Malta and international press digest

The following are the top stories in the Maltese and international press today:

The Times says the nurses' union has called off industrial action on non-payment of a nursing premium, planned for today, after an agreement with the government. The newspaper also reports that the French Prime Minister is expected to visit Malta next month. French officials were in Malta last week on a preparatory visit which included a routine inspection of medical facilities at Mater Dei Hospital.

The Malta Independent reports the new president of the KSU saying there is a need for more focus on quality education and for new University students to have a clear vision of what they wish to achieve.

In-Nazzjon says the sale of Malta holidays on the website Expedia has doubled in the first three months of this year. Like the other newspapers, it carries a picture of the Pope praying at Ground Zero in New York yesterday.

l-orizzont leads with measures being taken to reduce light pollution. It says Clyde Joe Cassar of Birkirkara is showing an interest in being a candidate for deputy leader (party affairs) of the MLP. It also reports that according to the UK newspaper The Observer, Malta was used at least once in the trafficking of equipment to Iran which could be used for guided missiles.

The Press in Britain...

The Daily Mirror is one of three dailies that report on their front pages that former deputy prime minister John Prescott reveals in his autobiography that he used to suffer from Bulimia. The 69-year-old used to gorge vast quantities of condensed milk, digestive biscuits, trifles and junk food - often after attending lavish five-course state banquets - before making himself sick.

The Daily Mail reports a major breakthrough by British scientists could bring new hope for women facing the heartbreak of infertility after cancer treatment, .

The Daily Express says families are facing another crippling hike in energy prices, with bills set to soar by £250 for every household.

The Guardian says figures suggest that more than 1,000 schools in England and Wales could be closed and most will have to send some children home when teachers take the first national strike action in 21 years on Thursday.

The Daily Telegraph says Chancellor Alistair Darling will unveil an unprecedented scheme to offer £50bn in taxpayer-backed loans to high street mortgage lenders in an attempt to solve the credit crisis.

London's Metro says councils are using anti-terrorism surveillance laws to spy on children trying to buy alcohol.

London Evening Standard reports police have smashed an internet prostitution ring involving people trafficking. Fifteen people were arrested as more than 100 officers swooped on a number of premises across central London. Police said they had removed 30 women from a number of premises who they believe had been coerced into working as prostitutes for the network.

And elsewhere...

New York Daily News carries a picture of a smiling and satisfied Pope Benedict XVI bidding farewell to US vice-president Dick Cheney as he left New York saying "Good Bless America". Before boarding, the Pope thanked all Americans for "the unforgettable" six-day visit, adding he will always cherish his visit to Ground Zero and pray for all those that are still suffering as a consequence of this tragedy". The 9/11 terrorist attack in 2001 killed nearly 3,000 people. Earlier the Pope said Mass at New York's Yankee Stadium.

Accra's Daily Graphic leads with the warning by UN Secretary Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that the global surge in food prices could undermine UN efforts to halve world poverty by 2015. Opening a UN trade and development conference in Ghana, Ban said this could destabilize poorer nations.

Addis Tribune reports the 53-nation African Union has urged Zimbabwe to release immediately results of its disputed presidential and parliamentary elections held three weeks ago. This follows mounting international pressure on African leaders to intervene. However, Harare's The Chronicle quotes Zimbabwe's electoral commission saying a recount for elections in 23 of 210 constituencies will take longer than the three days expected.

Ultima Hora says exit polls in Paraguay's presidential elections suggest that opposition candidate and former bishop Fernando Lugo has gained a narrow victory

Bahrain Tribune reports on the unannounced visit to Baghdad by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice saying that political leaders of Iraq's Shi'ites, Sunnis and Kurds are closer than ever before to improving security

New Strait Times leads with the arrival in Kuala Lumpur of the Olympic flame and with the warning by its security chief of tough police action if attempts are made to disrupt the torch's relay through the Malaysian capital later today. The flame will then be flown to Indonesia. Nepal, meanwhile, has said it will use military force if necessary to prevent exiled Tibetans from disrupting a relay segment due next month to Mount Everest.

China's Life New Daily reports that children at an elementary school in Kunming city have each been given a pet egg to encourage them to play less boisterously because too many youngsters were getting hurt through playing rough games at playtime.