The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press.
The Sunday Times of Malta says Malta will not oppose checks on travellers in a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday. The meeting will discuss the Schengen Treaty i the context of security concerns. It also reports that the chairman of the Malta Sports Council, Luciano Busuttil, has engaged a full time driver paid for by the council.
MaltaToday reports how the political parties gave up Ordnance Street to get hawkers’ votes.
The Malta Independent says the brothers of oil trader George Farrugia will be arraigned at the end of the month in connection with the oil procurement scandal.
It-Torca gives prominence to the plans for the new Carnival Village. It also says the PN was first in favour of transferring the Valletta open market to Ordnance Street, and then it changed its mind.
Illum says only a quarter of the ministers were present when the decision was taken to grant George Farrugia a presidential pardon.
Il-Mument says the prime minister is caught in a bind on the monti as he had signed a plan for the transfer of the open market to Ordnance Street.
KullHadd publishes the e-mail sent by Jason Azzopardi promising the Monti hawkers that they may move to Ordnance Street.
The overseas press
ABC News reports a gunman shot dead four people, including a seven-year-old, at a home in suburban Atlanta. In addition to the seven-year-old, two adults and another minor were killed. Two other children sustained life-threatening injuries. The gunman is also dead, but it wasn’t immediately clear whether he killed himself or was shot by someone else. The motive of the shooting was not immediately clear.
CNN quotes sources saying top-ranking Pentagon officials are gathering all possible information on the defence potential of ISIS in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. The data would enable President Obama to decide whether to send a military contingent to support the Iraqi army in order to regain control of the country’s second-largest city.
Meanwhile, Al Arabiya reports the US-led international coalition launched 26 new air raids on IS strongholds in Syria and Iraq during the last 24 hours.
Jordan’s State TV reported that fighter aircraft hit terrorist group bases, some of which were in the Syrian city of Raqqa, a jihadist stronghold. Jordan’s Interior Minister Hussein al-Majali told al-Rai their goal was to “completely annihilate” ISIS. He said Jordan would hit the militants “wherever they are.”
Wam, the official Abu Dhabi press agency, says the United Arab Emirates have decided to send a number of F-16 fighters to be deployed in Jordan to help in the offensive against ISIS. The number of aircraft was not disclosed.
Members of Pope Francis’ sex abuse commission have sharply criticised his remarks that it is OK for parents to smack their children. Corriere della Sera reports the commission said there was no place for physical discipline and that it would be making recommendations to the pope about protecting children from corporal punishment.
The Nation says Nigeria’s presidential election, scheduled for next Saturday, has been postponed until March 28. In a move likely to enrage the opposition the electoral commission has said the six-week delay is due to security concerns.
Cameroon Tribune reports five African nations – Benin, Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria and Chad – have pledged to deploy 8,700 military personnel, police and civilians as part of a regional effort to fight Nigeria’s Boko Haram militants.
Times of India says several exit polls in New Delhi are forecasting victory for India’s anti -corruption party, AAP in what observers see as “a huge blow” to Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The final results are not expected before Tuesday.
ABC reports Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, fighting for his political life, said he would bring forward to Monday a meeting of his parliamentary colleagues to consider a challenge to his leadership, in an effort to halt a destabilising internal revolt.
Ansa reports Italy’s capital may soon have a red light zone in the southern suburb of L’Eur. Authorities in Rome have approved a plan to allow prostitution in the business centre to the south of the city – a move that has been met by fierce opposition.