RABAT (MOROCCO) (ITALPRESS) – GNV transported 2.2 million passengers in the first nine months of 2026, a 2% increase compared to the same period last year. Freight traffic also grew, reaching 1.84 million linear meters—a 5% rise. According to the Moroccan website Yabiladi, these figures were presented in Marrakech during the seventh edition of the “GNV Awards,” the annual event where the MSC Group company meets with its partner travel agencies.

The choice of Morocco for the event—which brought together around 120 representatives from Italian and international agencies—underscores the Kingdom’s importance in GNV’s strategy, particularly regarding the development of connections across the Mediterranean and to North Africa.

The company intends to further strengthen its presence in the Moroccan market. GNV and the Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT) have signed a three-year strategic partnership for the 2027–2029 period, aiming to boost tourism flows and maritime mobility between Morocco and Europe.

The agreement includes joint promotional campaigns in key European markets, communication initiatives, and offers that combine ferry travel with the Kingdom’s tourism offerings. These activities will target both European tourists and Moroccans living abroad—a key segment of maritime traffic between the two shores of the Mediterranean.

The goal is to increase visitor numbers to Morocco while simultaneously consolidating the country’s role in maritime links between Europe and North Africa.

In Marrakech, GNV also provided an update on its fleet renewal plan. Four new LNG-powered vessels are planned: GNV Jupiter, GNV Mars, GNV Venus, and GNV Mercury. The first, GNV Jupiter, will have a capacity of 2,500 passengers and 500 cabins and is expected to enter service by the end of 2027.

This fleet expansion is part of the company’s growth strategy in the Mediterranean, where Morocco remains a key market for GNV to support its expansion in the coming years.

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Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The three-day Global Summit of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) opened in Malta on Wednesday, bringing together hundreds of tourism industry leaders, government officials and journalists.

WTTC Chairman Manfredi Lefebvre described the gathering as the “Davos of tourism”, with the annual summit held in a different country each year.

WTTC President and CEO Gloria Guevara said more than 200 business leaders and 60 government officials were attending, alongside a large contingent of journalists.

She said the global tourism sector grew by 2.5% in 2025, with further figures on the European market due to be released during the summit.

Malta recorded the strongest tourism performance in Europe, Guevara said, with the sector growing by 16.8% in 2025. She attributed the result to strong policies and partnerships.

Malta Tourism Authority CEO Carlo Micallef said the country aimed to play a meaningful role in global tourism.

He said Malta’s long-term strategy was shifting towards high-value, year-round tourism that benefits local communities while preserving the country’s distinct identity.

MTA Chairman Charles Mangion said destinations must rethink how they attract visitors while balancing tourism growth with responsibility.

Tourism has been central to Malta’s development, he said, creating jobs while allowing visitors to experience Maltese culture and communities.

Mangion highlighted evolving consumer expectations, geopolitical uncertainty, changing travel preferences and climate change as key challenges facing the sector.

He said long-term thinking was needed to ensure tourism delivered meaningful benefits to communities and the people who give destinations their character.

Tourism Minister Jo Etienne Abela said the summit brought together the industry’s “movers and shakers” to discuss not only economic growth but also human experiences.

He expressed hope that the summit would lead to productive and fruitful discussions for the global tourism industry.

– Photo DOI –
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Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The tax department will use artificial intelligence (AI) to identify hundreds of suspected tax evaders and investigate discrepancies between declared income, business turnover and major purchases.

Finance Minister Clyde Caruana said letters would be sent to “a couple of hundred” individuals in the coming weeks, asking them to explain apparent inconsistencies in their financial records.

The targets will include people reporting turnover of up to €1 million while declaring income close to or below the minimum wage.

Others include individuals with relatively low declared incomes who have purchased expensive assets, such as apartment blocks worth millions of euros.

Caruana said those unable to explain their purchases in light of their declared income would be encouraged to regularise their tax position.

Speaking at a pre-budget business breakfast hosted by the Times of Malta, the minister said a €60 million investment in IT was transforming the way government monitored revenue.

Caruana described the changes as a “silent revolution” and said AI was allowing tax officials to analyse the entire population rather than relying on samples.

He said the tax department was becoming more knowledgeable and agile and would continue ensuring that taxes due to the government were paid.

– Photo DOI –
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Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has welcomed Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi to Seoul, marking the first visit by an Egyptian head of state to South Korea in ten years.

In a message posted on his official account on X, Lee Jae-myung welcomed Al Sisi, describing him as an “esteemed guest” of the Republic of Korea.

The South Korean president recalled his talks with Al Sisi in Cairo last year, stressing the importance of their new meeting in Seoul. He also expressed hope that the “Miracle on the Han River” and the “Miracle of the Nile” could come together to further promote shared prosperity between the two countries.

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Source: medNews

ISTANBUL (TURKEY) (ITALPRESS) – He kept his job despite a disappointing World Cup campaign, but Vincenzo Montella is unlikely to survive four defeats in Turkey’s first four Nations League matches.

According to Turkish daily Milliyet, the Turkish Football Federation has already decided to dismiss Montella. Appointed head coach in September three years ago, the 52-year-old Italian manager had signed a contract extension through Euro 2028, reportedly earning €2.2 million per year.

Milliyet also reports that the Turkish Football Federation will seek to terminate the relationship by paying Montella five months’ salary in compensation, amounting to approximately €915,000.

Under Montella, Turkey have recorded 21 wins, 14 defeats and five draws in 40 matches. However, their form has deteriorated sharply in recent months, with six defeats and just one win in their last seven games across the World Cup and Nations League.

Official confirmation of Montella’s dismissal is expected on Friday. As for his successor, Turkish media are reporting that Arda Turan, currently coach of Shakhtar Donetsk, is being considered for the role.

The Turkish Football Federation is reportedly ready to offer him a part-time position as national team head coach, allowing him to keep his commitment to the Ukrainian club.

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Source: medNews

BUENOS AIRES (ARGENTINA) (ITALPRESS) – “It is difficult to speak today. There are so many emotions running through me, but right now I’m thinking of my father. I wore this shirt with pride, and we did so by fighting and giving everything we had. Playing for the national team in Argentina is the most beautiful thing that can happen.”

Lionel Messi said this during the celebrations following his final match for the Albiceleste, a 3-0 victory over Benin in Buenos Aires.

“Today I’m experiencing one of the saddest days of my career, but from now on I will be on the fans’ side and I’ll be ready to support Argentina. We have to show that when we are united, we are stronger than everyone else, remembering that what we have achieved in recent years is not something normal. I dreamed of becoming world champions again. At the last World Cup we came very close, but the match against England had taken too much physical and mental energy out of us,” Messi added.

The Argentine star, who scored one goal and provided two assists against Benin, then reflected on his successes with the national team: “I thank my teammates for the time I was able to share with them. They helped me win two Copa América titles, one Finalissima and a World Cup. I knew I had warriors by my side, and I will miss playing with them and wearing the Argentina shirt enormously. “Thank you to the fans, who have always supported us in every competition and at every stadium. True teams reveal themselves in difficult moments. We were an extraordinary group, and that is why we won so much.”

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Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – Despite Portugal topping their group and securing mathematical qualification for the Nations League quarter-finals, the Cristiano Ronaldo-Jorge Jesus “feud” continues to dominate the headlines in Portugal. Tonight, the player released a statement in which he once again criticised the national team coach: “Jorge Jesus went back on his word.”

“This is the truth about what happened with Jorge Jesus. As promised, I decided to speak out personally and directly about the events surrounding the national team’s latest camp. After the 2026 World Cup, I prepared a letter to the Portuguese people, which I still have, containing the words I wanted to address to them when I eventually left the national team for good. At the end of the tournament, already on the flight back from the United States, the president of the Football Federation insisted that I reconsider my decision to leave, because the FPF wanted me to continue,” CR7 wrote.

“Immediately afterwards, he asked for my opinion on the name of the current head coach, whom he was considering alongside other candidates whose names he did not reveal to me. I told the federation president that, in my view, he would be the right choice. That is why, on the day the current head coach was presented, I was genuinely happy with the decision. It was the right choice, as the results have confirmed,” Ronaldo added.

“A few days later, I had my first contact with the new national team coach, who told me he would like to meet me in person. I agreed, and we arranged to meet at the end of my holiday. We met at the Cidade do Futebol, where my club was holding its pre-season training camp. That day, the coach told me that he was counting on me and that my presence was fundamental to his plans. He outlined a plan for my involvement right there and then. He told me that I would play the first and the last match and that, for reasons of physical management, he would always make three or four substitutions per game,” CR7 continued.

“At that point, he suggested the possibility of not travelling with the national team to Norway and Denmark. His proposal was for me to play the first match and remain in Portugal, before rejoining the squad ahead of the match at the Do Dragão. I immediately rejected the proposal. It seemed obvious to me that I could not accept it. It certainly wasn’t because I would not be playing the away matches that I would cease to be the team’s captain. Having the privilege of remaining in Portugal would not have set a good example. The coach ultimately agreed with my assessment. Simao Coutinho, Al Nassr’s sporting director, was also present for this conversation. He is the person the current coach referred to throughout last season and one of those responsible for his appointment by the club in 2025,” the Portuguese star explained.

“On the evening the training camp began, the coach came to my home in Lisbon, at his own request, for another meeting. The conversation was calm, and everything we had agreed upon in August was confirmed. I played the match at Alvalade and, despite being substituted, I did not make an issue of it. I myself handed the captain’s armband to Bruno Fernandes, never imagining that it could be my final gesture as a player and captain of the national team,” the statement continued, as quoted by the Iberian press.

“That day, what mattered to me was our victory. Winning is always special; in Portugal and for my country, even more so. At lunchtime on the day of the match in Norway, one of the coach’s assistants approached the table where the squad was having lunch and told me that the coach wanted to speak to me. To my great surprise, the coach asked me if I was able to play 30 minutes. I was completely focused on my physical recovery, integrated with my teammates as always, and I thought I would not play that day. I had no problem with that. This request was outside my recovery and training schedule, since I was only supposed to play on the 4th at the Do Dragão, but of course I said yes. He replied that I should then be ready because I would play 30 minutes. The rest is known to everyone. I warmed up from half-time, watched the minutes tick by and was not called upon to come onto the pitch,” Ronaldo concluded.

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Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – “It’s not just Argentina that thanks you; the whole world thanks you for everything you have done for football.”

With these words, Neymar Jr paid tribute to Lionel Messi in a post on his Instagram profile. Messi will play his final match for Argentina tonight, at 1 a.m. Italian time.

“Anyone who loves football has ‘enjoyed’ watching you over all these years… This is your last game wearing the shirt of your team, your country, and I hope you enjoy every second and that all the tributes make you happy,” the Brazilian added.

“Thank you for making me love football even more. It has been an honour to play against you, and even more so to make history alongside you. Thank you, Leo,” Neymar concluded.

The two played together at Barcelona and with PSG.

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Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A “manned drone” detected 25 possible violations in Maltese waters during a Mediterranean surveillance operation conducted during the dolphinfish season.

According to Maltese media, the operation—carried out between mid-August and early September—is part of a project involving the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA), the European Maritime Safety Agency, and the Maltese Department of Fisheries. Equipped with 360-degree cameras, the aircraft can remain airborne for several hours and cover hundreds of nautical miles.

The aim is to strengthen enforcement in an area too vast to be constantly monitored by patrol vessels alone. For years, Maltese fishermen have reported the presence of foreign vessels allegedly catching dolphinfish concentrated in areas designated for Maltese boats.

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Source: medNews

NAPLES (ITALPRESS) – “Antonio Vergara, who was injured during the Nations League match between Italy and Turkey, underwent medical tests today at Pineta Grande Hospital, which revealed a moderate-grade strain to his right soleus muscle. The Napoli player has already begun his rehabilitation programme.”Napoli announced the news. The player is expected to be sidelined for approximately three to four weeks.

Meanwhile, at the Training Center, the Partenopei continued their preparations for their next match against Frosinone, scheduled for Saturday at 8:45 p.m. at the Maradona Stadium. The squad took part in an afternoon training session, beginning with gym work, followed by defensive drills and a series of shooting exercises. Giovane, Meret and Spinazzola trained with the group. Hojlund, Lang and Milinkovic-Savic have returned from international duty with their respective national teams.

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(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews