Press digest

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

The Times leads with the murder of Nazzareno Ebejer 20 years ago and the admission of one of the accused. It also reports that Joe Borg is to remain European Commissioner for the coming few months after the Commission extended its term pending the final approval of the Lisbon Treaty by the Czech Republic.

The Malta Independent also leads with the murder trial. It also reports that 14,000 women will be invited for breast screening every year. In another story is reports the GRTU's call for a stimulus package for SMEs.

In-Nazzjon features an interview with President George Abela on the 200^th day of his appointment. He said he wanted the presidency to be close to the people, and the announcement of the Pope's visit was among the best moments of his tenure so far. The newspaper also reports how the AFM is to receive further technical assistance from Italy.

l-orizzont says a PN core group has drawn up a strategy to neutralise the impact of disagreement within the PN parliamentary group by appeasing or eliminating dissenters from the political scene. It also carries a feature on exorcism.

The Press in Britain...

The Financial Times reports that governments on both sides of the Atlantic are preparing to soften their global plans to halve emissions by 2050.

The Scotsman quotes Prime Minister Gordon Brown saying there were fewer than 50 days left for world leaders to set a course of action to save the planet from climate change.

The Guardian says the White House is engaged in a political stand-off with the Afghan President Hamid Karzai over evidence of fraudulent voting in the country.

According to The Times, the BNP is tarnishing the Armed Forces' reputation by associating itself with the sacrifices of servicemen.

The Herald says business leaders have called for the lifting of the state pension up to 70 as part of a reform of government and private retirement benefit system. The Independent says more than a million people could find themselves unable to buy a home after Britain's financial watchdog said it planned to ban lenders from offering mortgages to people who cannot prove their income. The Daily Express reports a medical breakthrough could see failing body parts replaced with 'off-the-shelf' spares.

Metro says that following a landmark ruling, a quarter of all workers and volunteers will have every minor conviction they have ever received open to scrutiny by employers.

The Daily Telegraph reports criminals arrested for offences including assault, theft and fraud are to escape justice under the biggest shake-up of prosecution guidelines for 60 years.

The Daily Mirror leads with the conviction of a doctor found guilty of poisoning his pregnant mistress with drugs designed to cause a miscarriage.

The Daily Mail fears that rules aimed at protecting children from paedophiles could put an end to school foreign exchange trips.

The Daily Record reports that a teacher struck off for having sex with a pupil is giving him private lessons - in his own home.

The Sun claims the world's most obese man weighs 70 stones - and lives in Ipswich.

The Daily Star reports Singer Cheryl Cole sexed-up her big X Factor solo routine by using an ex-lapdancer's favourite outfit.

And elsewhere...

Cyprus Mail reports Greek Prime Minister Georges Papandreou has had talks in Nicosia with President Demetris Christofias, hoping to forge a common front on the island's reunification and Turkey's EU bid.

The Washington Times announces the arrest of a leading American atomic materials scientist, who had worked for the Pentagon and NASA, and charged him with attempted spying for Israel. Stewart Nozette, 52, was apprehended after a sting operation involving an undercover FBI agent. The Department of Justice said there was no wrongdoing by Israel.

Frettabladid says Iceland has agreed to repay Britain and the Netherlands €3.9 billion it borrowed to compensate savers who lost funds in the collapse of an Icelandic internet bank. Iceland was an early victim of the global financial crisis when three of the country's leading banks collapsed.

Afghan Times expects President Hamid Karzai to announce soon how he will try to resolve the country's post-election political crisis, after investigators rejected many ballots cast in his favour. This meant Karzai did not gain the 50 per cent of votes he needs to avoid a run-off with his main rival, former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah.

Dawn says the Pakistan army and the Taliban have both claimed early victories in what is seen as Pakistan's most crucial offensive yet against militants that are in control of a large swath close to the Afghan border. Troops fought militants on three fronts and jets bombed their positions.

Abrar quotes the chief of Iran's Revolutionary Guard vowing to avenge the suicide bombing that killed five senior Guard commanders and 37 others.

Asia Observer quotes South Korea's foreign minister saying North Korea's uranium enrichment programme was "worrisome" and pressed the nation to take real steps toward nuclear disarmament.

The Irish Times says a Dublin aid worker touched down on home soil after being held captive for almost four months in war-torn Sudan. Sharon Commins, 32, and her Ugandan colleague Hilda Kawuki were released in the early hours of Sunday morning after 107 days in captivity.

The Chicago Tribune reports that a tuft of hair believed to have been trimmed from Elvis Presley's head when he joined the US Army in 1958 has been sold for €10,000 at a Chicago auction house.

USA Today quotes health authorities confirming that pigs at a Minnesota fair have caught the H1N1 virus. However, they insisted people could not be infected by the animals and pork remained safe to eat.