VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A large majority of Maltese citizens view the national economy positively, but many remain concerned about their ability to afford essential expenses in the coming year, according to a new Eurobarometer survey.

The study, conducted in late March among 501 respondents, found that 76% believe Malta’s economy is performing well, the second-highest rate in the European Union after Luxembourg and significantly above the EU average of 24%.

Personal finances also received strong ratings, with 73% describing their own economic situation as good. Meanwhile, 68% expect Malta’s economy to improve over the next year, while only 9% anticipate a decline.

Confidence in Malta’s future competitiveness remains high, with 84% expressing faith in the country’s ability to compete globally. Seven in ten respondents also believe their children will enjoy a higher standard of living than they do.

Despite this optimism, concerns about household finances persist. Around one-third fear they may struggle to pay utility bills (31%) or housing costs (32%) over the next 12 months, while 37% are worried about covering healthcare expenses.

Others expressed concerns about affording holidays, household appliances and leisure activities.

Unemployment emerged as a key worry, with 17% identifying it as their main economic concern, nearly double the EU average. Wealth inequality and a potential decline in living standards were also cited among top concerns.

By contrast, only 13% of Maltese said global political uncertainty was their biggest economic worry, the joint-lowest rate in the EU and well below the European average.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MADRID (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – “Does the Pope support Barcelona or Real Madrid? The Pope supports all teams, but Prevost is a Real Madrid fan.” This is the quip Pope Leo XIV stated to reporters during his flight to Spain a few days ago. Today, on the day Real Madrid‘s board of directors ratified the appointment of Florentino Perez as president until 2030 and José Mourinho as first-team coach until 2029, the white club’s board of directors “resolved to appoint His Holiness Pope Leo XIV as an Honorary Member of Real Madrid, the highest honor bestowed by our club. Real Madrid thus expresses its admiration and recognition for a universal figure who represents billions of people and who promotes peace, solidarity, and justice throughout the world. His visit to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on June 8, 2026, was an honor for Real Madrid and will forever remain one of the most moving moments in our history.”

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

 

Source: medNews

TURIN (ITALPRESS) – Giovanni Carnevali has officially been appointed Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of Juventus. The decision was approved by the club’s board of directors. The former Sassuolo executive succeeds Damien Comolli, who is leaving the club by mutual agreement.

“I am proud and honored to become part of a club with such a rich history and strong identity,” Carnevali said. “I would like to thank the Club, the majority shareholder, and John Elkann for the trust they have placed in me. I approach this new challenge with a great sense of responsibility and with the conviction that, through daily commitment, it is possible to build a path of sustainable growth and a successful future.

“Together with every part of the organization, we will work to make Juventus an even greater force both domestically and internationally, while respecting the club’s history and the ambitions of the Bianconeri supporters,” the new CEO concluded.

COMOLLI RESIGNS: “I WISH YOU EVERY SUCCESS”

“I have decided to step down from my position as Chief Executive Officer of Juventus Football Club with immediate effect. I would like to thank John Elkann and Exor for giving me the opportunity to work for this prestigious club.” These were the farewell words of Damien Comolli following his resignation as Juventus CEO, just one year after joining the club.

“I would also like to thank all my colleagues at Juventus for their commitment, professionalism, and dedication, and I wish all the men’s and women’s teams every success for the season ahead. A special thank you also goes to the Bianconeri supporters for their incredible support. They are what make this club a truly unique and special place,” the executive wrote.

In an official statement, Juventus said: “Everyone at Juventus would like to thank Damien for his dedication and contribution during his time at the club and wishes him every success in the future.”

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – “We will do everything we can to make this the best World Cup possible for Deschamps, hoping it will truly be his last, because I hope he does not take part in another World Cup with a different national team. I’m putting pressure on him. I’ve seen reports linking him with Italy and other teams, but that would be unfortunate.”

This was stated by Kylian Mbappé in an interview with broadcaster M6, commenting on speculation that the current France head coach, Didier Deschamps, could one day take charge of another national side.

For the former Juventus player, this will be Deschamps’ final World Cup as France manager:

“He has shown time and again his ability to reinvent himself. He has witnessed the arrival of a new generation with different ways of viewing football and life, and he has never allowed himself to be overwhelmed. We will try to pay tribute to him, and the best way to do that is by winning, because he loves to win,” Mbappé added.

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MADRID (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – It is now official: José Mourinho has been appointed as the new head coach of Real Madrid. The Portuguese manager returns to the Blancos’ bench, which he previously led from 2010 to 2013. The announcement was made by the club following a board meeting chaired by Florentino Pérez.

The “Special One” has signed a contract that will keep him at Real Madrid until June 30, 2029. According to the club’s statement, he will begin his duties on July 13, when pre-season preparations get underway. No details have yet been announced regarding his official presentation, which could take place on the first day of training.

During the same board meeting, Florentino Pérez’s eighth term as club president was formally ratified, with his mandate extending until 2030.

Photo: IPA Agency

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ZURICH (SWITZERLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Just hours before the start of the largest World Cup ever (with 48 teams for the first time), FIFA has updated its national team rankings. Reigning world champions Argentina have moved up two spots and regained their lead after a year, overtaking France, who suffered a friendly defeat against Ivory Coast and lost the top spot, slipping to third place behind Spain, who remain second. It’s worth noting that Morocco has moved up one spot to seventh place (their best ever), overtaking the Netherlands, who are now eighth. Completing the top ten are England (4th), Portugal (5th), Brazil (6th), Belgium (9th), and Germany (10th). Italy remains 12th (behind 11th-place Croatia), despite victories in friendlies against Luxembourg and Greece under interim coach Silvio Baldini. Mexico (14th, +1) and Uruguay (16th, +1) made gains, while Iran entered the top 20 (20th, +1) and Senegal (15th, -1) and the United States (17th, -1) dropped positions. The biggest jumps forward within the top 100 were seen in Hungary (39th +3), Chile (51st +3), and China (91st +3), while the biggest drops were seen in Serbia (41st, -4), Mali (55th, -3), and Benin (93rd, -3).

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

NYON (SWITZERLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Omar Artan, the Somali referee appointed by FIFA for the World Cup and turned away by the United States at Miami Airport, will referee the European Super Cup final between PSG and Aston Villa on August 12 in Salzburg. UEFA made the decision following discussions with the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

“Omar Artan is a young but already experienced referee who has distinguished himself at the highest levels of the African Football Confederation,” explained UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin.

“Football is about bringing people together, and UEFA wishes to show its respect for Omar and his extraordinary refereeing skills, which have earned him such a prestigious appointment. I am grateful to my friend, CAF President Patrice Motsepe, for his enthusiastic support of our initiative.”

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – Morocco has been working for over twenty years, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, to build a “more integrated and more prosperous” Africa. This was emphasized by the Kingdom’s Ambassador to Italy, Youssef Balla, according to the Moroccan news agency MAP. Balla spoke at the third edition of the meeting “New Energies between Europe and Africa,” held yesterday evening at the Royal Residence in Rome. The meeting was organized in collaboration with the European Parliament, the Connact platform, and the Group of African Ambassadors in Rome, under the patronage of the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy.

The event was attended by diplomatic and business representatives, as well as representatives of Italian and European institutions. According to the head of the diplomatic mission, the Moroccan vision is based on concrete evidence, including structured investments, sustainable partnerships, and cooperation based on active solidarity. In this regard, Balla recalled the Royal Initiative aimed at facilitating Sahel countries’ access to the Atlantic, with the aim of opening new prospects for trade, logistics, and regional development.

According to MAP, Balla then highlighted the Kingdom’s initiatives in the fields of education, agriculture, renewable energy, and financial inclusion, all driven by the belief that “the continent’s development must be conceived by Africans and with their partners.” The ambassador finally mentioned the Mattei Plan, noting that “the time has come for joint development” and calling for a partnership based on shared responsibility, common prosperity, and a vision for the future capable of “becoming an innovative model of cooperation between Europe and Africa.”

– foto Embassy of Morocco in Rome –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – Following several months of fruitful negotiations between FIFA, player representatives (FIFPRO), clubs (EFC), and leagues (WLA), and with the constructive participation of CONMEBOL and UEFA, the Council’s Office approved the new version of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP), along with amendments to the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the FIFA Governance Regulations, and the Rules of Procedure of the Football Tribunal. The main changes will enter into force on January 1, 2027. This new regulatory framework has been developed taking into account the emerging needs of the global transfer system, with a particular focus on ensuring an appropriate balance between player and club rights, in full compliance with the principles established by the Court of Justice of the European Union in the so-called “Diarra” ruling. The new rules provide an objective, transparent, non-discriminatory, and proportionate framework for the global transfer system and all its participants.

Among the various innovations introduced by the new FIFA RSTP, which are expected to have a highly positive impact on the working conditions of both players and clubs, a key change concerns the manner in which future amendments to the RSTP will be adopted. From now on, the regulatory framework governing employment relationships between players and clubs at the international level will, in any case, be determined exclusively by consensus among all social partners, with FIFA assuming the role of guarantor of the global system. In other words, the FIFA RSTP has evolved into a collective framework based on social dialogue between recognized employee and employer representatives, with the clear objective of becoming an international collective bargaining agreement, the first of its kind in the world of sport. A special online edition of the FIFA Football Law Annual Review will be held in October this year to present and discuss the new legal framework in more detail with the global football legal community.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Malta Fiscal Advisory Council (MFAC) has urged the government to move away from an economic model driven by workforce expansion and adopt a more productivity-focused approach. The council endorsed the government’s latest economic forecasts, presented by Finance Minister Clyde Caruana, while warning that current growth trends are placing increasing strain on infrastructure and public services.

The government is projecting economic growth of 3.7% in 2026, a figure the MFAC described as strong compared with other European countries. Growth is expected to continue being supported by domestic demand, particularly private investment, alongside a robust labour market and rising household incomes. However, the council noted that part of this growth is being fuelled by a larger workforce and inward migration. While acknowledging the positive impact on economic activity, it cautioned that the trend has intensified pressure on roads, housing, healthcare and other essential services.

The MFAC said the forecasts were released amid global uncertainty, with international agencies recently revising growth expectations downward and inflation forecasts upward following the outbreak of war in the Middle East earlier this year. To ensure sustainable long-term growth, the council recommended that government prioritise productive investment over short-term expenditure. It highlighted education, digitalisation, research and innovation, skills development and stronger infrastructure as key areas for future investment.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

 

Source: medNews