Malta and international press digest

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

The Times says the government is not aware of any plans for a drastic reduction of the workforce by ST Microelectronics in Malta. It also says that the producers of a play stopped by the Censorship Board are to challenge the censors.

The Malta Independent reports that ST Microelectronics will shed 4,500 jobs worldwide. It also says new regulations on the eco-contribution on plastic bags will be introduced on March 1.

l-orizzont says the Prime Minister has accepted to meet the GWU on ST Microelectronics. It also highlights what it says is a UHM ‘U-turn’ over the utility tariffs and publishes the article upside down. The UHM yesterday urged the government to reduce the tariffs, now that energy prices have stabilized at a low level.

In-Nazzjon quotes Finance Minister Tonio Fenech saying after a meeting of the MCESD that the economy is holding its own despite the international recession, and although there are difficulties, there is no cause for alarm. It also says that the utility tariffs are to be revised in March.

The Press in Britain

It just gets worse and worse, says The Independent, as the IMF predicts the UK will be hit hardest by the global downturn.

The Telegraph also leads on the IMF announcement, warning the UK economy may shrink by up to 2.8 per cent.

It's a story that also dominates the front page of The Times, which calls it 'the deepest recession'.

The Financial Times also the release of the International Monetary Fund's latest economic forecast, cutting its prediction for global growth this year to just 0.5 per cent – the weakest level of growth seen since World War II.

President Obama's attempt to heal relations with the Muslim world is The Guardian's top story, after the US sent a letter to Iran saying it does not wish to topple its government.

The Express leads on the anger in Belfast at plans to compensate families torn apart by violence in Northern Ireland.

The row over two children who are being adopted by a gay couple dominates the Daily Mail, which quotes them saying they want to stay with their grandparents.

The Scotsman says history has been made as a Green MSP single-handedly defeated the Scottish government's £33bn financial package.

In an interview with Daily Star, Britain's most expensive footballer Robinho denies rape allegation charges.

The Sun says the BBC is set to cut the pay of its top stars and bosses by 25 per cent.

The Mirror leads with exclusive news that the lead stuntman in the new Harry Potter film has been seriously injured in an explosion on set.

And elsewhere…

The Washington Post reports the US House of Representatives has passed an unprecedented $819 billion economic stimulus package to help pull the country out of its most serious recession in decades.

Börzen Zeitung says that during the Davos summit the leaders of China and Russia have criticised the West for the 'policy failures' that sparked the global economic crisis.

The Jerusalem Post leads with the meeting between new US envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to discuss the ceasefire in Gaza.

Pravda reports Moscow has reportedly suspended plans to install Iskander missiles in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. The Interfax news agency quoted a Russian military official who said the decision was prompted by a perceived change in Washington's attitude toward a planned US missile shield in Eastern Europe.

Az-Zaman says Iraqis have concluded a first day of provincial elections. Yesterday's early voting was specially designed for soldiers and police so as to free them up for a massive security operation during the main election day on Saturday, the nation's first ballot since 2005. They are seen as a crucial step toward securing stability as US troops prepare to withdraw from Iraq by 2011.

Wall Street Journal reports Boeing plans to cut 10,000 jobs this year in response to the global economic crisis. The announcement came after the aerospace giant released its quarterly results which showed a loss of $56 million for the last quarter of 2008.

USA Today reports that a quartet of Turner paintings has sold at an auction sale at Christie's in New York for close to $1.8m (€1.4m). The three landscapes and a "rare" study of a woman's face came from the estate of William and Eleanor Wood Prince of Chicago.

El Universal says an 11-year-old bullfighter, who killed six bulls in one appearance, has heard his result will not be recognised by the Guinness World Records book.

Los Angeles Times reports that five of the octuplets born to a California woman on Monday have started bottle feeding and the other three are expected to begin feeding on milk soon. The babies are being fed on donated breast milk as their mother, who was "doing well" and has begun to express milk, recovers from the births. The six boys and two girls born on Monday are all breathing on their own, with three being given oxygen to help.