BARCELONA (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – Bad news for Barcelona, ​​who will be without Raphinha for their two-legged tie against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinals.

The 29-year-old forward was injured in Brazil’s friendly against Spain in Foxborough, coming off at halftime. After undergoing tests, he sustained a torn hamstring in his right leg.

The player will now return to Barcelona to begin treatment, but the Catalan club has already announced that his recovery time is estimated at five weeks. Raphinha will also miss the La Liga match against the Colchoneros scheduled for Saturday, April 4th at the Metropolitano Stadium, and will most likely not be fully recovered in time for the possible Champions League semifinal against either Arsenal or Sporting.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LIVERPOOL (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Whoever signs Momo Salah is getting a deal, not only for the present but also for the future. These are the words of the man who brought the Egyptian from Roma to Liverpool in 2017, making him the team’s star. Jurgen Klopp has no doubt that, despite his 33 years, Salah still has a lot to give. “He’s an incredible professional,” the former Reds manager told BBC Sport. “He’s set completely new standards for a professional footballer. He’ll leave Liverpool at the end of the season, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he played for another six or seven years. He’s without a doubt one of the greatest of all time, and I’m really proud to have been part of his career.”

Klopp and Salah together won the Premier League, the Champions League, the FA Cup, two League Cups, the European Super Cup, and the Club World Cup. “Mo and I had big dreams, but we didn’t dare to dream that big,” admits Klopp, for whom Salah “is an irreplaceable player. There will be a void that someone will fill. It’s not my place to give advice, but it’s about signing players and building a game that can be successful.”

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LONDON (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Retirement can wait. Two years after his last job, Roy Hodgson returns to coaching at 78. The former England manager, out of the game since February 2024 when he parted ways with Crystal Palace, will lead Bristol City in the Championship, replacing the sacked Gerhard Struber.

This will be a return for Hodgson, having previously held the helm in 1982. With seven games remaining, Bristol City are 16th, 12 points ahead of the play-off places and 12 points clear of the relegation zone.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MIAMI (UNITED STATES) (ITALPRESS) – When he takes the field on Saturday, April 4, against Austin FC at the new Nu Stadium, Lionel Messi will experience a special feeling, as one of the stands in the stadium will bear his name. Inter Miami, where the 38-year-old Argentine arrived in the summer of 2023, has decided to name a section of the 26,700-seat stadium after him, which will from now on host the team’s home games. Since his arrival, Messi has already made history for the young franchise, scoring 82 goals and 53 assists: under him, Inter Miami has already won a Leagues Cup, the Supporters’ Shield, and the MLS championship. The former Barcelona player—whom Newell’s Old Boys also named a stand after in June 2025—was also the first player in the history of the American league to win the MVP award two years in a row.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Prime Minister Robert Abela has warned of consequences for athletes who undermine the integrity of the sport in the wake of the betting scandal rocking Maltese water polo. Abela specifically emphasized that anyone who fails to meet ethical standards will be punished. The prime minister noted that increased public investment in the sport has raised the stakes, increasing the risk of phenomena such as match fixing, while also highlighting the consolidation of resources for the Malta Sports Integrity Authority.

The local swimming federation has confirmed it has launched an investigation involving several national team players. Up to 15 people are implicated, including six members of the Maltese national team and figures linked to clubs such as San Giljan ASC and Sliema ASC, as well as a youth coach. One player is alleged to have placed bets worth over €22,000, while others are said to have wagered smaller amounts. Sports Minister Clifton Grima announced that initiatives to raise awareness of integrity and responsibility in clubs and youth academies will be strengthened.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta has launched a Pre-Market Consultation to assess the feasibility of sourcing renewable energy from North Africa as part of its future energy mix, Energy Minister Miriam Dalli announced.

Speaking at a conference organised by the Climate Action Authority, Dalli said the initiative aims to gather technical and financial data on potential projects, including solar and wind energy proposals.

The consultation, issued by Interconnect Malta, will invite economic operators to submit project ideas while authorities evaluate viability before taking long-term decisions.

Dalli stressed the importance of maintaining a clear energy strategy amid global uncertainty, reaffirming the government’s commitment to price stability and sustainable investment under Malta Vision 2050.

She said the country is exploring options to ensure a reliable and diversified energy supply, including ongoing work on a second electricity interconnector and offshore wind projects beyond Malta’s territorial waters.

Interconnect Malta CEO Ing. Ismail D’Amato said the initiative could enable the importation of 0.8 TWh of renewable energy annually—around 25% of Malta’s projected 2025 electricity demand.

He added that the plan includes exploring a stable “baseload” renewable supply under a long-term pricing framework aimed at shielding consumers from fossil fuel volatility.

Dalli also highlighted the government’s broader push for innovation, urging businesses to embrace the green transition to gain competitive advantages.

The conference drew strong participation from business leaders, investors, academics and European Commission representatives, underlining growing commitment to sustainability.

Climate Action Authority CEO Ing. Abigail Cutajar said the transition requires collective effort, warning that climate change impacts continue to intensify despite global challenges.

– photo DOI –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese public remains reluctant for the country to invest in defence, while still expecting protection from the European Union if needed, Foreign Affairs Minister Ian Borg said during a live debate.

Borg cited survey results indicating that while citizens oppose Malta contributing to EU defence spending, they still want the bloc to defend the country in times of need.

“It is our duty to deliver this wish as much as we can,” Borg said, acknowledging the challenge of balancing public sentiment with international expectations.

The minister added that successive Maltese governments have managed to maintain the country’s neutrality while contributing through humanitarian aid, describing this approach as a delicate but consistent balance.

Pressed on whether other EU countries would accept defending Malta despite its limited defence investment, Borg pointed to past administrations that successfully navigated similar concerns.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

NYON (SWITZERLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Benfica was fined €40,000 and partially closed its stadium after the Champions League match against Real Madrid, the first leg of the playoffs. This was the decision by UEFA, which punished the Portuguese club for racist chanting and discriminatory behavior by some of the fans (Vinicius was the most targeted player). The sanction of closing sectors 10 and 11 (with a capacity of 500) of the Da Luz stadium carries a one-year suspension and will be applied if further incidents of this kind occur. UEFA also imposed two further fines on Benfica: €8,000 for the use of lasers and €25,000 for throwing objects. Furthermore, Josè Mourinho’s assistant coach, Pedro Luis Ferreira Machado, was given a one-match suspension for unsporting conduct.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

RABAT (MOROCCO) (ITALPRESS) – The Czech Republic believes that true autonomy for the Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty “represents a realistic solution” to the regional dispute. This was reported by the Moroccan news agency MAP, specifying that this position was expressed during the meeting in Rabat between Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka and his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita. Prague also expressed its willingness to act consistently with this approach both bilaterally and multilaterally, engaging in the international process that favors a realistic and mutually acceptable political solution under the auspices of the United Nations. Finally, the Czech Republic reiterated its support for the UN-led political process and the efforts of the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy to relaunch negotiations between the parties.

According to diplomatic sources, 25 European Union member states now consider the Moroccan autonomy plan one of the most serious and credible options for ending a decades-old regional dispute. Three rounds of negotiations have been held so far, conducted with the involvement of the United States and the United Nations, with the participation of Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, and Polisario, with the aim of reaching a solution within the framework of Security Council Resolution 2797, based on the Moroccan autonomy initiative.

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Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Prime Minister Robert Abela said Malta is outperforming European counterparts on key economic indicators, as he announced that 82% of the “Malta Flimkien” (Malta Together) manifesto pledges have been fulfilled.

Addressing a press conference, Abela highlighted that Malta has not raised electricity, fuel or gas prices in the past four years, describing it as a unique position within Europe. He said the government invested close to €1 billion to maintain price stability.

Abela added that Malta’s per capita income now exceeds the eurozone average, placing the country among the European Union’s top ten economies. He also noted that the International Monetary Fund has backed Malta’s economic trajectory, supporting a move to biennial monitoring.

The government has channelled over €6 billion into social spending since 2022, including higher child allowances, tax cuts and reforms in family law and IVF legislation. Agreements were also reached with workers in healthcare, education, law enforcement and other sectors.

On pensions, Abela said the lowest pension today surpasses the highest levels recorded before 2013, with some pensioners now earning more than they previously did.

Looking ahead, he outlined the Malta 2050 vision, aimed at raising human development standards and aligning family incomes with the European average.

He also referenced the latest €9.3 billion national budget, the largest in Malta’s history, which allocates €100 million for artificial intelligence and digitalisation and €40 million to support businesses in improving wages, skills and operations.

– photo DOI –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews