The following are the top stories in the national and international press today.
The Sunday Times of Malta interviews millionaire Kazakh exile Rakhat Aliyev who claims his country’s secret service has established a “network” in Malta with a mission to “kidnap or kill” him. In another story the newspaper says police officers are searching for a second suspect believed to be directly involved in last Wednesday's double murder. No official notice of him being wanted was launched for fear he might go into hiding.
It-Torca says that the man charged with Wednesday's double murder had been interrogated on the disappearance of Matthew Zahra a year ago. It said that he allegedly told the police about the remains of a third person in the field where the two men were partly buried. The newspaper also interviews a Nigerian who had to escape from his country after converting to Catholicism.
MaltaToday says that the suspect in Wednesday's double murder was released on bail two years ago following an armed robbery from a jewellery shop in Valletta. In another story it says that Rakhat Aliyev had approached MaltaToday’s ownership to buy the company.
The Malta Independent on Sunday interviews Police Commissioner Peter Paul Zammit who says that the New Year’s Day 2012 double murder is ‘practically closed’ and there is no third party involved.
Illum says that the government’s decision to request the Police Commissioner to investigate oil procurement between 2008 and 2011 could lead the police to request the government to reconsider the pardon given to George Farrugia. In another story it says ‘incredible results’ are being obtained by the Security Services which has completely new personnel.
Il-Mument says that the decision to push back from Malta to Libya 88 Somali immigrants had been taken at Castille by a purposely set up Committee which included personnel from the Office of the Prime Minsiter, the Home Affairs Ministry, the Army and the police.
International news
Russia Today reports that G20 finance ministers gathered in Moscow have agreed to make boosting jobs and overall economic growth the short-term priority rather than deficit reduction.
In London, The Sunday Times says Japan has warned that tens of thousands of British jobs with Japanese firms could be at risk if London pulls out of the European Union.
CNN reports rallies have been held in US cities to protest the verdict in the death of African-American teen Trayvon Martin.
Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz has told Israel Radio that the Israeli government had agreed to the release of a limited number of detainees – a long-standing demand of the Palestinian leadership.
Central Chronicle reports India has sentenced six men to life in prison for their roles in raping and robbing a Swiss citizen who was camping with her husband, whom the assailants tied up as they carried out the rape.
New stricter regulations on chemical substances in toys came into force yesterday. EU Business quotes EU Commissioner for Industry Antonio Tajani saying the regulations include a ban on the use of carcinogenic, mutagenic and toxic substances as well as 55 allergenic fragrances in toys. The regulations also impose labelling for other 11 substances considered allergens.
The Dominion Post reports an earthquake measuring 5.8 has struck central New Zealand and was also felt in the capital, Wellington. The epicentre was located around 50km south-west of Wellington at a depth of only 12km. No damage has been reported for.
Al Ahram says Egyptian security forces raided the Cairo offices of the Iranian news channel Al Alam on Friday, arresting its director.
The People’s Daily reports that order has returned to Beijing International Airport after an explosion occurred in Terminal 3.
A document which is thought to be one of the few original versions of Schindler's List has been put up on the auction site eBay. ABC says the handwritten list, dated April 18, 1945, includes the names of 801 of the Jewish workers who were employed by the German businessman Oskar Schindler, to save them from Nazi concentration camps. Bids start from US $3million (€2.3 million).
NRC Handelsblad reports that seven works of art stolen last October from the Kunsthal in Rotterdam, have been burnt by the mother of one of the thieves in Romania to erase evidence of the theft. The works included masterpieces by Picasso, Monet, Matisse and Lucien Freud.