VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta has fallen to 15th place among 22 EU member states with a national statutory minimum wage, according to the latest review by Eurofound.

The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions said Malta, which ranked eighth in both 2016 and 2021, had slipped seven places by 2026.

Since 2016, Malta has been overtaken by Slovenia, Lithuania, Poland, Cyprus, Portugal, Croatia and Greece, reflecting rapid wage growth across several central and eastern European economies.

Lithuania recorded the biggest rise, moving from 20th place in 2016 to ninth in 2026. Poland climbed from 13th to 10th, while Slovenia rose to seventh and Croatia to 13th.

Germany also advanced, moving from sixth to third place among the 22 countries, behind Luxembourg and Ireland.

Malta now ranks immediately behind Greece and remains ahead of Estonia, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Latvia and Bulgaria.

Eurofound attributed part of the shift to policy-driven wage increases, including implementation of the EU Minimum Wage Directive, which encourages countries to assess minimum wages against indicators such as median or average earnings.

The agency said statutory minimum wages increased in real terms in 21 of the 22 countries with national minimum wages.

However, rising statutory rates are also narrowing the gap with collectively agreed wages in lower-paid sectors, potentially compressing wage scales and making it harder to maintain differences based on skills and experience.

Eurofound’s ranking compares gross nominal minimum wages on a standardised 12-month basis and does not account for taxation, social contributions, benefits or living costs.

In Malta, the statutory minimum wage is €229.44 per week in 2026, or about €994 a month gross, including cost-of-living adjustments, according to DIER data.

The first €12,700 of income is exempt from income tax, while minimum-wage earners are subject to a capped 10% National Insurance contribution.

Energy and fuel subsidies, free healthcare and targeted in-work benefits can also affect households’ disposable income.

– Photo Pexels.com –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

SANA’A (YEMEN) (ITALPRESS) – The Houthis announced today that they had carried out two military operations against “sensitive sites” in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, and against an Aramco oil facility in Yanbu. This was reported in a statement released by Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree. According to the statement, the two operations were conducted using “a large number of ballistic and cruise missiles and drones.” The Houthis claim that both operations hit their targets and caused “massive fires” at the struck locations.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LONDON (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – “We could have scored more goals in the first half, then we conceded the opener. We needed to be more focused defensively; their second goal came from the goalkeeper’s distribution… We played well in the first half but didn’t score; we were too fragile.” That is how Roberto De Zerbi analyzes the defeat against Aston Villa—a heavy loss, even though Spurs did manage to score their first league goals. Tottenham, however, is struggling to convert chances. “If we didn’t score, the responsibility is mine; we have to work even harder. In football, as in life, you’re either strong or you lose,” admits De Zerbi.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

BUENOS AIRES (ARGENTINA) (ITALPRESS) – “A major new chapter is beginning. It is time to focus on the young players knocking on the door. I have always said that age doesn’t matter; whether the veterans stay or new players arrive will depend entirely on their performances at their respective clubs. Our intention is to give everyone the chance to wear this jersey.” Two months after the World Cup final loss to Spain, Lionel Scaloni is speaking out again. The Albiceleste head coach gave an interview to the Chinese broadcaster “MiGu”—widely reported by La Nación—as his contract expires in December and the Argentine press notes he has not yet decided whether to continue, especially given the departures of Messi and many other senior players. Federation President Tapia hopes to keep Scaloni on board, and the interview with the Chinese outlet offers some encouraging signs in this regard. “After the 2024 Copa América—having won everything, and with two years separating us from the World Cup in the US—I wondered if the future would be difficult. There was some uncertainty, but then I realized we could keep competing, and that is indeed what happened,” Scaloni explained.

“We lost the World Cup final, but the point wasn’t whether we won it or not; it was about proving ourselves again. Now I’m starting a new chapter—not necessarily about repeating past successes, but about ensuring the Selección maintains its connection with the people, so the public continues to identify with the squad. Replicating something like that won’t be easy. Ours is a team that commands respect—even ‘fear,’ in the positive sense of the word. I believe it’s a tough challenge, and as a coach—as the leader of the group—you have to recognize that. Naturally, the aim is to keep moving forward on this path, whether I’m here or not. That isn’t the most important aspect,” added Scaloni, reflecting on the recent World Cup: “We had arrived at the previous World Cup in much better shape, with 95% of the players at peak fitness, whereas this time we were pushed to the limit. We didn’t have players at 100%, but we trusted them. We had to make much harder decisions than last time, partly because of the affection we felt for the lads. It was right to put our faith in people who had given everything over the past eight years. The people matter more than just the footballer.”

“This jersey isn’t for everyone. The players in my national team are all great talents who bring out the best in one another. They played a fantastic World Cup. They feel at ease representing the country, and that’s a real asset: there’s a positive energy about them,” explained Scaloni, who will certainly lead Argentina in the upcoming friendlies—the last of which will also mark Lionel Messi’s farewell to the Albiceleste. “The 22- or 23-year-old Messi was a unique player. He was outstanding under my management, but I would have loved to have him when he was younger because he was unique—though he still is.” Scaloni doesn’t dwell on the specific style of football he prefers, explaining: “We remain true to our philosophy. There are eras when football is more vertical and others where the focus is more on ball possession. We always prioritize the Argentine style of play.” Returning to the subject of the World Cup, he says: “The matches against Egypt and England were fantastic. We never gave up, and that was the best message we could have sent. Against Spain, too, we showed we had no intention of losing. We kept trying right to the end. Spain and Argentina are sister nations. A few isolated comments can’t ruin that bond. I live there, and there were even people who wanted us to win. For me, what matters is that our people took to the streets to celebrate a second-place finish; to me, that’s a triumph—it means we all come out as winners. I hope future generations continue on this path.”

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

BARCELONA (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – Barcelona for life. Raphinha cannot see himself wearing any shirt other than the blaugrana, and the contract he signed last May – when he extended his deal until 2028 – may not have been his last.

“Yes, I think I’ll renew again,” he told radio station RAC1. “When I signed, I did so until 2028 with the idea that I would be 30 or 31 years old by then, and I didn’t know how I would get there. But given the way I have started this season, I can keep going for a few more years, and I would be very happy to extend my contract again. I hope I can end my career here, without having to go somewhere else.”

– Photo Ipa Agency –

(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

PARIS (FRANCE) (ITALPRESS) – “You will see my way of looking at football. There will always be balance within the team, but I want to see this team express its style of play. We have the players to do it.” Perhaps this is the statement that best sums up Zidane’s football philosophy as he announces his first squad as France head coach.

Zizou acknowledges that “some thought was needed, because there are players who have only just returned after the World Cup, and all these factors have to be taken into account. This is the first squad, the first training camp, and for me the ideas were already quite clear. Perhaps one or two players are deliberately absent, due to a lack of playing time or injury, but there has been a lot of thought and hard work ever since I was appointed.”

There were also some surprises, such as the call-up of Inter player Andy Diouf, whom Zidane is considering for a new role: “I want to see him at left-back. For some time now, that has been the area where we have been lacking a few players, even though we have had some excellent players in that position. Choosing Andy Diouf and Adrien Truffert is a strong and important decision: at the moment, they are players capable of playing in that position at this level.”

There is the usual abundance of options in attack. “They are extraordinary players, and you have to play them in their natural positions,” Zidane insists. Asked about Kylian Mbappé’s limited involvement in defensive duties, he replies: “It’s a non-issue, a false debate. He will have to be managed like all the other players. A team is a team when it has the ball and when it doesn’t. Kylian, moreover, is capable of playing in all three attacking positions, and I also really like him on the left.”

– Photo Ipa Agency –

(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

CAIRO (EGYPT) (ITALPRESS(MNA) – Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) praised Egypt’s positions, both at the institutional and popular levels, in support of the Palestinian cause. He highlighted President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s role in supporting the Palestinian people and defending their national rights, as well as Cairo’s efforts to halt the war and put an end to the suffering in the Gaza Strip.

According to the Egyptian news agency MENA, Abbas made the remarks during a meeting in Cairo with a group of journalists, to whom he outlined the latest developments affecting the Palestinian population and the region, focusing on the political situation, developments on the ground and the international dimension. Abu Mazen discussed conditions in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Jerusalem, stressing “the Palestinian rejection of any plan for displacement” and “the right of the Palestinian people to remain on their land.”

Abu Mazen also highlighted changes in the international landscape, with “an increasing number of countries recognizing the State of Palestine,” and reiterated his support for the two-state solution based on international law, with an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital.

On the domestic front, Abu Mazen stressed the importance of holding Palestinian elections in November, including legislative elections and elections for the Palestinian National Council, describing them as an important step toward renewing institutions, strengthening political participation and consolidating the Palestinian democratic system.

– Photo: IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – Italian football is in mourning. Sandro Mazzola, a legendary figure of Helenio Herrera’s Grande Inter and the Italian national team, has died in Milan at the age of 83. With the Azzurri, he was European champion in 1968 and a World Cup runner-up in 1970.

Considered one of the greatest Italian footballers in history, Mazzola was a midfielder and the son of Valentino Mazzola, who died with the legendary Torino team in the Superga air disaster. He was nominated for the Ballon d’Or on nine occasions, finishing second in 1971, behind Johan Cruyff. Among his individual achievements, he was the top scorer in the 1963-64 European Cup and in the Italian league in 1965. In 2014, he was inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame, followed by induction into Inter’s Hall of Fame in 2022.

Born in Turin on November 8, 1942, Mazzola became synonymous with Inter, for whom he played from 1961 to 1977, making 570 appearances and scoring 162 goals. During his time with the Nerazzurri, he won four Italian league titles, two European Cups and two Intercontinental Cups. He served as captain for seven seasons, from 1970 to 1977, succeeding Mario Corso.

With the Italian national team, between 1963 and 1974, he played in the victorious 1968 European Championship, Italy’s first triumph in the competition. He also took part in three World Cups: England 1966, Mexico 1970 and West Germany 1974.

One of the most famous rivalries of the era was his competition with Gianni Rivera, the iconic Milan player and Mazzola’s main rival for a starting place with the Azzurri, although the two always maintained a relationship of mutual respect.

After retiring from playing, Mazzola held several executive positions at Inter, the last of which was sporting director from 1995 to 1999. He also held executive roles at Genoa and Torino and worked as a technical commentator and pundit for Rai Sport, appearing on several shows.

– Photo Ipa Agency –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – The opposition is calling for funds. Aleksander Ceferin and Victor Montagliani—heads of UEFA and CONCACAF, respectively—have written a letter to Gianni Infantino (signing as FIFA vice-presidents) requesting that the international federation distribute at least $10 million (approximately €8.7 million) to each of its 211 member associations.

This request stems from the fact that FIFA is “on track to close the 2023–26 period with reserves of around $6 billion”—a figure “considerably higher” than what is required leading up to the next cycle.

Consequently, Zurich could release a portion of these reserves—a “one-off distribution” costing FIFA a total of $2.11 billion—to be used “for investments in infrastructure and football development.” After all, Ceferin and Montagliani point out, the FIFA Forward Enterprise project was presented with the aim of “making far greater resources available for football development.” They note that they have now “examined the financial statements and budgets published by FIFA,” which “already possesses the capacity to allocate considerably more resources to its associations through its own balance sheet, without relinquishing any interests in its competitions and without asking the associations for anything in return.”

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A reserve juror in the Yorgen Fenech trial was arrested on Friday morning and is expected to be questioned by police as part of an ongoing investigation into the jury process.

The arrest follows that of three other jurors and the husband of one of them on Thursday.

Police said the investigations concern the oath taken by jurors before the trial began, particularly public comments allegedly made by some of them before the proceedings.

The Police stressed that the investigation relates specifically to these alleged comments and “not on some theory or other allegation.”

Another juror is being investigated over the alleged use of a mobile phone during the trial.

Three of the jurors arrested on Thursday have since been released on police bail.

-Photo Police Malta-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews