VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Eurostat figures show that Malta recorded the strongest economic growth in the European Union during the final three months of 2025.

Between October and December, Malta’s economy expanded by 2.1% compared with the previous quarter, the highest growth rate among EU member states.

Lithuania followed with growth of 1.7%, while Croatia and Cyprus both registered increases of 1.4% over the same period.

In contrast, some countries experienced economic contraction. Ireland recorded the steepest decline at -3.8%, while Romania saw its economy shrink by -1.9%.

The data also indicate strong labour market performance in Malta. Employment increased by 1.3% compared with the previous three months, placing the country among the highest employment growth rates across the bloc.

Overall, economic activity across the eurozone and the wider European Economic Area grew modestly by 0.2% in the fourth quarter of 2025.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

WASHINGTON (UNITED STATES) (ITALPRESS) – They are at war, but despite everything Donald Trump has assured that the United States will welcome the Iranian national team for this summer’s World Cup. At least this is the reassurance from FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who explained in a post on Instagram:

“Tonight I met with the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, to discuss the state of preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, also considering the growing excitement with kickoff scheduled in just 93 days. We also talked about the current situation in Iran and the fact that the Iranian team has qualified to participate in the 2026 World Cup,” Infantino said. “During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is naturally welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States.”

The announcement from the FIFA president is an important one. He then added: “We all need an event like the World Cup to bring people together now more than ever. I sincerely thank the President of the United States for his support, as it once again shows that football unites the world.”

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – The fifth meeting of the Steering Committee for the Mattei Plan for Africa was held at Palazzo Chigi, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani.

The meeting was attended by government members of the Steering Committee, the chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, representatives from the Conference of Regions and Autonomous Provinces, the National Association of Italian Municipalities (ANCI), and a broad delegation from the “Sistema Italia.” Participants also included representatives of public institutions and state-owned companies, enterprises with public participation, the academic and research community, the third sector—including representatives of the diaspora in Italy—as well as development cooperation organisations and business associations.

During the meeting, participants reviewed the outcomes of the second Italy–Africa Summit, which took place in Addis Ababa on February 13. In line with the incremental approach that characterises the implementation of the Mattei Plan, officials also highlighted the expansion of the initiative to four additional countries—Gabon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Zambia—bringing the total number of participating nations involved in the projects to eighteen.

The meeting then focused on ongoing projects within two key thematic areas: water resource management—identified by the African Union as a priority for 2026—and education and vocational training, developed in synergy with the many Italian stakeholders involved. Finally, it was recalled that next June Italy will co-chair in Rome, together with Nigeria, the summit concluding the refinancing cycle of the Global Partnership for Education, the main international partnership dedicated to strengthening education systems.

– Photo: IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

BURNLEY (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Kyle Walker has officially announced his retirement from the England national team. The full-back, formerly of Manchester City and AC Milan, among others, made his decision official in a video posted to Instagram, showcasing all his best moments in the Three Lions jersey.

“Representing England has been one of the greatest honors of my career, and I will always be proud of it,” reads the post’s description, which concludes with a thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey. Walker finished his senior international career with 96 caps, one goal, and ten assists.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Authorities have drawn up contingency plans in case the Russian LNG tanker Arctic Metagaz drifts closer to Malta, after the vessel moved to within 38 nautical miles southeast of the islands.

The tanker was struck by a maritime drone last week, leaving a massive hole in its hull while it was about 150 nautical miles southeast of Malta. Just 23 hours before the attack, the vessel had been only 25 nautical miles away from the country, near Hurd’s Bank.

Officials are closely monitoring the situation but currently have no jurisdiction to intervene as the ship remains outside Maltese territorial waters.

Malta would act if the vessel drifts to within 12 nautical miles of the islands, the limit of national territorial waters.

Authorities are also attempting to contact the tanker’s managing company to determine what the ship’s owners intend to do with the damaged vessel.

If it continues to move closer, Malta could take steps to keep the tanker further offshore or arrange for it to be towed away from the islands.

The Arctic Metagaz is believed to be part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet”, a network of vessels used to transport Russian oil outside Western oversight following sanctions imposed after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

These ships often operate with opaque ownership and insurance structures beyond EU and G7 jurisdictions, allowing them to continue trading with countries that have not joined the sanctions regime.

In recent years, authorities have increased monitoring capacity and invested in maritime screening systems to identify high-risk vessels and conduct due diligence on ships bunkering offshore.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MADRID (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – “We are facing an opponent we know very well. We know the value of the club, the coach and the players. Two years ago they were European champions and it has always been difficult to face them, but we will do it with great concentration and by trying to give our very best.”

Álvaro Arbeloa knows well that his Real Madrid are about to face one of those difficult obstacles to overcome, but the Real Madrid coach shows confidence, perhaps to transmit belief to his players and lift an environment that has not enjoyed the ups and downs of this season.

“Real Madrid are always the favorites against any team. We must not feel inferior to anyone. We know it will be tough, but we will face them head-on. It’s a difficult match and we will need the support of our fans. We will go onto the pitch with great motivation. As you know, the Champions League is a special competition for this club. Playing a Champions League knockout match motivates me and, as a coach, facing the best in the world is very exciting. It will be a great experience.”

He did not say much about Mbappé: “He’s better, but we have to assess him day by day.” Instead, he spoke with appreciation about his counterpart Pep Guardiola.

“He always has a surprise prepared before matches,” said the former defender. “No matter how much you watch his teams, you know there is always something ready and you must be aware of the many variations that can appear. I would be very surprised if there wasn’t a new system or a new player. He always thinks very carefully about the match he is preparing to play.”

Speaking about himself, he added: “I am the same as always, the same as two months ago, simply with more experience. Coaching Real Madrid is like doing a master’s degree: you have the chance to learn a lot and very quickly, and I want to enjoy every day of this role.”

Against players like Haaland and Foden there are no particular strategies. “You would need one for every City player because they have so many outstanding individuals, but above all they perform very well as a collective. They could almost play with their eyes closed. Every detail will be crucial, but we are focused and confident. Is a draw a good result? I can only say that tomorrow we will take the field to win.”

– Photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

PARIS (FRANCE) (ITALPRESS) – “No, I don’t see any mental fatigue in the team. There were some normal mistakes on the pitch, but it’s normal for these things to happen over the course of a season.” With these words, speaking to Sky Sport on the eve of the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 at home against Chelsea, the PSG coach talked about his team, coming off a heavy home defeat against Monaco in Ligue 1.

“It’s up to us coaches to try to balance the different phases a team goes through and manage everything in a normal way. We had a good week of training and we approach the most important moment of the season with confidence, knowing that we are capable of winning this type of direct clash,” added the Spanish coach, who did not complain about injuries.

“With the current schedule, it’s a problem that all coaches and all teams have to face. You also have to manage these moments,” said Luis Enrique, who still remembers well the 3–0 defeat in the Club World Cup final against Chelsea, then coached by Maresca.

“In this case everything is different: they are different competitions and different moments. They have also changed coach, and that was a final played on neutral ground, while here each team will play a match in its own stadium. There are big differences compared to that game. We must focus on ourselves, give the players the right information about the opponents, but think about our own football and our own characteristics,” Luis Enrique concluded.

– Photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

BARCELONA (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – After more than a year and a half of silence, Xavi tells his truth. The former midfielder and coach of the Blaugrana opens up in an interview with “La Vanguardia” and points the finger at current Barcelona president Joan Laporta, accusing him of having prevented the return of Lionel Messi during his time in charge. “It was done,” reveals Xavi, who coached Barça from 2021 to 2024. “We spoke in January 2023, after he won the World Cup, and he told me he wanted to come back. We kept in touch until March, and I told him, ‘As soon as you give me the OK, I’ll tell the president.’ We also had the OK from La Liga (a circumstance, however, denied immediately by Tebas, editor’s note), but Laporta blew everything up. He told me verbatim that if Messi returned he’d wage war on him and that he couldn’t afford it. Everything was ready; it was supposed to be his ‘last dance,’ like Michael Jordan. Laporta disappointed me in the end. He fired me without telling me the truth, influenced by Alejandro Echevarría, who is even more important at the club than he is—a reference to Laporta’s former brother-in-law. He’s the one who really runs the club, we were friends, but he betrayed me. In those months I talked to him because I knew that he was the one who decided everything.”

Xavi is very clear about his future: “I will never return to Barça. I’ve already had my day, both as a player and as a coach. Messi didn’t return because Laporta didn’t want him. It’s not true that his father asked for more money or that La Liga wouldn’t allow it,” insists the former midfielder, who also acknowledges his own faults (“The first year I told the president that without certain signings I wouldn’t continue. The following year, my level of demand dropped, and I blame myself for that. Jordi Cruyff left because of the lack of respect he received at the club. Then they let go of Mateu Alemany: I should have left too“) and speaks of Flick, his successor. “I like his team: dominant and attacking. The fans enjoy it, and I’m happy because I think we’ve left a very good foundation. The backbone is made up of Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Balde, Cubarsí, Fermín, players we had counted on.” Regarding his relationship with the German coach, “two weeks before I was fired, I asked him if the rumors about him were true, and he said no. The club had asked him not to say anything, so he later came to my house to apologize.” The now former Barça coach, finally, felt like the victim of “a media campaign against me. They told Sergi Roberto, Araújo, Pedri, and Raphinha that I wanted to sell them. But that wasn’t true. There was no transfer list signed by me.”

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

SAO PAULO (BRAZIL) (ITALPRESS) – Hernan Crespo is no longer the coach of São Paulo. Elimination in the semifinals of the Sao Paulo championship against Palmeiras has cost the 50-year-old Argentine coach the sack.

After a first stint in 2021, he returned last July, managing to save the team and led them to eighth place, but failing to qualify for the Libertadores. In 2026, São Paulo had obtained 10 points from the first four matchdays of the Brasileirao. In all, Crespo has served 46 times with the Tricolor and has a record of 21 wins, 7 draws, and 18 losses.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

BERLIN (GERMANY) (ITALPRESS) – A rather unusual protest took place in Bundesliga 2, Germany’s second division. During the 25th matchday of the championship, in first-half stoppage time between Preussen Munster and Hertha Berlin, with the score tied at 0-0, referee Felix Bickel was called by VAR to conduct an on-field review on a possible penalty in favor of the visitors. As the match referee was heading towards the monitor, a masked fan entered the pitch, unplugging the screen and preventing the OFR from being completed.

The gesture, part of an organized protest, did not, however, affect the match, with the referee leaving the final decision to VAR Katrin Rafalski, and the penalty was awarded and subsequently converted. In an official statement, Preussen Munster expressed “regret for what happened and will do everything possible to identify and bring to justice those responsible.” Furthermore, “appropriate measures have been taken to ensure that nothing similar happens in the future.”

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews