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LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A resolution sponsored by Malta and France at the United Nations Security Council on the renewing of the European Union inspection of vessels off Libyàs coast suspected of violating the arms embargo on Libya was approved by 14 votes in favour and one abstention from Russia. No country objected to the resolution. Russia claimed the EU operation has been ineffective in stopping the flow of illegal weapons to Libya. The brief resolution extends the authorization for inspections for a year and reaffirms the Security Council’s “determination that terrorism, in all forms and manifestations, constitutes one of the most serious threats to peace and security”. The arms embargo monitoring effort has been carried out since March 2020 by a European Union mission called Operation Irini. Since then, 25 suspect vessels were inspected and seized cargo assessed to be violating the arms embargo on three occasions. Turkish-flagged vessels have denied Irini consent to board and inspect suspected vessels on 10 occasions.
(ITALPRESS).
-photo credit United Nations press office-

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Almost 4 out of 5 Maltese declared that their living standards are close to the average and that the inflation’s effect is clearly visible from one year to the next. This was the outcome of a scientific survey that was conducted for the national conference ‘State of the Nation’ organized by the Office of the President of Malta. This is the third survey of its kind, with a representative sample of 11,000 persons. The survey is intended to gauge the beliefs and principles of the Maltese and Gozitans. The survey shows that 42.7% of those interviewed said that the financial situation remained the same as last year, 30.6% feel that it has worsened and 26.7% said that it has improved. While fewer Maltese are planning out their life and prefer to live day by day, the younger generation and the higher the income, the less they plan.
Less Maltese are considering politics as being important in their life. The survey shows that the younger generation is fed up with politics. Compared to the last two years, 30.6% replied that the party they align with influences their opinion on various themes, especially adults and the elderly. 67.4% replied that they always vote for the same party. Almost 40% do not consider voting for another party in the future, and almost the same rate consider voting for another party in the future. Almost 50% replied that the two major parties are not the same, meaning that they distinguish between the Labour Party and the Nationalist Party. 7 out of 10 said that they will vote in the next general election, while 19% are still undecided. The study also found that 66.6% of Maltese are happy with the life they lead, 70.4% believe that they have been successful, and that people turn most to their family when they need to take important decisions.
The most important factors reported were appreciation and the satisfaction derived from the work. In previous years, the income was reported as the most important factor. 88.5% said that they believe in god, with the least faithful being young people and the most being the elderly. The survey also showed that the Maltese are considering themselves more European. The rate went up to 25% from 11% in 2021. 3 out of 4 Maltese persons said that they are happy with being born in Malta, and Maltese remained the main language of the Maltese spoken by 75.4%.
(ITALPRESS).
-photo credit agenziafotogramma.it-

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – 150 migrants are in distress in Maltàs search and rescue area. This was confirmed by Alarm Phone, who said that an alert message was received urging an immediate rescue. The migrants are onboard a rubber boat and is running out of fuel. The migrants fled from Libya. Alarm Phone confirmed that the authorities were informed and urged them to send a rescue mission. Meanwhile, confirmed that another group of migrants was onboard a boat in distress off Libyan town Zuwara, 60km from the Tunisian border. Alarm Phone declared that no contact was established with the migrants. A search was carried out but there was no trace of any boat with migrants in the area. Alarm Phone said “we fear they were intercepted and forced back to Libya by the Libyan border guards”.
(ITALPRESS).
-photo credit agenziafotogramma.it-

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A recent independent survey shows that the traffic situation and the cost of living tops the level of public concern amongst the Maltese population. 87% of respondents considers traffic as their top concern. 83% were concerned about the cost of living, 80% about construction, 72% about the state of the environment and 71% about corruption. 43% of respondents were very concerned or fairly concerned about the health services in Malta and 45% were concerned about the education sector in Malta. The survey concludes that men and women share the same level of concern about the health sector and traffic, however women are more concerned with regards education, construction, the environment, cost of living and corruption.
Those under 35 years expressed a higher level of concern about construction, the environment, cost of living, corruption, and education than older persons. With regard to health and education, the level of concern expressed was similar to that by older respondents.
(ITALPRESS).
-photo credit Malta tourism office-

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela urged for more investment in clean energy and more interconnections between European and North African countries.
Abela who was addressing the European Political Community summit in Moldova during a meeting on energy and connectivity, stressed that with investment in connectivity, the Mediterranean could realise its potential as a hub for clean, renewable energy. Also attending were the leaders of Italy, Cyprus, Ireland and the European Union, among others. Maltese Prime Minister urged the European Union to reform the maritime sector including cutting down bureaucracy in the maritime sector and the need to shift to clean energy. Meanwhile, the Maltese Prime Minister called for tougher action against human traffickers.
(ITALPRESS).
-photo credit Maltese government press office-

ROMA (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The European Parliament gave the green light to the negotiating of the production of ammunition and missiles under the Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP). During the plenary session in Brussels, the European Parliament voted in favour of the regulation which aims to enhance the capacity of production and allow delivery in time of ammunition and missiles to Ukraine and assist the EU countries to restock their arsenals. Through the introduction of specific measures, including a financing of 500 million euros, the ASAP aims to boost EU production capacity to address the current shortage of weapons and their components. The legislation was adopted with 446 votes to 67, with 112 abstentions.
All amendments presented by the Pd and the S&D group to block the re-routing of EU recovery and cohesion funds to finance the armaments production were rejected.
The effectiveness of the regulation will be assessed by mid-2024, and will take into account the security environment at that time. Then, a decision will be taken on a possible extension of the measures and the allocation of a supplementary budget.

– foto Agenziafotogramma.it –

(ITALPRESS).

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A Maltese diplomatic mission has met for the first time with Libyan Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar for talks in Benghazi on security challenges faced by Malta and Libya in the region particularly that of irregular migration.
During the meetings in Benghazi, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and Trade Christopher Cutajar welcomed developments on security issues following discussions held in 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC) meetings.
The 5+5 JMC is a military committee consisting of five senior military officers selected by the Government of National Accord, and another five selected by Haftar as leader of the Libyan National Army.
The meeting also focused on extended military cooperation between the respective navies and military forces.
The Maltese delegation also discussed intelligence showing how migrant smuggling groups are using chartered flights from Syria to lure Bangladeshi people to Libya where they get onto boats to reach Europe. Criminal groups are charging migrants €1,500 each for the transfer between Damascus in Syria and Benghazi in Libya, using flights operated by Syrian airline Cham Wings.
The delegations also discussed the potential of a direct air connection between Benghazi and Malta. Malta already operates direct flights to Tripoli and Misrata.
Meanwhile, the Maltese delegation had meetings in Tripoli, with General Abdulfatah Belug, Head of Operations of the Libyan Armed Forces, Admiral Al Buni, Head of Navy and Admiral Ridaa Ben Isa, Head of Coast Guard, as well as Mohammed Said, Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Interior.
The two delegations explored new avenues of cooperation, in particular, the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding on Migration that was signed in 2020. It was valid for a period of three years to be renewed automatically for another year.
They also discussed the setting up of a joint committee to enhance working-level contacts between the different services.

– photo Department of Information Malta –

(ITALPRESS).

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Alarm Phone confirmed that 13 migrants lost their life while trying to escape from Tunisia to reach Italy. Said that it was informd that a boat with around 41 migrants had fled from Tunisia, but it never established direct contact.
Alarm Phone added that a survivor reported that 13 people died, and the rest of the survivors were returned to Tunisia.
Meanwhile, Tunisia has foiled 26 attempts by illegal immigrants to reach the Italian shore by crossing the Mediterranean Sea. This was confirmed by the Tunisian National Guard Spokesman Houcemeddine Jbabli. He said Tunisiàs maritime guards thwarted these attempts off the country’s eastern and central-eastern coasts on Monday and Tuesday.
According to the spokesman, 656 illegal immigrants, including 134 Tunisians and 522 people from sub-Saharan African countries, were rescued from sinking boats by the maritime guards during these operations.
Tunisia is one of the most popular transit points for illegal immigration to Europe. The number of undocumented immigrants attempting to reach Italy via Tunisia has been on the rise, despite the strict measures taken by the Tunisian authorities to tackle illegal immigration.
credit photo agenziafotogramma.it
(ITALPRESS).