VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta’s electricity interconnector with the European grid has resumed full operations following a planned three-day shutdown to facilitate ongoing infrastructure works.

The shutdown of the IC1 link was necessary for essential technical interventions at the Ragusa Terminal Station in Sicily, as part of preparations for the second interconnector project (IC2).

Energy Minister Miriam Dalli described the works as a significant milestone in strengthening Malta’s energy connectivity, noting that national electricity stability was maintained throughout the process.

“Maintaining national electricity stability is always a priority during such works,” Dalli said, praising the technical teams for completing the interventions safely and within schedule.

The planned suspension, announced last Saturday, allowed engineers to reroute control cables needed for the installation of a new 220kV hybrid switchgear.

This equipment will play a key role in integrating the second interconnector into the system, enabling the connection of spare shunt reactors and improving overall network resilience.

Despite the temporary shutdown, Enemalta ensured the national grid remained stable and secure, avoiding disruptions to electricity supply.

The completion of these works marks another step forward in Malta’s efforts to enhance energy reliability and strengthen its link to the European power network.

– photo Energy Ministry of Malta –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LONDON (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – “I’m very happy and proud to be here because I consider Tottenham one of the most important clubs in the world.” There’s no shortage of enthusiasm; he’s signed a multi-year contract, but he also has a tough nut to crack with the risk of relegation, which would be a footballing tragedy for Tottenham. Roberto De Zerbi is the new Spurs manager, the third after Frank and Tudor, the man behind the redevelopment.

“I have a great responsibility, it’s a great challenge, and I can’t wait to get started, to work with the players, and to win some games,” says the Italian coach, confident he has the resources to reach the finish line. “I’ve watched a lot of games, especially lately. I know the players very well. I love football, so I watch a lot of games every week. I know everything. I know that it’s a difficult time for Tottenham, I know that very well, but I believe we have the right qualities to overcome this. I believe in the players. I think we have to remember who we are and who the players are, because we have some very talented players and we have to work on their confidence and their qualities. They have to show who they are and what they’re used to playing.”

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

BUCHAREST (ROMANIA) (ITALPRESS) – The Romanian Football Federation has announced in a statement that Mircea Lucescu has completed his mandate as coach. The 80-year-old coach failed to secure World Cup qualification, with a 1-0 defeat in Turkey that stopped Romania in the semi-finals of the European playoffs. That was also Lucescu’s last match in charge: already struggling with health problems, the former coach of Brescia, Pisa, and Inter Milan felt unwell on Sunday during the technical meeting ahead of the friendly against Slovakia, where the team was coached by assistant Ionel Gane. Lucescu, formerly coach of Romania from 1981 to 1986, returned in August 2024, after the European Championships, and finished with an overall record of 11 wins, one draw, and six losses.

The Romanian Football Federation, through its president Razvan Burleanu, while emphasizing that Lucescu remains “a historical figure,” does not rule out a future collaboration: “He gave everything for Romania, showing boundless passion and dedication. He demonstrated what it means to love the national team. We look forward to him in a new role in the coming months, so that Romanian football can benefit from all the experience he has accumulated throughout his career, and thus better prepare our coaches and players.”

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

PARIS (FRANCE) (ITALPRESS) – “Will we see Nuno Mendes as a winger again and Beraldo in midfield? My dream is to have 20 players capable of playing anywhere. Nuno Mendes as a full-back, winger, number 9… Just imagine the opposing coach. It’s something difficult to achieve, but I’m working in that direction.”

Luis Enrique does not rule out further experiments for his PSG ahead of the final stretch of the season, where the reigning European champions are aiming to retain the Champions League title and confirm their dominance in Ligue 1.

Meanwhile, after the international break, Toulouse await: “There are no injuries. We’ll see after Thursday afternoon’s training session what the players’ real physical and mental condition is. It’s like Tetris: you have to consider not only the minutes played and the travel, but also how the players feel. To win, we need everyone—it’s important to have players ready to play at any moment.”

The Spanish coach also brushed off controversy over the postponement of the match against Lens: “I can understand that there are different points of view, I understand Lens, it’s normal. But we have to accept what has been decided.”

As for “L’Équipe” revealing his €12 million gross annual salary, he shrugged it off: “Do you really think the players care about my salary? Talking about this is inappropriate. Of course, I am one of the highest-paid coaches in the world—and that’s a good thing for me.”

– Photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LONDON (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Inter are working on a new deal for Denzel Dumfries in order to remove the €24 million release clause currently in his contract, but the agents of the 29-year-old Dutch wing-back, also through intermediaries, are exploring other options.

According to “TeamTalk,” several English clubs have been approached, including Liverpool, which had shown interest in the player in the past. That interest has not completely faded, but it has cooled somewhat, as the Reds feel covered in that position with Bradley and Frimpong.

Contacts have also been made with the two Manchester clubs, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Newcastle, although Dumfries’ wage demands currently appear to be the biggest obstacle to a move to the Premier League.

For this reason, a move to Saudi Arabia cannot be ruled out, as it could represent a valid alternative if a transfer to England does not materialize.

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

NEWCASTLE (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Per il Newcastle sarà sempre più difficile trattenere Sandro Tonali. Secondo “TeamTalk”, l’entourage del giocatore starebbe lavorando in vista dell’estate sondando il terreno fra i principali club inglesi ed europei. L’ultimo nell’ordine sarebbe il Real Madrid, con cui ci sarebbero stati dei contatti esplorativi. In Premier gli estimatori non mancano, a partire dal Manchester City che cerca rinforzi in mezzo al campo, ma anche United, Arsenal, Chelsea e Liverpool sono vigili. E fuori dall’Inghilterra, oltre al Real, anche Psg e Bayern sarebbero stati informati della possibilità che Tonali possa cambiare aria. Difficile un ritorno in serie A visto che i Magpies non si priveranno del giocatore per meno di 80 milioni di sterline, oltre 90 milioni di euro, un sacrificio che potrebbe essere necessario qualora non arrivasse la qualificazione alla prossima Champions.

– Foto IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta has joined nine other countries in blaming Hezbollah for a surge in violence in Lebanon, as tensions escalate between Israel and the Iran-backed group.

In a joint statement issued through the EU’s diplomatic service, foreign ministers said responsibility for the latest escalation “lies with Hezbollah,” condemning its missile attacks on Israel and urging an immediate halt.

Three peacekeepers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were killed in two separate explosions in recent days. A UN source said at least one blast may have been caused by an Israeli tank, a claim Israel denies. Malta has five soldiers deployed with UNIFIL alongside Irish forces.

The joint declaration was signed by Malta, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United Kingdom. Austria and Ireland did not endorse the statement.

EU ministers warned against further escalation, urging Israel to avoid a ground invasion and stressing that Lebanon’s territorial integrity must be respected.

They also called for renewed dialogue between Israel and Lebanon and backed efforts to strengthen Lebanese state institutions.

The ministers further condemned recent attacks on UN peacekeepers, urging all sides to ensure the safety of UNIFIL personnel in line with international law.

– Photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ZURICH (SWITZERLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Italy is the only national team among the world’s top 19 not to qualify for the World Cup. This was already known, but the new FIFA rankings bear witness to it, the first with the new system featuring real-time ranking updates. There have been many changes, some of them significant: France returns to the top spot (last seen in September 2018), moving up two spots and, with 1,877.32 points, leading the rankings ahead of European champions Spain and world champions Argentina, both of whom slipped one spot.

England is fourth, followed by Portugal, who move up to fifth, overtaking Ancelotti’s Brazil, now sixth. The Netherlands, Morocco, Belgium, and Germany round out the top ten. Croatia is eleventh, meaning Italy has moved up one spot, as has Colombia, which has slipped to 14th.

1. France 1877.32 points (+2)
2. Spain 1876.40 (-1)
3. Argentina 1874.81 (-1)
4. England 1825.97 (–)
5. Portugal 1763.83 (+1)
6. Brazil 1761.16 (-1)
7. Netherlands 1757.87 (–)
8. Morocco 1755.87 (–)
9. Belgium 1734.71 (–)
10. Germany 1730.37 (–)

12. Italy 1700.37 (+1)

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

BARCELONA (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – “I’m a Muslim, alhamdulillah.” Thus began Lamine Yamal’s post, which took to social media to express his outrage over yesterday’s 0-0 friendly match between Spain and Egypt, played at Espanyol’s stadium in Barcelona. “Yesterday at the stadium, the chant ‘whoever doesn’t jump is a Muslim’ was heard. I know it was aimed at the opposing team and wasn’t a personal attack on me, but as a Muslim, I still find it disrespectful and intolerable. I understand that not all fans are like that, but to those who chant these chants, using a religion to insult those on the pitch makes them appear ignorant and racist. You have to enjoy football and supporting the team, not disrespect people for who they are or what they believe in,” Yamal wrote, before closing his posts by thanking the Red Furies fans present at the stadium and saying he’ll see everyone at the World Cup. Meanwhile, the Catalan police have already opened an investigation into the incident, and the government has also rushed to condemn the racist chants. FIFA, too, has threatened to punish the Spanish Football Federation.

Espanyol also took a stand, “firmly condemning the behavior of some fans,” but at the same time expressing “deep disappointment at the gratuitous and widespread smear campaign targeting its fans in the last few hours.”

On its website, the Egyptian Football Federation “reiterates its total condemnation of the deplorable racist incident that occurred at the Barcelona stadium during our national team’s friendly match against Spain. We condemn the actions of some fans in the stands who chanted racist slogans and phrases. We also emphasize our complete rejection and condemnation of these events during the match and the disrespect for the national anthem, which is absolutely unacceptable behavior in football stadiums and a negative phenomenon that we must work together to eliminate.”

The “Pharaohs” leaders also thanked their Spanish counterparts and the Spanish Ministry of Sport for their solidarity and assured that “what happened to some fans will in no way undermine the solid relationship that unites the two Federations.”

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

BUENOS AIRES (ARGENTINA) (ITALPRESS) – The 5-0 win over Zambia at the “Bombonera” stadium is just a step toward the World Cup. Lionel Scaloni’s reigning world champions are well and awaiting the final decision from Leo Messi, the Albiceleste captain who has not yet resolved his doubts about his participation in the World Cup. The impression is that he will be there, this is certainly Scaloni’s hope, as is the general football world. “It would be a privilege if he decided to play in the World Cup. We all want him to enjoy it and we’ll do everything to make him feel good. He wants the same thing we want, and after winning the World Cup, he’s now more relaxed, he always wants to be there, but we’ll see what he decides, and in any case, we’ll be with him. He can reach the thousand-goal mark, we’ll see how long he’ll play,” says Scaloni.

“I have Italian grandparents and great-grandparents,” says Scaloni, who played for Lazio and Atalanta in our league. “I feel sorry for Italy, it’s sad they’re not there. I played there, they’re one of the powers of world football, and we Argentines aren’t happy that the Azzurri aren’t there. It’s a sad, unfair elimination, it’s the third World Cup without them, they ended their journey playing in Bosnia against a tough rival.”

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews