ROME (ITALPRESS) – Ed Sheeran will be the next artist that Barcelona will feature on their shirts for the next ‘Clasico’ against Real Madrid, taking place on October 26 at the Santiago Bernabeu, “Marca” reports.

The popular British singer-songwriter and guitarist will wear the blue and garnet jersey, taking place of other Spanish and international artists, such as rappers Travis Scott and Drake, or the bands The Rolling Stones and Coldplay, who have previously “signed” the Barça jersey. This is all thanks to the existing agreement between the Spanish club and Spotify (Barcelona’s sponsor). Ed Sheeran is a football fan and last year acquired a stake in Ipswich Town.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – Juan Mata remains in Australia and moves from Western Sydney to Melbourne Victory, where he arrives as a free agent. The 37-year-old Spaniard made 22 appearances and scored one goal for the Sydney team last season. He now returns to the A-League Men, Australia’s top division.

“I’m thrilled to come to Melbourne, to be part of one of the most respected clubs in the league, and to be able to play in front of incredible fans,” said Mata, a former World Cup and European Champion with the Spain national team.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Lumsa University has launched the Lumsa University Africa Centre (LUAC), an initiative designed to reinforce academic, cultural, socio-economic, and financial relations between Europe and Africa, while enhancing the value of Lumsa’s academic and cultural assets. The centre was officially presented during the roundtable “Education, Skills and Growth in Africa and Europe.”

“The project originated from the initiative of the rector and the board of directors, with the aim of providing Lumsa students with timely and accurate perspectives on Africa, a continent too often represented through distorted narratives,” explained Ambassador Pietro Sebastiani, Director of the Lumsa University Africa Centre. “Our work will be multifaceted. The centre will be highly inclusive, not limited to scholars, but open to experiential learning for young people. These opportunities will go beyond academic study, fostering deeper engagement with local contexts in entrepreneurship, culture, journalism, and politics.”

As part of its activities, LUAC has launched a call for 10 scholarships to participate in the Luac Winter School, funded by Lumsa. The programme will be held in Nairobi, Kenya, at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) from 14 February to 1 March 2026.

“We are particularly pleased to open our university to this new strategic focus on Africa, consistent with our tradition of placing people at the centre of our mission,” stated Lumsa Rector Francesco Bonini. “Our approach is based on reciprocity: exchange is never one-directional but mutually enriching. What we seek to highlight is a genuine commitment to Africa, a continent that represents not only the future but also an essential part of our present.”

The establishment of LUAC is aligned with major global and European strategies, including the Global Compact on Education, the Italian Mattei Plan for Africa, and the European Union’s Global Gateway. The Center also integrates with the policies of leading international organizations such as UNESCO, with which it will develop project synergies.

“Africa’s future will be decisively shaped by its rapidly expanding youth population, projected to double by 2050,” noted Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education. “Currently, the continent counts approximately 450 million young people. With access to quality education and training, and through the creation of a broader ecosystem that extends beyond primary and secondary schooling, this demographic can become a decisive asset—both for Africa’s own development and for building authentic partnerships with the Global North, particularly with Europe, whose demographic trajectory is in sharp contrast to that of Africa.”

– photo xc3/Italpress –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

PARIS (FRANCE) (ITALPRESS) – Paris Saint-Germain is breathing a sigh of relief for Lucas Beraldo: the Brazilian defender, who was carried off on a stretcher during the 2-0 victory over Lens, suffered a sprained ankle without ligament involvement, thus avoiding a lengthy absence, although his participation on Wednesday against Atalanta, the opening match of the Champions League, remains highly doubtful.

More concrete, according to Le Parisien, is his chances of seeing him back in Sunday evening’s “Classique” against Marseille, in a complicated situation for Luis Enrique, who is already dealing with a series of injuries, from the early exits of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Kang-in Lee, which however do not appear to be serious, to the longer absences of Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué, who both suffered injuries during the international break. This is a genuine emergency that is reducing the Spanish coach’s rotation just as the schedule enters the most delicate phase of the season.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA (ITALPRESS/MNA) – This morning, a magnitude 5.2 earthquake was recorded to the southeast of Malta, causing tremors felt across multiple localities.

The seismic event struck at 11:55 AM, with its epicentre located approximately 205 kilometres east of the Maltese islands, and at a depth of around 10 kilometres beneath the sea.

Although Malta does not sit directly on a major fault line, its proximity to the meeting point of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates means such undersea tremors are not unheard of.

Residents reported a brief shaking sensation, but no damage has been reported at this time.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Ħamrun Spartans president Joseph Portelli has revealed plans to acquire an Italian Serie C club, with the aim of securing promotion to Serie A and channeling profits back into the Maltese champions.

The announcement came during a celebratory event marking Ħamrun’s historic qualification to the League Phase of the UEFA Conference League, after defeating Latvian side FC RFS 3-2 on aggregate. A record 1,577 fans attended the dinner, where Portelli unveiled his ambitious project.

“This is an ambitious goal, but I firmly believe I can achieve it,” Portelli said. “All profits from the Italian club will be reinvested in Ħamrun Spartans, as my dream is to see us compete in the League Phase of a UEFA competition every summer.”

Portelli outlined his main challenge: increasing the Italian club’s value and attracting top talent. He also noted the potential advantage of moving players between the two clubs to strengthen Ħamrun ahead of European campaigns.

Should football regulations force him to step down as Spartans president, Portelli said his son Triston is ready to take over, though he stressed he has no plans of leaving.

Portelli’s long-term target is to guide Ħamrun into the knockout stages of the Conference League within five years, cementing their place among Europe’s rising clubs.

The takeover bid also fulfills a personal ambition for Portelli, who first expressed interest in investing in Italian football four years ago. Now, with Ħamrun’s European breakthrough, he sees the timing as perfect to push both clubs toward greater heights.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A Maltese police spokesperson told Newsbook Malta that the 19-year-old Italian woman, who accused five young men of gang rape, declined police assistance while still in Malta. According to the spokesperson, the alleged victim chose to return to Italy before filing a complaint with the Carabinieri in Treviso. Maltese police are now cooperating with Italian prosecutors, who are leading the investigation.

The revelation adds a new element to a case that has dominated media headlines since the young woman claimed she was assaulted on 22 July during a holiday on the island. According to reports, the five suspects, all Italians, met the woman in nightclubs before inviting her to their accommodation. She later alleged she was gang raped and that part of the incident was filmed on a mobile phone.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

RIYADH (SAUDI ARABIA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Italpress has announced a strategic partnership with Arab Defense News, the leading defense news platform in Saudi Arabia and across the Arab world, to strengthen its thematic news service “La Voce della Difesa”(The Voice of Defense).

The agreement was signed in Riyadh by Italpress founder and director Gaspare Borsellino and Arab Defense News director Nabil Al Ajal. Under the partnership, the two organizations will exchange editorial content and collaborate on news coverage, providing Italpress with a key strategic partner in a geopolitically crucial region. The collaboration will also enhance coverage of Italian companies active in the Middle East and Gulf markets.

“As the premier defense media platform in the Middle East and North Africa, we are delighted to launch this constructive collaboration with Italpress,” said Nabil Al Ajal. “This partnership marks a strategic step forward in strengthening professional media exchange and delivering trusted content that meets the expectations of audiences on both sides. We also believe it will pave the way for new investments and developments in the defense media sector in the near future.”

Gaspare Borsellino, director of Italpress, echoed this enthusiasm: “We are extremely pleased with this important agreement with the leading defense portal in Saudi Arabia, which also covers the entire Gulf region. This partnership will allow us to further strengthen La Voce della Difesa and, most importantly, provide Italian companies operating in these markets with new opportunities to communicate through local media—supported by our Arabic-language news service, which is already distributed to numerous websites and newspapers across the region.”

– Photo Italpress –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – Brazilian sports justice has suspended the 12-match ban imposed in early September on Flamengo star striker Bruno Henrique, accused of favoring friends and family in online betting.

The Superior Court of Sports Justice “accepted the request to suspend” the sanction pending the striker’s appeal, the Rio de Janeiro club announced in a statement. According to the club, Henrique will therefore be eligible to play in upcoming matches for Flamengo, the league leaders.

However, the case is far from over, as the 34-year-old Brazilian striker faces significant risks, not only sportingly but also legally. Henrique is accused of deliberately receiving a yellow card against Santos (1-2) in November 2023, benefiting bettors in his entourage. If found guilty, the player, who maintains his innocence, faces two to six years in prison.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Prime Minister Robert Abela has announced that the government will present Budget 2026 in parliament on 27 October.

Speaking on Saturday evening, Abela stressed that the budget comes at a time of international economic instability. He pointed to governments in the UK, Germany, and France that are cutting spending and implementing austerity.

By contrast, he said Malta would continue to focus on investment, ensuring that both Malta and Gozo benefit from growth.

Earlier this week, Finance Minister Clyde Caruana outlined government’s fiscal targets. He said the aim is to reduce the national deficit below 3%, putting the country ahead of its Excessive Deficit Procedure correction deadline.

Caruana attributed this projected reduction to the phasing out of restructuring costs for the national airline and a fall in subsidy expenditure.

He added that Malta’s strong economic performance — with a 5.9% real GDP growth rate — will enable the government to reinforce support for families and businesses.

Abela concluded that Budget 2026 would balance fiscal discipline with continued investment, avoiding austerity policies seen elsewhere in Europe.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews