The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press.
Times of Malta leads with Mepa's refusal to grant a permit for the extension of a quay at the freeport. It also reports that the doctors' union has given conditional approval for the private management of the Gozo hospital.
The Malta Independent says it has joined EU journalists in a lawsuit against the European Parliament. The issue is over disclosure of information on how MEPs are spending their allowances.
In-Nazzjon reports how Simon Busuttil has nominated Marelene Farrugia as chairman of the House environment committee.
l-orizzont reports how two Syrians were intercepted as they were about to board a fight from Bergamo to Malta. They carried false passports and Isis-related pictures on their mobile phone.
The overseas press
France and Belgium will today urge their European partners to tighten gun laws, toughen border security and choke off funds to extremist groups. Le Monde reports that EU interior and justice ministers are expected to tighten checks at the Schengen zone’s external borders and also check names against criminal and security databases.
France 24 quotes France’s Prime Minister Manuel Valls warning Schengen could be in danger if EU member states do not play their role responsibily. He said some of those linked to the Paris attacks had taken advantage of the chaos caused by Europe’s migration crisis “to slip in” unnoticed.
Le Figaro says President François Hollande has ordered more air strikes against Isis in Iraq and Syria. France is also asking the UN Security Council to authorise “all necessary measures” to fight Isis. Its draft resolution urges member states to “redouble and coordinate efforts to prevent and suppress acts of terrorism”.
Facing traumatised citizens and pressure from the right, governments in France and Belgium, moved rapidly to adopt security measures that would increase state powers and curtail civil liberties. Euronews reports the police broke down doors in towns and villages from Paris to Brussels, arresting scores of suspected militants. France offered local police forces more powerful weapons and bulletproof jackets, and the French prime minister warned a terrorist attack using “chemical or biological weapons” could not be ruled out.
Le Soir says Prime Minister Charles Michel has requested constitutional changes, including extending “preventive detention” to 72 hours from 24 hours. Belgium yesterday arrested nine people in raids connected to last week’s attacks in Paris.
According to Reuters, US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Thursday the United States has the ability to “neutralise” the Islamic State much faster than it was able to do with al Qaeda. “We are going to defeat Daesh,” Kerry said, using an alternative name for the Islamist militant group. “But we always said it would take time.”
Fox News reports Islamic State militants have released a new, six-minute video vowing to blow up the White House. According to the Middle East Media Research Institute, a fighter told President Obama and President Holland:“We will fry you with [suicide] belts and explosives.” It was the second ISIS video in 24 hours threatening the US. A separate video that included previous footage of a simulated attack on New York City emerged on Wednesday.
The week-long terrorist drama is also beginning to have an economic effect across Europe. , France TV reports numerous conferences and exhibitions have been cancelled, leading to a catastrophic drop in catering orders of around 90 per cent. The hotel and restaurant industry estimates reservations for next week are between 40 and 60 per cent down. And one travel agency in Shanghai expects the number of French-bound tourists to drop by around 20 per cent. More than two million Chinese visitors had been anticipated this year.
The effect is also being felt at the Vatican. Ansa reports that following the alarm launched by the FBI for Italy, there were none of the former usual queues at the entrance of the Vatican Museums yesterday. The line in front last year saw six million visitors, often ending at Piazza Risorgimento.
According to CNN Money, Isis Pharmaceuticals is considering changing its name after the attacks in Paris. The company, which is listed on Nasdaq, produces drugs against cancer, heart disease and ALS or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Similarly, Marks & Spencer are reported to have withdrawn a fragrance called Isis – named after the Egyptian queen but which has now been associated with the Islamic State militants. Metro says the decision to withdraw the fragrance, which could be bought as an eau de toilette or body spray and also has an ISIS Pink version, follows fears it might upset loyal clients.
AP reports Jared Fogle, 38, emerged from obscurity to become the unlikely face of one of the US biggest restaurant chains, earning a small fortune by touting the benefits of a healthy lifestyle that included Subway sandwiches. But his wholesome public image was only that, and yesterday he was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison for trading in child pornography and having sex with underage prostitutes.
San Francisco Chronicle says Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife will donate $20 million to US schools to help them to have online access to high speed. He most US schools were connected to the Internet, but few had access to high speed networks.
The Washington Post reports the state has agreed to pay $16 million in damages Donald Eugene Gates who has spent 27 years in prison for a rape and murder he did not commit in 1981. A federal judge ruled tainted evidence had been built by two police officers. The real culprit, discovered thanks to a DNA test in 2013, had died the previous year.
James Bond can make liberal use of his licence to kill, but if the Indian censors have their way he will have to cut back on the kissing – exactly by half. ABC says the latest instalment of the 007 franchise, Spectre, will be released in India today with heavy cuts after censors deemed the romantic encounters between Daniel Craig and co-stars Monica Belluci and Lea Seydoux inappropriate for the viewing public. They thought the kissing scenes were too long.