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LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta is facing a crisis following six consecutive days of power cuts as the country is facing one of the longest heatwaves in history. While a number of localities are still left without electricity, the Meteorological Office issued a red alert, warning the temperature is expected to continue reaching over 40°C until at least mid of next week.
People are sleeping outdoors. Shops particularly supermarkets had to throw away frozen food and other refrigerated items worth thousands of euros. Businesses had to close down. Mental health patients were left in panic as the mental hospital was plunged into darkness for more than hours. According to local reports, “Some patients were screaming, panicking, and shouting. Nurses had to use their mobile phones to walk around. They had to give out the evening tablets by using mobile phone light”.
Enemalta, the State energy provider described the situation as “abnormal” with an increase of 8% in the peak load. 42 electrical faults over four days were reported some 22 are still being repaired, 12 of which are “works in progress”. The State energy company is blaming high temperatures for damaging underground cables.
The Nationalist Opposition has called on Energy Minister Miriam Dalli to resign and asked for parliament to be reconvened for an urgent session on Saturday to address the “national crisis” issue of the numerous blackouts the country has experienced this week. The Opposition’s request was refused by Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela.
The Leader of the Opposition Bernard Grech stated: “We are experiencing and living during a national crisis,” adding “elderly, vulnerable people, families and businesses are suffering due to the lack of electric services. Power cuts have been ongoing for days”.
However, Energy Minister Miriam Dalli declared: “My focus is on addressing this challenge, and options for compensation will be tackled later. Dalli said that she “cannot exclude further consequences from the heatwave”.
European Parliament President and Nationalist MEP Roberta Metsola accused the Labour administration of a long list of shortcomings. “The government has failed. Failed in traffic management, planning, and development, electricity, and infrastructure. Failed to find solutions and ensure that by the year 2023, people are not living without energy. Failed in harnessing solar energy and renewable solutions”.
photo Enemalta
(ITALPRESS).

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Maltàs national airline announced that it has cancelled 10 flights to Catania Airport from today till next Tuesday. In a statement, Air Malta confirmed that the decision was taken as a result of the recent fire at Fontanarossa airport.
The cancellations were imposed by the Italian airport authority on airlines and flight schedules to and from Catania Airport due to aircraft movement limitations.
Air Malta said, “this is an ongoing situation with more information to be updated as and when received”.
photo Agenzia Fotogramma
(ITALPRESS).

VALLETTA (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Three passengers lost consciousness on an Air Malta flight, the airline said in a statement. The incident happened on Thursday afternoon.
The incident has led to delays for both KM614 and its return flight, KM615 from Rome to Malta where the aircraft was preparing for its scheduled departure to Rome.
“Flight KM614 Malta to Rome experienced an incident whilst on the ground because of a combination of the extreme temperatures exacerbated by an air-conditioning fault. During this event, three passengers onboard the aircraft lost consciousness due to the unprecedented soaring temperatures”.
Air Malta added, “these passengers were swiftly attended to by the cabin crew on duty and supporting medical emergency services. All customers were duly disembarked onto buses back to Malta International Airport terminal and provided refreshments before the provision of onward travel to Rome”.
-photo press office Air Malta –
(ITALPRESS).

ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – “Patrick is now free, and he is amongst his family and friends. Thank you to all those who have shown solidarity and support”.
This is the message published in English, Arabic and Italian on the Facebook page of the support group “Patrick Libero” which in recent years has provided updates on the judicial developments of the young Egyptian researcher.
“I am eager to return to Italy as soon as possible,” Zaki told Rai after he was released in Cairo. “They have been intense days, but luckily I’m free now,” adding “I thank the city of Bologna, the rector of the University, the citizens of Bologna, a community of which I feel lucky to be part of, because they have been dealing with my case for years now. I thank the diplomats and all those who have stayed by my side in these days, making great efforts to regain my freedom”.

– photo: Agenzia Fotogramma –

(ITALPRESS).

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Eight Maltese nationals including five public officials have been arrested following an anti-fraud and anti-corruption investigation within the customs operations. The Maltese nationals were arrested following house searches in several locations.
The investigation was led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in Malta.
In a statement, the EPPO explained that the investigation is about a suspected fraudulent scheme intended to evade the payment of customs taxes and duties on the importation of clothing and other goods from China, by under-declaring their value and weight. This was allegedly done with the complicity of customs officials, who are believed to have been offered money to refrain from carrying out their duties properly.
Three of the suspects, representing two companies, are under investigation for orchestrating the scheme.
As part of the probe, the Malta Police Forcès Financial Crimes Investigations Department carried out searches at several locations around Malta, including customs offices, residences of the suspects and the registered addresses of the companies under investigation.
During the searches, three high-value vehicles and around 180,000 euros in cash were seized.
Measures have also been taken to block all funds and immoveable property belonging to the concerned suspects.
The crimes under investigation include customs fraud, corruption of public officials and money laundering. The damage to the EU budget is believed to run to millions of euro.

– photo: Malta Customs Office –

(ITALPRESS).

CAIRO (EGYPT) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has pardoned researcher Patrick George Zaki and human rights lawyer Mohamed El-Baqer. This was announced by the Presidential Committee for pardons, according to local news. Zaki had been sentenced to three years on charges of spreading false news.
“Patrick Zaki today received a pardon from the President of Egypt. I want to thank President Al Sisi for this very important gesture”, said the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in a video message with reference to the pardon granted by Al Sisi to Zaki. “Since our first meeting, last November,” added Meloni, while referring to the Egyptian President, I have never stopped asking about this issue. I have always found him attentive and available. And I want to thank the intelligence, the diplomats both Italians and Egyptians, who in recent months have never stopped working to reach the desired solution. Tomorrow Patrick Baki will return to Italy and I wish him a life of serenity and success from the bottom of my heart”.

– photo: Agenzia Fotogramma –

(ITALPRESS).

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A Ukrainian men wanted by the Italian authorities for a series of thefts has been remanded in custody by the Maltese judiciary. Petro Palamar, 36, was arrested by the Maltese authorities following a European Arrest Warret issued by the Italian authorities. The Italian authorities are requesting the extradition of Palamar, though he is refusing to return to Italy to serve a 3-year prison sentence. In 2017, he was found guilty with five other men from Bulgaria and Georgia, by a criminal court in Turin for the burglary of two apartments in the northern Italian city. Diamonds, jewellery and electronics had been stolen from the apartments during the break-in which had been committed the year before. Palamar confirmed with the Maltese authorities that he is the real person identified in the European Arrest Warrent even though he also uses a different identification as Giorgi Tughushi from Georgia. In August 2021, the Ukrainian national has been charged before a criminal court in Malta with the theft of items worth 40,000 euro from two apartments in Mosta. Items stolen from the two apartments included jewellery and earpods. The victims recognised their items and although these were found in the accused’s possession, he said he had bought them in Bugibba.(ITALPRESS).

Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma

ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Patrick Zaki was sentenced to three years in prison. Amnesty Italia tweeted: “A scandalous verdict. After 22 months of harsh conditions in prison and following a trial that started over a year ago, Patrick’s image taken away from the courtroom of Mansoura is terrifying. Now more than never #FreePatrickZaki”.
-photo Agenzia Fotogramma –
(ITALPRESS).