VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A European Commission proposal requiring governments to favour EU-sourced goods and materials could cost Malta up to €55.7 million annually, the Economy Ministry has warned. The ministry has raised concerns with the Commission over the potential impact of the proposed Industrial Accelerator Act on Malta.

The measures could create first-year and recurring costs of up to almost €100 per resident. The ministry said this would be around seven times the EU average on a per-capita basis.

The Industrial Accelerator Act, submitted in March, is intended to speed up investment and decarbonisation in strategic sectors. These include steel, cement, aluminium, electric vehicles and net-zero technologies.

A key element of the proposal is a new “made in EU” requirement for public procurement.

Under the plans, governments would have to ensure that specified percentages of materials used in public projects are produced within the EU and/or meet low-carbon criteria. The proposal also sets targets for public spending on EU suppliers for batteries and other electronic systems used in vehicles.

The Economic Ministry referred to the disproportionate financial impact the requirements could have on smaller member states such as Malta, and has urged the European Commission to take Malta’s particular circumstances into account as the legislation is considered.

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Source: medNews

ZURICH (SWITZERLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Spain remains world number one, Portugal makes gains, and Italy holds steady at 15th place in the latest FIFA rankings. The global governing body released the national team standings after analyzing the last 338 international matches.

“La Roja” (2,011.57 points) not only retained the top spot but also extended their lead over Argentina (1,972.80) and France (1,958.86), who remain on the podium. England sits just outside the top three in fourth place (1,924.59), while Portugal climbed two spots to fifth, overtaking Brazil and Morocco. Belgium, the Netherlands, and Mexico round out the top tier. Colombia remains 11th, while Switzerland moved up two places to 12th, surpassing Germany and Croatia.

Italy sits in 15th place with 1,713.04 points. Other notable movers include Canada (27th, +3), Sweden (34th, +3), Greece (41st, +5), Mali (47th, +6), and South Africa (48th, +6), while Nigeria (30th, -4), Turkey (31st, -4), and Ukraine (36th, -3) lost ground. The next FIFA rankings will be published on November 18.

THE TOP TEN

1. Spain 2011.57 points (–)
2. Argentina 1972.80 (–)
3. France 1958.86 (–)
4. England 1925.59 (–)
5. Portugal 1807.69 (+2)
6. Brazil 1806.51 (-1)
7. Morocco 1805.34 (-1)
8. Belgium 1779.17 (–)
9. Netherlands 1778.61 (–)
10. Mexico 1738.48 (–)

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Source: medNews

LONDON (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Mikel Arteta will remain at the helm of the “Gunners” until 2030. Arsenal has officially announced the contract extension of the Spanish manager, who has led the team to a Premier League title—a feat that had eluded the club for 22 years.

Having arrived in 2019—after previously wearing the Gunners’ shirt as a player and spending three years as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City—the 44-year-old from San Sebastián has built a formidable team.

“It has been an incredible journey so far, and we are excited to experience the future of this special relationship. Last season was an extraordinary moment in Arsenal’s history—a time when we created memories that will last a lifetime. We are determined to create many more in the years to come,” commented co-chairs Stan and Josh Kroenke. “We share a special bond with Mikel. We are extremely proud of everything we have achieved since he returned to the club in 2019. He has a deep understanding of Arsenal’s values ​​and holds them close to his heart. He knows what this club means to everyone involved and is committed to building upon what we have achieved together,” they added.

“It is a privilege to commit my future to the club and to continue working with exceptional people who want the best for Arsenal,” said Arteta following the official announcement of the extension. “This club is unique in the emotions it evokes; I feel deeply honored to know that our journey together will continue. We have already forged a special bond and created memories that will last a lifetime; the exciting thing is that this is just the beginning of what we can achieve together. I am extremely grateful to Stan and Josh for their trust and support, and I feel honored to lead this club during such a special period in its 140-year history.”

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BARCELONA (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – “I feel the time has come. The time to take a step forward and begin a new phase of my life. I am stepping away, proud to have lived my dream and grateful to all the people who stood by my side to make it a reality. Thank you, football, for making me so happy.” Pedro Rodriguez is calling it quits. After finishing last season with Lazio, the 39-year-old Spanish forward has announced his retirement via social media.

He bows out with a glittering trophy cabinet, having achieved success both internationally (2010 World Cup and Euro 2012) and at the club level: with Barcelona, ​​he lifted the Champions League trophy three times, alongside three UEFA Super Cups, two Club World Cups, five La Liga titles, and three Copas del Rey; he then moved to Chelsea, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and Europa League, before arriving in Italy.

He played one season (2020–21) for Roma, followed by five years at Lazio. In total, he played 841 matches and scored over 200 goals, while also holding a unique record shared with Messi: scoring in six different competitions in a single year (2009)—specifically La Liga, the Champions League, the Copa del Rey, the Spanish Super Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, and the Club World Cup.

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RABAT (MOROCCO) (ITALPRESS) – GNV transported 2.2 million passengers in the first nine months of 2026, a 2% increase compared to the same period last year. Freight traffic also grew, reaching 1.84 million linear meters—a 5% rise. According to the Moroccan website Yabiladi, these figures were presented in Marrakech during the seventh edition of the “GNV Awards,” the annual event where the MSC Group company meets with its partner travel agencies.

The choice of Morocco for the event—which brought together around 120 representatives from Italian and international agencies—underscores the Kingdom’s importance in GNV’s strategy, particularly regarding the development of connections across the Mediterranean and to North Africa.

The company intends to further strengthen its presence in the Moroccan market. GNV and the Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT) have signed a three-year strategic partnership for the 2027–2029 period, aiming to boost tourism flows and maritime mobility between Morocco and Europe.

The agreement includes joint promotional campaigns in key European markets, communication initiatives, and offers that combine ferry travel with the Kingdom’s tourism offerings. These activities will target both European tourists and Moroccans living abroad—a key segment of maritime traffic between the two shores of the Mediterranean.

The goal is to increase visitor numbers to Morocco while simultaneously consolidating the country’s role in maritime links between Europe and North Africa.

In Marrakech, GNV also provided an update on its fleet renewal plan. Four new LNG-powered vessels are planned: GNV Jupiter, GNV Mars, GNV Venus, and GNV Mercury. The first, GNV Jupiter, will have a capacity of 2,500 passengers and 500 cabins and is expected to enter service by the end of 2027.

This fleet expansion is part of the company’s growth strategy in the Mediterranean, where Morocco remains a key market for GNV to support its expansion in the coming years.

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Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The three-day Global Summit of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) opened in Malta on Wednesday, bringing together hundreds of tourism industry leaders, government officials and journalists.

WTTC Chairman Manfredi Lefebvre described the gathering as the “Davos of tourism”, with the annual summit held in a different country each year.

WTTC President and CEO Gloria Guevara said more than 200 business leaders and 60 government officials were attending, alongside a large contingent of journalists.

She said the global tourism sector grew by 2.5% in 2025, with further figures on the European market due to be released during the summit.

Malta recorded the strongest tourism performance in Europe, Guevara said, with the sector growing by 16.8% in 2025. She attributed the result to strong policies and partnerships.

Malta Tourism Authority CEO Carlo Micallef said the country aimed to play a meaningful role in global tourism.

He said Malta’s long-term strategy was shifting towards high-value, year-round tourism that benefits local communities while preserving the country’s distinct identity.

MTA Chairman Charles Mangion said destinations must rethink how they attract visitors while balancing tourism growth with responsibility.

Tourism has been central to Malta’s development, he said, creating jobs while allowing visitors to experience Maltese culture and communities.

Mangion highlighted evolving consumer expectations, geopolitical uncertainty, changing travel preferences and climate change as key challenges facing the sector.

He said long-term thinking was needed to ensure tourism delivered meaningful benefits to communities and the people who give destinations their character.

Tourism Minister Jo Etienne Abela said the summit brought together the industry’s “movers and shakers” to discuss not only economic growth but also human experiences.

He expressed hope that the summit would lead to productive and fruitful discussions for the global tourism industry.

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Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The tax department will use artificial intelligence (AI) to identify hundreds of suspected tax evaders and investigate discrepancies between declared income, business turnover and major purchases.

Finance Minister Clyde Caruana said letters would be sent to “a couple of hundred” individuals in the coming weeks, asking them to explain apparent inconsistencies in their financial records.

The targets will include people reporting turnover of up to €1 million while declaring income close to or below the minimum wage.

Others include individuals with relatively low declared incomes who have purchased expensive assets, such as apartment blocks worth millions of euros.

Caruana said those unable to explain their purchases in light of their declared income would be encouraged to regularise their tax position.

Speaking at a pre-budget business breakfast hosted by the Times of Malta, the minister said a €60 million investment in IT was transforming the way government monitored revenue.

Caruana described the changes as a “silent revolution” and said AI was allowing tax officials to analyse the entire population rather than relying on samples.

He said the tax department was becoming more knowledgeable and agile and would continue ensuring that taxes due to the government were paid.

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Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has welcomed Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi to Seoul, marking the first visit by an Egyptian head of state to South Korea in ten years.

In a message posted on his official account on X, Lee Jae-myung welcomed Al Sisi, describing him as an “esteemed guest” of the Republic of Korea.

The South Korean president recalled his talks with Al Sisi in Cairo last year, stressing the importance of their new meeting in Seoul. He also expressed hope that the “Miracle on the Han River” and the “Miracle of the Nile” could come together to further promote shared prosperity between the two countries.

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ISTANBUL (TURKEY) (ITALPRESS) – He kept his job despite a disappointing World Cup campaign, but Vincenzo Montella is unlikely to survive four defeats in Turkey’s first four Nations League matches.

According to Turkish daily Milliyet, the Turkish Football Federation has already decided to dismiss Montella. Appointed head coach in September three years ago, the 52-year-old Italian manager had signed a contract extension through Euro 2028, reportedly earning €2.2 million per year.

Milliyet also reports that the Turkish Football Federation will seek to terminate the relationship by paying Montella five months’ salary in compensation, amounting to approximately €915,000.

Under Montella, Turkey have recorded 21 wins, 14 defeats and five draws in 40 matches. However, their form has deteriorated sharply in recent months, with six defeats and just one win in their last seven games across the World Cup and Nations League.

Official confirmation of Montella’s dismissal is expected on Friday. As for his successor, Turkish media are reporting that Arda Turan, currently coach of Shakhtar Donetsk, is being considered for the role.

The Turkish Football Federation is reportedly ready to offer him a part-time position as national team head coach, allowing him to keep his commitment to the Ukrainian club.

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BUENOS AIRES (ARGENTINA) (ITALPRESS) – “It is difficult to speak today. There are so many emotions running through me, but right now I’m thinking of my father. I wore this shirt with pride, and we did so by fighting and giving everything we had. Playing for the national team in Argentina is the most beautiful thing that can happen.”

Lionel Messi said this during the celebrations following his final match for the Albiceleste, a 3-0 victory over Benin in Buenos Aires.

“Today I’m experiencing one of the saddest days of my career, but from now on I will be on the fans’ side and I’ll be ready to support Argentina. We have to show that when we are united, we are stronger than everyone else, remembering that what we have achieved in recent years is not something normal. I dreamed of becoming world champions again. At the last World Cup we came very close, but the match against England had taken too much physical and mental energy out of us,” Messi added.

The Argentine star, who scored one goal and provided two assists against Benin, then reflected on his successes with the national team: “I thank my teammates for the time I was able to share with them. They helped me win two Copa América titles, one Finalissima and a World Cup. I knew I had warriors by my side, and I will miss playing with them and wearing the Argentina shirt enormously. “Thank you to the fans, who have always supported us in every competition and at every stadium. True teams reveal themselves in difficult moments. We were an extraordinary group, and that is why we won so much.”

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Source: medNews