Malta and international press digest

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

The Times says hopes of finding Theo Bugeja, 11, still missing at sea, are getting remote.

The Malta Independent says 123 illegal migrants arrived in Malta in 24 hours.

l-orizzont leads with the story of five Maltese orphans in New South Wales, Australia, who are winning the hearts of people in the city where they live.

In-Nazzjon says a number of companies are showing an interest in the privatisation of Malta Shipyards. A call for expressions of interest will be made on August 11.

The Press in Britain…

The Independent quotes a poll showing the public believes David Cameron and the Conservative Party are ready to govern Britain.

The Daily Telegraph says dozens of senior Labour MPs are poised to write to the Cabinet urging it to force a leadership contest that could topple Gordon Brown.

According to The Times says Gordon Brown has caved in to unions, allowing a series of concessions - including an extension of the minimum wage - in a move that sent shudders through the business community.

The Daily Mail says millions more parents will get the right to take time off work in family emergencies, under a government deal with the trade unions.

Metro claims shoppers are unwittingly eating cereal prod­ucts grown in Britain using human sewage. Sainsbury's admitted that some of its crops use the fertiliser, which is cheaper than the animal-based variety.

The Guardian says the drinks industry has torn up a voluntary code banning aggressive happy hour deals and other irresponsible drinks promotions in more than half of the UK's 57,000 pubs.

The Express quotes a study predicting house prices will soar by nearly a quarter over the next five years, bringing the average value of a home to £275,000 by 2013.

Daily Star tells how former Rangers ace Paul Gascoigne has been put on trial - by ex-wife Sheryl. She apparently told him she will make it worth his while if he stays sober.

The Sun claims a sick game on Facebook has been blasted for encouraging kids to stab each other.

The Daily Mirror says millions of passengers flying from British airports will be fingerprinted from next year.

And elsewhere…

Aksam says at least 15 people have been killed and more than 150 others have been injured in Istanbul in two consecutive explosions within ten minutes of each other.

Kyiv Post reports severe storms and floods in Ukraine have killed 13 people, including five children, and left at least two missing.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has urged Beijing to do more to ensure the rights of its minorities, human rights and fundamental freedoms. Writing in the daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Steinmeier said Beijing's hosting of next month's Olympics would see "a big opening up of China" and the country must "respond to its growing responsibility".

Abrar reports Iran has hanged 29 prisoners convicted of murder, rape, drug trafficking and other crimes

Al Ayyam leads with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemnation of the fresh outbreak of violence in Gaza over the weekend. He also called for an independent inquiry into Friday's bomb blast that sparked new tensions between Fatah and Hamas.

Anis Daily reports that 70 insurgents were killed by the NATO-led coalition force in Afghanistan when helicopter gunships and ground forces repulsed an attack by Taliban forces near the Pakistani border.

The New England Journal of Medicine says commonly-used blood pressure drugs could prove to be powerful new weapons against Alzheimer's.

The People’s Daily reports four panda cubs have been born at a breeding centre in south-west China, a mini baby boom for the rare animals.

Variety says “The Dark Knight” continued its record-breaking domination of the box office at the weekend, pulling in another $75 million to take its 10-day US takings to $314 million.