The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press.
Times of Malta reports that the sister of Jason Galea, a man accused of three murders including her husband's, is demanding payment of half of bail money he put up, saying it came from their joint company.
l-orizzont reports that Josef Bugeja has been designated GWU General Secretary to take over from Tony Zarb. It also says 17 groups have shown an interest in investing in the White Rocks project.
The Malta Independent says Malta’s economy is expected to continue to grow faster than the EU average.
In-Nazzjon said one has to be a Labour supporter or an opportunity to serve in the Police ALE or RIU.
The overseas press
The number of people seeking asylum in industrialized nations has risen by almost 25 per cent in just one year – driven largely by wars in Syria and Iraq. Tribune de Genève quotes a UNHCR report showing that in the first half of this year, some 330,700 people requested refugee status in industrialised nations and the overall number for 2014 could top 700,000. Germany, the United States, France, Sweden and Turkey received almost two-thirds of new asylum claims.
The Washington Post reports three European nations –Britain, Belgium and Denmark – have joined the widening US-led air campaign against Islamic State militants. However, all three countries decided to limit their involvement to Iraq, leaving the operation in Syria to the United States and five Arab allies.
Meanwhile, AFP says US aircraft have launched a fresh wave of bombing raids against Islamic State militants in Syria, in the fifth consecutive day of air strikes in the country.
According to Euronews, Spanish and Moroccan police have arrested nine people – a Spaniard and eight Moroccans – suspected of belonging to a militant cell with links to the Islamic State militants.
Militants with the Islamic State group have publicly killed a rights lawyer in the Iraqi city of Mosul after finding her guilty of apostasy in a self-styled Islamic court. The UN Assistance Mission in Iraq told Al Ayyam that Samira Salih al-Nuaimi was taken from her home on September 17 after allegedly posting messages on Facebook that were critical of the militants’ destruction of places of worship in Iraq’s second largest city.
ArianaNet reports a large number of Afghan Taliban have killed at least 100 civilians in an attack in the eastern province of Ghazni. Fifteen were beheaded on charges of being “agents of the government”. The Taliban also burned more than 50 homes.
The World Health Organisation has said more than 3,000 people are now know to have died from the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, pointing out that the number of deaths may be an underestimate as many cases go unreported. Le Temps says latest statistics show more than 6,570 people have contracted the virus since the latest outbreak emerged in March.
Kyiv Post reports Ukrainian authorities have discovered three mass graves in Slaviansk – one of the cities in the east of the country controlled by pro-Russian separatists. A spokesman for Kiev’s National Security and Defence Council explained that according to preliminary data, the deaths date back to early June.
Fox News says the Obama administration has reacted strongly to the accusation waged by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that Israel was waging a “war of genocide” in Gaza. The US State Department said Abbas’ speech at the UN General Assembly, had been “offensive and provocative” and undermined peace efforts.
Ansa reports the secretary general of the Italian Bishops Conference, Mgr Nunzio Galantino, has called on Italian politicians and unions alike to drop the slogans and instead focus efforts on solving such enormous problems as Italy’s high rate of unemployment.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is ill, state media including Korea FM reported yesterday after he was absent from a meeting of the People’s Assembly. He was last seen in public on September 3, when he was photographed at a concert with his wife RI Sol Ju. This is the first time he has missed a parliamentary session since he came into power after the death of his father Kim Jong-Il.
Chicago Tribune reports a worker killed in an attack at an Oklahoma food distribution warehouse was beheaded and the suspect had reportedly tried to convert his colleagues to Islam.
Il Gazzettino says Hollywood star George Clooney has arrived in Venice with soon-to-be bride Amal Alamudin. He whisked her onto a water-taxi named “Amore”. As the couple glided through the historic city’s canals towards Giudecca island and the Hotel Cipriani, they were greeted by well-wishers. Guests at their civil wedding on Monday will include such celebrities as Matt Damon, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.