The following are the leading stories in the Maltese and overseas press today:
The Sunday Times leads with the shooting incident outside the PN club at Mqabba last night and says the man who caused the incident in the past had a number of political arguments with club officials.
The Malta Independent on Sunday says international police agencies are looking for two ‘environmental fugitives' in Malta. It also reports that fuel prices have dropped by 20 percent, amid calls for the power tariffs to be similarly reduced. In another story it reports the arraignment over Friday’s murder in Qormi.
Malta Today says the venue where l-Istrina is to be held is strewn with illegalities and has been subject to MEPA enforcement notices. It also reports that PL General Secretary Jason Micallef has challenged moves by PL CEO James Piscopo and leader Joseph Muscat.
Il-Mument leads with the shooting at the PN club at Mqabba last night. It also says that a world survey of democracies by the Economist Intelligence Unit has placed Malta in the 16th place from 167 countries. It also features the drop in petrol prices.
Kulhadd leads with the plight of a young girl as her parents go through separation proceedings. It also reports on the arraignment of a 28-year-old man following the murder in Qormi early last Friday.
It-Torca said a dockyard worker’s wife stands to lose the early retirement lump sum because her husband has died.
Illum reports that Lino Spiteri is Joseph Muscat’s choice for President, but there is opposition within the PL for the choice.
The Press in Britain…
The Sunday Telegraph reports that ministers are facing growing pressure from Labour MPs to separate the Church of England from the State.
The Observer and The Independent on Sunday say that US President-elect Barack Obama will make combating global warming a key part of his presidency after he appointed one of the world's leading climate change experts to his administration.
According to The Sunday Express, 'sneering' bankers have released a record mocking the economic misery facing millions of Britons.
The Mail On Sunday claims some peers in the House of Lords are receiving double allowances of up to £117,000 even though they share a home.
The Sunday People claims there was tension at the final of Strictly Come Dancing show as Tom Chambers danced his way to victory. The Holby City actor had postponed his honeymoon to continue in the show.
The Sunday Mirror says 323 high street stores could go bust in the new year.
The Sunday Mail says car workers' jobs in the UK are to be secured in a bail-out worth more than £667 million – after warnings that 800,000 people may end up on the dole.
Daily Star Sunday draws a connection with David Beckham's new contract at AC Milan and Big Brother.
Scotland on Sunday says Olympic champion Chris Hoy's year of achievement could be topped off with a knighthood.
And elsewhere…
Egypt’s internet service is expected to be back up to 85 per cent capacity after being almost entirely knocked out when several undersea cables were cut, Al Ahram reports.
Kabul Weekly reports the United States plans to send up to 30,000 extra troops to Afghanistan by the beginning of next summer.
Az-Zaman reports that the Iraqi parliament has thrown out a draft law allowing British troops and other non-US forces to remain in the country beyond the end of this month. It is the second time in a week the council of representatives has rejected arrangements for such forces to stay until next July 31.
The Times of India leads with the re-opening of Mumbai's Oberoi hotel after it was targeted in a rampage by suspected Islamic militants.
The People’s Daily reports that China will send two navy destroyers and a support vessel to the Gulf of Aden to combat piracy off Somalia.
Colorado Globe says a tumour removed from the brain of a newborn baby contained a tiny foot and other partially formed body parts. Paediatric neurosurgeon Paul Grabb, who operated on three-day-old Sam Esquibel in Colorado Springs after an MRI showed a microscopic tumour, said it might have been a case of a foetal twin beginning to form within another.
California Chronicle reports that a teenager who vandalised his school was punished by his father and was made to walk the streets for five hours in shame with a sandwich board detailing what he did. Dennis Baltimore, 16, painted graffiti on a high school in Long Beach.
As rioting in Athens enters its fifteenth day, Kathemerini reports that rioters have attacked a Christmas tree in the Greek capital’s main square. They tossed rubbish and hanged bin bags from its branches before clashing with police.
Moscow Times announces the death of Olga Lepeshinskaya, the Bolshoi Ballet's prima ballerina for three decades during the Soviet times. She was 92.
Il Tempo says Italy’s homeless will be savouring beluga caviar this Christmas, thanks to officials who seized 40 kilos of the contraband delicacy from smugglers.