MUNICH, GERMANY (ITALPRESS) – “At the 2026 Munich Security Conference, dialogue is not a ritual, but a concrete responsibility. In a time marked by tensions, conflicts, and the redefinition of global balances, Munich remains one of the few places where politics, defense, the economy, and civil society engage with realism and vision.”
This was stated by Kamel Ghribi, President of Ecam – The European Corporate Council on Africa and the Middle East – on the occasion of the Munich Security Conference.

“I had the pleasure of meeting with Defense Minister Guido Crosetto,” Ghribi continued, “with whom we shared a frank reflection on Italy’s role in an increasingly complex international scenario: European security, transatlantic relations, industrial cooperation, and responsibility in the broader Mediterranean. Italy can and must be a factor of stability and reliability.”

He also described as significant his discussion with Massad Fares Boulos, U.S. Senior Advisor for Arab and African Affairs. “Africa and the Middle East are not peripheries, but strategic crossroads for the global future,” Ghribi stressed. “Dialogue, development, and serious partnerships are the true infrastructure of security.”

Equally important, he added, was his meeting with Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China. “In an international context marked by new polarisations, keeping channels of communication open with all major powers is essential to preserving balance and stability. Security does not arise from isolation, but from cooperation. And Munich reminds us that keeping dialogue open—even when the world grows more rigid—is the first form of leadership,” he concluded.

-Photo screenshot video Ecam-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta recorded almost €4 billion in tourism expenditure in 2025, alongside the sharpest rise in guest nights across the European Union, the Malta Tourism Authority announced.

Figures presented at the National Tourism Conference show total spending by 4,022,310 inbound tourists reached €3.9 billion, up 18.6% on 2024 and 44% higher than in 2023. Average spending per visitor increased from €924 to €971.

Guest nights in Malta and Gozo climbed 11% to 25.4 million, far exceeding the EU average growth rate of 2%. Off-peak months posted a 19% rise, outpacing summer growth and indicating stronger winter demand.

Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism Minister Ian Borg said the results reflect the impact of Malta’s long-term tourism strategy. He noted the country registered the EU’s highest increase in bed nights together with a significant jump in expenditure.

Borg said the performance confirms Malta’s growing global tourism profile but warned that the record figures require continued vigilance and responsible management of growth.

The government is promoting year-round tourism, including new long-haul connectivity. Direct flights between Malta and New York are set to begin in June, with further expansion planned.

New regulations aimed at raising standards in hotels and short-term rentals will be introduced in the coming weeks following a public consultation.

The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association welcomed the figures, describing them as the result of years of coordinated effort between industry and the tourism authority.

Association president Tony Zahra said strong growth should be viewed as an opportunity to shift toward higher-value, lower-impact tourism aligned with Malta’s long-term vision.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

SALVADOR (BRAZIL) (ITALPRESS) – Carlo Ancelotti, coach of the Brazil national team, attended the Salvador Carnival, where he watched the parades from a VIP box. The Italian coach interacted with artists Bell Marques and Léo Santana; the latter took the opportunity to ask for Neymar’s inclusion in the team, which brought a smile to Ancelotti’s face: “Thanks for the advice.”

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

PARIS (FRANCE) (ITALPRESS) – The atmosphere in Paris was heated after Paris Saint-Germain‘s abrupt defeat, a surprise defeat by Stade Rennais and forced to relinquish their top spot in the table. At Roazhon Park last night, PSG were unrecognizable, a distant relative of the team that only a few days earlier had swept De Zerbi’s Marseille with a 5-0 victory. Among the stars of the evening was Ousmane Dembélé, welcomed with full honors by the fans of the club that trained him before his transfer to Borussia Dortmund. The Frenchman, now the Ballon d’Or winner, scored PSG’s only goal, which was immediately cancelled out by Embolo’s final 3-1 victory. After the match, the striker didn’t hide his frustration and spoke bluntly: “Last season, we put the club before ourselves. We need to rediscover that spirit, especially in games like this.” His analysis became even more direct: “We need to show more desire. If everyone plays for themselves on the pitch, it won’t work; we won’t win the titles we want.”

These statements didn’t go unnoticed and prompted an immediate reaction from coach Luis Enrique. At the press conference, the coach responded peremptorily: “I will respond in Spanish. I will not allow any player to harm the club or stand in its way!” He then further clarified his position: “I am very clear on this. I am responsible for the team. Those statements are worthless. They stem from frustration over the match that just ended.”

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LONDON (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – It’s official: Igor Tudor is the new manager of Tottenham Hotspur. The London club announced that the Croatian coach has signed a contract until the end of the season. He is therefore the successor to the sacked Thomas Frank. Tudor returns to the bench, nearly four months after being sacked by Juventus. “Tudor joins us with a clear objective: to improve performance, achieve results, and help us climb the Premier League table. His mandate is simple: to bring organization, intensity, and competitiveness to the team at a crucial stage of the season,” Tottenham wrote in the statement announcing his appointment.

“It’s an honor to join this club at such an important time. I understand the responsibility that has been entrusted to me, and my objective is clear: to bring greater consistency to our performances and compete with conviction in every match. There is great quality in this team, and my task is to enhance it on the pitch, inject energy into them, and improve our results as quickly as possible”, Tudor said.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – The Jordan-EU Investment Conference, scheduled for April 21, represents “a flagship platform to mobilise European private sector investment, showcase bankable opportunities, and facilitate concrete announcements and agreements”. This is the opinion of Jordanian Ambassador to Rome, Kais Abu Dayyeh, interviewed by Italpress agency ahead of the economic event to be held on the shores of the Dead Sea.

The event is part of a new chapter in relations between Amman and Brussels, opened on January 29, 2025, with the consolidation of a Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership (SCP). A year later, on January 8, 2026, a new milestone was reached with the Jordan-EU bilateral summit, attended by Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa on behalf of the European institutions, while Jordan was represented directly by King Abdullah II. “The Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership reaffirmed the deep-rooted partnership between the European Union and Jordan, representing a new starting point toward an even more constructive and mutually beneficial future across all areas of cooperation”, said the Jordanian ambassador.

“It elevated our engagement from strong cooperation to a structured, multi-pillar partnership with a clear political and economic agenda and dedicated support. It is built around Strategic pillars, including economic resilience, trade and investment. From Jordan’s perspective, this framework reflects mutual trust and the EU’s recognition of Jordan as a reliable, stable partner in a turbulent region—while enabling both sides to focus on tangible outcomes that support competitiveness, job creation, and sustainable growth”, the diplomat continued. While the January 8 summit confirmed the shared commitment to deepening political and economic ties, the April 21 Investment Conference is expected to be the platform of choice for translating existing economic opportunities into concrete terms.

“Most prominent sectors in the conference will be: Water (including strategic water solutions), Energy (renewables, transition projects), Digital & technology, Transport, logistics, and regional connectivity, High-value industries such as critical minerals, fertilizers, food processing, and pharmaceuticals”, explained the head of the Jordanian diplomatic mission in Rome. “We should expect a deal-oriented forum focused on partnerships, project pipelines, and investor matchmaking—not a ceremonial event”, he emphasized.

According to Ambassador Abu Dayyeh, with this event, Jordan expects to move “from broad political alignment into measurable economic impact”, strengthening trade and investment cooperation as well as economic resilience. “As His Majesty has underlined, the priority is to translate the partnership into outcomes that serve both peoples and contribute to stability and prosperity, while advancing Jordan’s modernisation priorities and building a stronger platform for sustainable growth. That means long-term cooperation in priority sectors identified for investment”, the Jordanian ambassador to Rome reiterated. Regarding relations with Rome, Abu Dayyeh specified that “Jordan views Italy as a key European partner with significant potential to expand economic cooperation”, particularly in trade, investment, tourism, and cultural cooperation. “In the renewed EU–Jordan context, the April conference provides an additional, practical channel to deepen Jordan–Italy business linkages: encouraging Italian investors and companies to engage in Jordan’s priority sectors and to explore opportunities through structured B2B meetings and bankable project offerings aligned with the wider EU–Jordan economic agenda”, the ambassador concluded.

-Photo Embassy of Jordan in Rome-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LONDON (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – From Juventus to Tottenham, and at least initially with the same role, Igor Tudor is one step away from the Spurs bench. According to the Daily Mail, the London club is considering the Croatian manager, offering him the role of interim manager following the dismissal of Thomas Frank.

The former defender is reportedly in pole position, but other options include former Leipzig player Marco Rose and former Borussia Dortmund player Edin Terzic. These are experienced and talented coaches who, if they perform well, would earn confirmation and a permanent appointment. There’s also the possibility of Roberto De Zerbi, fresh from his separation from Marseille, but, according to the Daily Mail, there are concerns at the club.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela called for a strategic European Union response to rapid global geo-economic and geopolitical shifts during an informal summit of EU leaders in Belgium.

Speaking at the historic Alden Biesen castle, Abela said the EU must remain resilient and effective amid fast-evolving global developments that are directly affecting businesses and competitiveness, particularly in smaller economies such as Malta.

The summit, convened by European Council President Antonio Costa, centred on strengthening the Single Market and enhancing Europe’s competitive edge.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, Dr Abela said long-term competitiveness and the future of the Single Market dominated discussions, with energy emerging as a central theme.

He noted that several leaders highlighted rising energy prices and the absence of a fully-fledged energy union, adding that Malta’s decision to keep energy prices stable in recent years had proven prudent.

Artificial intelligence was another key topic, with Abela pointing to the importance given to AI in Malta’s latest budget.

He stressed that investment in AI was not about replacing jobs but creating more attractive employment opportunities and improving wages, while underlining the need for reskilling and upskilling.

While some view technological change as a challenge, he described it as “the greatest opportunity of our generation”.

Former Italian prime ministers Mario Draghi and Enrico Letta also addressed leaders, sharing their perspectives on the Single Market and competitiveness.

Abela further cited a recent International Monetary Fund decision to conduct Malta’s economic assessments every two years instead of annually, describing it as a sign of confidence in the country’s economic trajectory to 2030.

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola urged decisive action to ensure Europe remains globally competitive, calling for an ambitious trade agenda delivering tangible results for businesses and families.

The outcomes of Thursday’s meeting are expected to inform formal European Council discussions next month, where leaders will continue efforts to bolster competitiveness and economic resilience.

-Photo DOI-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A flight from Brussels carrying Prime Minister Robert Abela was forced to circle over Malta for 45 minutes before landing safely at Luqa Airport on Thursday night as gale-force winds battered the island.

The aircraft touched down on its third attempt, as powerful gusts swept across the country, reaching up to 96km/h, according to the Meteorological Office.

A red weather warning was issued overnight by the Met Office and the Civil Protection Department (CPD), as winds intensified across exposed areas.

Despite the severe conditions, police and CPD spokespeople confirmed on Friday morning that no injuries were reported.

CPD officials, however, faced a demanding night, responding to multiple incidents involving fallen trees and hazardous billboards blown into the streets.

By Friday morning, the red warning was downgraded to orange. The Met Office said very strong west-northwest winds would persist until 1pm, at times reaching gale force, particularly in exposed areas.

Wind strength is forecast to ease slightly on Saturday, dropping to force four to five and shifting between south-southeast and west-northwest.

Conditions are expected to deteriorate again on Sunday, with winds forecast to reach force seven from a west-northwest direction.

Strong winds ranging from force five to seven are also predicted for Monday and Tuesday.

The CPD urged the public to avoid working at heights, including rooftops, balconies and scaffolding, and to steer clear of shorelines and breakwaters due to dangerous sea conditions.

Residents are advised to secure loose outdoor items and exercise caution while driving, particularly in open areas prone to sudden crosswinds.

-Photo Civil Protection Malta-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MILAN (ITALPRESS) – The Israel Football Association has reportedly received an optimistic message from UEFA, European football’s governing body, stating that a decision in principle has been made that teams qualifying for European competitions this summer will have to prepare for the return leg of their matches in Israel.

The news was reported by the daily newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth and the Ynet portal. This marks a significant policy shift for the first time in three years, since matches were suspended in the country following the October 7 massacre.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews