Malta and international press digest

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

The pending choice of the leader of the Malta Labour Party, following Dr Alfred Sant's irrevocable resignation, leads today's front pages.

The Times says that the proposal to have all registered members rather than just delegates choosing the new leader did not receive much support at Tuesday's meeting of the MLP's parliamentary group and national executive, even though the idea was not discarded completely. Acting leader Charles Mangion informed colleagues he would not be contesting for any post.

The Malta Independent says that after the six-hour meeting, MLP officials and MPs were tight-lipped about proceedings. It quotes an official party statement issued yesterday paying ribute to Dr Sant.

In-Nazzjon claims that the meeting was characterised by different positions adopted by the attendees. However, the newspaper leads with the news that tourism to Gozo last year increased by 19 percent

l-orizzont leads with Charles Mangion's revelation that he will not be contesting for the leadership or the deputy leadership of the party.

The Malta Business Weekly quotes newly-appointed Minister for Finance Tonio Fenech saying he will continue building upon past achievements and work for the country to become a centre of excellence in those areas that have most economic value and potential to create jobs and generate wealth.

The Press in Britain...

The Daily Mail leads on the hunt for the traders who spread rumours about the Halifax bank in an attempt to bring it down and make a fortune.

The Daily Telegraph says the traders may have made £100m in a "modern day bank robbery" after attacking the share price of the country's biggest mortgage lender.

The Times says the Financial Services Authority is investigating whether the traders spread rumors about British financial institutions to benefit from their falling share prices and is poised to take action in the City. It also carries a picture of a Gurkha, one of a group who handed over his medals in a pension protest.

The Daily Express leads on the plight of Gurkhas living in the UK.

The Sun warns about a "child sex beast" due to land in Britain after being sent back to the UK by Australia. It claims that during his 56-year-stay down under, the an has collected over 20 child-sex convictions.

The Daily Mirror reports Sir Paul McCartney has vowed to stay friends with Heather Mills after their bitter divorce battle... for their daughter's sake.

The Daily Star claims contestants in this summer's Big Brother will have to parade around naked.

The Guardian looks at Iraq five years after the US-led war began... quoting President Bush saying that the battle in Iraq is "noble, necessary and just" and an Iraqi giving his side of the story: "We live in a nightmare. Death and carnage is everywhere."

The Independent reveals how the blurring of the seasons heralds a climate catastrophe.

Metro also turn its sights to Iraq, saying not all agree with President Bush's contention that he is winning. But the paper's lead story warns that Britain could suffer a worse economic downturn than the US.

The London Evening Standard reported that Kate and Gerry McCann have accepted £550,000 libel damages from Express Newspapers over allegations that they were responsible for the death of their daughter Madeleine. The group admitted the "utter falsity" of the articles.

And elsewhere...

The Paris-based International Herald Tribune quotes the House of Commons Defence Committee's warning that the US commitment to NATO is in danger of being undermined by the reluctance of European allies to risk troops fighting in Afghanistan. MPs said there was a lack of "political will" among EU governments to confront the problems facing the alliance and the difficulties were exacerbated by the fraught relations between NATO and the European Union which are "plagued by mistrust".

Al Jazeera reports that Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has released a new audio message threatened the European Union with "grave punishment" over the re-publication of a set of infamous cartoons depicting Islam's Prophet Mohammad. Bin Laden said the drawings were part of a "new crusade" in which, he said, Pope Benedict has played a "large and lengthy role". The message was timed to coincide with the beginning of the US-led war against the regime of Iraq's Saddam Hussein. Five years ago the first US cruise missile was fired on Baghdad before dawn on March 20, 2003.

Meanwhile, Washington Post quotes President Bush defending his decision to go to war. In a speech to senior military brass at the Pentagon, Bush said that removing the regime of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was the right move. The US president, who is to leave office next January, admitted that the war in Iraq had come at a high cost, but he argued that it was essential to win in order to stop the al-Qaeda terror network and contain Iran.

As tensions continue between China and Tibet, South China Morning Post quotes Chinese authorities say they are "seriously concerned" by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's plan to meet the Dalai Lama in May.

Meanwhile, Lhasa Evening News reports Chinese authorities have tightened their grip over Tibetan areas of the country sending armed police into towns and villages to combate demonstrations.

Under the headling "Pension Strikes Strangle Nation", Athens News reports that millions of Greek workers have demonstrated in Athens and Thessaloniki in protest against a controversial pension reform. The one-day stoppage grounded flights, confined ships to port and closed schools, ministries and banks.

Moscow's English electronic newspaper, Gazeta reports Russian police have visited the Moscow offices of BP and its joint venture TNK-BP. Observers say the move is likely to spark concerns that it could be part of a state-orchestrated campaign to obtain lucrative energy assets. It also comes at a time when UK-Russia relations are at a low, following a diplomatic spat over Britain's demand for the extradition of Andrei Lugovoi, Russian politician and businessman wanted in connection with the murder of Alexander Litvinenko.

The Daily Telegraph quotes Lloyd's of London insurance market saying a French wine maker has insured his nose for £3.9 million. The policy was created for Ilja Gort, the Dutch owner of Chateau de la Garde in Bordeaux, to cover the loss of his nose and sense of smell. Mr Gort, who produces Tulipe Wines, said his nose was his most important asset because "while the tongue has only five areas of taste, the nose can distinguish millions of different scents". Jonathan Thomas, lead underwriter at Watkins Syndicate who co-insured the policy with Allianz Nederland, said, "The nose and sense of smell of a winemaker are as important as the fingers of a chef."