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

The Times of Malta says EU medical students at the University have doubled.

The Malta Independent says the citizenship scheme approval was splashed on the foreign media. It also asks if the diabetes plan can be delivered.

In-Nazzjon leads with a press conference by PN deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami criticising the government for dropping a court case against the Labour Party over Australia Hall.

l-orizzont reports how Malta Enterprise has approved 30 projects involving foreign direct investment.

The overseas press

Avvenire reports Pope Francis has called on Catholics to pray for the victims of the devastating typhoon that hit the Philippines last week, killing and injuring thousands, leaving over half a million people homeless. The appeal followed his message on Twitter on Sunday, when he urged Catholics to be “be generous with prayers and concrete help” for victims of the typhoon, one of the most powerful storms ever recorded on land. Some 11.3 million people are in need of vital goods and services in the Philippines.

The top US commander in the Philippines has said that the American aid effort for typhoon survivors has been stepped up to an unprecedented level for a humanitarian crisis. Marine Brigadier General Paul Kennedy has told the BBC the US aircraft carrier George Washington had now arrived off the island of Layte, which would enable the number of helicopter flights to deliver aid to be tripled.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the UN has already released $25 million of emergency aid and launched an appeal for $301 million to help survivors. Disaster management officials in the Philippines have put the confirmed death toll there at 2,275, with another 3,665 injured as of Wednesday, but the there are fears the death-toll could be far higher. It has been widely reported to be 10,000.

France 24 reports two of Europe’s most influential far-right politicians – France’s Marine Le Pen and the Netherlands’ Geert Wilders – have forged an alliance to undermine the European Parliament from within. The move comes amid rising voter frustration with mainstream politics and the EU ahead of elections next May for the European Parliament. Wilders, who is known for his strong eurosceptic and nationalist views, said they wanted “to repatriate the ability to decide ourselves how we control our borders, how we control our money and our economy”.

Le Matin says foreign ministers from countries across the Sahel and Maghreb gathered in Rabat on Thursday to look for ways to boost border security and confront Islamist linked-violence plaguing the vast desert region. Senior officials from the United States, Britain and France are also due to attend the conference, which is also expected to give special attention to developments in Mali and Libya. Security officials have warned that the vast deserts of southern Libya are becoming the latest safe havens for the militants who fled neighbouring Mali.

Al Arabiya reports Russia Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov have arrived in Cairo for talks that will reportedly include possible arms deals. A flurry of diplomatic activity between the two countries has followed President Obama’s decision to cut defence aid to Egypt.

The Times announces Britain's Prince Charles today officially becomes a pensioner as he celebrates his 65th birthday. He is now entitled to a state-pension of €131 a week, which he will donate to a charity for the elderly. The heir apparent, Queen Elizabeth II's eldest son, will mark the occasion in India, where he is currently touring with his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall. The future king will be thrown into the limelight tomorrow when he takes the queen's place at the Commonwealth heads of government summit in Colombo.

Huffington Post reports a new report says the world’s oceans were becoming more acidic at an unprecedented rate. Scientists predict that the waters would be so acidic by the end of this century that 30 per cent of ocean species would not be able to survive.

El Pais says Spanish police have detained 12 people suspected of belonging to a gang that used jet skis to smuggle hashish from Morocco into Spain. Officers seized €20,000 in cash as well as three jet skis, three cars and 29 mobile telephones. Nine of the 12 suspects have been jailed while the rest were freed on bail while they await trial. The suspects, aged 22 to 43, include a British national, an Italian and two Moroccans.

Corriere della Sera reports prosecutors in Milan are investigating US technology giant Apple for allegedly failing to declare over a billion euros of income to Italy's tax authority. The California-based multinational is suspected of hiding over $1.3 billion of its income from 2010 to 2011. Italy's tax authority has become more aggressive towards corporations amid a global crackdown on tax evasion by multinationals.

Le Parisien says veteran US singer Bob Dylan, 72, has been given Frances’ highest award, the Legion d'Honneur at a ceremony in Paris. Avowed fan, French Culture Minister Aurelie Filippetti, who nominated him for the award, said Dylan had been a beacon to young people hungry for justice and independence.

 

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