Malta and international press digest

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

The Times leads with economists’ advice for the government to let the deficit grow if that is the price to keep the economy growing in difficult circumstances. The newspaper also carries a picture of McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton who yesterday became Formula 1’s youngest champion.

The Malta Independent previews the budget and carries Joseph Muscat’s announcement that the MLP will organise a manifestation on Sunday.

l-orizzont leads with an analysis of the water and electricity tariffs, which is says are 'anti-family'.

In-Nazzjon reports the Prime Minister saying the budget demands responsibility and wisdom. Social Policy Minister John Dalli says the Housing Authority will offer apartments for rent for those who cannot afford to buy.

The Press in Britain…

In common with all the papers, the Daily Mirror features Lewis Hamilton who is now the F1 drivers champion.

Metro says that right up until the last 100 yards in the Brazilian Grand Prix the result was in the lap of the gods as rain came to Hamilton's rescue and he managed to enter fifth.

Daily Star concentrates on the world champion's future earning a potential £1 billion and on course to eclipse even David Beckham in the superstar stakes.

The Times reports on the final dash for the White House in the US presidential election.

The Independent says Barack Obama is entering the home stretch of the race for the White House with an aggressive foray into traditionally Republican states but thinks the result is a foregone conclusion as Obama is still well ahead in the polls.

The Financial Times agrees and says John McCain entered the final day of the 2008 presidential contest facing an uphill battle.

The Daily Telegraph claims pressure is growing on the Bank of England for a full one percent cut in the base interest week rate to avert the threat of a lengthy recession.

The Daily Mail looks at private pensions and quotes research showing Gordon Brown's tax raid on pension funds has snatched £17,000 from every worker's retirement pot.

The Daily Express claims fruit and vegetable prices are to triple because of new EU rules.

The Guardian covers the desperate attempts to end the bloodshed in the Democratic Republic of Congo and claims Britain and France have warned the leaders of Congo and Rwanda they could be held to account by the world if the violence in eastern Congo continues.

The Sun says Tory leader David Cameron has declared war on the BBC's fat cats in the wake of the Andrew Sachs phone outrage.

The Daily Record says the man brought in as head of the ailing Royal Bank of Scotland hosted a posh hunt ball on his £7m estate at the weekend.

And elsewhere…

The New York Times quotes UN officials saying a humanitarian aid convoy will head into a rebel-held zone of eastern Congo today to reach tens of thousands of civilians displaced by fighting between government troops and Tutsi rebels.

Lusaka’s The Times leads with the swearing-in of Centrist politician Rupiah Banda as Zambia's fourth president – just two hours after election officials announced his narrow victory in Thursday's presidential race. Opposition leader Michael Sata of the Patriotic Front. Sata has accused election officials of rigging the vote and vowed to contest the result.

Le Figaro says France, as the current EU President, wants to establish an early warning system to combat future financial crises.

The Jerusalem Post reports that the Israeli cabinet has decided to stop all forms of support for Jewish settlements in the West Bank that have not been authorised by the state.

Russkiy Kurier says the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan have signed a joint declaration that calls for a peaceful resolution to a 20-year conflict over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh. Russian president Dmitry Medvedev hosted the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan for negotiations in Moscow.

La Tribune de Geneve quotes the Red Cross’ appeal to the international community for some $8 million in emergency funds to help earthquake victims in southwest Pakistan. The 6.4-magnitude quake hit Baluchistan, Pakistan's poorest province on Wednesday, killing up to 300 people and leaving tens of thousands without shelter as winter approaches

Al Sabah says the Iraqi government has decided to sell Saddam Hussein's luxury yacht. It has swimming pools, a secret passage and is equipped with a rocket launching system.