Press digest

The following are the top stories in the local and international press today.

The Times says that the Sliema council is also being investigated about payments to a company that collects separated waste in the town, a service all other localities were getting for free. It says that doctors in training are working 80-hours a week.

The Malta Independent says that Deutsche Bahn has bought Arriva, the company which is negotiating to take over public transport in Malta. In another story it says that BirdLife has requested a unit within the police, the responsibility of which would be to protect the life of protected birds

l-Orizzont says that half the families in Malta spend more than they earn. It says that another PN councillor is being pressured by PN general secretary Paul Borg Olivier.

In-Nazzjon says that GRTU’s company GreenMT has denied claims being made by Sliema mayor Nikki Dimech. It says that the delegates of the biggest conference ever to be held in Malta, and which is being held this weekend, have started to start to arrive.

The international press:

Deutsche Welle reports that German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle has called on all EU states to accept Kosovo's independence. Kosovo has been recognized as an independent state by 69 countries, including 22 in the EU. Cyprus, Spain, Greece, Slovakia and Romania, all of which are grappling with rebellious domestic groups, have refused to accept its independence. Last month, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) declared Kosovo's independence in line with international law.

Le Monde says the French Foreign Ministry has rejected claims by the UN that its drive to expel Roma travellers contravenes international law. The UN Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) had voiced concern at France's move to dismantle 300 illegal Roma camps and send thousands of Roma to Romania and Bulgaria. It has urged France to do more to integrate Roma in French society.

Kabul Weekly reports a NATO base in eastern Afghanistan has came under attack early today from possible Taliban militants. They are believed to have first attacked Forward Operating Base (FOB) Salerno before retreating to occupy a secondary school in Khost city, the provincial capital. The school was near a smaller US-run base.

Pak Tribune quotes UN spokesmen saying another million people have been displaced in the last 48 hours in Pakistan. That is on top of six million people who had already been forced out of their houses by the floods that began nearly a month ago. A fresh round of evacuations was ordered in the southern Sindh province yesterday.

China Daily reports that the North Korean ambassador to Cuba has said his country would answer any attack on it with a nuclear "holy war". In a story datelined Havana, China's Xinhua news agency said Ambassador Kwon Sung-chol made the remarks at a ceremony marking 50 years of diplomatic ties between North Korea and Cuba, the same day that Pyongyang said it was open to returning to nuclear disarmament negotiations.

Meanwhile, South Korean YTN TV and Yonhap news agency say North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il appeared to be heading home from China early today with Beijing's diplomatic and financial support for an eventual handover of power to his son. During his visit Kim was believed to have met with Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Mexican Radio Formula says an official investinating the massacre of 72 migrants in northeast Mexico has gone missing along with a police officer as more bodies were identified and two car bombs shook the region. The official, Roberto Suarez, was one of the first people to find the bullet-ridden bodies at a ranch near San Fernando. , said Tamaulipas state Governor Eugenio Hernandez on Friday. Troops and police were searching for the missing men and the perpetrators of the migrant killings.

El Mercurio says five of the miners trapped underground in Chile were struggling psychologically, as engineers prepared to start drilling an escape shaft. While the rest of the 33 trapped miners were happy to take part in a video to show families they were bearing up despite what has so far been a three-week ordeal, the smaller group refused and were exhibiting signs of depression.

The Daily Mail says British Prisons Minister Crispin Blunt has announced he had left his wife after deciding to admit that he was gay. The Conservative MP said there was nobody else involved in the break up of his marriage, but that it was time for him to face up to his sexuality. Mr Blunt, a former army officer who became MP in 1997, had been married for 20 years and has two children.

Reuters report British Airways has apologised to passengers after an emergency message warning they were about to crash into the sea was played by mistake. About 275 passengers were on the London Heathrow to Hong Kong flight on Tuesday evening when the automated message was played. Cabin crew quickly realised the error and moved to reassure the terrified passengers.

Metro says the surge in older women dating younger men has sparked an organised “cougar convention” and their first international conference was to be held in Britain. The “cougars”, who target younger partners known as ‘cubs’, have created the group and will crown one woman Cougar Queen during the convention in London next month. It is believed there are millions of older women who are going out with, married to, or seeing a man who is younger than them. Around 500 older women are expected to attend.