The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press:
The Times reports comments by Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando that his vote in parliament ‘wasn’t personal’. It also reports how a policeman was ordered to pay compensation for shooting a man in 1995.
The Malta Independent reports how the sale of a number of inhalants will be banned for young people.
MaltaToday says the hunt is on for Cachia Caruana’s replacement. They may include Meusac head Vanni Xuereb, former Mita head Claudio Grech, Speaker Michael Frendo, former EU commissioner Joe Borg, minister Austin Gatt, former EU representative to Malta Johanna Drake and MEP Simon Busuttil.
In-Nazzjon says the Opposition had moved its motion against Cachia Caruana at a timing which suited it. It also reports on Marija Hammett’s participation in ‘Be a prime minister for a day’.
l-orizzont says the government is standing ‘on one leg’ but Cachia Caruana will form part of the government’s delegation for next week’s EU summit.
The overseas press
European leaders have rejected pressure from the G20 conference in Mexico to speed up measures to fight their debt crisis. Reuters reports that as the G20 gathering prepares a final statement, European countries have signalled they were considering concrete steps to integrate their banking sectors. The measure is a major reform sought by the United States and other nations to break the cycle of highly indebted countries rescuing failing banks, pushing those countries further into debt. The officials said that European leaders were working towards an agreement to stabilise Europe to be unveiled at a summit of the 17-nation eurozone at the end of the month.
There are conflicting reports coming out of Cairo about the health condition of former President Hosni Mubarak. Egypt’s state TV, Ertu, says Mubarak was critically ill after suffering a stroke in prison and taken to a hospital in Maadi, where he was joined by his wife. At one point, state news agency Mena, reported that Mubarak, who was jailed for life earlier this month, had been declared clinically dead but later reports said he was in a coma.
Meanwhile, The Egyptian Gazette says a huge demonstration in Tahrir Square in Cairo to protest against the sweeping powers taken by Egypt’s ruling military council. The protests came as Egypt awaited the results of its presidential election. Both presidential candidates, Ahmed Shafik and Mohamed Morsi, claimed victory in the elections. Official results are expected tomorrow.
The BBC reports founder of Wikileaks, Julian Assange, has taken refuge at the embassy of Ecuador in London and asked for political asylum. He is facing extradition from Britain to Sweden where he has been accused of sexually assaulting two women. The British government said it would work with Ecuador to resolve the situation.
USA Today says Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton decried the enslavement of up to 27 million people around the world as her department released its annual report on human trafficking Tuesday. More than half the victims are in India, China and Southeast Asia. Most are enslaved by private employers, but millions work the sex trade or are in state-imposed forced labour. Of the 186 countries rated in the report, only 33 were meeting standards for combating slavery, while 17 were totally non-compliant. Among the worst offenders: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Syria.
L’Avvenire reports eight Libyan migrants were feared drowned after their boat sank off the coast of southern Italy and coastguard rescued four others. One of the survivors of the shipwreck, which occurred off the Puglian coast near Lecce said there had been 12 Libyan migrants on board. Coastguard later rescued the 5-6 metre vessel, after they spotted its stern bobbing in the sea. Over 18,000 migrants have drowned in the Mediterranean since 1988, according to the Fortress Europe website, which logs the deaths.
MSNBC quotes US military officials saying an investigation into the burning of Koran at a base in Afghanistan has recommended that up to seven soldiers should face disciplinary action. The burning of the Korans in February sparked riots and attacks on Nato soldiers in Afghanistan.
The Nation reports Pakistan's top court has disqualified Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, in a move likely to throw the country into fresh turmoil two months after the premier was convicted of contempt, and shortly before general elections. Last April, the supreme court convicted Gilani for refusing to ask Swiss authorities to reopen corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari. But Gilani insisted Zardari has full immunity as head of state, and last month said that writing to the Swiss would be a violation of the constitution.
Australia’s ABC says a Victoria man convicted of a violent attack on his wife has had his bravery award revoked. Jeannie Blackburn suffered a miscarriage and lost sight in one eye after being beaten by her former husband, Paul McCuskey. The Country Fire Authority volunteer, won a bravery award in July last year for saving the life of an elderly woman during Victoria's Black Saturday bushfires. He is currently serving a minimum three-year prison term for recklessly causing serious injury and other charges related to assaulting Ms Blackburn.
Blic reports an Austrian man has been hit with a divorce request from his wife after being caught having sex with a waitress at his wedding reception. And to make things even worse, the drunk 27-year-old man was spotted doing the deed by his father-in-law, who had gone looking for the frisky groom in the kitchen where the reception was being held in Feldkirch, Austria. The man's wife is now hoping for a quick divorce from the cheating groom.