Local and international press digest

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

The Sunday Times reports that scores of dockyard workers have applied for early retirement after the government’s intention to write off some €100 million in debts before selling Malta Shipyards met with EU disapproval.

The Malta Independent on Sunday reports that concurrent with the privatisation of the Enemalta gas division, the government will reduce subsidy on gas cylinders but is considering a subsidy to households. In another story, the paper confirms that Malta has the highest fuel prices in Europe.

According to Malta Today, the appointment of Austin Walker as executive chairman of MEPA and that of Roderick Galdes as opposition representative on the agency’s board could be illegal as the Development Planning Act prohibits employees of any government agency from serving on the MEPA board.

Il-Mument focuses on the latest official statistics showing an increase of 3,500 jobs with the private sector during the past 12 months and reveals that employment agencies cannot find workers to fill vacancies.

Illum says that former Labour leader Alfred Sant has asked to be relieved of his duties within the parliamentary group for some time as the treatment he is undergoing for cancer has arrived at a critcal stage.

it-torċa leads with an interview with Labour leader Joseph Muscat on his 100 days in office in which he reveals that the party’s chief executive will take up his post tomorrow and that by Budget time he would be in Parliament as Leader of the Opposition

KullĦadd carries pictures showing trucks depositing construction material at Maghtab despite claims by the governnent to the contracry.

The Press in Britain…

The Mail on Sunday says moves to force Gordon Brown from office were gathering pace as more Labour MPs criticised his performance and demanded he face a leadership contest this autumn.

The Sunday Times quotes Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK warning that American raids on Taliban and al-Qaeda targets in Pakistan could provoke terror attacks in London.

The Sunday Telegraph claims evidence has emerged that the Omagh bombing could have been prevented by British security forces.

The Sunday Express says Sir Paul McCartney is a target of terrorism. It claims the exiled hate cleric Omar Bakri Mohammad has plans to kill the former Beatle if he performs in Israel.

The Observer carries an exclusive report on a looming crisis in schools revealing that up to 1,000 schools have started the new school year without a permanent head teacher.

The secret diary of Kate McCann, written over several months as she and husband Gerry struggled to deal with their daughter Madeleine’s abduction, is revealed by the News of The World.

And elsewhere…

Pravda says all 88 people on board a Boeing-737 jet are feared dead after a crash near the Russian city of Perm in the central Ural mountains.

Corriere della Sera reports that talks between Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Alitalia workers’ unions are set to continue this morning in a last-ditch effort to save national flag carrier from collapse.

France 24 leads with Pope Benedict’s visit to Lourdes after leading an open-air mass in central Paris attended by 260,000 people. Under bright sunshine at the historic Invalides esplanade in central Paris, Benedict earlier appealed to young Catholics to shun the false "idols" of the modern world and told them not to be "afraid" of a religious life.

The International Herald Tribune says President Bush has declared a major disaster in Texas after Hurricane Ike flooded homes, knocked out power and caused a surge in oil prices.

Kabul Press says a provincial governor and former Afghan cabinet minister, Abdullah Wardak, has been killed by a Taliban remote-controlled bomb near Kabul.

The Times of India reports that five bombs exploded in quick succession in crowded markets and streets in the heart of New Delhi, killing at least 20 people and injuring at least 90 more,

The People’s Daily reports that a baby has died in a scandal over contaminated milk powder which caused kidney stones and made 432 babies ill.

Wisconsin State Journal reports that a 33-year-old mother has been accused of stealing her daughter's identity to attend high school and join the cheerleading squad. Wendy Brown admitted to claiming to be 15 as she wanted to get her high school diploma and join the cheerleading squad.