MADRID (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares praised Morocco’s “essential cooperation” in managing the migration events that took place in Ceuta on July 30, highlighting Rabat’s full readiness to facilitate the return of individuals who had entered the city irregularly.

During a visit to Ceuta, where he met with the president of the autonomous city, Juan Jesús Vivas, Albares assured that Spain would ensure that “every single person” who entered irregularly is returned to Morocco. According to Spain’s top diplomat, Rabat demonstrated total willingness from the outset to proceed with immediate returns, without imposing any conditions.

“From the very first moment, Morocco was in favor of immediate returns. It asked for nothing in return,” Albares emphasized, noting that the Moroccan stance stands in stark contrast to the difficulties European countries frequently face when countries of origin fail to cooperate with repatriation procedures.

The Spanish minister also ruled out any Moroccan responsibility for the arrivals recorded in Ceuta, instead stressing the decisive role played by the Kingdom in managing the situation and in the return of the individuals who had managed to reach the city.

Albares attributed a significant portion of the events to misinformation circulating on social media—specifically, a misinterpretation of a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling regarding individuals reaching Spanish territory by sea. False information reportedly fueled the belief that anyone managing to swim into Ceuta could not be immediately repatriated.

“Those who enter Ceuta or Melilla illegally must know that they will be sent back. No court ruling—distorted as it may be on social media—has changed our position,” Albares reiterated, urging potential migrants not to risk “their lives, their money, and their futures on an adventure doomed to failure.”

Madrid aims to send a deterrent message, particularly in light of a possible new mobilization announced on social media for Saturday, August 15. The minister stated that the Spanish government and the European Commission are working with digital platforms to counter the spread of false content that could encourage further attempts to enter.
For their part, Moroccan authorities indicated that approximately 40,000 people were involved in attempts to cross into Ceuta, while 1,135 tried to reach Melilla. Rabat also reported that everyone who managed to reach Melilla was immediately sent back.
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According to Moroccan authorities, the events stem from a combination of factors: misinformation on social media, the activities of human trafficking networks, and a misinterpretation of recent Spanish judicial rulings.

Finally, Morocco reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining close cooperation with Spain, both to facilitate returns and to prevent similar incidents from occurring again.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Flight cancellations continued at Malta International Airport on Wednesday morning as an ash cloud from Sicily’s Mount Etna drifted into the flight path to Malta.

Nineteen flights were cancelled on Tuesday, causing disruption for passengers travelling to and from the island.

Among Wednesday morning’s cancellations were a Swiss/KM Malta Airlines flight to Zurich and a Jet2.com service to Edinburgh. Transavia also cancelled an afternoon flight due to arrive from Paris Orly.

Several other flights were delayed as aircraft altered their usual routes to avoid the ash cloud. One pilot reported that the cloud was clearly visible from high altitude.

Some aircraft have been approaching Malta from a more westerly direction and at a lower altitude than usual.

Malta International Airport advised passengers to check their flight status before travelling to the airport.

The airport said passengers whose flights have been cancelled are being guided by ground handlers towards alternative arrangements before entering the departures lounge.

Mount Etna, about 220 kilometres north of Malta, is Europe’s most active volcano. Its ash clouds have occasionally forced aircraft travelling to and from Malta to alter course, although a direct impact on Malta airport operations is rare.

Catania Airport, just a few kilometres from Etna, has been forced to close several times in recent weeks, with flights cancelled or diverted to Palermo.

The disruption also affected local festivities. Attard’s Soċjeta Mużikali la Stella Levantina postponed a planned fireworks display on Tuesday because of the ash cloud and airport restrictions.

The society said the fireworks site is close to the runway approach and that, after consulting authorities, it decided to postpone the display while restrictions remain in place.

– photo Maltese Islands Weather –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – President Myriam Spiteri Debono has called on countries with greater international influence to take greater responsibility for pursuing lasting peace, warning that ongoing conflicts show that “war has no victors, only losers”.

Speaking at a commemoration marking the 84th anniversary of Operation Pedestal, the Santa Marija Convoy, the President said remembering past sacrifices was meaningless unless lessons were learned from them.

She said the aftermath of the two world wars had demonstrated the need to build a future based on peace, freedom, cooperation between nations and respect for human dignity.

Referring to the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East, Spiteri Debono said the end of fighting did not necessarily mean peace.

She noted that countries emerging from conflict faced the reconstruction of infrastructure, restoration of stability and the difficult task of overcoming hatred and longstanding divisions.

Security, she said, should not be viewed solely in military terms, as people should not continue living in fear, uncertainty and deprivation after peace agreements are reached.

The President also highlighted the importance of freedom of passage through the Strait of Hormuz, warning that disruption could affect global energy supplies and increase the prices of fuel.

Such consequences could raise shipping, transport and manufacturing costs, drive up food prices and inflation, slow economic growth and affect living standards, she said.

“Might is not the mother of Right,” Spiteri Debono said, stressing that greater political influence brought greater responsibility and should not lead to domination or imposition.

She also pointed to Europe’s heatwaves as another challenge requiring international cooperation.

Turning to Malta’s role, the President said the Constitution commits the country to peace and international cooperation.

Malta’s contribution, she said, was increasingly defined by its willingness to promote dialogue, strengthen cooperation and place human dignity at the centre of its actions.

She concluded that the sacrifices remembered during Operation Pedestal should remind every generation that peace cannot be taken for granted and must be protected and strengthened.

– photo Department of Information –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

TRIPOLI (LIBYA) (ITALPRESS) – Libya’s Government of National Unity has condemned the terrorist attack that killed General Fawzi Al-Mansouri in the Al-Sayyida Aisha neighborhood of Benghazi, describing the act as a threat to the safety of citizens and the country’s stability. According to an official government statement, the condemnation of terrorism and violence remains a firm national stance, regardless of the political divisions of recent years. The government has called on the Public Prosecutor and competent authorities to launch an urgent and thorough investigation to clarify the circumstances of the attack, identify those responsible and the masterminds behind it, and bring them to justice.

The General Command of the Libyan Armed Forces has established a security committee to investigate the assassination; the committee has already held its first meeting under the direct supervision of Deputy Commander-in-Chief Saddam Haftar. According to a statement posted on Facebook by the General Command of the Libyan Armed Forces, the committee—created by order of Commander-in-Chief Khalifa Haftar and composed of senior military and security officers—is examining the circumstances of the killing, the ongoing investigation, and the measures taken. Saddam Haftar emphasized the need to intensify efforts to uncover the details of the incident, identify the perpetrators, and bring them to justice.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – Paul Pogba sustained an injury to his left thigh during training today. The former Juventus player had to leave the pitch, accompanied by members of the Monaco staff, according to French media reports.

During the current pre-season, Pogba has played only 45 minutes in the opening friendly against Saint-Priest (which Monaco won 5–2). Since then, the Frenchman has missed matches against Sporting, Cercle Brugge, Getafe, and Liverpool due to a right knee issue. Pogba had returned to group training a few days ago, but there is now a risk of another layoff. The Principality club is currently holding a week-long training camp in England at St. George’s Park.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ISTANBUL (TURKEY) (ITALPRESS) – The circulation of market rumors concerning Jamal Musiala and Galatasaray has led to legal consequences. Burhan Can Terzi, a Turkish journalist, was detained yesterday in Istanbul as part of an investigation launched by authorities regarding the alleged public dissemination of misleading information. At the heart of the inquiry are statements published by Terzi about an alleged agreement already reached between Galatasaray and the Bayern Munich midfielder—a claim that, according to local media reports, Galatasaray has denied.

Sources close to the club reportedly refuted the existence of any such deal, emphasizing that spreading unconfirmed information could fuel further public confusion. After being questioned by authorities, Terzi was released. However, the journalist did not retract his published claims and continued to maintain the validity of his information. According to his account, the sources he cited had assured him that negotiations for Musiala were nearing completion. During the questioning, the name of Oktay Ercan—a Turkish entrepreneur and owner of the Belgian club Westerlo—reportedly emerged as the source of the information.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – It turned out to be true after all. Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez have tied the knot. The couple themselves announced the news on Instagram, sharing a photo of their hands clearly showing their wedding bands. The wedding reportedly took place in strict secrecy in Cascais—a Portuguese municipality in the Lisbon district—with only their five children present.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – “Guardiola and I had planned, before the end of the season, to spend some time together during the summer break. Sometimes I like to start work without preconceived notions so I can see things with my own eyes, but Pep has been here a long time and has his own opinions. Still, you have to arrive and see things for yourself to get the full picture.” This was said by Manchester City‘s new coach, Enzo Maresca, discussing the task of succeeding Pep Guardiola, with whom he consulted before signing with the Citizens. In an interview with British media in Seoul, South Korea, the Italian coach acknowledged that “after 10 games—whether we have 10, 20, or 30 points—people will draw comparisons with Pep. But that doesn’t put pressure on me,” explained Maresca, who describes the Catalan as “the best coach in the world” because “when he started in Spain, everyone wanted to play like Barcelona; he moved to Germany and everyone wanted to play like Bayern; he arrived in England and everyone wants to play like City.”

For Maresca, the Premier League remains the best league in the world: “It is down to the quality of the players, the quality of the managers, and the organization of the Premier League. It is completely different from other countries. Which league can compete with the Premier League? The Spanish one? Barcelona, ​​Real Madrid—sure—but the rest aren’t on the same level. Here, there are six teams that are more or less at that level,” explains Maresca. Following Bernardo Silva’s departure, the captain’s armband needs to be assigned: “At Leicester and Chelsea, I had a rule: when we scored, the captain had to come over to the bench—not to celebrate, but to receive instructions. If he scored himself, then he could celebrate. But if Haaland were the captain, we’d have a problem,” jokes Maresca.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – “Clear Line” has been launched—a UEFA video collection offering comprehensive access to refereeing guidelines for the 2026/27 season. This resource provides professionals and fans alike with a wide range of scenarios—spanning disciplinary sanctions, penalty-kick situations, VAR reviews, and cases of mistaken identity—with the aim of fostering a better understanding of the rules and guidelines applied by referees and VAR officials.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Firefighters from the Maltese Department of Civil Protection participated in operations in Portugal to combat a large forest fire in the Guarda region.

The Maltese team was deployed to Portugal as part of the EU’s pre-positioning of resources for forest firefighting under the European Civil Protection Mechanism. The team operated alongside the Portuguese Special Forces of Civil Protection.

Approximately 320 personnel participated in the operations, supported by 85 vehicles and 11 firefighting aircraft.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews