The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press:
The Times and In-Nazzjon report how John Dalli had two meetings with lobbyists of the tobacco industry.
The Times and l-orizzont also report that Enemalta has confirmed damage to a new turbine at the Delimara power station.
The Malta Independent reports how OLAF – the EU’s anti-fraud agency - said there is unambiguous circumstantial evidence against John Dalli.
The overseas press
Germany has called on countries using the euro to take decisive steps to bring about closer fiscal integration. Berlin wants the EU's 27 countries to consider pooling more economic sovereignty at today’s summit in Brussels. Deutsche Welle reports German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble has proposed a more powerful role for the EU Economic and Monetary Commissioner in regulating national budgets. He argues the commissioner should have the ability to veto a budget if it breaks deficit rules. But Berlin says there would be no final decision in Brussels because of concerns about plans for the regulator to supervise an estimated 6,000 banks across the eurozone.
Libya Herald says at least 11 Libyans have died and dozens others have been wounded in fighting around Bani Walid – a former stronghold of slain leader Muammar Gaddafi. Militias allied to Libya's army reportedly shelled the hilltop town from three sides, prompting clashes. The shelling followed the recent decision by the ruling General National Congress (GNC) authorizing the use of force to track down the killers of Omran Ben Shaaban, 22, the man credited with the capture of Col. Gaddafi last year. The perpetrators are thought to be hiding in Bani Walid.
Daily Star reports French investigators probing the death of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat have questioned his widow Suha ahead of his expected exhumation, after an Al Jazeera TV investigation found high levels of radioactive polonium on his personal effects. French investigators are due in Ramallah by the end of next month.
Sky News reports that surgeons have successfully separated conjoined twins just a day after they were born. The British girls, Rosie and Ruby Formosa from Bexleyheath, Kent, were joined at the abdomen and shared part of their intestines. In a four-hour operation a team of 20 doctors and nurses at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London were able to separate the twins without complications. They are now doing well and, according to their mother Angela, are smiling "bubbly babies". Mrs Formosa said that she and her taxi driver husband Daniel, 36, were "happy and relieved" to have the girls at home. The girls were born in July, six weeks prematurely.
The New York Times reveals the police have arrested a Bangladeshi man on suspicion of plotting to blow up the city’s Federal Reserve building. The FBI said he was arrested as he tried to detonate a truck packed with what believed to be a 454-kg bomb.
The Washington Post reports an Iranian-American man has pleaded guilty to charges of participating in a plot to kill the Saudi ambassador to the United States. American prosecutors said Manssor Arbabsiar, 58, attempted to recruit a Mexican drug cartel to bomb a Washington restaurant while the Saudi ambassador was dining there.
Ria Novosti says Russian opposition leader Sergei Udaltsov and other activists are being investigated on claims they planned to overthrow the government. Russia’s Investigative Committee acted after a documentary on state TV last week allegedly showed footage of Udaltsov meeting with officials in Georgia to discuss raising $200 million for protests against Russian President Vladimir Putin and to allegedly organise riots in Moscow.
According to El Pais, Spanish police have broken up a major Chinese criminal operation that illegally shipped Chinese products to Spain for distribution throughout Europe. Authorities detained 83 suspected members of a crime syndicate in nationwide raids. The suspects include 58 Chinese nationals, 17 Spaniards and eight other foreign nationals.
El Observador reports Uruguay has become the second country in Latin America after Cuba to legalise abortion. The Senate approved legislation allowing abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Asia News says construction workers dismantling a vacant house in rural Japan have found more than 26 million yen (€250,000) in cash stuffed under the living room floor. The home, in a farming region, has been empty since its elderly owner died two years ago. All the cash will go to the dead man's relatives.
ABC reports controversial broadcaster Alan Jones has been ordered to undergo basic journalism training by Australia's media watchdog after telling a Young Liberals conference that Prime Minister Julia Gillard's father had "died of shame" because of his daughter's “lies”. The Australian Communications and Media Authority said Jones will have to undertake training on “factual accuracy and significant viewpoints” as part of measures agreed with his station 2GB.
The Environmentalist says scientists in California say dolphins can stay alert and active for 15 days or more by sleeping with only half of their brain at a time. Experts believe the trick of keeping half the brain continuously awake is vital to the sea mammals' survival. It allows them to come to the surface every so often to breathe, and remain constantly vigilant for sharks.
The Irish Examiner reports Rolling Stones fans have been left fuming after realising they may end up shelling out thousands to see the band for their 50th anniversary shows. Some ticketing sites have put them on sale for £13,000 and fans have complained that they faced huge bills even for standard pre-sale tickets to see the pair of gigs at London's O2 Arena.
According to Business Insider, European farmers have warned that drought, cold and hail have led to the worst wine harvest in up to half a century. France's grape harvest is expected to slump by almost 20 per cent compared to last year. Italy's grape crop showed a seven per cent drop on top of a decline in 2011. However, there may be an upside to the bad harvest: experts say the quality of the wine produced will be good as it is expected to be more concentrated.