Malta and international press digest

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

The Times and the other newspapers lead with the tribute of the House of Representatives to Karl Chircop yesterday. The Times also carries comments by his widow Adriana, who said her husband died like he lived, giving to the end. The newspaper also reports the rebound in stock markets all over the world.

The Malta Independent leads with a quote by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Louis Galea, that Karl Chircop was an example of integrity and loyalty.

l-orizzont publishes a picture of MPs standing in silent tribute to Karl Chircop. It also carries the condolences of the GWU.

In-Nazzjon also reproduces comments praising Karl Chircop for his values and integrity. It also quotes the Secretary of the Gozo Tourism Association saying the industry cannot find the workers it needs.

The Press in Britain…

The Financial Times talks of a global rebound as the European rescue packages cheer the markets.

The Times reports that markets soared again as the world acted to rescue stricken banks.

The Guardian leads on the 'Day the markets breathed again'.

Metro says the amount of money spent shoring up the global economy is equal to 190 times the debt of Ethiopia.

The Independent pictures Sir Fred Goodwin who has been forced to leave the Royal Bank of Scotland as the Government becomes a major shareholder.

The Scotsman reports on the downfall of Scottish banks as the Government becomes a major shareholder in RBS and HBOS.

The Daily Telegraph examines Gordon's Brown investment in Britain's banks, which will come with strings attached, including curbs on bonuses and a pledge to ensure the availability of lending to small firms and homeowners.

As £37 billion of British taxpayers’ money is used to nationalise banks, the Daily Mail reveals that City bosses last year took home bonuses of £17 billion.

The Daily Mirror says David and Victoria Beckham are distraught after their housekeeper was arrested for stealing from them.

The Sun also reports on the items stolen from the Beckhams, and says two housekeepers who worked at their mansion have been arrested for selling their stolen possessions online.

The Daily Star says Spice Girls Victoria Beckham and Mel B have been targeted by nutters.

And elsewhere…

Wall Street Journal says the financial world stepped back from the brink yesterday after bank rescue packages worth hundreds of billions were unveiled by Britain and Europe as the US continued to forge ahead with its own salvage plan.

European Voice said the European Commission promised fast-track approval of national bank aid schemes across Europe as long as governments comply with state aid and fair competition rules to the letter

Le Monde quotes President Sarkozy claiming banks were afraid of lending to failing institutions and “keeping liquidity for themselves”. To solve that, the French government will create an authority that will guarantee loans for a period of five years. In return, banks will be asked to provide certain obligations, including the manner in which its executives are paid.

Borzen-Zeitung reports Chancellor Angela Merkel saying the rescue package would be law by Friday

The Jerusalem Post says Isreal’s Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's Kadima party and the Labour Party inked a draft deal to form a government, moving her a step closer to becoming the country’s prime minister.

Los Angeles Times reports how wildfires, driven by strong winds, killed one person, destroyed several dozen mobile homes and forced evacuations.

The Mail and Guardian talks of how South Africa’s new health minister Barbara Hogan dramatically broke from a decade of discredited government policies on Aids, declaring that the disease was unquestionably caused by HIV and must be treated with conventional medicine.

The International Herald Tribune says scientists issued a health warning to the personal music generation about noise levels from their in-ear entertainment. It quotes an EU report saying the quality of music reproduction at high levels on tiny players is now so good that more people are turning up the volume – risking permanent hearing loss.