The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press.
Times of Malta, The Malta Independent and In-Nazzjon lead with the removal of Gasol from the consortium which is to build the new power station.
In other stories, Times of Malta reports that Malta-based Italian companies which were closed down as part of investigations into Mafia links had initially been given the all-clear by various agencies.
In-Nazzjon reports that the PN has launched a fundraising campaign for Net TV to broadcast in high definition.
l-orizzont reports that GO operations will not be affected by the pull-out of its majority shareholder.
The overseas press
The Standard announces President Obama dined with his step grandmother, his sister and other extended family members after arriving in Kenya for his first presidential visit to his father's homeland. Obama's plane, Air Force One, landed yesterday evening in the Kenyan capital, where he will co-host a US-sponsored business summit before flying to Ethiopia.
Turkey’s state-run TRT TV reports Turkish jets flying from a base in Turkey's southeast have struck Islamic State group targets across the border in Syria for the second straight night. The fighter jets also hit camps of Kurdish PKK militants in northern Iraq.
Kathimerini says debt-crippled Greece has taken a step closer to a huge third international bailout by formally requesting IMF help. The Greek government, which is seeking a three-year bailout worth up to €86 billion to avert financial meltdown and a chaotic exit from the eurozone, had initially planned to go without fresh help from the IMF as it considers the agency too wedded to draconian austerity measures.
London’s LBC Radio has confirmed thousands of skilled Greeks are eyeing up Britain as a more favourable destination in which to work, leading to fears the troubled nation could be facing a brain drain. Recruitment agencies have reported the number of 25 to 34-year-olds seeking information about working in Britain hasd risen by 58 per cent.
Tribune de Genève reports the World Trade Organization has announced that the major exporters of IT products had agreed, after years of talks, to cut global tariffs in the sector, which generates $1.3 trillion in annual trade. WTO Director General Roberto Azevedo described the agreement as “landmark” – the first major tariff cutting deal at WTO in 18 years.
Bangkok Times says prosecutors in Thailand have indicted 72 people, accusing them of involvement in a multinational human trafficking syndicate. The indictments were filed three days before the expected release of an annual State Department report on human trafficking in countries around the world.
The New York Times quotes the family of the man who shot dead two women and wounded nine others before killing himself at a crowded cinema in the US saying he was mentally ill and so violent that they hid his guns and sought police help to keep him away. The gunman, John Russel Houser, 59, stood up about 20 minutes into the film “Trainwreck” and fired first at two people sitting in front of him, then aimed his handgun at others. Then he tried to escape, but when he spotted police officers committed suicide.
CNBC says the US Food and Drug Administration has approved a potent new cholesterol-lowering drug from Sanofi SA and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc but limited its approved use to patients with a hereditary form of the condition and those with cardiovascular disease. The FDA ruling came just hours after European regulators recommended approval for broader use of the drug, called Praluent, in all patients with high cholesterol who are not able to lower it even by taking maximal doses of statin therapy.
Meanwhile, The Lancet quotes two studies which show that two inexpensive classes of drugs available in generic form each reduce the recurrence of breast cancer in post-menopausal women as well as death rates from the disease. Taking the medications together may further boost anti-cancer benefits and help cancel out undesirable side-effects of one of the drugs.
In an effort to eradicate police brutality, Russian artist Dmitry Morozov has invented a baton that texts the officer’s mum every time it is used it to strike someone. Metro says the SMS message reads: “Mum, I hit a man!!!” Morozov claims he’s not an activist but was inspired by police brutality making the headlines over the past year.
The New York Observer reports the newest Google Doodle celebrates the 14th Special Olympics World Summer Games, which kick off today (2 a.m. on Sunday, Malta Time) and run through August 2 in Los Angeles. The athletes in the doodle are shown stretching, lifting weights, swimming and kicking soccer balls. Some 7,000 athletes from more than 177 nations (including Malta) will take part in the events, which promote the integration of athletes with intellectual disabilities.
Sputnik says FIFA President Sepp Blatter and Russian President Vladimir Putin will appear at the 2018 World Cup qualifying draw in St Petersburg this afternoon, setting the qualifying course for more than 140 nations. The draw will start at 5 p.m. Malta Time and will last for two hours. The ceremony will be broadcast in more than a hundred countries.