Malta and international press digest

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

The Times says the President is likely to appoint Charles Mangion as temporary leader of the opposition as Alfred Sant steps down this evening. It also reports that Jean Pierre Debono, acting information secretary of the PN, has been named as potential general secretary of the PN.

The Malta Independent leads with a preview of the MLP leadership election and the resignation of MEPA chairman Andrew Calleja.

In-Nazzjon says the MLP had not let George Abela contest for the European Parliament election. It also reports on the MEPA reform proposals prepared by the MEPA board.

l-orizzont says a computer subsidy scheme for households was closed by the government, but has now been extended to the end of the Trade Fair.

The Press in Britain...

The Times focuses on Barack Obama's speech to the American-Israeli lobby, and his promise to use "all elements of American power" to eliminate Iran’s nuclear threat.

The Sun draws a comparison between Barack Obama and Martin Luther King.

The Guardian's front page reports that Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama is gearing up for a tough face-to-face confrontation with his defeated rival Hillary Clinton over her increasing demand to become the vice-presidential candidate.

The Independent reveals that there is a secret plan to keep Iraq under US control. The report says President George W Bush wants 50 military bases, control of Iraqi airspace and legal immunity for all American soldiers and contractors.

The Scotsman leads with a report about a major expansion in offshore wind power, with 11 new sites identified around the UK, including two off the Scottish coast.

The Daily Telegraph leads with the findings of an OECD report that found Britain was uniquely vulnerable to the deepest economic slump since the recession of the 1990s because the Government has left itself no room to cut taxes.

The Daily Express reports that Britain's motorists are facing further misery, with a strike by fuel tanker drivers set to shut more than 1,000 petrol forecourts.

According to the Daily Mail, local authorities used controversial anti-terror powers to delve into the phone and email records of thousands of people last year,.

The Financial Times reports that the chief of BP's Russian oil venture was summoned for questioning by the interior ministry as part of a criminal investigation into possible tax evasion.

The Daily Mirror says Paul Gascoigne’s ex-wife Sheryl is at his side, helping him begin the long battle to overcome his booze-fuelled mental health problems.

And elsewhere...

Rome’s Il Tempo reports delegates to the UN food summit in Rome have been working late into the night to forge a compromise on a strategy to combat a crisis that is increasing hunger worldwide.

De Standaard says Belgian police have clashed with hundreds of fishermen from France, Italy, Spain and Portugal who besieged the EU headquarters in Brussels for several hours. They hurled flares and rocks at police in riot gear, who responded with water cannon and baton charges.

Berliner Zeitung reports a leading German supermarket chain will increase the price of milk by 10 cents per litre beginning on Monday. A spokesman for the discount retailer Lidl said the price rise was meant to be passed along to dairy farmers, who have been protesting for the past week to back up their demands for an increase in the price dairies pay them for their milk.

Berliner Morgenpost says the German cabinet has approved legislation that would give federal police more powers to spy on suspected terrorists.

European Voice says an alert has been issued to all EU countries after a water leak at a nuclear power plant in Slovenia led to it being shut down. The head of Slovenia's nuclear safety administration said there was no danger for the population or the environment.

Zimbabwe Independent reports Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has been freed after being stopped by police at a roadblock and detained for eight hours.

L’Equipe reports the International Olympic Committee has picked four finalists in the bidding for the 2016 Summer Olympics: Chicago, Tokyo, Madrid, and Rio de Janeiro. The winner will be announced at a meeting in Copenhagen in October of next year.