CAIRO (EGYPT) (ITALPRESS(MNA) – Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) praised Egypt’s positions, both at the institutional and popular levels, in support of the Palestinian cause. He highlighted President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s role in supporting the Palestinian people and defending their national rights, as well as Cairo’s efforts to halt the war and put an end to the suffering in the Gaza Strip.

According to the Egyptian news agency MENA, Abbas made the remarks during a meeting in Cairo with a group of journalists, to whom he outlined the latest developments affecting the Palestinian population and the region, focusing on the political situation, developments on the ground and the international dimension. Abu Mazen discussed conditions in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Jerusalem, stressing “the Palestinian rejection of any plan for displacement” and “the right of the Palestinian people to remain on their land.”

Abu Mazen also highlighted changes in the international landscape, with “an increasing number of countries recognizing the State of Palestine,” and reiterated his support for the two-state solution based on international law, with an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital.

On the domestic front, Abu Mazen stressed the importance of holding Palestinian elections in November, including legislative elections and elections for the Palestinian National Council, describing them as an important step toward renewing institutions, strengthening political participation and consolidating the Palestinian democratic system.

– Photo: IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – Italian football is in mourning. Sandro Mazzola, a legendary figure of Helenio Herrera’s Grande Inter and the Italian national team, has died in Milan at the age of 83. With the Azzurri, he was European champion in 1968 and a World Cup runner-up in 1970.

Considered one of the greatest Italian footballers in history, Mazzola was a midfielder and the son of Valentino Mazzola, who died with the legendary Torino team in the Superga air disaster. He was nominated for the Ballon d’Or on nine occasions, finishing second in 1971, behind Johan Cruyff. Among his individual achievements, he was the top scorer in the 1963-64 European Cup and in the Italian league in 1965. In 2014, he was inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame, followed by induction into Inter’s Hall of Fame in 2022.

Born in Turin on November 8, 1942, Mazzola became synonymous with Inter, for whom he played from 1961 to 1977, making 570 appearances and scoring 162 goals. During his time with the Nerazzurri, he won four Italian league titles, two European Cups and two Intercontinental Cups. He served as captain for seven seasons, from 1970 to 1977, succeeding Mario Corso.

With the Italian national team, between 1963 and 1974, he played in the victorious 1968 European Championship, Italy’s first triumph in the competition. He also took part in three World Cups: England 1966, Mexico 1970 and West Germany 1974.

One of the most famous rivalries of the era was his competition with Gianni Rivera, the iconic Milan player and Mazzola’s main rival for a starting place with the Azzurri, although the two always maintained a relationship of mutual respect.

After retiring from playing, Mazzola held several executive positions at Inter, the last of which was sporting director from 1995 to 1999. He also held executive roles at Genoa and Torino and worked as a technical commentator and pundit for Rai Sport, appearing on several shows.

– Photo Ipa Agency –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – The opposition is calling for funds. Aleksander Ceferin and Victor Montagliani—heads of UEFA and CONCACAF, respectively—have written a letter to Gianni Infantino (signing as FIFA vice-presidents) requesting that the international federation distribute at least $10 million (approximately €8.7 million) to each of its 211 member associations.

This request stems from the fact that FIFA is “on track to close the 2023–26 period with reserves of around $6 billion”—a figure “considerably higher” than what is required leading up to the next cycle.

Consequently, Zurich could release a portion of these reserves—a “one-off distribution” costing FIFA a total of $2.11 billion—to be used “for investments in infrastructure and football development.” After all, Ceferin and Montagliani point out, the FIFA Forward Enterprise project was presented with the aim of “making far greater resources available for football development.” They note that they have now “examined the financial statements and budgets published by FIFA,” which “already possesses the capacity to allocate considerably more resources to its associations through its own balance sheet, without relinquishing any interests in its competitions and without asking the associations for anything in return.”

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A reserve juror in the Yorgen Fenech trial was arrested on Friday morning and is expected to be questioned by police as part of an ongoing investigation into the jury process.

The arrest follows that of three other jurors and the husband of one of them on Thursday.

Police said the investigations concern the oath taken by jurors before the trial began, particularly public comments allegedly made by some of them before the proceedings.

The Police stressed that the investigation relates specifically to these alleged comments and “not on some theory or other allegation.”

Another juror is being investigated over the alleged use of a mobile phone during the trial.

Three of the jurors arrested on Thursday have since been released on police bail.

-Photo Police Malta-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

BARCELONA (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – Hands off Tek. On the eve of the match against Sevilla, Hansi Flick has come to the defense of Wojciech Szczesny, who made a glaring error in the game against Racing Santander—a match Barcelona ultimately won 7–2. Although regular starter Joan Garcia is still sidelined, the former Juventus goalkeeper risks losing his spot to Livakovic; however, the German coach refuses to be swayed.

“When you look at the first season we had with Tek—where we won three trophies—you can see he is a great goalkeeper. If we won that La Liga title, it was largely thanks to him. Livakovic is also a great goalkeeper, which is why he was brought in. Who will play tomorrow? Wait and see.” Flick revealed that he had spoken with Szczesny.

“Everyone makes mistakes, and he made one. I spoke to him, and he admitted he was at fault. Tek knows our philosophy and our style of play. Livakovic is adapting to our way of playing. But he is ready to take the field, and it is best for the team that everyone is ready.”

Last season, Barça were thrashed 4–1 in Seville, but “today we are at a different level. Every match starts at 0–0; Sevilla plays very well, especially at home. They play man-to-man in defense and will press us. It will be important for us to play with confidence. Controlling the game is crucial when facing teams that play this way.”

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LONDON (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Sandro Tonali is available to Roberto De Zerbi for tomorrow’s match against Aston Villa. “Porro, Tonali, and Maddison are all available. We need to assess their physical condition, but they are all ready to play,” the former Sassuolo and Marseille boss said in his press conference. The situation is slightly different for Destiny Udogie. “I hope all my players get called up by their respective national teams, but for Udogie and Maddison, for example, we need to plan their workload to ensure they are ready for the Premier League restart,” said the Italian Spurs manager. It has been a disastrous start to the season for his Tottenham side. Despite heavy investment during the last transfer window, the team sits on just two points—with zero wins and zero goals scored in the Premier League—and is coming off a cup defeat away at Liverpool. Now, they face a match against the “Villans,” who are struggling even more, having picked up only one point from four games.

“It will be a difficult match, but we have the qualities and the players to do well. If we don’t play well, we can’t win. Their style of play is well-established, even though they’ve changed many players. It will be a really tough game, but I believe it will be for Aston Villa too,” explains De Zerbi, reflecting on the recent defeat away at Liverpool (a 3-1 loss to the Reds in the League Cup). “We showed a great reaction and deserved more. In the first 10–15 minutes, we created two big chances. I couldn’t ask for a better reaction,” the Italian explains. “Clearly, we need to improve in every aspect, including the quality of our play. I think we created more chances at Anfield than in other matches. Liverpool played bravely and left us more space to attack, unlike in other games.” Despite the criticism and the challenging period, De Zerbi defends his squad: “I am very satisfied with the roster. I have players with very specific characteristics, including among the centre-backs. Against Liverpool, Tosin and Senesi played very well. I’m really pleased,” asserts the manager.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

NEW YORK (UNITED STATES) (ITALPRESS) – Morocco and the United Nations co-chaired a global conference in New York dedicated to combating hate speech through the promotion of interfaith and intercultural dialogue and tolerance; the event was organized on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita co-chaired the meeting alongside the United Nations Secretary-General and the President of the General Assembly. The conference was jointly organized by Morocco, the United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect, and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.

The proceedings highlighted the importance of strengthening dialogue between cultures and religions, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence as essential tools for countering intolerance, discrimination, and the spread of hate speech.

This initiative aligns with Morocco’s commitment to promoting moderation, interfaith and intercultural dialogue, and a culture of peace—values ​​the Kingdom also champions within major international organizations.

The New York conference also served as an opportunity to reiterate the need for broader international mobilization against intolerance and to foster more inclusive societies founded on respect for diversity and mutual understanding.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – During the tenth joint meeting of the Executive Boards of the three Rome-based UN agencies—FAO, the World Food Programme (WFP), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)—Morocco called for strengthening an approach to humanitarian crises that focuses on durable solutions and the progressive reduction of aid dependency.

Speaking during the debate on the implementation of the Blueprint for collaboration among the agencies in fragile contexts, Morocco’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Youssef Balla, welcomed the progress made but emphasized the need to place the transition out of crisis at the heart of international action.

“In a context of shrinking financial resources, we cannot view crisis management as a permanent state of affairs,” Balla stated. It is therefore necessary to shift from a primarily emergency-driven mindset to an approach capable of strengthening national and local capacities and addressing the structural causes of fragility.

Morocco proposed that the Blueprint more explicitly incorporate the transition from crisis management to durable solutions as a guiding principle for collaboration among FAO, WFP, and IFAD.

“Success should be measured not only by the ability to respond to a crisis but also by the capacity to create conditions that prevent it from becoming permanent,” Balla concluded.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Attorney General’s office has referred a request for an investigation into suspected perjury by Maltese businessman Yorgen Fenech to the Police Commissioner.

The request was made by Nationalist MEP David Casa and concerns testimony Fenech gave under oath during his trial for the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Casa has questioned Fenech’s claim that Electrogas and 17 Black were entirely unrelated, describing them as “apples and oranges”.

In his request, Casa cited documentary and financial evidence concerning 17 Black, its ownership, alleged payment arrangements and links to Electrogas.

Fenech owns 17 Black, a Dubai-registered company whose ownership was exposed in 2018. Financial documents had identified the company as a “target client” of Panama companies linked to former energy minister Konrad Mizzi and former prime minister Joseph Muscat’s chief of staff Keith Schembri.

The relationship between 17 Black and Electrogas was a key issue during Fenech’s 55-day trial, with prosecutors arguing that Caruana Galizia’s investigations into the two provided a possible motive for her murder.

Fenech denied the allegation and told the jury that the two entities were unrelated.

He was acquitted earlier this month of complicity in Caruana Galizia’s murder and of association with others to commit a crime in Malta.

The nine-member jury returned an eight-to-one not-guilty verdict on both counts.

The prosecution is expected to appeal the acquittal within the 15-working-day deadline, potentially seeking a retrial over issues concerning the jury trial process.

Casa has called for Fenech’s full testimony to be examined against banking records, communications and other evidence.

Separately, Judge Edwina Grima ordered evidence given by witnesses during the trial to be sent to the Police Commissioner to determine whether criminal proceedings against third parties should be initiated.

She also ordered the trial proceedings and related documents to be included in the ongoing magisterial inquiry into Caruana Galizia’s murder.

Caruana Galizia was killed in a car bomb attack in Bidnija in October 2017. Nine years later, the mastermind behind the murder remains unidentified.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has clearly stated his intention to introduce stricter measures against betting and has once again criticized the effects of gambling addiction. The government is therefore considering the possibility of issuing a provisional measure to ban online betting and gambling in Brazil, thereby simultaneously prohibiting related sponsorships. Brazilian football clubs have reacted promptly to this development. In a joint statement, they immediately voiced their opposition, citing the potential loss of significant sponsorship revenue and warning that it could spell the “end of Brazilian football.” “The football community is closely monitoring discussions regarding the betting market in Brazil and acknowledges the challenges posed by its expansion. The social impacts—particularly on the most vulnerable—require constant attention from public authorities, companies, and all sectors involved. Therefore, it is essential to improve protection, oversight, education, and prevention measures to mitigate risks and ensure a responsible market,” reads the joint statement from the Brazilian clubs.

“It is important to highlight that, in recent years, investment by licensed betting companies has become one of the sport’s primary revenue sources. This investment has strengthened Brazilian football, enabling it to dominate the South American landscape in competitions like the Libertadores and allowing Brazilian clubs to play an increasingly prominent role,” the clubs write. “This presence is not limited to the biggest clubs. Funds also reach smaller teams, lower divisions, and competitions with less commercial exposure. For many of these organizations—especially those located in the country’s interior—there is currently no other economic sector capable of immediately replacing this investment. These revenues are crucial for maintaining administrative structures, training centers, staff, social projects, and departments that do not generate enough resources to be self-sustaining—such as women’s football and youth talent development—which are the first areas to face cuts when revenue drops sharply,” the manifesto adds.

“Rumors regarding abrupt changes to betting market regulations have sparked immense concern among all the clubs and various sports federations. A sudden change in the rules would reduce the clubs’ investment capacity and create imbalances both within and outside the country. Contracts duly signed, multi-year planning, and financial commitments were all established within a regulatory framework created by the State itself,” the Brazilian clubs conclude.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews