Fenech claims Schembri was ‘hellbent’ on Daphne murder
Yorgen Fenech told jurors that former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri was “obsessed” and “hellbent” on seeing Daphne Caruana Galizia killed, as his testimony focused heavily on Schembri’s alleged role in the murder plot. Fenech claimed he acted as an intermediary between Schembri and taxi driver Melvin Theuma, including after Theuma quoted €120,000 for the murder. He insisted that an “OK” mentioned during police questioning had been directed at Schembri, not Theuma, and said he later told Theuma to stop the plan. Fenech also alleged that Schembri sent him a sensitive Europol report concerning the murder suspects. He maintained that investigators’ attitude towards him changed after he began mentioning Schembri, accusing them of building a case around Theuma’s version while protecting the former chief of staff. (Maltatoday)
Inflation rises to 2.7% as housing costs continue to climb
Malta’s annual inflation rate rose to 2.7% in July, up from 2.5% in June, according to the latest figures from the National Statistics Office. Housing recorded the highest annual price increases at 6.8%, followed by furnishings and household equipment at 5.8%. By contrast, clothing and footwear prices fell by 3.5%, while water, electricity, gas and fuels remained unchanged. Food made the largest contribution to overall inflation, followed by housing and household furnishings. The increase was driven mainly by higher prices for take-away food, tiles and furniture, while cheaper garments helped offset some of the upward pressure. (Times of Malta)
Heatwave conditions expected to grip Malta this week
August may be drawing to a close, but Malta is set for another spell of intense heat, with temperatures rising steadily throughout the week. Today, temperatures are expected to reach 34°C but feel closer to 39°C, before climbing further in the following days. Thursday is forecast to be the hottest day, with temperatures reaching 37°C and a “feels like” temperature of around 42°C. Light winds are unlikely to provide much relief, while the UV index is expected to remain at a very high level of 9, prompting warnings against prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, particularly during the hottest hours. Meanwhile, meteorological experts are warning that a possible Super El Niño this winter could bring further extreme weather, with an 80% chance of it becoming the strongest in decades. (Newsbook)
