The following are the top stories in the national and international press today.
The Times reports about the successful humanitarian operation led by Malta returning Libyan refugees home from Tunisia. It also reports on the world leaders’ call for the resignation of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. In another story it describes the welcome given to the Pope by young people who gathered in Spain.
The Independent says that a pregnant lady from the Phillipines was paid to travel to Malta to give up her baby for adoption. It also reports on the humanitarian operation from Tunisia to Libya.
In-Nazzjon also leads with the humanitarian trip and reports on a search for a person ‘hit by a boat’ near Exiles in Sliema.
l-Orizzont quotes the head of the Emigrants’ Commission Mgr Philip Calleja saying that the riots earlier this week at the Safi Detention Centre were a natural reaction by immigrants because of the conditions at this centre. It reports Labour leader Joseph Muscat speaking on the people’s right to live at home without fear.
The international press
Pope Benedict has urged Spain to preserve its Christian heritage. El Mundo reports that on his arrival in Madrid for the World Youth Day celebrations, he said Spain's Christian identity was a “great treasure” which should be “cared for constructively”. The pontiff also called on Catholic youths to “let nothing and no one” take away their peace, urging them “not be ashamed of the Lord”. The pope was greeted by a crowd of tens of thousands of followers but his visit was not without controversy. Protests continued in the city over its cost, which church critics say it would amlunt to around €50 million. However, the organisers say the pilgrimage would fund itself.
At least seven loud blasts were heard in Tripoli early this morning as bombs fell in the vicinity of Muammar Gaddafi's main compound of Bab al-Aziziya as Nato jets were heard circling the sky above. Residents in Tripoli told Associated Press at least three blasts were heard on the road leading to the airport in the capital. Just 48 kilometres to the west of the capital, opposition fighters claimed control of the country's last functioning oil refinery, located in the strategic city of Zawiya, where rebels have made great strides in battles with government forces since their initial assault on Saturday.
The New York Times says UN human rights chief has asked the Security Council to refer Syria to the International Criminal Court for investigation of alleged atrocities against anti-government protesters. Navi Pillay's remarks came hours after the US, Britain, France and Germany had demanded Syrian President Bashar al-Assad steps down because of the violent oppression of street protestors. Syria's UN Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari accused the US of waging a "diplomatic and humanitarian war" against his country. He said the Syria security forces had stopped all operations. The UN is to send a humanitarian mission to Syria after being promised that the ta would be able to go anywhere it likes.
The Jerusalem Post quotes an Isreali government spokesman saying it would respond with full force to attacks by gunmen in southern Isreal that killed at least seven people. Defence Minister Ehud Barak said there had aleady been one airstrike on the Gaza Strip in which at last six Palestinians were killed.
The Wall Street Journal says discouraging global economic data has heightened fears that another recession was on the way. Fresh evidence emerged on Thursday that US home sales and manufacturing were weakening. Signs also surfaced that European banks were increasingly burdened by the region's debt crisis and sputtering economy. The European Central Bank said that one bank had borrowed $500 million a day for seven days through its dollar-lending programme. The bank wasn't identified.
Le Jour reports that prosecutors in the Ivory Coast have charged former President Laurent Gbagbo and his wife Simone with economic crimes, including theft, looting and embezzling public funds. They have been under house arrest since Gbagbo was forced from office in April.
The BBC reports that some 20,000 mourners have attended a memorial service for three men killed furing riots in England last week. The men were hit by a car as they tried to protect shops and homes from looters in Birmingham. The Guardian says the courts were handing down prison sentences to rioters that were 25 per cent tougher than normal.
Le Soir reports that a sudden storm brought chaos to an open air music festival in Belgium, killing at least three people and injuring about another 100. High winds and torrential rain brough stages crushing down and ripped up trees.
The Washington Post says a wild brawl broke out between Georgetown and a Chinese men's basketball team last night, putting an immediate end to a goodwill game that coincided with US Vice President Joe Biden's visit to China. Biden did not attend the game. Players tackled and threw punches at each another. Chairs and water bottles were tossed as the Americans headed to the locker room with the score 64-all in a testy, foul-plagued matchup. The Georgetown team is in China on a 10-day sports diplomacy to strengthen ties between the two countries. The melee was the latest instance of on-court fighting by China, whose players have been fined tens of thousands of dollars by the world and Asian federations for scrapping with opponents.