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These are the main headlines of the local and international newspapers.

The lead story in all five local dailies is the signing of an agreement between the government and the General Workers’ Union over the shipyards’ privatisation.

The Times says that basically this means topping the retirement scheme fund on offer by a further €9 million to €58 million.

The Malta Independent says the agreement ties the future yard owners to retain workers for a number of years.

In-Nazzjon sees the agreement as a means of having a quick and efficient privatisation process in the best interest of the workers and the country.

l-orizzont says workers who opt to stay on at the yard have been guaranteed to be paid the same wages when in the new owners’ employment.

Il-Ġens Illum says that only 337 workers had taken up the early retirement scheme on offer.

The Press in Britain…

The Times says John McCain headed into the last 60 days of the US presidential campaign neck and neck with Barack Obama after a “Sarah Palin bounce” looked to have all but cancelled out Mr Obama’s lead in the polls.

The Independent reports that an investigation has been launched into the environmental record of Sarah Palin.

The Financial Times says shares in Britain’s largest companies ended their worst week in six years yesterday after the market was jolted by a surprising jump in US unemployment.

The Daily Mirror reports that Kate and Gerry McCann have spent £1million searching for their missing daughter Madeleine… and vowed they would continue searching.

The Daily Telegraph claims children as young as eight have been recruited by councils to snoop on neighbours and report petty offences such as dropping litter.

The Guardian reports that rising energy prices are on course to net the government a windfall of over £1bn.

The Daily Mail says a super vaccine that could give permanent protection against all forms of flu is being developed by doctors.

And The Daily Express quotes a new study which found regular exercise will keep cancer at bay.

The London Evening Standard says examination markers are suggesting more pupils be allowed to use word processors in exams in a bid to tackle the problem of illegible handwriting.

The Sun's front page is dominated by a story that Newcastle United's owner Mike Ashley threw a £125,000 party while negotiations over the club's future were being held hours before Kevin Keegan quit.

And elsewhere…

Le Monde quotes EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana saying plans were "practically ready" for an EU civilian monitoring mission to Georgia.

Meanwhile Deutsche Welle says German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has urged Moscow and Tbilisi to accept a UN or and OSCE inquiry into who was to blame for the war in South Ossetia.

Pravda leads with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s claim that a group of six former-Soviet states known as the Collective Security Treaty Organisation have expressed support for his country's military action.

El Diario says Nicaragua became the first country other than Russia to recognise the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

The Moscow Times reports that a US Navy flagship carrying humanitarian aid yesterday steamed into the Georgian Black Sea port of Poti, where Russian troops are still stationed.

Kiev Post quotes Mr Cheney reiterating Washington's support of Ukraine's bid to join Nato.

USA Today quotes US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice saying relations between the US and Libya have entered a "new phase".

El Pais says the Spanish government has defended a plan to fight soaring unemployment by shutting the door on foreign workers.

Bihar Times reports that more than 800,000 people have been rescued after flood defences on India’s Kosi river failed and vast areas of the state were flooded.

Meanwhile, Haitian President Rene Preval has told Le Matin the situation in the north of the country was "catastrophic" after Tropical Storm Hanna flooded large parts of the city of Gonaives.

Irrawaddy reports that members close to Burma's detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi say she has refused to accept food rations for the past three weeks.

Toronto Star says Canada has joined the US and European Union in imposing sanctions on Zimbabwe’s authoritarian regime.

The Irish Times reports that a man is being detained by the police following the seizure of cocaine with an estimated street value of €400,000 in Dublin.

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