Malta and international press digest

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

The Times in its front page features Dr Joseph Muscat’s call for a national protest against the utility tariffs. It also reports on the special curriculum being requested by Cospicua primary school after none of its students passed the junior lyceum exam.

The Malta Independent also leads with the situation at Cospicua primary school. In other stories, it highlights the industrial action ordered by the MUMN over the shortage of nurses, and the emergency meeting of the MCESD during which members said they were not impressed by the government’s manner of consultation over the power tariffs.

l-orizzont says the government has been warned by the members of the MCESD that the people cannot take more burdens such as the new tariffs.

In-Nazzjon leads with the PN reaction to Dr Muscat’s call for a protest over the tariffs, saying his comments are in sharp contrast to what he wrote and said 11 years ago, when a Labour government hiked the tariffs.

The Press in Britain…

Most papers lead with Jonathan Ross being suspended from the airwaves by the BBC and Russel Brand handing in his notice over obscene phone calls to 78-year-old Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs. The Daily Mail says BBC bosses are being urged to sack Ross.

Other stories:

The Sun: Chancellor Alistair Darling warns that tax hikes and spending cuts will have to follow the next election – whoever wins.

Daily Mail: The recession will be followed by tax rises and spending cuts to get the public finances out of the red.

Financial Times: Alistair Darling tells the Bank of England it is free to cut interest rates without fear of breaching its inflation targets.

The Guardian: The Bank of England receiving criticism for its handling of the economic downturn.

The Times: Hundreds of soldiers are returning from Afghanistan suffering from severe and permanent damage to their hearing due to combat noise.

Daily Star: UK troops to get tougher vehicles after fury over inadequate armour.

Daily Mirror: Tony Blair has raked in £12m since he resigned as Prime Minister.

The Daily Telegraph: Motorists will pay to drive on motorway hard shoulders under plans to ease congestion.

And elsewhere…

European Voice reports that the EU will provide special credit to member states hardest hit by the economic crisis. Announcing €6.5 billion in emergency credit to Hungary, EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said the amount available to non-euro member states for emergency balance-of-payments aid has been raised the from €12 billion to €25 billion.

The New York Times says the Security Council has condemned a Tutsi rebel offensive in the Democratic Republic of Congo and demanded that General Laurent Nkunda end his push towards the provincial capital of Goma.

According to Pakistan Times, rescue workers have pulled 175 bodies from the rubble of homes flattened by a powerful earthquake in the Baluchistan province.

The International Herald Tribune reports that UN General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly in favour of a resolution that urges the US to lift its sanctions on Cuba.

Somalipress claims at least 25 people died in a series of suicide bombings across northern Somalia. The two suicide bombers died in the attack and six security officials were wounded.

Moscow Times reports that two Jesuit priests – a Russian citizen and the other from Ecuador – have been stabbed to death while sharing a meal in their Moscow apartment.

The Irish Times reports that the government was forced to issue an embarrassing public apology to a woman who was asked to stop breastfeeding in a social welfare office.