The following are the top stories in the local and international press today:
The Times quotes Brigadier Carmel Vassallo saying that the five immigrants who landed in Lampedusa claiming they were a group of 80 and 75 of them lost their life during the crossing from Africa to Malta refused to be saved. It reports that George Hyzler, who has been serving as acting president for the past 10 years, has retired. A photo shows Muslims at the Paola Mosque praying at the start of Ramadan.
The Malta Independent quotes the World Health Organisation saying that the A(H1N1) influenza is expected to explode. In another story it says that President George Abela is expected to be meeting Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
in-Nazzjon says that competitiveness has been retained because of economic stability. It reports on the request for a garnishee order against Mambra filed by the VAT commissioner. It carries a photo of Boney M who arrived in Malta yesterday.
l-Orizzont reports that Hal Ferh remains closed. Sarcastically it says that a discovery has been made on the new Delimara power station - it was newer than that at Marsa.
il-Gens Illum says that Christian feasts were being used as an excuse for fireworks. It reports on the musical chairs played by television presenters.
The Press in Britain...
The Times carries an exclusive interview with Lockerbie bomber Abdel Baset al-Megrahi who continued to insist his innocence, as he has done from the day of his conviction, saying that there had been a miscarriage of justice.
The Press Association's online new aggregator reports that the Foreign Office has strongly denied claims that the release of Al Megrahi was linked to trading agreements between Britain and Libya as claimed by Saif Gaddafi, the son of the Libyan leader.
The Guardian leads on the growing outrage over the release of Lockerbie bomber al-Megrahi focusing on the anger felt both in Britain and America, where the White House described the home-welcoming scenes as "disgusting".
The Daily Mail reports that one of two British soldiers killed in Afghanistan was the son of an SAS hero who stormed the Iranian embassy in London to rescue 19 hostages in 1980.
A picture illustrating England's progress in the Ashes match is emblazoned on the front of The Independent together with the Lockerbie bomber story.
The Daily Express urges Britons to cheer up citing a list of reasons to be happy including cheaper gas and electricity and renewed hope in the Ashes cricket match.
The Daily Mirror carries a big feature on the forthcoming new series of the talent show X-Factor.
The new series of X Factor leads the Daily Star with news that a former contestant dubbed "The Beast" is due to make a re-appearance.
The Sun says a girl who posted a death threat on Facebook has become the first UK person to be jailed for internet bullying.
And elsewhere...
Afghan Times reports President Hamid Karzai and his main challenger Abdullah Abdullah have both claimed victory in the country's election.
China Times quotes WHO's Western Pacific director Dr Shin Young-soo telling a Beijing symposium that the global spread of swine flu will endanger more lives as it speeds up in coming months and warned governments to boost preparations for a swift response.
Meanwhile, El Mercurio reports that Chilean health authorities have detected the swine flu virus in turkeys - the first time the virus has been found outside humans and pigs.
La Prensa says Mexican President Felipe Calderon has signed a decree to cut his own pay and that of top government officials by 10 percent saying that "a salary must be used to live with dignity but not be seen as a booty".
Het Parool reports that Dutch police have arrested 29-year-old Gianluca Racco, a member of a notorious Italian crime syndicate, sentenced in his homeland to life imprisonment for murder. He is listed as one of Italy's 100 most wanted fugitives.
Los Angeles Times says agents from the US Drug Enforcement Administration, investigating the death of Michael Jackson, have raided a second pharmacy for evidence of improper dispensing of controlled substances.In 2007 the drug store sued Jackson over an alleged $100,000 owed for prescription drugs.
The New York Times quotes UNICEF saying that more than 100,000 people in Yemen, many of them children, have been driven from their homes by a recent surge in fighting between the government and Shi'ite rebels.
Times of India reports that villagers went on the rampage after police tried to enforce a ban on an annual stone-pelting ritual that often leaves people dead or injured.
Sydney Morning Herald reveals an Australian jailed in Paris last month for drug trafficking has hanged himself in his cell.
New Jersey Globe says two men who walked away from a blazing plane were found by emergency crews at a bus stop minutes later - alert and conscious, but badly burned.
O Globo reports that the Brazilian Health Ministry has created a website to let people inform partners they've got a sexually transmitted disease via an e-mailed virtual postcard.
News 24 says South Africa's Sports Committee is lodging a complaint with the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights over the "undermining of rights and privacy" of South African athlete Caster Semenya, claiming the "gross and severe undermining of rights and privacy" by the International Athletics Association Federation.