The following are the main local newspaper headlines:
Times of Malta reveals that the Valletta Monti is expected to move further up Merchants Street.
The Malta Independent says that the Ombudsman and the Permanent Commission against Corruption are probing the case of a property involving Parliamentary Secretary Ian Borg.
L-Orizzont says a draft bill to control the ownership of dangerous animals is in its final phases.
In-Nazzjon gives details of the Nationalist Party’s 20 proposals to improve security in Paceville.
The following are the main foreign news headlines:
CNN reports the FBI has declared the California massacre, which killed 14 people, was “an act of terrorism” but would not confirm reports the female suspect had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. US media outlets have reported that Tashfeen Malik, 27, posted a private message on Facebook pledging her allegiance to IS jihadist group leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi.
Thai TV 3 reports Russian intelligence has warned Thai police of possible attacks on tourists by Islamic State militants. Thailand has increased security around popular tourist spots as its holiday high season begins. More than 1.6 million Russian tourists visited Thailand in 2014. Some 700 Tunisian women have travelled to Syria to join jihadist groups, Minister for Women Samira Merai told parliament on Friday.
Le Matin reports this brings to 5,000 the total of Tunisians thought to have joined the ranks of the Islamic State and other groups, in Syria, Iraq and Libya. Le Monde reports President Hollande has made a flying visit to the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, on station in the eastern Mediterranean to boost morale and get the latest updates on the progression of the French campaign. Oil facilities continue to be the target of choice as the international alliance seeks to cut off supplies of cash that the Islamic militants get by illegally selling fuel, which they then spend on weapons.
Deutsche Welle says lawmakers have approved plans for Germany to take on a direct role in the fight against ISIS in Syria. The move comes in answer to France’s appeal for help after the deadly Paris attacks.
L’Echo says Belgium is searching for two “armed and dangerous” but unidentified suspects who used false ID papers to help wanted Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam travel to Hungary in September. The fake identity card of one of the suspects was also used to wire money from Brussels to Paris to the cousin of attacks ringleader Abdelhamid Abaaoud four days after the massacre in the French capital.
The Wall Street Journal reports Western officials believe the terror network behind last month’s massacre in Paris has links to people in the UK, fuelling concerns about the threat faced in Europe. The officials said the people, including some of Moroccan heritage, are based in the Birmingham area. Egyptian security services say at least 16 people are dead and two injured after assailants firebombed a late-night restaurant in the capital’s affluent Agouza district.
According to al-Ahram, masked attackers threw petrol bombs at the El Sayad nightclub sparking a fast-moving blaze that engulfed patrons and staff.
Radio 24 announces that more than 1,500 migrants have been rescued by the Italian coastguard off Libya in 11 separate operations, bringing the number of people plucked from boats in 36 hours to more than 3,500. The migrants were plucked from 10 dinghies and a fishing boat.
The Daily Express reports new data reveals Britons think Eurozone migrants should not be allowed to work in the UK but British citizens should be allowed the right to work freely across the Eurozone. The research across seven European countries comes as British Prime Minister David Cameron insists he is fighting for EU reforms including cracking down on the abuse of free movement.
An analysis by Die Zeit has found that from 222 dangerous attacks on refugees’ homes in Germany this year, there have been just four convictions. There have been 637 reported incidents.
The Enquirer says a former Charlie Sheen finacèe is suing the actor claiming he did not disclose he was HIV positive until after they had sex several times. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court by Scottine Ross, states she and Sheen, 50, had sex five times before she learned he was HIV positive. Ross, a porn star who performed under the name Brett Rossi, first met Sheen in November 2013 and agreed to have sex with the actor.
Hollywood Reporter announces the death of Oscar-nominated actor Robert Loggia, who was known for gravelly voiced gangsters from “Scarface” to “The Sopranos” but who was most endearing as Tom Hanks’ kid-at-heart toy-company boss in “Big”. He was 85. Loggia’s wife Aubrey said he died Friday at his home in Los Angeles after a five year battle with Alzheimer’s.
Children around the world can rest assured that Santa Claus is alive and kicking, after Norway’s largest newspaper, Aftenposten, apologised for announcing that he had died at the age of 227. An obituary had appeared on the newspaper’s website announcing that Santa had passed away after a very long and active life. The notice added that a funeral for Santa, born on December 12 1788, would be held on December 28 at the “Chapel of the North Pole”. It was unclear how the mischievous announcement managed to make it onto Aftenposten’s site. It has since been removed from the website.