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

The Times leads with the allocation of the health and consumer policy portfolio to John Dalli, the European Commissioner-designate.

The Malta Independent says Mr Dalli was pleased and grateful for the portfolio.

In-Nazzjon quotes Mr Dalli saying he would serve the people of Europe, including Malta. The newspaper says the portfolio is among the important ones and does Malta proud.

In other stories, The Times reports on yesterday's fatal traffic accident and on the Opposition leader's press conference on a newspaper investigation into bribery claims against BWSC, the company awarded the contract to extend the Delimara power station. It also reports the reaction by Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt.

l-orizzont leads with Dr Muscat's comments on BWSC.

The Malta Independent also reports yesterday's Rabat road fatality and in its third story says that Dr Noel Arrigo's stay in Mt Carmel Hospital is temporary.

The Press in Britain...

The Guardian reports City regulators are urgently seeking assurances that Britain's major banks are protected from the deepening debt crisis in Dubai.

The Independent reports Lloyds is facing a backlash from customers after announcing it will ask the courts to strike out thousands of legal claims over unauthorised borrowing fees.

The Daily Telegraph claims the Conservatives have taken a commanding lead in the battleground seats that will decide the next general election.

The Times reports the UK Independence Party offered to disband if Tory leader David Cameron agreed to a referendum on the Lisbon treaty - but he turned them down.

The Daily Mail claims millions of families face postal chaos this Christmas after unions threatened fresh strikes.

The Financial Times says a tie-up between chocolate maker Cadbury and the US confectioner Hershey could be on the cards.

The Daily Express reports the key to staying slim and healthy is a bowl of wholegrain cereal for breakfast.

The Daily Mirror leads with Tiger Woods' car crash where he ended up being treated in hospital.

The Sun says the 33-year-old star pulled out of his driveway, struck a fire hydrant, and then drove into a tree at his neighbour's property.

The Daily Star leads with a possible reunion between glamour model Jordan and her ex-husband Peter Andre.

And elsewhere...

Trinidad Guardian reports Britain and France have committed to paying developing nations to combat global warming by calling for a $US10 billion climate fund financed by rich countries. Prime Minister Gordon Brown and President Nicolas Sarkozy, attending a closed-door Commonwealth summit in Trinidad, urged that the fund be adopted at climate talks to be held in Copenhagen December 7-18.

Pravda says at least 25 people were killed and 50 injured on Friday when a train travelling between the Russian capital Moscow and Saint Petersburg derailed, possibly as a result of an attack. In 2007, a bomb on the same line derailed a train, injuring 60 passengers, with Chechen separatist or ultra-nationalist groups suspected.

The Irish Times says Ireland's Police Commissioner announced officers are examining a report which found paedophile priests were shielded by peers and officials to protect the Catholic Church. The failings amounted to criminal behaviour.

Bild reports Germany's Labour Minister Franz Josef Jung has resigned over a deadly air strike in Afghanistan in September, when he was defence minister. The attack is believed to have killed civilians. His resignation follows that of the military chief of staff.

USA Today reports space shuttle Atlantis and its seven astronauts have returned to Earth with a smooth touchdown to end an 11-day flight that resupplied the International Space Station. The crew spent a week stockpiling the space station with spare parts and performed three space walks to install equipment and carry out maintenance.

According to Die Presse, the International Atomic Energy Agency has voted to censure Iran for its nuclear defiance. Diplomats inside the meeting said that 25 of the 34 IAEA board nations present voted for a resolution backed by the US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany.

Corriere della Sera reports that the family of 21-year-old British student Meredith Kercher, who was murdered in Italy, is seeking €25 million in damages from her American roommate Amanda Knox and two other defendants Italian Raffaele Sollecito and Rudy Hermann Guede accused of the 2007 killing.