The following are the leading stories in Maltese and foreign newspapers.
The Times leads with President Vladimir Putin’s defiant message to the West, accusing it of unleashing a new arms race. It also publishes a picture of Grand Master Fra Andrew Bertie, who died on Thursday in Rome.
l-orizzont reports on the deferment to March 7, a day before the general election, of a case instituted by Joseph Fenech, known as “Zeppi l-Hafi”, asking the court to drop the bill of indictment on three pending criminal cases - attempted murder, drug trafficking and theft. The cases had been deferred sine die by virtue of a Presidential Pardon.
The Malta Independent dedicates its front page to two reports, one quoting Labour leader Alfred Sant saying “more cases of bad governance will be revealed” and the other quoting Parliamentary Secretary Tonio Fenech saying that Dr Sant’s allegations, that he had used the National Lotteries Good Causes Fund to satisfy political interests, was an “outright lie”.
In-Nazzjon leads with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi’s visit to a chicken processing firm in Burmarrad, saying consumers were enjoying stable prices notwithstanding the hike in the price of cereals on the international market. Il-Gens illum ponders on the effect the hunters’ vote will have on the result of the next general election. In another story it reveals that only 36 out of 152 hospital consultants opted to renounce to private practice.
The Press in Britain
The Daily Mail says the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, is facing increasing pressure to resign as he prepares to make his first public appearance since his controversial Sharia law comments that Britain must adopt an Islamic code.
The Times leads with the same story, and says at least two Synod members have called for him to go. He also faced criticism from leading bishops.
The Sun says the archbishop, who will preach in Cambridge, said he did not call for the Islamic law "to be a kind of parallel jurisdiction to the civil law".
The Daily Express says Sharia law is already operating in secret in many British towns and cities.
The Independent dedicates its whole front page to President Vladimir Putin’s speech criticising the expansion of Nato and lashing out at "foreign interference" by the West in Russia's internal affairs. He said Moscow had no other option but to retaliate to these new challenges. In an exclusive story,
The Daily Telegraph quotes a whistleblower claiming hundreds of lawyers and prison visitors have been secretly bugged at jails across the UK.
The Daily Star says plans to play Premier League games in foreign countries are in disarray.
The Daily Mirror reports that in a desperate plea to Paul McCartney to avoid a divorce court showdown next week, Heather Mills says she will settle for £10 million.
The Guardian says a legally enforceable cinema-style classification system is to be introduced for video games.
The Financial Times claims "endemic" mortgage fraud on new homes has triggered a wave of repossessions and forced a widespread crackdown by regulatory authorities.
And elsewhere…
The International Herlad Tribune says US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has appealed to European leaders not to let their opposition to the war in Iraq affect their willingness to support the US-led military mission in Afghanistan.
Blic News quotes Serbia's President Boris Tadic’s saying that any international involvement in the country's majority ethnic-Albanian province of Kosovo must be approved by the UN Security Council. Tadic warned that partitioning Serbia against its will would have serious consequences for all the parties involved. Meanwhile,
Kosova Press News Agency says Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci indicated that around 100 countries have pledged to recognise the province as an independent state. Diplomatic sources have confirmed reports that Kosovo plans to declare independence on February 17.
Pravda reports the official visit to Moscow of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk aimed at improving bilateral diplomatic and trade ties. Following a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov, Tusk said they had agreed to open a new dialogue. Bilateral relations have been strained since 2005, when Russia banned imports of Polish meat. Warsaw retaliated by vetoing talks on a partnership treaty between the European Union and Russia. The two countries have also been at loggerheads over Poland's plans to host part of a US missile defence shield on its territory.
Le Parisien reports President Sarkozy has unveiled his long-awaited rescue-plan for France's poor suburbs. He announced a three-year plan to deploy 4,000 more police to combat gangs and promised to tackle unemployment, education and housing in ethnically diverse neighbourhoods.
Washington Post quotes George Bush urging Republicans to unite around their nominee in the fight "to keep the White House in 2008", saying "prosperity and peace are in the balance" in next November’s election. The president's comments came the day after John McCain effectively took the party's presidential nomination as Mitt Romney pulled out of the race.
Variety says Amy Winehouse has been granted a US visa but will not perform live at the Grammys due to "logistical" problems. Her spokesman said she will instead perform via satellite link from London. The singer, who has been treated at a rehab clinic in north London, had previously been denied entry to the US.
The Western Australian reports that the funeral of actor Heath Ledger will held in his home town of Perth with only 10 family members present. Ledger’s father, Kim, asked reporters to stay away, saying: "We're finding it pretty difficult to cope by ourselves, let alone with everyone around the world." The 28-year-old Brokeback Mountain star died of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs in New York.
Bolton Evening News reports that Lancashire Police are facing an £80,000 damages bill for unlawful detention… of a horse called Romeo. The Irish-bred palomino gipsy cob was seized from a traveller in Blackpoo, who intended to use it for stud. But police suspected Romeo was stolen. By the time he was returned to owners, they had missed the chance to put him out to stud to produce valuable foals.
Cannacht Tribune says the first ever bus service between Ireland and Australia has set off on its mammoth expedition taking it across the world in 13 weeks. OzBus left Galway and will call at London, Prague, Istanbul and a host of other cities in 22 countries before arriving in Sydney in May. The 22,000km trip will have 39 passengers on board, each paying about £4,000 for the experience.