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LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (MNA-ITALPRESS) – The rescue ship Sea-Watch 5 operated by the German NGO Sea-Watch is heading to Civitavecchia after rescuing 289 migrants. The NGO said that the port assigned by the Italian authorities is almost 1000 km away. “The assigned, unnecessarily distant port puts extra strain on guests and crew. It deliberately keeps us from rescuing,” declared the NGO, adding, “one boy already had to be medically evacuated.” It urged the Italian authorities to assign a closer port. The crew of the Sea-Watch 5 rescued 289 people from distress at sea on Saturday. They were recovered from overcrowded wooden boats in a total of four operations. Among those rescued are 38 children and minors, some of them unaccompanied. (ITALPRESS).

Foto: Sea-Watch

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta-based NGO Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) has evacuated one of its bases in Ukraine after it was struck by Russian weapons in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The attack left some of its staff with minor injuries and two of its ambulances damaged, the organisation said in a statement. Expensive medical equipment and medical supplies were destroyed in the fire.
19 medical staff and other personnel in the building at the time moved to the building’s bomb shelter, with “minor injuries sustained from flying debris.” Eight other staff members of the NGO were out on call at the time.
The blast, which the NGO said could have been caused by a rocket or drone attack, detonated “just three metres away from the building,” smashing windows and causing a large fire in several of the rooms.
It is not yet clear whether the attack was intentionally or by mistake. Another four targets also came under fire in the same town during the attack.
MOAS stressed it was just the latest in a series of incidents affecting its medical staff, who it said were “facing more injuries from the frontline” as Russiàs offensive in eastern Ukraine continued. However, it was the first time the NGO had been directly hit after around two and a half years operating on the frontlines, where it undertakes evacuations of wounded soldiers and transports them to hospital.
MOAS founder Christopher Catrambone called the incident an “unfortunate setback” for the organisation, but said it “strengthens our resolve” to continue operating in the conflict.
“Our thoughts are with our brave medics and personnel – and their families – who have risked their lives daily, for the past two and a half years, to help give a fighting chance to some of the most seriously wounded victims of this war”, he said.
The organisation has assisted more than 45,000 seriously wounded soldiers in Ukraine and more than 200,000 worldwide since its inception in 2014, it said.
– credit photo MOAS –
(ITALPRESS).

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese health authorities have announced the detection of an imported case of mpox in Malta. The case, which was sexually transmitted, marks the first confirmed instance of the virus in Malta since the global outbreak in 2022. Health officials have assured the public that the patient is stable and does not require hospitalization. The individual has been placed in isolation, and contact-tracing efforts are underway to prevent further spread of the virus.
The Health Ministry has issued a set of preventive measures for the public, emphasizing the importance of safe sexual practices and open communication between partners about sexual health. They also advise avoiding close contact with individuals exhibiting Mpox symptoms and maintaining good hygiene habits. Maltese health authorities have stated they will continue to monitor the situation closely and update the public as necessary.
The World Health Organization recently declared the virus a public health emergency of international concern for the second time in two years, primarily due to outbreaks in several African nations.
The current outbreak is concentrated in Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and involves two strains: clade 2b, which caused the 2022-2023 outbreak, and clade 1, including a recently identified subvariant, clade 1b. Cases have also been reported in Burundi, Nigeria, and Kenya, with travel-associated cases in Sweden and Thailand.
Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is caused by the monkeypox virus and is spread through close contact, including kissing, touching, and sexual activity. Symptoms include a rash or lesions, fever, headache, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes.

foto: Agenzia Fotogramma

(ITALPRESS).

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese government has been asked by the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to change its nominee for European Commissioner.
Glenn Micallef, who stepped down as the prime minister’s head of secretariat last May, was nominated for the post last month by Prime Minister Robert Abela. Micallef, a 34-year-old EU policy expert, has extensive EU experience, having led Maltese government briefs in Brussels for years, and it is understood that von der Leyen is not questioning his competence on EU affairs. But his lack of political experience, coupled with Maltàs relatively minor clout within the EU, is complicating matters for Maltàs nominee.
According to the Times of Malta, Von der Leyen is understood to be pressuring the Maltese government to nominate a woman in Micallef’s stead, as she pushes for a more gender-balanced commission. The newspaper quoted sources, saying that the EC President is also targeting Malta because Micallef is among the least experienced of the nominated commissioners.
Sources in Brussels told Times of Malta that von der Leyen has suggested keeping Maltàs existing EU Commissioner, Helena Dalli, for a second term, something the government is understood to be reluctant to do.
A spokesperson from the Office of the Prime Minister confirmed, “The engagement process is ongoing and the president is speaking to member states.”
The deadline for nominees closes on Friday, however, von der Leyen has roughly another week after that date before she formally assigns portfolios to her commission-in-waiting.
Malta had originally nominated former deputy prime minister Chris Fearne to the post, but those plans were dashed when a court last month ruled that Fearne should stand trial for fraud over the hospitals’ scandal.
Maltàs outgoing EU commissioner is Helena Dalli, who held several ministerial roles before being nominated in 2019. Von der Leyen’s reported willingness to have Dalli for a second term could be a sign that she has a bigger portfolio for her in mind.

– Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma –

(ITALPRESS).

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The German NGO Sea-Watch said that its aircrew encountered two dramatic distress cases, 120 migrants at sea, both adrift, one without an engine. The NGO added that the engine was stolen, a situation that made it very dangerous for the migrants, 50 nautical miles off Lampedusa. The NGO said that the migrants need to be rescued, while the authorities are entirely neglecting their plight.
Furthermore, Sea-Watch confirmed that a boat sank on the Mediterranean. While the authorities were informed, the German NGO Resqship conducted a search and rescue operation, and saved 12 migrants who have been in the sea for over two hours, likely to reduce weight and protect the four children on board. Sea-Watch confirmed that there was no rescue effort by the authorities, despite its calls for assistance.
Meanwhile, another NGO – AlarmPhone confirmed that a boat with 53 people are in distress in the central Mediterranean. The boat is in Maltàs Search and Rescue zone. The NGO said that it has alerted the relevant authorities and a rescue operation is needed before it is too late. Through another distress call, a group of 20 migrants confirmed that they are in serious difficulties in the central Mediterranean.
AlarmPhone confirmed that its crew was alerted by the migrants who are adrift out at sea. “They are totally exhausted and need immediate rescue and care. We alerted relevant authorities and urged them to intervene.”

– Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma –

(ITALPRESS).

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (MNA/ITALPRESS) – Several Maltese NGOs has condemned the government’s crackdown on third country nationals in Malta, stating that such actions “create a climate of fear and insecurity” and violate the fundamental principle that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights” as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This comes as dozens of Ethiopian nationals who have lived and worked legally in the country for up to 19 years are facing sudden arrest and deportation. This action, part of a broader crackdown on third-country nationals, has drawn sharp criticism from human rights organisations and legal experts who warn of potential human rights violations and a disturbing shift towards authoritarian practices. Many of those affected have built families and contributed to the Maltese economy for nearly two decades. One Ethiopian community member, who arrived in Malta as an unaccompanied minor in 2005, expressed his distress: “Malta is my home. We have worked, paid our taxes and not caused trouble. Now we are being treated like criminals. Like animals”. A coalition of NGOs has expressed deep concern over the State’s treatment of these vulnerable individuals. In a joint statement, the NGOs condemned the arrests, arguing that such actions create a “climate of fear and insecurity” not only among the Ethiopian community but also among other marginalised groups in Malta. The NGOs underlined that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 1, clearly states that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” They assert that the treatment of these Ethiopians is a direct violation of this fundamental principle. The coalition has called on the Maltese Government to “immediately halt these inhumane practices” and to uphold the basic human rights of all individuals, regardless of their nationality or immigration status. The Office of the Commissioner for Children has urged the government to “proceed with caution,” emphasising that children born or raised in Malta “only know Malta as their home” and should not live in fear of deportation. The Commissioner called for the regularisation of status for settled migrant families to safeguard children’s fundamental rights. The government’s actions appear to be driven by public opinion rather than sound policy. Prime Minister Robert Abela recently admitted that the clampdown on third-country nationals was a response to public concerns, despite previous government claims about the need for foreign labour to meet market demands.(ITALPRESS).

Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The head of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee in the Libyan Parliament, Issa Al-Araibi, voiced his full support behind the Libyan government’s decision to declare a state of force majeure on all oil fields and ports.
The government, led by Prime Minister Osama Hammad, made the announcement citing security threats as the reason for the shutdown. In a televised statement, Prime Minister Hammad stated that the decision was in response to recent attacks on leaders, employees, and departments of the Central Bank of Libya. These attacks were reportedly carried out by groups acting outside the law, with alleged backing from the Presidential Council, which the Benghazi-based government accuses of acting without legitimate authority. Libyan Commander-in-Chief Khalifa Haftar underscored the importance of respecting the Central Bank of Libya and cautioned against illegal interference in its operations. During a meeting with Stephanie Khoury, the acting head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Haftar reiterated his stance on protecting the integrity of the Central Bank of Libya, emphasizing that any actions undermining the institution would not be tolerated.
This sudden development has had an immediate impact on the global energy markets. The global oil prices jumped by 3%, sparking concerns over potential supply disruptions in the Middle East.
The head of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee in the Libyan Parliament Al-Araibi stated that the force majeure declaration is a necessary reaction to the Presidential Council’s recent unilateral decisions, which he believes endanger the country’s security. The House of Representatives has not only endorsed the government’s move but also acted to annul the Presidential Council’s decrees, a stance supported by the judiciary. He criticised the Presidential Council’s unilateral actions as illegal and perilous, stressing that resolving the current crisis requires a fair distribution of Libyàs oil revenues across its three main regions: Tripolitania, Cyrenaica, and Fezzan.
Libya, home to some of the largest oil reserves in Africa, has been in turmoil since the 2011 uprising that led to the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi. The country remains divided, with rival administrations in Tripoli and Benghazi both claiming legitimacy. This political division has frequently spilled over into the oil sector, the lifeblood of Libyàs economy. The force majeure declaration, which halts oil production due to extraordinary circumstances, underscores the deepening conflict between Libyàs rival factions.

– Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma –

(ITALPRESS).

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (MNA/ITALPRESS) – The General Administration for Coastal Security in Libya confirmed that it has rescued 51 irregular migrants near the coast of Qarabulli, located in the northwest of the country. The boat “Wadi Kaam 300p” rescued the migrants, who hailed from various nationalities, after their boat came to a halt. The migrants were brought ashore at the Shaab Port Point, which is part of the Tripoli branch, where legal procedures were undertaken, and they were handed over to the Directorate for Combating Illegal Migration. Furthermore, the Coastal Security reported the rescue of 123 irregular migrants, who were on board a dilapidated boat off the coast of Zuwara.
Separately, the Libyan National Army conducted a successful operation that led to the liberation of over 1,000 migrants, including women and children, from a human trafficking ring near Al-Shuwayrif. The Tariq bin Ziyad Brigade carried out the raid, which led to the rescue of the migrants. Colonel Khalifa Al-Abidi, Director of the the Libyan National Army’s Media Office, stated that most of the rescued individuals were of African origin and had been held in a large human trafficking compound strategically located between Misrata and Sebha. In addition to rescuing the migrants, the operation resulted in the arrest of the traffickers responsible for these illegal activities. The rescued individuals have been relocated to a safe area, where they are receiving necessary care, including shelter and medical assistance. The raid also uncovered significant quantities of narcotics, highlighting the gang’s involvement in broader criminal activities.(ITALPRESS).

Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma