Press digest

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

The Times, like the other newspapers, says a 16-year-old boy died in a fall in Sliema. It also says water and electricity bills will cost families €4 million more next year.

The Malta Independent leads with the restoration of the chapel of Sta Marija tal-Virtu near Rabat. It also reports that a woman in Gozo has been accused of the attempted murder of her husband. It also says that 13 were arrested in connection with drugs.

In-Nazzjon quotes the Prime Minister saying the gainfully occupied rose sharply after Malta joined the EU.

l-orizzont said the price of its shopping basket rose from €80 to €85.30 in a year. It also reports that a woman was accused of the attempted murder of her husband.

The Press in Britain...

The Guardian reports Barack Obama has acknowledged that the time to secure a climate deal may have run out.

Metro goes with the news a climate change deal would be "impossible" for next month's Copenhagen conference.

The Financial Times leads with new powers for the Financial Services Authority will see some companies prohibited from certain business lines.

The Times says Gordon Brown will kick off his election campaign this week when he announces populist measures in the Queen's Speech.

The Independent says the Lib Dems leader Nick Clegg is calling for the Queen's Speech to be scrapped and replaced by an emergency programme of reforms to clean up politics.

The Daily Mirror leads on the father of four arrested in the hunt for a serial rapist, known as the "nightstalker", responsible for more than 100 sex attacks on the elderly dating back to the 1990s in their homes across southeast London.

The Daily Telegraph reports that criminals are being given "holidays" away from their cells to ease pressure on over-crowded jails.

The Daily Express features a report claiming 10 ways to reduce or prevent cancer.

The Daily Mail claims chemicals used in plastics are feminising the brains of baby boys.

The Daily Star focuses on Jordan's latest revelations in the Celebrity Jungle reality show.

And elsewhere...

Al Qds al Arabi quotes Palestinian officials saying they were preparing to ask the United Nations to endorse an independent state without Israel's consent because they were losing hope they could achieve their aspirations through peace talks.

The Jerusalem Post says the announcement drew a harsh rebuke from Israeli Vice Prime Minister Silvan Shalom, a member of Netanyahu's Likud Party. He warned the Palestinians against taking any one-sided action, saying that would not lead to the results they hoped for.

Koha Ditore says voters in Kosovo have elected mayors and deputies for 36 town councils for the first time since the Albanian-majority region unilaterally declared its independence from Serbia in February last year.

La Sicilia reports that Italian police have captured the number two leader of Sicily's Cosa Nostra Mafia, Domenico Raccuglia, after 15 years on the run. "Mimmo" Raccuglia, 45, was considered one of Italy's 30 most dangerous fugitives.

New Straits Times says Asia-Pacific powers, including the United States and China, have vowed to overhaul the crisis-stricken world economy, rejecting protectionism and touting plans for a gargantuan free market.

The Washington Times reports President Obama has called on Burma to free Aung Sun Suu Kyi and other political prisoners, and end oppression of minorities.

Kayhan says Iran has hanged two men, aged 20 and 25 convicted of raping and killing an eight-year-old girl after kidnapping her a year ago. So far this year, at least 250 have executed in Iran.

Bild announces German police have searched a home in connection with an alleged extortion scheme targeting former supermodel Cindy Crawford and her family.

Australia's The Telegraph reports that students and clubbers are buying a new designer drug billed as "a cross between cocaine and ecstasy" over the internet. Drug experts are alarmed by the emergence of mystery drug Mephedrone - known on the street as MM-Cat, Plant Food, Meow and 4-MMC. And they fear its use could spiral as students celebrate the end of exams. The latest "legal high" is being pushed on social networking sites such as Facebook.

Moscow Times says Russian police have arrested three homeless men suspected of killing and eating a 25-year-old and selling parts of his body to a kebab and pie kiosk. The police said the three alleged cannibals had previous criminal records.

Sportbild leads with the memorial service for Robert Enke in Hannover's Niersachsen Stadion, where 45,000 people gathered to pay their respects to the former Hannover and Germany goalkeeper, who took his life last week.

Blick says Argentina's coach Diego Maradona has been banned from football for two months and fined 15,000 by Fifa for his furious outburst after last month's victory over Uruguay. The ban will run from 15 November to 15 January 2010. His role as coach at the World Cup will not be affected.