Malta and international press digest

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

The Times says a spillage of aviation fuel at the Enemalta Wied Dalam plant was kept secret for a week. Two workers have been suspended and a manager has been ordered out on forced leave. In another story, it says a Dutch prisoner has claimed he is suffering inhumane conditions at the prisons.

The Malta Independent says that energy and the environment are among the Maltese people’s top concerns, according to an EU study.

In-Nazzjon reports that the disclosure that James Piscopo will be the CEO of the Labour Party has caused some displeasure within the ranks of the Labour Party. It also reports that there were no Maltese among the victims of the Madrid air crash.

l-orizzont says the latest NSO figures show that local price rises are not all the result of imported inflation. It also reports that Airest Ltd had granted sole recognition to the GWU as the union representative of the employees.

The Press in Britain…

The Independent reports statistics which show that for the first time the 11.58 million pensioners in Britain have superseded the under-16's by 60,000 – and this could trigger a "population timebomb".

The Daily Telegraph also leads with what it calls the rise of 'grey Britain' and the knock-on effects for the NHS and caring costs.

Examining newly-released immigration figures, The Daily Express says 1,650 new migrants "invade" the UK every day.

The Daily Mail leads on the story of another government data loss: confidential information on every prisoner in the country and more than 40,000 serious criminals.

The Guardian focuses on the role of Britain's security services in cases of interrogation and alleged war crimes including torture.

Metro claims a million fewer people are being treated by NHS dentists since the government overhauled services two years ago.

The Sun reports on a teenager plunging to his death after fleeing from a gang of youths.

The Times says Olympic officials are investigating claims that the Chinese gold-medal winning gymnast He Kexin was too young to compete in Beijing games.

Daily Star reports that the nose of the British Airways Boeing 747 due to bring the British team back from the Olympics in Beijing is being repainted gold after the team's medal-winning efforts.

And elsewhere…

Al Jazeera reports that two suicide bombers have killed 59 people at an arms factory near the Pakistani capital Islamabad. The Taliban claimed responsibility.

Moscow Times quotes Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov repeating Russia’s pledge to complete a withdrawal of all of its forces from Georgian territory to the breakaway region of South Ossetia by today.

The International Herald Tribune says ceremonies have been held all over the Czech Republic and Slovakia to mark the 40th anniversary of the Soviet invasion of what was then Czechoslovakia.

El Mundo reports that much of Spain yesterday fell silent for one minute to remember the 153 victims of Spanish plane crash as the country started observing three days of mourning.

Shabelle News says pirates have seized three ships in a day off the coast of Somalia today. A German-operated cargo ship was seized in the Gulf of Aden, hours after a Japanese-operated tanker and an Iranian ship were hijacked in the same area.

Hormone replacement therapy could result in improvements in sleep, sexuality and joint pain in older women. The Lancet quotes results of a new University of Adelaide research showing women treated with HRT showed fewer hot flushes, night sweats, aching joints and muscles, and insomnia.

Sydney Morning Herald reports that an injured and abandoned baby humpback whale was euthanized by wildlife officials earlier today after veterinarians determined that it was too weak to survive on its own.