Press digest

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

The Sunday Times carries comments by Eddie Fenech Adami that the ‘mess’ created by Franco Debono is ‘unbecoming’ for Malta in such a critical period. It also features remarks by Joseph Muscat who says he will reveal details on his pledge to cut the power tariffs at the appropriate time.

The Malta Independent on Sunday says the PN parliamentary group will consolidate its position tomorrow before the confidence vote in parliament on Tuesday. 

It-Torca  says Malta is paying price for Clyde Puli’s haste to announce the White Rocks projects, as talks with the developers proceed at a slow pace.

KullHadd reports that contrary to the Dalli case, the prime minister is not insisting for the resignation of a parliamentary assistant who is being investigated for alleged football bribery.

In a related story, MaltaToday says Parliamentary Assistant Robert Arrigo would not comment on the investigation. It also says councillors from both parties are being investigated for alleged misuse of EU funds.

Il-mument highlights the fact that the Labour MPs did not take part in the debate on the bus service in Parliament on Friday.   

Illum reports that a senior manager at Transport Malta also works for a private company which was awarded 26 contracts by the Authority. This person even answered the phone of the private company.

The overseas press

Kathimerini reports that Greek President Carolos Papoulios would hold talks with the. Centre-right New Democracy party leader Antonis Samaras today in an effort unblock the political deadlock as he resisted calls by Prime Minister George Papandreou to form a unity government. The Socialist government had called Samaras to join a four-month coalition aimed at securing a mammoth new European debt deal. Papandreou argued that a broad-based government was vital to keeping the country in the eurozone, but the opposition insisted instead that immediate elections be held. Reuters reports that two opinion polls published Saturday suggested that Greeks would prefer a national unity government to snap elections.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says at least a decade is needed for Europe to pull itself out of the debt crisis, but sees “no reason to be pessimistic” if everyone “applies themselves and does their homework”. Sonntagsblast says Merkel devoted her weekly podcast to reassuring Germans that despite a week of rattled markets and drama in Greece, Europe’s debt crisis could be managed with time and effort.

SkyNews reports that prayers would be said across the country today for those killed and injured in one of Britain's worst ever motorway accidents. Emergency teams on the M5 worked through the night on their dreadful task of trying to recover bodies from the burnt out wreckage of some of the 34 vehicles involved. At least seven people died in the crash, 51 were injured. The final number of deaths may reach double figures. The Sunday Telegraph says several possible causes would be probed in the investigation, including a nearby firework display which might have distracted drivers. Witnesses described the scene looked “like Afghanistan”.

The Daily Trust reports that at least 150 people have been killed in a wave of bombings and shootings carried out in north-east Nigeria. The radical Muslim sect Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the attacks, and its spokesman promised that “more attacks are on the way”. The sect wants the strict implementation of Shariah law across the nation of more than 160 million people.

Il Tempo reports that tens of thousands of opposition activists have demonstrated in central Rome calling for Berlusconi’s resignation. Democratic Party leader Pierluigi Bersani told the crowd that his party was prepared to work with other opposition groups to lead a new government. Berlusconi’s grip on power has been weakened by the ongoing sovereign debt crisis and infighting in his coalition that has prevented clear measures. Italy’s borrowing costs to service its enormous public debt at 120 per cent of GDP have been rising since the summer. The protesters, who arrived on buses and trains from throughout Italy, were joined by centre-left politicians from France and Germany, as well as a group of topless female demonstrators from Ukraine known as Femen.

Meanwhile, La Republica quotes Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi saying improper construction in flood plains was partly to blame for devastating floods that have killed at least six people in the port city of Genoa. He said in a statement it was evident there was construction in “areas where there shouldn’t have been” Torrential rains lashing Genoa and Italy’s western coast triggered flash floods that broke the banks of at least two rivers. At one instance 10 cm of rain fell in two hours. 

The Daily Trust reports that at least 150 people have been killed in a wave of bombings and shootings carried out in north-east Nigeria. The radical Muslim sect Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the attacks, and its spokesman promised that “more attacks are on the way”. The sect wants the strict implementation of Shariah law across the nation of more than 160 million people.