In the Press: Three aircraft escape Libya as violence escalates | Mizzi's financial package more than what ambassadors get

MaltaToday

Heavy fighting in Tripoli forced a small group of workers to flee Libya aboard two helicopters and a small plane, arriving in Malta yesterday afternoon despite the closure of Libyan airspace. It is as yet unclear whether Malta will be needed to assist in the event of a medical evacuation but sources say the government is in constant contact with Maltese in Libya to offer assistance if needed.

The Times of Malta

Malta's preparedness to deal with an oil spill in its waters has been revealed to be worryingly lacking. A report by the Attorney General revealed aging equipment in need of replacing, €120,000 in storage fees for expired chemicals used to break up oil spills and no real infrastructure to deal with an oil spill situation, despite Malta's vulernability to such an event.

In-Nazzjon

A discussion about the future of Enemalta could not proceed in Parliament yesterday after the necessary quorum was not reached. The Opposition said that after recent events, the government has once again hesitated to produce contracts and documents of public interest.

L-Orizzont

Jean Claude Junker won the majority of votes yesterday, to take Jose Manuel Barroso's place as President of the European Commission. He won 422 out of the total 729, a win MEP Alfred Sant called clear but unimpressive.

The Malta Independent

A former ambassador told this newspaper that while Sai Mizzi's salary is comparable to that given to ambassadors, the financial package she receives is far from standard. After pointing out that Mizzi is not an ambassador in the first place, this source says that allowances such as the one Mizzi receives for a fully expensed house were never part of the package offered to other Maltese representatives.