VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta’s Commissioner for Standards in Public Life has warned Prime Minister Robert Abela that recent changes to asset declaration rules for ministers represent a “setback for transparency in public life.”

In a letter dated 6 January and published on Thursday, Chief Justice Emeritus Joseph Azzopardi said Cabinet had scrapped the detailed ministerial declaration form, requiring ministers to file only the less comprehensive form used by ordinary MPs.

“This means that ministers will no longer declare their income, nor the financial investments and bank accounts held by their spouses,” Azzopardi wrote, noting that such information was previously mandatory.

The warning follows months of correspondence after the commissioner sought copies of ministers’ 2024 declarations. He was later informed that Cabinet had opted for a single form for all MPs, and that ministers had already filed declarations using it.

Azzopardi said transparency had been further weakened because ministerial declarations were traditionally tabled in Parliament, while MPs’ declarations are not published.

He also pointed out that the Standards in Public Life Act requires ministers to submit annual asset statements “on the relevant form,” warning that its elimination places ministers in breach of the code of ethics.

The commissioner said the move ran counter to recommendations from his office and the OECD for stronger disclosure rules, and signalled his concern by making the correspondence public.

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has congratulated Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela on the sixth anniversary of his leadership of the Labour Party and the Maltese government.

Sánchez wrote in his capacity as president of Socialist International, the global alliance of social democratic and labour parties founded in 1951.

In his letter, Sánchez praised Abela’s leadership as being marked by a strong commitment to social justice, democratic values and inclusive economic progress, adding that Malta continues to play an active role in Europe and the wider international community.

The Maltese Labour Party joined the organisation in 1955. Labour’s engagement with Socialist International later waned, leading to its demotion to observer status in 2012 over unpaid membership fees and its removal from the organisation in 2014.

The party rejoined Socialist International last year, paving the way for Sánchez’s message -to Abela, which Labour shared publicly.

– Photo Archive IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MANCHESTER (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – If it’s not a surrender, it’s very close. Manchester City drew 1-1 yesterday against Brighton, a third straight draw that this evening—if Arsenal beat Liverpool—could drop the Citizens to eight points off the top.

“Unfair result? It’s not a question of justice, a point for us and a point for them, that’s how it went,” commented Pep Guardiola. “The game was very similar to the second half against Sunderland. Against Chelsea, we perhaps had fewer clear chances, but we misplaced our passes in two-on-one situations. We played exceptionally well. In the past, we took advantage of these opportunities. We created chances and were solid in defense. We failed to finish our opportunities in the six-yard box. That’s why we didn’t win the match.”

In terms of performance, in short, the Catalan coach has little to reproach his team for, but the standings are now in disarray: “We haven’t won the last three games. Now it’s more difficult to win the league,” admitted Guardiola.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

FRANKFURT (GERMANY) (ITALPRESS) – Eintracht Frankfurt has announced the arrival of 23-year-old French striker Arnaud Kalimuendo on loan with an option to buy from Nottingham Forest. Having come through the PSG youth system and stood out with Lens last season (17 goals in Ligue 1), he arrived at Forest last summer, where he made 14 appearances and scored two goals in the first half of the season.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

PARIS (FRANCE) (ITALPRESS) – He is not on the market because Barcelona are holding on to him tightly, but anyone thinking of signing Lamine Yamal would need to spend at least €343 million. This is the value assigned to the Blaugrana starlet by CIES, the Football Observatory, which has drawn up the Top 100 list of the most expensive players in the world, taking into account factors such as age, contract length and club affiliation.

Yamal tops this special ranking ahead of Erling Haaland (€255 million) and Kylian Mbappé (€201 million). There are no Serie A players in the top 10; the highest-ranked is Juventus’ Kenan Yildiz in 14th place, valued at €121 million. A few spots further down (19th) is Inter’s Lautaro Martínez (€109.6 million).

Italian football features three other players on the list: Napoli’s Rasmus Højlund (€92.8 million) and Inter’s Pio Esposito (€75 million) and Alessandro Bastoni (€62 million). The most expensive Italian player is Gianluigi Donnarumma — who also tops the goalkeepers’ ranking — valued at €81.4 million.
– Photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

AMSTERDAM (NETHERLANDS) (ITALPRESS) – Erik Ten Hag is set to restart from his home country, the Netherlands. Dismissed at the start of the season by Bayer Leverkusen, the 55-year-old former Ajax and Manchester United coach will become Twente’s new technical director from next season, replacing Jan Streuer. Ten Hag — who will already be integrated into the club’s organizational structure from February 1 — thus returns to the club where he played and later took his first steps as a coach.

-Photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta’s pension system owes much of its current stability to inward migration, but long-term demographic and housing pressures pose growing risks, according to a strategic review published this week.

The findings are contained in the 2025 Strategic Review on the Adequacy,
Sustainability and Solidarity of Malta’s Pension System, mandated every
five years under the Social Security Act.

With a low fertility rate of 1.06 and an ageing workforce, the report highlights foreign workers as essential to sustaining the pay-as-you-go pension model.

Between 2008 and 2023, social security contributors rose by 87% to 283,000, largely driven by migrant labour. Of nearly 245,000 foreign contributors over that period, only 5,736—just 2.3%—earned pension
entitlements.

High turnover among migrants provides short-term fiscal relief, as many leave Malta before qualifying for pensions, generating contributions without long-term liabilities.

However, the review cautions that reliance on migration alone will not be enough as the working-age population is projected to fall to 51% by 2070.

Housing costs are flagged as a key threat to pension adequacy, with renting pensioners identified as the most financially vulnerable.

The report recommends reforms including private pension auto-enrolment, revised benefit structures, and linking pension increases to both wage growth and inflation. Public feedback is open until April 3, 2026.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A new Driving Licence Surrender Scheme opened today, offering young people up to €25,000 in financial incentives if they voluntarily give up their driving licence for five years.

Launched by Transport Malta on a first-come, first-served basis, the scheme targets individuals aged 30 or under at the time of application.

Applicants must have lived in Malta for at least seven years and held a Category B driving licence for a minimum of 12 months.

Under the programme, successful applicants will receive €5,000 per year for five consecutive years, amounting to a total of €25,000.

The initiative forms part of a €25 million national budget covering the period between 2026 and 2030 and aims to reduce the number of private vehicles on Maltese roads.

Participants must surrender their driving licence once their application is approved, after which the first annual payment will be issued.

The remaining instalments will be paid on each anniversary of the initial payment.

Beneficiaries are strictly prohibited from driving any vehicle, whether in Malta or abroad, throughout the five-year period.

At the end of the scheme, participants will be required to apply for a new driving licence and complete 15 hours of driving lessons.

The scheme excludes individuals with revoked or suspended licences, non-EU licence holders, and those whose employment requires a driving licence.

Early reapplication will require repayment of part or all of the grant, while anyone found driving during the scheme faces fines, repayment obligations and possible legal action.

Applications will remain open until 30 June 2026.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

PARIS (FRANCE) (ITALPRESS) – “100% Fake News.” Luis Campos, PSG sporting director, contacted by Canal Plus, flatly denied the rumors about Luis Enrique. Yesterday a story began circulating on social media – attributed to “Bild” but without any real confirmation – according to which the Asturian coach had rejected a significant contract extension offer to leave Paris at the end of the season and take on a new challenge. Moreover, Luis Enrique’s contract expires in 2027.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LONDON (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Federico Chiesa’s name has once again come to the fore ahead of the January transfer window, with links to Napoli and Juventus. However, according to Sky UK, the 28-year-old forward is very likely to remain at Anfield: despite limited playing time under Slot (although it has increased compared to last season), Liverpool are not keen to part ways with the player during this transfer window.

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews