The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press:
The Times interviews former MP Joe Brincat who says it was a mistake to associate yes for divorce vote to a sin. In another story, Health Minister Joe Cassar gives details about the number of nurses who applied to join the public health sector.
The Malta Independent quotes the Children’s Commissioner’s reaction to the fact that two children who stole money from a relative were kept in prison. It also reported about the School of Music’s initiative to offer courses all around the islands.
l-Orizzont says that fireworks were sometimes being carried from factories to where they are being lit in private cars. It also discusses the situation of an elderly man who was receiving exaggerrated utility bills, saying that the board which investigated the case was only appointed a few days after the man’s problem was solved.
In-Nazzjon speaks about Gozitans finding a job in Gozo as a result of an ETC initiative and refers to a judicial protest by a philharmonic society calling on the court to stop the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes in Paola.
The overseas press
SBS Radio announces that polls have opened in Australia in a general election that looks set to be one of the tightest in the country for decades. Julia Gillard, Australia's first female prime minister, is running neck and neck with conservative coalition leader Tony Abbott.
The Washington Post reports President Obama’s counter-terrorism adviser has called for Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi – the only person convicted of the Lockerbie bombing – to be returned to a Scottish prison. John Brennan said the US had expressed its strong conviction to Libyan officials that Al Megrahi should not remain free. Meanwhile, Australian media quote Al Megrahi’s brother saying Libyan officials had banned any celebrations for the first anniversary of the release of the bomber.
The BBC says Palestinian and Israeli leaders have welcomed the invitation by the United States to resume direct peace talks next month. Both sides said they were committed to comprehensive talks. It quotes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying negotiations would be difficult but a historic deal was possible. The Palestinian chief negotiator said he hoped the two sides could be “genuine partners in peace”. Hamas has already decared it would not recognise its results.
Abrar says all was set for today’s start-up of Iran's first nuclear reactor. Nationwide celebrations were planned for the fuel loading at the Russian-built Bushehr facility. Russia has pledged to safeguard the plant and prevent spent nuclear fuel from being shifted to a possible weapons programme. Washington and other nations do not specifically object to Tehran's ability to build peaceful reactors that are under international scrutiny.
The International Herald Tribune reports that some 700 flights over northern Europe were delayed after a power blackout at a regional air-traffic control system based at Maastricht in the Netherlands. Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg were among the countries affected. A Swedish Air Navigation Services spokesman said air traffic over western Europe was reduced by 25 per cent for a 15-minute period.
The Dominion Post says 58 pilot whales have died in New Zealand in a beach stranding, while volunteers attempt to refloat 15 others that survived. Their initial attempts failed, but a fresh attempt to save the sea mammals – which weigh up to 1,500 kilograms each – will be made today using machinery.
La Voix du Nord says beaches in northern France were closed after a crocodile was spotted lurking in the English Channel.
The Daily Mail reported the reptile was seen swimming near to sailing boats in the northeastern port of Boulogne-sur-Mer on Thursday, prompting alarmed officials to close down crowded local swimming areas at the height of vacation season.
EU Observer reports that a European Union ban on importing seal products went into effect yesterday, but it did not apply to organisations that have already filed court appeals. Canadian sealers claimed they had won a reprieve after the European Court of Justice ordered a suspension of the ban for groups which had filed legal challenges. That applies to sixteen groups including Tapiriit Kanatami, which represents Canada's 53,000 Inuit.
Ohio Post says a bear has mauled a 24-year-old man to death in Ohio. Brent Kandra was airlifted by helicopter to a Cleveland hospital but died there. The bear was contained in its cage after the attack.
Southlake Times reports an Ohio father has advertised his teenage daughter’s services as a free babysitter to punish her for breaking a curfew. Robert Rausch put the advert in a community newspaper in Southlake, a wealthy suburb of Dallas-Fort Worth. It appeared the daughter has already learned a lesson: she says she would not violate curfew again, nor throw any more late-night parties.
Sky News says a British woman caught on security cameras urinating on and performing a sex act beside a war memorial and it was forced to walk through a "guard of dishonor" as she arrived at court for sentencing. War veterans, sporting berets and medals, lined the court steps to show their outrage at 32-year-old Wendy Lewis's antics. However, just minutes later she left the building without waiting to find out what her sentence would be. A warrant has now been issued for her arrest.