Newsround: what Wednesday's papers say

The top stories in Wednesday's newspapers:

THE IRISH TIMES

- The paper reports that the government's approach to Brexit will pivot towards economic issues in the coming weeks as the EU and the UK prepare for formal negotiations to begin in June. Economic and trade issues and the threat posed to many businesses by Brexit will become more central to Ireland's contributions to the preparations.

- US President Donald Trump is likely to hold his first meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin in July, the Kremlin said yesterday. Trump and Putin spoke yesterday, the first time they had talked since last month's US missile strikes on Syria.

- Developer Johnny Ronan is lodging plans to build the tallest building in Dublin on a site adjoining Tara Street railway station, topped by a restaurant and bar with panoramic views over the city, the paper says. The proposed tower would rise to a height of 88 metres compared to 59 metres for Liberty Hall.

- In its business section, the paper reports that the Central Bank has started to examine whether mortgage lenders mishandled some borrowers who have availed of the most popular form of debt restructuring on offer for distressed home loans.

FINANCIAL TIMES

- The EU has raised Britain's Brexit bill to an upfront gross payment of up to €100 billion after EU negotiators revised their initial calculations to maximise the liabilities Britain is asked to cover, including post-Brexit farm payments and EU administration fees in 2019 and 2020.

- Alitalia was forced into administration proceedings yesterday, marking the collapse of Italy's flag carrier and a significant setback for Etihad, the UAE-based airline that rescued it from near bankruptcy just three years ago.

- An excruciating and error-strewn interview with one of the UK Labour party's most senior politicians yesterday derailed an attempt by the party to paint itself as a competent steward of Britain's public services. Diane Abbot, shadow home secretary, fumbled during an appearance on LBC radio to promote a pledge on funding a further 10,000 police officers.

- US President Donald Trump said the federal government needs a "good shutdown" this autumn to fix what he called a "mess" in the wake of a congressional deal that ignored significant elements of his budget requests.

IRISH INDEPENDENT

- The HSE is sending independent auditors into St. Vincent's public hospital to probe the extent of its doctor's private practice amid suspicion that many of its public consultants are working in the adjacent private hospital when they have no right to do so under their contracts.

- Public servants face paying far more in pension contributions if unions insist the final value of their retirement packages must be untouched in pay talks on a new deal to extend the Lansdowne Road agreement. The government is adamant that pension reform is needed and there is a growing acknowledgement behind the scenes that public sector workers must contribute more.

- Garda management is now using satellite technology to keep tabs on rank and file officers dispatched to carry out checkpoints. Officers up the rank of superintendent have been ordered to use data from Garda patrol cars and even walkie-talkie sets to determine whether roadside operations have actually taken place.

- Businessman Denis O'Brien must pay the full costs, estimated to be in the region of €1 million, of his failed High Court action over comments made by two TDs about his banking affairs.

IRISH EXAMINER

- The government is to crack down on employers' exploitation of low-paid workers through zero-hour, low-hour and banded hours contracts. Legislation drawn up by the Jobs Department will all but eradicate zero-hours contracts, the paper says.

- It also reports that the government is to overhaul its own alternative mortgage scheme for people turned down by conventional lenders after it emerged no mortgage was provided in 2015 and just three have been issued under the scheme since 2012.

- Taoiseach Enda Kenny has promised "complete clinical independence" in the running of the new National Maternity Hospital as the government continues to be pressured over the decision to grant the Sisters of Charity ownership of the hospital.

- In its business section, the paper reports that terrorist incidents have taken their toll on traditional Irish holidaymaker destinations such as Disneyland in Paris and Kusadasi in Turkey, the boss of the Irish Travel Agents' Association has said.