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

The Times leads with the death of 75 immigrants during their crossing to Europe. It also reports on the release of the Lockerbie bomber as an act of mercy.

The Malta Independent reports that inflation in education has shot up and in another story it also reported on the release by Scotland of Megrahi.

l-Orizzont leads with a story headlined "They did not show up to return to Algeria" and in another story it reports on bad odours in St Paul's Bay of more than €260,000.

in-Nazzjon reports that the Vittoriosa council is in favour of the removal of oil depot in spite of Roderick Galdes' vote against. It says that there was another record year at university and carries a photo of the arrival of lifecyclists from Damascus.

The Press in Britain...

The return of the only man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing to a "hero's welcome" in his native Libya has been met by a volley of criticism.

The Times describes how Megrahi was greeted by thousands of well-wishers as he emerged from a private jet, hand in hand with Colonel Gaddafi's son.

The Daily Mail describes Megrahi's reception on his arrival home in Libya as a 'hero's welcome'.

The Independent questions whether the release of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi - the only man to be convicted over the Lockerbie bombing - was an act of compassion or an insult to the victims.

The Daily Record says the Lockerbie bomber has been given the mercy he never showed to his 270 victims.

The Daily Telegraph leads with Barack Obama's criticism of the Scottish government over its decision to release the terminally-ill Libyan.

The Herald says that the Scottish Parliament has been reconvened early from its summer recess to discuss the Megrahi's release, which President Obama described as a "mistake".

The Financial Times reports that Porsche and its dormer chief executive are being investigated by German prosecutors for insider trading over its failed takeover of Volkswagen.

The Daily Express says mortgage lending has rocketed to a nine-month high of £16 billion.

The Daily Mirror claims jealous Peter Andre flipped after seeing his kids with estranged wife Katie Price's new lover.

Evicted Big Brother housemate Noirin Kelly talks to the Daily Star and lifts the lid on the secret scandals, including live sex and bullying, behind troubled Channel 4 show.

And elsewhere...

Afghan Times reports that the counting has began after millions of Afghans defied Taliban threats and went to the polls to choose their next president.

The Washington Post reports Britain, France, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain have accepted to take detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, bolstering efforts to close the prison.

The New York Times reveals the CIA hired private security firm Blackwater as part of a secret plan to kill top-level members of al-Qaida.

Al Jazeera rfeports President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran has revealed a new cabinet purged of critics and packed with loyalists and little-known figures.

Russian authorities have questioned crew members from the Maltese-registered cargo ship after the 11 crew members and eight alleged pirates were returned to Moscow. State television channel Rossiya said the suspects claimed to be ecologists who had been arrested by mistake.

China Times reports that more than 1,300 children have been taken ill in the country's second mass lead poisoning case in a month.

Deutsche-Welle reports that German Chancellor Angela Merkel has tops Forbes magazine's list of powerful women for the fourth year running.

Seattle Times reports that illusionist David Copperfield is being sued in the US by a former beauty queen invited to his $50 million dollar Bahamas private island in 2007, who claims he sexually assaulted and threatened to kill her.

Dominion Post says a husband who promised his wife of three months he would find his wedding ring after it fell in a harbour has succeeded - after searching for 16 months.

Il Tiempo reports that a least two stolen dogs were found in an operating room used for dissections at the medical school of South America's oldest university, but its dean denied relying on dognappers to collect specimens for classes.