The following are the top stories in the national and international press today.
The loss of a Malaysia Airlines plane in eastern Ukraine in an area where pro-Russian rebels have been fighting government forces was given coverage in all national newspapers today.
Times of Malta also reports about the appointment of freshly-appointed judge
Wenzu Mintoff quoting the Prime Minister saying that his integrity is “unquestioned”.
The Malta Independent quotes lawyer Joseph Zammit Maempel saying that Mr Justice Mintoff once tried to kick during a court hearing.
L-Orizzont says that 2,001 out of the 5,049 students of the Matsec ‘O’ level mathematics examination failed while 289 obtained top marks.
In-Nazzjon quotes a speech by Opposition leader Simon Busuttil in Parliament yesterday during which he expressed concern at action taken by government in recent days and appealed for basic respect and civil and serious debate.
International news
The loss of the Malaysia Airlines plane also dominates the world’s media.
Kyiv Post reports the jet crashed and burned after being shot down by a missile in what Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko called “a terrorist act”. All 298 people on board, including 80 children and 15 crew members, were presumed dead. Most of the passengers were Dutch nationals flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.
Radio Svoboda quotes Ukraine Security Services chief Valentyn Nalivaichenko, saying at a late night news conference, that the government was making all evidence in the investigation public, including intercepted phone calls between two members of the Russian military special services unit – known as the GRU – in which they discussed shooting down the airplane. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin denied any involvement, saying Ukraine is responsible. Russian radio Kommersant FM says the black box from the airplane has been taken to Moscow “for investigation”.
AFP reports world leaders expressed shock at the Malaysian airliner crash and called for an international investigation to determine the cause of the disaster. President Barack Obama called the crash “a terrible tragedy”, directed his officials to do all they could to support an investigation and pledged support to the affected countries as the probe moves forward. The Kremlin said President Putin and Obama had discussed the crash. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton called on all parties in the region to allow full access to the crash site.
According to The Washington Post, Putin is facing universal condemnation and quotes US Senator John McCain saying “there’ll be hell to pay” if it is confirmed that the separatists or Russia fired a missile at the plane.
In the other day’s main story, Haartez announces that the Israeli army has begun its first major ground operation in Gaza for more than five years. Israel’s Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said the aim was to destroy tunnels used by militants to attack Israel. Backed by air and naval forces, the army is heavily shelling the Gaza Strip.
The Jerusalem Post quotes Hamas saying Israel’s ground offensive – which ity described as “a foolish act” – did not scare the Hamas leaders or the Palestinian people and would have “dreadful consequences”. Hamas said it would continue to reject any initiative for a ceasefire as long as its conditions were not met.
Reuters says a Libyan militia battling a rival armed group over control of the country’s biggest airport is ready for a peaceful solution after five days of heavy fighting, according to a spokesman, hours after shells hit the terminal building. The news, if confirmed by the rival militia, would be a huge relief for Libyan citizens who were stunned after two armed groups turned Tripoli International Airport into a battlefield. Libyans who had been planning to come home for the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan have been trapped abroad. Expatriates trying to leave the country have been travelling by taxi to Tunisia, in scenes reminiscent of the 2011 NATO-backed uprising.
Fox News reports the UN Security Council has condemned recent ballistic missile launches by North Korea, describing the three rounds of Scud short-range missiles fired in June and July as a violation of council demands on Pyongyang. The council urged North Korea to fully comply with the relevant Security Council resolutions.
ABC reports a 37-year-old woman has been charged after allegedly injecting a 63-year-old jewellery store owner with an unknown substance to render him unconscious in a robbery in Footscray, in Melbourne's west. He woke up several hours later and called his family.A large amount of cash and at least $200,000 worth of jewellery were stolen. Truck Nguyen of Ardeer was arrested and charged with a number of offences including armed robbery and intentionally causing injury. She was refused bail.