World news in one minute: Find out what happened around the world on 31 January

This is the main news as reported by the Associated Press on 31 January.

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European Union gets breakthrough in cutting roaming costs

The European Union has clinched a breakthrough in cutting costly mobile-phone roaming costs in the bloc ahead of the summer holidays.

The EU presidency announced Wednesday that officials from the 28 EU nations and the European parliament reached a deal on how much operators may charge each other for using their networks to provide roaming services, which should cut costs substantially.

Up to now, EU citizens have to pay hefty costs to use roaming facilities when they visit or work in other member states. It was long seen as an impediment to creating a seamless market among the member states.

The measure still needs to be approved by the full legislature and the EU member states but the common stance agreed is seen as a vital breakthrough.

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Court case to determine fate of dialysis machines

Dialysis machines, used for hospital kidney treatment, can only be replaced or upgraded once a court decides on the appeal from a bidder for the tender. In the meantime, no appointments have been cancelled or postponed, a spokeswoman for the Health Ministry told this newspaper. The ministry was contacted after a social media user posted a complaint on the Facebook page Are You Being Served, claiming that some of the machines are developing faults that are beyond repair. The man told this newspaper that he was concerned that the state of disrepair would get worse and patients had been urged by hospital staff to appeal to the authorities for help. When contacted, the spokeswoman clarified that there are 32 machines at the Renal Unit at Mater Dei Hospital. These were bought over a number of years, with the latest purchase of five machines having been made last year. The Health Ministry, she added, had committed funding for the replacement and upgrading of all 32 machines at Mater Dei as far back as the summer of 2015. To this effect, a tender was issued in September of that same year. The adjudication process, which included a demo from three shortlisted companies, was concluded in...

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EU leaders scheduled to discuss 'catastrophic' situation in Libya in Malta

The human rights situation in Libya is "catastrophic," with migrants heading for Europe bearing the brunt of abuse, the German government said.

A report Sunday by German weekly Welt am Sonntag quoted an internal Foreign Ministry memo describing how migrants face torture and execution at detention camps in Libya. The country has become a key departure point for migrants from Africa trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe. Thousands of people died last year when their rickety boats sank en route.

A separate Foreign Ministry memo obtained by The Associated Press described the camps as "terrible."

"Europe mustn't look away but try to make the living conditions bearable now," the memo said. "Our credibility is on the line here."

Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer declined Monday to confirm or deny the authenticity of the memos.

"It is of course right, though, that the human rights situation in Libya is catastrophic," Schaefer told reporters in Berlin. "It hits the weakest of the weak most, so to speak, and in this case that could be hundreds of thousands of people who are making their way from West Africa to what they regard as the promised land, Europe."

The European Union has been trying to stem the flow of migrants to Europe by encouraging the Libyan government to crack down on smugglers who have taken advantage of chaos and lawlessness since the ouster of Muammar Gadhafi six years ago. But the United Nations-backed government has little control over armed groups outside the capital, Tripoli.

"The (Libyan) state doesn't work, or only in a rudimentary fashion," Schaefer said. "That's why talks with the Libyan government about the situation, for example, of refugees, aren't very productive."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Saturday that a deal in which migrants rescued by European navies patrolling the Mediterranean might be sent back to Libya would only be possible once the country becomes politically stable.

EU leaders are scheduled to discuss the situation in Libya at a summit Friday in Malta.

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Labour and Tory 'Remoaners' accused of plotting to 'delay and dilute Brexit' as MPs vote on Article 50

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Anton Attard roped in for Church media shake-up

Former PBS chief Anton Attard appointed consultant to RTK, Fr Joe Borg entrusted with improving Church's media content

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Le Pen spurns deadline, as EU seeks return of €300,000 in misspent money

France's far-right leader Marine Le Pen has refused to repay nearly €300,000 to the European Parliament following allegations the French far-right leader misused funds, disregarding a deadline set by the body

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