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

Times of Malta says the Maltese spend 52 hours stuck in traffic every year. It also quotes Parliamentary Secretary Herrera saying it would be bigotry not to integrate migrants.

The Malta Independent says a mother left Malta with her son without the father’s consent. It also says Lawrence Gonzi has asked why the Farrugia brothers were not charged under Manuel Mallia’s ministerial tenure.

In-Nazzjon says patients are being allowed to die in hospital corridors, shorn of dignity.

l-orizzont says workers appeared to be scared when they gave evidence about whether they were asked to do work in a PN club by PN MP Toni Bezzina.

The overseas press

Euronews reports European Parliament president Martin Schulz has expressed optimism over reaching agreements between Greece and Brussels on the bailout saying the Greek government was ready to open a dialogue with its partners.  

Le Soir says the EU has decided to extend a first set of sanctions against Russian and pro-Russian separatist officials which were due to expire in March by six months because of the continued fighting in eastern Ukraine. EU leaders must approve the move at a summit on February 12.

Al Ahram reports terrorists struck several army and police targets in Egypt’s northern Sinai Peninsula yesterdau, killing more than 20 people, including civilians. At least 36 people were wounded in the attacks,  carried out in Al-Arish, the capital of the North Sinai province.

According to El Universal, at least seven people, including four babies, were killed when a gas tank lorry exploded outside a maternity and children’s hospital in Mexico City, destroying much of the building. Dozens were injured by flying glass.

A 19-year-old Dutchman wielding a fake gun has been arrested after entering studios of the Dutch national broadcaster NOS and demanding to be allowed to go on air. He had intended to speak to the country on the most popular evening news broadcast, but was led to an empty studio by a quick-thinking security guard.  

CNN reports the US Senate Republican majority has approved the draft for the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline, with 62 votes in favour and 36 votes against – moving another step towards a clash with President Obama that opposes initiative for economic and environmental reasons.  

Declaring an end to “mindless austerity,” President Obama has called for a surge in government spending, and asked Congress to throw out the sweeping budget cuts both parties agreed to four years ago when deficits were spiralling out of control. The Washington Post says Obama’s proposed $74 billion in added spending would be split about evenly between defence programmes and the domestic side of the budget.

The New York Times quotes sources in contact with Jordanian authorities which reveal negotiations for a prisoner exchange between Jordan and the Islamic State (IS) reportedly broke down. The news came just as the deadline passed for an ultimatum by the Sunni militants, who threatened to execute Japanese journalist Kenji Goto and Jordanian pilot Mouath al-Kassasbeh at sunset. The IS demanded the liberation of Sajida al-Rishawi, who was arrested in 2005.

Ansa reports Italian Prime Minister Renzi has tapped top judge Sergio Mattarella as the Democratic Party’s candidate for the country’s president – closing rifts within his party but sparking a row with ex-premier and centre-right leader Silvio Berlusconi. Renzi’s move to name Mattarella – a Constitutional Court judge who once resigned as minister rather than vote a broadcasting law that favoured Berlusconi’s Mediaset empire – has raised the media magnate’s hackles.

France 24 says an eight-year-old boy from the south of France, who claimed to support the men who attacked satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, has been detained and questioned by police for defending terrorism. The deputy director for public security said the boy declared “I am with the terrorists” and refused to take part in the national minute of silence for the victims. A lawyer for the child says the decision to question him at a police station shows a “collective hysteria”.

AGI reports a weekly barber service will soon be available for Rome’s homeless at the Vatican – thanks to an initiative backed by Pope Francis. Barbers and hairdressers, for whom Monday is their traditional day off, are volunteering to do charity work by volunteering. The specialised website Vatican Insider says the new service is in addition to the showers and bathrooms which Pope Francis had installed for them under the colonnade of St. Peter’s Square, completing their hygiene needs”.

 

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