Malta and international press digest

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

The Times says a fault in Melita's international connectivity caused widespread internet disruption yesterday.

The Malta Independent says rampant theft from divers' cars is spoiling the prospects for a diving site off Marsamxett, where the British wartime destroyer Maori lies on the seabed.

MaltaToday discusses what is behind the dispute between Siggiewi deputy mayor Karol Aquilina and the PL.

l-orizzont, in the eighth article on the series on the Delimara power station extension, quotes bidding company representative Joseph Mizzi as saying they ‘needed to win' the contract.

In-Nazzjon focuses on the government's plans for road works. It also carries a PN statement criticizing the PL councilors at Siggiewi for having voted on party lines in a vote on the property which houses their club.

The Press in Britain

The Daily Mail leads with increased fears over the cancer threat from suntan beds, after leading world health experts said the treatment belonged in the same category as smoking.

The Guardian says ministers are prepared to clamp down on the cosmetic tanning industry following the upgrade.

A judge's stark criticism of the government's "desperate" immigration policy is the front lead in the Daily Express.

The Daily Telegraph leads with the news that a billion pounds are to be spent to create tens of thousands of public sector jobs for the unemployed.

The Sun reports the bid by Ministry of Defence 'misers' to claw back compensation awarded to a soldier wounded in Afghanistan.

The Times says there will be a renewed call of 'British jobs for British workers' from the unions after more than 100 jobs at the British Council are to be outsourced to India as part of a massive cost-cutting drive to save money for taxpayers.

The Financial Times reports fears of a "massive hole" at UK Financial Investments following Alistair Darling's surprise proposals to shake up the team tasked with running the taxpayer's stake in the banking industry.

Leading accountancy firms are banking on a Tory victory at the next election, reports The Independent, after it emerged the shadow government has received hefty donations from KPMG.

And elsewhere...

EU Observer quotes Transport Commissioner Antonio Tajani saying that the amount of 4.6 pieces of luggage lost at Europe's airports was "excessive and unacceptable". Tajani said passengers deserved better information about their rights when their property goes astray. Last year, 32.8 million bags were reported lost around the world - a 20 per cent drop from the 42.4 million bags lost in 2007.

Pacific Island News says Fiji is set to be ousted from the Commonwealth in the wake of the military government's decision to abrogate the constitution, remove the judiciary and enforce blanket media censorship controls. Commonwealth ministers will meet in London on Friday to decide Fiji's fate.

The Washington Times quotes US Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon saying the Obama administration would consider Russian membership in Nato, the military alliance that was founded to protect Europe from Soviet aggression, "if Russia meets the criteria,can contribute to common security, and there is a consensus in the alliance". Gordon told US politicians Nato's doors should be open to democracies in Europe.

USA Today reports Secretary of State Hillary Clinton saying the US and China have agreed to cooperate on difficult foreign policy problems such as North Korea, Iran's nuclear programmes, counter-terrorism measures and climate change. However, she conceded that on human rights both sides had "candid and respectful exchanges" - the usual diplomatic terminology to indicate lack of agreement.

El Pais announces that a man has been killed and a woman is missing after a wildfire swept across woodland near the central Spanish city of Avila

New Europe says the European Union has called for the cash-strapped former Soviet republic of Belarus to step up reforms before it can expect any more financial help.

Bulgaria Gazette leads with the swearing in of Boiko Borisov as the country's new prime minister, swearing to rein in systemic corruption and organized crime in hopes of convincing the EU his country should receive financial aid.

Al Quds Al Arabi says some about 140 Iranians detained during protests against last month's disputed election result have been released from prison.

Az-Zaman reports that bank robbers made off with at least $US3.8 million( €2.7 million) in a pre-dawn raid, leaving eight police guards dead in one of Iraq's biggest-ever heists,

Texas Globe quotes relatives of the mother of a three-week-old boy found dismembered in his bedroom saying she was diagnosed with schizophrenia and postpartum psychosis. Otty Sanchez, 33, is charged with capital murder in the death of Scott Wesley Buchholtz-Sanchez. When authorities found the infant's body on Sunday, Sanchez told officers the devil made her do it, police said. The baby's father has called for his former partner to be executed.