The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press.
Times of Malta reports that Banif is to sell the majority stake in its Malta bank.
The Malta Independent reports how the two political leaders squared off in their final debate of the EP electoral campaign.
l-orizzont quotes the prime minister saying the choice for the electorate on Saturday is clear.
In-Nazzjon reports how the PN published a ‘stickers book’ featuring the people at the heart of the PL who have benefited from the government.
Press digest
AFP reports Britain and the Netherlands kick off perilous four-day European elections today likely to see major gains for anti-EU parties bent on destroying the European Union from the inside. The lengthy four-day vote winding up on Sunday calls on 382 million voters to cast ballots in the 28 EU member states for the 751-seat European Parliament, which has a five-year mandate. Apathy and anti-EU sentiment have been on the rise, and abstention is likely to hit a new record. In the 2009, voter participation fell to 43 percent.
Xinhua quotes Chinese state energy giant CNPC announcing China and Russia have signed a huge gas supply contract in Shanghai, after a decade of talks on the multi-billion-dollar deal. It said the contract, witnessed by Chinese President Xi Jinping and visiting Russian leader Vladimir Putin, was hailed as “another major milestone achievement in China-Russia energy strategic cooperation”.
EU Observer reports the European Union has called on Russia to live up to its commitment to ensure continued gas supplies to Europe through Ukraine as long as talks on their future continued. Russian gas giant Gazprom has warned it would stop shipments unless Ukraine paid its $3.51 billion debt in full. On May 14, Putin warned European leaders that the EU had so far made no concrete proposal to settle Ukraine's outstanding gas bills. Gazprom has also told Ukraine it had to pay $1.66 billion in advance to secure gas supplies for June.
According to RIA Novosti, Ukraine’s interim Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk has ruled out bilateral talks between Kiev and Moscow, saying de-escalation in the crisis-hit country could only be discussed at an international scale. During a dialog on national unity organised under the auspices of the OSCE, Yatsenyuk emphasised the next round of talks could bring together Ukraine, Russia, the United States and the European Union, but said Kiev expected them to come up with tangible proposals.
The Washington Times says the US has deployed military personnel to Chad as part of its efforts to help find more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by Islamist militants Boko haram in Nigeria. President Obama said 80 US military personnel would support surveillance missions over northern Nigeria.
Ansa says Paolo Romano, the Speaker of the Campania regional assembly, has resigned from office and dropped out of the European Parliament elections after being put under house arrest on suspicion of attempted corruption. He is suspected of trying to exert undue pressure in appointments with the Caserta health authority.
AGI reports gay tourism rakes in €2.7 million annually in Italy, with the average gay tourist spending €1,070 per trip. The data was unveiled at a presentation in Rome of the Expo Turismo Gay trade fair, scheduled this weekend in front of the Colosseum. Event president Paolo Bertagni said they would be turning the area “into Gay Street Roma to underline the importance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender tourism as a resource in a place of such international visibility”.
Teheran Times says six young Iranians arrested after the posted a video of themselves on YouTube video of themselves dancing on Tehran rooftops to “Happy” – the globally infectious pop song – have been released on bail. Police in Teheran said the video clip showing women without head scarves and dancing with men, hurt public chastity.
The New York Times reports 70 people have been arrested in the US for allegedly sharing child pornography online. US officials say those detained in a major operation included a rabbi, a police officer, a nurse and an airline pilot. More than 600 laptops, smartphones and other computer devices were seized. Officials say many of the defendants had access to young children but there were no reports of abuse.
San Jose Mercury News reports a woman in southern California, whi disappeared 10 years ago when she was 15, has contacted police to say she was kidnapped and forced to marry her abductor. Police in Santa Ana said the 41-year-old man suspected of abducting her, Isidro Garcia, has been arrested on suspicion of kidnapping, rape and falsely imprisoning a minor. The woman told police Garcia used sustained physical and emotional abuse to prevent her from fleeing.