Press digest

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

The Times says eight local councils are in deficit. It also says the US is seeking non-military assistance from Malta on Afghanistan, in areas such as agriculture.

The Malta Independent leads with a statement by the Imam about the Swiss new minarets ban.

In-Nazzjon carries reactions to Labour MP Evarist Bartolo's comments which likened PBS to Zimbabwe. It reports that €6m in EU funds are being allocated to local councils. It also highlights the Prime Minister's visit to Latvia.

l-orizzont says the BWSC contract for the power station extension is being closely watched by the Danish press in view of bribery allegations.

The Press n Britain...

The Guardian quotes the scientist who got the world to take global warming seriously saying it would be better if next week's Copenhagen summit ended in collapse.

The Financial Times has figures claiming to show that manufacturing has declined more rapidly under Labour than in the Thatcher era.

The Daily Telegraph reports at least 5,000 bankers will be paid more than £1 million this year.

The Herald says the board of the Royal Bank of Scotland is on the brink of open warfare with the Treasury over directors' pay.

The Daily Mail says they are threatening to resign en masse.

The Scotsman reports RBS boss Stephen Hester and the entire board would be forced to stand down if Alistair Darling insists on blocking the payment of bonuses.

The Independent claims police are abusing anti-terror laws to stop people photographing tourist sites.

The Times leads on a watchdog report saying thousands of elderly people are in care homes that fail to meet the most basic standards.

The Daily Express says there is fury over revelations there will be almost 600 hours of repeats on TV over Christmas.

The Daily Mirror reports millionaire Tory leader David Cameron claims for chocolate bars on his expenses.

Metro leads with the world's top golfer Tiger Woods apologising for his transgressions, as he admitted he had let his family down.

The Daily Star quotes Peter Andre, ex-husband of Katie Price, also known as Jordan, saying he would never take her back.

And elsewhere...

Abrar leads with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's statement that Iran will now enrich its uranium to an even higher level. He told a cheering crowd of thousands in the southern city Isfahan, "the Iranian nation will produce 20% (enriched uranium) and anything it needs itself". Mr Ahmadinejad also expressed frustration with negotiations with the Un over the country's nuclear programme.

The International Herald Tribune quotes the head of Nato saying that the "non-US" allies would send at least 5,000 more soldiers to fight in Afghanistan. Alliance secretary-general Anders Fogh Rasmussen was responding to US president Barack Obama's announcement of 30,000 more US troops in Afghanistan within six months - coupled with a challenge to Europe to pitch in and do more too.

Sydney Morning Herald reports Australia's Senate, where Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's government does not hold a majority, has rejected his administration's proposal for Australia to become one of the first countries a greenhouse gas emissions trading system to slash the amount of heat-trapping pollution that industries pump into the air.

Kathimerini says a convicted kidnapper on prison leave forced his way into a school in northern Greece - for the second time in three years - and took three staff members hostage for an hour before releasing them unharmed. Hundreds of primary and high-school students were evacuated and no one was hurt. The 55-year-old armed was still holed up in the school.

Gulf News reports that the captain of a British-crewed yacht detained by Iran has said they sailed into Iranian waters by mistake. The five sailors, released after a week in Iranian custody, were detained after the yacht strayed into Iranian waters as they headed from Bahrain to Dubai to take part in the Dubai-Muscat Offshore Sailing Race

Il Tempo says lawyers for a US student accused of killing her British room-mate in Italy two years ago, have urged the court to clear her of all charges. Amanda Knox and her former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito are being tried in Perugia for the murder of Meredith Kercher. They plead not guilty. A verdict is expected by the end of the week.

Bild reports Germany is still paying off war reparations agreed at the Treaty of Versailles. Boris Knapp of the German Finance Agency, the state body that manages the government's debts and borrowing, told the newspaper that more than 90 years after the signing of the peace treaty of Versailles, Germany still has some €56 million outstanding. The debt is expected to be paid off by October 3, next year.

South Wales Echo says a Welsh creamery has launched an extraordinary new cheese that tastes like traditional Christmas cake. The creation is a mix of brandy, fruit, spices and cheese. The company has been inundated with orders from curious customers.

Indiana Globe reports a US babysitter convicted of videotaping herself performing sex acts with children as young as two-months-old has been sentenced to 125 years in prison.

Spanish sports daily Marca has reported that Real Madrid, the world's richest football club in terms of income, will launch its first lingerie line for women next year.