The following are the top stories in the national and international press today.
Times of Malta says President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca has invited Pope Francis to visit Malta. In another stories it says half the island’s voluntary organisations have not submitted their public accounts for scrutiny, more than a year after they were due. It also reports about Karmenu Vella’s grilling in the European Parliament during which he told MEPs hunting abuse would not be tolerated.
In-Nazzjon says that Mr Vella’s repeatedly reiterated his claim that hunting abuse will not be tolerated.
L-Orizzont says there was a mixed reaction to Mr Vella’s grilling with some praising his replies and others criticising them.
The Malta Independent says proceedings against a Dutch man who stands accused of raping and defrauding a Maltese woman continued in court yesterday.
International news
South China Morning Post reports pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong have spent a peaceful night singing as China warned the world not to interfere in its internal affairs. Ignoring government appeals, tens of thousands of people remained in the streets on Monday in an unprecedented show of civil disobedience to push demands for genuine democratic reforms, blocking streets which forced banks, shops and schools to remain closed. As planes and helicopters this morning flew in formation low over Victoria Harbour, officials announced that schools in some districts would remain closed because of safety concerns, dozens of bus routes were cancelled and some subway stops near protest areas were closed.
The Australian says counter-terrorism police conducted the raids across five Melbourne suburbs, arrested a man and seized “a large quantity of electronic media”. They were acting on intelligence from the FBI when they moved on seven properties linked to a Melbourne man suspected acting in raising €8,260 to fund a American citizen to fly to Syria and assist IS in fighting.
Meanwhile, L’Echo reports 46 people have gone on trial in Antwerp on charges of belonging to a group that sent jihadists to Syria – the largest case of its kind in Belgium. Prosecutors said the “Sharia4Belgium” group sent recruits to militant organisation such as Islamic State. Only eight of the accused appeared in court as the rest are thought to be on the frontline – or dead – in Syria.
Ansa quotes Italian Interior Minister Angelino Alfano, speaking at the sidelines of a security conference in Brussels, saying Italy is on “an extremely high level of alert for possible terrorist attacks even though no specific threats have been made”. A senior police official had earlier told Sky TV that around 50 Italian nationals were fighting alongside the IS militants.
CNN says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that a nuclear Iran is a bigger threat to the world than Islamic State militants. In a speech at the UN, he said that to defeat IS but ignore Iran would be “to win the battle but lose the war”. Netanyahu also urged the West not to be fooled by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's “charm offensive”. Talks between Iran and world powers on its nuclear programme ended on Friday with no breakthrough.
At least 4,077 people have died trying to migrate by land or sea in 2014, of whom up to 3,072 in the Mediterranean. Le Courrier quotes an International Organisation for Migration report saying that since 2000 at least 40,000 people have died trying to migrate worldwide. The tally is likely higher because many deaths take place in isolated or uncharted areas.
The New York Times says Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem has closed the door to negotiations to put an end to three-and-a-half years of civil war in Syria. Addressing the UN General Assembly on Monday, he said that Damascus was not ready for a political solution while terrorist organisations are still active in Syria.
The Washington Times reports Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Obama sought to put a brave face on the relationship despite widespread concerns that US-Indian ties have frayed in recent years. Modi’s visit started with a private dinner with Obama on Monday evening, the day after thousands of Indian-Americans flocked to New York’s Madison Square Garden for a rare chance to see the new leader of the world’s largest democracy.
El Pais says Spain’s Constitutional Court has blocked a referendum to grant independence to the wealthy north-eastern region of Catalonia. It must now consider the government’s request that the vote be declared unconstitutional. Regardless of the court’s decision, the regional government in Catalonia had already said it would continue preparations for the non-binding referendum. Catalonian President Artur Mas signed a formal decree over the weekend calling for the vote on November 9, despite Madrid’s objections.
Deutsche Welle reports German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said it may be necessary to rethink the EU’s energy partnership with Russia in the long term. She said there was also no scope to relax current economic sanctions against Moscow.
Le Soir says an appeals court in Belgium has upheld convicted murderer and rapist Frank Van Den Bleeken’s approval to be euthanised. He will be the first detainee in the country put to death for psychiatric reasons.
Il Tempo says Rome prosecutors have approved plea bargains by four clients of two underage prostitutes operating out of a flat in the plush Parioli district of the Italian capital. The clients admitted to knowing the girls were underage and agreed to a suspended sentence of one year and a fine of over €1,000. Almost 60 suspected clients risk prosecution in the probe. Last July, eight people including ringleader Mirko Ieni and one of the girls’ mothers got sentences ranging from two to 10 years for running the prostitution ring.