Press digest

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

The Times recalls the Marsa bridge incident which caused traffic chaos last month and says the trailer that was involved had not been covered by a valid licence. It also reports the vandalism on the grave of the prime minister's mother.

The Malta Independent also features the vandalism and also highlights the political speeches made yesterday.

In-Nazzjon quotes the Prime Minister saying that education is the tool which strengthens Maltese society. It also reports on the important ECOFIN meeting yesterday to stop the euro crisis; and the vandalism on Mrs Inez Gonzi's grave.

l-orizzont says 272 children are under care orders because of abuses they were suffering. It also quotes Joseph Muscat saying with regard to the power station that health had to come before money.

The overseas press:

EU Observer reports that the bailout plan for crisis-hit countries in the eurozone would amount to €600 billion, according to the latest proposal made by Spain which holds the rotating EU pesidency. The International Monetary Fund would add another 100 billion. If accepted by the member states, the plan would be unprecedented in the history of bailouts. Meanwhile, the IMF approved a €30 billion rescue loan Sunday to help bailout an debt-ridden Greece. The loan is to be spread out over a three-year period, and would be a part of a larger EU rescue package amounting to €110 billion.

Deutshe Welle says German Chancellor Angela Merkel's alliance has suffered a stinging defeat in a regional election as voters reacted angrily to Germany's financial aid for Greece. An ARD television exit poll showed Ms Merkel's Christian Democrats winning 34.5 per cent of the vote and their coalition partners, the Free Democrats, 6.5 pr cent. That would leave them short of a majority in the state legislature in Duesseldorf. The poll found the opposition Social Democrats would win 34.5 per cent, the Greens 12.5 per cent and the Left Party 6 per cent.

In the UK, The Times says David Cameron and Nick Clegg have met face-to-face for a second time. Yesterday's Power-sharing talks between the two sides were described as "productive" and the Daily Express claims they are on the brink of announcing a historic deal within 24 hours. The Daily Mail focuses on Gordon Brown's clandestine meeting with Nick Clegg, describing it as the PM's "last-ditch attempt to cling to power".

Al Quds al Arabi leads with the resumption of indirect peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians after months of political deadlock. The first round ended with the US confirming that special envoy George Mitchell would return to the region next week. The US, which has urged both sides to keep up the effort, has warned them not to undermine the peace effort.

The International Herald Tribune says the arrival of a new ash cloud from Iceland's Eyjafjoell volcano grounded hundreds of flights in Portugal, Germany and Austria Sunday. Air traffic disruptions wre reported across Europe.

US Attorney General Eric Holder has said the US has devidence the Pakistani Taliban was behind the attempted car bombing in New York's Times Square. Speaking on ABC television, he said the militants helped to facilitate the plot, and "probably helped finance it". US officials had previously rejected claims by the group that it was behind the plot.

Pakistan Times says a man, said to be a Pakistani citizen in his 30s, has been held at Karachi airport after batteries and an electrical circuit were found in his shoes as he tried to board a plane. The civil engineer was arrested when a scanner sounded an alarm at the airport. He was scheduled to travel to the Omani capital Muscat on Thai Airways.

South China Morning Post says a Chinese man who spent almost 10 years in jail for murder has been freed after his supposed victim was found alive. Zhao Zuohai had a fight with his neighbour, who then disappeared, and was charged when a headless, decomposed body was found 18 months later. The miscarriage of justice came to light when the neighbour, Zhao Zhenshang, returned to his village in Henan province to seek welfare support. He had fled after their fight because he feared he had killed Zhao Zuohai. Mr Zhao was initially sentenced to death for the crime, but the sentenced was commuted to 29 years in prison. While he was in jail, his wife remarried and several of his children were adopted.

In Malaysia, The Star says thieves who stole a car on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur quickly returned the vehicle, complete with a written apology, after realising it belonged to the local police chief. The handwritten note on the dashboard read: "Sorry police, wrong target."