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

Times of Malta reports the findings of a survey that a third of tourists are not happy with transport in Malta.

The Malta Independent wonders why Konrad Mizzi has been given responsibility for health.

In-Nazzjon says Labour uses the people, then dumps them.

l-orizzont says Labour has kept its promise of reducing electricity tariffs.

The overseas press

Le Monde reports the United States and Russia have concluded their hastily-arranged talks in Paris on the crisis in the Ukraine without a breakthrough. US Secretary of State John Kerry said the negotiations with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had been frank and that both sides were committed to finding a diplomatic solution.  

Le Parisien says France’s Social Economy Minister Benoit Hamon has confirmed media reports that President François Hollande will today order a government reshuffle in light of the Socialist Party’s staggering defeat in the municipal elections. Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, himself is at risk of losing his position, will be received at the Elysee Palace after Interior Minister Manuel Valls.  

Sky Turk quotes jubilant Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan saying his Justice and Development (AK) Party has won the municipal elections after exit polls gave him 50.5 per cent of the national vote. The secular main opposition Republican (CHP) Party is trailing far behind at 24.5 per cent, and the far-right conservative Nationalist Movement (MHP) at 14.5 per cent.  

Sydney Morning Herald says it has been confirmed that orange objects floating in the water, suspected to be life vests from the missing Malaysia Airlines jet, are nothing more than dead jellyfish. The news comes as Chinese relatives staged protests in Kuala Lumpur demanding answers from the Malaysian authorities.  

Business Insider reports a major assessment on climate change has warned that humans are increasingly beginning to feel its full effect which, it warns, would be severe and irreversible. The Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change highlights food security a significant area of concern. It says hundreds of millions would be hit by flooding and warns that the changes could hasten the spread of illnesses.

Tribune de Genève says the World Health Organisation has confirmed two cases of the deadly Ebola in Liberia – a virus that is suspected to have killed at least 70 people in Guinea. The outbreak of the highly contagious disease, which in its more acute phase, causes vomiting, diarrhoea and external bleeding, has sent Guinea's West African neighbors scrambling to contain the spread of the disease.

Voice of Nigeria quotes Amnesty International saying at least 1,500 people have been killed in the first three months of this year in north-eastern Nigeria, where the Islamist group Boko Haram has carried out frequent attacks. Amnesty warned that the government and militants were committing serious human rights abuses.

Hollywood Life announces the death of actress Kate O'Mara, best known for her role as Cassandra “Caress” Morrel in the American soap opera “Dynasty” in the 1980s. She was 74. O'Mara played the sister of Alexis Colby, the heartless first wife of Dynasty's protagonist, Black Carrington, respectively played by Joan Collins and John Forsyth. The show lasted for over 200 episodes. O'Mara also acted in numerous other shows and returned to theatre in 2012. . .

Metro says firefighters in England tackled a blaze at a farm shed where 13 tonnes of crisps went up in smoke. The crisps were rejects from the nearby Walkers Crisps plant which were destined to be turned into pig feed. The watch manager said the crisps were full of starch and oil and had been heated and dropped in a big pile when they ignited. Nearby residents said the smell of the blaze was similar to smoky bacon crisps.

 

 

 

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