Malta and international press digest

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

The Sunday Times leads with a story saying that Manchester United stars are to invest in a chain of Maltese hotels. It also interviews Siggiewi mayor Robert Musumeci who says he wants to heal the political rift in his village.

The Malta Independent on Sunday says that the Malta Environment and Planning Authority is to decide on the Victor Scerri application on Thursday. It also says that a minimum 30 million euros are to be invested in the new public transport system.

Malta Today leads with a story on beating allegations.

Il-Mument says that efforts are being made for more students to take up post secondary education. It has a story on Joseph Muscat and Mepa and another that Dr Muscat was a Super 1 product.

Kullhadd says that the PM has left the Malta Tourism Authority without a board and quotes Parliamentary Secretary Jason Azzopardi in an attempt to defend the low rental rates of an office to MEP Simon Busuttil in Valletta.

It-Torca leads with the attempted murder in Mosta and has a story on damage caused to the people's health by windfarms. It continues investigating the Delimara contract.

Illum leads with a story on research it carried out about drinking water and the Maltese.

The Press in Britain...

The News of the World leads on claims by Michael Jackson's closest friend Mark Lester, who starred in the 1968 film Oliver!, that he was the real father of Michael Jackson's 11-year-old daughter Paris - and was prepared to have a paternity test to prove his claims.

According to The Sunday Times, Lord Mandelson is drawing up plans to overhaul university entry that could favour poorer applicants.

The Sunday Telegraph claims the Conservatives are studying plans to increase VAT to 20 per cent if they win power as part of a package to pull Britain out of the red.

The Observer reports that Britain is facing an infertility time-bomb, as couples delay parenthood and damage their chances of having children in later life.

The Sunday Independent says Britain is to commit itself to a massive increase in domestic food production.

According to the Sunday People, dying Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs, who has turned 80, had promised his son Michael that he intends to live long enough to celebrate his son's birthday.

The Sunday Express leads with a multi-millionairess who could be interviewed by Madeleine McCann investigators this week over the movements of her luxury motor cruiser.

The Mail on Sunday says BBC1 Controller Jay Hunt was engulfed in controversy after it was revealed the corporation paid her first husband for consultancy work.

Sky News says that a teenage girl has become the first person in the UK to have an eyelash transplant. She had the treatment because she suffers from trichotillomania, the obsessive plucking or pulling out of hair.

A cat owner has told The Evening News how his pet cat was "crushed, asphyxiated and consumed whole" by a neighbour's 13ft python.

And elsewhere...

Al Jezeera reports that a young French academic and local employees of the British and French embassies have appeared before an Iranian judge along with dozens of opposition figures accused of involvement in the country's post-election unrest.

In an interview with Bild am Sonntag, Germany's Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung has rejected calls by NATO Secretary General Andres Fogh Rasmussen for a greater German engagement in Afghanistan.

The Washington Post quotes the US State Department confirming that Portugal has agreed to resettle two Syrian Guantanamo Bay detainees to assist in US President Barack Obama's plan to close the controversial prison camp by next year.

Al-Ayyam announces that Fatah has re-elected Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas as head of the secular movement on the fifth day of its first congress in 20 years, which has been marred by disputes on how to revive its authority.

The New York Times reports that a tour helicopter carrying five Italian tourists collided with a small plane over the Hudson River near Manhattan, and authorities believe all nine people, including a child in the plane, aboard were killed.

East African Standard says a German container ship recently released from captivity by pirates has docked at a port in Kenya after being searched overnight for weapons.

Arutz Sheva reports that more than 70,000 people have thronged Tel Aviv for an event to express solidarity with the homosexual community after a deadly attack on a gay club a week ago.

Texas Observer says a man sentenced to life in prison has been released after 23 years behind bars after DNA tests proved his innocence.

La Gazzetta dello Sport confirms that Espanyol captain Daniel Jarque has died at the age of 26.

The Courier-Mail reports that The Fanatics - Australian cricket supporters who follow their Test team around the world - have claimed responsibility for a hotel fire alarm that roused the England team from their beds the morning of their batting collapse on the first day of the fourth Ashes Test at Headingley.