Press digest

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

The Times and the other newspapers report that two men have been jailed for 30 years each for the murder of Nazzareno Ebejer in a countryside room near Mellieha 20 years ago. The newspaper also reports that PL leader Joseph Muscat has distanced himself from Alfred Sant following his comments on TV on the recruitment of Gunner Matthew Psaila.

The Malta Independent and In-Nazzjon both report that the Polish Prime Minister has promised assistance to Malta on immigration.

l-orizzont says allegations against two members of the GWU in Air Malta have been withdrawn.

The Press in Britain...

The Daily Telegraph reports the BBC was last night under siege after BNP leader Nick Griffin used his appearance on BBC1's Question Time to attack Muslims and homosexuals, provoking some members of the audience to call him "a disgrace".

The Guardian writes Griffin was dubbed the "Dr Strangelove" of British politics after attempting to claim the mantle of Winston Churchill.

The Times says Griffin used his Question Time debut to deny he was racist or a Nazi and claim that he was loathed by British Nazis.

The Daily Mail says BNP leader's air time has left the BBC facing accusations of 'publicity-seeking' naivety.

The Independent says "Griffin's baptism of fire at the BBC" led to Muslims and equality groups joining the criticism of the corporation.

The Daily Express writes that if the BNP is not stopped in its tracks it will push its "warped agenda of racial purity" to the limit.

The Daily Mirror's conclusion is that Nick Griffin was exposed as a political lightweight by members of the Question Time panel.

And elsewhere...

The International Herald Tribune says a strong earthquake has shaken buildings in Afghanistan and Pakistan. There were no initial reports of damage or casualties from the quake, which struck about 8.51 p.m. Malta time.

The People's Daily reports that China's economy has expanded by a staggering 8.9 per cent in the third quarter. This was fuelled by a lavish government stimulus spending that has helped the nation spearhead recovery from the global recession.

Addis Tribune says Ethiopia has made an urgent appeal for emergency aid to feed 6.2 million people, after a five year drought across east Africa has pushed 23 million people to the brink of starvation.

De Standard says the European Parliament has awarded its top human rights prize to Memorial, a group which campaigns against abuses of power in the countries of the former Soviet Union.

Moscow Today quotes the chief of the nation's state arms-trading monopoly, Anatoly Isaikin, warning that Russia would step up action to defend the copyright of the Kalashnikov, which is made without licence by dozens of manufacturers around the world.

La Tribune de Genève says the World Health Organisation will send an emergency team to help the Philippines fight a bacterial disease outbreak that has killed at least 148 people and left some 2,000 sick. Outbreaks of leptospirosis, spread by water contaminated with the urine of rats, dogs and other animals, have compounded the problems faced by the country after back-to-back storms since late last month killed more than 900 people and devastated northern regions.

The Dominion reports a serial thief has been jailed for six years for stealing a priceless collection of military medals including nine Victoria Crosses from a New Zealand museum. The theft of 96 medals in 2007 shocked the country whose record of fighting in global conflicts is a point of pride for millions.

The Age says an 88-year-old man accused by Hungary of Nazi war crimes during the Second World War has surrendered to Australian police after exhausting his appeals against extradition

Il Tempo quotes Queen Rania of Jordan telling the Italian Parliament that women can help save the world economy from the global downturn. In an acceptance speech for the Marisa Bellisario Prize, the 39-yar-old queen, who has worked extensively to promote women's and children's rights,, said women would be responsible for some €3.5 billion of new global revenue over the next five years.

La Republica has reported that more than 100,000 Italian women have signed a petition saying they are offended by Premier Silvio Berlusconi after he made a sexist remark to an opposition politician. Berlusconi made the jibe during a call to a late-night talk show that featured Rosy Bindi, a former minister who dresses conservatively.

La Sicilia says a man fled house arrest to get away from his wife but was sent back home. Santo Gambino, 30, a bricklayer from a town outside Palermo, reportedly begged police to put him back inside because of the ''non-stop nagging'' at home. But a judge ignored his pleas and reinstated his house arrest, urging him to ''try to get along''. Gambino was arrested in March for dumping construction waste.