Ian Borg Highlights Role of Youth in Mediterranean Peace Efforts at UN Debate in NYC

Apr 17 2024

On April 17, 2024, during the Security Council Debate on the role of young persons in addressing security challenges in the Mediterranean, Malta’s Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade, Ian Borg, emphasised the critical role of youth in tackling regional challenges. Minister Borg acknowledged the contributions of various experts, including Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo, and the firsthand experiences shared by young peace-builder Ms. Messaoudi.

The Mediterranean faces numerous interconnected challenges such as geopolitical tensions, human rights issues, economic disparities, and climate change impacts, which include extreme weather events and rising sea levels. Minister Borg highlighted that these issues demand a comprehensive approach and strong regional cooperation, where civil society and particularly young people play essential roles.

Minister Borg pointed out the region’s demographic makeup, noting a significant young population, with one in every three individuals under the age of 25. Despite their potential, young people often find themselves marginalised from decision-making processes, struggling to access education, healthcare, and employment, and sometimes facing risks in conflict situations. Borg stressed the importance of reversing these trends by empowering young individuals to participate more fully in peace and security efforts.

Borg commended young leaders who are actively involved in peace-building, countering radicalisation, and promoting human rights. He argued for the necessity of ensuring that young people, including young women and LGBTQI+ individuals, have meaningful roles in decision-making processes.

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PN Critiques Challenges To Transport & Mobility In Malta

Apr 17 2024

The Nationalist Party has criticized the Maltese government, stating that the country is facing a national crisis due to serious deficiencies in roadworks planning across the entire nation.

According to the PN, after spending €700 million and 11 years, the situation has deteriorated rather than improved. Roads that were opened for infrastructure works are now being closed again after a few years to undertake new projects. The PN emphasizes that the country urgently needs comprehensive planning to avoid wasting millions of euros.

These concerns were raised during a press conference held on Triq il-Fortizza tal-Mosta, Mosta, addressed by Shadow Minister for Transport and Mobility, Mark Anthony Sammut, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Capital Projects, Joe Giglio, and European Parliament election candidate, Louise Anne Pulis.

The PN representatives pointed out that roads where work was supposedly completed are now being closed again. Similar situations are occurring in Mosta, Ħal Luqa, Żurrieq, Xgħajra, and Ħaż-Żabbar, among others. They attribute these closures not to poor contractor work, but to government incompetence in planning, only now remembering that works were related to electricity services.

The PN emphasized the consequences of this lack of planning, including increased expenses and waste of resources, ongoing congestion causing more stress and inconvenience, as well as environmental degradation with roads being closed multiple times, causing significant disruption and poorly managed air quality.

The PN highlighted that this situation is creating a double inconvenience in traffic, especially when many roads are closed simultaneously, leaving people struggling to find alternative routes. They criticized the government for its incompetence and lack of planning, leading to the misallocation of funds, including European funds, which could have been used more responsibly had the work been executed with a proper plan.

The PN representatives stressed that the government should be using some of the allocated funds for consultations with industry experts. Instead, they accused the government of using funds to win over certain European Parliament candidates or backbenchers, rather than investing in effective infrastructure projects for the benefit of the nation.

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More English Books Borrowed From Local Libraries Than Maltese

Apr 17 2024

In 2023, a total of 685,469 books were borrowed from the 56 public libraries found across the Maltese Islands, including 58,575 e-books.

The majority of these borrowed books were physical copies. According to information from Malta Libraries, the majority of books borrowed from public libraries in 2023 were in English.

The Central Public Libraries of Malta and Gozo, Regional Libraries, and Local Libraries lent out 259,528 Maltese books while 354,158 English books were borrowed in 2023. For example, the Central Public Library of Beltisebħ lent out 6,910 Maltese books and 23,388 English books in the adult section in 2023. In the children’s section of the same library, 16,917 Maltese books and 51,662 English books were borrowed.

Among the 56 public libraries in the Maltese Islands, 33 lent out more English books than Maltese books.

These libraries included those in Ħ’Attard, Birkirkara, Ħal Safi, San Pawl, San Ġwann, Marsascala, Ħal Luqa, Siġġiewi, Sliema, and Santa Luċija.

Overall, 23 out of 56 public libraries lent out more Maltese books than English books, including libraries in Birżebbuġa, Fgura, Għargħur, Gudja, Ħamrun, Kalkara, Żurrieq, Xgħajra, Ħaż-Żabbar, and Ħal Qormi.

In the library of Ħal Għaxaq, an equal number of Maltese and English books were borrowed in 2023. In Gozo, most public libraries lent out more English books than Maltese books in 2023, with only the libraries of Qala and Żebbuġ lending out more Maltese books than English books.

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30 New Tallinja Buses To Join Maltese Roads

Apr 17 2024

Malta Public Transport (MPT) is investing over €8 million to introduce 30 new buses aimed at expanding the fleet and meeting the increasing demand for reliable and sustainable public transport.

This initiative was announced by Minister for Transport, Infrastructure, and Public Works Chris Bonett and MPT Chairman Felipe Cosmen, alongside Transport Malta CEO Colonel Mark Mallia and MPT General Manager Konrad Pule.

Statistics reveal a notable 19% surge in bus passengers during the first three months of 2024 compared to the same period last year, totaling 17.2 million passengers. Additionally, the use of personalized Tallinja cards for bus travel has risen by 30%, from 188,000 to 224,000, indicating a growing preference for public transport among residents.

Minister Chris Bonett emphasized the importance of efficient public transport in addressing societal challenges, highlighting the government’s commitment to providing solutions for traffic issues by increasing the bus fleet. MPT Chairman Felipe Cosmen explained that this investment aims to enhance the efficiency of the public transport network.

Moreover, enhancements to the Tallinja App now allow passengers to track real-time bus arrivals and receive service updates, receiving positive feedback from users. The new buses, equipped with Euro 6 diesel technology, USB chargers, and free WiFi, prioritize passenger safety and comfort, contributing to an improved travel experience and supporting the journey towards a more sustainable future.

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