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LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese authorities have been implicated in another pushback of a group of migrants who left from Libya. According to the international NGO Alarm Phone, 30 migrants who were in distress on a small boat in Maltàs search and rescue (SAR) zone, early this week were intercepted by a Libyan vessel operated by the Libyan militia group Tarek Ben Zayed and were taken back to Libya with the assistance of the Maltese government. The Tarek Ben Zayed is a militant organization led by Saddam Haftar, son of the Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar. AlarmPhone confirmed that a week ago, the distress vessel’s location was established and reported its location just inside the southeast edge of Maltàs search and rescue zone. The vessel was low on fuel, food and water.
The people on board were at first thought to have been picked up by a commercial vessel but were later confirmed to have been pushed back by the Libyan vessel Tareq Bin Zayed, belonging to an armed militia group.
The vessel, which left from Sirte, Libya, was spotted by Alarm Phone after receiving distress signals after encountering strong winds and waves. On Friday, the commercial vessel Nippon Princess heeded the distress call and looked for the smaller boat but could not find it. This week, AlarmPhone confirmed the pushback by the Libyan militiàs vessel and “condemned Maltàs role in pushbacks”.

foto: Agenzia Fotogramma

(ITALPRESS).

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – More than 50 countries will be represented during talks in Malta this weekend to discuss ways to end the Ukraine conflict. Igor Zhovkva, a senior aide to the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, told the Kyiv Post that the Ukrainian President expects a larger attendance than in similar meetings in Jeddah and Copenhagen earlier this year.
The third international gathering aims to approve Zelensky’s 10-point peace plan ahead of a planned Global Peace Summit later this year. Turkey, which has offered itself as a mediator between Ukraine and Russia, is among the countries due to take part. Zelensky has also invited a representative of Saudi Arabia to participate.
It is not yet clear if Zelensky or other leaders, such as Turkey’s Recep Tayipp Erdogan will be present in person, or send representatives for the meeting scheduled in Valletta on October 28-29.
Ukraine is also expecting “newcomers” for the meeting in Malta, who will join the collective pressure on Russia and act as guarantors of the legal force of the Peace Formula.

Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma

(ITALPRESS).

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese authorities have issued the first two licenses to cultivate the cannabis plant for non-medicinal use. The Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis is also assessing other applications from four other associations to ensure the production of high-quality products, and to safeguard the health and rights of their respective members. Rebecca Buttigieg, the Parliamentary Secretariat for Reforms and Equality stated that Maltàs model is serving as a model for other countries because, in a cautious but decisive manner, it aims at fighting organized crime without creating a place for a new industry. “Our satisfaction is even greater after European countries, including Germany, are looking at the Maltese model in order to carry out similar reforms.”
These associations work on a not-for-profit basis, and together with the Maltese authorities are focusing on a harm reduction policy. Those aged 18 and over and Malta residents can only become members of one association.

– Photo: Agenzia Fotogramma –
(ITALPRESS).

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Maltese Foreign Minister Ian Borg called for a ceasefire in Gaza, an independent investigation into the bombing of Ahli Arab Hospital in central Gaza and called on Hamas to release all hostages immediately.
Borg, who was addressing the United Nation’s Security Council, added, “Malta will continue to work for a two-state resolution,” and urged influential parties to promote dialogue and de-escalation to nurture peace. Terrorist groups should not be financed, he added. The Maltese Foreign Minister stated Malta acknowledged that Israel has a right to defend itself but added that any military action must be conducted according to international law and be proportional, while condemning all attacks against civilians and humanitarian workers. He added that “the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people must not be confused with the terroristic group of Hamas”. Borg said Malta was “deeply concerned” over Israel’s decision to cut off water, food, fuel and electricity supplies to Gaza. Humanitarian corridors and safe zones must be established in Gaza, he said.

Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma

(ITALPRESS).

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Investigations by the police in Malta led to the arrest of three more Syrians, two of whom were remanded in custody for suspected terror accusations and the other one was released on bail after he was accused of money laundering. The Syrians had been arrested in connection with the recently re-opened magisterial inquiry into the publication of terrorism-related material on social media by a number of Syrian nationals residing in Malta suspected of being part of a terror cell of Islamic extremists. The police have not yet spoken to all witnesses and the investigation was focusing on 30 individuals, some of whom may also be arraigned. Plasterer Farhan Mohammed Sheikh, 29, and Abdulla Aliwi, 23, both from Homs, pleaded not guilty to terrorism charges. The Prosecuting inspector said that one of the defendants had entered Malta illegally, had no job and had no ties to the country. One of them had even gone to Greece to apply for refugee status before being sent back to Malta. The court denied bail after hearing the submissions described the nature of the charges as “most serious”. It also underlined the need to protect public order and security. Ebrahim Ahmad, 35, a plasterer from Homs was accused with money laundering and offering illegal banking services. He was also accused of conspiring to commit an offence in Malta. He pleaded not guilty. The man was granted bail against €40,000 deposit and an €80,000 personal guarantee. The defence informed the court that Ahmad was unable to pay the deposit and would be filing an application for a variation of his bail conditions in due course. The accused was remanded in custody until then.
(ITALPRESS).

Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma

ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Italy and Tunisia has signed an agreement authorizing 4,000 non-seasonal Tunisian workers every year.

The Minister of Labour and Social Policies, Marina Calderone said: “it is a concrete commitment by the Government to respond more adequately to the manpower needs of our production system and at the same time promote the management of regular, controlled and safe migratory flows of Tunisian workers.”

Minister Calderone made the statement on the sidelines of the signing of the three-year agreement, today in Tunis, by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, and his Tunisian counterpart Nabil Ammar.

The memorandum provides simplified procedures for issuing visas and residence permits. Furthermore, as an exception to the general rule on this type of entry, the workers concerned will have the possibility to remain in Italy even at the end of the contract, for the period of validity of the residence permit, and access further employment opportunities and regular residence.

The memorandum defines a working plan and methods to implement the agreement, through the signing of a protocol between the respective specialized entities(on the Italian side Anpal Servizi) for the identification of sectors, level of skills and procedures for matching the supply and demand.

The minister also announced a pilot project approved by the ministry for the training of 40 workers in Tunisia, to be brought to Italy. However, this initiative does not fall under quotas decree, promoted by ANCE. This is the first project of this type thanks to the work entry reform promoted by the Government. This pilot project paves the way for a larger and more structured intervention for training in Tunisia and the entry into Italy of at least another 500 workers, financed through European resources and in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration.

– Photo: Agenzia Fotogramma –

(ITALPRESS).

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Three international NGOs accused Malta that once more neglected its legal obligations under the law of the sea and abandoned 14 migrants in distress at sea resulting into one death. Civil society groups Alarm Phone, Mèdecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and Sea-Watch, all operating in the Central Mediterranean Sea, have documented blatant rights violations and are calling on Maltese authorities to put an end to Maltàs policy of systematically refusing to carry out rescue operations and deliberately putting lives at risk. The NGOs said that on the 22nd of June 2023, 14 people onboard a flimsy rubber boat sent a distress alert to the activist distress hotline Alarm Phone. They had left from Libya one day before and were adrift in the Maltese search and rescue region after having run out of fuel. “Malta – the responsible authority for that stretch of the sea – and Italy were immediately informed about the distress case,” said the NGOs, adding, “yet more than 36 hours passed between the first distress alert and the rescue of the boat by the MSF rescue vessel Geo Barents.” They stated that when the MSF ship arrived, people reported that one person had gone overboard and is believed to have drowned.

– Photo: Agenzia Fotogramma –
(ITALPRESS).

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Latest official statistics has confirmed that Maltàs inflation is still higher than the average within the Eurozone, even though the annual rate has decreased to below 5% since March 2022. The annual rate of inflation in September was 4.9%, slightly down from 5% a month earlier. The National Statistics Office said the highest annual inflation rates were registered in food and non-alcoholic beverages (9.9%), and housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (7.2%). The lowest annual inflation rates were registered in communication (-8.4%) and Transport (-0.4%). Compared to the euro area, Maltàs annual rate at 4.9%, was 0.6 percentage points above the 4.31% recorded for the euro area.
(ITALPRESS).
– Photo credit: Agenzia Fotogramma –