Malta and international press digest

The following are the leading stories in the Maltese and foreign press today:

The Times says that a European Court decision on spring hunting is likely after the election. It also reports the resignation of the Mepa Development Control Commission A after drawing strong criticism from the Mepa auditor over a permit issued for a new supermarket at Safi.

L-orizzont reports on the woman killed in San Gwann on Tuesday, saying her 15-year-old daughter and a mini-bus driver could be involved in the case. It also says that a document published by Alfred Sant is confirmation that the PN government planned payment for health services.

In-Nazzjon says that under a PN government, health services will remain free of charge. It also reports that Dr Gonzi promised further incentives for Gozitans to continue working in Gozo and that the PN vision to create 5,000 jobs per year has been welcomed.

The Malta Independent says Malta’s record employment growth defies conventional wisdom. It also carries on its front page a denial by Dr Gonzi of plans for the introduction of health charges.

Three London newspapers highlight the "significant" earthquake which shook Britain in the early hours of Wednesday, causing damage likely to cost insurers £10m.

"Quaking all over" reads headline on the Daily Mirror's front-page: 40 million people could feel the earth move (if they were awake). The epicentre of the 5.2-magnitude tremor was in Lincolnshire, but people from across England felt buildings shaking shortly before 1am.

The Sun reports how Britain rocked to the biggest earthquake for more than 20 years when a 5.4 quake hit North Wales. A man from Barnsley was injured after a chimney fell into his bedroom.

Under the heading "The night the earth moved for millions", the Daily Express carries a picture of damage done by the earthquake to an attic room but then leads with a story claiming Gordon Brown is set to rake in £4.5bn on the back of soaring oil costs.

The London Evening News says police are investigating the discovery of a confidential Home Office CD left on a laptop purchased from internet auction site e-Bay.

The Financial Times leads with the dollar's fall to a fresh record low against the euro as Ben Bernanke signalled the Federal Reserve was likely to cut interest rates again next month.

The Times claims a Conservative administration would increase health spending by up to an extra £28bn a year.

The Daily Telegraph reports that a third of Gordon Brown's Cabinet is campaigning against Government plans to axe post offices in their own constituencies. It also pictures a protester on the roof of the House of Commons in a demonstration over expansion at Heathrow Airport.

Metro also pictures one of the five protesters who were arrested after breaching security at Westminster.

The Independent says annual sales of battery chickens plummeted by 10 million after a campaign to highlight how they are reared.

The Daily Mail claims victory: Retailer Marks and Spencer is to charge food customers 5p for every plastic carrier bag they use, supporting the newspaper's campaign to banish plastic shopping bags in a move to fight "plastic poison".

The Daily Star quotes Britney Spears' Birmingham-born lover saying she is pregnant again.

The Scotsman has learned that a new cross-border body is to be created to settle disputes between Westminster and Holyrood, the Scottish parliament.

The Lancet quotes the results of research which shows an eye disease which destroys a region of the retina leading to progressive loss of sight, more than doubles the risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke.

And elsewhere...

L'Echo reports the European Commission is proposing talks with Libya to improve the bloc's economic and political relations with the African nation. Brussels hopes to complete an agreement by the end of 2008. In a drive to improve ties to key energy suppliers, the Commission is proposing to set up a negotiating mandate, including a free trade deal and an agreement on controlling illegal migration with Libya. External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said Libya was an important player in the Mediterranean region and in Africa.

The New York Times quotes President Bush and Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek saying they were close to reaching an agreement on an anti-missile radar facility near Prague. Topolanek said the only hold-up was related to the facility's adherence to Czech environmental guidelines. The US hopes to deploy the missile defence radar in the Czech Republic and 10 interceptor missiles in Poland by 2012.

Al-Quds al-Arabi says the Israeli air force has launched air strikes on Hamas government buildings in the Gaza Strip, including the offices of Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. One baby died and more than 30 other people were injured in the attacks. Earlier, Palestinian militants launched 50 rockets on southern Israeli towns, killing one Israeli in the city of Sderot.

Berliner Zeitung quotes Prince Albert of Monaco telling German Chancellor Angela Merkel that he was prepared to cooperate with German authorities in a widening tax probe. The promise came after talks in Berlin during which Merkel called on Monaco to abide by international principles on taxation. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development has singled out Monaco, Liechtenstein, and Andorra as "uncooperative tax havens".

Die Welt reports Germany's highest court has approved the use of spy software in terrorism investigations, but only under strict guidelines. The Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe ruled that tracking information on suspects' personal computers was constitutional where human lives or government assets were at risk.

Amsterdam's De Telegraaf says that Dutch and Belgian police are arguing over who will lead a murder hunt after a corpse was found in a house which stands on both sides of the Holland-Belgium border in the Baarle-Hertog region. Belgian prosecutors had begun investigating but Dutch cops say the corpse was in the side of the house over the Dutch border when it was found. Officials from both forces have now said they may have to find the woman's next of kin before deciding who will investigate her death.