These are the main headlines from today’s local newspapers:
Times of Malta reports that Parliamentary Secretary Ian Borg did a U-turn when he stopped works on his controversial Rabat property.
The Malta Independent says that there is nothing set in stone for the relocation of the monti to the upper part of Merchant Street in Valletta.
L-orizzont reports that a "historic" agreement has been signed between the government, the Church and the private sector to provide shelter for the homeless.
In-Nazzjon also reports the parliamentary secretary's decision to stop works at his property following an Ombudsman report.
These are the main international headlines:
Le Monde reports negotiators in Paris have agreed a final draft of a deal to combat climate change after nearly two weeks of intensive negotiations. The announcement was made in the early hours of this morning after another marathon round of talks which went on well into the night.
Libya News says delegations of the Tobruk and Tripoli factions have reached an agreement to sign an accord next week for a new unity government. UN special envoy Martin Kobler said at the end of two days of talks between the parties in Tunis that there was “a broad consensus that only with the early signing of the agreement could the country can regain its unity”.
The Daily Telegraph quotes British government sources saying Britain could launch military action in Libya next, amid fears that Islamic State militants will use their new stronghold along a stretch of the Mediterranean coast to target Europe. Ministers at the Foreign Office and Ministry of Defence say they are “extremely concerned” by the rapid rise of Isil and other extremist groups in Libya. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has called for international efforts to crush the Islamic State jihadists to extend to the north African country.
Meanwhile, Tripoli Post says Islamic State militants are preparing to launch an attack against the oil fields in the Ajdabiya area, east of Sirte. At least 40 militiamen on 12 pickup trucks are reported to have arrived in the city last week. German authorities are searching for a man from the German town of Dinslaken, according to magazine Der Spiegel. The man, identified as Hüseyin D., is said to have been close to Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the purported mastermind of the Paris attacks.
El Pais reports Spanish police have arrested alleged Islamist militant Ali Charef Damache wanted by the FBI for conspiracy in a foiled plot to murder Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks, whose depiction of Mohammad with the body of a dog triggered huge Muslim protests. Colleen LaRose, a Pennsylvania woman who called herself Jihad Jane, is serving a 10-year sentence for conspiring, allegedly with Damache, to try to kill the Swedish artist.
Afghan Post says explosions have rocked Kabul’s diplomatic quarter with ensuing gunfights between Taliban fighters and security forces. A Spanish policeman has been killed as security forces struggled to cope with Taliban insurgency.
Le Parisien reports French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has warned of a slide toward “civil war” if the far-right National Front wins power in regional polls tomorrow as a steppingstone toward its 2017 presidential election campaign. The head of the Socialist national government is waging a fierce battle to keep Front leader Marine Le Pen from power, going as far as urging left-wingers to back mainstream right-wingers in regions where Le Pen and her camp could win.
Anadolu news agency says Turkish authorities have issued arrest warrants for US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen and 66 others. All face accusations linked to association with a terrorist group. Observers see the move as an extension of President Tayyip Erdogan’s campaign to root out the influence of the former ally he accuses of trying to topple him.
Sputnik reports astronauts from three countries have returned to Earth after spending 141 days in space aboard the International Space Station. The Soyuz capsule carrying Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, American astronaut Kjell Lindgren and Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui landed in frigid conditions in Kazahkstan.
The Washington Post says hoverboards have gone from a hot gift this holiday season to literally the hottest gift this month as regulators are investigating reports of the batteries catching on fire, raising safety concerns about the devices. Delta, American and United have announced they were restricting the electric scooters from flights, joining British Airways, Lufthansa,Virgin America, Alaska Airlines and JetBlue. Also, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission is currently investigating at least 10 hoverboard fires in nine states.
France Football says all eyes will be on Paris for the draws of the first knock-out phase of Euro 2016. Qualifying teams have been put into four hats: Group One consists of France, Spain, Germany, England, Portugal and Belgium; Group Two: Italy, Russia, Switzerland, Austria, Croazia and Ukraine; Group Three: Czeck Republic, Sweden, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary; and Group Four: Turkey, Iceland, Wales, Albania, Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.