The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press.
Times of Malta reports that a Malta-Sicily gas pipeline is seen as 'very important' for the EU.
The Malta Independent focuses on the migration summit and says the EU cannot afford another failure or wasting time.
In-Nazzjon says uncertainty for workers is continuing in view of government plans to privatise Gozo General Hospital. It also quotes Simon Busuttil saying Joseph Muscat is using his position so that a few people around him may benefit.
l-orizzont reports comments by Joseph Muscat that Simon Busuttil is not being believed about when he came to know about the Gaffarena links with former MP Joe Cassar.
The overseas press
VOA News quotes a World Bank report warning that climate change could push more than 100 million people into extreme poverty by 2030 by disrupting agriculture and fuelling the spread of malaria and other diseases. Released just weeks ahead of a UN climate summit in Paris, the report highlighted how the impact of global warming is borne unevenly, with the world’s poor woefully unprepared to deal with climate shocks such as rising seas or severe droughts.
According to The Times, British intelligence believe that the man suspected of being behind the attack on the Russian Airbus A321 is Abu Osama al-Masri, an Egyptian who is the leader of the jihadist group active in the Sinai that last year tightened an alliance with the Islamic State of Caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Britain is said to be ready to help Egypt and Russia “kill or capture” the terrorist leader.
Reuters reports supporters of Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi burst into boisterous celebration after the country held its first free nationwide election in 25 years – the biggest step yet in a journey to democracy from dictatorship. Although the outcome of the poll will not be clear for at least 36 hours, a densely packed crowd blocked a busy road beside the headquarters of Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy in Yangon as they cheered and waved red flags.
Vecernji says the right-wing Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and its allies are projected to win 63 out of 151 seats in the Croatian parliament –11 more seats than the ruling Social Democratic Party (SDP) coalition of Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic. The newcomer party, Most, is set to win third place and 17 seats, making it the most likely kingmaker in coalition talks.
Times of India reports Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has admitted defeat for his governing BJP in a key regional election in the eastern state of Bihar. An alliance of regional parties took 178 seats out of 243. The BJP won just 58 in a poll that was seen as a referendum on his economic programme.
Haaretz says there has been more violence in the occupied West Bank with new attacks on Israelis. A Palestinian rammed his car into a bus stop, injuring four people. Paramilitary police troopers shot the man dead. At the entrance to another settlement, a Palestinian woman stabbed and slightly injured a security guard who then shot and wounded her. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heads for Washington later today for talks with President Obama.
In his first public comments on the latest scandal rocking the Vatican, Pope Francis told followers in St Peter’s Square on Sunday that the theft of documents describing financial malpractices inside the Holy See was a “crime”. Avvenire says, however, he pledged to continue reforms of its administration. The pope said that publishing the documents in two books released last week “was a deplorable act that doesn’t help”.
Tolo TV announces that seven bus passengers, including three women, kidnapped a few months ago by Isis militants were beheaded yesterday in Afghanistan in the southern province of Zabul. The seven were kidnapped while they were returning to Ghazni, their province of residence.
ABC reports rioting at an Australian detention centre on Christmas Island following the ddeath of an Iranian-Kurdish asylum seeking. He escaped and was later found dead at the bottom of a cliff.
Hollywood Reporter says in the opening weekend showing in 3,929 US theatres, the new 007 film Sceptre has grossed $73 million (€68 million), lower than the $88.4 million (€82 million) debut of Skyfall. It has already grossed $300 million (€280 million), nearly half of what must be collected to cover all costs.
Ahead of what could be a damning report into corruption and doping in world athletics, International Association of Athletics Federations President Sebastian Coe told AP the sport would have to reform and rebuild trust. His comments come as the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is set to release a report later today into widespread bribery, extortion and doping cover-ups that would hit track and field, especially in Russia.
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