The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press:
The Times said evacuees brought to Malta yesterday described chaotic scenes in Tripoli. It also says that Malta has one of the lowest cancer mortality rates in the EU.
The Malta Independent reports that the evacuees were glad to reach Malta. It also says that two humanitarian aid ships have left Malta for Tripoli.
L-orizzont and In-Nazzjon both report how the Dutch girlfriend of one of Gaddafi's sons was on the ship which brought evacuees to Malta yesterday.
The overseas press
Amid economic uncertainty in the eurozone, European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet has urged EU governments to quickly implement a debt crisis plan worked out by European leaders in July. Börzen Zeitung said Trichet told the European Parliament's economic affairs committee that "full and timely implementation" of the so-called July 21 agreement – to buy Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Irish bonds – was "of essence." The economy of the 17-nation eurozone has slowed – after growing 0.8 per cent in the first quarter it slumped to 0.2 per cent in the second. EU Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn said he was "seriously concerned about continued financial turbulence spilling over to, and potentially harming, the recovery of the real economy".
According to the Financial Times, the International Accounting Standards Board has criticised the inconsistent way in which banks and insurers have been writing down the value of their Greek sovereign debt. In a private letter sent to the European Securities and Markets Authority, the EU market regulator said that this was "a matter of great concern to us". FT says the IASB's intervention was unprecedented and reflected its belief that some European companies had not been making enough provisions for Greek sovereign debt losses.
Al Jazeera reports that Gaddafi loyalists were ambushed by Libya freedom fighters at a checkpoint while on a reconnaissance mission. Exclusive footage shown by the network gave an inside view of the struggle as the fighters pushed towards Sirte – the last Gaddafi stronghold. Meanwhile, African Union chairman Jean Ping said has accused Libyan rebels of indiscriminately killing normal black because they had confused innocent migrant workers with mercenaries. He called for the evacuation from Libya of any African workers.
La Tribune says the Algerian Foreign Ministry has confirmed that Gaddafi's second wife Safiya, his daughter Aisha, and sons Hannibal and Mohammed, accompanied by their children, had fled to Algeria. A statement published by the APS news agency, however, gave no information on the toppled Libyan leader, whose whereabouts have remained a mystery since fighters opposed to his government seized control of Tripoli last week. Libya's Transitional National Council accused Algeria of an act of aggression and said the council would seek the extradition of Gaddafi's family members. Unconfirmed reports by Al Arabiya say Gaddafi's son Khamis had been killed in an armed confrontation at the city of Tahouna. Al Jazeera says Saif al-Islam was believed to have moved to the town of Bin Walid, south of Tripoli. Saadi and Mutasim are both at large. Saif al-Arab was killed in a NATO air strike last April.
A leaked document appears to outline how the UN plans help to stabilize Libya in the coming months. The BBC says it calls for the deployment of 200 unarmed military observers and 190 UN police instructors.
The Voice of America reports that tropical storm Irene has killed 38 people in the US, and authorities were warning that flooding could continue for up to three days in northern US states. More than five million people remain without power, while Vermont is reeling from its worst floods in many decades. Insurance claims could top $7 billion. Irene has passed into Canada, after causing havoc on the US east coast from North Carolina to Vermont.
Pravda reports that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has set December 4 as the date for elections for the State Duma, the lower house of parliament. This marks the start of the political season that will culminate with the presidential election in March. In the last parliamentary polls in 2007, the United Russia Party, headed by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, won 315 out of 450 seats.
Voice of Nigeria says clashes have broken out between Christians and Moslems in the city of Joss, a region often affected by communal violence. Reports said at least foir people had been killed and others injured.
Ansa reports Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, the head of the Italian Bishops Conference, has called for greater moral leadership in politics, adding that it was "serious and urgent not only regarding individuals but also structures and organisations". Italy's most powerful bishop was speaking at a mass in Genoa to mark the festival of the Madonna della Guardia. Bagnasco called for "a major cultural and social debate".