The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press:
The Times says former PBS chairman Joseph Mizzi has asked the police to investigate whether his drink was spiked during a Eurovision Song Contest reception.
The Malta Independent says the no movement is saying it is not again divorce in principle, but against divorce as proposed in the referendum question. It also quotes the Divorce Movement saying the government is giving deceptive message on its plans for a cohabitation law.
MaltaToday says the fear factor is giving the ‘no’ camp a final push but the referendum outcome can go either way.
In-Nazzjon says the ‘no’ movement has uncovered deceit in the referendum question. Meanwhile, the ‘yes’ camp has insisted that divorce will not create turmoil in society. It also reports the fireworks incident where a man was severely burnt yesterday.
l-orizzont says churches will be kept open on Friday night, which is a day of reflection ahead of the referendum.
The overseas press
The Wall Street Journal reports that the dispute between Europe's central bankers and politicians over how to deal with Greece's worsening financial problems intensified, as Bank of France Governor Christian Noyer – one of the European Central Bank's top officials – rejected calls by Germany and other eurozone states for a restructuring of Greek debt, calling it a "horror scenario". At issue is whether Greece, barely a year after receiving a €110 billion bailout, should be forced to default on its obligations or if Europe should extend it more aid.
The Financial Times says that five of the world’s main emerging economies have called for an end to the tradition that the head of the International Monetary Fund should be a European. The so-called BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – said choosing a managing director on the basis of nationality undermined the fund's legitimacy.
The Washington Times quotes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying he was ready to make "painful compromises" for peace with the Palestinians. He told a joint session of the US Congress that a future Palestinian state would not see a return to the borders that existed before the 1967 Middle East war. He also restated Israel's refusal to entertain the return of millions of Palestinian refugees and their families to land in Israel and maintained that Jerusalem, claimed by both sides as their capital, could not be divided. Netanyahu urged Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to discard a power-sharing agreement his moderate Fatah faction had signed with the militant group Hamas – which does not recognise Israel's right to exist – and shelve efforts to win UN statehood status unilaterally.
Under the heading “The Best of Buddies”, the Daily Mirror reports on President Barack Obama's state visit to the UK, saying he paid a "glowing" tribute to Britain and its people. At a state banquet at Buckingham Palace, he told the British people that they had been America’s staunchest allies in the 10 years following the 9/11 attacks. In her welcome speech, the Queen celebrated the special relationship between the US and Great Britain, highlighting their "shared history, common language and strong intellectual and cultural links".
The air transport industry has been beset by confusion and arguments as passengers braced themselves for days of uncertainty caused by Iceland’s latest volcanic ash cloud. In Britain, the Daily Mail quotes the Met Office saying the fallout from the Grimsvotn volcano had moved over parts of Scotland, prompting a warning to airlines that they had to seek permission to fly to and from the area. Hundreds of flights were cancelled. But Ryanair immediately challenged the results, saying it had sent its own plane into Scottish airspace and found no ash in the atmosphere. IATA complained to Britain about the way it had handled the issue, saying it should have had its own planes ready to carry out tests, instead of relying on the weather service.
Yemen Daily reports intense fighting in the Yemeni capital Sanaa between the security forces and the country’s biggest tribe which has joined the uprising against President Ali Abdullah Saleh. The authorities said at least 30 people had been killed while independent sources put the number nearer to 40.
Al Ahram says Egypt's ex-President Hosni Mubarak would stand trial on charges of conspiring in the deadly shootings of protesters during the uprising that ousted him. The prosecutor-general said the 83-year-old leader and his two sons also were charged with abusing power to amass wealth, enriching associates and accepting bribes. A date for the criminal trial has not been set.
Vienna’s Der Kurier reports the International Atomic Energy Agency has said that despite denials, Syria very likely secretly built a nuclear reactor in violation of its international treaty obligations. The agency also reported it had evidence that Iran continued to work on nuclear weapons despite international sanctions. The reports were drawn up for next month's meeting of the 35-nation IAEA board.
The Egyptian Gazette says 17 lost pyramids were among the buildings identified in a new satellite survey of Egypt. More than 1,000 tombs and 3,000 ancient settlements were also revealed by looking at infra-red images which show up underground buildings. Initial excavations have already confirmed some of the findings including of two suspected pyramids.
The People’s Daily reports that two rare cubs, born to a male lion and a female tiger earlier this month, were being nursed by a dog after they were abandoned by their mother. A Xixiakou Wildlife Zoo spokeswoman said the two cubs, called ligers, had trouble at first drinking milk from the dog but are now used to it. Ligers are very rare and are sometimes bred in zoos by mistake.