Malta and international press digest

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

The Times says proposals for an EU rescue fund to counter the financial turmoil has been rejected. It also reports that a Russian woman was critically injured in a head-on crash on the Coast Road.

The Malta Independent homes in on the new power tariff schemes announced by the government saying bills will be higher and consumers will be encouraged to save.

l-orizzont reports court evidence where the MTA planning directorate head said the former acting CEO, George Micallef, had told him of pressure by Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando for early granting of a compliance certificate on the planned Mistra development.

In-Nazzjon quotes comments by the Prime Minister yesterday when he said that serious and brave decisions have to be taken for a sound future. It also reports how MEPA yesterday approved the development of an industrial zone near San Pawl Tat-Targa but turned down an application in Attard near Villa Bologna.

The Press in Britain…

The Independent says a political crisis has erupted after Britain's most senior policeman Sir Ian Blair was forced out of office by the Conservative Mayor of London Boris Johnson.

The Daily Telegraph says the Mayor had told Sir Ian he could not work with him.

The Guardian says Tory Boris Johnson is insisting no permanent successor needs to be appointed until the Conservatives take over Downing Street.

The Financial Times reports Gordon Brown is piling pressure on Ireland to stop banks using a €400bn government guarantee to poach business from British rivals. The number of people opening savings accounts with Irish banks has soared three-fold this week as consumers look for a safe haven for their cash.

The Daily Express has joined forces with actress Joanna Lumley in a crusade to win justice for Gurkha soldiers in Britain.

The Daily Star says Eastenders stars have been hit by bomb threats after a storyline sparked a furious Muslim backlash.

According to the Daily Mirror, Harry Potter author JK Rowling earns £3 million a week.

And elsewhere…

The European Central Bank has left its key interest rate unchanged at 4.25 percent as its president delivered a bleak assessment that EU growth was weakening amid high inflation and fears of a widening financial crisis. Jean Claude Trichet told France 24 the world was witnessing events that have not been seen since World War II. Euro zone inflation has also fallen to 3.6 percent, though it remains well above the ECB's target of just below 2 percent.

St Petersbourg Times reports German Chancellor Angela Merkel has criticised Russia's response to the Georgian crisis in August as "disproportionate", but added that Europe and Moscow should now focus on building trust. Talks with President Medvedev, aimed at promoting closer economic and political ties, were overshadowed by tensions over Russia's war with Georgia. Medvedev defended his country's actions and blamed Georgia for starting the war.

Az-Zaman says suicide bombers have killed at least 19 people near two Shiite mosques in Baghdad as worshippers marked the end of the Ramadan fasting month.

Asia Observer reports that North and South Korea have held their first security talks since a conservative South Korean government took office in February. A South Korean delegate said the 90-minute meeting was conducted between army colonels served more to air current grievances than to resolve them.

Jamhuuriya quotes Somali officials saying that foreign powers can use force if necessary against pirates who are holding a ship loaded with tanks for ransom.

A Russian football club which beat Rangers in the Uefa Cup final has denied match-fixing allegations. Spanish newspaper El Pais claimed a gang with links to the Russian Mafia had given money to Bayern Munich ahead of the team's semi-final defeat against Zenit St Petersburg. Both Zenith and Bayern denied the claims.

USA Today quotes a lawyer saying that seven Marilyn Monroe photos that are the subject of a lawsuit in New York were found in kerbside rubbish nearly 35 years ago.

Thai Post reports that an underdog in Sunday's election for governor of Bangkok punched and has kicked a television journalist, saying he was provoked and humiliated by tough questions during a live interview.

Times of Central Asia reports that a man, accused of driving under the influence, escaped prosecution in Kazakhstan because he had drunk 1.5 litres of fermented horse milk for medicinal purposes, not beer or spirits. Fermented mare’s milk, or kumys, is not legally listed as an alcoholic beverage in the country, although it can have an alcohol content of up to four per cent.