VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A strong majority of Maltese support European Union membership for nine out of ten candidate countries, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey.

Malta shows absolute majority backing for Albania (57%), North Macedonia (57%), Moldova (54%), Montenegro (54%), Serbia (53%), Ukraine (53%), Bosnia and Herzegovina (51%) and Georgia (51%). Kosovo receives relative majority support at 47%, while Turkey’s bid is opposed by 47% of respondents. Although Turkey remains an official candidate, its EU accession process has been effectively frozen since 2018 due to concerns over democratic backsliding.

Across the EU, Ukraine emerges as the most supported candidate. Maltese support for Ukraine, at 53%, is lower than in 14 other member states, including Sweden (91%) and Denmark (81%), but higher than in 12 others, with Hungary (30%) and Bulgaria (31%) showing the least support. Malta stands out as the most optimistic EU country regarding enlargement, with 74% expressing a positive view. This surpasses Poland (72%) and Ireland (67%). Czechia (41%), France (43%), and Greece (44%) register the lowest optimism. Nearly half of Maltese respondents (47%) see the greatest benefit of EU enlargement as creating a larger market for businesses. Migration concerns top the list of worries (49%), followed by corruption, organised crime, and terrorism (42%), and erosion of European values (36%). Only 20% worry about the financial cost, compared with 37% across the EU.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

BARCELONA (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – “I don’t dream of winning the Ballon d’Or, I dream of winning lots of them.” Lamine Yamal, interviewed by José Ramón de la Morena during “Resonancia de Corazon,” makes no secret of his ambitions.

“I tell my friends too, I have the qualities to do it. If it doesn’t happen, it would be because I haven’t done things right,” adds the Barcelona striker. “If the Ballon d’Or arrives, I’ll be very happy, but first I have to win with my team.”

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ZURICH (SWITZERLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Just 24 hours before the opening of the registration period for the “Visa Presale Draw” for the 2026 World Cup, FIFA has already received an impressive number of requests: over 1.5 million fans from 210 countries have completed the registration.

The largest number of requests come from the United States, Mexico, and Canada, followed by Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, England, Spain, Portugal, and Germany. The “Visa Presale” Draw represents the first phase of ticket sales and registration is open until 11 a.m. on September 19. After a random selection process, the lucky ones will receive an email notification starting September 29th, with the date and time slot assigned for ticket purchases (subject to availability), starting October 1st. Fans can secure group stage tickets starting at $60, but tickets will also be available for individual matches (all 104 scheduled), for a specific venue, and for a specific team. Subsequent sales will begin in October.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

TIRANA (ALBANIA) (ITALPRESS) – The Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid, home of Atlético Madrid, will host the 2027 men’s Champions League final. The UEFA Executive Committee decided this at its meeting in Tirana.

The 2027 Women’s Champions League final will be played at the National Stadium in Warsaw, while the previous year’s European Super Cup will be held in Salzburg. As for futsal, Pesaro will host the 2026 Champions League final, while the 2027 Under-19 European Championship will be played in Astana, and the Women’s European Championship in Osijek, Croatia.

Finally, an amendment to the regulations for the 2025-26 European competitions was approved to allow the temporary substitution of a maximum of one outfield player in the event of injury or long-term illness during the group stage, up to and including matchday six. The next Executive meeting is scheduled for December 3 in Nyon.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Activists from the Malta Gay Rights Movement (MGRM) interrupted a speech by junior equality minister Rebecca Buttigieg on Thursday to protest the detention of one of their members. Holding placards reading “Celebrating Pride while queer people are in detention” and “No Pride without liberation for all of us”, protesters demanded the release of Angoua Abdu, who was apprehended last week and is currently held at the Safi detention centre.

MGRM said Abdu, an asylum seeker and active campaigner with the movement, was detained after his asylum application was rejected. He was appealing the decision on the grounds of his sexual orientation. In a statement, the group described Abdu’s detention, coinciding with Pride events and the opening of the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics (SOGIGESC) conference, as “shameful.”

The activists argued that Abdu’s confinement puts him at risk of harassment, homophobia, and violence, stressing that Pride cannot be fully celebrated while members of the community remain vulnerable. “Pride is about resilience, equality, and visibility,” MGRM said. “But we cannot celebrate while one of us is left behind.” It is understood that Buttigieg later spoke with the activists following the protest. The group reiterated its demand for Abdu’s safety and release, declaring: “No one is free until all of us are free.”

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MADRID (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – Ten years ago, he was chosen by Manchester United to replace Cristiano Ronaldo, but throughout his career, he has never lived up to expectations and may now even leave Europe. After a loan spell at Sevilla and just one season at AEK Athens, which ended with just 9 goals, Anthony Martial is looking for a new team.

The 29-year-old French striker, “AS” reports, is not in the plans of the Greek club, who are ready to sell him. Mexican side Pumas have reportedly come forward, and they have until tomorrow to sign him: however, there is the issue of his salary, with Martial currently unwilling to accept a salary reduction.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – Trouble looms for Chelsea. The Football Association has filed 74 charges against the London club for alleged violations of regulations relating to FA agents and payments to “third parties” in player transactions. The FA clarified that the allegations in question concern the period between 2009 and 2022, when Chelsea was owned by Roman Abramovich. In particular, the London club’s dealings between the 2010/11 and 2015/16 seasons have come under scrutiny.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – PSG, after the international break for World Cup qualifying matches, is back to work. Several players called up by their home countries have returned, but coach Luis Enrique is still out, having undergone surgery for a broken collarbone he suffered last week following a bicycle fall.

His return date is still uncertain. Meanwhile, the Parisian team is continuing training, led by the Spaniard’s assistant, Rafel Pol. It remains to be seen whether Luis Enrique will be able to sit on the bench for Sunday afternoon’s home match against Lens, on Matchday 4 of Ligue 1, or whether he will be replaced by Rafel Pol.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) confirmed on that 35 migrants were rescued from a boat in distress some 69 nautical miles east of Malta.

The rescue followed an emergency alert from migrant hotline AlarmPhone, which reported that 36 people were stranded after their engine failed as night fell.

An AFM spokesperson said the migrants were “rescued and handed over to competent authorities upon arrival in port,” in line with procedures for asylum applications. Those denied refugee status will be returned to their countries of origin.

The vessel was located within Malta’s Search and Rescue Region, making the AFM responsible for coordinating assistance.

AlarmPhone later reported that the Italian coastguard claimed a Maltese patrol boat carried out the rescue, but it remained unclear whether the asylum seekers were on an AFM vessel or what their immediate destination was.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

WOLFSBURG (GERMANY) (ITALPRESS) – Christian Eriksen is back in the Bundesliga. Without a club after his contract with Manchester United expired on June 30, the 33-year-old Danish midfielder has signed with Wolfsburg: a deal running until 2027 and wearing the number 24 jersey.

“We’re bringing in a player with experience at the highest level, whose quality on the pitch and personality will be a major boost, especially for our players,” sporting director Sebastian Schindzielorz welcomed him.

With over 300 Premier League appearances for Tottenham, Brentford, and Manchester United, not to mention stints with Ajax and Inter, Eriksen is making his first Bundesliga appearance: “I can’t wait; I’m convinced we can achieve something together here. The fact that there are several familiar faces from the Danish national team made Wolfsburg’s offer particularly attractive to me.”

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews