The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press.

Times of Malta reports that a battery failure in a distribution centre was a factor in a nationwide blackout.

The Malta Independent says objections made in 2012 on the building of a cement silo near a grain terminal were ignored.

In-Nazzjon follows up the story of exploitation of Asian workers in a textiles factory in Malta.

l-orizzont says that Nationalist MP George Pullicino has been ‘belied,’ with the Resources Authority and the Contracts Committee saying it was the former minister who took decision on the award of a controversial photovoltaic panels contract.

The overseas press

Fox News reports an investigation is underway to find out why a Virgin Galactic tourism spaceship exploded on a test flight over California, killing one of the pilots and seriously injuring the other. Debris scattered across the desert.  

Al bawaba says a convoy of Iraqi Kurdish troops has crossed into Syria from Turkey to join the fight against Islamic State militants in Kobani. The group of about 150 Peshmerga fighters – better armed and better trained than their Syrian counterparts – were escorted by armoured vehicles.

USA Today reports a judge in Maine has ruled that nurse Kaci Hickox, who returned from treating Ebola patients in Sierra Leone could leave home and go to public place. The district judge’s decision overturns a previous ruling that had banned the nurse from going to cinemas or shopping centres. She had also meet told to keep a metre away from people.

Toronto Star says a court in Canada has sentenced a man to 75 years in jail for fatally shooting three Canadian police officers. The judge described Justin Brook’s crime as one of the worst in Canadian history.

Voice of Nigeria reports the Islamist group Boko Haram has denied claims by the government that it had agreed a ceasefire. In a video, the group’s leader dismissed talks of the deal as “lies”. He added that more than 200 schoolgirls abducted last April, had converted to Islam and had been married off.

 A senior opposition leader in Bukino Faso says it could take a year to arrange new elections following the resignation of President Blaise Compaore,after 27 years in power. He told the BBC talks between political parties and the army were needed, as well as possibly a new constitution.

The Washington Times reports a 14-year-old US girl has died after being critically injured when a fellow high school student went on a shooting rampage last week. The gunman fatally shot one girl on the spot before turning the gun on himself. Another girl succumbed to her injuries in hospital last Sunday.

Mail & Guardian says tens of thousands of mourners are expected to attend the funeral of South African football captain Senzo Meyiwa in Durban later today. Meyiwa, 27, was shot on Sunday, apparently after burglars entered his girlfriend's house near Johannesburg. A suspect appeared in court on Friday and was charged with the murder of the popular goalkeeper. Meyiwa's death shocked South Africa and has highlighted the high rates of violent crime in the country.

 

 

 

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