Press digest

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

The Times says that priceless books are being allowed to rot because of a lack of funds for restoration at the National Library. It also highlights a Dubai company's decision to set up an oil terminal in Malta.

The Malta Independent speaks of ‘Anger in Qala' over plans for the development of Hondoq ir-Rummien. It also features the evidence given yesterday in the compilation of evidence in the Bona murder case.

In-Nazzjon says tourism in May was better than expected, with growth of 20% over the same month last year. It also highlights the oil depot plans.

l-orizzont reports that vouchers for reduced electricity bills have been suspended apparently because the required information has not been given by Arms Ltd to the Social Security Department.

The overseas press

Times of India reports that at least 30 people were killed and 150 injured when an overnight passenger train was derailed by an explosion in an apparent attack by Maoist rebels. Thirteen passenger cars were derailed by the explosion and some coaches were then hit by a cargo train coming from the other direction.

According to Le Parisien, strikes across France delayed flights, closed schools and frustrated commuters as workers protested over government plans to raise the retirement age past 60. Some unions say France's pension budget shortfall could be reduced by raising workers' monthly social contributions.

El Pais says the Spanish parliament has approved with a one-vote majority the second round of austerity measures worth 15-billion euros. The austerity package contains an average pay cut of five percent for all public sector workers beginning in June and a pay freeze in 2011. Spanish trade unions called for strikes.

Börzen Zeitung reports US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has met German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble in Berlin to discuss tougher regulation of financial markets. He reminded Schaeuble of Germany's responsibility, as Europe's biggest economy, to strive for a united EU front on regulation of the financial markets.

The Washington Times leads with President Obama's announcement of tough moves to suspend new oil drilling and exploration following the Gulf of Mexico disaster, while denying the government was too slow to tackle the crisis. Meanwhile, BP's risky bid to plug the well appeared to be working, but new data shows the leak has left a huge slick.

Aftenposten says for over a week, Norwegian oil company Statoil has partly evacuated the Gullfaks oil rig off the western coast after unexpected fluctuations in pressure were encountered while drilling. The company said all 89 non-essential workers were taken off the rig as a precaution, while the other workers remained to normalize well pressure. Norwegian environmental groups say the company has lost control over the situation.

Cesky Noviny says after 14 months of a caretaker cabinet, voters in the Czech Republic go to the polls today to elect a new government. Jiri Paroubek and his center-left Social Democrats (CSSD) are front-runners, but look set to fall short of a majority.

Berliner Morgenpost reports that the Berlin-Brandenburg appeals court has overturned a lower court ruling granting a Muslim student the right to pray in school, saying the act was disruptive. It found that the rights of parents, the religious freedom of others and, in particular, the dictate of school harmony overrode in this instance the right to an individual's expression of religious faith.

The Daily Telegraph reports he Duchess of York is taking her side of the 'cash for access' story to the queen of television. Sarah Ferguson will appear on Oprah Winfrey next Tuesday after being exposed on video offering access to her former husband Prince Andrew for £500,000. Yesterday she appeared before booksellers and librarians at a New York trade show to promote children's books. She did not address the scandal directly but made a few references to it.

The Daily Mail says Stephen Griffiths, a 40-year-old privately-educated loner studying for PhD, has been charged with the murders of three prostitutes. The Crown Prosecution Service said there was sufficient evidence to charge Griffiths with all three murders. He will appear in court today.

Jakarta Post reports that Indonesia's West Aceh district is to distribute 20,000 long skirts to Muslim women as part of their ban on tight jeans. The skirts will be given to women caught violating the dress code that takes effect today. Any shop caught selling short skirts and jeans would face losing its business license. Rights groups say the law violates international treaties and the Indonesian constitution.