Malta and international press digest

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

The Times says seven men filed guilty pleas and received suspended sentences when the first arraignments in the VAT Department fraud case were made yesterday. It also highlights the discovery of 450kg of Cannabis yesterday. In another story, the commander of the Armed Forces of Malta denies that any information into the death of Gunner Matthew Psaila during a training exercise is being hidden.

The Malta Independent also leads with the major cannabis find. In other stories, it reports that the European Court will decide today whether Spring hunting should continue to be allowed in Malta.

l-orizzont also carries the cannabis find on its front page. It also reports that electricity prices will be higher in view of the equipment chosen for the power station extension.

In-Nazzjon quotes the prime minister saying Malta is maintaining strong investment interest.

The press in Britain...

The Guardian says the rescue of a British journalist in Afghanistan went ahead even though negotiations for his release were already under way.

The Times quotes hostage negotiators expressing anger at the approval of the operation.

The Independent claims the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are about to break the political consensus on strategy in Afghanistan.

The Daily Telegraph says the Tories will cut the rate of spending on the NHS if they win the next general election.

The Daily Mail focuses on the Royal Mail strikes, saying the backlog of post in London alone could run to 20 million items.

The Financial Times reports on the boss of Goldman Sachs admitting banks lost control in the lead up to the credit crunch.

The Daily Express welcomes the news that the index of leading UK shares has gone past the 5,000 mark.

Metro says seven doctors and nurses from a hospital casualty ward have been suspended for allegedly playing an internet craze called the 'lying down game'.

Both The Sun and the Daily Mirror celebrate England's qualification for the World Cup in South Africa

And elsewhere...

El Universal reports the successful end of a hijack of an Aer Mexico Boeing 737 in Cancun after five people were led away in handcuffs in Mexico City's international airport. All 104 passengers on board got off the plane soon afterwards. The men threatened to blow the aircraft up unless they were allowed to speak to President Felipe Calderon.

Aksam says flash floods, sparked by the heaviest rainfall in 80 years, have killed 31 people in Istanbul. The waters swamped houses, turned highways into fast-flowing rivers and drowned seven women in a minibus that was taking them to work.

The Washington Times reports the US believe Iran is a step closer to making nuclear bombs. The statement renews Western pressure on Iran to swiftly engage in "meaningful" talks to resolve the dispute over its nuclear programme. Meanwhile, Fars News Agency said Iran's Foreign Minister handed a package of proposals over ongoing issues to the envoys of Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia.

The Jerusalem Post says a leading Israeli human rights group has challenged Israel's claim that most of the dead in the 22-day Isreali offensive in Gaza last year were militants. B'Tselem said 1,387 Gazans were killed, including 773 civilians, of whom 252 were children under 16, and 330 combatants. Thirteen Israelis also died, including four civilians.

El Pais reports Baltasar Garzon, the Spanish judge who became notorious for laying criminal charges against Augusto Pinochet, has appeared in court himself accused of overstepping his authority when he ordered a probe into the executions and other abuses of civilians by forces loyal to General Franco during the 1936-39 civil war and in the early years of the Franco government. He denies any wrongdoing.

De Telegraf says one of Scotland Yard's most wanted men has been arrested in the Netherlands six years after escaping from a prison van. Noel Cunningham, 47, was due to stand trial over a failed £1.25 million security van raid when he went on the run in 2003. He will now be extradited back to the UK.

Pontiki reports the Greek militant group "Revolutionary Struggle" has claimed responsibility for bombing the Athens stock exchange. Both the European Union and the US State Department consider the group to be a terrorist organization.

Espresso says a Portuguese judge has banned further sales or publications of a former policeman's book which claimed Madeleine McCann, who disappeared in 2007, is dead.

Aviation Week & Space Technology reports the refurbished Hubble space telescope has produced the sharpest photos yet of cosmic beauty, complete with heavenly glows.

Paris Match says the cheek-to-cheek peck that the French use to say hello or goodbye - "la bise" - has come under pressure from the global threat of swine flu. Some French schools, companies and a Health Ministry hotline are telling students and employees to avoid the social ritual out of fear the pandemic could make it the kiss of death, or at least illness, as winter approaches.