ROME (ITALPRESS) – Shake-up at Glasgow Rangers. The Scottish club has officially announced the dismissal of head coach Russell Martin and his staff. The team’s start to the season has been disappointing: the Rangers have collected just 8 points from 7 league matches and suffered two defeats in as many Europa League outings.

In the Europa League, the Glasgow side will next face Roma on November 6 at Ibrox Stadium.

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Cash remains king in Malta, where 67% of transactions were made with banknotes in 2024, even as Europe shifts rapidly toward digital payments, new ECB data shows.

Across the eurozone, cash accounted for 52% of transactions by number, but only 39% by value, according to the European Central Bank survey of 40,000 participants. The figures underline a widening divide between regions: Southern and Eastern Europe continue to rely heavily on banknotes, while Northern and Western nations lean increasingly on cards and mobile payments.

Italy (61%), Spain (57%) and Slovenia (64%) join Malta at the top of Europe’s cash-reliant economies, while the Netherlands (22%), Finland (27%) and Luxembourg (37%) register the lowest shares of cash transactions. Among major economies, Germany (53%) remains just above the eurozone average, while France (43%) has already moved decisively toward digital-first payments.

When measured by value, cash plays a significant role in Lithuania (59%), Slovakia (56%), Slovenia (56%), Austria (56%), Malta (54%) and Croatia (51%). By contrast, the Netherlands sees only 17% of its spending settled in cash.

Respondents cited anonymity and privacy (41%) as the biggest advantages of using cash, followed by better expense awareness (35%) and immediate settlement (30%). Still, younger consumers increasingly prefer digital methods, while people over 65 continue to use cash for more than half of their purchases.

The ECB report highlights a key turning point: although digital payments are expanding quickly, cash still anchors everyday transactions in large parts of Europe.

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – House prices in Malta surged by 5.6% in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year, according to new Eurostat and National Statistics Office (NSO) data. The increase places Malta above both the EU average of 5.4% and the euro area’s 5.1%. On a quarterly basis, prices climbed 1.7% from the first three months of 2025, underscoring persistent demand and affordability challenges.

The Residential Property Price Index (RPPI) rose to 171.93, with maisonettes showing the steepest annual increase at 6.7%, followed by apartments at 5.2%. The rise in housing costs sharply contrasts with Malta’s official inflation. The Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) stood at 2.7% in September, well below the property inflation rate. Analysts note that this divergence highlights the strain on households, as property costs—excluded from the HICP—remain the leading driver of living expenses.

Across Europe, Finland was the only country to register a year-on-year decline in housing prices. The strongest growth was recorded in Portugal (+17.2%), Bulgaria (+15.5%), and Hungary (+15.1%).

With wages failing to match property inflation, concerns are mounting for younger residents and first-time buyers struggling to access the market. Economists warn that unless supply expands significantly, Malta’s housing affordability crisis is set to persist into 2026.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – People from diverse backgrounds gathered in Valletta on Saturday morning to protest against the government’s proposed changes to planning laws.

The demonstration, organised by the coalition “Ġustizzja għal Artna” (Justice for Our Land), drew a large crowd demanding the withdrawal of Bills 143 and 144. Protesters accused the government of favouring powerful developers while ignoring residents and the environment.

The two bills, tabled in Parliament last July, amend the Development Planning Act and the Environment Planning and Review Tribunal. Critics argue the measures will strip courts of their power to cancel permits, grant planning boards greater discretion to bypass policy, and limit residents’ rights to appeal.

Organisers warned the proposals pose a “serious and imminent threat” to Malta and Gozo’s future. More than 70 organisations, from student groups to residents’ associations, have backed the call to “Kill the Bills.”

– Photo Martin Agius –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

BARCELONA (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – In Spain, the “Yamal case” has exploded. Barcelona’s young star and Spanish international has suffered a relapse of the groin injury that had already sidelined him for four matches. The club confirmed that Yamal will be out for 2–3 weeks, meaning he will definitely miss Sunday’s game against Sevilla as well as Spain’s upcoming fixtures against Georgia (October 11) and Bulgaria (October 14). His absence could even extend further.

Despite the injury, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente had initially included him in his squad list, before the Spanish Federation (RFEF) quickly removed his name. This sparked a polemic between Barça manager Hansi Flick and the national team coach.

Speaking at today’s press conference, the German explained his stance: “The parties involved must understand that I want – and need – to protect my players. If we have any doubts about a player’s condition, we don’t play him. Lamine is feeling much better today, but he is not ready to take the field. These things happen in football and I understand the other side as well, it’s not easy for me or for them. For me, the matter is closed.”

Flick avoided giving a precise date for the 18-year-old’s return but did not hold back on praise: “The whole world knows his extraordinary level. He is one of the most intelligent players even without the ball. I have to be careful when he comes back, to manage his playing time properly.”

As for the possibility of seeing Yamal back in time for the much-anticipated Clásico against Real Madrid on October 26 at the Bernabéu, Flick remained cautious: “We don’t know if he’ll be there. With this type of issue – referring to groin problems – it can take 2, 3, or even 4 weeks. We are working for him to recover in the best possible way, but his condition will have to be constantly monitored.”

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

PARIS (FRANCE) (ITALPRESS) – PSG have six significant absences as they travel to Lille tomorrow for a match on Matchday 7 of Ligue 1. Luis Enrique will be without former Napoli player Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who is still recovering from a hamstring injury, as well as Joao Neves, Desiré Doué, Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembelé, Marquinhos, and Fabian Ruiz.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – This isn’t the first appeal, and the hope is that it will be the last, and that a solution can soon be found to “stop the ongoing genocide.” Pep Guardiola, in a video that has gone viral on social media, sides with the people taking to the streets and calls for participation in the protests to raise awareness among all governments about what is happening in Palestine.

“We are experiencing an ongoing genocide; thousands of children are dying, and many more could die. The Gaza Strip,” the Spanish Manchester City manager emphasized, “is devastated, and rivers of people are walking aimlessly, without food, clean water, or medicine. Once again, society has organized itself to save lives and pressure governments to intervene immediately. On October 4th, at 12:00 noon in the Jardinets de Gràcia in Barcelona, ​​we will flood the streets and demand an end to the genocide.”

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MANCHESTER (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Manchester City has announced the contract renewal with Savinho until 2031. The 21-year-old Brazilian arrived from Girona in the summer of 2024. “I’m incredibly proud to be able to sign this new contract with City,” said Savinho.

“It’s a really special feeling to know that Pep and the club have so much faith in me. It really means a lot to me and my family. I feel I can still improve a lot: I’m still young and I’m really hungry to keep learning. But I know that working with Pep and his staff will help me continue to develop as a player. Since my arrival, I’ve loved being part of City. Everyone at the club, including our fantastic fans, have made me feel welcome here in Manchester. I want to thank everyone and promise to give everything to try to help this fantastic club achieve further success.”

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MANCHESTER (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – “The criticism? It’s normal. You can’t run away from results. Then there’s also the legacy of last season, even if that season doesn’t matter to me.” Ruben Amorim is aware of the pressure on his bench. Although Jim Ratcliffe lets his support slip, the Manchester United manager’s position is far from solid, especially with the international break approaching.

Having arrived a year ago after the season had already started, Amorim failed to finish better than 15th place, then losing to Tottenham in the final round of last season’s Europa League. In total, with the Portuguese manager on the dugout, United have won only 18 of 49 matches, nine of 33 in the Premier League alone, where Amorim has never managed back wins. And this season, in the first six matchdays, they’ve already suffered three defeats. “It’s not the time to talk, it’s the time to prove it. I watch this season’s games and, for me, they’re completely different, but at the moment I have nothing to say,” he added, comparing the Red Devils’ current performance with that of last season.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LIVERPOOL (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Liverpool are losing Alisson for six weeks. The Brazilian goalkeeper was injured in Istanbul, during the Champions League defeat to Galatasaray, sustaining a muscle injury that, the Reds announced, will keep him out for six weeks. Giorgi Mamardashvili will therefore be the one to guard the posts for Slot’s team until mid-November.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews