The following are the top stories in the national and international press today.
Times of Malta reports that Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia ordered an internal inquiry after a magistrate suggested action to be taken against two police officers for manhandling a pair of Swedish tourists. In another story, it says that Mater Dei Hospital’s former nursing head said the compensation paid to her after she was transferred in violation of her contract did not even start to cover the “ordeal” she went through.
The Malta Independent says Malta’s investment envoy to Asia, Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi’s wife Sai, is being given protection from a Freedom of Information request filed by the paper asking to see her contract. In another story it says that the new acting police commissioner Ray Zammit is still awaiting the green light from the Public Service Commission to be officially appointed.
In-Nazzjon says that the health and education sectors will be affected by industrial action announced yesterday due to government shortcomings.
l-Orizzont says that Jason Galea and George Galea, the two accused in the murders of Mario Camilleri Snr and his son Mario, were yesterday granted bail. In another story it says that the Times of Malta editor-in-chief will be taking legal advice following testimony given in court by Former EU Commissioner John Dalli.
International news
The Times reports British Prime Minister David Cameron has secretly agreed to work towards the transfer of more policing powers to Europe despite worries over costs and the potential risk to innocent Britons. British ministers have told EU leaders that they would make a decision on whether to take part in a controversial Europe-wide DNA database by December 1 next year. They signed off a list of 35 areas of cooperation with Brussels a week before the recent EU summit. Among the measures is the European arrest warrant.
The Daily Telegraph says more than 10 current and former British politicians are on a list of alleged child abusers held by police investigating claims of a Westminster paedophile ring. MPs or peers from all three main political parties are on the list, which includes former ministers and household names. The existence of the list was disclosed by Peter McKelvie, the whistleblower whose claims prompted Operation Fernbridge, the Scotland Yard investigation into allegations of a paedophile network with links to Downing Street. It is believed there is enough evidence to arrest at least one senior politician.
Deutsche Welle reports the authorities in Germany have arrested an employee of the foreign intelligence agency on suspicion of spying for the United States. The 31-year-old man is accused of passing on details of a parliamentary committee set up to investigate earlier reports of US espionage. Those allegations have already strained relations between Berlin and Washington.
Clarin says a court in Argentina has convicted two former military officers in connection with the killing of Bishop Enrique Angelelli in 1976. The military always insisted he died in a car accident but the case was reopened when a priest who had been riding with the bishop said the car had been forced off the road.
According to Al Ahram fuel and electricity price increases have come into effect in Egypt as the government moved to cut state subsidies to reduce the country’s running deficit and revive an economy battered by years of political turmoil. Some fuel tariffs are reported to have increased by almost 80 per cent.
Pravda reports that the Russian lower house of parliament has passed a law making web companies store data of their Russian users inside the country. The authorities say they want to make the system more safe. However, the BBC reports western European observers said the move is likely to tighten the Kremlin’s control over the internet. Critics fear they are trying to muzzle social media.
Kyiv Post says fighting between the Ukrainian forces and the Russian rebels has continued in the East of the country. At last nine servicemen are said to have been killed. There has been no word of casualties on the insurgents’ side. Ukraine has proposed talks and a ceasefire for later today but no reply from the pro-Russia militants had been received.
RIA Novosty reports the Ukrainian parliament passed the first reading of a Bill that would allow US and EU investors access to 49 per cent of the country’s gas transit system. The Bill, rejected by lawmakers on Thursday, was passed yesterday with 229 “yes” votes, slightly above the required minimum of 226 votes. It gives foreign operators the right to “the management and/or concession or lease” of the gas pipelines and underground storage facilities.
More than 10 employees of the Russian Investigation Committee and border guards came under artillery fire coming from Ukraine earlier yesterday. Vasily Malayev, the head of the Russian Federal Security Service department for the Rostov region, told Itar-Tass the incident took place in the town of Donetsk.
El Universal says three miners trapped in an informal gold mine in Honduras have been rescued. The authorities are still searching for eight others.
O Globo reports that as Brazil’s euphoria in reaching the semi-final of the World Cup has been dampened by the news that forward Neymar has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament. Their top goal scorer was diagnosed with a broken vertebra, shortly after his team beat Colombia 2-1 to meet Germany next Tuesday. The Germans beat France 0-1 in the other quarter final. This evening Argentina meet Belgium and Holland face Costa Rica.