Malta and international press digest

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

The Times says the Prime Minister has said he is prepared to meet the trade unions and the GRTU and although there could be grounds to tweak the utility tariffs, there could not be major change which allowed waste. The unions and the GRTU separately made a request for a meeting last week. The newspaper also reports that farmers are worried that the constant rain has damaged their crops.

l-orizzont quotes Labour leader Joseph Muscat saying that in terms of oil prices in October, the power surcharge should have been reduced to 61%. Instead, the government had more than doubled the rates, Dr Muscat said. It also reports that more than €3m were stolen in hold-ups over the past three years.

The Malta Independent quotes Dr Gonzi saying he is open to ideas about the utility tariffs, but will not allow waste. It also quotes Dr Muscat demanding an explanation from Dr Gonzi on how the PN tried to ‘spy’ on citizens.

In-Nazzjon also leads with Dr Gonzi’s comment that he is ready to meet the trade unions. It also focuses on the budget announcement that the long-term unemployed will be doing work in the community.

The Press in Britain…

Metro reveals that the identities of the mother and stepfather of a toddler, known as Baby P, who died from horrific abuse have been posted on the internet – along with messages urging convicts to attack them. The Daily Mail continues that social workers had a foster family ready for him seven months before he died – but they still sent him home.

The Daily Telegraph says couples will find it harder to obtain a divorce under Conservative plans to strengthen families.

The health information watchdog reportedly tells The Guardian that the privacy of millions of NHS patients will be critically undermined by a government plan to let medical researchers have access to personal files.

Daily Star claims ITV1 chiefs fear the fiancée of footballer Joe Cole may quit a reality show set in a jungle because she is “scared of everything”.

According to The Daily Express, thousands of homeowners across Britain could be forced to sell their land to make way for gypsy sites.

The Times reports Britain has come under international pressure to inject billions of pounds into the economy, as Chancellor Alistair Darling finalised plans for tax cuts and public spending of about £15bn using money from NHS surpluses.

The Independent reports shadow chancellor George Osborne will unveil an anti-recession package including some tax cuts, in a U-turn to allow Tories to take the fight over the economy to a resurgent Gordon Brown.

And elsewhere…

Nikkei Sangyo Shimbun reports Japan's economy, the second largest in the world, appears to have slipped into recession. Official preliminary estimates showed the country's economy contracted by 0.1 percent in the three months leading up to September, after shrinking 0.9 percent in the second quarter.

The Jerusalem Post confirms that an Israeli air strike has killed four Palestinian militants preparing to fire rockets at Israeli villages across the border from the Gaza Strip. It came as the Israeli cabinet met to discuss the fragile five-month-old ceasefire and whether to lift a blockade on the territory.

Al-Ahrar says the Iraqi cabinet has agreed on a timetable for the withdrawal of all US troops by the end of 2011. The draft pact, intended to replace a UN mandate, goes next to the Iraqi parliament.

According to L’Avenire, Congolese rebel leader Laurent Nkunda says he has agreed to support a peace process being negotiated by UN special envoy Olusegun Obasanjo. Nkunda said he would open a humanitarian corridor for aid to refugees. Weeks of clashes have left 250,000 people displaced and dozens dead.

Libération says France's main opposition party has failed to select a new leader at an annual convention in Reims. The Socialists will now put the matter to a vote among party members on Thursday. Rifts within the party have rendered the Socialists ineffective as an opposition to the conservative government of President Sarkozy.

Frettabladid reports that Iceland's government has agreed to reimburse British and Dutch depositors of failed internet bank Icesave. The agreement with the British and Dutch governments and other EU countries clears the way for help from the International Monetary Fund and other sources. Iceland is facing severe recession after three of its banks ran into liquidity problems.

Taipei Times says Taiwan's former president Chen Shui-bian has been rushed to hospital after spending five days on hunger strike to protest his recent arrest on corruption allegationsHe's accused of embezzling funds while in office, money laundering and taking brikes.

Jakarta Times leads with the powerful earthquake that struck off eastern Indonesia and caused residents to fee their homes in panic. Tsunami warnings for coastlines within 600 miles of the epicentre were raised, but were later lifted. The 7.5 quake struck 54 miles from Gorantalo and was centred 13 miles beneath the sea. The tremor was followed by a strong aftershock.

Los Angeles Times reports that firefighters battling wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of homes in southern California have been aided by calmer winds. Thousands of residents fled the fires which destroyed more than 800 homes and apartments. No deaths were reported.

USA Today says space shuttle Endeavour has successfully docked with the International Space Station. The linkup kicks off a 15-day makeover mission that will allow twice as many people to live on the space station. Thed austronauts took zoom-in pictures of the shuttle before it docked to help NASA determine whether Endeavour sustained any damage during liftoff on Friday night. At least two pieces of debris have been spotted so far in launch pictures.

Variety reports that “On The Buses” actor Reg Varney has died at the age of 92, following a short illness. Varney, who played main character Stan Butler in the 1970s sitcom, was born in London's East End but had lived in Devon for the past 20 years. His daughter said he died "peacefully" at a nursing home in Budleigh Salterton, after being admitted due to a chest infection.