The following are the leading stories in the Maltese and overseas press today:
The Times like the other newspapers, gives prominence to yesterday’s MCESD meeting on the utility tariffs. The meeting was inconclusive. It also reports that Toly Products will dismiss 84 workers and that UK yacht Allegre has arrived first in the Middle Sea Race.
The Malta Independent says the government has softened its utility tariff proposals. The newspaper also reports that the police are still investigating the 1977 letter bomb murder of Karin Grech.
In-Nazzjon says MCESD talks on the power tariffs continue today. It also reports on the jail term for Libyans convicted in a rape case and says the Infrastructure Ministry has challenged the MLP to say who prepared its reaction to the power tariffs.
l-orizzont highlights the MCESD meeting and the Toly Products dismissals, and also reports that the GWU and HSBC have reached a commercial agreement which provides special benefits for the union’s members.
The Press in Britain…
Mohamed al Fayed dominates the Daily Mail's front page. The Harrods owner has emphatically rejected claims he sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl.
The Daily Telegraph reveals primary school children will be taught to identify body parts within the formative years of their education. It also pictures Barack Obama with wife Michelle, who will carry on campaigning while he attends to his sick grandmother.
The Financial Times also pictures the Democratic presidential nominee, who, it says, is set for a landslide victory if current polls are replicated at the ballot box. The paper leads with the sterling’s declining rate against the dollar, the worst in half a decade.
The Guardian leads with a fresh warning from merchant banker Nat Rothschild to the shadow chancellor George Osborne, reigniting the well-publicised Yachtgate donations scandal that threatens the politician's career. Republican VP nominee Sarah Palin also dominates the page as the cheque for her campaign wardrobe has reportedly exceeded $150,000.
The Daily Star reports troubled TV personality Kerry Katona hits back at claims she was drunk during a TV interview.
The Daily Mirror also leads with the ex-Atomic Kitten's 'TV Meltdown', alongside picture tributes to six members of one family who lost their lives in an M6 pile-up earlier this week.
And elsewhere…
The Wall Street Journal reports that the White House has set November 15 for an emergency global financial summit.
Southeast European Times says donors from nearly 70 countries have pledged around €3.5 billion euros in reconstruction aid for Georgia at a conference in Brussels, surpassing expectation by nearly €1 billion.
EU Observer says European Union envoys have agreed on a fast-track "Blue Card" scheme to attract highly skilled migrant workers from developing countries.
Moscow Times quotes senior Russian officials saying the country is considering the idea of an oil reserve, to influence international oil prices.
Meanwhile, The International Herald Tribune says the price of crude oil sank further in London trading, approaching 65 dollars a barrel, amid continuing pessimism about the impact of a likely global recession on energy demand.
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reports that German authorities have arrested a suspected courier for an Afghan-based terrorist organisation.
Denver Daily News says two light planes that collided in mid-air landed safely without injury to the six people in them today.
Al Jamahirija says Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has refused to say if his government would give a sympathetic hearing to pleas made on behalf of the Lockerbie bomber Mohmed Al Megrahi to be freed. Al Megrahi is battling an advanced prostate cancer.
Ekstra Bladet says a new weight loss drug, developed to treat brain diseases, is twice as effective as the best existing anti-obesity medicines.
El Mundo reports that police in Madrid have arrested five people who allegedly posed as officers and stole drugs from traffickers.
Il Tempo says a concert violinist has been given a gun permit so he can protect his €7.5 million Stradivarius violin. Matteo Fedeli, who travels all round Italy with his rare instrument, also has a team of bodyguards who plan his route meticulously and make sure he is not followed. And he also has an armed escort as he travels to his concerts.