The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press today:
The Times and most of the other newspapers lead with the closure of Malta Shipyards ahead of privatization. The Times says there were emotional scenes outside the dockyard's doors in Cospicua. The newspaper also reports that child abuse claims were made against 45 priests in 11 years
The Malta Independent says a 31-year-old woman is being investigated over a possible link to the drug-overdose death at Sta Lucia on Sunday. It also reports that Sandro Chetcuti has been expelled by the GRTU. He has been accused in court of attempted to murder GRTU Director-General Vince Farrugia.
MaltaToday says the closing of the shipyard was the end of an era. It also says the Mepa is minimising the threat to Maltese wildlife, according to naturalists.
In-Nazzjon says Lufthansa Technik Malta has reported a full order book for this year. It yesterday delivered its first Airbus A340-600 after a refit, which was completed ahead of schedule. It also reports that business confidence has grown sharply among SMEs.
l-orizzont says the closure of the dockyard came with tears and fond memories.
The overseas press:
The Moscow Times says that as Russians observed a day of mourning for 39 people killed in the attacks on two Moscow Metro train stations, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said investigators should view catching the organisers of Monday's suicide attacks as a "matter of honour". He said the security services should drag the bombing masterminds "from the bottom of the sewers".
Al Jazeera reports several Palestinians were wounded by Israeli army fire in Gaza as they demonstrated close to the border with Israel to mark Land Day, the anniversary of the 1976 protests against Israeli land expropriation in northern Israel.
Corriere della Sera says following the success of his centre-right alliance in regional elections, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has said he would push ahead with populist reforms including an overhaul of the "left-wing" judiciary and a referendum on direct elections for the presidency. Lega Nord leader Umberto Bossi has said that there had been a tsunami of votes for his party, adding that he would now seek the post of mayor of Milan.
Court documents obtained by The Associated Press suggest Vatican lawyers have mapped out a three-pronged strategy to shield the Pope from a 2004 Nebraska lawsuit by three men claiming they were abused by priests. The lawyers plan to argue that the pope has immunity as head of state, that American bishops who oversaw abusive priests weren't employees of the Vatican, and that a 1962 document is not the "smoking gun" that provides proof of a cover up.
The Washington Times says the US and France have agreed to work together to push for new UN sanctions over Iran's nuclear programme. After talks in Washington with President Sarkozy, President Obama said he hoped to have the sanctions in place "within weeks". Mr Sarkozy promised "all necessary efforts to make sure Europe as a whole engaged in the sanctions regime".
Le Parisien says France's top advisory body has warned that a nationwide ban on wearing the burka risks violating the French constitution and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. But the Council of State said rules requiring people to keep their faces uncovered could be justified.
China Today reports two hospital mortuary workers have been arrested after the bodies of 21 babies were found in plastic bags in a river in eastern China. Local residents found the bodies floating near the shore. A spokesman for the Jining Health Bureau told the Chinese state news agency Xinhua, that the hospital staff members involved in the investigation had been suspended.
Manchester Evening News says a jealous father who strangled his two young children with computer cables to get back at his wife has been jailed for 28 years. Petros Williams, 37, deliberately chose internet connection cords to punish her when she used dating websites following their marriage breakdown.
Blic reports that after 13 hours of heated negotiations, Serbia's parliament has passed a landmark resolution offering an apology for the Srebrenica massacre in 1995 - the worst incident of the Bosnian War.
Meanwhile, NRC Handelsblad reports the Court of Appeal at The Hague has ruled that a group of women cannot sue the United Nations for failing to prevent the massacre. The court said it was impossible for the Mothers of Srebrenica to sue because of the immunity granted to the United Nations under international conventions.
Le Monde reports French oil giant Total has lost a bid to overturn its conviction for negligence in the 1999 sinking of the tanker Erika off the coast of Brittany, which caused widespread ecological damage. A Paris appeals court confirmed the 2008 conviction and boosted the compensation awarded to civil plaintiffs.
The New Yorker says a rare copy of the first Superman cartoon has set a record of $1.5 million) for a comic book sale. The 1938 issue of Action Comics No 1, which originally cost 10 cents, is considered the ultimate prize for comic collectors because it features the superhero's debut. Only about 100 copies of the issue exist and only a handful are in good condition.
Clarin reports Argentinian football legend Diego Maradona was hospitalised and operated upon after being bit on lip by one of his pet dogs. The coach's four-year-old Shar Pei turned on him while they were playing at home.