Press digest

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

The Times carries a report on Maltese climbers' success in climbing Mt Everest. It also quotes David Spiteri Gingell who admitted that he did not vet Lahmeyer International before it was engaged on the power station deal, because it had worked for the government before.

The Malta Independent also reports the Everest story and the Lahmeyer engagement.

l-orizzont says the chosen power station equipment will produce 33 per cent more ash. It also reports the story of a man who does not know with whom his daughter is living. The mother separated before the daughter was born.

In-Nazzjon reports on the rehabilitation of the area around Victoria Gate and Liesse Chapel in Valletta. It also quotes Prof Edward Mallia saying that should the plant preferred by the PL have been selected for the power station extension, bills would have risen by 30%

The overseas press:

Börzen Zeitung reports that the euro hit a four-year low against the dollar amid growing fears European governments would not be able to keep a government debt crisis from damaging the continent's economy.

Deutsche Welle reports that there has been a mixed reaction to the agreement reached between Iran, Turkey and Brazil to ship Iranian low-enriched uranium to Turkey. The UN and Russia said the move was encouraging, EU officials had reserved judgment, but the US expressed concern at Iran's statement that it would continue to enrich uranium.

Corriere della Sera quotes Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi stressing Italy would stay the course in Afghanistan after two soldiers were killed, taking the Italian death toll to 25 since 2004. Defence Minister Ignazio La Russa stressed there could be no unilateral decision to pull out.

Bangkok Times says the Thai government and Red Shirt protesters have been discussing a ceasefire deal as street battles that have killed at least 37 people rage on.

The Washington Times reports that President Obama will set up a commission to investigate the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The news came as BP said it hoped to siphon as much as half of the oil leaking into the Gulf of Mexico and is getting ready to shoot mud into a blown-out well later this week to try to stop all of it.

The Financial Times reports that British Chancellor George Osborne will deliver his first emergency Budget on June 22. Speaking at the Treasury with new Liberal Democrat Treasury Chief Secretary David Laws alongside him, Mr Osborne warned that failure to tackle the UK's record deficit would be "disastrous".

Az-Zaman says an al Qaida militant suspected of planning an attack targeting the World Cup in South Africa next month has been detained by Iraqi security forces. Abdullah Azam Saleh al-Qahtani, an officer in the Saudi army, entered Iraq in 2004 and is suspected of carrying out several attacks in the capital and elsewhere in the country

The Times of India reports at least 35 people were killed after Maoist rebels blew up a bus carrying police and civilians in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh.

Sydney Morning Herald reveals Cardinal George Pell has urged tougher action against paedophiles after the church confirmed two Irish priests accused of molesting girls continued working in Melbourne and Sydney despite being barred. Cardinal Pell said any priests guilty of abuse should not perform church-related duties.