Malta and international press digest

The following are the top stories in the local and foreign press.

The Times says Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has dismissed election speculation. Sections of the media yesterday said Dr Gonzi will call an election this week. It also reports professionals saying that not enough is being done about heart disease, which is a major killer in Malta.

In-Nazzjon reports a speech by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi during which he said that euro adoption would lead to job creation. It also reports a UK estate agent saying the attractiveness of the Maltese property market is improving.

l-orizzont quotes Charles Mangion, acting leader of the Labour Party, saying that the prices of 40 medicines rose between October and November, despite price freeze agreements. It also says that policemen without any training are carrying out inspections of fireworks factories. The newspaper says the Russian Navy is to carry out exercises in the Central Mediterranean, close to Malta, according to Russian media reports.

The Malta Independent reports yesterday’s political speeches, in which Dr Lawrence Gonzi said that ‘Malta has passed the euro test’ and Dr Charles Mangion said the consumer is not protected from price rises.

The Press in Britain…The Guardian says police are considering employing controversial text message tactics to trick rape suspects into incriminating themselves. They are exploring the idea of women texting their alleged attackers in a bid to extract an admission of guilt.

The Sun quotes Prime Minister Gordon Brown saying police in the worst knife-crime areas of Britain are to prosecute anyone found carrying a blade. The zero-tolerance policy will be applied to 12 knife-crime hotspots, mainly in large cities like London, Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham.

The Scotsman talks up the value of traditional policing methods claiming some of Scotland's most crime-ridden areas have seen a massive reduction in offences following the return of bobbies on the beat.

The Daily Mail reports on a detective who, while on bail for his wife’s murder, shot his mother-in-law and then committed suicide.

The Star claims one million African migrants are ready to sneak into Britain while The Daily Express says that almost two million new homes will have to be built just to cope with the immigrant influx. According to the Financial Times, US bank Merrill Lynch is seeking about £2bn in a capital-raising project, as the hole in the US investment bank's balance sheet continues to grow.

The Telegraph claims Northern Rock faces effective nationalisation by the end of the month at a potential cost to the taxpayer of more than £50bn.

and elsewhere…

Berliner Morgenpost says the German government has received a warning from Lebanese authorities that Islamist extremists are planning to launch terrorist attacks in Germany in retaliation for the prosecution of al-Qaeda suspects by the German authorities. The alert came after a suspected al-Qaeda terrorist was arrested in Beirut.

The International Herald Tribune focuses on talks today between senior Israeli and Palestinian negotiators as part of a US-led push for a peace deal before the end of this year. Palestinian chief negotiator, Ahmed Qurei, and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni would lead the discussions on vital issues leading to the formation of a Palestinian state. Core "final status" issues include the future of Jerusalem, defining borders, and the fate of Palestinian refugees.

Gulf News reports US President George W. Bush has called on Washington's allies in the Gulf region to confront Iran. Speaking in an address in Abu Dhabi, Bush said Iran was the world's top sponsor of terrorism .

Tbilisi’s pro-opposition Akhali Taoba reports tens of thousands of opposition supporters have rallied in Georgia's capital to protest against the results of the presidential election and demanding a recount following claims of massive vote-fraud.

Taipei’s Lianhe Wanbao affirms the opposition KMT party has won a landslide in Saturday's parliamentary elections. KMT, which favours closer ties with Beijing, secured 81 of the 113 seats in parliament.