue: in this case the representatives are making their case for and against a draft resolution presented by Ukraine entitled: “Principles of the Charter of the United Nations underlying a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine”.
Minister Borg stated that while Russia needs to end the war, it has to pay for what it did, describing the situation as illegal invasion of a sovereign state.
Minister Borg reiterated Malta’s support for the Ukrainę. He said that since the conflict began, the situation has remained very serious. While referring to the mass graves found in Ukraine, he remarked that the international community is concerned about the news of innocent civilians being murdered, of homes, hospitals and schools being destroyed, of the violence against women and children, and of the torture which have all become the characteristics of the Ukraine war.
Minister Borg is among a number of Foreign Affairs Ministers of countries within the UN who have agreed with the resolution in favour of peace which was proposed during the same meeting by the Ukrainian Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who claimed his country never wanted a war and that Russia was committing genocide.
The document also refers to food security and nuclear energy should be guaranteed, it urges Russia to stop the fighting and suggests the setting up of a tribunal to investigate the cruelty being carried out by Russia.
– photo agenziafotogramma.it-
(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese health authorities announced that as from next Monday, travellers arriving in Malta from China will no longer require a negative Covid-19 rapid antigen test to be allowed entry into Malta.
The requirements were issued by the Superintendent of Public Health in January against possible new coronavirus variants after China’s reopening prompted a surge in infections there.
Health experts from the 27 EU members agreed at a meeting last week that they would end the requirement for negative pre-departure Covid tests by the end of February.
In the last week, Malta registered 90 new cases of Covid, and one person died while Covid positive.
-photo agenziafotogramma.it-
(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The majority of Maltese who travelled abroad during the last three months of last year chose Italy as their most prefered destination. This was confirmed by the National Statistics Office, adding that one out of three people who travelled between last October and December went to Italy.
227,000 traveled to Italy, while the second most popular destination for the Maltese was the United Kingdom, followed by Spain, France and Germany.
More than 180,000 people travelled in the last three months of 2022, almost 57,000 more when compared to October and December of the previous year. Almost 110,000 people traveled on holiday, while around 46,000 people visited their relatives and friends. Almost half of those who travelled were aged between 25 and 44.
The majority of Maltese spent an average of 6.7 nights mainly in hotels and spent over €158 million between them – an average of €881 per person and €58 more when compared to the same months of the previous year.
-photo agenziafotogramma.it –
(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese government and the people of Malta together with local non-governmental organisations received words of praise from the President of Turkey Tayyip Erdogan following the immediate assistance given to the Turkish people affacted by the two earthquakes which measured 7.8 and 7.5 two weeks ago.
During a telephone call with Maltese President George Vella, Erdogan remarked that the cooperation shown by Malta has strengthened Turkey’s resilience and touched the hearts of the Turkish people.
The President of Malta George Vella expressed his sympathies and solidarity.
Two groups of 32 members from the Civil Protection Department were in Turkey helping to rescue earthquake victims. The Civil Protection and the Church in Malta and Gozo have also opened their doors to those who wished to donate items for the victims of the earthquakes.
Meanwhile, a team representing the NGO SOS Malta is in Turkey to provide critical aid to displaced families.
-photo agenziafotogramma.it-
(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese government has granted the Maltese citizenship to a total of 1,532 foreign main applicants who have registered under the Individual Investor programme, also known as the Golden Passport Scheme. The amount of applicants registered over a period of eight years, exclude relatives and dependents.
Minister for National Security Byron Camilleri said the citizenship issued to applicants coming from various regions including Europe, Asia, North and South America, the Middle East, the Gulf, Africa, the Oceana and the Caribbean – has generated millions of euros which were invested in various initiatives including social and medical projects.
In 2015, a National Development and Social Fund was established by the Maltese government to administer a percentage of the funds generated through the selling of the Maltese passport.
According to the last financial statements dated to 2020, the National Development and Social Fund received €27.8 million from the passports programme, taking the total amount of proceeds since its inception to €598 million.
The Henley Passport Index for 2022 classified the Maltese passport as the eighth strongest in the world.
-photo agenziafotogramma.it-
(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Athletes from 70 nations will be competing in the 2023 MC Adventure Malta Marathon on Sunday 26 February. The favourite is Moroccan Hicham Boufars, who is fresh from his win in the Murcia Marathon, Spain with a time of 2h15’35”. The North African athlete, who holds a record of 2h12’16” set in 2018 in Florence, ran the Turin Marathon in November last year in 2h13’49”. Boufars, therefore, has a concrete chance of chasing the race record set in 2013 by his compatriot Mohammed Hajjy with 2h16’06”.
Among the Maltese athletes at the start in Mdina on Sunday 26 in the Marathon there will also be Andrew Grech in the men’s category (6th overall in 2017 in 2h28’16”) and Josann Attard Pulis in the women’s category. On the other hand, during the Half Marathon the spotlights will be on Shaun Galea and Lisa Bezzina.
The most represented foreign nation at the start will be Italy with 246 athletes. The Italian Embassy in Malta will award a prize to the first “azzurri” (men and women) in both the Marathon and the Half Marathon.
– photo Malta Marathon Press –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A charity evening of Maltese and Italian excellence. Sports, culture and fashion will be the protagonists of NOMA 2023, an event scheduled for Friday, Feb. 24, 8 p.m., at Spinola Suite at Hilton Portomaso.
The initiative, under the patronage of the Italian Embassy in Malta, is promoted and organized by Italians Abroad Committee (Com.It.Es) Malta in collaboration with Malta Chamber of Fashion Foundation and the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Malta.
“We are about to experience a particularly significant day for the entire Italian community in Malta”, as stated by Vincenzo Catalano, president of the local Com.It.Es, “the charity event on February 24 will be an opportunity to bring to the fore the excellence of music, culture and sports, but above all it will be the best way to thank the Maltese people and the institutions of the Island for the hospitality and affection they have always reserved for Italians”.
“It will be a moment of celebration, to reflect on the opportunities, certainties, safety and dignity that, with true and genuine enthusiasm and affection, the entire Maltese community has been able to offer us and keeps offering us. On this evening – Catalano added – the Comites, an elective institutional body representing the entire Italian community living in Malta and part of the ‘Sistema Italià, wants to give a concrete signal of its presence by involving, in the name of solidarity, real excellence, both Maltese and Italian ones”.
“A special thanks goes to the Italian Ambassador to Malta, Fabrizio Romano, for granting Patronage to the event. A further, dutiful thank you – Catalano concluded – goes to the sponsors who, with their support, made it possible to organize the event”.
Part of the proceeds from NOMA 2023 will be donated to Dar Merhba Bik, an association for women victims of domestic violence, and to the St. Catherine of Italy Parish Charity Group in Malta.
The event will be presented by deputy director of Italy’s TGR Rai, Roberto Gueli, and Moria Chetcuti, Chamber of Fashion Malta Foundation events director.
Italpress Press Agency and Malta News Agency are the Media Partners of the event.

– photo press office NOMA 2023 –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Storm Helios left its effect of weather conditions in the past hours across Malta and Gozo.
A search and rescue operation resumed on Saturday morning after a person fell into rough seas in Valletta on Friday. The Armed Forces of Malta dispatched an aircraft in the area, while the police and a medical team are onsite. The operation was suspended on Friday evening due to poor visibility and weather conditions.
The Civil Protection intervened to save 17 people who were trapped in their vehicles, buildings sustained structural damage and several stones were dislodged and at risk of crashing down.
Malta registered the highest ever recorded rainfall in February with 140.4mm recorded on Friday. This amount is also more than double the average for this month.
The effects of the storm are still very evident with several areas and services having been affected.
The strong waves that battered Maltàs shores smashed through the newly-built Gozo fast ferry terminal in Valletta, leaving destruction.
A 17th-century watch tower in Ghajn Tuffieha has partially collapsed due to the powerful winds.
The damage is widespread, including other historic locations such as Cittadella ditch in Gozo and the Bighi peninsula wall which has collapsed.

– photo Clean Malta –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Storm Helios continues to batter Malta and Gozo on Thursday as various incidents were reported with the Civil Protection Department issuing a warning for the public to stay indoors.
A person was slightly injured after part of the ceiling at the VIP lounge of Malta International Airport collapsed. A spokesperson for MIA said that this happened because of the strong storm that has gripped the Maltese Islands in recent hours. The Airport advised that the hall is currently closed and that the necessary repairs will be made for the safety of the passengers.
Six cars were severely damaged after a parapet wall collapsed in Gharb, Gozo. No one was injured while members of the Civil Protection were on site to clear the debris.
Easterly gale force winds have seen many people encounter difficulties on roads. A number of roads are experiencing severe flooding while boats have been damaged as the rough seas and gale force winds hit the Maltese coast. This also led to a number of disruptions, including the suspension of voyages from Malta to Gozo.
The gale-force winds and strong seas caused serious flooding in coastal areas with people warned to stay away from these areas.
Due to the bad weather all outdoor activities planned for the feast of St Paul’s Shipwreck today and Friday have been canceled.
Satellite images show the extent of the storm hitting the central Mediterranean with thick clouds covering the whole stretch from Rome all the way down to Malta, with the south of Sicily taking the brunt of the storm.
The Meteorological Office at Malta International Airport has meanwhile issued an Orange warning as the weather is expected to get worse.
– photo by Enry di Giacomo –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews