Press digest

The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press. The local press is dominated by the government reshuffle, announced last night.

The Times says the Prime Minister has retained a small Cabinet.

The Malta Independent says Joseph Cassar has been promoted minister.

In-Nazzjon says a new minister has been appointed and responsibilities have been shifted.

l-orizzont says this was an exercise of musical chairs.

In other stories, In-Nazzjon reports John Dalli saying he was eager to get down to work as European Commissioner.

l-orizzont quotes the MHRA saying that the increase in the utility tariffs would cost restaurants €1.8 million annually.

The Malta Independent says the European Parliament yesterday afternoon approved the new European Commission.

MaltaToday quotes John Dalli saying he will 'keep listening' and remain active in the Nationalist Party and true to its principles. It also says that Labour MP Justyne Caruana is seeking measures to stop women going abroad for abortions.

The overseas press:

The Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal Europe report that financial markets have surged on hopes of a European rescue plan for Greece, as officials in Berlin admitted they were looking at how to construct a "firewall" to prevent the debt crisis spiraling out of control.

Börzen Zeitung quotes a German government official saying that the steep decline in the euro and pressure on bond prices had forced Berlin to "take a significant step" in how to deal with the crisis as it could hit its banks and those in other eurozone countries, particularly Spain and Portugal.

The Times says a referendum on changing the way British MPs are elected - from first-past-the-post system to the Alternative Voting (AV) system - will be held by October next year under government plans passed by the Commons.

The Washington Times quotes President Barack Obama saying the international community was developing a "significant regime of sanctions" against Iran for its nuclear programme. Despite Tehran's denials, he said, it was clear Iran was working to build nuclear weapons.

Meanwhile, Corriere della Sera reports that Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini told a senate hearing dozens of Iranians, including pro-government militia, have tried to attack Italy's embassy in Teheran. He said Basij militia dressed as civilians hurled stones and shouted "Death to Italy" and "Death to Berlusconi".

France 24 reports Ukraine's defeated presidential election candidate Yulia Tymoshenko will challenge results of the bitterly contested presidential election, rejecting calls on her to ease tensions by conceding defeat. Breaking a day of silence after her defeat to Viktor Yanukovych in Sunday's vote, aides said the prime minister's party would be contesting results in some areas and could then even challenge the overall outcome. She has disappeared from public view since the results were published.

Afghan Times reports that the US Army has launched a major operation in support of a planned US-Afghan attack on the largest Taliban-controlled town in southern Afghanistan. About 400 American troops were joined by 250 Afghan soldiers and their 30 Canadian trainers to move into positions north east of Taliban-controlled Marjah.

Lagos' Daily Champion says Nigeria's new acting president has called for unity 10 weeks after the nation's elected leader left the country for medical treatment in Saudi Arabia and was never heard of again

Aviation Week reports that space shuttle Endeavour's astronauts have inspected their ship for any launch damage as they raced toward a 200-mile-high rendezvous with the International Space Station. They used a 100-foot, laser-tipped boom to check the thermal shielding on the wings and nose after a few pieces of foam insulation broke off the external fuel tank during Monday morning's launch.

CNN reports a rice seller has been found buried alive four weeks after the devastating Haitian earthquake hit. The 28-year-old was pulled out of the wreckage of a market in Port-au-Prince and was suffering from severe dehydration, malnutrition and open wounds on both feet. He was found by people attempting to clear the marketplace and taken to a field hospital run by the University of Miami.

The Mail & Guardian says 13 children were among 15 persons killed by fire at an orphanage in South Africa. Police have not established what sparked the blaze and fire investigators from Pretoria are searching for clues.

The Dominion Post says New Zealanders who for decades have endured jokes about being outnumbered 20-to-one by sheep have a new farm animal majority to worry about: cows. Statistics show that a record 5.8 million dairy cattle were counted in the year ended June 2009 - well more than one animal for each of the country's 4.3 million citizens. In contrast, sheep numbers declined to some 32 million in 2009, less than half the peak of 70 million reported in 1982.

An Austrian millionaire is giving away all his money and possessions, estimated at €3.5 million, to help fund orphanages and other charity projects in South America. Businessman Karl Rabeder, 47, told Bild the reason for his surprising act of generosity was his fortune never made him happy. "Money is counterproductive - it prevents happiness to come," he said. The is selling his €1.8 million villa, which has a lake, sauna and spectacular views of the Alps, and his stone farmhouse in Provence. Already gone are his collection of six gliders and his luxury car, as well as the interior furnishings and accessories business that made his fortune.