The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press.

Times of Malta reports that gas distributors have been given a 15-year state aid deal.

The Malta Independent and MaltaToday report how public land was transferred to Enemalta shortly before its deal with Shanghai Electric. The contracts were announced by the PN yesterday.

In-Nazzjon quotes Simon Busuttil saying the inauguration of the interconnector will show the difference between those who promise, and those who deliver. 

l-orizzont follows up claims on irregularities in the administration of the Smart cards system under the former government.

The overseas press

The Daily Nation reports the Kenya has frozen the bank accounts of 86 individuals and entities they suspect of financing terrorism. Thirteen informal money transfer services have also been closed down. 

The Washington Post says the United States is speeding up the delivery of weapons for the Saudi-led coalition battling Houthi rebels in Yemen. Deputy secretary of state Antony Blinken said Washington had also set up a coordination centre in Saudi Arabia, which, he said, was “sending a strong message to the Houthis and their allies that they cannot overrun Yemen by force”.

Meanwhile, the BBC says the Save the Children has expressed concern over the plight of at least 3,500 children trapped inside the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk who are in danger of death or injury. To exacerbate matters, dozens of volunteer doctors, aid workers and civilians have been killed, while others have been kidnapped or wounded, with many of them still missing”.

Muslims continue to increase all over the world. NPR quotes a new demographic survey by the Pew Research Centre, a US think tank, showing they are now the world’s fastest-growing religious group and will make up at least 10 percent of Europe’s population by 2050, compared with 5.9 percent in 2010. The world’s Christian population will increase from 2.17 billion to 2.92 between 2010 and 2050, whereas the number of Muslims will grow from 1.6 billion to 2.76 billion within the same period.

Kommersant announces Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will visit Moscow this week, where it’s reported Russia may offer him a discount on gas deliveries and new loans. The visit comes amid a huge row between Greece and Germany over a bailout deal for the Mediterranean country. A Kremlin spokesman said President Putin and Tsipras planned to discuss economic ties and EU sanctions during their talks tomorrow.

Kathimerini reports Greece’s deputy Finance Minister Dimitris Mardas yesterday told the parliament in Athens that Germany owes his country nearly €279 billion in World War Two reparations, including an occupation loan of €10.3 billion. But according to Deutsche Welle, German Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel dismissed the Greek calls as “stupid”.

Entering the fray of Britain’s election campaign, Tony Blair has declared his support for Labour leader Ed Miliband. The Times says ahead of the ballot on May 7, the former Labour prime minister also pleaded for Britain to stay in the European Union. But Prime Minister David Cameron rejected the criticism, saying Britons themselves have a right to decide. The country’s economic direction and EU-membership are seen as among the biggest issues in this campaign.

The authorities in the US state of Carolina have charged a white police officer with murder for shooting dead a black man.  A video of the encounter in the city of Charleston has been published by The New York Times. The footage appears to show the man, Walter Scott, being shot in the back as he ran off following a brief scuffle.

The New Yorker reports sex abuse claims against Britain’s Prince Andrew will not be heard in a US civil court case after a judge ruled against their inclusion. District Judge Kenneth Marra struck out the “lurid” allegations in a case involving the Duke of York’s former friend Jeffrey Epstein. Two women claimed to be among dozens of women Epstein is said to have abused as teenagers. One of them says she was used as a sex slave and forced to have sex with Andrew when she was 17.

Alice, Charlotte, or Elizabeth if it’s a girl, and James or Arthur if it’s a boy. Bookies in the UK have opened bets on the name and gender of Prince William and Duchess Kate’s second child, expected in the second half of the month. An analysis by CBC, showed an uncommon “Alice”, a somewhat monarchical “Charlotte”, and a predictable “Elizabeth” for a girl. According to media rumours, William is pushing for the Queen’s name, while Kate would opt for something more original.

CNN announces the original manuscript of Don McLean’s enigmatic song “American Pie” was sold at an auction by Christie’s in New York for $1.2 million. McLean said he wanted to release the 18-page manuscript, written in pencil, ink and typescript, to help people understand the true meaning of the song, released in 1971 and which depicts turbulent upheavals of the latter half of the 20th century.

Euronews announces Turkish police have detained two men following a gun attack on a bus carrying players from the Fenerbahce football club over the weekend. One of the men detained is claimed to have shot at the bus while the other called him on the phone to alert him that it was coming. Both men have denied the charges against them, the Dogan news agency reported.