The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press:
The Times reports that Air Malta feebies are set to be reviewed. It also says the Lija feast may up with practically no fireworks because of a dispute within the fireworks factory.
The Malta Independent reports that the dismissal of 58 Selmun Palace Hotel workers is the first of difficult decisions by the airline’s board.
l-orizzont says the dismissals from Selmun Palace Hotel are ‘illegal’.
In-Nazzjon says Mepa has given the go-ahead for the extension of Mcast. It also says there has been a sharp rise in the number of students who study beyond secondary school.
The overseas press
EU interior ministers have agreed to delay Romania’s and Bulgaria’s entry to the European border-free Schengen zone until security is assured, despite acknowledging the two are technically qualified for it. Euroactiv reports Germany, France, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Holland blocked the motion, citing fears over border security.
Pravda says officials from the European Union and Russia have met to discuss, among other matters, Moscow's ban on EU vegetable imports in the wake of a virulent German E. coli outbreak, which has so far killed some 30 people and hospitalised more than 2,000, most of them in Germany. Among the other topics to be discussed at the summit are proposals for visa-free travel to Europe for Russian citizens and Russia's bid to become a member of the World Trade Organization.
Al Khaleej reports Western and Arab countries involved in the Libya campaign have pledged money to a new funding mechanism for the rebels, stepping up international pressure on Col Gaddafi's regime. Italy was sending €400 million, France €289 million, and Kuwait €124 million. The Libyan rebels have said they need €2.06 billion over the next four months. The pledges came at a meeting of the Contact Group on Libya formed of government representatives from more than 20 countries.
Tribune de Genève says the embattled regime of Muammar Gaddafi has vehemently denied accusations by a UN panel and Western nations that Libyan government forces have committed crimes against humanity and war crimes. Libyan diplomat Mustafa Shaban told the UN Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva it was the government that was “the victim of a widespread aggression”. Shaban’s comments came after the chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court said yesterday he was investigating whether Gaddafi provided Viagra to Libyan soldiers to promote rape. A UN panel said last week its investigators found evidence that government forces committed murder, torture and sexual abuses.
Aljazeera reports the International Atomic Energy Agency has voted to report Syria to the UN Security Council over its alleged covert nuclear programme. The structure, which Syria has maintained was a non-nuclear military site, was destroyed by Israel in 2007. At the IAEA meeting of the 35-member board of governors Vienna, 17 countries voted for, six against, 11 abstained and one country was absent.
According to Associated Press, more than 2,400 Syrians have crossed from Syria to Turkey before tanks and troops surrounded Jisr al-Shughour. Some of the refugees told of a week of revolt, mutiny and mayhem saying Syrian policemen turned their guns on each other, soldiers shed their uniforms rather than obey orders to fire on protesters, and three young men who tried to escape were beheaded by forces loyal to President Bashar Assad.
Kathemerini says that the Greek cabinet has backed new budget cuts and is ready to put them to parliament as early as next month. Ministers endorsed a mid-term fiscal and privatisation plan, required by the EU and the IMF as part of their bail-out conditions.
El Universal reports that five Mexican football internationals – including goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa – have tested positive for the banned substance Clenbuterol and have been suspended. Mexico is taking part in Concacaf Gold Cup in the United States