The following are the top stories in the national and international press today.
All newspapers today report about the murders of drug trafficker Mario Camilleri and his son Mario (Jr) who were reported missing yesterday. The two men were well known to the police, having got into trouble with the law a number of times. They had not yet been found by the time the newspapers went to print.
Quoting a geological rock assessment unveiled by the Environment Ministry yesterday, Times of Malta says Gozo’s Azure Window was not facing imminent collapse but further erosion was “inevitable”.
The Malta Independent says the European Commission has confirmed it will help Malta with the repatriation of failed asylum seekers. In another story it says that 150 police officers who were facing disciplinary proceedings were given an amnesty by the new Police Commissioner.
In-Nazzjon says that three ministers - Edward Scicluna, Manuel Mallia and Karmenu Vella opted not to declare their earnings last year. In another story it says that 224 transfers were given in the police force in the past three months.
L-Orizzont says that 22 direct orders amounting to €350,000 had been given by Former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Finance Minister Tonio Fenech. In another story, the newspaper reports Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi saying that the Auditor General’s report on oil procurement between 2008 and 2010 was strong and shocking.
International news
The International Criminal Court has told Libya it has to hand over the son of ousted dictator Muammar Gaddafi so he could face charges of crimes against humanity. Hague News reports judges rejected Libya's request to suspend an earlier order to Tripoli to hand over Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, who is expected to stand trial in Libya next month.
The Washington Times says President Obama has urged Israel to re-start peace talks with the Palestinians as soon as possible. His comments, in a phone call to the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were made as part of regular consultations between the two leaders. They also came as US Secretary of State John Kerry visited the region to try to help restart talks that stalled in 2010.
Meanwhile, according to Al-Ayyam, Palestinian leaders put off a decision about restarting peace talks with Israel, with most saying Israel must first meet their terms before negotiations can start. President Mahmoud Abbas had gathered fellow PLO leaders in Ramallah to discuss his meetings with US Secretary of State John Kerry this week.
Once the very symbol of American industrial might, Detroit has became the largest city in the United States ever to file for bankruptcy. VOA says it has more than $18 billion of debt and other obligations. Detroit is seeking protection from creditors who include public sector workers and their pension funds. The crisis follows decades of industrial decline, population and falling tax income.
The Associated Press quotes hospital visitors saying Nelson Mandela smiled and nodded yesterday – his 95th birthday – and South Africans celebrated upbeat reports about the former president's health after weeks of worrying that he was on the verge of death.
Al Jazeera reports that mass protests are expected to follow Friday prayers in Egypt, a day after interim President Adly Mansour vowed to protect nation against "chaos".
Baltimore News reports a military judge has refused to dismiss a charge that US army private Bradley Manning aided the enemy by giving reams of classified information to anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks. It is the most serious charge Manning faces, punishable by up to life in prison without parole.
Il Tempo reports Italian President Giorgio Napolitano yesterday warned that there would be "irreparable damage" if Premier Enrico Letta's left-right government were to collapse.
Ansa reports that the police in Italy have arrested a 64-year-old man for fraud after learning that for 30 years he pretended he was blind to collect disability benefits.