The following are the top stories in the national and international press today.
Times of Malta says John Dalli had his case against the European Commission thrown out by the European Court of Justice after it ruled against his claim of unfair dismissal. Mr Dalli is considering an appeal. In another story, it says former police commissioner Peter Paul Zammit stands by his decision to drop charges against a man who allegedly assaulted officers despite being slammed by an inquiry.
The Malta Independent says Mr Dalli lost his case against the European Commission and had his €1.9 million compensation claim thrown out.
L-Orizzont leads with the case in the Gozitan courts in which former Minister Giovanna Debono’s husband Anthony is being charged of commissioning works on private properties in exchange for votes.
MaltaToday reports that a Gozo contractor was told by Mr Debono to issue false invoices for payments.
In-Nazzjon says the Police Commissioner should assure the people he was investigating claims about works for votes in Gozo under current minister Anton Refalo.
International news
Himalayan Times quotes Nepalese authorities saying seasonal monsoon rains in the coming weeks could trigger further landslides, as the country reeled from another 7.3 magnitude deadly earthquake which killed 42 people in Nepal and at least 17 in India. More than 1,000 were injured. The quake was the worst aftershock following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit on April 25, killing 8,000 people and leaving hundreds of thousands homeless.
EU sources have said Italy has offered to provide the headquarters and top leadership for a proposed new European Union mission to fight migrant traffickers in the Mediterranean. Ansa says Enrico Credendino, an Italian admiral, may be proposed when the plan goes to a meeting of EU foreign and defence ministers next Monday in Brussels. Approval of the EU mission depends on a UN Security Council resolution authorising the use of force to destroy migrant traffickers’ boats. Ten countries have already expressed an interest in participating, including Italy, Malta, Spain, France, Poland and Britain.
Meanwhile, Euronews reports the European Commission is to formalise its new plan later today to revamp migrant controls and processes for asylum seekers. The document states that a first screening will take place to identify immediately humanitarian against economic refugees at centres where migrants are held upon entering EU borders. Frontex, Europol and the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) and healthcare facilities will be involved in the selection process.
Malaysia will turn away boats bearing desperate migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh unless they are in imminent danger of sinking, a top coast guard official has told AFP. More than 1,000 exhausted and starving migrants have abandoned people-smuggling boats and swum to the resort island of Langkawi in recent days, with hundreds of others also reaching nearby Indonesia.
Avvenire reports Pope Francis has warned that the actions of the powerful, including how they helped the poor and hungry, would eventually be judged by God. “Do all that you can, because everyone must eat,” Pope Francis said during Mass at the opening of Caritas International’s general assembly. He added that it was also crucial to protect the environment so it can continue to produce food for the world. He praised Caritas for its work among the poor and suffering, saying its members “see Jesus in every person”.
Fox News reports that despite “frank discussions” between the US and Russia, no “major breakthrough” has been made in the Ukraine conflict. The US had hoped to push President Putin to fully implement the Minsk peace deal. US Secretary of State John Kerry held eight hours of talks with President Putin and his foreign minister in the Black Sea resort of Sochi – their most extensive, high-level talks in years.
More than 50 people were injured when an Amtrak train, travelling from Washington to New York, derailed in Philadelphia. An Associated Press employee, Paul Cheung, was on the train and said it appeared it went off the tracks. He said he was fortunate to be at the back of the train and the front of it “looks pretty bad”.
According to Yonhap, South Korea’s spy agency said North Korea has executed its defence minister on charges of treason. The National Intelligence Service told lawmakers Hyon Yong-chol, the chief of North Korea’s People’s Armed Forces, was executed by firing squad using an anti-aircraft gun at a military school in Pyongyang around April 30. Hyon was seen dozing off during a military event and did not carry out Kim’s instructions.
Azaal TV reports a five-day humanitarian ceasefire has begun in Yemen to allow aid to reach civilians in the conflict-torn country. The truce came into effect hours after a Saudi-led coalition carried out air strikes against the country’s Houthi rebels and their allies. It is believed one strike in the capital, Sana’a, killed 90 people and wounded 300. The coalition also bombed rebel positions in the southern city of Aden.
A Burmese ruby weighing 25.59 carats has sold for a world record 28.25 million Swiss francs (€27 million) at an auction in Geneva. Blick says the Sunrise Ruby, which has the rare grading of pigeon’s blood colour, was hotly contested over by two private collectors bidding by telephone. Sotheby’s international jewellery division chairman David Bennett said it was a “new record price for a ruby” as he brought down the hammer to applause.
Binge drinking is emerging as a major hazard for the young in some countries, the OECD said in its first probe into alcohol abuse. Le Parisien quotes 34-nation club of rich economies saying that Estonia, Austria and France had the highest consumption, with 12 litres or more per person per year. Those countries below the OECD average included South Korea, the United States and Canada, while the lowest on the list were Israel and Turkey.
Kicker reports Neymar struck twice as Barcelona reached the Champions League final last night, beating Bayern Munich 5-3 on aggregate in their semi-final despite losing 3-2 on the night to the Germans at the Allianz Arena. Chasing their fifth title, Barcelona will face either arch-rivals Real Madrid or Juventus in the final, which is held in Berlin on June 6, 2015.