The following are the top stories in the national and international press today.
Times of Malta says that a passenger on an Air Malta plane yesterday was diagnosed with meningitis after reporting feeling unwell. In another story it says that the wife of murdered drug trafficker Mario Camilleri reluctantly consented to his body being exhumed to allow investigators to look for further evidence. The newspaper shows a photo from grainy security video which captured the moment a train came off the tracks in Spain killing at least 80 passengers and seriously injuring many more.
The Malta independent says that 106 migrants were brought ashore yesterday after having been spotted some 20 nautical miles of Malta by the Armed Forces. In another story it says that a proposed application for a winery in Bidnija was postponed till after a court appeal.
In-Nazzjon says that Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia is avoiding answering clear questions about his declaration of assets. In another story it says that there have been three chiefs of staff who resigned in the first months of a Labour administration.
L-Orizzont says that a meeting has been held between the General Workers Union and the Transport Minister to discuss problems at Arriva. In another story it says that according to the Auditor General’s report, even former Minister Tonio Fenech had reservations on oil hedging.
The international press
El Pais says that as the death toll from the train derailment in Santiago de Compostela rose to 80, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced two separate investigaions.
Euro Weekly News reveals that the driver of the train, Francisco José Garzon Amo, published a photo on his Facebook page showing off his train speed gauge at 200 kilometres per hour.
The Associated Press reports Pope Francis, dubbed the "slum pope" for his work with the poor, received a rapturous welcome from one of Rio's most violent shantytowns and demanded that the world's wealthy end the injustices that have left the poor on the margins of society. He received an even more frenzied welcome as he opened a rain-soaked World Youth Day in a far different setting: Rio's upscale Copacabana Beach.
La Presse says Tunisair has cancelled all flights to and from Tunisia planned for the next 24 hours in a day marked by a general strike and new demonstrations in protest against the killing of opposition politician Mohamed Brahmi.
The New York Times quotes UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon saying the death toll in Syria’s civil war has passed the 100,000-mark. Ban called on the Syrian government and opposition to stop the violence, saying it was imperative to have a peace conference in Geneva as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reports the CIA has begun moving weapons to Jordan from a network of secret warehouses and plans to start arming small groups of vetted Syrian rebels within a month, expanding US support of moderate forces battling President Bashar al-Assad.
The People’s Daily says China has announced plans to spend more than $300 billion to tackle the country's air pollution.
USA Today says four Russian nationals and a Ukrainian have been charged with running a sophisticated hacking organisation that penetrated computer networks of more than a dozen major American and international corporations over seven years, stealing and selling at least 160 million credit and debit card numbers, resulting in losses of hundreds of millions of dollars.
Researchers in America are claiming that taller women are more at risk of contracting cancer as they get older. The study, published in the scientific journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, shows height has a bigger impact on developing cancer than being overweight.
Football: Expessen says Norway have advanced to the final of the Women’s Euro after beating Denmark in a penalty shootout. The Norwegians are to face title holders Germany in the final in the Swedish city of Solna tomorrow.