France 24 reports French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has presented a new draft of a global climate accord that showed headway on some key issues and stalemate on others as the talks outside Paris headed into the final stretch. The draft included a long-term goal of keeping global warming “well below” 20C.
AFP says North Korea came under stinging criticism at the UN Security Council yesterday for human rights abuses that deny millions basic freedoms. The meeting, which fell deliberately on international human rights day, was chaired by the United States, which had joined eight other members in calling for the talks on Pyongyang’s dismal rights record.
Il Tempo reports Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has cautioned that military force alone will not eradicate the terror threat facing Europe. Opening the Med 2015 conference in Rome, Renzi said a “knee-jerk” military response to the terror threat facing Europe would not by itself achieve any sustainable results and called for the integration of marginalised Muslim communities and engagement with the Middle East.
La Tribune de Genève says working on a tip from the CIA, Geneva police are hunting for at least four suspects allegedly linked to the radical Islamic State group and believed to be plotting a “specific” attack in the city. City police raised their security alert level.
A meeting of Syrian opposition politicians and rebels in Riyadh has produced a statement of principles to guide peace talks with the government. Reuters reports the statement calls for a new “pluralistic regime that represents all sectors” in Syria. It also stresses that President Bashar al-Assad and his aides could play no part in any transitional period
LBC says Britain has convicted nine men in a case of “industrial-scale fraud” after a terrorism investigation uncovered suspect payments into an account of a person who had travelled to Syria. In a 1.4 million euro scam, the men targeted elderly and vulnerable people in the south of England by pretending to inform them of bank fraud, then persuading them to hand over cash to “keep it safe”, police said
Al Ahram reports Tutankhamun’s famed golden funeral mask will go back on display at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo next week after it was accidentally damaged by museum workers over a year ago. Its blue and gold braided beard was accidentally broken off and hastily reattached with the wrong glue. Dry epoxy on the mask was scraped off, leaving permanent scratch marks.
Times of Israel says Prime Minister Netanyahu’s dog has bitten two guests at the ceremony of lighting the candles for Hanukkah party at his residence in Jerusalem. The dog, named Kaia, bit Sharren Haskel, deputy of Netanyahu’s Likud party, and Or Alon, husband of Deputy Foreign Minister Zipi Chotoveli. A deeply embarrassed prime minister apologised to the victims, saying the dog became overexcited by the noise.
The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press.
Times of Malta reports that Parliamentary Secretary Ian Borg has remained defiant despite what the Ombudsman described as a 'grave error' by Mepa in granting him permits for two Rabat properties.
The Malta Independent says the gas turbines for the new power station have arrived in Malta.
In-Nazzjon reports how Francis Zammit Dimech and two directors have been released from all charges related to the death of a worker at the Seabank Hotel.
l-orizzont says the American University of Malta will welcome its first students in October next year.
The overseas press
Singer Adele has been accused of plagiarising the song ‘Million years ago’, the ninth track on the album ‘25’. Turkey’s Post says the song has many similarities with ‘Acılara Tutunmak’ by Turkish singer Ahmet Kaya, recorded in 1985 in Kurdish.
The San Francisco Sentinel reports Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer has followed a major business announcement with some big personal news: she gave birth to twin girls yesterday, the day after unveiling plans to hatch a new company to control Yahoo’s Internet business.
Corriere della Sera says a Milan appeals court has ruled valid a lesbian woman’s adoption in Spain of her ex-wife’s daughter, and ordered the adoption transcribed in Italy. Italy still lacks a civil unions or gay marriage law, so births to same-sex married couples are not officially recognised.
France Football announces Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema has been suspended from the France team after being charged with complicity to blackmail a teammate. The 27-year-old is accused of being part of a plot to demand money from 31-year-old Mathieu Valbuena in exchange for destroying a sex tape apparently featuring the Lyon player.