The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press.
The Sunday Times of Malta says a disgraced former boss has been blamed for the problems faced by Gozo Channel. It also reports that the cause of L-Imniehru’s death has not been established yet. He was found dead alongside his murdered son.
The Malta Independent on Sunday says Brussels is disappointed at the low number of pledges from member states for the relocation of migrants.
MaltaToday says St Julian’s Council awarded a €13m private partnership tender to Zaren Vassallo’s group without a call for tenders. The project is for the building of a home for the elderly.
It-Torca reports that Fantasy Tours was not covered by liability insurance to protect third parties. That will make it difficult for creditors, including clients, to recover their money.
Il-Mument and Illum lead with yesterday’s call by the Opposition for the resignation of the Chief of Staff at the Ministry of Home Affairs.
KullHadd leads with an interview given to Citizen Today by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat where he insisted that Malta must be promoted as an attractive investment destination.
The overseas press
al-bawaba reports the Syrian government has accused rebels of using chemical weapons and warned the United States not to launch any military action against Damascus over Wednesday’s alleged chemical attack, saying such a move would set the Middle East ablaze. The accusations against opposition forces came as Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said some 3,600 patients displaying “neurotoxic symptoms” flooded into three Syrian hospitals on the day of alleged chemical weapons attacks, and 355 of them died. The Syrian government has strongly denied it was involved.
Fox News says US President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron have expressed their “grave concern” about the reported use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime against civilians. A White House statement said the two leaders “will continue to consult closely” regarding the alleged attack near Damascus on Wednesday, “as well as possible responses by the international community to the use of chemical weapons”. Meanwhile, Obama met with top aides in his National Security Council. US defence officials told The Associated Press that the Navy has already sent a fourth warship armed with ballistic missiles into the eastern Mediterranean Sea, but without immediate orders for any missile launch into Syria.
El Bayene reports thousands of Tunisians have taken to the streets, calling for the resignation of the country's Islamist-led government. The opposition National Salvation Front (NSF) blames Ennahda for the murders of secular politicians Mohamed Brahmi and Chokri Belaid, claiming that it has not done enough to rein in the hardline Salafist movement.
Three top leaders of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood are set to appear in court later today. Al-Ahram says the Islamist group's spiritual leader, Mohamed Badie, and two of his deputies will face charges of inciting deadly violence during the protests that preceded the army's overthrow of President Mohamed Morsi. Meanwhile, the Egyptian government reduced the curfew by two hours except on Fridays.
Times of India reports Indian police have arrested a second man in the gang rape of a young photojournalist in Mumbai and said they had enough evidence to prosecute those responsible for a crime that has renewed public outcry over sexual violence in the country. The victim, a 22-year-old Indian woman, remained in a hospital and was recovering well after being repeatedly raped by five men on Thursday night in a deserted textile mill. She was with a male colleague, who was tied up and beaten during the attack.
La Nazione says Amanda Knox will not return to Italy for a new appeals trial over the 2007 killing of her British roommate. The nws was confirmed by her lawyer who recently met fellow defence team members in the US. In March, Italy’s supreme court ordered a new trial for Knox and her former Italian boyfriend for the killing of Meredith Kercher in Perugia, where they were students. An appeals court in 2011 had acquitted both, overturning convictions by a lower court. The new appeals trial begins in Florence on September 30.
Daily Star Sunday leads with the news that Britain’s Prince Harry is expected to propose to gorgeous girlfriend Cressida Bonas soon. It says royal insiders predict an announcement by the end of the year and a wedding in the spring. Harry, 28, has been talking about getting engaged and joking it could be “any day” now. During their 18-month relationship, the couple have been together on safari in Botswana.
24/7 Wall St quotes an OECD study which shows college graduation rates continued to improve around the world during the recession. In more developed countries, the percentage of adults with the equivalent of a college degree rose to more than 30 per cent in 2010. Canada tops the chart of the first 10 countries with the highest proportion of college-educated adult residents – 51 per cent. Snagging the number two most-educated spot was Israel, which trailed Canada by five per cent. Japan, the US, New Zealand and South Korea all ranked with more than 40 per cent of citizens having a higher-education degree. The other four on the list are the United Kingdom, Finland, Australia and Ireland.