These are the main headlines of the local and international newspapers.
The Times leads with a Church commission proposal that the government should charge a nominal fee on medicines presently distributed free and should levy hospitalisation fees on those holding private health insurance. The proposals which also include revising the minimum wage and increasing parental leave, are in reaction to the government’s pre-budget document.
Il-Ġens Illum also refers to the Church proposals, saying that at a time of economic upheaval, the government’s aim of balancing the budget “should not be at the detriment of the standard of living of the average family”.
The Malta Independent quotes Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi telling the UN General Assembly that it was “extremely difficult” for Malta to continue to carry the burden of irregular migration as it was “so acutely disproportionate to the size of the country and its population”.
In-Nazzjon also leads with Dr Gonzi’s speech at the UN during which he asked for more international support to carry the burden.
In a reaction to yesterday’s story carried by l-orizzont, regarding the BBC report on a Briton accused of drug trafficking, the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs accused the BBC of completely ignoring the Attorney General’s reaction, thus giving a one-sided picture.
The Press in Britain…
“Deal or no deal?” asks The Independent, as US politicians struggle to agree a financial bail-out deal.
The Times says that the row in Washington DC over a $700bn financial rescue package appears to have given Barack Obama the initiative in the race for the White House.
The Daily Telegraph reports City sources are suggesting that Bradford & Bingley will have to be nationalised in some form in the coming days.
The Daily Mail also focuses on Bradford & Bingley, saying ministers may merge it with Northern Rock to create a publicly-owned superbank.
The Sun claims the Queen is going to spend £7 million on her first-ever private jet.
The Daily Express urges its readers to cheer up, predicting a weekend of sun and shopping across the UK.
And elsewhere…
US news media reports presidential rivals Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama have clashed over the economy, Iraq and Iran in their first TV debate. The debate in Oxford, Mississippi, was due to focus on foreign policy but the economic crisis came to the fore. Speaking about the financial bail-out plan under discussion by the US Congress, Senator Obama said: "We have to move swiftly and we have to move wisely." Mr McCain said that while he felt happier now Congress was closer to reaching a deal on the bail-out, it would be a long time before the situation was resolved.
USA Today quotes President Bush saying Democrats and Republicans will come together to pass a plan to rescue the US economy. Mr Bush made the brief statement following the breakdown last night of negotiations to hammer out what he sees as an urgent and vital $700bn deal. He said the proposal was a big one and all parties had to move quickly towards a solution.
Tagesspiegel reports two suspected terrorists – a 23-year-old Somali citizen and a 24-year-old German born in Somalia – were removed from a KLM plane bound for Amsterdam just before take-off from Cologne-Bonn airport. Police said they arrested them after finding farewell letters in which the men expressed their intention to die in a holy war.
Pravda leads with President Medvedev’s announcement that Russia is to build new space and missile defence shields and put its armed forces on permanent combat alert. The announcement puts Russia in a new arms race with the United States, which has infuriated the Kremlin by seeking to establish an anti-missile shield in eastern Europe.
The New York Times says the UN delegates of six major powers have agreed on the wording of a new resolution on Iran's nuclear programme to present to the UN Security Council. Diplomatic sources said the agreement contained no provisions for new sanctions on Iran but simply reaffirmed previous rulings.
The International Herald Tribune quotes President Rene Preval of Haiti imploring leaders at the UN General Assembly to commit to long-term solutions to help his nation after storms killed 500 people and left 800,000 needing food, water or shelter, including more than 300,000 children.
Al Jamahiria quotes a Libyan foreign ministry official expressing doubts a 19-member European tour group kidnapped a week ago in Egypt had been taken to the country.
The New Musical Express reports that US rapper Busta Rhymes has won a high-court battle to play at a charity concert for thousands of young volunteers in the UK, as a judge denied government efforts to gain his deportation. The judgment came less than two hours before the gig at the Royal Albert Hall was to begin.