Source: medNews

CAIRO (EGYPT) (ITALPRESS) – The 261st convoy of humanitarian aid trucks, known as “Zad al-Izza – From Egypt to Gaza,” entered the Gaza Strip in recent days through the secondary crossing of the Rafah land port, heading toward the Kerem Shalom crossing.

According to the Egyptian National Media Authority, the trucks are carrying large quantities of food and humanitarian aid, including flour, fresh bread, legumes, canned food, medicines, personal hygiene products, tents, clothing and fuel. The trucks are inspected by Israeli authorities before entering the Gaza Strip.

Since the beginning of the war in Gaza, around 58,000 trucks have delivered more than one million tonnes of humanitarian and relief supplies to the Strip, as well as ambulances and fuel trucks, thanks to the efforts of approximately 75,000 volunteers from the Egyptian Red Crescent.

– Photo Ipa Agency –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Maltese businessman Yorgen Fenech has told a court that former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri was the alleged mastermind behind the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Fenech made the claim during a dramatic exchange with Judge Edwina Grima as prosecutors cross-examined him on Saturday. Asked directly whether he knew who had ordered the killing, Fenech replied: “Keith Schembri, Madam Justice”.

He said Melvin Theuma, the state witness and alleged middleman in the murder plot, knew who the mastermind was and would eventually reveal it. Fenech admitted paying Theuma about €450,000, but maintained the money was intended to keep him “calm and under control”, rather than to finance the murder. He also admitted leaking sensitive police information to Theuma, while insisting he had been manipulated and financially exploited.

Prosecutor Godwin Cini challenged Fenech over his claim that Schembri was responsible, asking how he could be certain without witnessing any payment between Schembri and Theuma. “His fingerprints are all over it, you’re just not seeing it” , Fenech replied.

The prosecution also questioned Fenech about his relationships with senior police officials, including former Deputy Commissioner Silvio Valletta and former Superintendent Raymond Aquilina. Fenech acknowledged being close to Valletta, saying they travelled together to football matches and that he had paid for Champions League tickets.

He was also questioned about encrypted Signal conversations with Aquilina, former head of the police anti-money laundering unit. Prosecutors presented messages in which Fenech referred to Caruana Galizia as “that witch”. He said the term reflected a nickname used in certain circles and acknowledged it was inappropriate.

(ITALPRESS)

-foto: IPA Agency-

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Two Italian teenagers have been convicted after admitting to vandalising four parked cars in Swieqi and apologising for their actions.

A 18-year-old and a 17-year-old youth, who cannot be named, were arrested at Malta International Airport on Thursday evening as they prepared to leave Malta.

The court heard that a group of six youths was captured on CCTV damaging parked vehicles in Triq il-Qugħ at around 5am on Thursday.

The two teenagers were accused of causing substantial damage to two Mercedes-Benz cars and a Fiat, as well as minor damage to another Fiat.

The 17-year-old was also accused of taking a helmet from a parked motorcycle and pulling a T-shirt over his head to conceal his identity.

Both students pleaded guilty and expressed remorse, offering an unconditional apology to the vehicle owners and the Swieqi community.

They also agreed to immediately pay €2,021 in damages.

Police inspectors Pierguido Saliba and Christian Xuereb told the court that Paoli had fully cooperated, while the 17-year-old had exercised his right to silence.

Magistrate Giannella Camilleri Busuttil sentenced Paoli to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, while the minor received an eight-month suspended sentence.

Following the ruling, both teenagers were handed over to immigration authorities for deportation proceedings.

Home Affairs Minister Glenn Bedingfield warned that visitors who misbehave in Malta would face consequences, saying the country was “nobody’s playground”.

Swieqi Deputy Mayor Jordan Galea Pace welcomed the outcome and suggested community service could be considered in similar cases.

“If you damage a community, why not give something back to it?” he said, urging visitors to respect Malta and its communities.

-Photo Net News-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

PARIS (FRANCE) (ITALPRESS) – “I don’t know the rules, but when you start a competition, there’s a very important principle: you can’t play both matches against the same opponent, either home or away. Each team must play once away and once at home.“ This was stated by PSG coach Luis Enrique in a press conference on the eve of the match against Rennes, scheduled for Roazhon Park instead of the Parc des Princes as planned due to the unplayable pitch at the Parisian stadium.

The Spanish coach hopes the return leg will be played in Paris, but that’s not a given. Thus, the possibility of Rennes hosting PSG twice in a season becomes a real possibility. “Are we worried about the condition of the pitch? Yes. We like to play attacking, spectacular football, so we need a pitch in excellent condition. And today that’s not possible,” the coach added, before stating that “we need to adapt to the circumstances and the schedule. I’d like to have a different situation, but that’s how it is. We have to take it as a challenge.”

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

CAIRO (EGYPT) (ITALPRESS) – The Media Center of the Egyptian Cabinet has issued a statement on its social media platforms to clarify information circulating about compliance with safety standards during the construction of the Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant. According to the Media Center, the Egyptian Nuclear Power Plants Authority has confirmed that the project is being carried out in compliance with the highest international standards for nuclear safety and security.

Construction, engineering and installation works are subject to continuous monitoring and inspections, as well as the necessary authorizations from the Egyptian Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority. Any technical observations or instances of non-compliance are addressed through specific procedures, and no stage of the work is approved until corrective measures have been completed and the required inspections have been carried out.

The plant has been designed according to the safety standards for advanced Generation III+ nuclear reactors, in line with the criteria of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). It is equipped with passive safety systems, a double containment structure, and a core-catcher system designed to retain the reactor core in the event of a severe accident.

– Photo Ipa Agency –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Fitch Ratings has affirmed Malta’s sovereign credit rating at A+ maintaining a stable outlook, citing strong economic growth, high income per capita and membership of the European Union and euro area.

The agency expects Malta’s economy to grow by just under 4% this year and next, following 4% growth last year. It said the slight moderation partly reflects government measures aimed at controlling the number of foreign workers.

Fitch noted that Malta’s economy has expanded by 90% since 2015, compared with 16% growth across the euro area. GDP growth averaged 6.5% over the period.

The agency said Malta has one of the EU’s highest employment rates, with unemployment at 3.1% in 2025, compared with an EU average of 6.3%. Employment rose from 198,000 in 2015 to 330,000 in the first quarter of this year.

Information technology, tourism and financial services were identified as the main drivers of economic and employment growth.

Fitch also highlighted an improvement in Malta’s public finances, with the deficit falling from 4.4% of GDP in 2023 to 2.2% in 2025, helping the country exit the EU’s excessive deficit procedure.

Public debt is expected to remain around 46% of GDP between this year and 2028, below the EU’s 60% reference threshold.

However, Fitch raised concerns about Malta’s deteriorating governance indicators. It noted that Malta ranked 71st out of 84 countries in the World Bank’s 2024 Worldwide Governance Indicators and recorded a 20% deterioration in its corruption-control indicator between 2013 and 2024.

The agency also warned about the government’s energy subsidy, estimated at €230 million this year, or almost 1% of GDP, falling to €200 million next year.

While the subsidy protects households and businesses from inflationary shocks, Fitch said it provides little incentive to reduce electricity consumption and could have significant long-term fiscal consequences.

Fitch described Malta’s banking sector as resilient, robust and highly liquid, supported mainly by increased lending to households.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – Joao Pedro has extended his contract with Chelsea until 2034. The Blues announced the deal in a statement. The Brazilian joined Chelsea in July 2025. In his first season with the Blues, he scored 20 goals (plus three in the Club World Cup) in all competitions and was voted the fans’ player of the year. “I am very happy to have signed a new contract with Chelsea. I have always dreamed of playing for a great club, and for me, making a long-term commitment to this club means a lot. Chelsea has a long tradition of winning and great ambitions for the future,” the striker explained.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – The MLS Disciplinary Committee has fined Leo Messi. As stated in the statement, the Inter Miami forward “violated the league’s rule regarding the use of hands on the face, head, or neck of an opponent in the 101st minute of the match between Miami and Philadelphia Union on August 19.”

The video, attached by the league, shows Messi pushing away his opponent, Quinn Sullivan, with a light blow to the face. The amount of the fine was not specified.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Yorgen Fenech, the Maltese businessman on trial for the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, denied before the jury today that he ever ordered the assassination, contesting the account provided by Melvin Theuma, a former Maltese taxi driver and figure linked to organized crime, considered the main intermediary between the instigator and the hitmen. Fenech, however, claimed that he “learned from Theuma,” in late 2016, that a plan to kill Caruana Galizia was underway and that the perpetrators were demanding €120,000. He said he then gave Theuma €50,000, claiming the money was needed to stop the plot. Fenech also reported that, after the murder, he passed on to Theuma information he had received from then-Chief of Cabinet Keith Schembri regarding the progress of the investigation and possible arrests. Fenech called this step “the biggest mistake of my life.”
(ITALPRESS).

– foto: Net News –

Source: medNews