BRUSSELS (BELGIUM) (ITALPRESS) – The Brussels public prosecutor’s office has requested a two-year prison sentence for former Cagliari, Roma, and Inter midfielder Radja Nainggolan on charges of money laundering. The player was arrested in early 2025, accused of being involved in an international drug trafficking ring. According to prosecutors, Nainggolan allegedly helped launder 105,500 euros for a criminal organization; the Belgian player reportedly received the funds from Nasr-Eddine Sekkaki, the brother of the criminal Ashraf Sekkaki. The former Roma and Inter player initially claimed to have lent the money to Sekkaki “out of friendship,” but later admitted to receiving the funds because his own accounts had been frozen due to his divorce.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has had a change of heart. Last December, it had been decided to hold the Africa Cup of Nations every four years instead of every two, in order to make room for an African Nations League. However, the project stalled because it “would have taken several years to generate sufficient revenue” to contribute to the development of African football. Consequently, the CAF Executive Committee has decided to reverse course and return the Africa Cup of Nations to a biennial schedule: the upcoming editions will therefore take place in 2027 (in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda), 2028, 2031, and 2033. The three-year gap between the 2028 and 2031 editions is due to the desire to avoid holding the tournament in the same year as the World Cup.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

NAPLES (ITALPRESS) – Napoli have announced that Stanislav Lobotka, who was injured yesterday during their away win against Monza, underwent medical tests today at Pineta Grande Hospital.

The tests revealed “an injury to the tibiofibular syndesmosis, without instability, associated with a low-grade injury to the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) of the left ankle.”

The Napoli midfielder has already begun his rehabilitation programme.

The club has not disclosed a recovery timeline.

– Photo Ipa Agency –

(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – King Mohammed VI of Morocco chaired a working meeting yesterday evening at the Royal Palace in Rabat to review progress on the Nador West Med port and industrial complex, whose first terminal is set to become operational in the coming days, as well as plans to expand Tanger Med with the launch of construction of the new Tanger Med 3 port. The news was reported by the Moroccan news agency MAP.

The meeting follows a series of working sessions held under the King’s leadership on the development of major national port projects, the previous one having taken place on 28 January. Fouad Brini, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of TMSA and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nador West Med, presented an update on the progress of both projects and outlined the next steps.

Both initiatives form part of the King’s vision to equip Morocco with a high-performance port system capable of strengthening the country’s competitiveness amid the restructuring of global value chains. The objective is to combine national economic growth with regional development through a better distribution of public investment, the mobilisation of private capital and the creation of employment opportunities, delivering tangible benefits to communities in the surrounding areas.

Nador West Med will complement Tanger Med’s existing facilities and strengthen Morocco’s position as a logistics, industrial and energy hub. The project has already mobilised 54 billion dirhams in public and private investment. The first container terminal, whose initial phase is due to become operational shortly, will have a full capacity of 3.5 million containers. A second terminal, with a capacity of 1.8 million containers, is scheduled to enter service in April 2027. The two terminals will attract 8 billion dirhams in private investment.

The energy component includes the commissioning of a hydrocarbon terminal connected to a storage area with a potential capacity of 4 million cubic metres, as well as a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal capable of handling up to 5 billion cubic metres per year. The complex will also feature a dry bulk terminal and a general cargo terminal.

The industrial zone is already operational and currently hosts one active facility, with three more under construction. In the short term, the Nador West Med complex is expected to create 14,000 direct jobs and 20,000 indirect jobs. This development is supported by transport infrastructure, including the Selouane–NWM railway line, the Guercif–NWM motorway and the upgrading of the road network.

At the same time, the expansion of Tanger Med will increase the complex’s capacity, with construction work on Tanger Med 3 set to begin shortly. Located west of Tanger Med 2, the new port will feature 1,200 metres of quays, providing additional capacity of 4.5 million containers per year, with an investment of 8 billion dirhams.

A concession agreement has been signed with Maersk-APM for the development of the new container terminal. The project is accompanied by the ongoing expansion of the passenger and roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) port, as well as the eastern expansion of Tanger Med 2. With these developments, the Tanger Med complex will be able to reach a total capacity of 20 million containers, placing it among the world’s top ten ports.

At the end of the meeting, the King stressed the need to ensure that the economic and social benefits of these projects extend to all the provinces concerned and translate into tangible improvements in the lives of local communities. In this regard, the Sovereign called for the accelerated implementation of training programmes tailored to the needs of emerging industries, in order to improve young people’s access to employment.

The meeting was attended by the King’s Adviser Fouad Ali El Himma; Minister of the Interior Abdelouafi Laftit; Minister of Economy, Finance and Public Performance Fouzi Lekjaa; Minister of Equipment, Water and Forests Nizar Baraka; Minister of Industry, Trade, Investment and Economic Inclusion Ryad Mezzour; and Fouad Brini, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of TMSA and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nador West Med.

– Photo: IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta’s economic growth has slowed, with tourism and consumer confidence remaining strong while the property market weakens and inflation rises, according to the Central Bank of Malta’s latest economic update published on Thursday.

Tourism expenditure increased by 14.9% in August, driven by higher spending per tourist per night, despite shorter stays.

Consumer confidence also remained strong, particularly regarding households’ ability to make major purchases over the coming year. Industrial production and services recorded marginal growth in recent months.

However, business conditions remained below their long-term average, while residential building permits continued to decline following a period of exceptional growth.

Although commercial permits increased in September, residential deeds and promise-of-sale agreements fell, signalling a slowdown in the property market.

Malta’s unemployment rate remained stable at 3.4%, with 1,328 people registered as unemployed in August. This represented an increase of 301 people compared with the same month in 2025.

Meanwhile, inflation rose from 2% in August to 2.4% in September, largely driven by higher food prices, particularly vegetables, and increased service costs. Despite the increase, Malta’s inflation rate remained comfortably below the euro area average, where rising energy prices continued to exert pressure.

– Photo Pexels –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

PARIS (FRANCE) (ITALPRESS) – “The Ballon d’Or rankings? I have no opinion on them. I’m just glad it’s over.”

Luis Enrique tried to sidestep the issue with that remark on the eve of Paris Saint-Germain’s match against Le Havre.

On Monday, the France Football award went to Harry Kane, and no PSG player — despite the club having 10 nominees among the 30 candidates — made it onto the podium, even though the team had won the Champions League for the second consecutive year.

However, when asked about Vitinha and his development, the Spanish coach admitted that “he didn’t deserve that position in the Ballon d’Or rankings” — referring to the midfielder’s 14th-place finish.

“What Vitinha brings to the team is something completely different. It’s a real pleasure to have a player with such physical abilities and such a mentality. He is still looking to improve, and his level is incredible.”

Luis Enrique also missed out on the award for Best Coach, losing to fellow Spaniard Luis de la Fuente, although many still regard him as the number one coach.

“I know this is a very positive period for me, the team and the club. But in the past, we have also experienced difficult situations, and you can hear less pleasant comments.”

– Photo Ipa Agency –

(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

MADRID (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – Cristiano Ronaldo is the greatest of all time. The Portuguese superstar has won the “BOAT” — the “Ballon d’Or of All Time” — an award created by UEFA and France Football to determine the best Ballon d’Or-winning performance in history.

The winner, chosen through a voting process limited to players who have won the award more than once, was the 2008 version of Cristiano Ronaldo, the year he secured the first of his five Ballons d’Or while playing for Manchester United.

Lionel Messi’s 2012 performance took second place, followed by CR7 again with his 2017 win. Messi and Ronaldo dominated the top 12 spots, with the “original” Ronaldo (the 2002 Ballon d’Or winner) breaking the streak by placing 13th.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

TRIPOLI (LIBYA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A reception center for irregular migrants located east of Tripoli, in the Tajoura area, has repatriated 113 Somali nationals. According to a statement released by the center on Facebook, the operation was carried out via Mitiga International Airport following the completion of legal and administrative procedures, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

This measure is part of the center’s ongoing efforts to implement expulsion plans in accordance with current laws and regulations, strengthen the rule of law, and curb irregular immigration, in coordination with the relevant authorities. The center further indicated that repatriation operations will continue in the coming days.

-File photo: IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ISTANBUL (TURKEY) (ITALPRESS) – Having been dismissed by Turkey earlier this month following a disappointing World Cup and a disastrous start to the Nations League, Vincenzo Montella could soon be back in action. According to “Fanatik,” the 52-year-old Italian coach is a candidate for the Fenerbahce managerial post, following the club’s acceptance of Kartal’s resignation yesterday and the appointment of Dirk Kuyt on an interim basis.

Montella has been working in Turkey since 2021—having coached Adana before taking charge of the national team—and has reportedly signaled his availability to Fenerbahce.

The sticking point concerns the length of the contract: the club has offered a deal running until the end of the season, whereas the former national team manager would prefer an agreement that extends beyond June.

Other options under consideration by the Fenerbahce board include Domenico Tedesco, who was dismissed by Bologna in September and previously managed the Istanbul side last season.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LONDON (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Ahead of tonight’s final match, the draw for the English League Cup quarter-finals has taken place.

Manchester City, who advanced on penalties against Brighton, have been drawn against Bradford, a side competing in League One.

Liverpool were less fortunate and will host Bournemouth at Anfield, while Crystal Palace will face Sunderland at Selhurst Park.

The surprise package, fourth-tier side Fleetwood Town—who managed to eliminate Arsenal—will play at home against either Everton or Newcastle, who face each other tonight at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. y

The League Cup quarter-finals will be played between December 15 and 17.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews