Updated: Malta and international press digest

The following are the top stories in the Maltese press on Sunday.

The Sunday Times says both Italy and Malta have continued to hold firm in the standoff over the destination of migrants rescued by a Turkish-owned ship. Meanwhile, a pregnant migrant is reported to have died on board. The newspaper also carries an interview with GWU General Secretary Tony Zarb where he says the union cannot forget its past problems with (President) George Abela.

The Malta Independent on Sunday also leads with the standoff on the migrants. It also says the verification method at Malta Freeport was used before to ascertain union recognition. In another story, it focuses on how the government deficit has risen from €68 million to €233 million.

MaltaToday says PL General Secretary Jason Micallef slashed a banner of Sharon Ellul Bonici. It also says there are no government plans for cervical cancer screening.

Il-Mument leads with the formal presentation yesterday of the 10 candidates who will contest the EP elections on the PN ticket. Party leader Lawrence Gonzi said they were all valid candidates. It also carries an interview with MEPA chairman Austin Walker, who says MEPA is determined to maintain the delicate balance between development and environmental protection. In another story, it says Labour EP candidates have protested because a person close to Joseph Muscat is helping MEP Louis Grech in his campaign.

It-Torca says the code behind the Kantelina, the oldest writing in Malta, has finally been broken. It also says that the UHM and the Malta Employers Association have been accused of gross hypocrisy over their statements on the union recognition issue at Malta Freeport.

KullHadd says the Prime Minister has lost control of public finances and growth, the former rising and the latter shrinking, well below projections.

Illum’s focus is also on the migration standoff. It also reports comments by Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said that the authorities need to give a firm response after the arson attack directed at the Mayor of Lija, as well as other incidents.

The Press in Britain

As a third incident connected to the G20 protests is referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, The Observer says that the police watchdog has slammed the tactics used on the demonstrators and called for a national debate on how police maintain public order.

A whistleblower has told The Sunday Times that Schools Secretary Ed Balls used former Number 10 aide Damian McBride to smear ministerial rivals.

The Sunday Express claims Gordon Brown is struggling to contain a Labour rebellion over the email smears scandal, sparked by Mr McBride.

The Sunday Mirror reports that the Smeargate vice madam is to name four Tories in a new book.

The Sunday Telegraph says Gordon Brown has paid for the email saga that engulfed his government, with Labour support down five percentage points, a poll shows.

The Independent on Sunday claims Gordon Brown will attempt to pull clear of one of the most turbulent periods of his premiership in next week's Budget.

Scotland on Sunday claims the oil industry will receive a Budget boost when Alistair Darling reveals plans to increase North Sea production by 20 per cent.

According to The Mail on Sunday, Justice Secretary Jack Straw is facing questions after a convicted killer was apparently able to terrorise a woman whose evidence blocked his release.

The News of the World says the father of “Slumdog Millionaire” child star Rubina Ali plans to sell his nine-year-old daughter.

The Sunday Herald reports that ome of the most powerful voices in Scotland have backed the newspaper’s campaign for an inquiry into the collapse of our two biggest banks.

And elsewhere…

Trinidad & Tobago Express says US President Barack Obama has promised an era of better cooperation with the hemisphere and a fresh start with left-wing Cuba and Venezuela.

The Washington Times says President Obama is "deeply disappointed" by Iran's eight-year jail sentence imposed on 31-year-old Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi after being convicted of spying.

The International Herald Tribune announces the United States will boycott next week's UN conference on racism in Geneva because of "objectionable" language in the meeting's final document.

The New York Times quotes UNICEF saying that meningitis has killed more than 2,500 people this year in Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso and Chad, out of a total of 47,310 cases.

The Australian reports ice is expanding in much of Antarctica, contrary to the widespread belief that global warming is melting the continental ice cap.

De Standard says forces in the Indian Ocean have confirmed that a Belgian ship has been hijacked by Somali gunmen. It has 10 crew members on board, seven of whom are Europeans.

Afghan Times reports that the death toll of the 5.5 magnitude earthquake which hit east Afghanistan on Friday has topped 40. The Washington Post says a US court has refused to allow a re-trial for black death row inmate Troy Davis who has protested his innocence for two decades over the 1989 killing of a white policeman.

Liberia Times reports that 40 prisoners, described as “hardcore and capable of causing havoc anywhere”, broke out of a Liberian jail and some may be heading for neighbouring Ivory Coast.

Times of India reports that an 11-year-old Indian girl died after a teacher allegedly made her stand in the sun as punishment for not doing her homework.

USA Today reports that a woman, shot in the forehead at close range by her estranged husband, got out of bed, made herself a cup of tea, and then asked an attending police officer if he would like a drink.

Variety says a woman arrested outside Britney Spears' home is a former American Idol hopeful who says she's making a paparazzi documentary.