The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press:
The Times says legislation on In-Vitro fertilization is being drafted. An IVF lab at Mater Dei Hospital is currently not being used. It also reports that fuel oil prices have gone down 39 percent since October.
l-orizzont reports a press conference given by 11 trade unions on the utility tariffs. They again warned of possible action over the issue. The unions also asked who the regulator is protecting.
The Malta Independent also leads with the trade unions’ press conference. In other stories, it says tourist arrivals reached a record last year, but the last four months saw arrivals fall. It also reports on a new strategy to improve primary school pupils’ competences.
MaltaToday says the Prime Minister is changing the timetable of Parliament in a bid to win time before the opposition debate on St John’s Cathedral museum. It also reports that George Abela was also considered for the presidency in 2004.
In-Nazzjon reports last year’s record in tourism and the launch, yesterday, of a grant scheme for those who buy equipment producing alternative energy, such as solar water heaters.
The Press in Britain
The Guardian continues that under separate plans being hastily drawn up by Labour and the Tories, peers will be expelled permanently from the House of Lords if they break tough new rules limiting outside earnings.
The Times reports on Business Secretary Lord Mandelson justifying a £2.3bn rescue for British carmakers as paving the way for the "reinvention" of a greener motor industry.
The Daily Telegraph adds he said that car makers would be able to unlock up to £1.3bn of loans from Europe to enable them to carry on production while offering deals to those who want to buy cars.
But according to the Financial Times, ministers were under intensifying pressure to increase and extend the car industry lifeline, as businesses and unions warned tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs were at risk.
The Scotsman says the Scottish government is launching a campaign to attract new recruits into the country’s shipbuilding trade.
The Daily Mail says that two young children are to be adopted by a gay couple despite the protests of their grandparents.
The Daily Express tells how Britain has been accused of failing to stop the tide of illegal immigrants arriving from France.
And elsewhere…
Al Jezeera reports Israeli aircraft have struck out at smuggle-tunnels along the Gaza-Egypt border sending hundreds of people fleeing the town of Rafah. The strike is said to have been a response to Tuesday's attack by Gaza militants on an Israeli military vehicle, killing one soldier and wounding three others.
Al Ahram says the renewed attacks came as America's new Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, arrived in Cairo to start a tour of the Middle East to build on that ceasefire. He will have talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and then travels to Israel, the West Bank, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, France and Britain.
President Obama has announced that his administration is ready to adopt a more comprehensive approach in its ties with the Muslim world. Choosing the Arab al-Arabiya TV station for his first formal TV interview as president, Obama said he sought to heal ties with Arabs and Muslims, emphasising that America was not an enemy. He also said that his administration would lay the framework for diplomacy with Iran.
Al Quds Al Arabi reports a British information tribunal has ordered the government to release the minutes of Cabinet discussions relating to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Berliner Morgenpost says Germany's leading Jewish group has boycotted an official ceremony marking the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp in 1945. The general secretary of the Central Council of Jews stayed away from the event in parliament as a response to what he says is a lack of respect.
L’Osservatore Romano says the traditionalist Society of St Pius X, recently rehabilitated by the Pope, has silenced one of its bishops and distanced itself from his claim that no Jews were gassed during the Second World War.
Pravda says the Russian Orthodox Church has elected the moderniser Metropolitan Kirill as its new leader to succeed Alexiy II, who died last month. To be installed on Sunday, 62-year old Kirill is expected seek more independence from the state and improve relations with the Vatican
Ethnos reports Greek farmers have cut access to all major highways and blocked border crossings for a ninth day in a showdown with the government over falling commodity prices.
Manchester Evening News reports footballer Robinho has been arrested over allegations of a serious sexual assault in a Leeds club. The Manchester City player's spokesman confirmed the Brazilian met police but did not mention the nature of the inquiry. His client denies wrongdoing and was released on bail.
USA Today says the eight babies born in what is believed to be only the second case of octuplets surviving more than a few hours are said to be stable and "doing well". All the babies, born nine weeks premature, are now breathing on their own but it is believed they will stay under observation for eight weeks. Their mother plans to breast feed all of them.