VALENCIA (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – Eight and a half years in prison. This is the sentence handed down in the first instance by the fourth section of the Valencia Court against Rafa Mir for sexual assault and bodily harm.

The facts, Spanish media report, date back to September 2024, when Mir, a 28-year-old striker playing for Valencia in his last season at Elche, was sentenced to seven years for the crime of sexual assault and another 18 months for bodily harm. Furthermore, he will not be allowed to come within 500 meters of the victim for the next 10 years and will have to pay her compensation totaling 64,000 euros. The prosecution had requested a 10 and a half year sentence for Mir – who can appeal the sentence – and will be able to appeal the sentence.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

BERLIN (GERMANY) (ITALPRESS) – Ismael Saibari, an immediate frontrunner at the 2026  World Cup, has earned a place at Bayern Munich. According to “Sky Deutschland,” the 25-year-old Moroccan striker, who scored against Brazil, will leave PSV Eindhoven to join the Bavarians until 2031.

At the express request of Vincent Kompany, Saibari, who scored 19 goals and provided nine assists in 37 competitive appearances for the Dutch club last season, is expected to undergo a medical in the United States, where he is currently with the national team, and his contract is expected to be worth between €50 and €55 million.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MADRID (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – Jose Mourinho wanted him as a player during his first spell in Madrid, and now he could have him back in a different capacity. According to the Spanish press, Sami Khedira will return to Real Madrid to join the coaching staff of the “Special One,” a role similar to that held at the time by Aitor Karanka, whom Mourinho chose as his assistant due to his experience at the club. Khedira wore the white shirt from 2010 to 2015, arriving under Mourinho after the World Cup in South Africa, before continuing his career at Juventus and hanging up his boots at Hertha Berlin in 2021. After retiring, he worked as a television commentator but in the meantime studied to become a coach, a path he will now continue alongside Mourinho.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MILAN (ITALPRESS) – Following the departure of Massimiliano Allegri and several days of scouting and evaluation, AC Milan appear to have finalized their choice for the managerial position.

According to Portuguese newspaper A Bola, Ruben Amorim is set to become the new head coach of the Rossoneri. The former Sporting Lisbon and Manchester United manager is reportedly waiting only for the green light from Gerry Cardinale, AC Milan’s owner, before traveling to Italy to sign the contract that will officially link him to the club.

The Portuguese coach is said to have agreed to a two-season contract, running until 2028, with an option for an additional year. According to A Bola, Amorim will earn €3.5 million per season, plus performance-related bonuses.

– Photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – It’s now official: Real Madrid has signed Marc Cucurella from Chelsea. This is a statement from the Spanish club: “Real Madrid and Chelsea have reached an agreement for the transfer of the player Marc Cucurella, who has committed to our club for the next six seasons, until June 30, 2032.”

Real Madrid will pay approximately 43 million pounds (or 50 million euros) for the transfer. The 27-year-old is currently playing for the Spanish national team at the World Cup taking place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. For him, this is a return to his homeland. He played at youth level for three teams: Alella, Espanyol, and Barcelona. He then took his first steps as a professional with Barça B and Eibar.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Court of Appeal has confirmed the five-year prison sentence imposed on a Sicilian man over a violent robbery in Rabat in 2015 that left a shop owner seriously injured.

The man, from Catania, had been charged with acting together with another Sicilian man to steal cash through violence, causing grievous injuries to the victim and holding him against his will.

His accomplice admitted his role in the crime a year and a half later and was sentenced to six years and eight months in prison, while the appellant denied the charges.

Evidence presented during the original trial showed that the two men attacked the shop owner after he asked what type of shoes they were seeking. The victim suffered stab wounds, broken fingers and other injuries while trying to defend himself.

Police identified the suspects through CCTV footage and later found them together in an apartment in St Paul’s Bay, where a jacket linked to one of the attackers was recovered.

The Court of Magistrates convicted the appellant on all charges except those relating to carrying a weapon and wearing a mask.

He was sentenced to five years in prison, fined €3,830 and banned from holding a driving licence for one year. He was also ordered to pay the victim €2,500 and contribute to experts’ costs.

On appeal, he challenged the proceedings and the evidence against him, including testimony from his accomplice.

However, the Court of Appeal rejected all arguments, ruling that the evidence supported the conviction and that the punishment imposed was appropriate.

The appeal was dismissed in full and the original sentence was upheld.

– Photo Pexels –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LONDON (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Pierre Sage is set to replace Oliver Glasner, who is among the leading candidates for the AC Milan managerial position, as head coach of Crystal Palace.

According to French newspaper L’Équipe, the 47-year-old French manager, who guided Lens to a second-place finish in Ligue 1 and victory in the Coupe de France this season, reached a definitive agreement with the English club, winners of the UEFA Conference League, yesterday.

Sage is expected to be joined by assistants Jamal Alioui, Damien Della Santa, and Sandy Guichard. He is reportedly set to sign a three-year contract with an option for a fourth season.

His salary will be almost four times higher than what he earned in Ligue 1 (€100,000 gross per month). The move will also bring Lens an initial €3 million, plus up to €2 million in bonuses, one of which will be automatically triggered if the London club avoids relegation from the Premier League.

Crystal Palace’s pre-season preparations are scheduled to resume on July 10, with 13 players unavailable due to World Cup commitments.

Sage could also face his former club very soon: both Lens and Crystal Palace are set to participate in the Como Cup, a friendly tournament taking place on the shores of Lake Como from July 28 to August 1.

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) (ITALPRESS) – Prime Minister Robert Abela announced that parliament will reopen on 20 June following the casual election, just 21 days after the general election, marking the shortest interval on record.

“We are going to hit the ground running,” Abela said, stressing the government’s intention to begin implementing its legislative programme without delay.

The prime minister said Malta had maintained energy stability despite challenges faced by other EU countries. He also highlighted the country’s fuel prices and inflation rate, describing them as among the lowest in the eurozone.

Abela reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting families and businesses from external economic shocks by continuing to absorb their impact.

He said Malta’s deficit had fallen to 2.2%, below the level agreed with the EU, after Eurostat confirmed that the country had exited the excessive deficit procedure.

“This is why we can do all this,” Abela said, pledging to start delivering on electoral promises.

The prime minister said he would attend a European Council meeting in Brussels next week to discuss the EU’s long-term budget until 2034, warning that Malta’s economic performance could result in lower funding allocations.

Abela also announced plans to set up a Fundamental Human Rights Commission and pledged to continue advancing civil rights.

– Photo DOI –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta has recorded the highest level of concern in the European Union over the loss of natural areas to other land uses, with 72% of respondents identifying the issue as a major threat to biodiversity, according to a Eurobarometer survey.

The figure was more than double those recorded in Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden, underscoring widespread concern in Malta over urban expansion and the shrinking of natural spaces.

The survey also found Malta to be the EU country most worried about pollution, with 77% of respondents describing air, soil and water contamination as a serious threat, well above the bloc average of 58%.

Malta was the only member state where a majority of respondents, 54%, viewed non-native species as a major danger to biodiversity. It ranked second in the EU for concern about the impact of infrastructure on natural areas and the effects of climate change.

Despite lower-than-average familiarity with the term “biodiversity”, awareness of the Natura 2000 conservation network was almost twice the EU average, indicating stronger knowledge of specific environmental protection measures.

The survey showed broad support for protected areas, with Malta ranking first in the importance attached to preventing habitat destruction, promoting sustainable land use and improving quality of life.

Respondents favoured stronger enforcement of existing environmental laws over new measures and highlighted better information and greater public participation in decision-making as priorities.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – “I asked for clarity before the World Cup, but there was none.” Ralf Rangnick, fresh from his contract extension as Austria coach until 2028, said this at a press conference. “Three weeks ago, there was initial contact and discussions were held,” the former Leipzig and Manchester United manager revealed. “I asked for clarity before the start of the World Cup, for myself, for the team, and for the Austrian Football Association. This clarity was not forthcoming.”

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews