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

The Sunday Times said George Abela is tomorrow to be nominated to become the new President of Malta. Opposition leader Joseph Muscat has agreed with the nomination, set to be announced in Parliament.

The Malta Independent on Sunday says the last preparations are being made for Hagar Qim temples to be covered. It also reports on the draft collective agreement reached for university academic staff, and says in another story that according to a study, competitiveness issues are dragging the country downwards.

MaltaToday also reports that George Abela is expected to be made the next President. In other stories, it says Lawrence Gonzi has promised more frequent meetings of his parliamentary group, and that GRTU Director-General Vince Farrugia is undecided on whether to contest the EP elections, on the PN ticket.

Illum says it is George Abela who is heading for San Anton.

It-Torca leads with the same story. It also carries comments by GWU General Secretary Tony Zarb that the directive issued by 11 trade unions on late payment of utility bills will have a major impact on Enemalta’s cashflow. The newspaper also gives prominence to the situation in Gaza.

KullHadd says George Abela is favourite for the presidency. It also reports on a protest yesterday by illegal immigrants in their detention centre. In another story is says there has been a cost overrun of 47 percent on sewage works at Birzebbuga.

Il-Mument carries an interview with Finance Minister Tonio Fenech, who says international interest in Malta’s financial services sector remains very strong. It also says that the much heralded earthquake in the MLP has arrived in the shape of the return of Alfred Sant.

The Press in Britain…

The News of the World reveals Prince Harry was caught on video using racist abuse by calling an Asian member of his platoon a "Paki" and another a "raghead" while pretending to make a phonecall to the Queen.

The race row dominates the front page of the Mail on Sunday which says that the ministry of Defence and Clarence House are locked in talks to defuse racist footage.

The People also features the Harry race row but leads with Jade Goody's cancer as close friends pray 'for a miracle'.

The Observer says high street retailer Primark is at the centre of a storm over claims illegal immigrants had been employed to make knitwear for one of its best-selling ranges.

The Independent on Sunday focuses on the war in Gaza, as the number of dead continues to rise and there are no signs of a ceasefire.

The Sunday Herald says a mission to take aid and ferry doctors to Gaza is being prepared in Cyprus as hundreds of thousands of people staged demos over the attacks.

The Sunday Express says forensic investigators have managed to recover most of the remains of the 9/11 hijackers to honour a pledge they would never be buried with the victims.

The Sunday Telegraph leads with an investigation into deaths of three children who were allegedly left to die by social workers, echoing the recent Baby P case.

The Sunday Times reveals senior civil servants are getting second home allowances of up to £40,000.

The Sunday Mirror announces the prime minster has made Alan Milburn has new "jobs tsar" in a battle against the recession.

The Sunday Independent says Gordon Brown is battling to give Alastair Campbell a peerage to complete a line-up of Labour big- hitters ahead of an election campaign.

And elsewhere…

Falesteen reports Israel has dropped leaflets onto Gaza warning its 1.5 million residents that it could soon step up its war on Hamas, with attacks on smuggling tunnels and weapons depots. The warning came as Israel carried out air strikes for a 15th straight day and its troops battled Hamas fighters.

Meanwhile, Al-Ayyam says the militant Palestian group has, in turn, been urged by Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas to accept an Egyptian peace plan. Hamas's leader in exile, Khaled Meshaal said on Arab satellite television that any truce must be preceded by a halt to the Israeli offensive.

Al Quds Al Arabi quotes medical officials in Gaza saying the Palestinian death toll has risen to 850 killed, including hundreds of civilians. Israel's losses amount to 10 Israeli soldiers and four civilians

Welt-am-Sonntag quotes German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier saying Berlin has offered Egypt help to enhance anti-smuggling efforts along Egypt's border with the war-torn Gaza.

Al Jazeera reports tens of thousands yesterday took part in worldwide protests against Israel's 15-day bombardment and infantry deployment into Gaza, calling for an immediate end to Israel's assault in the Gaza Strip. In Europe, demonstrations took place in Berlin, Athens, Budapest, Paris, London and Sarajevo. In Norway, police used tear gas to disperse some 1,000 protesters after some hurled bottles, rocks and fireworks at officers during a rally in the country's capital.

Prague Post quotes the EU’s Czech presidency announcing the Ukraine has followed Russia by signing a deal so EU officials can monitor Russian natural gas piped across Ukraine and raising hopes that Europe will soon regain supplies. Pravda quotes the Russian concern Gazprom saying it could take 48 hours for full volumes to reach EU nations in central and southern Europe hard-hit by freezing weather, such as Bulgaria and Serbia.

Bratislavske Noviny says the Slovak government plans to reopen a power generating unit at a controversial nuclear plant because of the gas crisis caused by the dispute between Russia and Ukraine. The plant had been shut down at the end of 2008 to comply with the European Union accession agreement.

Iran’s Ettelaat say Somali pirates have released an Iranian-chartered vessel which was seized off the coast of Yemen in November. The news of the release comes a day after pirates freed the Saudi supertanker Sirius Star, which was also seized in November off the coast of Kenya.

La Gazzetta del Sud reports some 500 would-be immigrants have arrived in Lampedusa. The Italian navy picked up 324 migrants on a boat 60 nautical miles from the island, and another 200 reached Lampedusa on a rickety vessel. Almost 37,000 immigrants arrived in Italy by sea in 2008, a 75 percent increase over the previous year.

Peru’s La Razon says at least 33 people were killed and another 23 injured after a bus ran off a remote mountain road en route to Querocoto and plunged into a ravine.

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