VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Prime Minister Robert Abela ushered in the New Year from Manoel Island, using the setting to signal the government’s intention to reclaim major sites for public use after a year marked by controversy over development projects.

In a national address, Abela described Manoel Island as “a site with a beautiful history and an even more beautiful future,” naming it as one of three locations the government wants to return to the public as national parks. White Rocks and Fort Campbell were also included in the pledge.

Manoel Island has long been contentious following its transfer to the MIDI consortium under a concession agreement. Abela acknowledged that existing contractual obligations would make the process complex but said the government was “resolute and ready” to act.

He also suggested Fort Tigné could be added to the list, calling it a potential “victory for our people” and stressing the need to protect cultural heritage of national and international value from further development.

The prime minister said the vision was to create a Malta where families could spend time together in shared public spaces, forming memories central to the country future generations would inherit.

Reflecting on the past year, Abela said Malta had withstood the effects of wars and global economic instability while maintaining progress. He pointed to what he described as a strong economy delivering higher incomes, quality jobs and investment.

He highlighted social measures including free childcare, free public transport, energy subsidies and tax removals for middle-class parents, alongside reforms strengthening equality and LGBTQ+ rights.

Looking ahead, Abela warned of profound changes driven by digitalisation and announced the launch of Malta Vision 2050, the country’s first long-term national plan, to be shaped through broad consultation.

– photo OPM –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LONDON (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Enzo Maresca is no longer Chelsea manager. A brief statement published on the club’s website states that “Chelsea and Manager Enzo Maresca have decided to part ways.” Recalling their victories in the Conference and Club World Cup, milestones that “will remain an important part of Chelsea’s recent history” and for which the club expressed its gratitude for “their contribution to their club,” on the other hand, “with key objectives still to achieve in four competitions, including qualification for the Champions League, Enzo and the club believe a change offers the team the best chance of getting the season back on track. We wish Enzo all the best for the future.”

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LONDON (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – “Is it us and Arsenal that are in the running for the title? A few weeks ago, it was said that only Arsenal were in the running, three days ago there were three of us, now there’s talk of a two-horse race. Are you sure?” Pep Guardiola doesn’t feel like ruling out other potential contenders for the Premier League title, although his Manchester City team appears to be the Gunners’ only real rival, provided they beat Sunderland and get back to within two points of the points. Aston Villa were beaten in their head-to-head clash on Tuesday, slipping to within six points of Arteta’s team, and Liverpool, although improving, are fourth, 13 points behind.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

SAO PAULO (BRAZIL) (ITALPRESS) – Roberto Carlos underwent surgery on the last day of 2025. The 52-year-old former Inter Milan and Real Madrid full-back, on vacation in Brazil, went to the hospital in Sao Paulo for a check-up on his leg, where he had a blood clot. Tests, however, revealed a heart problem that required surgery to insert a stent. The operation, which was scheduled to last 40 minutes, was extended to three hours due to a complication, but Roberto Carlos is now out of danger. “I’m fine,” the former footballer reassured everyone, although he will remain hospitalized for observation.

Roberto Carlos subsequently issued a statement to clarify some speculation: “I underwent a preventative medical procedure, previously planned with my medical team. The procedure was successful and I am well. I did not have a heart attack. I am confident, I am recovering well and I look forward to returning to full fitness and to soon resume my professional and personal commitments.”

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MANCHESTER (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – No requests, but if opportunities arise, they will be evaluated. Ruben Amorim is not giving any details about Manchester United’s transfer prospects in the winter transfer window.

“We always talk to the club, not just in January,” he told Sky Sports UK. “The window is open, and we need to understand what we can do. Not just in terms of who we can sign, but also what will happen to our squad. I’m simply focusing on recovering all my players, so I won’t be knocking on Wilcox and Berrada’s door asking for more players. They know what we need, but we want to do things with the certainty of not repeating the same mistakes of the past. If we have to struggle at times, we will struggle, to try to be two steps ahead, perhaps in the summer. The January transfer window is really very difficult, so we’ll see.”

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LIVERPOOL (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Aaron Briggs leaves Liverpool. Arne Slot’s assistant, who was responsible for set pieces and arrived at Anfield in July 2024, has resigned: the goal conceded from a corner in the match they ultimately won against Wolves was the twelfth from a set piece this season, and no team in Europe, considering the Big 5 leagues, has conceded as many goals from these situations.

Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Manchester United, Brentford, Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, Leeds, Tottenham, and Wolves are the teams that have exploited this weakness, with only West Ham – limited to corners (10 goals against 7) ​​- having done worse than the Reds in the Premier League.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta’s record on maritime safety has hit a new low, with authorities responding to fewer than 1% of migrant distress calls in the first half of 2025, according to new data released by the Malta Migration Archive.

Figures show 242 distress cases involving more than 10,000 people between January and June, with Maltese authorities responding to just two incidents. The Archive accused the government of a “wanton abdication” of its search and rescue responsibilities.

The data also points to a sharp rise in illegal pushbacks coordinated with Libyan forces. Malta allowed the Libyan Coast Guard into its search and rescue zone at least 16 times during the period, more than double the number recorded in early 2024.

Around 800 people were forcibly returned to Libya, where migrants face torture, arbitrary detention, sexual violence and forced labour, the Archive said.

One case highlighted involved 43 people in distress just 32 nautical miles south of Malta in February. After days without response from Maltese authorities, the group was intercepted within Maltese waters and returned to detention in Libya.

The Archive said the trend marks a worsening of practices documented between 2020 and 2024, when Malta rescued only a small fraction of those in distress while Libyan interceptions surged.

International Organisation for Migration data shows more than 1,190 people died or went missing in the Central Mediterranean by the end of 2025, underscoring the human cost of non-assistance.

Malta’s maritime coordination agreement with Libya, renewed in 2024, remains secret, despite government claims that it saves lives.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – Between late 2025 and early 2026, a new oceanographic campaign will set sail aboard the research vessel R/V Gaia Blu of Italy’s National Research Council (CNR), aiming to identify the remains of an ancient landmass that once formed a bridge between southeastern Sicily and the islands of Malta and Gozo.

The project, known as BRIDGES, is the result of a collaboration among researchers from the CNR’s Institute of Marine Sciences (Cnr-Ismar), the National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics (OGS), and the University of Malta. The campaign’s two principal investigators are Maria Filomena Loreto (Cnr-Ismar) and Emanuele Lodolo (OGS).

The expedition will take place aboard the Gaia Blu and will run until January 7, 2026.
It has long been known that during the last Ice Age, around 22,000 years ago, sea levels were approximately 120 meters lower than today. As a result, vast areas between Sicily and Malta were above sea level, forming a natural corridor that animals—and possibly early humans—could have used to move between the two regions, facilitating migratory flows, according to a project statement. What is still lacking, however, is a detailed reconstruction of the landscape as it existed at that time.

According to the official statement, “this campaign represents a major opportunity for Italy and Malta to reconstruct that ancient environment with unprecedented resolution.” The BRIDGES expedition will explore the area using state-of-the-art mapping equipment aboard the R/V Gaia Blu.

The team of researchers on board will reconstruct both the present-day and ancient morphology of the seafloor, identify ancient valleys and former coastlines, and collect sediment samples. These data will help determine when and for how long these landscapes were exposed, as well as whether there are any traces indicating the passage of living beings.

-Photo: CNR press office-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MILAN (ITALPRESS) – Intesa Sanpaolo, through its IMI Corporate & Investment Banking Division led by Mauro Micillo, consolidates its role as a key financial partner in the Middle East. Since 2023, the Division has participated – alongside other banks – in transactions totalling over €60 billion, specifically: Financing deals as Mandated Lead Arranger for over €30 billion; Bond issuance as Bookrunner for a total of €30 billion. These activities are further complemented by advisory and interest rate hedging operations.

The recent strategic partnership with the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism for the development of the Green Innovation District, together with its role as a catalyst in the region’s energy and infrastructure projects, further reinforces Intesa Sanpaolo’s position as a bridge between Italy, Europe, and the Gulf.

Mauro Micillo, Head of Intesa Sanpaolo’s IMI Corporate & Investment Banking Division, stated: “The United Arab Emirates, and the Middle East more broadly, are a strategic pillar in our international growth strategy. The IMI CIB Division is committed to supporting the region’s energy and industrial transformation by mobilising capital and expertise to accelerate the development of innovative and sustainable projects. Our international network, combined with the ability to structure complex transactions, allows us to be a long-term partner for Gulf institutions, sovereign funds and major corporates.”

Intesa Sanpaolo has signed multiple agreements in the region, in line with the UAE’s
“Vision 2031” plan. The Bank is a key partner to Emirati institutions in shaping sustainability and innovation projects: In October 2025, Intesa Sanpaolo was announced as a strategic partner to the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism for the development of the Green Innovation District at Expo City Dubai. The project aims to become a major driver of sustainable industrial growth, attracting global businesses to the region and contributing significantly to ambitious climate and economic diversification goals.

Also this year, the IMI CIB Division signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Masdar, a leading player in the UAE’s global renewable energy strategy, to strengthen cooperation in M&A activity. Since 2020, Intesa Sanpaolo has been selected by the UAE as a partner in
advancing the circular economy, through the signing of a Strategic Framework Agreement with the UAE Ministry of Economy. The agreement focuses on defining circular policies, promoting sustainable business models, and developing a collaborative ecosystem involving institutions, universities, research centres, businesses and start-ups.

Participation in financing and bond deals exceeding €60 billion Over the past three years, the IMI CIB Division has played a leading role in strategic transactions, together with other banks and alongside sovereign funds, institutions, and major corporates in the energy and infrastructure sectors. It has acted as Mandated Lead Arranger in financing deals totalling over €30 billion, and as Bookrunner in bond issuances for a total of €30 billion. These were complemented by advisory and interest rate hedging operations. The most recent transactions include:

Green Sukuk for Saudi Electricity Company worth €2.4 billion in two tranches
(5 and 10 years) – 2025
Dual-tranche bond placement for Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company
(ADQ) – €870 million per tranche, 5- and 10-year maturities – 2025
Hybrid subordinated issuance by Aldar Properties – approx. €870 million – 2025
Green bond by Masdar, in two €430 million tranches with 5- and 10-year
maturities – 2025

Euro benchmark bond issued by the Government of Sharjah (one of the seven Emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates) – €500 million, 7-year maturity – 2025
€150 million loan to Estithmar Holding under the SACE Push Strategy – the first transaction of this kind in Qatar – 2025
Support to Masdar, together with a pool of banks, in two acquisitions totalling €817 million and €184 million, for a 49.99% stake from Endesa, related to 52 solar plants in Spain – 2024–2025
Sole financial advisor to Masdar for the acquisition of a 49% stake in a 476 MW offshore wind project from Iberdrola – deal valued at €1.6 billion – 2023

An international network supporting global growth Intesa Sanpaolo has a longstanding presence in the United Arab Emirates, operating there since 1977. It is the only Italian bank with a direct presence, via two branches in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. This dual onshore/offshore structure enables the IMI CIB Division to operate seamlessly both locally and globally, further strengthening its role as a bridge between Italy, Europe and the Gulf.

The Group has built long-standing relationships with the UAE’s major sovereign funds, government institutions, and large corporates in the energy and infrastructure sectors.

Within IMI CIB Division’s International Network, the UK & MEA Region, which includes offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Istanbul, and London, manages relationships with over 600 corporate and institutional clients across the UK and the Middle East. It employs 310 professionals and maintains ties with around 400 local subsidiaries of major Italian and global groups.

Thanks to its established presence, advanced technical expertise, and integrated international network, Intesa Sanpaolo, led by CEO Carlo Messina, confirms its position as a strategic partner to institutions, sovereign funds, and companies across the Middle East, contributing to the development of infrastructure, energy, and industrial projects in support of the region’s sustainable growth.

-Photo press office Intesa Sanpaolo-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

BARCELONA (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – With Christensen out for a long time and Araujo still a question mark, Barcelona is looking to the January transfer window for a defender. According to “Mundo Deportivo,” the first name on the list is Nathan Akè, who has been getting less playing time under Guardiola this season and would like more consistent playing time ahead of the World Cup.

Landing the 30-year-old Dutchman, however, isn’t easy: he has a high salary under contract until 2027, and City would only part with him permanently, with a asking price of between €15 and €20 million.

Stefan De Vrij, whose contract with Inter expires, is more affordable: the former Lazio player has now become Chivu’s last-choice defensive midfielder, and the Nerazzurri are ready to facilitate his exit, provided they first find a replacement, with Mario Gila and the emerging Tarik Muhamerovic being the main candidates.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews