The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press.
The Times of Malta reports that Malta has lost a final appeal against European Court of Human Rights judgments demanding that migrants are kept in detention for shorter periods.
The Malta Independent reports how the bus service reform was Austin Gatt’s biggest problem, according to a colleague.
In-Nazzjon quotes Simon Busuttil saying the Opposition was the catalyst for consensus on the citizenship scheme.
l-orizzont says that ’Gonzipn’ had turned down the nomination of film critic and journalist Lino Cassar for Gieh ir-Repubblika.
The overseas press
Chilevision reports former President Michelle Bachelet has won the run-off election in Chile to make her return to power. With 90 percent of the votes counted after Sunday's poll, Bachelet had an unbeatable 62 percent to 38 percent for the center-right's Evelyn Matthei, who has conceded defeat. Bachelet plans to launch ambitious reforms aimed at redressing steep income inequality. The 62-year-old Bachelet will take over power in March next year from the outgoing conservative Sebastian Pinera.
Kyiv Post says more than 200,000 anti-government demonstrators in the Ukrainian capital Kiev have endured freezing temperatures to demand President Yanuchovych’s resignation after the European Union abruptly suspended partnership talks. The protests and the EU decision result from the government’s refusal to sign a deal on closer integration with the EU.
The Irish Times reports Prime Minister Enda Kenny has announced his country’s formal exit from the international bailout programme. In a television address, Kenny spoke about the restoration of Ireland’s economic sovereignty which means it can again borrow money from the international markets.
Haaretz quotes the Israeli army sayong one of its soldiers has been killed in a cross-border attack by a Lebanese soldier. The statement said a sniper had opened fire on an Israeli vehicle near the Rosh Hanikra border crossing.
Mail & Guardian reports Nelson Mandela has been laid to rest in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, where he grew up. Friends, family and political leaders paid final tribute to him at a state funeral, remembering the qualities that turned a young activist to the world’s most famous political prisoner and later his country’s first democratically-elected president.
Daily China says Chinese moon rover Jade Rabbit has sent back its first photographs from the moon. The Lunar Programme authorities said the six-wheel rover moved to a spot a few metres away from the landing craft, enabling them to take photos of each other. The rover will spend about three months exploring the moon's surface and looking for natural resources.
The Independent says tributes poured in after the news of the death in London after a long illness of actor Peter O’Toole, who shot to fame in the Oscar-winning film “Lawrence of Arabia”. He was 81. He was nominated for an Oscar for his role as the gallant British army officer T.E. Lawrence. He went on to set an Oscar record for receiving eight nominations without a win. His final nomination was for “Venus” in 2006, before he was given an honorary award in 2003.