Malta and international press digest

The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas newspapers today:

The Times, like the other newspapers, gives prominence to the guilty plea filed yesterday by Benny Attard, a 50-year-old Xaghra man, who admitted his involvement in the murder of warden Fortunata Spiteri seven years ago. He was jailed for 30 years. The Times also speaks to relatives of the 16-year-old who died after falling off a bastion on Saturday.

The Malta Independent reports that MEPA has issued an outline permit for the development of SmartCity.

In-Nazzjon leads with comments by the Prime Minister yesterday where he welcomed remarks by George Vella that the opposition was four square with the government over illegal immigration.

l-orizzont features a GWU statement expressing surprise and concern that Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt had said that power tariffs would have to rise, or Enemalta might not be able to pay its workers.

The Press in Britain…

The Daily Telegraph reports that the stock market in London experienced the biggest drop in 21 years and Chancellor Alistair Darling was accused of dithering over saver guarantees.

The Guardian says Mr Darling failed to calm investor fears as the markets nosedived.

Under the heading “The World Takes Fright”, The Times leads on the biggest fall in value of the FTSE 100 since the crash of October 1987 and £2,500bn are wiped off world shares.

The Daily Express calls on Gordon Brown to cut interest rates and guarantee savings to save Britain from a slump.

The Daily Mail pictures Carolyn Todd, who forgave her husband Michael despite cheating on her with ‘10 lovers’. A coroner yesterday ruled that the former chief constable died of exposure after drinking alcohol and taking sleep medicine. Hours before he died, he texted his wife saying, “I’m sorry.”

The Evening Standard leads with the jailing for seven years of 25-year-old former Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper Luke McCormick after he pleaded guilty to causing the deaths of two young boys by dangerous driving in a motorway crash whilst drunk behind the wheel. The court heard he was "at best semi-conscious" when his Range Rover crashed.

And elsewhere…

Global stock markets have plummeted amid deepening concerns over a financial crisis. The Wall Street Journal reports that in New York, the Dow Jones index has dropped below 10,000 points for the first time in four years. Borzën-Zeitung says Germany's main share index, the DAX, was among a basket of European indices to drop below seven percent. The International Herald Tribune says trading was suspended on Russian and Brazilian markets, among others, due to severe losses. The euro plunged to its lowest value in 13 months, at 1.35 US dollars, and oil dropped below 90 dollars on the back of fears of a global recession. Investors around the world have reacted negatively to US and European efforts to alleviate the credit crisis facing financial institutions.

Meanwhile, European Voice says the leaders of the European Union's 27 member countries have pledged to do all they can to maintain the stability of the financial system. The measures could include liquidity from central banks, specific help for individual banks, or a reinforcement of bank deposit guarantees. The joint declaration stresses the need for coordination between EU members.

EU Observer reports that the EU has opened its first African migration centre to deter illegal immigrants.

According to Magyar Hirlap, Hungary's transport minister and railways chief both resigned after a train crash killed four people and injured 26.

Nature quotes an international survey by 1,700 experts showing that a quarter of the world's mammals are at risk of extinction because of threats from mankind.

The People’s Daily reports that two earthquakes have struck Tibet's capital, Lhasa, and surrounding areas, killing at least 30 people.

Meanwhile, Times of Central Asia says an earthquake which measured 6.3 on the Richter scale hit the south of Kyrgyzstan on Sunday killing at least 60 people and injured many others

Daily News reports that a former army general and an opposition leader was among 20 people killed in a suicide attack in Sri Lanka, carried out by Tamil Tiger rebels.

The Irish Times says that up to 1,500 jobs will be cut and outsourced by Aer Lingus as part of a €75m cost-saving programme. The former state carrier plans to slash €50m from its payroll by axing ground and cabin crew posts