Malta and international press digest

The following are the leading stories in the Maltese and overseas press on Friday:

The Times leads with the announcement that the government will send a delegation to Nigeria for direct contacts with the Nigerian government over the kidnapping of a Maltese oil worker. It also reports that former Health Minister Louis Deguara is ‘very hurt’ by comments by Social Policy Minister John Dalli about the scandalously long hospital waiting lists.

The Malta Independent says Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando will no longer head Malta’s parliamentary delegation to the Council of Europe. It also reports that Labour whip Joe Mizzi is to contest the 2009 European Parliament election.

l-orizzont says the GWU had no choice but to react to attacks against it made by UHM general secretary Gejtu Vella during a visit to the UHM by George Abela. It questions works being carried out on the façade of an old house in St Roque Street, Mdina, and reports that nominations opened yesterday for the MLP leadership election, but no one has submitted his nomination yet.

In-Nazzjon says the MLP Vigilance Board has been asked to investigate Michael Falzon over his reaction to the election defeat report. It is being claimed Dr Falzon was not authorized to hold a press conference but to react on the party website. He has denied the claim.

The Press in Britain...

The Guardian and The Financial Times report falling house prices and rising food and energy bills have prompted the biggest slump in consumer confidence since the last recession in 1990.

The Daily Express says families hoping to flee the nightmare of spiralling household bills by escaping on holiday now face paying increased surcharges on flights.

The Dail Mail claims that people are losing confidence in the police because the service routinely targets ordinary people rather than serious criminals. The attitude of some officers has also led to rising complaints, the paper says.

The Daily Mirror leads with the story of a mother who sent her two sons to jail after they attacked a man. She urges other parents to do the same.

The Independent reports thats a British resident who is facing the death penalty in Guantanamo Bay has made a final desperate plea to Gordon Brown to end his six-year ordeal and bring him home.

Metro reports litter wardens are on commission to fine as many people as possible at £35 a time. Officials earn no salary but can make more than £50,000 a year cracking down on ‘environmental crime’.

The Sun's front page is dominated with a story on Naomi Campbell appearing in court for an incident at Heathrow Airport.

And elsewhere...

The Washington Post reports the World Bank making $1.2 billion available to help overcome the global food crisis as higher food prices are driving people and countries into danger.

The New York Times says a UN conference in Stockholm over the situation in Iraq has ended with world leaders declaring their support for the country.

The Washington Times quotes the US Army saying suicides among active duty troops in 2007 had reached the highest level on record, due partly to the stress caused by deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. The Army announced that 115 soldiers, including 22 National Guard and Army Reserve troops, killed themselves last year. That marked a 12.7 percent rise from the 102 suicides recorded in 2006.

Tageblatt annouced that the Luxembourg Parliament has ratified the Lisbon Treaty by an overwhelming majority. It brings to 15, the number of States who have so far signed up to the treaty.

Jerusalem Post quotes Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni saying the ruling Kadima Party must prepare to replace Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as the leader remains in the focus of a corruption investigation. Livni is a top rival of Olmert and the first senior member of Kadima to call for his resignation.

Palestine Times reports South African Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu has called the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip illegal, describing the situation in the territory as "desolate and scary

Asian Tribune says Burma has adopted a new constitution. The military regime pressed ahead with a constitutional referendum earlier this month, despite international calls to delay the vote due to Cyclone Nargis, which left over 130,000 Burmese dead or missing and caused widespread chaos.

The Times of India reports that at least 39 people have been killed after a lorry ferrying 70 people to a wedding plunged into a river in southern India.

Il Tempo says a man is under investigation in Taranto, southern Italy, for allegedly “defrauding the State” after pretending to be blind for 24 years to qualify for a job reserved for the blind. The telephone switchboard operator, 45, was spotted recently driving a car and reading a newspaper.

El Pais publishes the result of a University of Navarra study which reveals that a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil, fruit, vegetables and fish provides "substantial protection" against diabetes