The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press:

The Times says that Mepa, politicians and the judiciary are viewed as the most corrupt, according to a Eurobarometer survey. It also says that the UHM is pressing ahead with Gozo Channel industrial actions.

The Malta Independent quotes a Reuters story saying that two-thirds of sanctioned Iranian ships’ visits to the EU ports are via Malta. It also quotes minister Mario de Marco saying that the new environment policy should be everyone’s priority.

In-Nazzjon says there has been a sharp drop in waiting time for cataract operations thanks to subcontracting to the private sector. It also says that according to the European Commission, the Maltese economy does not need to be put on special watch. 12 other EU economies are on watch.

l-orizzont reports a Eurobarometer survey that 88% of people say corruption in a serious problem. It also gives prominence to the PL manifesto for the local council elections.

The overseas press

Deutsche Welle quotes Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker saying Greece had accepted the conditions necessary to receive a second bailout package of €130 billion. Junker said that during a three-and-a-half hour conference call, the eurozone finance ministers had received assurances from Greece that it had found a further €325 million in cuts on top of austerity measures already agreed. Greek coalition leaders also gave "strong assurances," from the leaders of the two Greek parties that make up the coalition government to implement promised cuts and reforms even after elections expected in April.

In his only formal address during a visit to Washington, China's leader-in-waiting Xi Jinping, has offered deeper international ties with United States but with warnings. The Washington Post reports Xi offered further cooperation on trade and global trouble spots including Iran and North Korea, but also demanded Washington heed Beijing's demands on Tibet and Taiwan. Xi is expected to be promoted to head of China's ruling Communist Party later this year and president in early 2013.

Metro quotes Amnesty International saying Libya's aspirations to establish a just and democratic state are being undermined by out-of-control armed militias who trample on human rights. It says its researchers had documented dozens of cases of militias committing war crimes, torturing detainees and forcing whole communities to flee their homes but Libya's interim leadership had failed to assert its authority over the militias by investigating the abuses.

Human rights campaigners have blamed overcrowding and poor conditions in Honduras’ prison system for the death of more than 350 inmates in a fire – the word such incident in more than a century. The chair of the inter-American commission of human rights told the BBC most Honduran prisons did not have fire extinguishers. Honduras President Porfirio Lobo has pledged a "full and transparent" investigation.

Abrar says Iran's President Ahmadinejad has ordered the construction of four other nuclear research reactors in addition to the one already up and running in Tehran. He told Iranian State TV that Iran had identified the need for four reactors in four different sites for research purposes.

The White House has termed “quite laughable” the referendum called by Syrian president, Bashar al Assad on the draft of the new constitution. The Washington Post quotes White House spokesman Jay Carney saying promises of reforms have been usually followed by increased brutality and have never been delivered.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has confirmed that he would run for a second term. In a television interview on French channel TF1, he aid he took the decision because France, Europe and the world have for the last three years seen “a series of unprecedented crises”. France’s two-round presidential ballot in April and May is likely to have an impact throughout the European Union. Mr Sarkozy has been closely involved in the fight to save the euro amid a sovereign debt crisis in the bloc.

The Scotsman says British Prime Minister David Cameron will come face-to-face with Scotland's First Minister in Edinburgh today for talks on the proposed independence referendum. It is their first meeting since the Cameron stepped up his opposition to a UK break-up at the beginning of the year. The SNP plans to hold it in the autumn of 2014 and wants 16 and 17 year-olds to have a vote. It has also left the door open to a second question on the so-called Devo-Max – devolution with greater powers.

Il Mattino reports that a raid by Italian police in Naples' main shopping district has revealed that 82 per cent did not comply with tax obligations and that 40 out of some 50 vendors at the open market lacked the proper tools. The raid continued into the night in nightclubs, restaurants, pizzerias and bars. A total of 34 were lacking legal documentation. Plainclothes soldiers have been monitoring the issuing of receipts in shops.

Sky News announces that Whitney Houston's fans will be able to watch her private funeral on the internet after her family agreed to allow a camera into the small church service in Newark, New Jersey. Some had expressed disappointment after it was announced that only 300 relatives and friends would able to attend the private funeral at New Hope Baptist Church, where Houston sang as a child.

 

 

 

 

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