Over 2,000 Work Together To Finalise OSCE Ministerial Council Preparations

Nov 29 2024

Over 2,000 public servants and service providers are involved in organising next week’s OSCE Ministerial Council, the largest ministerial conference ever hosted in Malta.

On Thursday afternoon, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, and Chairperson of the OSCE, Ian Borg, visited Ta’ Qali to observe the final preparations for the historic event. On Thursday 5th and Friday 6th December, the Foreign Ministers from the 57 participating states of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) will convene in Malta for the 31st Ministerial Council meeting. The discussions will focus on regional security challenges and crucial organisational decisions, with Russia’s war against Ukraine expected to dominate the agenda, as both nations are among the participating states.

At Ta’ Qali, Minister Borg met with the task force from the Ministry overseeing the conference’s organisation, in collaboration with Malta’s Permanent Representation to the OSCE in Vienna and other supporting government entities. He also spoke to workers putting the finishing touches on the conference venue, which will accommodate over 800 delegates and local and international journalists. The 12,000 square-metre venue includes a plenary hall for foreign ministers’ discussions, press conference rooms, areas for side events, bilateral meeting rooms, interpretation facilities, a media centre for more than 200 journalists, catering services, and other amenities.

Since the start of the year, the Ministry’s task force has coordinated essential logistical requirements with the Malta Police Force, the Armed Forces of Malta, the Civil Protection Department, Transport Malta, LESA, Infrastructure Malta, the Department of Public Works, Ambjent Malta, Health Services, the Cleansing and Maintenance Division, MITA, the Department of Information, Public Broadcasting Services, and others.

Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg expressed his gratitude to all teams involved for their hard work and dedication. “A year ago, at the 30th Ministerial Council in Skopje, all participating states agreed that Malta was the only country capable of leading this organisation in 2024 due to our reputation as a credible agent of peace and dialogue,” he said. “Next week’s conference will further strengthen Malta’s standing on the world stage.”

He added, “The Ministerial Conference represents the culmination of a year’s efforts to enhance the resilience of this organisation and advocate for unity among nations to address the challenges facing the OSCE region, from conflict to the climate crisis, from media freedom and cybersecurity to gender equality and the protection of human rights. No country can resolve these challenges alone, but together, through decisive action, we can build a better future for over one billion people in the OSCE region.”

Malta began its 12-month Chairmanship of the OSCE in January, with the theme “Strengthening Resilience, Enhancing Security,” following its unanimous election to lead the organisation for the first time in its history in November 2023.

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Minister Schembri Champions Single Market Reforms and Startup Support at EU Forum

Nov 29 2024

Minister for the Economy, Silvio Schembri, attended the Competitiveness Council meeting in Brussels, where he emphasises the need to strengthen the performance of the EU’s Single Market to foster growth and economic performance across Europe. Silvio Schembri highlighted that persistent barrier, particularly in the services sector, hinder competitiveness, especially for Malta’s cross-border digital services.

He called for solutions to remove these obstacles to ensure that equal competition and sustainable economic development.

Schembri also supported the European Commission’s goal , as outlined in the Draghi report, to reduce reporting obligations by 25%. He emphasised the need for simplified regulations to reduce business compliance burdens without undermining objectives.

Additionally, at the Europe Startup Nations Alliance Annual Forum, Schembri outlined Malta’s efforts to support startups, including initiatives like diHub Malta and Malta Venture Capital. He urged EU policymakers to address funding fragmentation and outdated state aid frameworks that restrict startup growth. Schembri stressed that startups are vital to innovation and economic growth, and it is crucial to create an environment that nurtures their success. Malta’s advocacy for better regulation aims to strengthen the European economy and ensure its readiness for the future.

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KM Malta Airlines’ Black Friday & Cyber Monday Sale

Nov 29 2024

Travelling in winter is a whole other ball game! For some of us it’s the beautiful snow draped scenery, for others it’s the January sales. If you had any doubt whether you need that holiday or not, this is your sign to book those tickets!

KM Malta Airlines has just launched its Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, with up to 50% off on all winter flights and here’s just a few destinations that they fly direct to.

Enjoy canal cruises, traditional smoked sausage and stroopwafels in Amsterdam and see the huge Dam square transformed into a rainbow-colored tulip garden where you can pick your own flowers.

We love winter in Madrid because while it does get chilly, the sun still shines!

Visit the Louvre Museum to see the Mona Lisa and get lost in The Palace of Versailles in Paris. Take advantage of less tourists and visit the Musée D’Orsay whilst sipping on a mug of hot chocolate or vin chaud (hot wine).

If you’re after a city that is recognised for its cuisine and gastronomy, as well as UNESCO World Heritage sites, Lyon is the place for you. Lyon became a major economic hub during the Renaissance. Aside from its cuisine and gastronomy, Lyon is also recognised for its historical and architectural landmarks; as such, the districts of Old Lyon, the Fourvière hill, the Presqu’île and the slopes of the Croix-Rousse are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List

Christmas markets are why it’s worth visiting Vienna in December. If you’ve never been to a Christmas Market in Europe, you’re in for a real treat, especially if your very first time is the world-famous Wiener Christkindlmarkt am Rathausplatz

With its charming old town lit up on the dark, wintry nights, Zurich’s cosy cafes and restaurants, relaxing spas and first-class museums to visit, there’s an excellent choice of things to keep you busy.

With KM Malta Airlines, you can fly direct from Malta to these destinations:

Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Catania, Dusseldorf, London, Lyon, Madrid, Milan, Munich, Paris, Prague, Rome, Vienna, Zurich.

Use BLACKCYBER24 to benefit from a 50% off these winter destinations! The discount is applicable for flights booked between 29^th November and 19^th December 2024 and between 6^th January and 31^st March 2024.

So, what are you waiting for? Sale ends on 2^nd December, so don’t miss your chance to save big and make memories!

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NASA Spots ‘Flame-Throwing Guitar’ Nebula In Space

Nov 29 2024

New images released by NASA reveal the rapidly rotating pulsar in the “Guitar Nebula,” shooting a massive cosmic jet of plasma, X-rays, and supercharged particles. This pulsar, a rapidly spinning neutron star leftover from a massive star’s collapse, is located about 6,500 light-years from Earth.

The nebula itself, first discovered in 1993, is a cloud of hydrogen gas created by stellar winds from the pulsar, forming a “bow wave” as the star moves through space. The pulsar spins at around 3.6 million mph and emits a giant energy jet, stretching 2 light-years and resembling a flamethrower.

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This jet is a result of the pulsar’s intense magnetic fields, which accelerate particles along its poles, producing high-energy radiation, including X-rays. The jet’s energy can even create matter, turning pure energy into antimatter, in line with Einstein’s famous equation, E=mc².

The new images, captured by the Palomar Observatory and the Chandra X-ray Observatory, highlight the nebula’s structure and the jet’s ongoing evolution. The study of these phenomena could provide valuable insights into the interstellar medium and the complex forces at play between stars and space.

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