The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press today.
Three of the local papers, The Times, The Malta Independent and In-Nazzjon, lead with the Prime Minister’s talks in Rome with Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi. The Times says Sig Berlusconi will push Malta’s case for burden-sharing with regards to illegal migrants. The Malta Independent also lists other subjects discussed, including an undersea power cable between Malta and Sicily and oil exploration in waters which both countries claim as their own.
In other stories, The Times says an inquiry in terms of the Merchant Shipping Act has been launched into the loss of the Simshar.
In-Nazzjon says unemployment has fallen to below 6,000 for the first time in years. It also reports that conditions for MCAST staff will be improved as a result of a collective agreement signed with the MUT.
l-orizzont’s main focus is on an Opinion by the Ombudsman, Joseph Said Pullicino, who said that people who had their case upheld by the Tribunal for the Investigation of Injustices must be given a remedy.
Many of the newspapers also carry pictures of Duran Duran, who arrived yesterday to give a concert tomorrow.
The Press in Britain
Formula One boss Max Mosley’s victory in a privacy case against the News of the World over what he described as a consensual S&M party makes the lead in four British dailies.
The Sun sees the £60,000 damages award as a blow to the freedom of the Press. It quotes the paper's editor saying journalism was being "strangled by stealth".
After pointing out that Mosley hid the depraved bondage sessions from his wife for 45 years, The Daily Mail, asks “What price morality?”
The Times quotes the judge ruling he had "a reasonable expectation of privacy" in relation to Mosely’s sexual activities and says the judgement opened a “new front in the battle for privacy”
The Telegraph contends that victory will “keep adultery secret”.
Metro is also critical of the judgement saying that effectively the court decided “the public should not have heard bout the prostitutes, the spanking and German overtones”.
The Daily Mirror sports a full page picture of the crowd of 250,000 who greeted US presidential hopeful in Germany in what it calls an “Obamania”. It also says that “he’ll hit Britain today”.
In a similar treatment, The Independent says that “Obamania comes to Europe”.
The Daily Record says the Scottish Nationalists pulled off a stunning by-election victory by winning Glasgow East, one of Labour's safest seats. They overturned a Labour majority of 13,507 to win by only 365 votes. Voter turnout was 42.25 per cent. The result was declared in the early hours of Friday following a delay, after a re-count was requested by Labour, which won 10,912 votes in the contest.
According to The Guardian, Britain plans to spend £3 billion on new nuclear warheads, a decision which opponents contend breaches the non-proliferation treaty.
And elsewhere…
Berliner Zeitung quotes US presidential candidate Barack Obama calling for a fresh start in transatlantic relations
La Tribune says French President Nicolas Sarkozy has threatened to reject a proposed World Trade Organisation deal unless it is modified. The deal, currently on the table at trade talks in Geneva, would cut tariffs on food imports and subsidies to agriculture in an effort to open the markets of rich countries to farming products from poor nations.
Le Monde reports that the country's military is to slash 54,000 jobs and close dozens of air, army and other bases in an effort to slim down the defence sector.
Mail & Guardian says senior negotiators from Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF party and the main opposition have started talks that could lead to a deal on forming a unity government and end Zimbabwe's political crisis.
Canada’s Globe and Mail says a Muslim man of Arab descent has won damages at a tribunal as a result of his co-workers' paranoia that he may have helped organize the 9/11 attacks.
Adevarul says the Romanian health ministry has proposed a law allowing under-15s to have an abortion at up to 24 weeks. The decision comes after authorities were confronted with the case of an 11-year old girl who got pregnant after being sexually abused by her uncle.
Pittsburgh Post Gazette quotes a leading cancer expert warning mobile phone users to take precautions to protect themselves from cancer risks as soon as possible.
Corriere della Sera reports that a father, his son and two daughters all fell to their deaths climbing Mont Blanc as their mother looked on in horror. Italian rescuers said the Dutch family plunged 500 metres on a slope of rock, ice and snow on Europe’s highest mountain.
L’Equipe reports that the International Olympic Committee has confirmed a ban on Iraq from competing in the Beijing Games. The IOC had warned of sanctions after Iraq disbanded its Olympic committee and other sports bodies on May 21.