The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press:
The Times says the Prime Minister has asked the police to investigate the tendering process for the superyacht facilities amid allegations of attempted bribery. It also reports that Grace Borg is to sue Thea Garrett's parents over comments they made in the media.
The Malta Independent says the privatisation of Malta Shipyard has been approved by parliament. It also reports the arguments over an alleged case of bribery.
In-Nazzjon says the Opposition leader kept for himself an allegation of bribery before revealing it hours before he left for Australia. It also report that a Libyan man was jailed 18 years for importing heroin.
l-orizzont speaks of ‘hidden pollution' from the power station extension as detailed in unpublished parts of the contract. It also reports comments by the GWU welcoming talks on giving trade union rights to policemen.
The overseas press
EU Observer says European ministers are preparing for emergency talks to shore up the euro after markets fell in reaction to panic measures in Germany. European finance ministers will hear controversial calls from Germany at a meeting for changes to the Lisbon treaty to give Brussels powers to co-ordinate national budgets - a move opposed by France and the UK.
Deutsche Welle reports German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned that the euro was in danger and triggered fears of a fresh financial meltdown by announcing a ban on risky trading practices by speculators. Addressing parliament to defend a new eurozone rescue system and advocate stricter regulation of the financial sector, Mrs Merkel said the eurozone was facing an "existential test, which it must pass".
Börzen Zeitung says Mrs Merkel's actions opened up new cracks in the single currency, drawing sharp criticism from France and prompting Brussels to issue an appeal for unity. Shares in London plunged by nearly three per cent, with similar falls in Paris, Berlin and Madrid. The euro plummeted to a new low against the dollar before making a slight recovery.
Kathimerini reports that cash-strapped Greece managed to pay off its creditors by redeeming 8.5 billion euro in expiring 10-year state bonds, which it was unable to raise without outside assistance as wary investors have sent Greek borrowing costs sky-high. On Tuesday, the country had received 14.5 billion euro from 10 of the other 15 European Union countries that use the euro - part of a 110 billion euro joint EU and IMF rescue package.
Bangkok Post says nine people were killed today in clashes at a temple within a Thai anti-government protest zone after it was shut down in a military offensive. Police report doctors and medical workers who went to the scene said they saw nine bodies inside the temple. Earlier, four senior Thai anti-government protest leaders surrendered to police after troops stormed their encampment, enraging followers who shot grenades and set fire to landmark buildings, cloaking the skyline in black smoke.
The International Herald Tribune reports that Central and Eastern European countries were struggling to cope with floodwaters swamping a host of towns and rivers. Areas in Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Serbia were reportedly hit by the flooding, in some areas the highest level in 40 years.
Asia Times quotes an international report saying it was a North Korean torpedo that sank a South Korean navy ship in March causing the loss of 46 sailors. Investigators discovered part of the torpedo on the sea floor and it carried lettering that matched a North Korean design. North Korea has denied any involvement in the sinking on 26 March.
Pravda reports details revealed by Russian and Polish officials investigating the April 10 crash that killed Polish President Lech Kaczynski, his wife and 94 others outside the western Russian city of Smolensk. The report said as Kaczynski's plane streaked toward disaster, at least two passengers visited the cockpit, others may have chatted on mobile phones that can obstruct navigation instruments and an under-trained crew faced heavy fog over challenging terrain. However, the preliminary report drew no conclusions about what caused the catastrophe.
USA Today reports BP was pressing ahead with plans to stem its leaking oil well in the Gulf of Mexico amid fears that the slick had entered an ocean current towards Florida. The energy giant said it hoped to siphon more oil from a tube inserted into the well after capturing about 40 per cent of the amount that was gushing into the sea.
Afghan Observer says suicide bombers carrying rockets and grenades launched a brazen pre-dawn attack on one of the biggest military bases of NATO in Afghanistan. At least seven guerrillas were killed and six foreign troops wounded.
Pak Tribune reports that a Pakistani court has ordered the government to block the social networking website Facebook temporarily because of a page that encourages users to submit images of Islam's Prophet Mohammed. The Facebook group "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day!" generated criticism in Pakistan because many Muslims consider images of the prophet, even favourable ones, to be blasphemous.
Osaka Globe says the local government of the Japanese town of Isesaki has banned male employees from growing beards, following complaints saying they were unpleasant. The civic facial hair ban, believed to the first of its kind in Japan, was announced as part of annual "Cool Biz" casual office dress rules, which allow male staff to work without jackets and ties in summer in order to cut down on air-conditioning and reduce global warming. The prohibition covers all kinds of whiskers and facial stubble.