The following are the top stories in the local and international press today.
All the local newspapers report on the 14th Dar tal-Providenza marathon which yesterday raised a record sum.
The Times reports on the day’s accidents yesterday including one in which a man was seriously injured. In another story on the Malta Community Chest Fund controversy, it says that the organisation does not need to register with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations. A photo story shows a man swimming in St Julian’s on New Year’s day.
The Malta Independent has a story of the New Year’s first babies who were visited by health Parliamentary Secretary Joe Cassar. In another story it says that the New Year street party in Floriana was to probably become an annual event. It also reports on the several drug finds made early on New Year’s Day.
l-Orizzont says that there were last year a record 21 fatalities as a result of road accidents. It also reports on the President’s visit to Corradino Correctional facilities.
In-Nazzjon says that the A H1N1 vaccine is to start being given today. It reports on yesterday’s traffic accidents and on the New Year greetings given by the country’s leaders.
The international press:
Jyllands Posten reports Danish police have shot and wounded an al-Qaeda-linked 28-year-old Somali intruder armed with an axe who broke into the home of Kurt Westergaard, the cartoonist who caused fury in the Islamic world four years ago after a the same Danish newspaper published drawings of Prophet Mohammed. One of his 12 cartoons depicted the Prophet Muhammad with a bomb in his turban.
Dawn says at least 88 people, including six children, were killed and 37 others wounded when a suicide car bomber blew himself up as people gathered to watch a volleyball tournament in northwest Pakistan. The attack in Lakki Marwat city also destroyed some 20 nearby. It was not far from South Waziristan, where the army is waging an offensive against the Pakistani Taliban.
AFP news agency reports that the French journalists kidnapped in eastern Afghanistan are thought to be alive and in good health. Quoting a source involved in efforts to free them, the report said the condition of three Afghan assistants abducted with the journalists was unclea. Suspected Taliban militants snatched the journalists near Kabul.
The Times says Gordon Brown has called a high-level international meeting in London to discuss methods of countering radicalisation in Yemen. The move follows the failed bomb attack on a US-bound passenger jet by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, who is believed to have developed radical Islamist views during visits to Yemen.
Al Jazeera quotes Iranian opposition politician Mir Hossein Mousavi saying he was "not afraid to die" in defence of people's rights and called for an end to the government crackdown on anti-establishment activists. In a statement on his Kaleme website, Mousavi also said that the Islamic Republic was in "serious crisis" following the disputed presidential election in June.
Il Tempo says Pope Benedict has used his traditional New Year address to call on people to respect each other without discrimination and change their lifestyles to save the planet. He said environmental responsibility was essential for global peace.
El Mundo reports that an air strike by Colombian forces has killed at least 18 Farc rebels. Another 13 surrendered when the troops stormed the base in Meta province as part of an offensive to find those responsible for the death last week of the governor of Caqueta, who was taken hostage and later found murdered.
O Globo says heavy rains lead to mud slides on houses and an upscale lodge after New Year celebrations at a resort near Rio de Janeiro, killing at least 14 people. The incident happened after tourists had returned to their rooms following the New Year's celebration.
South China Morning Post reports thousands of Hong Kong democracy campaigners took to the streets on the first day of the new year to call for universal suffrage and the release of jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo. The march was watched over by hundreds of police officers.
Pravda says Russia set a minimum price for vodka and more than doubled the cost of the cheapest drinks in an effort to fight rampant alcoholism. The measure is also aimed at reducing the extraordinary number of deaths caused by drinking in Russia. President Dmitry Medvedev had publicly criticised Russia’s drinking problem and its effect on the nation’s well being.
La Provence reports French police have arrested a night watchman at a museum from where a valuable painting by 19th century artist Edgar Degas was stolen. The colourful image of singers performing on a theatre stage was missing when staff opened up the Cantini Museum in Marseille on Thursday. The picture was a pastel work titled "The Chorus".