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

The local media is dominated by the jailing of former Chief Justice Noel Arrigo.

The Times says the former Chief Justice was transferred to Mt Carmel hospital on medical advice after being taken to prison.

The Malta Independent after the Chief Justice story, says Spain is backing Malta to host the EU asylum agency office.

In-Nazzjon, after the story on the former Chief Justice, also gives prominence to the visit to Malta by King Juan Carlos. In another story it says that in terms of a court decision, the people will have to pay compensation for a requisitioned property being used as a PL club in Sta Venera.

l-orizzont says Dr Arrigo is serving his sentence ‘in comfort' - a cell which is much better than the others. It also says a van was hired purposely to transport Dr Arrigo to prison.

The Press in Britain...

The Daily Express claims that tens of thousands of taxpayer-funded European Commission staff will be given a 3.7 per cent pay increase next year.

The Daily Mirror says the Tories are lining up a marriage tax boost to fill the pockets of wealthy couples.

The Independent leads with an NHS investigation into the Basildon and Thurrock Hospitals Trust, saying poor standards of care could have led to the unnecessary deaths of 400 patients.

That story is also the lead in The Daily Telegraph. It says the Care Quality Commission has found poor nursing, filthy wards and a lack of leadership at the trust were big contributors to the death rate.

The Daily Mail reports that the death toll in what it calls the "ward of shame" is around 70.

The Guardian says the government's energy plans have had a major setback with the UK's major safety regulator critical of designs for new nuclear plants.

The Sun says glamour model Katie Price, also known as Jordan, has begged ex-husband Peter Andre to take her back.

The Daily Star also has a story about Katie Price, reporting she had a row with former lover Alex Reid.

Metro says police used anti-terror legislation to stop and search the Government's own counter-terrorism minister Lord West.

And elsewhere...

The Financial Times quotes financial analysts warning there is more bad news to come from cash-strapped Dubai despite reassurances from one of the emirate's top officials.

Die Presse reports the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency saying his probe into allegations that Iran tried to make nuclear arms is at "a dead end" because Tehran is not co-operating.

The Irish Times says four archbishops and the Irish police have been accused of covering up decades of crimes against children by Catholic priests. A new report reveals hundreds of crimes against defenceless children from the 1960s to the 1990s were not reported, while the Irish police treated clergy as though they were above the law.

The Irish Independent quotes survivors of clerical abuse have demanded that senior clergy and the police who allowed known paedophile priests to prey on children be brought to justice. The head of the Catholic Church in Ireland said today that he was shocked and ashamed by details in the Dublin Archdiocese clerical abuse report.

Corriere della Sera reveals that Veronica Lario, the estranged wife of Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, wants €47 million a year as a divorce settlement but he has made a counter-offer of €219,000 monthly, and indicated willingness to go up to €329,000 monthly. She left her husband after he became embroiled in a sex scandal involving at least one prostitute. Berlusconi, 73, is listed by Forbes magazine as the 70th richest person in the world, worth around £4 billion.

Asharq al Awsat reports 48 people have died in Saudi Arabia and 900 have been rescued after the heaviest rainfall in years.

L'Echo says four armed, masked men have made off with hundreds of thousands of euros worth of loot after a hold-up at a Cartier jewellery store in Lyons, in southeast France.

The Washington Times reports that a couple of aspiring TV stars have gatecrashed a prestigious state dinner hosted by President Obama at the White House. Tareq and Michaele Salahi posted photos of their audacious hoax on Facebook after conning their way past the usually water-tight security in Washington on Wednesday night. Once inside, the pair - in full evening dress - gave their names to a marine before being formally announced to the diners. Neither was listed among the 300-plus invited guests.

Florida Today says the world's largest cruise ship has set sail on its maiden voyage from the coast of Miami in Florida. It can carry more than 6,000 guests within its 17 floors. The ship is five times the size of the Titanic and equal to three football pitches and has the longest jogging track at sea, at almost half a mile. It also boasts the first-ever real-life park bursting with greenery for those who long for land during a voyage.