The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press.
Times of Malta reports that the HSBC strike has been suspended and talks will resume.
The Malta Independent in its top story urges its readers to vote no in the spring hunting referendum.
In-Nazzjon quotes Simon Busuttil calling for an increase in confidence in politicians.
l-orizzont reports how the GWU has dissociated itself from its editorial backing spring hunting. It also reports that a whistleblower has come forward claiming private works with public funds were carried out in Zebbug, Gozo, under the former government.
The overseas press
Reuters reports Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s conviction for the Boston bombing came as a relief to residents of the city, though many expressed mixed feelings over whether the 21-year-old should be put to death for his crimes.
But in Chechnia, where he was born, it’s a different view. There it is argued that once he was with his brother Tamerlan, Dzhokhar could not even think of disobeying him. ABC says that in a bid to save Tsarnaev from a death sentence, defence attorney Judy Clarke argued that “if not for Tamerlan, it would not have happened”. Tamerlan, 26, died when he was shot by police and run over by his brother during a chaotic getaway attempt days after the bombing.
France 24 reports Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras called for an end to the “vicious cycle” of sanctions against Russia over Ukraine, while President Putin denied using Athens to sow discord within the European Union. Putin and Tsipras signed a plan of collaborative action for 2016 and a two-year bilateral agreement for 2015-2016 on the first of two days of the Greek premier’s visit to Russia that is being closely watched by the EU.
AGI says Italy, Egypt and Algeria have decided to intensify their efforts and joint endeavours to bolster attempts by the United Nations envoy to stabilise the situation in Libya, combat terrorism and achieve a national unity government. The announcement came after a meeting in Rome between the foreign ministers of the three countries.
Sueddeutsche Zeitung reports the Islamic State group has lost control of “at least three large oil fields” in Iraq, depriving the jihadists of a crucial source of income. Quoting BND federal intelligence services, the German newspaper said that in the face of a large-scale Iraqi counteroffensive, the extremist group now controls just a single oil field in the country or only five per cent of the extraction capabilities they had before.
El Pais reveals an ongoing Spanish police operation against a jihadist cell in Catalonia has resulted in the arrests of 11 people suspected of having links to the Islamic State militants. A group of 360 officers involved in the raids found evidence the group was planning an attack in Spain, as well as trying to send more young people to Syria.
Globe & Mail announces Canada has carried out its first air strikes in Syria, expanding the country’s contribution to the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State. Two F-18s using precision-guided munitions struck a IS position near the Syrian city of Raqqa, before safely returning to base. Previously, Canadian strikes had been limited to Iraqi territory.
Hackers claiming to act on behalf of the Islamic State have attacked and obscured the French broadcaster TV5Monde. France Info reports the site last night was unreachable and broadcasts were suspended, while slogans signed by the jihadists ‘CyberCaliffato’ appeared on Facebook. Among the messages, was a warning to President Hollande, accused of having sent French soldiers against Isis, accompanied by threats to family members of the French military.
USA Today says policeman Michael Slager, who shot and killed African-American Walter Scott in South Carolina on Friday, has been fired. The news was announced by North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey, during a news conference that was repeatedly interrupted by protests, to such an extent that he threatened to leave.
Corriere della Sera says the Milan Polytechnic University has announced the arrival of the “smart bench” – its patented indoor-outdoor seating endowed with antibacterial and anti-pollution properties. The bench is also self-cleaning and recyclable. It has an electrical plug, WiFi, and an SOS alert system that is active 24 hours a day. In addition, the bench has sensors for detecting rain, vandalism and theft.
A stolen dog dumped by callous thieves in England has engineered a rescue by flagging down a passing RSPCA van more than 100 miles from its home. Metro says Alfie the Yorkshire Terrier brought charity inspector Stephanie Law’s van to a halt on a country road in Buckinghamshire, after dashing out of nearby woodland and into the middle of the lane, barking. Braking to a stop, Ms Law then opened her door only for Alfie to immediately jump inside. The RSCPA officer then scanned its microchip, revealing the dog to be a seven-year-old terrier stolen from a house in Wednesbury in the West Midlands on March 21. However, Alfie’s pack-mate and fellow Terrier Lillie, who was also taken in the theft, remains missing.