Press digest

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

The local newspapers are dominated by Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando's private motion for the introduction of divorce. The Times says the divorce bill had surprised Prime Minister Gonzi.

The Malta Independent says JPO left Gonzi in the dark about the divorce bill. MaltaToday says this was a bolt from the blue.

In-Nazzjon records that Pullicino Orlando moved a motion for a divorce bill and l-orizzont says Parliament has been asked to introduce divorce.

In other stories, The Malta Independent says the inquiry announced by the President last Saturday is not about allegations made regarding the Office of the President, but a conversation held over a state dinner as reported by the president's PRO Marica Mizzi. MaltaToday says the president had been duped by his press secretary that a senior civil servant had leaked official documents.

In-Nazzjon reports that there was a favourable reaction by the UHM to reduced medicine prices.

l-orizzont says payment is to be requested for vocation courses in state secondary schools.

The overseas press:

The Washington Times quotes President Barack Obama urging the Israelis and Palestinians to resume direct peace talks before a settlement freeze expires next September. He spoke after talks in Washington with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The two leaders also played down any suggestion of a rift between the US and Israel, with Mr Obama saying the bond was "unbreakable". Mr Obama praised Israel for announcing it would ease its Gaza Strip blockade.

Le Monde reports President Sarkozy has denied a report that his 2007 election campaign received €150,000 in secret cash donations from Liliane Bettencourt, one of the world's richest women and the L'Oreal heiress. He said the allegations were an effort to smear him.

The Guardian and the Daily Mail dedicate their front pages to the British troops pullout of the Sangin area of Afghanistan, where nearly a third of UK deaths in the war have occurred. They say Defence Secretary Liam Fox was expected to announce that the district in northern Helmand Province would be handed over to US forces and that British troops would concentrate on Helmand's populous central belt.

The Daily Mail reports that Britain was facing having to pay millions of pounds in compensation to detainees who claim they were tortured with the complicity of the security services. Prime Minister David Cameron told the House of Commons that an inquiry into claims that British security services took part in the torture of suspected militants after the September 11, 2001 attacks would begin before the end of the year.

The New York Times says Queen Elizabeth has hailed the United Nations as "a real force for good" in her first address to the organisation for 53 years. Speaking in her capacity as head of the Commonwealth and monarch of 16 UN members, the Queen called for a united approach to tackle global terrorism and urged all countries to "work together as hard as ever" to fight world problems like climate change.

De Standaard reports that MEPs have approved draft rules to give coach and bus passengers the right to claim compensation in the event of delays or cancellations. The aim is to extend passenger rights currently enjoyed by air and train passengers. MEPs want the rules to apply to long-distance as well as local bus transport. Some member states have insisted national governments should be left to decide.

The Egyptian Gazette says a disgruntled construction company worker in Egypt opened fire on his colleagues, killing six and injuring 16 others. According to a security official the gunman, a bus driver, appeared to have suffered severe depression after his company, Arab Contractors, transferred him to a new position. Arab Contractors is one of the largest construction companies in Egypt.

Variety reports that Hollywood star Lindsay Lohan has burst into tears after being sentenced to 90 days in jail for violating her probation for drink driving. The Mean Girls movie actress must report to a prison on July 20 and attend a 90-day residential substance abuse programme once she has completed her jail term. The alcohol education classes were imposed after Lohan was arrested for cocaine possession and two drink driving offences in 2007.

Peruvian drug dealers have found a novel use for the vuvuzela - hiding their marijuana. Expreso says two Peruvian women were arrested in front of a school in Lima for trying to sell 100 small bags of marijuana that they had stuffed into their plastic horns. Vuvuzelas have spread quickly and become standard fare at football matches and political rallies in Peru and many other countries