The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press:
The Times says Air Malta has to give up some profitable routes as compensation to justify state aid as part of the restructuring programme.
The Malta Independent reports how the weather yesterday foiled the departure of the two Libyan Mirages back home.
MaltaToday reports how investigators yesterday returned to Falcon House, the scene of the New Year's Day double homicide.
In-Nazzjon carries a picture of the prime minister presenting a helmet to one of the Libyan pilots who have returned to take back their fighter jets. It quotes the prime minister saying the pilots were a symbol of freedom.
l-orizzont also reports that there was another search at Falcon House yesterday. It also reports that Transport Malta has been shaken by another case of alleged bribery.
The overseas press
Greece is bracing itself for more industrial unrest as trade unions have called strikes and protests over the government’s agreement with the EU, hammered out in the erarly hours of Monday. Kathimerini says the country has already been through a massive austerity programme in return for an earlier bailout, and many are angry at the prospect of years more hardship.
Ta’ Nea reports that as the cabinet met to finalise reforms demanded by international lenders, Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos has said Greece had avoided a nightmare scenario by agreeing to the €130 billion bailout deal. At Tuesday's cabinet meeting, ministers discussed emergency legislation and a parliamentary vote is expected tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Börzen Zeitung reports that financial markets have given a mixed reaction to the approval of a second international bailout deal for Greece. The Dow Jones briefly topped the 13,000 mark for the first time since May 2008. But the early optimism faded on Wall Street as tensions over Iran's nuclear programme have continued to drive up the cost of oil, which veered between $105.50 and $128.99 a barrel. The spot gold price was also stronger at $1,759.65 an ounce.
Al Ahram says an Egyptian court has ruled that the elaborate voting system, that apportioned seats among individuals and political parties to elect the country’s new parliament, was unconstitutional. Judge Magdy el-Agaty of the High Administrative Court has referred parts of the election law to the Supreme Constitutional Court for a final judgment. It was not immediately clear if the ruling could eventually lead to courts overturning the results of the elections, which were held over three stages from late November to January. The new parliament was expected to name a council to draw up a new constitution.
Meanwhile, The Egyptian Gazette says that the trial of Egypt's former President Hosni Mubarak is due to begin its final day, after six months of hearings. Mubarak is accused of corruption, and of ordering the killing of protesters during the uprising that forced him to step down last February after three decades in power. The prosecution has called for the death penalty. Mubarak denies the charges against him.
Al Ayyam reports that a Palestinian held without trial by Israeli authorities has ended a 66-day hunger strike, after Israel promised to release him in April in a deal that avoided judicial review of its detention policy. Khader Adnan, a 33-year-old who Israel says is a member of the militant group Islamic Jihad, had been refusing food since mid-December and doctors had voiced fears about his deteriorating health. Human rights activists said the outcome would not change Israel's practice of "administrative detention", which allows it to hold suspects indefinitely.
The BBC says that the International Atomic Energy Agency has said Iran has stopped its inspectors from inspecting the key military site of Parchin, south of Tehran, to clarify the "possible military dimensions" of Iran's nuclear programme. The the UN nuclear watchdog said no deal had been reached despite "intensive efforts". Iran says its programme is for peaceful purposes, but the West suspects it is geared towards making weapons. The IAEA team is returning home.
Sky News reports British singer Adele has won two prizes at the Brit Awards ceremony in London – for best British album and best British female. She added her Brits to the six Grammy Awards she won last weekend, capping a year of huge global success. According to her record label, the London singer's second album 21 has sold 17 million copies around the world and hit number one in 24 countries. Ed Sheeran also won two awards - best British male and British breakthrough. Coldplay were crowned best British group for a record third time, while former X Factor boy band One Direction beat Adele to the award for best British single.
Metro says that 11 men have gon on trial in Liverpool accused od sexcually exploiting underage girls who had been plied with drugs and alcohol. The fice yourgesters – aged between 13 and 15 when the alleged abuse began – were thought to have been “passed around” among a group of men and some were subected to violence. The jury was told one of the girls became pregnant at 13 and had to have an abortion.