The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press:
The Times reports an angry reaction by Magistrate Carol Peralta who on returning to the bench after serving abroad, commented on the ‘disgrace of Maltese court delays’. It also says that the unions have criticised slow change in Air Malta.
The Malta Independent leads with the foundation stone laid at the new Mcast campus.
In-Nazzjon also leads with a report on the foundation stone laid at the new Mcast campus yesterday. Dr Gonzi said this was a sign of confidence in the young and the workers to forge Malta’s future.
l-orizzont reports the €12,000 compensation to a woman who was sacked after becoming pregnant. It also reports on lax security at the Forensics Unit of the prisons at Mt Carmel Hospital.
The overseas press
Members of the European Parliament, meeting in Strasbourg, have denounced what they called “a worrying increase” in homophobia in Europe. Metro reports they voted for a resolution to tackle bullying and discrimination against gay, lesbian and transgender people living in the EU. They also condemned homophobic laws and violence in Europe.
The Herald says Scotland’s top prosecutor has met the interim Libyan Prime Minister Abdurrahim El-Keib in London to discuss the continuing investigation into the Lockerbie bombing. The meeting comes four days after Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, the only person convicted of the Lockerbie bombing, died in Libya. He always proclaimed his innocence. Last month, Mr Mulholland and Robert Mueller, director of the FBI, met Mr el-Keib in Tripoli in April to discuss the inquiry into the bombing. The new Libyan government has previously said that it will co-operate with the investigation.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Asian shares were mixed early today after the Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti speculated that Greece would remain in the euro zone, easing fresh concerns about forthcoming Greek elections. Yesterday, Monti gave support to the markets. Speaking on an Italian TV talk show, he added it was in Germany's interests to ensure no member leaves the euro. The euro remained under pressure though, losing 0.4 per cent on yesterday to $1.2533 – a fresh 52-week low. It regained some ground early this morning to $1.2544.
Ansa quotes the Vatican saying the head of its bank, who is being investigated in a money laundering case, has been ousted after receiving a unanimous vote of no-confidence from bank overseers. Ettore Gotti Tedeschi has been a polarising figure in the Vatican ever since he was named president of the Institute for Religious Works, known as the IOR, in 2009. In a statement, the Holy See said the vote was taken because of Mr Tedeschi’s failure to fulfil the “primary functions of his office”.
Al Jazeera says vote counting in Egypt's first free presidential election with the Muslim Brotherhood saying that its candidate was ahead based on the tally from some districts. Exit polls by several Arab television stations also suggested the Brotherhood's Mohammed Morsi was ahead of the pack of 13 candidates. If no one wins more than half the votes needed for outright victory, the top two candidates will contest a June 16 and 17 run-off.
The Washington Times reports that a US Senate committee has cut $33 million (€26.3 million) in aid to Pakistan in response to the jailing of Pakistani doctor Shakil Afridi who helped the CIA find Osama Bin Laden. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said his term was "unjust and unwarranted". Afridi was tried for treason under a tribal justice system for running a fake vaccination programme to gather information for US intelligence. Bin Laden was killed by US forces in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in May last year.
The recently legalised Tunisian Salafite party, Jabhet al-Islah, has called for polygamy to be allowed and for adoption to be outlawed. Party president Khouja Mohamed told Le Temps it was no longer the time for armed jihad (holy war).” We don't intend to use force to stop the sale of alcohol or the wearing of bikinis on the beaches. But we will not tolerate any attack on the symbols of Islam," he said He added they believed Islam was a religion of democracy and freedom.
Kiev Post reports that Ukraine’s parliament has banned smoking in most public places ahead of the Euro 2012 football championship next month. MPs approved legislation making smoking in schools, colleges, hospitals, restaurants, museums, and public places such as buses illegal. Smoking is rampant in Ukraine: some 22 per cent of Ukrainians over 12 are smokers. Ukraine is striving to bring its laws in line with European standards.
The New York Times says the police have arrested a man who has implicated himself in the case of a six-year-old boy who went missing in the city 33 years ago. Etan Patz vanished in May 1979 while walking alone to his school bus stop for the first time amd his case helped launch a missing children’s movement across the United States. The boy’s photo was one of the first of a missing child put on a milk carton in a national campaign to find them.
The People’s Daily reports that a couple buried alive an elderly woman knocked down by their car. The 68-year-old’s body was found at a construction site and police believe she was alive when buried. A man and his girlfriend are being held. A witness said that after the accident, the couple carried the woman into their car saying they would take her to a hospital. Instead, they allegedly buried her to avoid responsibility for the accident.
Miniature laundry detergent packets arrived on store shelves in Dallas, Texas, in recent months as an alternative to bulky bottles and messy spills. But doctors across the country said children were confusing the tiny, brightly coloured packets with sweets and swallowing them. Associated Press says nearly 250 cases have been reported this year and doctors are concerned. The symptoms they see in connection with ingesting the packets – such as nausea and breathing problems – were more severe than typical detergent poisoning. No deaths have been reported.