The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press.
The Sunday Times of Malta reports on a new twist in the John Dalli case. The newspaper, The Malta Independent, and MaltaToday also report how Malta’s English language newspapers are taking a joint stand against Spring hunting.
The Malta Independent on Sunday reports on Olaf’s new investigation into John Dalli’s trips to Singapore.
It-Torca reports that pupils at Stella Maris were sent home because of their hair style.
Il-Mument says there are ISIS followers in Malta.
KullHadd says Malta is making rapid progress in tourism.
Illum delves into the court case against Sliema councillors Bobby Cali and Martin Debono who were recently acquitted.
The overseas press
Al Jazeera reports that a group linked to al-Qaeda, Nusra Front, has pledged retaliation over the ongoing air strikes in Syria as the US-led coalition widened its assault on Islamic State targets in Syria and British warplanes flew their first combat missions over neighbouring Iraq.
Fox News quotes the Pentagon saying US jets jets hit the Syrian city of Raqqa as well as IS positions near the Turkish border.
Reuters says that new US-led air strikes against Islamic State fighters failed to stop them from pressing their assault on the strategic Syrian town of Kobani near the Turkish border on, hitting it with shell fire for the first time.
On the diplomatic front, AP reports Russian Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov issued what it described as “a blistering attack” on the West and NATO, accusing them of being unable to change their Cold War “genetic code” and saying the United States must abandon its claims to “eternal uniqueness.” Lavrov maintained that the US aimed to defend only its interests.
Times of India says more than 600 cases of violence against Christians and other minorities have been registered in India since right-wing leader Narendra Modi came to power in May after having won the election by a large majority.
South China Morning Post reports the leader of Hong Kong’s Occupy Central pro-democracy movement, Benny Tai has announced the launch of a mass disobedience campaign. His announcement came a day after the arrests of more some 75 who oppose Beijing’s decision to rule out fully democratic elections in Hong Kong in 2017.
London’s Observer leads with what it calls “chaos in the Conservative Party” as allegations over sexual photos prompted Tory minister Brooks Newmark to step down, and MP Mark Reckless, known to be Eurosceptic and very critical of British Prime Minister David Cameron, decided to defect to UKIP.
Fuji TV says 35 people were injured, 12 of whom seriously, by a volcanic eruption that sent officials scrambling to reach many more injured and stranded on Mount Ontake in central Japan. A Japanese military helicopter rescued three people Sunday morning.
Houston Chronicle reports former US President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton say they are “blessed, grateful, and so happy” to become grandparents. Their daughter, Chelsea, gave birth Friday night to her first child, Charlotte.
Il Gazzettino says the world’s most famous bachelor, George Clooney, broke a vow to remain single and married human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin in Venice, in one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the year.
According to Metro, fire-fighters in England have saved more than 100 pets – including dogs, cats, parrots and even iguanas – after a blaze broke out in a suburban home. Crews calmed six frightened guard dogs before leading dozens of other animals to a safe room in the terraced house in Southampton. Two of the dogs were resuscitated by firemen using oxygen masks, but four animals – a dog, cat, ferret and a bird – could not be saved after they were overcome by smoke.