The following are the top stories in the national and international press today.

Times of Malta says a European Parliament committee yesterday completely overlooked Malta’s plea to change the rules underpinning irregular migrant rescue operations coordinated by EU border control agency Frontex.

The Malta Independent quotes the Financial Times saying that Malta’s citizenship problem may lead to a suspension or withdrawal of visa waiver programmes by counties such as the United States. In another story it says that all non-essential surgery at Mater Dei has been postponed as from today because of problems of overcrowding.

In-Nazzjon also says that the problem of overcrowding at Mater Dei has reached alarming levels and wais badly affecting staff and patients.

MaltaToday says that the oil trader George Farrugia had revealed the conclusions of a closed tendering process to a Greek company he was doing business with, suggesting he was aware of a contract outcome, before it was made public.

L-Orizzont recounts the story of an elderly woman left without food and water and in a dirty bed. In another story, it says that former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi remembered of an occasion he met Mr Farrugia at Castille in less than 24 hours after having denied doing so.

International news

Kyiv Post reports Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has issued a warning to protesters barricading themselves in Kiev’s central Independence Square that “calls for a revolution pose a threat to national security”. In comments broadcast on national television, Yanukovych said he wanted “this dark page turned and never allowed to happen again”. He had earlier held talks with his three predecessors and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton to seek a way out of an explosive standoff with protesters.

Espectador says Uruguay has become the first country in the world to legalise marijuana for recreational use with the State taking control of the trade. The new legislation authorises the production, distribution and sale of cannabis and allows individuals to grow their own pot on a small scale – all under state supervision and control. The law goes well beyond the marijuana legalisation measures recently approved by the US states of Colorado and Washington, or the similarly liberal laws of the Netherlands and Spain.

South Africa Post says tens of thousands of South Africans have joined dozens of world leaders for the national memorial service for former President Nelson Mandela, who died last Thursday, aged 95. The country is observing a series of commemorations leading up to the funeral on Sunday.

The White House has reacted to President Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro’s handshake at Mandela’s memorial service, saying it was “unplanned”. The Washington Post quotes White House aide Ben Rhodes saying the two exchanged nothing more substantive than a greeting.

France 24 reports the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights will today hear claims from the family of an Iraqi civilian who suffered an unexplained and violent death after being taken captive by British troops in 2003.

Wall Street Journal reports senior lawmakers in the United States say they have reached a deal on how to reduce government spending to avoid another government shut down on schedule for next month.

Le Monde says French President François Hollande has defended his country’s military intervention in the Central African Republic, hours after two French soldiers were killed in fighting in the capital Bongi.

Televiscentro reports the National Assembly in Nicaragua has partially approved a constitutional reform which abolishes the two-term limits on Presidential terms.

Canada has vowed to defend the North Pole and Santa Claus, insisting the mythical figure is Canadian, after Russia ordered its military to step up its Arctic presence. Vancouver Sun quotes Paul Calandra, parliamentary secretary to the prime minister, citing Canada's claim of the North Pole to bash an opposition party in Parliament. The main opposition New Democratic Party, however, insisted that “Santa Claus is a citizen of the world.”