NEWCASTLE (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – With just two Premier League starts this season and a contract expiring in June, although Newcastle have the option to extend his contract until 2027, Joe Willock could leave the Magpies as early as this transfer window. According to “Sky Sports UK,” the 26-year-old midfielder is also reportedly interested in a Serie A club, as well as three teams in the English top flight.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Prime Minister Robert Abela called on the international community to support a peaceful, negotiated and democratic solution to the unfolding crisis in Venezuela, addressing the diplomatic corps at New Year exchanges at Auberge de Castille.

Abela said Malta has been closely monitoring events in Venezuela and stressed the importance of upholding a rules‑based world order to ensure global stability, particularly for small open economies.

The prime minister reaffirmed Malta’s commitment to peace and dialogue throughout 2025, highlighting unity as essential to achieving lasting peace in Ukraine and noting Malta’s support for a €90 billion EU loan for Ukraine that respects its neutrality.

Turning to the Middle East, he described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as critical and voiced concern over conditions in the West Bank, underlining Malta’s official recognition of the State of Palestine in September 2025 as a step toward lasting peace.

Within the EU, Abela said Malta has advocated for dialogue and just peace, and he expressed hope for a more effective Union that can enhance competitiveness.

He highlighted Malta’s strengthened role in multilateral diplomacy, pointing to achievements during its Council of Europe Presidency, including work on the Special Tribunal for Ukraine and protocols on children’s rights and youth empowerment.

Abela warned that challenges such as climate change, digitalisation and the rise of artificial intelligence require coordinated responses, and announced the imminent publication of Malta Vision 2050, a nationwide strategy focused on innovation and quality of life.

Concluding his address, the prime minister said Malta plans to host key diplomatic events in several capitals to further international engagement.

-Photo DOI-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – President Myriam Spiteri Debono has called on diplomats to work actively for peace and uphold international law amid escalating global conflicts.

“A world in which might is right would be detrimental to all countries, especially small nations,” she said.

The president was addressing members of the diplomatic corps during New Year exchanges held on Thursday at the President’s Palace in Valletta.

She described the global situation as tense, marked by wars, geopolitical rivalries, human rights abuses and growing disregard for international law.

On the Middle East, Spiteri Debono said peace could not be placed “on the back burner”, reiterating Malta’s support for a two-state solution.

Turning to Ukraine, she condemned Russia’s “illegal and unprovoked aggression”, now in its fifth year, and called for a peace that respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

She also cited Venezuela as an example of the fragility of international law,
urging calm and restraint to allow a peaceful, democratic transition.

The President warned that misinformation, disinformation and unregulated
artificial intelligence were fuelling conflict and threatening democracy.

Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Apostolic Nuncio to Malta, Mgr Savio Hon Tai-Fai, praised Malta’s hospitality and its role in dialogue. “Maltese neutrality does not represent the silence of indifference, but the courage to speak up for peace,” he said.

-Photo DOI-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

BRUSSELS (BELGIUM) (ITALPRESS) – Brussels will host the 50th Ordinary UEFA Congress on February 12, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A press conference with Aleksander Ceferin will follow, while the draw for the league phase of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League will be held at 6:00 p.m. The UEFA Executive Committee will also be held in Brussels, but the day before, on February 11.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A Malta-flagged oil tanker, the Matilda, was damaged in a drone strike off the Black Sea coast earlier this week, according to Russian authorities. The Greek-owned vessel, chartered by a Kazakh oil company, was attacked near Anapa in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region on January 13.

Russian officials claim the Matilda was hit by two Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Despite the attack, the tanker’s crew were unharmed, and the ship safely reached Romanian waters on Thursday morning. A fire reportedly broke out on board but was quickly extinguished, and the damage has been described as “fully repairable” by the ship’s owners.

The Maltese authorities have yet to issue any statements regarding the attack. Malta, whose maritime sector is the largest in the European Union by tonnage, has seen its shipping industry expand significantly in recent years, contributing an estimated 14 per cent of national GDP in 2022. The Matildaincident underscores the risks faced by Malta-flagged vessels amid the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe. Shipping analysts warn that while no Maltese lives were lost, the attack highlights growing vulnerabilities for vessels operating under the island nation’s flag in conflict zones.

Greece condemned the strikes and said its foreign minister would raise the issue at the European level. Kazakhstan also issued a statement denouncing the attack. Both the Matilda and another vessel, the Delta Harmony, were en route to the Yuzhnaya Ozereyevka terminal, which handles Kazakh oil for global markets as well as some Russian crude.

The strikes come amid Ukraine’s ongoing campaign to target Russian infrastructure. The Yuzhnaya Ozereyevka terminal was previously hit in November, causing a sharp drop in Kazakh oil exports the following month. Ukraine has not commented on the incident.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – People in Israel often perceive Malta as “anti-Israeli”, but the reality on the ground tells a different story, Israel’s ambassador to Malta told parliament.

Addressing the Foreign and European Affairs Committee, Ambassador Ruth Cohen-Dar said dialogue between the two countries remained open despite political differences over the war in Gaza.

She said public statements from Malta sometimes appeared hostile, but her interactions with Maltese officials and the local Jewish community suggested otherwise. “There are things we agree on and other things we don’t, but we keep an ongoing dialogue,” she told MPs.

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(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Prime Minister Robert Abela has confirmed Malta will support a major European Union financial aid package for Ukraine, stressing that any contribution will not be linked to the funding or supply of lethal weapons, in line with the country’s constitutional neutrality.

Addressing parliament after the Christmas recess, Abela said talks on Ukraine dominated the December European Council and were among the most complex negotiations he has faced in six years in office.

– photo IPA Agency  –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MANCHESTER (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Michael Carrick will have Bruno Fernandes at his disposal at least until June. According to BBC Sport, the 31-year-old Portuguese has decided to postpone any decision on his future until the end of the season, thus ruling out a departure in the January transfer window. Fernandes’ contract expires in 2027, and last summer had turned down Al Hilal, and if he leaves United, he would prefer to stay in Europe.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

TUNIS (TUNISIA) (ITALPRESS) – After their elimination in the round of 16 of the AFCON, which led to the dismissal of Sami Trabelsi, Tunisia quickly found a new coach. The North African team will be led by another French coach, Sabri Lamouchi, preferred over Franck Haise, who in recent days was considered to be in pole position. The 54-year-old Tunisian-born coach has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract, until July 31, 2028, as confirmed by the Tunisian Football Federation (FTF).

The former coach of Stade Rennais (2017-2018) will have a strong showing at the World Cup, a competition for which the Carthage Eagles qualified brilliantly (9 wins, 1 draw, 0 goals conceded). This isn’t the first time Lamouchi, a former midfielder for Parma, Inter, and Genoa, has led a national team: he began his coaching career with the Ivory Coast (2012-2014). It was an unfortunate experience for him, with a defeat against Nigeria (1-2) in the quarterfinals of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, followed by another elimination in the first round of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LONDON (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Tottenham have officially announced the signing of Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid. The deal is reportedly worth €40 million, according to British media, with the 25-year-old English midfielder putting pen to paper on a long-term contract, the exact length of which has not been disclosed.

A Chelsea academy product, Gallagher returned to the club after loan spells at Charlton, Swansea, West Bromwich and Crystal Palace. He joined the Colchoneros in 2024, making 77 appearances and scoring seven goals.

– Photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews