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LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese authorities granted the permit for the second electricity interconnector between Malta and Sicily. The project was announced by the Maltese government two and a half years ago, and requires the relevant permits from the Italian authorities.
The permit covers all the relevant works up to the median line between the coast of Maghtab, in Malta and the coast of Ragusa, in Sicily. In the past two years, planning and studies were needed to prepare the design for the second interconnector which will be placed at a safe distance from the interconnector commissioned in 2015.
While the Environment and Resources Authority recognised that the project would have an impact on protected ecological zones at sea, it said that it was not expected to cause great harm.
The project is being overseen by Interconnect Malta, a 100% government-owned entity entrusted with all the country’s energy interconnection projects, including a proposed gas pipeline, along with any offshore renewable energy and energy battery storage systems.
Interconnect Malta described the latest development “an important step forward in the implementation of Maltàs plan for a sustainable energy sector.”
The interconnector is considered an essential part of Maltàs energy infrastructure following a series of blackouts last summer.

– Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma –

(ITALPRESS).

LA VALLETTA (ITALPRESS/MNAa) – High prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages kept the inflation in Malta above the EU and Eurozone average rate.
Inflation in Malta was 3.7 per cent in December, down from 3.9 per cent in November, in contrast to the average Euro area inflation that was 2.9% in December, up from 2.4% in November. European Union annual inflation was 3.4% in December, up from 3.1% in November. A year earlier, the rate was 10.4%. Denmark, Italy, and Belgium recorded the lowest annual inflation rates at 0.4% and 0.5%, respectively, while Czechia, Romania, and Slovakia reported the highest rates at 7.6%, 7.0%, and 6.6%. Services, food, alcohol & tobacco, non-energy industrial goods, and energy were identified as the major contributors to the annual euro area inflation rate. The food and non-alcoholic beverages index in Malta contributed significantly with an increase of 1.69 percentage points.
The highest annual inflation rates in December 2023 were registered in the food and non-alcoholic beverages category (9.5%) and education (5.6%).
This increase was largely attributed to high prices of vegetables. The restaurants and hotels index (+0.64 percentage points) and the housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels Index (+0.53 percentage points) followed suit, primarily due to higher prices of restaurant services and rents.
The Maltese government is considering direct intervention through price control on essential food items to counter inflation.
However, the Malta Chamber of Commerce urged the government to reconsider its decision. The government’s negotiations with retailers to cut prices for staple grocery products have faced criticism, with concerns raised about potential negative impacts on competition and consumer choice.
However, the Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela insisted on the ongoing efforts to stabilise food prices and promising additional measures to help the public cope with the cost of living.
-foto Agenzia Fotogramma –
(ITALPRESS).

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Maltàs economic growth this year is expected to hit 3.5% in real terms, leading all other EU member states and comfortably above the EU-wide average of just over 1%. According to Moody’s’ Credit Agency, Malta is forecast to be the only country with growth of over 3% among the 27 member states. The increase in domestic demand and the support of the tourism sector are expected to be the driving force for this economic growth. The Agency has confirmed Maltàs rating as A2 stable. Many other member states are expected to recover at a slower pace amid high interest rates, a decrease in consumer demand and the increase in energy prices. Meanwhile, the report notes that Malta with 1% together with Greece by 0.5%, will manage to reduce the deficit without stopping the energy subsidy.
(ITALPRESS).
– Photo credit: Malta tourist office –

MILAN (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Policlinico San Donato, a hospital of the San Donato Group, has been awarded a multi-year management of a public hospital in Iraq. This is the highly specialized university hospital in the city of Najaf, equipped with 492 beds and owned by the Iraqi Ministry of Health.

The agreement was signed by the Minister of Health, Saleh Al-Hasnawi and Kamel Ghribi, Vice President of the San Donato Group and President of GKSD Investment Holding.

The Minister of Health stated that the signing of the agreement falls within the framework of the cooperative relations between Iraq and Italy, within the framework of joint cooperation between the two countries. The partnership with Gruppo San Donato strengthens this cooperation and, for the first time, brings the excellence offered by the Italian healthcare system to the service of the country and the Iraqi population.

Kamel Ghribi commented on the signing of the agreement: “We are honoured by the agreement reached with the Iraqi government. Our initiative in Iraq is pioneering in nature and we hope that it can only represent the beginning of an increasingly close collaboration between our countries, since this agreement opens the doors to new development and cooperation opportunities for other Italian companies too.”

The agreement is part of the new direction of health policy, which aims at the instrument of public-private partnership with international operators to raise the quality, accessibility and financial sustainability of care for the Iraqi population.

– Photo Gruppo San Donato press office –

(ITALPRESS).

VALLETTA (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Several global shipping companies decided to divert their vessels away from the Red Sea, thus also bypassing the Mediterranean and failing to call at Malta.
This was confirmed by the Malta Freeport stating that the decision was the result of several attacks on shipping by Huthi rebels, off the coast of Yemen.
The Huthis say they are targeting Israel and Israeli-linked vessels to push for a stop to the offensive in the Gaza Strip, where Israel is battling Hamas terrorists. However several of the targeted ships have had no link with Israel.
Malta Freeport Chief Executive Officer Alex Montebello said, “Some services are managing to transit through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, and these are calling at the Freeport, but certain others are having to take an alternative route round the Cape of Good Hope and bypassing the Mediterranean altogether.” Montebello added that the company is in constant contact with its customers.
Malta Freeport offers services to 115 ports worldwide, more than 50 of which are in the Mediterranean on 15 mainline services and several feeder routes operated by major shipping lines.
Malta Freeport relies mostly on container ships which sail to Malta direct from the Far East via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal and unload their cargoes in Malta for onward shipment on smaller vessels to several European harbours.
– photo screeshot Malta Freeport –
(ITALPRESS)

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta and Sicily will soon be having a new travel connection through the launch of a new catamaran service from Valletta to Marina di Ragusa.
The latest technical trials were held yesterday considered as a significant step for the launch of the service. The catamaran named the Ragusa Xpress ferry is registered in Malta, and is expected to accommodate 430 passengers along with 21 cars or 65 motorcycles. The daily service is designed to offer a convenient one hour and 45-minute commute between Sicily and Malta, with plans for its official launch by the summer.
The catamaran is owned by Maltese businessman Paul Gauci who is also involved in supermarkets and clothing business. Through his company Porto Turistico Holding Ltd., Paul Gauci had successfully secured the Marina di Ragusa in a multi-million deal, marking a pivotal shift in ownership and is set to revitalise the 750-berth marina. The company purchased a 30-year concession for the running of the marina in a multimillion-euro deal the value of which remains undisclosed. Virtù Ferries has traditionally operated the Malta to Sicily sea route from Pozzallo.

– Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma –

(ITALPRESS).

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese government will nominate Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne as Maltàs next European Commissioner after the June European Parliament elections. The decision was taken by the Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela following a Cabinet reshuffle last Saturday. This is the first one during this administration after the Labour Party was elected in 2022. On X (formerly Twitter) Chris Fearne thanked Prime Minister Robert Abela for nominating him. “For many years I had the honour and privilege of serving as a surgeon, then as an MP, minister, and deputy prime minister. Now, while I will keep the posts of minister and deputy prime minister, I thank the prime minister for the nomination for European Commissioner which will allow me to serve on at European level”, he said.

– photo Department of Information Malta –
(ITALPRESS).

VALLETTA (ITALPRESS/MNA)- The Home Affairs Minister said that during 2023, Malta rescued 380 migrants, repatriated 315 to their country and relocated a further 159 to other EU countries.
While addressing the Parliament, Minister Byron Camilleri explained, “These results mean that during 2023, there were more irregular migrants who left Malta than there were arrivals”.
He added that during the same period, 1,391 third-party nationals were found to be staying in Malta illegally and were returned to their country of origin or their country of residence.
Camilleri said this process started before 2023 and is a result of key government’s decisions, including legislative amendments to ensure that the migration system was both firm and fair. “The migration system was now fair with those deserving of protection, but firm with those who had no right to stay in Malta. The new measures had seen investment in the asylum process including the setting up of the International Protection Agency and the Returns Unit. The former focused on pending asylum and protection applications and the latter on returning those people who had no right to stay in Malta”.He confirmed that the Maltese government is working closely with neighbouring countries, countries of origin and countries of transit to ensure there were fewer arrivals and fewer lives were lost at sea.
-photo Agenzia Fotogramma –
(ITALPRESS).