Press digest

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

The Times says Carnival float-makers have set a June deadline for agreement with the government on the provision of workshops where to build their floats. It also says there has been a steep increase in the number of operations at Mater Dei Hospital.

The Malta Independent says the Nadur Carnival was a calmer affair this year. In other stories it quotes the Prime Minster saying the reaction to the cabinet reshuffle was understandable. Joseph Muscat said the reshuffle did not change anything.

In-Nazzjon quotes the Prime Minister saying that decisions are taken in the national interests. He also said there is interest in investment in Malta from Gulf countries.

l-orizzont says €50,000 have been awarded as compensation to the former CEO of the ADT after his contract was terminated. It also reports that the PL has backed the trade unions for their protest over the utility tariffs.

The overseas press

Afghan Times reports that the head of the international force in Afghanistan, Commander General Stanley McChrystal, has apologised to Afghanistan's President Karzai for the death of 12 Afghan civilians and promised to avoid future incidents. They died when two rockets fired at insurgents missed their target and struck a house during the second day of Operation Moshtarak.

Qatar Post quotes US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in the Middle East to rally Arab support for tougher sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme, saying the US would welcome peaceful engagement with Iran but not "while they are building their bomb". Speaking at the US-Islamic World forum in Qatar on her first stop of the three-day tour, Mrs Clinton said the West was "encouraging Iran to reconsider its dangerous policy decisions." The tour includes her first ever trip to Saudi Arabia.

Al Jezeera says Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has suspended his chief of staff while an inquiry is held into allegations that he solicited sex from a job applicant. Last week an Israeli TV station showed footage of Rafiq al-Husseini undressing in a hotel room with a woman who was not his wife and inviting her to bed. Mr al-Husseini, who denies any wrongdoing, says he is the victim of a plot.

A Swiss parliamentarian has told the German daily Bild he would aim to expose German public figures over alleged tax manipulations if Berlin goes ahead with plans to buy stolen data on tax-evaders with Swiss bank accounts. Alfred Heer of the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) said financial sources have evidence politicians and judges from Germany keep accounts in Switzerland and Liechtenstein for the purposes of evading tax.

The Irish Examiner reports that survivors of priestly abuse have demanded leadership and accountability from Pope Benedict as bishops prepared for a major Vatican summit over the scandals. The 24 senior clergymen will take part in unprecedented two-day talks after being hauled before the Pontiff over the sexual abuse revelations that have rocked the Irish church.

The Times says the British National Party has voted to approve changes to its constitution that would allow black and Asian people to become members. The decision came after the Central London County Court told the BNP to amend its constitution to comply with race relations laws or face legal action by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Several British nationals announce the death of Dick Francis, the best-selling novelist and former jockey. He was 89. The Daily Tlegraph says the author of 42 novels, Francis was acclaimed as one of the greatest thriller writers in the world. He was the winner of more than 350 races, Champion Jockey in 1953/54 and rode for the Queen and the Queen Mother.

Ha'artez says a 60-year-old Israeli man who kept a harem of at least 21 women who bore him 49 children has been charged with enslavement, rape, incest and other sexual offences. Goel Ratzon, who was arrested last month, denies any wrongdoing. He remains behind bars.

USA Today says the oldest death row inmate in the US has died of natural causes aged 94. Viva Leroy Nash, who died late on Friday at the state prison in Florence, had a criminal record dating back to the 1930s. He was sentenced to death in 1983, for shooting a salesman after escaping from jail but he managed to stave off his execution with a series of appeals.

The Los Angeles Times reports that a 51-year-old American man has embraced the Valentine's Day spirit faster than anyone before, giving 7,777 hugs in 24 hours for a new world record. Jeff Ondash, who broke the record on the Las Vegas Strip, said he wanted to become the world's hugging champion to raise money for the American Heart Association during American Heart month.