MADRID (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – After leading Spain to the top of the world, Luis de la Fuente has extended his contract as head coach until 2032. The news had been anticipated for days, but the 65-year-old manager has now signed the deal, meaning he will lead La Roja at the next two European Championships as well as the World Cup that Spain will co-host with Morocco and Portugal.

“We are talking about the most successful coach in the national team’s history; Luis de la Fuente deserves a long future with us,” said federation president Rafael Louzan. At the helm since 2023, De la Fuente has also won the most recent European Championship with Spain and reached the 2025 Nations League final.

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(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

TUNIS (TUNISIA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Tunisia’s Civil Protection agency has stepped up preparedness ahead of new weather disturbances expected from Wednesday onwards, following operations carried out between September 17 and 20 to tackle the impact of heavy rains.

Operational units will remain on high alert, with reinforced deployment in low-lying areas and locations prone to water accumulation, where forward response teams will be stationed to enable immediate intervention.

Regional committees for disaster prevention and management are also ready to intervene if necessary. According to forecasts from the National Institute of Meteorology, the rainfall expected starting Wednesday should be less intense than the severe weather experienced in recent days.

Between September 17 and 20, Civil Protection units removed 73 vehicles from flooded roads, carried out 59 water-pumping operations at homes and commercial premises, and conducted 158 site inspections to assess water accumulation. Personnel also assisted 189 people in crossing flooded areas.

Finally, Civil Protection urged the public not to attempt to cross watercourses or flooded zones—particularly in inland regions—and advised motorists to take necessary safety precautions and observe traffic regulations.

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Source: medNews

PARIS (FRANCE) (ITALPRESS) – First national team call-up for Jean Butez. Zinedine Zidane has had to rule out Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser due to a rib injury and has decided to call up the 31-year-old French goalkeeper from Como in his place; he will join Mike Maignan and another debutant, Guillaume Restes of Toulouse. France has four Nations League matches ahead, including the October 2nd game against Mancini’s Italy.

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Source: medNews

GENEVA (SWITZERLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Granit Xhaka has made a confession. The 33-year-old Sunderland midfielder, currently under investigation by the Lucerne public prosecutor’s office, admitted via social media that he had previously purchased a fake Covid vaccination certificate. “At the time, I was personally very unsure and harbored major reservations regarding vaccination. I felt a deep mistrust of the vaccine and was overcome by fear and uncertainty. In that turbulent state of mind, I bought a vaccination certificate instead of resolving my doubts through the proper channels.” Xhaka, who expressed regret and a willingness to take responsibility for his actions, will not participate in the upcoming Swiss national team camp.

“The decision was reached by mutual agreement during a discussion between Xhaka and the ASF leadership,” read a statement from the Federation. “Granit Xhaka informed us of the situation last night and also told us that he intended to speak publicly about it and accept responsibility,” explained Federation President Peter Knäbel. “We appreciate Granit’s decision to take this step and address what happened. At the same time, we mutually concluded that it is in the team’s best interest to hold this camp without him.” Amenda and Zakaria have also been dropped from the squad due to physical issues; they are being replaced by Isaac Schmidt (Young Boys), Vincent Sierro (Parma), and Joel Monteiro (Lecce).

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Source: medNews

LONDON (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Although he was somewhat surprisingly left off the World Cup squad list, Cole Palmer had been called up for the upcoming Nations League fixtures; however, he will now have to postpone his debut with the England national team. According to BBC Sport, the Chelsea player is dealing with an injury that, while minor, will prevent him from joining the Three Lions squad. Thomas Tuchel is expected to call up Morgan Gibbs-White in his place; Gibbs-White also missed out on the World Cup but has enjoyed a strong start to the season with Nottingham Forest. Regarding the double-header against the Czech Republic and the matches against Spain and Croatia, the fitness of Manchester United duo Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo—both substituted late in the game against Fulham—will also need to be assessed. If Mainoo is unable to make it, Everton midfielder James Garner could step in.

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Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Prime Minister Robert Abela has announced that Malta’s Budget speech will be delivered on October 26.

Abela said the Budget would confirm Malta’s economic resilience while maintaining support measures for households and businesses.

He pledged that fuel and energy subsidies would remain in place, saying Malta was the only country to have maintained such subsidies.

“I guarantee that they will remain,” Abela said.

The Prime Minister said, however, that the Budget would be realistic and take into account the international economic situation.

He reiterated the government’s opposition to austerity, saying its policies would continue to support young people, pensioners and workers.

Abela said the Budget would need to balance caution with continued support for pensioners, young people, workers and investors.

He said the government’s economic policy would seek to maintain confidence in Malta’s economy while continuing to provide support to key sectors of society.

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Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Prime Minister Robert Abela said Malta’s courts must be allowed to work independently following Yorgen Fenech’s acquittal in the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder trial.

Abela said he had exchanged correspondence with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, with both agreeing that Malta should await the outcome of the appeal.

He said the appeal would be heard by three judges, including the Chief Justice, and warned against political interference in the courts, the Attorney General’s Office or the police.

The prosecution is expected to appeal Fenech’s acquittal within the next five working-day period.

Justice Minister Clifton Grima also defended the independence of the courts, saying justice must be based on evidence and the law rather than assumptions. Grima said politicians should not decide who is guilty or innocent, stressing that this was a matter for the courts.

He said there could be disagreement with a verdict, but that this should not undermine the judicial process or the institutions responsible for administering justice.

Grima also addressed criticism of Malta’s jury system following Fenech’s acquittal, questioning why such criticism had not been raised before the verdict.

On the police questioning of four jurors, Grima said investigations should be taken seriously but stressed that an investigation was not a verdict.

He urged people not to draw conclusions before all the facts had been established, saying institutions should be allowed to complete their work.

Grima reiterated that there should be no impunity for those responsible for Caruana Galizia’s murder, while insisting that guilt must be established through evidence and according to law.

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Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Expatriates, met with Luigi Di Maio, the European Union Special Representative for the Gulf region, in New York on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. According to Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nader Zaki, the two discussed regional developments, focusing particularly on the situation in Yemen, the Iran crisis, and developments in the Strait of Hormuz. Abdelatty emphasized the importance of de-escalation and returning to a political and negotiating path to strengthen regional security and stability, while also reiterating the need to ensure the safety and freedom of maritime navigation in accordance with international law. The meeting also provided an opportunity to exchange views on prospects for developing cooperation between Egypt and the European Union across various sectors—particularly regarding the economy, trade, and investment—as well as on strengthening coordination in the energy sector, for the mutual benefit of both parties.

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Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – The Italy national team will gather this evening at the Federal Technical Centre in Coverciano, where training will begin tomorrow ahead of the first four matches of the Nations League group stage.

Following yesterday’s league match against Inter, Roma midfielder Bryan Cristante is unavailable due to a physical problem and will therefore be unable to join the squad. At the same time, head coach Roberto Mancini has called up Como midfielder Samuele Ricci, who will join the group in the coming hours.

The squad:

Goalkeepers: Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City), Massimo Pessina (Bologna), Guglielmo Vicario (Juventus).

Defenders: Honest Ahanor (Crystal Palace), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Diego Coppola (Paris FC), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Daniele Ghilardi (Roma), Michael Kayode (Brentford), Eddy Kouadio (Monza), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta).

Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Issa Doumbia (Sporting CP), Nicolò Fagioli (Fiorentina), Davide Frattesi (Lazio), Rolando Mandragora (Torino), Samuele Ricci (Como), Alessandro Romano (Cagliari), Sandro Tonali (Tottenham).

Forwards: Nicolò Cambiaghi (Bologna), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Sebastiano Esposito (Sassuolo), Samuele Inacio (Borussia Dortmund), Moise Kean (Como), Daniel Maldini (Cagliari), Giacomo Raspadori (Atalanta), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta), Antonio Vergara (Napoli), Nicolò Zaniolo (Udinese), Mohamed Alì Zoma (Nuremberg).

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(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

BARCELONA (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – Barcelona are tying down Raphinha, Xavi Espart and Marc Bernal. Sporting director Deco announced the contract extensions of the three players during the club’s general assembly.

As for the Brazilian, “we have agreed that he will stay until 2030.” Deco also announced that negotiations over new deals for Xavi Espart and Marc Bernal are well advanced.

Espart is currently under contract until June 30, 2028, while Bernal’s deal expires in 2029. Both extensions have already been agreed verbally and negotiations will continue in the coming days: the full-back will sign a new contract until 2030, while the midfielder will extend his deal until 2031.

– Photo Ipa Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews