The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press. The media is dominated by the outcome of the referendum in Greece.
Times of Malta devotes all of its front page to the Greek referendum, saying the Greeks overwhelmingly voted No.
In-Nazzjon also leads with the Greek referendum. It also reports on comments by Simon Busuttil that the people are paying for corruption.
l-orizzont in its lead story says the freeport was stopped by strike action for a few hours after the management acted against workers who refused overtime.
The overseas press
Alpha TV reports thousands of jubilant Greeks waving flags, bursting fire crackers and chanting “Oxi! Oxi!” spent the night in Athens’ Syntagma Square celebrating the No vote victory. Official figures show 61 per cent of the electorate had rejected the troika deal.
Ta’ Nea says upon the request of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos convened a meeting of the leaders of the seven parties represented in Parliament. During the meeting, Tsipras presented his plans for negotiating a new bailout deal with the country’s creditors.
Ethnos reports Greek opposition leader Antonis Samaras announced his resignation after suffering a big defeat in Sunday’s referendum. He urged Greeks to put divisions behind them and hold the government to its promise to find a quick agreement with creditors.
The international media is unanimous in stressing the clear victory. “The majority of Greeks vote No” headlines the site of The Wall Street Journal, while the Financial Times asks “Now what?” The site of the daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung writes: “The Greeks celebrate the Oxi” while the German tabloid Bild says “New Greek shock!”. The French Le Monde points out that the “landslide victory” of No.
Focus says European leaders reacted with a mix of dismay and caution after Greek voters defied their warnings of a possible “Grexit” by saying a resounding ‘No’ to creditors’ harsh bailout terms. The European Commission “respects” the result of the Greece bailout referendum,” it said in a short statement. EC President Jean-Claude Juncker will hold a teleconference this morning with European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi and Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the head of the Eurogroup of eurozone finance ministers.
Le Soir reports the president of the eurozone finance ministers’ group, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, called the outcome of the referendum “very regrettable for the future of Greece”. He says the 19 finance ministers will discuss the outcome of the Greek referendum tomorrow, the same day a summit of the eurozone leaders will be held.
L’Echo reports a sombre European Parliament President Martin Schulz said the summit of eurozone leaders should discuss a “humanitarian aid programme for Greece”. He says ordinary citizens, pensioners, sick people or children in kindergarten should not pay a price for the dramatic situation the country is in, for which he blamed the Greek government.
Berliner Zeitung quotes German Vice Chancellor and Economic Affairs Minister Sigmar Gabriel saying the Greek government was leading its people “on to a path of bitter austerity and hopelessness”. He added the Greek prime minister had “torn down the last bridges across which Europe and Greece could move toward a compromise”.
Fakt reports Polish Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz said, The path for Greece now can only be one: leaving the eurozone.”
Metro says Belgian Finance Minister Johan Van Overtveldt sees the result as “complicating matters” but insisted the door remained open to resume talks with the Greek government within hours.
Teleamazonas TV reports Pope Francis, on arrival in Ecuador, has assured his commitment and that of the Church to address the current challenges, appreciating differences, promoting dialogue and participation without exclusions”. He acknowledged President Rafael Correa had made social “progress” but called for further efforts so that the results would ensure “a better future for all”. His trip will also take him to Bolivia and Paraguay.
Sputnik reports Russian-language social media users have jumped to the defence of Jennifer Fichter, the Florida English teacher who was sentenced to 22 years in prison for sex with three juveniles. Users from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus agreed that the punishment does not fit the crime and invited fellow users to join the ‘Freedom Jennifer Fichter’ petition at whitehouse.gov, noting that people have gotten off more lightly for committing much more serious crimes.
After losing the final of the Copa America with Chile, Leonel Messi has refused to receive the award for “Most Valuable Player” of the tournament. According to Minutouno, the Argentinian, who had already took the stage to receive the medal, dismissed the prize in a sense of frustration.
ABC says Fiji has recorded one of the biggest ever win in international soccer with a 38-0 thrashing of Federated States of Micronesia at the Pacific Games in Port Moresby. Organisers said it was the biggest win in international football history, eclipsing the record set in 2001 when Australia beat American Samoa 31-0. But the result is unlikely to go into the record books because Micronesia is not a FIFA member.
L’Equìpe reports the United States have won their third Women’s World Cup title after demolishing Japan 5-2 in the final in Vancouver.