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LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (MNA/ITALPRESS) – The Commander of Operation Irini, Admiral Valentino Rinaldi, held key meetings in Brussels with senior EU representatives and ambassadors from the Political and Security Committee to discuss reinforcing the enforcement of the UN arms embargo on Libya.

Operation Irini, an EU-led mission launched in 2020, plays a critical role in preventing the flow of weapons into Libya. The mission operates in the central Mediterranean and conducts inspections of vessels suspected of carrying weapons. This arms embargo is critical to preventing further destabilization in Libya, where the flow of weapons has fueled conflict between rival factions. Despite several peace initiatives, weapons continue to reach Libyan factions, undermining efforts to build lasting peace.

Admiral Rinaldi also met with Daniel Markic, Director of the EU Intelligence and Operations Center, to improve cooperation between intelligence networks and enforcement agencies.

During his meetings, Admiral Rinaldi emphasized the need to focus on integrating real-time intelligence and satellite data into Irini’s operations, making arms enforcement more efficient and precise. This increased coordination aims to close loopholes and prevent smuggled arms from reaching Libya by air or sea.

While Operation Irini has achieved significant progress, it faces several challenges, including limited enforcement capabilities and persistent violations through land and air routes. Admiral Rinaldi reaffirmed the importance of EU unity and collaboration to overcome these challenges and ensure the mission’s effectiveness.

(ITALPRESS).

Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma

ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Minister of Tourism Daniela Santanchè met in Hurghada with Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities of the Arab Republic of Egypt, to reaffirm the long-standing cooperation between Egypt and Italy in the tourism sector.
During the meeting, both ministers underlined the importance of tourism as a key driver for social and economic development. They highlighted the need for vocational training and skills development to improve employment opportunities and support the growth of their respective tourism industries.
They also expressed their satisfaction with the inauguration of the Italian School of Hospitality in Hurghada, which aims to provide young Egyptians with world-class training in the tourism and hospitality sector. This initiative was developed in collaboration with Federturismo Confindustria, the Italian School of Hospitality and the Pickalbatros Group.
The two ministers welcomed this innovative model of collaboration between the private sector and public institutions of both countries, based on mutual benefit, and expressed their intention to explore ways to replicate it in other projects.
Highlighting the importance of tourism as a tool for peacebuilding, the two ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation between the ministries of tourism of Egypt and Italy through the exchange of information, expertise and best practices in tourism policies, in order to promote sustainable and high-quality growth in the tourism sector, identifying areas of joint action to fully exploit the potential of the tourism industry of both countries and fostering opportunities for collaboration between the tourism industries of Egypt and Italy.

– Photo Ministry of Tourism press office –

(ITALPRESS).

ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Minister of Tourism Daniela Santanchè has inaugurated the Italian School of Hospitality “Campus Enrico Mattei” in Hurghada, Egypt. The initiative, born in the context of the Mattei Plan for Africa promoted by the Italian government, is implemented by the Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the Italian School of Hospitality, Federturismo Confindustria, the Italian Embassy in Egypt, PickAlbatros Holding and the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism. The project aims to support the local and international tourism sector, creating highly qualified professionals and promoting the exchange of skills between Italy and Egypt and is part of the broader perspective of cooperation and sustainable development within African countries.

Specifically, creating the “Campus Enrico Mattei” aims to develop managerial skills, promote operational excellence, incentivize innovation and sustainability, and ensure regulatory compliance. All this, through the training of highly qualified professionals in the hospitality sector, with two specializations; in the Management of Food & Beverage (F&B) and kitchen duties and the Management of the guest experience upon arrival and in catering.

Minister Santanchè defined this moment as “historic for the tourism sector in terms of international relations between Italy and Africa, at a time when cooperation and sustainable development are more important than ever.” She added that from today, the young Egyptians are given a new future and will be able to receive high-level training, thanks to Italian tutors and trainers. “They will acquire and strengthen their skills in the tourism sector to improve their job opportunities and meet the demand for a qualified workforce, first and foremost in Egypt, but also Italy, in particular by taking advantage of the regulations that favour the immigration of personnel trained abroad.”

Santanchè explained that this initiative, on the one hand, responds to the needs of the labour market, and on the other contributes to mutual growth. “Investing in training and professionalism in tourism means designing a prosperous sector, capable of generating opportunities and improving quality,” continued the minister, adding, “Italy, which excels in experience and expertise as recognized internationally, is ready to share successful models in training and professionalism in the sector”.

Santanchè concluded, “Considering the importance of training, the Ministry of Tourism has set up a dedicated department. And now, with this project placed in the context of the Mattei Plan, we aim for more international training which will lead to the creation of better experts also by exporting the Italian know-how to the entire Mediterranean region. Not only that: this school can be a bridge for peace because tourism helps people get to know each other and become friends”.

The Italian Ambassador Michele Quaroni declared: “I am particularly proud of the realization of the project of the Italian School of Hospitality in Hurghada to which the Embassy has actively contributed since the Italian Government presented the idea.” He explained, “The School, the result of collaboration between various Italian and Egyptian public and private actors, is a concrete demonstration of the great potential of the Mattei Plan for Africa and of the opportunities that can arise for Egypt and our country from its realization.” Quaroni explained that the school will help strengthen economic ties between the two countries and also promote controlled migration to Italy, with positive repercussions for the tourism industry operators on both sides of the Mediterranean”.

Giulio Contini, General Director of the Italian School of Hospitality announced that 100 students are participating and they will cover over 600 hours of theoretical/practical training with the same learning methodology applied in Italy through the alternation of demonstration lessons, workshops and internships with tutoring. He said that this will increase the awareness of the social impact resulting from the inclusion of local young people in training and job placement projects. “We are grateful to the Ministry of Tourism and all the partners who collaborated to make this project possible”, he added.

The President of Federturismo Confindustria, Marina Lalli reaffirmed how “training is the real ‘key’ in every country to restart the tourism sector and to provide workers with the knowledge and tools to be able to orient themselves in a complex world, but full of opportunities. She also emphasized that the Italian Hospitality School in Hurghada will train young Egyptians according to the Italian quality standards, “a source of great pride and satisfaction for us”. She added that the school inauguration is the result of a great cooperation between Italy and Egypt aimed at supporting the development of the hospitality sector of both countries and facilitating the insertion of these qualified resources into the labour market”.

The President of Pickalbatros, Kamel Abu Ali declared his happiness in welcoming the delegation of the Italian Ministry of Tourism in Hurghada. “This moment marks the success of the positive efforts we have made to bring this project to life. This school, in collaboration with our Italian friends, will provide much-needed qualified workers to the Egyptian and Italian markets. This school represents the historic and fruitful friendship and cooperation between Egypt and Italy”.

– Photo Ministry of Tourismo press office –

(ITALPRESS).

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Cybersecurity and artificial intelligence were the main topics discussed during the event organized in Malta by Fortinet, a global leader in cybersecurity that promotes the convergence between networking and security.
The event was held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, in St. Julian’s, where Fortinet met Maltese partners and representatives from public entities and private businesses.
The event was opened by Cesare Radaelli, Senior Channel Director Italy and Malta of Fortinet: “It is a very important year for Fortinet,” he stated, “because we are pushing on different technologies such as Network Security, OT and SecOps.” Radaelli declared: “We decided to organize this event in Malta because here too we see a growing demand in terms of cybersecurity, and it is important for us to be increasingly present.” He continued, “customers need to focus on the most important issues while increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of their security infrastructures. The threats are growing. Beyond malware, we are seeing AI being used by cybercriminals to develop more refined attacks in terms of quality and execution time.”
During the forum, there were several interventions by the company’s partners and customers: “Our partnership with Fortinet,” explained Finian Massa, Strategic Marketing Manager at ICT Solution, “has been going on for 13 years now. We have seen the company grow and support many activities, not only Maltese ones. We are witnessing increasingly frequent cyber attacks and continuous threats. The support of a company like Fortinet certainly gives security and makes up for the lack of qualified personnel in the field of cyber security.” “The positive thing,” he continued, “that there is more awareness of these dangers, companies know the problem and are invited to invest more and more in cyber security with the support of the institutions that must do their part to regulate this sector”.
An important topic covered during the initiative was the one linked to the use of artificial intelligence in the fight against cyber threats, a tool that is revolutionizing the world but, as Marthese Vella, Chief Technology Officer at AX Group explained, this also hides many pitfalls. “Artificial intelligence,” Vella said, “is certainly a hot topic in cybersecurity. On the positive side, AI can significantly increase our ability to detect threats in real time, analyze large amounts of data, and automate incident responses. This means we can identify patterns much faster than traditional methods, allowing us to proactively address vulnerabilities before they are exploited. However, we also need to recognize the risks. Cybercriminals are increasingly using AI to develop more sophisticated attacks, creating challenges that can overcome our defenses. Ultimately, the key is to find a balance. We should leverage AI’s strengths while implementing strong security measures and ethical guidelines to mitigate its potential drawbacks. In this way, we can leverage AI as a powerful ally in our ongoing fight against cyber threats”.

– photo Fortinet –
(ITALPRESS).

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The European Commission has expressed serious concern over allegations of fraud in Maltàs residence permit system. EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson highlighted the potential security risks to the Schengen area posed by the alleged fraudulent scheme. “The European Commission does not have general powers to intervene in individual cases, nor does it have law enforcement powers in criminal matters or the competence to intervene in the day-to-day activities of an individual Member Statès administration or judiciary,” Johansson said, responding to nationalist MEP David Casa, adding that the Commission will continue to monitor the situation, also in light of the forthcoming conclusions of ongoing investigations. Johansson stressed that under EU law on legal immigration, fraudulently obtained residence permits must be withdrawn. The investigation stems from allegations of a large-scale scheme involving the fraudulent issuance of around 18,000 identity cards to third-country nationals, mainly from Egypt and Libya. The scandal has sparked intense political debate in Malta, with opposition parties and civil society organisations calling for the resignation of the Interior Minister, Byron Camilleri.
(ITALPRESS).
-Photo credit: Agenzia Fotogramma-

WASHINGTON (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Serbian Film Festival is currently underway in Washington. Thanks to a well-defined programme until October 20, it is possible to see the main Serbian film productions in different parts of the city. On the occasion of this event, the Office for Public and Cultural Diplomacy, the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Embassy of Serbia in Washington organized a reception at the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia. On this occasion, Arno Gujon, Director of the Office for Public and Cultural Diplomacy, had the opportunity to emphasize the characteristics of the Serbian Film Festival and the importance of organizing these events abroad: “The film industry in Serbia has grown a lot in recent years,” said Gujon. “From 2018 until now, it has grown by more than 200 percent. And today, the film industry in Serbia employs more than 5,000 people. So, it is far from being an insignificant number. And it is important for us to develop it. This is one of the goals of the President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic. He has invested a lot in the film industry by creating new films about Serbian history, culture and new and modern topics. And so it is important to be here in Washington and abroad because the Serbian film industry, Serbian culture and cinematography are not so well known outside of Serbia. And because it is very specific, very different from other cultures and cinematography in the world. I think we have something to add to this global offer in this sector and we are very happy that we managed to organize this first Serbian film festival here in Washington DC”.
– photo xp6 Italpress –
(ITALPRESS)

BRUSSELS (BELGIUM) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The European Council, which brings together the heads of state and government of the 27 member states of the European Union, reaffirmed at a summit in Brussels “the great value” that the EU attributes to its strategic partnership with Morocco. The European Council also reiterated the need to preserve and continue to strengthen the close relations with the Kingdom in all areas within the Morocco-EU partnership.

According to the MAP agency, this is the third time since the decision of the European Court of Justice taken two weeks ago that the EU institutions have reaffirmed this commitment at the highest level.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the EU High Representative, Josep Borrell, have in fact reaffirmed, in a joint statement, the European bloc’s commitment to preserve and further strengthen the close relations with Morocco in all areas, according to the principle “pacta sunt servanda”.

This commitment was reiterated this week by the EU’s foreign policy chief, who chaired the EU Foreign Affairs Council, underlining the “immense value” that the EU attaches to the strategic partnership with Morocco.

– Photo Agenzia Fotogramma –

(ITALPRESS).

ROME (ITALPRESS) – The Minister of Business and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, together with Deputy Minister Valentino Valentini, met at Palazzo Piacentini with the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bandar Ibrahim Alkhorayef.

At the center of the meeting was the desire to further strengthen commercial synergies and the technological and industrial partnership between the two countries in strategic sectors, promoting collaboration between institutions and investors, as already happened in September 2023 during the Italian-Saudi Investment Forum.

Focus on the issues already started during Urso’s visit to Riyadh in November 2023 and, in particular, on the commitment of the two countries in the mining sector and in the supply chain and processing of critical raw materials, which represent a fundamental pillar for the development of companies, called upon to achieve decarbonization objectives. In this regard, during the meeting, it was decided to establish a special bilateral working group with the task of presenting concrete cooperation proposals to the two governments.

“There are great complementarities and common interests between Italy and Saudi Arabia, both committed to achieving autonomy in the sector of critical raw materials,” underlined Minister Urso, adding, “to this end we can collaborate, not only in sharing best practices, but also to explore the opportunity for partnerships and investments in this sector. A strategy that could open new doors and further strengthen bilateral relations”. (ITALPRESS).

Foto: Ufficio Stampa Mimit