The following are the top stories in the local and international press today.
All the national newspapers today focus on yesterday’s arrival of 281 immigrants, bringing the total of arrivals to more than 800 in just 24 hours.
The Times has a story saying that the European Commission has expressed satisfaction at the spring hunting agreement reached with Malta but warned other countries not to use Malta as a precedent.
Malta Today says that the country is working to attract the highest-paid executives in the world with a 15% fixed tax rate for chief executives who earn not less than €75000 in a year, or up to €5 million over the course of their employment here.
The Independent says that around 1.3 tonnes of medical provisions are to leave Malta for Misurata in Libya.
In-Nazzjon reports on the summit held in London to discuss the situation in Libya and says that Malta has reiterated its appeal for help with the illegal migration problem.
l-Orizzont focuses on a new scheme launched by the General Workers’ Union to help voluntary organisations.
The international press:
US President Barack Obama has told NBC News he did not rule out supplying American arms to Libyan rebels. He said Col Gaddafi was greatly weakened and would ultimately step down.
Sky News reports that a split has appeared to have emerged between the US and Nato over whether they are allowed to arm the Libyan opposition to Col Gaddafi. The division emerged following a summit in London, where some 35 countries agreed the Libyan regime had "completely lost legitimacy". Questioned by reporters after the meeting, Foreign Secretary William Hague, who chaired the conference, said arming rebels had not been discussed. Then, his American counterpart Hillary Clinton said it would be "legitimate" under the terms of the UN resolution which has so far allowed the coalition to launch military action against Gaddafi's forces.
As the talks took place in London, Associated Press reported that forces loyal to Col Gaddafi drove out rebels from the recently-captured towns of Bin Jawad and Ras Lanouf in eastern Libya. The agency said the government forces hammered the rebels with tanks and rockets, turning their rapid advance into a panicked retreat in an hours-long battle Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Reuters reports anti-Gaddafi fighters in Misurata have come under attack. A spokesman told the agency by satellite phone that Gaddafi's forces were launching an intensive military campaign, determined to capture the city.
In Tripoli, several explosions were heard close to the Libyan leader’s residence. Al-Arabiya reports two explosions have shaken the Aziziyah Gate area. Libya's state-run Al-Libiyah TV has shown pictures of more pro-Gaddafi supporters people joining a sit-in at his base in Tripoli, shouting slogans and waving pictures of the Libyan leader.
Al Thawra says Syria’s Cabinet has resigned en masse hoping to help quell the wave of protests that are threatening President Bashar Assad’s 11-year rule. State TV said Assad accepted the resignation of the 32-member Cabinet headed by Naji al-Otari, who has been in place since September 23. The Cabinet would continue running the country’s affairs until the formation of a new government. More than 60 people are reported to have died since March 18 as security forces cracked down on protesters.
At least 53 people were killed and dozens wounded dur8ing a gun battle at a local council in the Iraqi city of Tikrit. Al Ayyam reports security forces stormed the building after eight armed men, wearing explosive vests, blasted their way inside, took council men and women captive and shooting some of them.
According to Ashati TV, the Japanese government has vowed to overhaul safety standards at its nuclear plants after admitting that its safeguards were insufficient to protect them against the earthquake and tsunami.The struggle to contain radiation at the Fukushima Dai-ichi complex has unfolded with near-constant missteps – the latest including two workers drenched with radioactive water despite wearing supposedly waterproof suits.
Meanwhile, Fox News says more than 11,000 bodies have been recovered, but officials say the final death toll from the March 11 tsunami was expected to exceed 18,000. Hundreds of thousands of people remained homeless, and damage could amount to $310 billion (€220.25 billion) – the most expensive natural disaster on record.
Alabama Reporter reports the death of nine hospital patients who were treated with contaminated intravenous feeding bags. State health officials said 10 other patients treated with the bags that provide nutrients through IV tubes were also taken sick by the outbreak of bacteria.
Moscow Times says the American Ballet Theatre has returned to Moscow for the first time since the 1960s and the first time since the defection of Mikhail Baryshnikov, who left Russia's famed Bolshoi Theatre to take his luminous star power to the US ballet company. ABT opened a three-night run last night on the new stage of the Bolshoi Theatre, whose company was touring Canada when Baryshnikov defected from the Soviet Union in 1974.
London’s Sporting Life reports that building works at the £486 million (€551 million) Olympic Stadium have been completed – on time and under budget. London 2012 chairman Lord Coe watched as Namibia-born Frankie Fredericks, a four-time Olympic silver medalist and former world 200 metres champion, laid the last piece of turf on the infield. Olympic Delivery Authority chairman John Armitt said finishing the building work at the showpiece Olympic Stadium, which began in May 2008, was a “huge milestone” for the £9.3 billion (€10.5 billion) Olympic project, particularly as it comes with an “exemplary safety record”.