The following are the top stories in the Maltese press today.
The Sunday Times of Malta reports that the proposed shooting range in Mosta has been scrapped because developers did not meet the government’s financial requirements.
The Malta Independent says the European Central Bank has asked Bank of Valletta to explain millions of unsecured loans given to Air Malta to make up for discrepancies in its fuel hedging agreements over the past year.
MaltaToday says the Montekristo trade fair has not been granted a police permit, but the organisers said the event will go ahead as they have removed all illegalities.
It-Torca says the PN government had been planning to set up an incinerator in Delimara.
Illum says demand for quality properties in growing fast.
KullHadd says 32 drug abusers requested a chance to reform in line with a new law. It also reports that the cousin of a prominent PN official was given generous early retirement terms by Bank of Valletta.
Il-Mument says all eyes are on Greece, where a key referendum will be held today.
The overseas press
Kathimerini reports 19,000 polling booths opened on schedule at 7 a.m. this morning in Greece where almost 10 million citizens have been called to decide in a referendum on the plan presented by the IMF, ECB and eurozone calling for the new austerity measures. According to a latest survey, the turnout is expected to be “enormous” – as high as 86 per cent.
Ta Nea says the referendum, which is costing the country €20 million, ends at 7 p.m. (6 p.m. in Malta). The first reliable results should be known around 8 p.m. (Malta time), after the counting of about 10 per cent of the ballots.
Meanwhile, Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis appeared confident in an interview with Germany’s Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung (FAS) that Greeks would vote against the reforms and that his government would still have the citizens’ mandate after today’s poll. In an interview with Spanish daily El Mundo, Varoufakis accused the international creditors of “terrorism”. He said Greek banks will open on Tuesday “regardless of the outcome of the vote”.
Greek minister and senior Syriza party member Giorgos Katrougalos has told France 24 Europe’s elites were “allergic” to popular votes and were seeking a regime change in Greece. Katrougalos said that for some politicians the existence of a leftist government in Greece was a problem. “I think they are afraid of contagion political elections in Spain, the Netherlands and Portugal. “
Meanwhile there were demonstrations in favour of the No vote throughout Rome, Paris, London, Brussels and Germany under the slogan “We are all Greeks”. Berliner Zeitung says a small crowd challenged Chancellor Merkel at the headquarters of the CDU, and exhibited signs that read ‘Oxi’(“No”) and yelled “Oxi! Oxi!”. Merkel reacted by saying: “Much to balance it, we say “Nai” (“Yes”)”. Police then accompanied the group out of the building.
Reuters says Pope Francis leaves Rome today on his first trip to Spanish-speaking Latin America – visiting Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay. Francis arrives in the Ecuadorian capital Quito after a 13-hour flight from Rome, where on yesterday he went to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore to pray for the success of trip. He left a bouquet of flowers in the colours of the flags of the three countries.
Euronews reports western and south-western Europe are in the throes of a heatwave, with many local governments advising caution and recommending children and the elderly remain indoors as much as possible. On one of the busiest weekends of the year on the French roads, some holidaymakers have been subjected to long traffic jams in sweltering temperatures – at times soaring to 40oC. Parts of Italy are forecast to reach 38 oC, while Freiburg in Germany hit 40 oC degrees at 8.30 a.m. yesterday and roads near Heidelberg have started to buckle and expand in the heat. Scientists are almost “certain” that the heat wave is a result of the climate change.
Several Tunisian officials, including the governor of Sousse, have been sacked after the jihadist attack on a beach resort that killed 38 tourists. The prime minister’s communications adviser, Dhafer Neji, told AFP, “Just as there have been security failures, there have also been political failures.
O Globo reports that besides from listening in on Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff’s phone calls, US spies had also targeted top political and financial officials. WikiLeaks, the whistle-blowing website, published a National Security Agency list of 29 Brazilian government phone numbers that the American spy group monitored.
Hollywood Reporter announces the death at 92 of actress Diana Douglas, mother of 70-year-old actor Michael Douglas. She was the first wife of Michael’s dad, actor Kirk Douglas, 98. They divorced in 1951 after about eight years.The actress was born Diana Dill in Bermuda in 1923. She began her big screen acting career in the ‘40s and appeared with her family onscreen several times.
Football: La Hora reports a capacity crowd of 45,000 at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago erupted in wild celebrations as Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez struck the winning spot-kick for Chile to defeat Argentina on penalties to end the country's 99-year wait for a Copa America crown. The hosts clinched a 4-1 shootout victory when the game ended goalless after extra time.
And Globe & Mail says England beat Germany 1-0 for third place in the Women’s World Cup. Fara Williams scored a penalty in the 108th minute. It was England’s first win in 21 meetings against Germany, and secured the team’s best finish in its four World Cup appearances. Japan play the United States in Sunday’s final in Vancouver in a rematch of the 2011 championship game.