The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press:
The local media is dominated by the protest against the utility tariffs. The Times says the tariffs protest resumes today. The Malta Independent says the protest heard calls for a free vote during the utility tariffs debate in Parliament. In-Nazzjon says there were attacks on other unions and the independent media during the protest. l-orizzont has a big picture of yesterday’s crowd and says the people have spoken.
In other stories, The Times says there will be a partial roof for the theatre on the Opera House site.
The Malta Independent says the Prime Minister yesterday reviewed government actions and asked why the the protest was being held.
In-Nazzjon quotes the Prime Minister saying job creation is the government’s main focus.
The overseas press
The International Herald Tribune reports that hurricane-force winds, surging seas and driving rain have lashed western Europe, leaving at least 45 people dead and more than a million households without electricity.
El Mercurio says President Michelle Bachelet has announced that the death toll in Chile’s earthquake had killed at least 708 people. She told a news conference the country faced "a catastrophe of such unthinkable magnitude” that it would require “a giant effort" for it to recover from Saturday's magnitude-8.8 quake.
La Cuarta reports that the tsunami caused by the quake that swept across the Pacific killed several people on a Chilean island and devastated coastal communities near the epicentre, but caused little damage in other countries.
Asia Observer reports a moderate earthquake hit northern Pakistan and Afghanistan but there were no reports of injuries or damage.
ABC reports the arrest in France of Ibon Gogeascoechea, the most senior member of the armed Basque separatist organization ETA. The 53-year old had been on the run since 1997 and was wanted for a plot to attack the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao during a visit by the Spanish King Juan Carlos.
Most British nationals lead with Tory leader’s speech to the Conservative spring conference. The Guardian says David Cameron admitted the election was going to be a "fight" but said it was his "patriotic duty" to eject Labour and turn Britain around because the country is "in a complete mess". The Times reports mocked the Prime Minister's claim to be "some sort of economic genius".
The chairman of the German Bishops' Conference has rejected calls for a round table discussion on the child-abuse claims plaguing the Catholic Church in Germany. Archbishop Robert Zollitsch told Welt am Sonntag that sexual abuse of children was not a problem specific to the Catholic Church and that sexual molestation had nothing to do with celibacy, homosexuality, or the Catholic teaching.
USA Today says President Barack Obama has been urged by his doctor to quit smoking for good after his first health check-up as US president found him otherwise in "excellent health" and "fit for duty".
The Sun says a Cold War-era nuclear bunker in Britain has been put up for sale on online auction site eBay. Bidders have already pushed the price up to more than £19,300 (€21,500).
Vancouver Sun reports that a festive crowd of 60,000 jammed into BC Place Stadium for the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics that began with the death of a luger and ended with an exuberant celebration of Canada. The crowd was made up mainly of Canadians abuzz over the victory by their men's hockey team earlier in the day to give the host nation a Winter Olympics record of 14 gold medals.