The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press.
The Times reports that there has been a call for clarity in the John Dalli inquiry by the Office of the Prime Minister. It also says that an ecologist is heading the Ornis hunting committee.
The Malta Independent says the Prime Minister yesterday discussed civil unions in his call on the Archbishop. It also reports how Cypriot lawmakers approved key bills late yesterday.
In-Nazzjon reports how the Labour Party’s former CEO has been appointed to the Transport Authority on the recommendation of the prime minister.
l-orizzont says Birzebbuga has ended up with a dockyard, as an oil rig is being repaired at the Freeport.
The overseas press
Bloomberg reports Cypriot lawmakers have approved capital controls and legislation to wind down banks as they scrambled to secure a European bailout and avert financial collapse. Parliament passed nine bills late yesterday after a day locked in talks between Cypriot and international officials in Nicosia. The emergency session, which did not begin until 10.30pm, came after crowds of disgruntled bank employees demonstrated outside parliament during the day. Lawmakers may vote later today on what sort of levy to impose on bank deposits above $100,000 – four days after rejecting an initial proposal to tax all accounts. European finance ministers will probably meet to discuss the latest Cypriot proposals tomorrow. EU sources have said the bloc is ready to eject Cyprus from the eurozone to prevent contagion of other debt-hit members such as Greece, Spain and Italy.
Avvenire says newly-elected Pope Francis will have lunch with his predecessor, Emeritus Pope Benedict, in what is believed to be a pontifical first. Pope Francis will be flown by helicopter to his summer residence at Castel Gandolfo for the private lunch. The Vatican has said the meeting is private and the content of talks between the 76-year-old Argentine and the 85-year-old German will remain secret.There is no public record of any previous meeting between a Pope and a former Pope as usually a new head of the Catholic Church is only elected upon the death of his predecessor.
Ansa reports Italian President Giorgio Napolitano on Friday handed Democratic Party (PD) leader Pier Luigi Bersani a mandate to try to form a government. Bersani, whose centre-left alliance has a majority in the House but not the Senate, has been trying to reach out to the former-comedian Beppe Grillo's Five-Star Movement (M5S), even though Grillo considers the PD part of a corrupt, malfunctioning system. On Friday, the PD said meetings with other party representatives could begin as early as Saturday afternoon.
According to Il Sole 24 Ore, the Italian chapter of Save the Children has drawn attention to the impact of growing impoverishment in Italy particularly on young people after retailers' association Confcommercio said over four million Italians would be living in absolute poverty by the end of 2013. This figure translates to over 6 per cent of the population. Save the Children said poverty compromises children's future, impacting school performance and health and, in extreme circumstances, leading to exploitation.
The Wall Street Journal reports the CIA is expanding its role in the campaign against the Syrian regime, providing some selected rebels with intelligence to use against the government in Damascus. Quoting sources close to the Obama administration, the paper said the initiative is part of the US efforts to contain and limit the rise of Islamic extremists in Syria in the wake of fears that a collapse of the regime of Bashar al-Assad would allow al-Qaeda to establish itself in the country.
Associated Press says Israel and Turkey agreed to restore full diplomatic relations on Friday after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized in a phone call for a deadly naval raid against a Gaza-bound international flotilla. The deal was partly brokered by President Obama. Joint interests between the two countries, including fears that the Syrian civil war could spill over their respective borders, and some cajoling by Obama made the time ripe to repair the frayed relations after nearly three years of acrimony over the deaths.
An Nahar announces the Lebanese government of Prime Minister Najib Mikati has reigned after the deeply divided cabinet failed to approve a commission to oversee elections planned for June. It was also unable to agree on the extension of the term of office of the internal security chief, who is otherwise obliged to retire next month. Lebanon has been gripped by a political crisis linked to the unrest in neighbouring Syria. President Michel Suleiman has so far made no comment on whether he will accept his resignation.
The BBC says that what began as a dispute at a gold shop in a central Burmese town has escalated quickly into brutal mob violence. At least 20 people have been killed in the town of Meiktila. Dozens of buildings have been burned down in rioting among Buddhists and Muslims with eyewitnesses reporting that police stood by and did nothing to stop the violence. The unrest presents a major challenge for a country emerging from decades of military rule.
The first European trip by US Vice President, Joe Biden, after his re-election, has cost American taxpayers dearly. Drudge Report says that in Paris, Biden was presented with a bill for $585,000 for a single night. According to a government document published online, as many as 100 rooms were booked at the Hotel Intercontinental Paris Le Grand for the entire delegation.
Revue du vin de France reports that global wine consumption rose in 2012 by 0.6 per cent to 24,520 million litres compared to the previous year, lifted by demand in the United States and China. According to the latest data released by the “Office International Du Vin”, China last year boosted wine consumption by nine per cent, while the US sales gained two per cent. European consumption was stable. Exports remained at about 10,140 million litres, with Italy making up the largest portion with Spain and France following closely.