Press digest

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

The Times reports that there has been no change in customs procedures for Iranian ships at Malta Freeport after sanctions imposed by the EU. It also reports that a woman was given €2,000 compensation for verbal sexual harassment.

The Malta Independent quotes the prime minister calling for feedback from the European Commission on Malta's spring hunting plans.

In-Nazzjon reports the prime minister saying that the country needs to continue to strengthen its social sector. It also reports that €20 million are being spent on environmentally-friendly apartment blocks in Gozo, with a large portion of the development footprint devoted to gardens.

l-orizzont says that the government has already saved €80 million despite its 'lie' to reduce income tax. It also reports about concerns of the increasing presence of HIV.

The overseas press

Al Ayyam reports that a huge blast early this morning has leveled the house of a Hamas commander in southern Gaza, damaging 12 nearby houses and wounding at least 32 people. The regional Hamas commander, Ala Adnaf, was missing along with another person, and rescue workers were digging through the rubble. Palestine security officials said the blast was the result of an Israeli airstrike, but Israel's military said there was no Israeli activity in the area.

The Jerusalem Post says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a stern warning to Hamas after a weekend of rocket attacks from the Palestinian territory on Israeli communities. He told his Cabinet that Israel held the Islamic militant group responsible for the flare-up in violence and would retaliate for any attack against its people.

Dawn quotes Pakistani officials confirming that the number of people known to have been killed by floods in the north-west has passed the 1,100-mark. About 30,000 troops have joined the relief effort, with large parts of the region submerged by the worst monsoon rains in memory.

Athens Post announces Greek truckers were ending their seven-day strike and entering into talks with the government over opening up their closed-shop profession. Authorities had deployed military vehicles to restore fuel supplies to airports, hospitals and power stations.

Het Parool reports the last troops from the 1,600-member Dutch military contingent have left Afghanistan, marking an end to the Netherlands' four-year mission in the central province of Uruzgan. They will be replaced by American, Australian, Slovak and Singaporean forces.

Le Parisien says French opposition lawmakers and media attacked a host of new government proposals targeting gypsies and immigrants suspected of crimes. They accused President Nicolas Sarkozy was pandering to the far-right in a bid to boost his popularity.

Gulf News reports the United Arab Emirates was to block sending emails, accessing the internet, and delivering instant messages to other Blackberry handsets. Saudi Arabia was to prevent the use of the Blackberry to Blackberry instant messaging service. Both nations are unhappy that they are unable to monitor such communications via the handsets, claiming security concerns.

O Globo reports Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has offered to provide refuge to a woman who was sentenced to death in Iran following her conviction for committing adultery. The case created an international outcry when Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani initially was sentenced to death by stoning. Iran withdrew that part of the sentence earlier this month, but the mother of two could still face execution by hanging.

The Irish Times says beefed up guidelines over the sale of medicines containing codeine - like Solpadeine and Nurofen Plus - come into force today. Pharmacists would have to make sure customers know how to use the drugs properly, by advising them to stick to the recommended dose and duration of use, and informing them of the risks of developing a tolerance to and a dependence on such drugs. All advertising of codeine products, including window displays and leaflets, is now prohibited.

Bild reports Germany has won the U-20 Women's World Cup on home soil after beating Nigeria 2-0 in the final. For star-player Alexandra Popp there was the double glory of being recognized as both top scorer and best player. In the third place play-off, South Korea defeated Colombia one-nil to take third place. Almost 400,000 fans attended the tournament's 32 games.