Press digest

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

The Sunday Times says the November 9 Budget will include a €6.06 cost of living increase, the steepest in the past 15 years. The Malta Employers' Association had objected to such an increase, saying half of it should be paid by the government rather than private employers. The newspaper also reports that talks are being held for the government to make use of St Philip Hospital, thus reducing the waiting list and easing the bed shortage at Mater Dei Hospital.

The Malta Independent on Sunday says an application for new bus termini in Valletta, Rabat and Bugibba will be submitted shortly. It also says the appointment of a new European Commission may be postponed until the Czech President signs the Lisbon reform treaty. Malta has yet to nominate its new commissioner.

MaltaToday says Finance Minister Tonio Fenech has failed to at least apologise for his private trips abroad with leading entrepreneurs, despite being urged to do so by MPs such as Louis Deguara.

Il-mument says the EU has granted €9 million to WasteServ for the waste transfer station in Gozo. It also features the conditions under which potential operators may bid to run the bus service. It also says that a PL course in diplomacy is open only to paid up and recommended PL members.

It-torca says the Ombudsman is facing obstacles as he carries out an inquiry into the water and electricity rates. It also says that the Piano plans for Valletta may yet be changed.

KullHadd reports that Finance Minister Tonio Fenech broke the ministerial code of ethics twice when he want on a private trip to watch a football match abroad with two entrepreneurs. It also quotes Joseph Muscat saying the PN should apologise for physical and psychological violence against labourites.

Illum quotes Labour delegates complaining that their party is losing their traditional beliefs - it is becoming more pink than socialist red.

The Press in Britain…

The Sunday Express reports that Jacqui Smith faces being hauled before a judge as a whistleblower vows to prosecute her over expenses.

In The Mail on Sunday, former Met Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair recalls the moment he was told hijacked planes were heading for Britain on a terror attack.

The Sunday Times claims the Royal Bank of Scotland is planning to hand out record bonuses of up to £5 million each in a snub to struggling taxpayers.

Meanwhile, The Sunday Telegraph reveals ministers are drawing up plans for a tax raid on Britain's banks.

According to The Observer, the Royal Mail is to recruit an army of 30,000 temporary staff in an attempt to crush the national strike that starts this week.

The Independent on Sunday quotes Tony Blair's former chief adviser on the EU having misgivings about the ex-PM becoming President of Europe.

The Sunday Herald says senior Tories want David Cameron to drop his key Scottish Lieutenant as they fear he would be no match for Alex Salmond.

Scotland on Sunday reports that the Orange Order has vowed to mobilise its 50,000 members in Scotland to oppose the SNP at the next General Election.

The News of the World shows CCTV images of Boyzone’s Stephen Gately entering a gay club in Majorca just hours before his death.

The Sunday People refers to his funeral yesterday, saying “he left this world in showbiz style”.

The Sunday Mail quotes Ronan Keating leading Boyzone's tributes to Stephen Gately, saying his friend was now "the perfect angel".

And according to the Sunday Mirror, Keating choked back tears as he summed up their tragic friend Stephen Gately.

And elsewhere…

El Pais reports that more than one million people gathered in Madrid to protest against the proposed liberalisation of the abortion law, which would allow the procedure on demand for women of 16 and over, without their parents’ knowledge.

Czech President Vaclav Klaus, the last European leader holding out on signing the Lisbon Treaty, has indicated he could be set to sign the EU reform treaty. He has told the Czech daily Lidovy Noviny the treaty can't be stopped because it's too far gone to block, even if he wants to.

Sofia Echo quotes Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi announcing during an official visit to Bulgaria, that he wanted to amend the Italian constitution and reform the judiciary which he described as “an order that has no electoral legitimacy”. His remarks came a little over a week after Italy's Constitutional Court stripped him of his immunity.

Threats against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Gianfranco Fini, president of the Chamber and the Lega Nord leader Umberto Bossi have been received by the daily newspaper La Riformista. A letter signed by the Revolutionary Brigades fighters for communism, it gave the three politicians until midnight yesterday as the deadline by which the three politicians had to resign.

Dawn reports some 100,000 people have fled the South Waziristan region of Pakistan as the army continued its offensive against Taliban militants in the region. Five soldiers and 11 militants were killed as more than 30,000 troops deployed to the region met stiff resistance in the region.

Meanwhile, De Standard says Nato military chiefs have backed reinforcements and more resources for troops in Afghanistan.

The International Herald Tribune announces that war-time Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic is requesting that the UN Security Council pass a resolution exempting him from trial at the UN's Yugoslav war crimes tribunal. Karadzic insists he was promised immunity by an American envoy.

Times of India says at least 32 people were killed when a blaze erupted at a fireworks warehouse in southern India ahead of a major Hindu festival.

Environmental Daily reports that hurricane Rick has strengthened to an "extremely dangerous" storm as it reached winds at 260km/h.

Aafathis leads with the Maldives' underwater cabinet meeting to draw attention to climate change and signed a resolution calling for global action to cut carbon emissions. More than 80 percent of the Maldives' archipelago is less than one metre above sea level.

Meanwhile, Aftonbladet says Swedish environment minister Andreas Carlgren was preparing for what's being called a "super week in Luxembourg," where EU ministers will come together starting Tuesday for talks designed to establish the EU's position on every aspect of global warming ahead of the Copenhagen summit in December.