Malta and international press digest

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

The Times says the government has set the shipyards privatisation process in motion. It also quotes an EU report saying Malta has registered a dramatic increase in greenhouse gas emissions. In a backpage story is says gambling arcades are in legal limbo because the law on the granting of licences still has to be updated.

The Malta Independent after leading with the shipyards story, says the EU Parliament has voted for the first time on the Return Directive, which sets limits on the custody of migrants. Although the limit is six months, that can be extended to 18 months.

l-orizzont says the dockyard is for sale and the number of workers has to be reduced. The GWU has called for consultation, not imposition.

In-Nazzjon, like the other newspapers, also leads with the dockyard privatisation and says there is foreign interest in the yard. It says early retirement schemes will be introduced. In another story it reports that the government has launched a process of consultation with each local council ahead of the reform of local government.

The Press in Britain…

The Financial Times examines the comments of the Governor of the Bank of England at his annual Mansion House speech. Mervyn King issued a very black forecast, saying it was "the most challenging period" since 1997.

The Independent covers the global food crisis and how government ministers are preparing to open the way for genetically modified crops to be grown in Britain to ease food shortages.

The Guardian says a new study will force Britain and Europe to rethink their environmental strategies.

The Daily Telegraph reports on a cancer patient who made a full recovery after being injected with billions of his own immune cells in the first case of its kind.

According to the Metro, ministers have been accused of putting cost before health in their choice of cervical cancer vaccine for girls.

The Times follows the story of the first female killed in Afghanistan on the front line, and whether the role women play in the services will now be called into question.

The Daily Mirror also looks into the life of the first woman soldier killed in Afghanistan.

The Sun describes the release of the radical preacher Abu Qatada as an insult, after four more British soldiers were killed in Afghanistan.

London Evening Standard quotes Amnesty International urging China to reveal what happened to some 1,000 unaccounted people detained during the March crackdown on demonstrations in Tibet.

And elsewhere…

European Voice focuses on today’s summit of European which is expected to be dominated by Ireland's rejection of the Treaty in last week's referendum. Irish PM Brian Cowen is expected to ask for more time to consider his country's response to the 'No' vote.

De Morgen leads with the protest by hundreds of farmers and lorry and taxi drivers who blocked roads in Brussels to push for help in coping with soaring fuel prices.

Jerusalem Post leads with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s cautious assessment of a truce with the Hamas administration of Gaza.

Mail and Guardian report South African President Thabo Mbeki have met with Zimbabwean counterpart Robert Mugabe for mediation talks ahead of next week's presidential election run-off. Mbeki was asked to mediate between Mugabe and the main by the regional Southern African Development Community.