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PALERMO (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The President of the Sicilian Region Renato Schifani and the CEO and General Director of Terna Giuseppina Di Foggia signed a memorandum of understanding today at Palazzo d’Orlèans in Palermo for the implementation of the construction activities of Elmed, the electrical interconnection between Italy and Tunisia authorized last May by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security.
According to the official statement, the agreement aims to strengthen the synergy between the Region and Terna in the preparatory phases for the start of the works and to facilitate all interventions connected to the construction and the operational work process.
The regional Administration, within its competence, will guarantee the National Electricity Network Manager all the support for the finalization of the necessary procedures for the executive planning of the interventions and the construction of all the infrastructural works. In turn, Terna has committed to ensuring continuous alignment on the planned activities, to minimize the impacts that the construction sites will have on local communities.
Furthermore, the Sicilian Region and Terna have shared an agreement on another initiative for the implementation of territorial and environmental redevelopment works of common interest. In detail, Terna will provide a contribution of one million euros for environmental compensation works which the Region will integrate with another 4 million from the Development and Cohesion Fund (FSC): in total 5 million euros which will be used for partial recomposition, with the original pieces (so-called “anastylosis”) of the southern columns of the temple “G” in the Archaeological Park of Selinunte, the largest in the Greek West after the Temple of Olympian Zeus of Akragas. Also impressive in height, the temple was about 30 meters high, with columns of over 16 metres; its construction began around 530 BC but still in 409 BC. the date of the destruction of the city of Selinunte by the Carthaginians, had not been completed. Further contributions will be paid by the Company to the two municipalities involved: 600 thousand euros in Castelvetrano and 2 million euros in Partanna.
“The electricity connection between Italy and Tunisia”, said President Schifani, “is a strategic work for Italy and is part of the ongoing energy transition process. The positive effects of its implementation will concern the entire “country system”. Elmed was in fact included by the national government in the Mattei Plan. In this context, Sicily plays a leading role both due to its geographical position in the centre of the Mediterranean and because it presents itself as an energy hub, thus aiming for one of the most strategic sectors in the creation of economic development. Terna, whom I thank, also accepted my request to contribute financially to compensate for the work in the area. With the additional resources that the Region has allocated with the cohesion agreement, a concrete intervention will be carried out in the territory, that is, the reconstruction of the columns of the “G” temple of Selinunte”.
Giuseppina Di Foggia underlined: “Sicily with over three billion euros of investments in the next five years for the development of technologically advanced and sustainable electricity networks, is interested in interventions that will make a fundamental contribution to the country’s energy transition and decarbonisation path, among these, the interconnection between Italy and Tunisia which will allow us to increase the level of adequacy of our country’s electricity system and diversify supply sources by connecting Europe to North Africa. Today’s agreement, in addition to being an important step in the work progress, confirms Ternàs commitment to creating strategic infrastructures through close collaboration with local institutions and the territories involved”.

– Photo Terna press office –

(ITALPRESS).

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled that Malta has failed to fulfill its obligations under the Birds Directive on the conservation of wild birds by adopting the derogation allowing the capture of seven species of wild finches. This decision was communicated after the Maltese government failed to provide a genuine scientific purpose that would justify the derogation from the Birds Directive.
In the European Union, wild finches are protected by the Birds Directive. The primary objective of the Directive is the preservation of all bird species diversity, forbidding the deliberate killing or capture of birds and the use of large-scale or non-selective methods to do so. Despite this, the Directive prescribes specific circumstances whereby the general prohibition may be derogated. In 2020 Malta adopted the Finches Project under Framework Regulations 2020, which provided for the live capture of the same seven species of wild finches, this time however under however under a different derogation, the one for research purposes. The Commission viewed this as simply a ‘cover-up’ to enable the continuation of the previous recreational activities, and for this reason, and amongst others, has initiated the infringement action. When Malta joined the EU, the Accession Treaty provided for a transition period whereby Malta committed to gradually phase out the activities of bird trapping since such practice is prohibited under the Directive.

– Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma –

(ITALPRESS).

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Malta based Universal Air announced that it has started new direct flights between Malta International Airport and Tripolìs Mitiga airport.
Flights will take an hour and are scheduled to run all year round every Wednesday and Saturday. The new route to and from Libya forms part of the company’s regional air travel operations.
Universal Air’s CEO, Simon Cook, said: “Our ambition is to lead a renaissance in air travel, becoming the preferred airline for modern travellers seeking value and convenience. We want to exceed our customers’ expectations, making flying more accessible, enjoyable and sustainable via our growing network of destinations”. Universal Air already provides charter and cargo services from its base at Malta International Airport.
(ITALPRESS).
-Photo credit: Universal Air press office-

TUNISI (TUNISIA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The electoral campaign for Tunisiàs upcoming presidential election, set for October 6, officially began and will continue until October 4, two days before the election.
Tunisiàs Independent High Authority for elections (ISIE) announced the final list of three candidates: incumbent President Kais Saied, seeking a second term; Zouhair Maghzaoui, Secretary-General of the Peoplès Movement party; and Ayachi Zammel, Secretary-General of the Azimoun Movement, who remains detained over election-related charges.
The electoral campaigns began two days earlier abroad, targeting over 1.8 million Tunisian expatriates, including 620,000 registered voters.
Meanwhile, the authorities in Tunisia have arrested at least 80 members of the largest opposition party, party officials said. Ennahda, the Islamist party that rose to power in the aftermath of the country’s Arab Spring, said that at least 80 men and women from the party had been apprehended as part of a countrywide sweep that ensnared members from 10 regions. In a statement, Ennahda called the arrests “an unprecedented campaign of raids and violations of the most basic rights guaranteed by law.” The party had counted at least 80 arrests and was in the process of confirming at least 116 total, including six women, lawyer Latifa Habbechi said.

– Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma –

(ITALPRESS).

ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – “Morocco continues to record a solid economic recovery, despite the multiple challenges that the Kingdom faces,” explained the secretary general of the OECD, Mathias Cormann, in Rabat on the occasion of the presentation of the conclusions of the first OECD economic study on Morocco during the closing ceremony of the Morocco-OECD Country Programme which was held in the presence of the head of government, Aziz Akhannouch.
Cormann underlined that the growth of the national economy has recovered, particularly after the crisis linked to the coronavirus pandemic, the Al Haouz earthquake and the drought.
Morocco benefits from a stable macroeconomic framework, the budget deficit is declining with a public debt ratio approaching 70% of GDP and inflation is decreasing thanks to moderation in food prices, said the Secretary General. He further explained that the Moroccan economy is expected to continue on its steady recovery course, with real GDP growth forecast at 3.5% in 2024 and 4% in 2025.
-photo Agenzia Fotogramma-
(ITALPRESS)

ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – “The current situation of the Central Bank of Libya (CBL) is rapidly evolving into a true national emergency. The political diatribes that led to internal divisions and difficulties in the reorganization of the CBL are no longer theoretical issues or far from everyday life: their consequences are already manifesting themselves in the social fabric of the country”. This was stated by Daniele Ruvinetti, Senior Advisor of the Med-or Foundation.

“The operational paralysis of the CBL, combined with the suspension of international transactions, has direct and dramatic effects on the lives of citizens. The most obvious example concerns the growing difficulty in importing essential goods such as food. Without the possibility of accessing balances and deposits abroad, Libya is forced to look for emergency solutions to guarantee food supplies”, he added.

Ruvinetti said, “This is already creating tensions in the internal market and risks further worsening the condition of the population, which is already seriously affected”.

“Moreover, the extension of negotiations for the reorganization of the Libyan Central Bank only postpones an urgent matter. The longer a definitive solution is postponed, the more we risk triggering new tensions and problems that could further destabilize the country. This instability puts not only economic security at risk, but also the physical security of citizens, as it could reopen a phase of military clashes, with devastating consequences for the population”, concluded Ruvinetti.

He emphasized the necessity to act urgently to restore the functionality of the Central Bank and regain control of the economic situation, before political and economic tensions lead to a new spiral of violence and serve the interests of those who capitalize on violence and chaos, at the expense of the civilian population.

– Photo Daniele Ruvinetti –

(ITALPRESS).

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (MNA/ITALPRESS) – A 19-year old Italian woman is suffering from serious injuries after she found herself in difficulty while swimming in the Fra Ben bay in Qawra. The incident occurred at around 6:45pm on Wednesday when authorities received a call for assistance after the youth’s friends assisted her to come ashore. The young woman was unconscious and given CPR assistance by a person on site. Eventually, a medical team from the Malta Red Cross officers and members of the Civil Protection arrived on site to assist the Italian woman. She was admitted to Mater Dei hospital for further treatment. Authorities have urged swimmers to follow weather warnings and to avoid swimming when a red flag is placed on beaches.(ITALPRESS).

Foto: trl

VALLETTA (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Top actor and Oscar-winning director Mel Gibson is in Malta on a five-day visit for discussions with the Maltese authorities in connection with a potential film project. The Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela met Gibson and the production team on Wednesday to discuss the upcoming production.
The Australian actor is among an 11-member team scouting Malta following an invitation by the Malta Film Commission. It is understood that Gibson is scouting for locations to film the sequel to 2004’s The Passion of the Christ, which he co-wrote, produced, and directed.
The new film Resurrection is expected to bring together several actors of the original cast of The Passion of Christ, featuring Jim Caviezel and Francesco De Vito. Reports say the film will be shot in Israel, Morocco and Italy.
-photo Agenzia Fotogramma-
(ITALPRESS).