The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press.
Times of Malta reports how drama teacher Erin Tanti told the police that he loved schoolgirl Lisa Maria Zahra. It also reports how MEP Joseph Cuschieri was persuaded by the prime minister to change his mind and submit his nomination for re-election
The Malta Independent says Erin Tanti told the police: She called me a pussy, counted to three and jumped. Tanti was referring to schoolgirl Lisa Maria Zahra.
In-Nazzjon leads with a press conference by the PN where it insisted that the environment should not be secondary.
l-orizzont reports how more hotels can apply to build more storeys.
The overseas press
Fox News reports the United States hasdenied a visa to Iran’s top choice for its ambassador to the United Nations, just days after it called Tehran’s nomination “not viable”. Hamid Aboutalebi, the veteran Iranian diplomat, is believed to have taken part in the 1979 Tehran hostage crisis, which saw over 50 Americans held against their will by Iranian students for 444 days.
Kyiv Post says Ukraine’s Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has promised leaders in the country’s restive east they would be granted more powers. The move is seen as an attempt to quell separatist sentiment amid heightened EU-Russia energy tension.
Meanwhile, RIA Novosty quotes President Putin saying on Friday that Russia had no plans to halt gas deliveries to Ukraine, which would cut the gas flow to Europe as well. Putin pledged to guarantee fulfilment of all obligations to European consumers. Russia blames Ukraine for any disruptions in supplies and is keeping pressure on Kiev to pay its $2.2 billion dollar for Russian gas, asking Kiev to pay in advance for deliveries remains a possibility.
The Wall Street Journal quotes the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Washington, saying the world economic growth was consolidating and that structural reforms were “especially important to reach our common objective”. The said they welcomed the prospects for global economic growth to strengthen in 2014, but remained vigilant in the face of important global risks and vulnerabilities.
Avvenire reports Pope Francis on Friday issued his strongest apology yet for the sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests. Stressing that the Catholic Church was aware of the damage done by predator priests, the Pope promised members of the International Catholic Child Bureau (BICE) that there would be no “step backwards” on punishing sex-abuse culprits and fighting the abuses which are one of his priorities amid a sweeping reform drive.
Börzen Zeitung says OECD’s Taxing Wages Report ed shows that the highest average Income tax burdens paid by childless single workers were in five European countries: Belgium 55.8 per cent, Germany 49.3 per cent, Austria 49.1 per cent, Hungary 49.0 per cent. France 48.9 per cent and Italy 47.8 per cent. The 34-member OECD average was 35.9 percent. The countries with the lowest average were: Chile, seven percent, New Zealand, 16.9 per cent, and Mexico 19.2 per cent.
Mail & Guardian reports Oscar Pistorius was accused by a prosecutor on Friday of shooting his girlfriend through a toilet door as the couple talked and argued in the early hours of Valentine’s Day last year. The dramatic courtroom exchange ended the world-famous athlete’s first week testifying at his murder trial. Pistorius denied the charge, saying he shouted at what he thought was an intruder in his house and also at Steenkamp to call the police.
Sky News says a gay bank worker who murdered his arranged bride in a pre-planned attempt to hide his sexuality has been ordered to serve at least 21 years behind bars. Jasvir Ginday, 29, was unanimously convicted of murder after he was told that his decision to strangle Varkha Rani and burn her body using petrol was “unbelievably casual and callous”.
USA Today reports a woman convicted earlier this week of stabbing her boyfriend with a 5½-inch stiletto heel was given life in prison for his death. Ana Trujillo, 45, stabbed Alf Stefan Andersson at least 25 times in the face with the heel of her $1,500 shoes during an argument in June at his Houston condominium.
Los Angeles Times says a judge has approved a settlement between the estranged wife of late golden era Hollywood star Mickey Rooney and the conservator of his estate, ending a legal tussle over where the actor would be buried.
ABC reports a father has admitted in court that he endangered the life of his four-year-old son by locking him up in his bedroom and failing to feed him for 13 days. The 27-year-old father from the Adelaide suburb of Gilles Plains pleaded guilty to an aggravated charge of endangering life.