VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta is pursuing two UNESCO initiatives aimed at strengthening its role in cultural heritage protection at home and abroad.

The government is preparing the nomination of the Fortifications of St John for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The proposed serial nomination covers Valletta’s harbour fortifications, Mdina and the Ċittadella in Gozo.

Research, documentation and technical assessments have been completed under the National World Heritage Technical Committee, with the next phase focusing on consultations with local communities, councils and heritage organisations.

Malta is also seeking election to the 21-member UNESCO World Heritage Committee, which oversees the implementation of the 1972 World Heritage Convention and decides on the inscription and conservation of World Heritage sites.

Election would give Malta a direct role in shaping international World Heritage policy. The country’s bid is backed by its management of three existing UNESCO World Heritage properties and its long-standing participation in UNESCO initiatives.

Archaeologist Anthony Pace is coordinating the Fortifications of St John nomination. A former Superintendent of Cultural Heritage, he has played a key role in developing Malta’s heritage protection framework and major archaeological projects.

Maritime archaeologist Timmy Gambin has contributed through his work on underwater cultural heritage and by founding the University of Malta’s Master’s programme in Global Maritime Archaeology, recently admitted to UNESCO’s Network in Underwater Archaeology.

The two initiatives reflect Malta’s broader strategy to secure international recognition for its heritage while expanding its role in the governance of global conservation efforts.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Prime Minister Robert Abela issued an “unconditional” apology after widespread electricity outages left thousands of households without power during one of Malta’s hottest periods on record.

“I want to apologise to all those who were without electricity in the last hours. That apology is unconditional,” Abela said, pledging to accelerate investment in the country’s electricity distribution network.

The outages affected numerous localities across Malta, with some areas, remaining without electricity for more than 12 hours as temperatures exceeded 42°C.

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Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – Chelsea have entered the race to sign John Stones, according to The Athletic.

Stones is available on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract with Manchester City. Despite limited playing time last season, the England international has seen his stock rise after an impressive FIFA World Cup campaign.

Chelsea are now set for a transfer battle with Arsenal, who have been pursuing the central defender for some time.

At 32, Stones has attracted interest from clubs both in England and abroad. In recent weeks, he has also been linked with Inter Milan and Juventus.

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Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – At the age of 41, Guillermo Ochoa, who recently made his sixth FIFA World Cup appearance—a record he shares with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi—has announced his imminent retirement from professional football.

“I gave everything I had, both for my clubs and for the national team, and today I am hanging up my gloves,” the Mexican goalkeeper said in a message posted on social media.

Over the course of his career, Ochoa played for eight clubs across seven different countries, including a spell in Italy with Salernitana. He earned 154 caps for the Mexico national team.

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Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – Following Argentina’s extra-time defeat to Spain in the FIFA World Cup final, Lionel Messi returned to his homeland today to spend time with his family in Rosario, his hometown.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and Argentina captain arrived in Rosario on a private flight at around 6:30 a.m. on tuesday, accompanied by his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and their three children.

The 39-year-old former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star went to the family home where he usually stays whenever he returns to his hometown.

Messi’s trip home is not only intended to allow him to recover after the demands of the World Cup. His father, Jorge, 68, who also serves as his agent, has been dealing with health issues, as announced by Messi’s entourage after Argentina’s opening match against Algeria, a game that ended with the captain visibly emotional.

Messi is expected to remain in Rosario for some time, as he will miss at least Inter Miami’s next two matches, scheduled for July 26 and August 2. He will also be unavailable for the MLS All-Star Game, which is set to take place on July 29 in Charlotte.

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Source: medNews

RABAT (MOROCCO) (ITALPRESS) – Morocco is accelerating its water security strategy with a new 300-kilometer “water highway” project, intended to connect the Sebou basin to the Oum Er-Rbia basin.

According to the website Le360, citing the newspaper Al Ahdath Al Maghribia, the infrastructure will have a transfer capacity of approximately 800 million cubic meters of water per year and represents the second phase of the national program for the interconnection of river basins, following the success of the first connection between the Sebou and Bouregreg basins.

The project is part of the National Program for Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation, supported by investments exceeding $13 billion, with the aim of strengthening the country’s water security, countering the effects of drought, and adapting to climate change.

According to the project, the new infrastructure will ensure drinking water supplies to the provinces of Settat, Berrechid, and the southern Casablanca metropolitan area, while also contributing to the irrigation of approximately 176,000 hectares of agricultural land in the Oum Er-Rbia basin.

The initiative will be implemented through a public-private partnership and is part of Morocco’s broader strategy to connect the Kingdom’s main watersheds, considered a key lever to address the growing pressure on water resources resulting from population growth, urbanization, and climate change.

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Source: medNews

RABAT (MOROCCO) (ITALPRESS) – Romania believes that “genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty could be a viable solution” to the Western Sahara issue. This is the content of the message addressed to the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, by Romanian President Nicusor Dan, according to the Moroccan news agency MAP, quoting a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rabat.

According to Dan, Romania “believes that the autonomy plan presented by Morocco in 2007 constitutes the most appropriate, serious, credible, and realistic basis for reaching a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution.”

This position comes “following a thorough analysis of developments on the Sahara issue,” the Romanian president continued. The message was delivered today to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita, by the Romanian President’s Advisor and former Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos.

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Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – Aston Villa and Belgium midfielder Amadou Onana has been ruled out for nine months after undergoing surgery on a serious knee injury.

The 24-year-old was forced off after just 20 minutes of Belgium’s 4-1 victory over the United States in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 in Seattle on July 7.

Onana underwent surgery in Lyon today to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee. He is expected to be sidelined for approximately nine months.

The former Hamburg (2020–2021), Lille (2021–2022) and Everton (2022–2024) midfielder will carry out his rehabilitation under the supervision of Aston Villa’s medical staff.

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Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – Contrary to reports that emerged in the hours following the FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, Leandro Paredes was not sent off after the match.

FIFA clarified the situation, with the BBC reporting that the red card indication resulted from a malfunction in the computer system used to transmit official match data to broadcasters.

As a result, the Boca Juniors midfielder did not receive any disciplinary sanction after the game, despite being one of the main figures involved in the altercation that broke out following the final whistle.

The official match report confirms that the only player sent off in the final was Enzo Fernández. The Argentine midfielder was dismissed during second-half stoppage time after receiving his second yellow card, while no disciplinary action was taken against Paredes.

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Source: medNews

BUENOS AIRES (ARGENTINA) (ITALPRESS) – Juventus awaits him, hoping to welcome him soon, as he ponders his future. Not a possible transfer from Aston Villa to the Old Lady, but the colorful Albiceleste one. Argentina was welcomed to Buenos Aires by the love of their fans, despite losing the final to Spain in extra time, and Emiliano Martinez, the Seleccion’s goalkeeper, still appeared very tired from the failure to repeat the title.

“I dreamed that we would win the title again, bring it to Argentina and make history once again,” Dibu wrote on social media. “The truth is that the pain is difficult to explain, we have to reflect on many things, see how to move forward and whether it’s time to take a step back.”

His words are frightening for the Argentine people, who will likely already have to do without coach Lionel Scaloni (he intends to fulfill his contract with Afa until December and then leave the Seleccion) and captain Lionel Messi.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews