LONDON (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – “If people want to talk, let them. I don’t care, I only think about myself. I do what makes me happy.” Ivan Toney, 29, English striker, in an interview with the Guardian, defends his decision to play in Saudi Arabia, where he signed for Al-Ahli.

“Cristiano Ronaldo has traveled the world and probably knows a lot more than me, because I’ve only played in the Premier League, the Championship, and Leagues One and Two. For me, the Saudi league is comparable to the Premier League. If Al-Ahli were in the Premier League, we’d give it our all and be close to the top four.” To support his argument, Toney cites Al-Ahli’s victory over Manchester City at the Club World Cup: “I wanted to tweet something, but they would have massacred me at home, so I kept my mouth shut. But everyone saw the quality of Al-Ahli.”

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MANCHESTER (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Bad news for Manchester City. Omar Marmoush sustained a knee injury in Egypt’s World Cup qualifier yesterday against Burkina Faso and has returned to England for tests. The extent of the injury is unknown, but City has already announced that he will be unavailable for Sunday’s derby against Manchester United.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

AMSTERDAM (NETHERLANDS) (ITALPRESS) – Kiki Musampa, the 48-year-old former Ajax player and current assistant coach of the club’s second team, has reportedly been arrested for tax fraud, according to Dutch newspaper Het Parool.

His home, along with that of his accountant – who was also arrested – was searched, and documents as well as luxury watches were seized. Released this afternoon after spending a night in custody, Musampa has allegedly been dealing with tax issues for years and recently had a property in Peperstraat, Amsterdam, repossessed.

Investigators claim the former midfielder, who also played for Atlético Madrid and Manchester City during his career, declared himself a tax resident abroad while working and earning income in the Netherlands. The alleged fraud exceeds €100,000.

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MARSEILLE (FRANCE) (ITALPRESS) – “I’m very proud to join Marseille, such a prestigious club. I can’t wait for Friday to be at the Vélodrome and feel the passion of the fans.” Benjamin Pavard is ready for his new adventure. The French defender has arrived from Inter on loan with a €15 million buy option and dreams of “experiencing great emotions here. I’ve already played at the Vélodrome with Lille and the atmosphere was incredible.”

For him, this was the only choice: “In my head there was only OM, I only wanted Olympique. I had a good conversation with Mehdi (Benatia, ed.). He’s been doing a great job for two years. There’s a quality group here. I hope we can achieve great things together.”

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Alex Borg was officially sworn in as Opposition leader on Wednesday, pledging to move beyond partisan divides and urging the country to “forget about blue and red, and think of red and white.” He is Malta’s 15th Leader of the Opposition. The swearing-in ceremony was presided over by President Myriam Spiteri Debono at the Grand Master’s Palace in Valletta, just three days after Borg was elected Nationalist Party leader by a razor-thin margin of 44 votes over rival Adrian Delia.

Borg, a 30-year-old lawyer from Gozo, was accompanied by his mother Mary Debono Borg, his brother David, and his partner Sarah Bajada. Senior PN officials, including deputy leader Alex Perici Calascione and secretary general Charles Bonello, were also present. In a brief address, Borg thanked his family, his party, and the Maltese and Gozitan people. “We are experiencing a crucial moment in our country,” he said. “We must put aside our differences and work for a better Malta and Gozo.” President Spiteri Debono congratulated Borg and endorsed his call for unity, stressing the need to inspire younger generations.

Borg’s political roots run deep. He is the son of the late Tony Borg, a former Fontana mayor and chief of staff to ex-Gozo minister Giovanna Debono. In 2022, Alex Borg was elected to parliament with 6,100 votes, making him the PN’s most popular candidate in Gozo. His victory in the leadership race marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Opposition, as he seeks to consolidate support and broaden the party’s appeal.

– Archive Photo –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Ten environmental organisations have united to call a national protest in Malta on Saturday 4 October, denouncing government planning reforms they describe as a “developers’ coup” threatening the country’s landscapes and townscapes.

The demonstration, titled Ġustizzja għal Artna: Irtirawhom Issa! (Justice for Our Land: Withdraw Them Now!), will begin at 10am outside the Law Courts in Valletta before moving to Castille, the Prime Minister’s office. Organisers said the march will mark the start of a “season of people’s resistance” against two proposed laws, Bills 143 and 144, which they warn would dismantle environmental protections and undermine citizens’ rights. Bill 143, first tabled in July by Prime Minister Robert Abela’s Labour government, would expand the powers of the Planning Authority and sideline local development plans. Campaigners argue this would enable large-scale development in previously safeguarded areas. Bill 144 would shorten the appeal window for planning decisions from 30 to 20 days, while introducing fines of up to €5,000 for appeals deemed “frivolous.”

Environmental groups say the measure is designed to intimidate citizens and silence opposition. Perhaps most controversially, the reforms would allow developers to regularise illegal constructions through fees, a move critics argue rewards unlawful building practices. Although the bills were temporarily shelved after a public backlash, environmentalists insist they remain a live threat. “This is the opening salvo of a wider movement to defend our land,” the coalition said in a joint statement. The protest is expected to draw broad participation from residents, activists, and civil society groups alarmed at what they call an unprecedented assault on Malta’s environmental heritage.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Emergency hotline AlarmPhone has called on the Armed Forces of Malta to urgently rescue a group of 36 people stranded at sea southeast of the island, after their boat’s engine failed as night fell on Tuesday.

The group, fleeing Libya, reported they were unable to move on. Their coordinates place them about 110 kilometres from Malta, within its Search and Rescue Region, making the Maltese military responsible for coordinating assistance. Reaching the vessel could take six to eight hours.

“Night is coming and they need immediate rescue! Act for once, @Armed_Forces_MT!” the organisation posted on X, accusing the Maltese authorities of delaying responses to distress alerts. The appeal comes as Malta faces mounting criticism for its handling of Mediterranean migration. Rights groups accuse the government of outsourcing rescues to Libyan militias, despite Libya being deemed unsafe for returns.

In recent years, official rescues have plunged. According to the Malta Migration Archive, the Armed Forces saved only 2–3% of nearly 80,000 people in distress between 2020 and 2024. During the same period, rescues dropped by 90%, while interceptions by Libyan forces surged by 230%. AlarmPhone says calls to Malta often go unanswered. “We get either a recorded song or a curt ‘We are busy’,” said spokesperson Hela Kanakane. Since 2020, more than 5,000 people have been forcibly returned to Libya from Malta’s search zone, where they risk torture in militia-run detention centres. At least 1,700 have died during crossings, while civil society vessels remain the main rescuers.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – Argentina and Brazil were defeated on the 18th and final matchday of the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

At the Estadio Banco Pichincha in Guayaquil, world champion Argentina lost 1-0 to hosts Ecuador. Relegated to numerical inferiority in the 31st minute following Otamendi’s red card, Scaloni’s team conceded a penalty from Valencia in the 13th minute of first-half stoppage time. Inter captain Lautaro Martinez started, but was shown a yellow card after six minutes and replaced by Alvarez in the 63rd minute. Ancelotti’s Brazil, also suffering their first defeat as Selecao coach, lost 1-0, both from the penalty spot and in added time in the first 45 minutes, at the Estadio Municipal in El Alto, to Bolivia, who celebrated in the 49th minute with a Miguelito goal. Roma’s Wesley was the only player on the bench.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MILAN (ITALPRESS) – Ethiopia has turned a decisive page in its modern history with the inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), the largest hydroelectric project ever built in Africa. Conceived and executed by Webuild, the monumental structure marks a transformative milestone, positioning the country as a central actor in the continent’s green transition.

The official ceremony was attended by Pietro Salini, CEO of Webuild, alongside Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and several African heads of state who share Ethiopia’s vision of growth and unity. Commissioned by Ethiopian Electric Power, GERD stands as one of the most ambitious and technically advanced infrastructure projects undertaken globally in recent decades.

With an installed capacity exceeding 5,000 MW and an anticipated annual output of 15,700 GWh, the dam’s generation capacity is comparable to that of three mid-sized nuclear power plants. Its artificial reservoir, stretching 172 kilometers and capable of storing up to 74 billion cubic metres of water, makes GERD the largest hydroelectric undertaking in Africa. The engineering achievements are equally remarkable. The main dam, a gravity structure, rises 170 metres and spans 1,800 metres at the crest, incorporating 10.7 million cubic metres of concrete. It holds the continental record as the largest RCC (roller-compacted concrete) gravity dam by volume.

On December 28, 2014, the project set a world record by placing 23,000 cubic metres of RCC in just 24 hours — a testament to the unprecedented scale of its logistical and engineering prowess. Beyond its technical feats, GERD has reshaped the surrounding landscape, driving local economic and social development. Around the construction site, a new community has emerged, complete with a hospital, medical clinics, a school, sports facilities, a factory producing injera (Ethiopia’s traditional flatbread), and new road networks.

More than 25,000 workers—predominantly Ethiopian—contributed to the project, acquiring valuable expertise transferrable to future infrastructure ventures. The dam embodies a long-term vision of national progress, serving as both an energy source and a catalyst for socio-economic growth. Its strategic value also aligns with Italy’s Mattei Plan, promoted by the Meloni government, which seeks to involve Italian enterprises in transformative projects for African development. Webuild’s presence in Ethiopia spans more than 70 years, with 30 completed projects, particularly in hydropower. Landmark works include the Beles Multipurpose Project with its underground powerhouse, and the Gibe III dam on the Omo River, which at 250 metres was the tallest RCC dam in the world at the time of completion.

The company is currently building the Koysha dam, Ethiopia’s second-largest hydroelectric project after GERD, further accelerating the country’s energy transition. Globally, Webuild has established itself as a leader in sustainable infrastructure delivery, with 318 dams and hydroelectric plants built worldwide, representing a total capacity of 53,659 MW. Ongoing projects promise an additional 14,000 MW of installed capacity, set to provide affordable clean energy to millions while preventing 13 million tons of CO₂ emissions annually.

The inauguration of GERD underscores Webuild’s consistent capacity to deliver complex, large-scale projects. Since the start of this year alone, the group has finalized more than 10 projects across continents, including a strategic section of Interstate 275 in Florida (USA), the Monopoli-Fasano Hospital in Italy, and the Riachuelo environmental remediation project in Buenos Aires (Argentina).

– Webuild Press Office Photo –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta Freeport Terminals will soon be able to welcome some of the world’s largest container ships, thanks to an ongoing terminal expansion that will boost its capacity, CEO Alex Montebello said.

During a visit to the Freeport, Prime Minister Robert Abela, joined by Economy Minister Silvio Schembri and Transport Minister Chris Bonett, inspected the “advanced stages” of the project.

The development follows a 2023 land reclamation deal that granted the operator 30,000 square metres for expansion at Terminal Two. The project will extend the north quay by 176 metres and the west quay by 195 metres.

Abela praised the €170 million annual contribution the Freeport already makes to Malta’s economy and noted that the project will generate around 165 new jobs on top of the 1,500 current positions.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews