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

LIVERPOOL (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Everton has been ordered to pay 35 million pounds (approximately €41 million) to Burnley. The ruling concerns a legal dispute related to the Toffies’ violation of Financial Fair Play rules during the 2021/22 season. The total sum is 26 million pounds in damages and 9 million pounds in interest. The events date back to the 2021-2022 season, which ended with the Toffees staying in 16th place (39 points) and Burnley being relegated to the Championship, who finished 18th with 35 points. Only in November 2023 had the Premier League penalized Everton with a 10-point deduction, which was later reduced to 6 on appeal and applied to the current season’s standings (2023-2024). The commission upheld Burnley’s argument, finding “on the balance of probabilities” that Everton’s financial breach affected their bid for relegation. Everton reacted harshly, expressing “surprise and anger” and announcing an immediate appeal. In an official statement, the board called the verdict “fundamentally flawed in both law and fact,” criticizing the creation of a “dangerous and unworkable precedent” for all of English football.

The club also clarified that any payment will have no impact on the current period’s PSR (profit and sustainability regulations), thus preserving the summer transfer plans of the new ownership, led by the Friedkin group. The fine, the BBC highlights, has reignited the debate on the proportionality criteria of sporting justice, following the London club’s admission of having made strategic payments to unregistered agents, and the £5.5 million fine imposed on West Ham in 2007 for the transfers of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano. Possible legal action from other clubs relegated in those years, such as Leicester City, Nottingham Forest, and Southampton, remains to be assessed, while Leeds United has reportedly already reached a private settlement agreement with the Toffees.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MEXICO CITY (MEXICO) (ITALPRESS) – “I’m sure this will be one of the most spectacular World Cups, because there is no clear favorite. There are Spain, France, Portugal, Argentina, Brazil, and then Japan, Morocco, Ecuador, and even Norway, who could be a surprise, in what will be the first World Cup hosted by three countries.” The eve of the 2026 World Cup begins amid anticipation, uncertainty, and the global dimension of a tournament destined to make history. In Mexico City, 24 hours before kick-off (Mexico vs. South Africa at 9:00 p.m.) of the World Cup hosted by Mexico, Canada, and the United States, FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented the largest and most ambitious edition ever, amid sporting expectations, calls for unity, and organizational issues still at the center of debate.

For Infantino, the 2026 edition represents, first and foremost, a great opportunity for celebration and sharing. “It’s a moment of great happiness, and we can’t wait to see the ball roll across the pitch. We want to unite the world. We promote the unity of the World Cup and the opportunity to experience the emotions we all felt as children,” the FIFA president emphasized, emphasizing the deeper meaning of the event: not just a challenge between national teams, but an event capable of speaking to different peoples, cultures, and generations. Infantino then emphasized FIFA’s role in supporting the development of football globally. “Thanks also go to the countries that are not here, to the more than 211 FIFA member associations. It is thanks to the work of all of them that we are here today. We are reinvesting the revenues from the World Cup in all these countries, so that football can grow in every part of the world and the dream can live on everywhere,” he added, explaining how the revenue generated by the tournament is used to fuel the movement’s growth even away from the spotlight of the final tournament.

Iran was also among the topics discussed. “I met with the Iranian national team and promised them they would come to the World Cup. I said I would accompany them myself by bus if necessary. I don’t know who else would have been able, under these circumstances, to ensure Iran could come and play. When Iran plays, the stadium will be full, and I hope there will be a positive atmosphere, because that’s what football is all about: allowing people to forget their own reality and focus on a match and a team,” the FIFA president noted. Infantino also answered questions about organizational issues, particularly those related to the United States, one of the three co-hosts. “Do I regret the fact that the United States is a co-host? No regrets. I know the world of event organization very well, and of course there are problems: some come from the United States, but also from Canada and Mexico. Trump? I have an excellent relationship with him, and his contribution was crucial in ensuring the tournament could be held,” he assured.

The president of the international federation finally defended the work done on security and accreditation management. “It’s not easy when there are 300,000 accredited people, most of whom are from outside the United States, to manage and subject to the necessary checks. Unfortunately, ours is a very aggressive world, and security comes first. We must respect the decisions made, and when I say stay calm, I don’t mean sit back and do nothing.” Infantino’s message reaffirmed his confidence in the organization, ahead of a World Championship that promises to be historic in its size, format, and ambition.

– Photo Ipa Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LONDON (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Marcos Senesi will remain in the Premier League. Having become a free agent after leaving AFC Bournemouth, the defender has signed for Tottenham Hotspur F.C., managed by Roberto De Zerbi, who officially announced the signing without disclosing the length of the contract.

The 29-year-old Argentine, who had previously been linked with Italian clubs such as AS Roma and Juventus FC, has played for San Lorenzo de Almagro and Feyenoord before establishing himself at Bournemouth.

“It’s a really special feeling to be a Tottenham player,” Senesi said. “The club immediately showed that they believe in me, and I can’t wait to begin this new experience. I will give everything to make the fans proud and help bring the club back to where it belongs. I want to win trophies with Tottenham, and I will do everything possible to achieve that.”

Manager De Zerbi added: “Marcos’ experience, technical quality, and determination will strengthen us defensively while also giving us tactical flexibility. He is comfortable in a team that prefers possession-based football, reads the game very well, and has the right personality to excel in a competitive environment. I also greatly appreciate his mentality and his constant desire to improve. I look forward to working with him and seeing the significant contribution he can make to the team.”

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta Customs, in a joint operation with the police, seized 113 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside nine industrial pistons found in a container that had arrived from Costa Rica and was destined for Libya.

The operation was carried out on Tuesday evening after suspicions were raised about the container’s contents at the Malta Freeport. The pistons were cut open in the presence of police officers to allow the illicit substance to be extracted.

Authorities said the street value of the cocaine is estimated to exceed €12 million.

The drugs were confiscated by the police, who immediately launched investigations and began questioning individuals as part of efforts to identify those responsible and bring them before the courts.

Officials noted that investments made in recent years in Malta Customs, including advanced scanners and other sophisticated equipment, have strengthened the country’s ability to combat drug trafficking. These investments have contributed to a number of major drug seizures at both the Malta Freeport and Malta International Airport.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

EL JADIDA (MOROCCO) (ITALPRESS) – Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita reiterated that the fight against terrorism and transnational threats in Africa must be based on a coordinated, multilateral African vision, inspired by the guidance of King Mohammed VI. According to MAP news agency, the remarks took place at the fifth High-Level Meeting of the Heads of African Counter-Terrorism and Security Agencies of the “Marrakech Platform,” jointly organized by Morocco and the United Nations Office on Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) in the Moroccan city of El Jadida. According to Bourita, the Royal Vision is based on the principle that Africa must be able to independently develop responses to its own security challenges, through strengthened cooperation among the continent’s states and greater sharing of expertise, information, and operational resources.

The minister emphasized that security is an essential condition for economic development, political stability, and regional integration in Africa. Recalling the evolving terrorist threat on the continent, Bourita noted that Africa continues to be one of the regions most affected by international terrorism. He also highlighted the need to adapt counter-terrorism strategies to new forms of threat, making greater use of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and advanced surveillance systems. The Moroccan diplomat praised the steady growth of the Marrakech Platform, which over the years has become one of Africa’s main coordination tools in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.

The platform, launched in 2022, promotes institutional capacity building, information exchange, and operational cooperation among African countries. Bourita also emphasized the importance of the strategic partnership between Morocco and the UN Office for Africa (UNOCT), recalling the role of the Rabat-based UN Office for Africa in strengthening African countries’ capacities in security and counter-terrorism. For the Moroccan minister, the response to the threats facing the continent cannot be limited to a security approach, but must include human development, education, prevention of radicalization, and the strengthening of state institutions. This strategy is fully in line with the Royal Vision for a stable, prosperous Africa capable of taking a central role in managing its own destiny.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

RABAT (MOROCCO) (ITALPRESS) – The fifth High-Level Meeting of Heads of African Counterterrorism and Security Agencies, organized under the “Marrakech Platform,” an initiative co-chaired by the Kingdom of Morocco and the United Nations Office on Counterterrorism (UNOCT), has opened in the Moroccan city of El Jadida. According to the Moroccan news agency MAP, the meeting is attended by some forty African countries and 90 observer delegations from Europe, Asia, the Americas, and the Middle East. The event brings together the heads of the main security agencies on the African continent, along with representatives of regional and international organizations, with the aim of strengthening coordination and cooperation in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.

During the meeting, participants will examine the evolving terrorist threat in Africa, characterized by the growing adaptability of extremist groups, the use of new technologies, and the expansion of transnational criminal networks fueling instability and insecurity in various regions of the continent. The meeting also aims to promote the exchange of information and best operational practices, strengthen the capacities of African institutions, and develop common response mechanisms to emerging threats. Special attention is paid to strengthening cooperation between security services and developing shared strategies to prevent radicalization and counter terrorist financing.

Launched in 2022, the Marrakech Platform has gradually established itself as one of the main tools for African security cooperation. Following events in Marrakech, Tangier, Fez, and Agadir, the mechanism continues to consolidate its role as a privileged forum for dialogue, coordination, and capacity building in countering terrorist threats affecting the continent. According to the organizers, the growing participation of African countries and international partners demonstrates the trust placed in this initiative and the need for a coordinated African response to an increasingly transnational and complex threat.

– foto IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LISBON (PORTUGAL) (ITALPRESS) – Marco Silva will succeed Josè Mourinho as Benfica coach. The Portuguese club announced that “it has reached an agreement with Marco Silva for the signature of a two-year contract, extendable until 2028/29.” After five seasons at Fulham, the 48-year-old manager is ready to return to Portugal, where during his career he coached Estoril Praia and Sporting Lisbon, before further stints abroad at Olympiakos, Hull City, Watford, and Everton.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

BARCELONA (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – Barcelona will not pay the €30 million expected to buy Marcus Rashford, who arrived on loan from Manchester United last summer. Marca reports. The purchase of Anthony Gordon, for which €80 million was paid to Newcastle, convinced Barcelona not to buy the English player. According to the Spanish newspaper, the decisive factor was the opinion of coach Hansi Flick, who believes the left flank is covered, given that he also has Raphinha.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

AUBURN (USA) (ITALPRESS) – Another record in a legendary career. With his penalty against Iceland in a friendly, Leo Messi became the oldest goalscorer (38 years, 11 months, and 18 days) in Argentina’s national team history, surpassing Ángel Labruna’s previous record set in 1957.

“I don’t think about records or individual statistics, but only about the team’s results. I’m enjoying the moment,” explained the Argentine ace, who turns 39 on June 24, after a warm-up test ahead of his World Cup debut, scheduled for the night of June 16-17 against Algeria.

“I’m enjoying myself. Today I really wanted to play after the physical discomfort I’ve been experiencing recently. I had the opportunity to find my rhythm, get some minutes, and feel good,” explained Messi, who came on as a substitute in the 70th minute.

“We have a week left to get back into shape and arrive at our debut in the best possible condition,” he added. “I always want to win and be competitive. If this group hadn’t been so strong, it would have been very difficult to achieve everything we’ve achieved.”

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews