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LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The court ruled that there are sufficient evidence to merit the indictment of former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, former Minister Konrad Mizzi and former Chief of Staff at the Office of the Prime Minister, Keith Schembri for crimes relating to the fraudulent three state hospitals’ concession.
A prima facie decree was issued by the Magistrate as the compilation of evidence against the former Prime Minister, the former Minister for Health and former OPM Chief of Staff Keith Schembri, who form part of the group of 14 persons and nine companies facing criminal charges, amongst them corruption, fraud, conspiracy and money laundering, in connection with the sale of three State hospitals to Vitals Global Healthcare.
The sale had been declared fraudulent by the courts and declared null in 2023 following a legal case opened by the Nationalist Opposition.
Earlier this year, the conclusions of a magisterial inquiry that had been launched in 2019 following a request by NGO Repubblika, had recommended that they should be prosecuted.
All of the defendants are pleading not guilty to the charges.

– Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma –

(ITALPRESS).

ROME (ITALY) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A new “Morocco-branded” humanitarian operation to bring humanitarian medical aid to the population of Gaza was launched today, as explained in a statement released by the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
King Mohammed VI, as president of the Al Quds Committee (Jerusalem), has in fact given instructions to launch the second humanitarian operation aimed directly at the Palestinian population of Gaza. Forty tons of health products containing, in particular, devices for the treatment of burns and surgical and traumatological emergencies, and top quality medicines intended in particular for children and the elderly, we read in the press release. Last March, Morocco was in fact the first country in the world to bring humanitarian aid directly to the population of Gaza by land, through Ben Gurion airport since the outbreak of hostilities. Also in this second operation, Moroccan aid will be transported via the same land route, explains the statement, underlining how the sovereign will take charge of a large part of this aid from personal funds.
(ITALPRESS).
– Photo credit: Map –

PALERMO (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The President of the Sicilian Region Renato Schifani received Miriam Dalli, Maltese Minister for the Environment, Energy and the Regeneration of the Grand Harbour this afternoon at Palazzo d’Orlèans.
During the meeting, both sides discussed the construction of the second interconnector between Sicily and Malta. The interconnector will be build between Ragusa, in Sicily, to Maghtab, in Malta, for the transfer of electric energy.
Ismail D’Amato, CEO of Interconnect Malta, a government owned company, was also present during the discussions.
President Schifani greeted Minister Dalli with a ceramic trinacria, and in exchange, Minister Dalli presented a reproduction of a small silver sailing ship.

– Foto: ufficio stampa Regione Siciliana –

(ITALPRESS).

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese authorities uncovered €13 million worth of cannabis resin concealed within industrial ovens destined for Libya.

The discovery followed a thorough risk assessment, leading customs officials at the Malta Freeport Terminal to scan and examine a container originating from Morocco and destined for Tripoli, Libya.

Initial scans of the six induction ovens within the container revealed substantial inconsistencies, prompting further investigation. Subsequent scans confirmed the presence of irregular material concealed within the ovens.

The extraction of the drugs was a complex process, spanning over two days. The operation involved the Customs canine teams, the Police narcotics squad, and members of the Civil Protection Department.

Upon dismantling the panels, officials found 4,300 kg of cannabis resin embedded within the inner parts of the induction ovens. This substantial quantity, notable even by international standards, highlighted the elaborate and deceptive construction designed to evade detection.

This seizure follows another significant interception last week, where customs officials confiscated 50 kg of cocaine from a container that had arrived from Ecuador and was destined for Slovenia.

Duty magistrates have been informed of both cases, and inquiries have been appointed to further investigate the incidents.(ITALPRESS).

Foto: Dogana di Malta

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Haftar family is consolidating its power in eastern Libyan, as the strongman Khalifa Haftar has named his son, Saddam Haftar, as the new chief of the Haftar-controlled Libyan Arab Armed Forces. Two other Haftar sons also have military posts.

In view of the latest developments, the rival western government in Tripoli is under pressure about the rise of this private family army in the east and who control eastern and parts of southern Libya.

In 2019, Haftar tried to take Tripoli. He failed and while he has lost some of his backers, including the U.S., he is a top priority on Russia’s list, and a key stomping ground for Wagner mercenaries and operations that extend beyond Libya.

Recently the Italian law enforcement carried out the operation at the request of the United States authorities and seized weapons worth millions of dollars allegedly bound for Benghazi in Libya. The large merchant vessel MSC Arina departed from Yantian, a port district in Shenzhen, China on April 30. US authorities decided to seize the arms shipment and requested Italian intervention upon its arrival in the southern port of Gioia Tauro, in Calabria. The cargo ship was destined for forces loyal to Russia-backed warlord Khalifa Haftar. The specific military equipment on board remains unclear, but some analysts suggest it could include armed drones.

The recent event underscores the growing geopolitical rivalry between the United States and Russia. Washington has been closely monitoring Haftar since his visit to Moscow in September. US intelligence officials suspect that the Kremlin wants to build its military port in Tobruk, which is controlled by Haftar in Libya.

The US is keen to prevent Russian expansion in the Mediterranean, especially in Libya, which has strategic importance due to its proximity to Europe and its resources. Russia’s potential establishment of a military base in Tobruk would significantly enhance its influence in North Africa and the Mediterranean.

A Russian military presence in Libya would also be a direct security concern for the EU, particularly given its proximity to the EU’s southern borders. This would not only disrupt the balance of power in the region but could also affect EU interests, including migration routes and energy supplies.

Meanwhile, the US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller expressed concern about Russian naval missions delivering military equipment to Libya.

On June 18, the General Command of the Libyan National Army (LNA) announced the arrival of two Russian warships at the Tobruk naval base for a “working visit.” The ships, the missile cruiser “Varyag” and the frigate “Admiral Shaposhnikov,” are intended to enhance cooperation and coordination between the Libyan and Russian navies. This visit aims to improve training, maintenance, technical and logistical support, and maritime security expertise.

The US State Department has expressed its concerns about recent reports that naval vessels belonging to Russia were unloading military equipment in Libya, considering that Moscow was seeking to use Libya as a base to destabilize the Sahel region.

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told Al Hurra TV on Friday that the Russian move “comes five years after the deployment of Russian mercenaries who destabilized Libya and the region.” Miller said that Moscow “did not hide its ambition to deepen its foothold in Libya and use it as a base to further destabilize the Sahel region,” noting that there are approximately 1,800 members of a Kremlin-backed force currently in Libya. “The US will continue to respect Libyan sovereignty and the dialogue facilitated by the United Nations with the aim of unifying the country through political means only.” He added.

Libya has been a focal point of international conflict and intervention since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that ousted longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi. The country has since been divided between rival administrations in the east and west, each supported by different foreign powers.(ITALPRESS).

Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma

Malta launched a new initiative of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) with the aim of strengthening the participation of young people in the discussions and decisions taken by the politicians to address climate change.

During a conference on climate change, 

the Chairperson of the OSCE, the Minister for European Foreign Affairs and Trade Ian Borg, stressed that the urgency to take immediate action has never been so great.

The conference was held in Malta, which is currently in charge of leading the OSCE, the largest security organization in Europe

Malta launched the new initiative with the aim of strengthening the participation of young diplomats and technical experts in the discussions and political decisions that are being taken on climate change.

The initiative was brought by the Permanent Representation of Malta to the OSCE to the representatives of the 57 countries within this Organization, during a high-level conference of the Maltese Presidency of the OSCE on Climate Change.

The Special Representative for the Maltese Leadership of the OSCE on Climate Change, Ambassador Simone Borg, said that this initiative will help to train new diplomats with aspects that deal with climate change, about energy, water and the impact on nature. The fight against climate change requires diplomats who can steer agreements in the direction that make a difference. Training will also be given to young people in areas such as transport and agriculture who will train and learn how to address emissions from their sector.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Chairperson of the OSCE Ian Borg said that the conference was being held at a time when the Mediterranean region is facing challenges linked to climate change, including heat waves, droughts and floods.

He described the launch of the initiative as significant to have officials, especially young people, who meet and train so that even in embassies, in international organizations each country has those experts which can lead to solutions.

The Minister for the Environment Miriam Dalli said governments should incentivize new technologies to push forward measures to combat climate change. She said that climate change was becoming more of a threat and extreme weather is intensifying, with great risks for people. Dalli emphasized the importance of research and said that in Malta researchers were coming up with innovative ideas that can be implemented in Malta.

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The international NGO Alarm Phone said that 65 migrants are at risk in the central Mediterranean. The NGO added it is in contact with a group of about 65 people who escaped from Libya and are in severe distress. Alarm Phone confirmed that the authorities are informed and urged for an immediate rescue.
Meanwhile, another humanitarian NGO, Sea-Watch International said that after
Tuesday’s brutal beatings of migrants who escaped from Libya and were trying to reach Italy, the Libyan coastguard abducted more migrants in international waters again yesterday, risking their lives. Following this notification, the crew of Humanity 1 operated by the NGO SOS Humanity witnessed three cases of refugees being intercepted and illegally forced back to Libya.
In another development, SOS Humanity rescued two boats full of migrants in distress. The crew of Humanity 1 rescued 31 people from an unseaworthy fibreglass boat in distress. None of those on board were wearing lifejackets. The boat was spotted by the crew’s lookout using binoculars and had departed from Libya. Following this rescue, the same crew rescued a further 75 people, including women and children, from an overcrowded wooden boat in distress in international waters. There was no lifesaving equipment on board and the boat was unseaworthy.
Meanwhile, Tunisia intercepted more than 1,800 migrants, thwarting 59 attempts to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe, during last weekend. There were 18 Tunisian citizens among those who tried to set out on the journey, the National Guard confirmed. Two bodies were recovered, while 24 smugglers, including organisers and mediators, were held. The Tunisian authorities said security forces prevented more than 30,000 people from crossing to Europe through Tunisiàs territorial waters in the first five months of 2024

– Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma –

(ITALPRESS).

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – According to the latest edition of the State of the Nation survey commissioned by the Office of the President of Malta, over one in every four people say they feel “very uncomfortable” with Maltàs multiculturalism. A further 10% say they are uncomfortable, with a third saying that they are undecided about this issue.
The survey found that the Maltese are less comfortable with multiculturalism than they were in most previous years.
People across all age groups tend to feel the same way about the issue, although people between the ages of 26 and 35 tended to view multiculturalism slightly more favourably.
However, the survey found that most (55%) agreed that importing foreign workers to carry out jobs the Maltese don’t want to do is a good solution. Higher-income earners in particular, were overwhelmingly in favour of this solution.
The survey reflects Maltàs mixed reaction to the country’s changing demographics, with 2021’s census finding that more than one in every five people living in Malta is not Maltese.
Prime Minister Robert Abela was speaking at the closing of the presentation of the fourth annual State of the Nation survey admitted that people want the Maltese government to move “at a quicker pace” towards an economic model that improves their quality of life and away from one focused just on economic growth. Abela acknowledged that Maltàs economic growth had introduced new challenges, particularly in terms of pressure on Maltàs infrastructure and demographics, that need to be prioritised. Abela pledged to look towards strengthening economic areas that “least impact our country’s infrastructure”, going on to list several possible niches, from robotics to artificial intelligence, digital economy, financial services and gaming.
The conference was also addressed by PN MP Claudette Buttigieg, who spoke on behalf of Opposition leader Bernard Grech.
Buttigieg said that last week’s MEPs election result sent “a strong message” about several issues, including the fact that “we need to look at Maltàs economic model through a different lens”. “This is an issue that PN has long been saying, one that needs attention,” she said.
Closing the conference, President Myriam Spiteri Debono expressed her concern at the survey’s findings about multiculturalism and foreign workers. “Maybe we should ask the Maltese who don’t want foreign workers point-blank whether they are ready to carry out the work they do,” she said. ”
They feel that some work is below them but they expect these jobs to still be done,” she insisted.

– Foto: DOI –

(ITALPRESS).