Press digest

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

The Times highlights an EU report which says that the Maltese economy is heading for a slowdown as the EU economy risks a recession. It also reports how Air Malta-unions talks have reached an impasse.

The Malta Independent reports how Malta has been warned over its public finances, and how Maximilian Ciantar is back behind bars after allegedly being found driving in violation of a court ban.

l-orizzont reports that the European Union has warned the government over the need for sustainable deficit reduction. It also says that the GWU has proposed a new roster for Arriva.  

In-Nazzjon leads with the creation of a new service, Business First, to group government services to businesses. It also says there is a record number of exhibitors at the Book Fair.

The overseas press

Italy’s Senate votes today on a package of debt- reduction measures that clear the way for establishing a new government in a bid to restore confidence in Europe’s second-biggest debtor. According to AD Kronos, the measures include a pledge to raise €15 billion from real estate sales over the next three years, a two-year increase in the retirement age to 67 by 2026, opening up closed professions within 12 months and the gradual reduction in government ownership of local services. The Chamber of Deputies should vote the following day.

Speaking on Rai TV on Wednesday, Angelino Alfano, the secretary of Berlusconi’s People of Liberty party, said Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi would resign “immediately”. Il Tempo says once Berlusconi resigns, Napolitano will begin consultations with all the political parties to see if they could agree to form a new government, or whether Italy would go to elections. The major opposition parties favour a unity government rather than an election campaign, and Napolitano could reach outside the political arena for a new prime minister to lead a so-called technical government. Sole 24 Ore says former EU competition commissioner Mario Monti is a leading candidate to be given the task of forming a new government, probably on Monday morning.

Kathimerini says Lucas Papademos, the man selected to become Greece’s prime minister, has set out the priorities for his incoming interim coalition government. He said Greece must secure the next instalment of vital international loans by ratifying the bailout package agreed with European leaders last month.

Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports that the United States has urged Asia to do more to stimulate global growth to offset the eurozone crisis. US Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner said talks at a meeting of Asia-Pacific finance ministers had been dominated by how to make growth more balanced and sustainable in the future, given the crisis in Europe. The 21 member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) account for about 40 percent of the world's population, more than 50 percent of its gross domestic product and 44 percent of global trade.

The New York Times says that a military court in the has convicted an American soldier on three counts of premeditated murder for his role as the leader of a rogue US Army unit accused of killing civilians in Afghanistan for sport. Staff Sgt. Calvin Gibbs is the highest ranking of five officers charged. He was also accused of removing their body parts for war trophies.

The Washington Post quotes US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta warning that any US military action against Iran could have unintended consequences, sounding the administration’s strongest reservations about a strike since the release of a new report on Tehran’s escalating nuclear ambitions. Panetta told Pentagon reporters that he agreed with earlier assessments that a strike would only set Iran’s nuclear programme back by three years at most.

The supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, yesterday added his voice to the country’s bellicose backlash against the incriminating UN report about the Iranian nuclear programme. Abrar reports that in an address to officers at a Tehran military academy, he warned any potential military attackers they would face a “strong slap and iron fist”. He said the Iranian nation would respond to any invasion or threat with full force in a way that it would break up invaders from within. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has pleaded for restraint on all sides, apparently in reaction to the speculation that Israel may attack suspected Iranian nuclear facilities.

 Florida Today says a line-up of digits at 11 minutes past the 11th hour on 11/11/11 marks a moment that won't repeat itself for 100 years. Matchmaker Steve Ward will perform 11 wedding ceremonies and observe a moment of silence for veterans at 11.11 a.m. at the Crowne Plaza Times Square Hotel in New York. In Las Vegas, 3,200 marriage licenses were awaiting pickup Thursday, three times more than normal. There's been nothing like it since 7/7/07 – 4,333 licences that day. Fox News reports a surge in requests by expectant mothers throughout the United States to have their babies delivered by Caesarean section today to coincide with the date.