Part of Team Malta

Iaccepted wholeheartedly Lawrence Gonzi's invitation to pay a courtesy call at the Nationalist Party's headquarters. We met briefly and discussed a number of subjects. I stated my commitment in favour of a new political season in our country: One where the opposition would be willing to work in tandem with the government on issues of national interest while holding its ground and taking a clear stand when in disagreement.

The government and the opposition have two clearly distinct roles but are essentially part of the same team: Team Malta. Labour wants the country to move forward and we will work for this to happen even during our stint in opposition.

We are willing to work together with the government on crucial issues.

In fact, we already offered our collaboration in a national effort to help retain the STMicroelectronics plant in Malta. If something happens in Kirkop, it would not be a defeat for the government. It would be a defeat for the country as a whole.

Since being elected leader of our party on June 6, I have been dedicating most of my time to meeting people and hearing what they have to say about the future of the Labour Party and of the country.

I could sense the will to change the way Labour thinks, feels and interacts with society. There is huge potential that can be unleashed to help bring about these changes.

I am convinced that there is the necessary goodwill to really open a new political season for Labour. The country can only benefit from such a development.

Two other progressive parties in Europe have just elected their leaders.

The Finnish Social Democrats have chosen Jutta Urpilainen to lead the party. Jutta is 32 years old.

Grzegorz Napieralski, who is 34 years old, is the new leader of the Democratic Left Alliance in Poland.

In a message sent to the three of us, the president of the Party of European Socialists, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, said that this is a "very positive signal to Europe's citizens".

The European Commission has scored a victory on behalf of consumers and small business as MasterCard decided to cut its charges for cross-border transactions.

Last December, the Commission had given the company six months to come up with an alternative structure.

Despite disagreeing with the decision and even taking the case to court, MasterCard has decided to comply and drop the charges, at least temporarily.

Observing the Chicago Board of Trade is as interesting as tracing the oil prices.

This index serves as one of the main global indicators on food prices.

Following floods in the American Midwest, the price of corn has steadily climbed into record territory.

The immediate effect of the rising prices is that livestock owners are slaughtering more cattle to cope with the increase in prices of corn-based animal feed. At the same time, biofuel producers who use corn as their main feedstock are also feeling the brunt.

The prospect of Barack Obama being elected as US President is a source of hope not only for Americans but also for Europeans and Africans.

According to the Pew Global Attitudes survey, which is conducted in 24 countries across the globe, people in Europe and Africa are looking forward to the Democrat nominee winning the Presidential contest. They think that if Mr Obama makes it to the Oval Office, US foreign policy will change for the better. This would have a positive effect on the world.

The survey of 24,000 people shows an improvement in the public perception of the US across the globe.

A note of thanks to all those who have sent me letters and e-mails during the past few days. I hope that I will soon be able to reply personally.

Dr Muscat is leader of the Malta Labour Party and a member of the European Parliament.

www.josephmuscat.com