Malta and international press digest

The following are the leading stories in Maltese and foreign newspapers.

The Times, like the other newspapers, leads with the announcement of the election date and comments by the party leaders. The newspaper leads with the heading: The race is on, and carries a front page picture of the Prime Minister as he emerged from the Palace after asking the President to dissolve Parliament.

The Malta Independent reports a speech by Dr Gonzi after announcing the election date under the heading PM shows the way forward. It also says that the MLP welcomed the date "which will lead to change.

l-orizzont says a new Labour government would stay close to the people, quoting remarks by Labour leader Alfred Sant.

In-Nazzjon says "the targets have been achieved", which was what Dr Gonzi said at a press conference at the Auberge de Castille. It also reports on the signing of the agreement with CMA CGM which lead to an expansion of the Freeport, creating 500 new jobs.

The Press in Britain

Under the heading "The World's Rubbish Dump", The Independent says that in the Pacific Ocean, a ‘plastic soup' has engulfed an area twice the size of the US... and is to double in the next 10 years.

The Daily Mail says Muslim Labour MP Sadiq Khan, who is at the centre of police bugging claims, has been spied on by officers for years.

The Times claims to have uncovered the illegal use of bugging devices to record conversations between a prison inmate and his solicitor.

The Daily Telegraph quotes the Duke of York saying the US administration should have learned more from Britain's experiences to avoid the problems regarding the Iraq war. In an interview with the International Herald Tribune, the prince said the consequences of the war had led to a "healthy scepticism" towards what is said in Washington.

The Guardian says new Government proposals will force up to a million people in social housing to actively seek work.

The Metro tells how five men who helped the July 21 bombers after their failed suicide attacks in London have been jailed for a total of 56 years.

The Daily Mirror alleges that Sir Paul McCartney and his estranged wife Heather Mills are to confront each other in a divorce court showdown next week.

The Scotsman carries a story about asylum seekers in Scotland and how every week, 50 families are told they can stay.

The Daily Express says almost half a million low-income pensioners are to be hit by new tax demands.

The Sun concentrates on the racist abuse handed out to F1 star Lewis Hamilton by Spanish fans.

The Star reports on rules imposed by new England boss Fabio Capello ahead of the match against Switzerland tomorrow.

The Evening News says the Bishop of London and the Bishop of Liverpool have called on Britons to forgo the usual ban on chocolate and instead vow to cut emissions for Lent. They suggest the faithful remove a light bulb from a prominent place at home and live without it for the whole of Lent.

And elsewhere

Il Tempo leads with the failure of Italian Senate Speaker Franco Marini to form a caretaker coalition government, paving the way for early elections favoured by opposition leader Silvio Berlusconi, who hopes to return to the office of prime minister. Centre-left coalition leader Romano Prodi resigned on January 24 after losing a confidence vote in parliament following defections.

European Voice says the 27 EU member states have given their go-ahead to plans for the sending of an 1,800-strong mission to Kosovo. The mission, mostly police and justice officials, will replace the current UN mission and is aimed at easing Kosovo's transition to independence from Serbia. Most EU nations, and the United States, are ready to recognise Kosovo when it declares independence, despite strong opposition from Serbia and its ally Russia.

USA Today reports the four main candidates hoping to be the next US president are jostling for support ahead of "Super Tuesday". Voting takes place later today in primaries in 24 states, which could go a long way to deciding who will gain both the Democrat and Republican nominations. The Democrat race between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton remains tight, and Republican Mitt Romney is battling to make up ground behind John McCain.

Meanwhile, The Washington Post says President Bush has proposed a 3.1 trillion dollar budget for the 2009 fiscal year, starting in October. The budget would boost spending on the military and the Iraq war, widen the federal deficit, and trim welfare for America's poor.

El Espectador reports that demonstrations have been staged by hundreds of thousands of Colombians to protest against the FARC Marxist guerrilla movement, accused of drug trafficking and holding some 750 people hostage. Rallies took place in some 50 Colombian cities and over one hundred other cities around the globe. FARC is classified as a terrorist organisation by the United States, the European Union and the Colombian government.

L'Osservatore Romano publishes new statistics revealing that between 2005 and 2006 the number of "members of the consecrated life" fell by over 10 per cent to just under a million. The downward trend accelerated despite a steady increase in the membership of the Catholic Church to more than 1.1bn. During the pontificate of the late Pope John Paul II, the number of Catholic nuns worldwide declined by a quarter.

The Lancet reports the results of a new study that underlines there is no link between the controversial MMR jab and autism. Fears over an association between the two in the late 1990s led to a drop in the number of children having the jab for mumps, measles and rubella. Previous research found high levels of measles antibodies in autism sufferers, but the new study involving the Health Protection Agency contradicts that.

The Sutton Borough Guardian reports a mother who discovered she had cancer while pregnant was saved by her unborn twin girls whose constant kicking dislodged the tumour. Michelle Stepney, 35, is now being recognised for her courageous decision to continue with the pregnancy despite being advised against it. It was only when she was taken to hospital with a suspected miscarriage that doctors diagnosed her with cervical cancer.