Malta and international press digest

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

The Times leads with the new fuel prices which come into force today. It also reports that a study among adolescents found that ‘children are heavy drinkers, but not drunks’. It also reports how Joe Debono Grech is back in the Labour Party fold.

In-Nazzjon carries a picture of the open day held yesterday at PN headquarters. Its main story features planned investment of €131 million in tourist accommodation over the next three years. It also reports that Mcast is reaching high level of training and students can attain international certification on aircraft maintenance.

l-orizzont reports the traffic accident which left a motorcyclist dead yesterday morning. It also reports that meat prices are expected to rise as a consequence of high feed prices.

The Malta Independent carries a picture of celebrating Spanish fans after they beat Italy in the European championship. It also reports how Joe Debono Grech has returned to the MLP and the Cirkewwa traffic accident.

The Press in Britain…

Many of today's front pages focus on Zimbabwe and the decision by the country's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to pull out of the country's presidential election run-off.

The Guardian says Mr Tsvangirai made the decision because he did not want people to die by voting for him.

The Metro reports that Mr Tsvangirai felt it was 'impossible' to have a fair election.

The Times reports the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change called on the world to intervene to halt Mr Mugabe's dictatorship.

The Daily Telegraph reports on a study that suggests middle-class families are suffering a drop in living standards as the economy slows down.

The Daily Express says food prices are rising faster than feared, meaning hard-pressed Britons are finding it harder to feed their families.

The Daily Mirror claims the cost of living in the UK has gone up by 11.6 percent, with food registering the highest increase at 14 percent.

The Financial Times says inflation may increase as a result of pay deals being agreed by scores of private sector companies.

The Daily Mail leads on claims underage girls may go online to buy the Pill without first having the appropriate health checks.

Paul Gascoigne's struggle with mental health problems and alcoholism features on the front page of The Sun, which says the former England star is receiving help from his ex-wife, Sheryl.

The Lancet quotes Diabetes UK saying more than 3,300 children in England were admitted into accident and emergency departments for diabetes between April 2006 and March 2007. The UK has the highest levels of Type-1 diabetes in children in Europe.

And elsewhere…

The international community has had harsh words for Zimbabwe following Morgan Tsvangirai's decision to withdraw from the June 27 run-off vote. The New York Times says UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has accused the country’s government of preventing free and fair elections and called for an end to "violence and intimidation".

International Herald Tribunes quotes the European Union's Slovenian presidency saying it deeply deplores the circumstances that led to Mr Tsvangirai's decision. British officials spoke of electoral terrorism and US officials have called the Mugabe government criminal.

Manila Times reports that more than 800 people, including many children, are still missing and are feared dead after a passenger ferry sank in the central Philippines. According to local officials, 28 survivors have been recovered.

Al-Ahali says a female suicide bomber has struck near a government compound north-east of Baghdad, killing at least 15 people and wounding 40 others.

Jeddah’s Al-Itidal reports that the world's top energy policymakers have called for greater transparency and regulation in dealings in oil and more investment in production.

Weekly Trust says Nigeria's main militant group has declared a unilateral ceasefire as of midnight on Tuesday and would launch no more attacks. The group has been behind crippling attacks on Nigeria's oil infrastructure over the last two years.

Ha’aretz quotes the Israeli anti-torture watchdog saying Israeli soldiers routinely abuse bound Palestinian detainees and it accused the military of "absolute indifference" towards such mistreatment

The German news magazine Der Spiegel reports Damascus and Pyongyang helped Iran with its atomic programme at a suspected nuclear site in Syria that Israel destroyed last September.

Le Parisien reports illegal immigrants have been evacuated from a detention centre in Paris after a fire burned the building. Meanwhile, Morocco’s Le Matin says dozens of African immigrants rushed a border with the Spanish enclave of Melilla, clashing with security forces that pushed them back.

Jordan Times says officials have turned over nearly 2,500 stolen Iraqi artifacts in the latest effort to recover the war-torn nation's stolen heritage.

According to Le Republicain, four French nationals employed by nuclear manufacturer Areva in Niger have been abducted by rebels.

Boston Herald says USA Democrat Barack Obama has criticised Republican John McCain for opposing spending on flood prevention programmes in the flood-ravaged Midwest.

Brazilian news magazine Veja has reported that football legend Pele has been held at gunpoint by a gang of youths in Brazil who robbed of his gold necklace, mobile phone and a watch. The robbery took place on June 13 but was not made public until now.