The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press:
The Times reports that former Sliema Mayor Nikki Dimech is to face drug possession charges.
The Malta Independent reports how the pharmaceutical firm Actavis, which has a plant in Malta, is donating €2m worth of medicines to Libyan hospitals.
l-orizzont highlights official figures which show that the Maltese in a year reduced spending on food by €19m.
In-Nazzjon also gives prominence to the Actavis donation. In another story, is reports how a Birkirkara woman has been given compensation of €25,000 for property expropriated in 1984.
The overseas press
Representatives of the world leading economies are meeting in Paris to look at ways of handling the faltering world economy and the European debt crisis that has spread beyond the continent. The G-20 policy makers are meeting to prepare for next month’s summit of leaders in Cannes. Bloomberg reports that finance minister and heds of central banks are expected to discuss a five-point plan foreseeing a solution for Greece, bolstering of the European Financial Stability Facility rescue fund, fresh capital for banks, a new push to boost competitiveness and consideration of European treaty amendments to tighten economic management.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has called for lower labour costs, cheaper electricity prices and better competitiveness, to aid the recovery. According to The Irish Enquirer, the Paris-based global think-tank was urging the Irish government to stick to the bailout terms and if possible front-load even more of the austerity to show markets they were serious about reducing the deficit.
Ansa reports that Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi narrowly survived a confidence vote in parliament on Friday saying his opponents had miscalculated their support. Berlusconi was greeted with applause from his supporters when the centre-right government, which called the vote after failing to pass a routine review of the 2010 budget on Tuesday, won the motion with 316 votes in favour to 301 votes against. But when the prime minister left the lower house he was met by young protesters who threw eggs and shouted 'shame' at him. Demonstrators also blocked traffic in Rome.
Al Jazeera says gun battles have taken place in Tripoli between supporters of the deposed clashed with forces of the National Transitional Council. NTC officials said between 10 and 15 Gaddafi loyalists have been captured. In a message on Thursday Gaddafi urged his supporters to rise up after Friday prayers.
MSNBC reports that a Roman Catholic bishop in the US has been charged of covering up suspected child abuse by a priest in his Kansas City diocese. Last December, a computer technician found files on the priest’s laptop showing graphic images of minors as young as two, mostly girls. Bishop Robert Finn was made aware of the case but chose not to contact the police. He is the highest ranking Catholic clergyman in the US to face such charges. Bishop Finn, who has denied any wrongdoing, faces a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine if convicted of the misdemeanor. The diocese also faces a $1,000 fine.
The Washington Post says President Obama has announced he was sending 100 American troops to Uganda to help regional forces chase rebels of the Lord’s Resistance Army ad its leader Joseph Kony is wanted by the International Criminal Court. Obama said the LRA posed a threat to regional security.
All British nationals report the resignation of British Defence Secretary Liam Fox after 10 days of controversy over his relationship with his friend and self-styled adviser Adam Werritty. The Independent reports Dr Fox could not explain why his former flatmate, who had no official role, attended Defence Ministry meetings and travelled abroad with him. Mr Fox said he had "mistakenly allowed" personal and professional responsibilities to be "blurred". The new Defence Secretary would be the former Transport Secretary Philip Hammond.
A former construction worker is struggling to make ends meet after the Italian pension system stopped his cheques because they thought he was dead. Ansa says Giulio Marchetto, 62, from the town of Boschi Sant'Anna south of Verona will now have to submit various documents to prove he is still alive.