VALELTTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Revised European Union pharmaceuticals legislation is expected to significantly improve the availability of medicines in Malta, following the approval of amendments aimed at helping small and island member states.

MEPs endorsed the outcome of negotiations between the European Parliament, Commission and Council on an updated pharmaceuticals package. The deal includes amendments proposed by Maltese MEP Peter Agius to improve access to medicines and ease price pressures in smaller markets.

A key change will allow Malta to source medicines from across the EU, rather than being largely limited to English-speaking countries. This follows the introduction of a multilingual digital electronic code for patient information, removing long-standing language barriers.

“The market supplying Malta will suddenly expand from Ireland and the UK to all the 26 other Member States,” Agius said, calling the reform a major step forward for patients.

The legislation also introduces supply obligations for pharmaceutical companies. Firms that fail to meet requests from smaller states for new medicines could face the loss of patent protection.

Malta currently ranks among the lowest in Europe for medicine availability, with some drugs arriving up to five years later than elsewhere. Oncology medicines are particularly scarce, with availability rates far below EU averages.

The new rules, to be phased in from 2028, aim to give Malta stronger leverage with drug manufacturers. Agius stressed that effective national implementation will be crucial and urged safeguards to prevent supply disruptions during the transition.

– Photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MANCHESTER (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Pep Guardiola will lose Jeremy Doku for at least three weeks. The Spanish manager announced that Doku, injured in the Champions League against Real Madrid and already absent against Crystal Palace, will be out until the new year. “I don’t know exactly when he’ll be back, maybe for the match against Sunderland,” he said yesterday, referring to the match scheduled for January 1st.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LAGOS (NIGERIA) (ITALPRESS) – Nigeria is trying to get back in the running for the 2026 World Cup. Mohammed Sanusi, secretary general of the Nigerian Football Federation, announced that a complaint has been filed with FIFA requesting the disqualification of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the national team against which the Super Eagles lost the final for a spot in the intercontinental playoffs.

Sanusi accuses his rivals of fielding nine ineligible players, whose nationality changes had not been completed correctly. These include Wan-Bissaka of West Ham, born in England, and Masuaku of Sunderland, born in France. However, precedent does not favor Nigeria: at the 2022 World Cup, Chile accused Ecuador of fielding Byron Castillo improperly, but FIFA simply penalized Ecuador three points in the subsequent South American qualifiers. Congo awaits one of Jamaca and New Caledonia in the intercontinental playoffs in March: a place in Group H with Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan is up for grabs.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

OHA (QATAR) (ITALPRESS) – Santiago Montiel is the winner of the FIFA 2025 Puskas Award, thanks to his spectacular overhead kick for Independiente against Independiente Rivadavia. “The golazo,” FIFA emphasized, “came during a match in the Argentine Professional Football League in May 2025, when the 25-year-old cousin of Argentine world cup hero Gonzalo Montiel defied the laws of physics with a powerful left-footed shot from outside the penalty area.”

“I didn’t think about it, I just kicked,” Montiel said after his feat. Montiel’s goal trumped ten other nominees, including Alessandro Deiola’s right-footed curler after a splendid team effort in Cagliari’s 3-0 win over against Venezia on May 18. With this success, Montiel becomes the second consecutive Argentine to win the award, following in the footsteps of Alejandro Garnacho, winner in 2024. “The award,” FIFA emphasizes, “is named after the legendary Hungarian striker Ferenc Puskßs, renowned for his individual plays of rare beauty. The award celebrates the most spectacular goals scored during the eligibility period, between August 11, 2024, and August 2, 2025.”

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

PARIS (FRANCE) (ITALPRESS) – The Paris Labor Court has ordered PSG to pay Kylian Mbappé €61 million for unpaid wages and bonuses. This is the outcome of the record-breaking dispute between the Parisian club and the former PSG player, now at Real Madrid. PSG’s claim (€440 million) was rejected.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – Gianluigi Donnarumma has been named the best goalkeeper of 2025. The captain of the Italian national team and goalkeeper for Manchester City (who played for PSG during the first half of the year) will be one of the awardees at The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025 ceremony, set to take place today in Doha. Donnarumma won the award ahead of competitors such as Alisson Becker (Brazil, Liverpool), Thibaut Courtois (Belgium, Real Madrid), Emiliano Martinez (Argentina, Aston Villa), Manuel Neuer (Germany, Bayern Munich), David Raya (Spain, Arsenal), Yann Sommer (Switzerland, Inter Milan), and Wojciech Szczesny (Poland, Barcelona).

The winner was chosen by an international jury comprising national team coaches, captains, journalists, and fan votes cast on FIFA’s official website. A panel of experts selected the list of candidates based on the performances and achievements of goalkeepers from August 11, 2024, to August 2, 2025. While at PSG, Donnarumma won the league, the French Cup, and the Champions League.

“It’s a great honor to win this prestigious award, and I would like to thank everyone who voted for me,” said Donnarumma, as quoted by Manchester City’s website. “I’m extremely proud to be named the best in the world, ahead of such extraordinary goalkeepers, whom I have a great deal of respect and admiration for.”

“It has been an incredible year, one that will remain in my memory for a long time, and it’s exciting to be recognized for my role in the successes of 2025,” the Italian goalkeeper added. “I’m happy for this recognition, and now I will work hard to achieve more success with my new club, Manchester City.” This year, Donnarumma was also included in the FifPro Men’s World 11 for 2025 and received the Yashin Trophy 2025 during the Ballon d’Or awards ceremony.

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

 

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Ian Borg participated in the 16th session of the Sir Bani Yas Forum, held in Dubai at the end of last week.

Borg attended the forum at the invitation of the United Arab Emirates’ Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The forum focused on key geopolitical developments affecting peace and security in the Gulf region and the wider Middle East.

Around 120 participants took part, including foreign ministers, senior government officials, former ministers, entrepreneurs and academic experts.

During the forum, Borg also held bilateral meetings with a number of foreign affairs ministers.

He outlined Malta’s vision for strengthening ties with the Gulf region, including the UAE, highlighting recent initiatives aimed at enhancing regional political engagement.

Borg noted that Malta and the UAE are important commercial hubs and have strong potential to cooperate across various sectors.

He also stressed the importance of deeper cooperation between the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council, stating that Malta is ready to support high-level political efforts to achieve tangible outcomes.

-Photo Ministry of Foreign Affairs-
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Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – Al-Qadsiah, the Saudi Arabian club that hosts the national team’s striker, has announced Brendan Rodgers as its new manager. The 52-year-old Northern Irishman, who has coached clubs such as Liverpool, Celtic, and Leicester, replaces the dismissed Michel, who was fired following the 2-1 defeat to Al-Ahli. Al-Qadsiah, after nine league games, is fifth with 17 points, 10 points behind leaders Al-Nassr.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

SANTOS (BRAZIL) (ITALPRESS) – Neymar is reportedly ready to extend his contract with Santos (which expires on December 31) until 2026, with the goal of making the next World Cup. According to R7 Esportes, this renewal will allow the player to continue performing at his best, as seen in recent matches with Santos, and fight for a spot in the World Cup with Carlo Ancelotti’s team. Neymar was pivotal in securing the team’s survival and helped them qualify for the Copa Sudamericana.

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VATICAN CITY (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Prime Minister Robert Abela met Pope Leo XIV as Malta and the Holy See marked 60 years of diplomatic relations.

Formal ties were established on December 15, 1965. Malta is represented by non-resident ambassador Frank Zammit, while the Holy See maintains a diplomatic mission in Malta at Tal-Virtù, headed by Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-fai.

According to the Vatican press office, the meeting addressed migratory flows, the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East. The Maltese government said discussions also covered broader geopolitical issues, civil liberties, climate change and the need for global solutions to migration.

Abela said the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains critical, with Malta backing unhindered access to aid and the protection of civilians in line with international law. He added that following Malta’s recognition of Palestine, the country is now focused on advancing a two-state solution for peaceful coexistence.

Details of the talks were not disclosed, but the two leaders are known to differ on migration policy, particularly regarding refugees and asylum seekers.

Pope Leo XIV has continued the approach of his predecessor, the late Pope Francis, advocating strongly for refugee rights and warning against what Francis termed a “globalisation of indifference.”

Malta, while increasingly reliant on migrant labour, has taken a tougher stance on asylum, including calls to revise the European Convention on Human Rights to allow expulsions and transfers to third countries—moves criticised by NGOs on the day of the visit.

The government said Abela reaffirmed that relations between Malta and the Holy See are grounded in shared values, mutual respect and a commitment to human dignity.

Abela presented the pope with a painting by Maltese watercolourist John Martin Borg, depicting St Augustine and the Augustinian church and convent in Rabat.

The prime minister also met Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Ambassador Zammit.

– Photo DOI –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews