The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press:
The Times reports that independent private schools are asking the government to consider giving parents more tax credits to make private schooling more affordable and ensure schools do not close down. It also reports that two British off-duty policemen yesterday helped arrest a man who allegedly was involved in an attempted theft at Sterling Jewellers in Sliema.
The Malta Independent focuses on the funeral of fireworks factory explosion victim Mario Dimech. It also reports how more investors have filed a judicial protest against Bank of Valletta and Valletta Fund Management over the administration of the fund.
In-Nazzjon carries comments by the former Bishop of Kuwait, Mgr Francis Micallef, who spoke about the importance which the Kuwaitis attach to the work of Guido de Marco for the liberation of their country.
l-orizzont says that a company has been awarded €48,000 in EU funds even though one of its directors was involved in the VAT fraud case
The overseas press
Pak Tribune quotes Pakistani government officials saying they have received new pledges of aid totalling more than 300 million dollars to deal with the floods, which have swamped about a third of the country. The UN said millions of the flood victims had still not received any aid. Blocked roads and destroyed bridges continue to hamper rescue work and officials fear the flood crisis could worsen in the coming days if the already swollen Indus River burst its banks.
Iran has warned that an attack on its first nuclear power plant would amount to an "international crime". Abrar quotes Iran's nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi saying the consequences would not be limited to the hosting country but would have a global aftermath.
Haaretz says a Palestinian who broke into the Turkish embassy in Israel, in an apparent bid for asylum, has been turned over to the Israeli authorities after a standoff of more six hours. He was seen being carried out on a stretcher. The man had entered the embassy reportedly armed with a a knife, a petrol can and a toy gun.
El Tiempo reports that a court in Columbia has declared as unconstitutional its agreement to allow American troops to use Columbia bases. The accord, signed last year, gave the US access to seven bases. The plan had been criticised by other neighbouring South American countries.
Illinois Globe says a jury in Chicago has failed to reach a verdict on whether a former governor of Illinois tried to sell or trade President Obama's old Senate seat. Rod Blagojevich was found guilty of one count of lying to FBI agents but the jury could not decide on 23 other counts. Blagojevich faces a potential prison term of five years and a fine of up to 195,000 euros. Prosecutors say they intend to retry the case quickly.
Texas Globe reports that the leader of a former gang of Houston teenagers, who raped and murdered two young girls walking home from a neighborhood party 17 years ago, has been executed. Peter Anthony Cantu, 35, was pronounced dead eight minutes after the administration of a lethal injection as relatives of his victims, Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena, looked stoically through a window a few feet from him.
According to Metro, dozens of British people have been treated in hospital after taking a new ‘legal high' linked to the death of a 24-year-old man. Users say Ivory Wave - marketed online as relaxing bath salts - is three times stronger than cocaine.
Pravda says a young man has blown himself up near a checkpoint in the region of North Ossetia, killing himself and a policeman. Russian officials said hours later, at least 22 people were wounded in a suspected car bomb explosion outside a cafe in the spa town of Pyatigorsk, popular with Russian holidaymakers, in the foothills of the Caucasus mountains.
The Washington Times quotes the White House saying a deadly suicide bombing outside an Iraqi army recruiting centre in Baghdad, which killed 60 new army recruits and wounded 125 others, would not derail Iraq's transition to democracy. Militants had threatened to step up attacks in the countdown to the US troop withdrawal, with 500 killed in July - the deadliest month since May 2008.
Afghan Daily says President Hamid Karzai has decreed private security companies must leave Afghanistan within four months. The 37 firms, which employ up to 40,000 people in the country, have faced criticism for being trigger-happy and operating outside Afghan law. Only those firms which work exclusively inside foreign compounds, such as embassies, would be allowed to stay.
Liverpool Echo reports that Beatles fans have branded council bosses ‘idiots' for moving ahead with plans to bulldoze the house in Madryn Street where Ringo Starr was born. They described the move as "cultural vandalism".
The Guardian reports that foxes have killed dozens of hens on the country estate of Prince Charles, leading to a shortage of eggs in the prince's organic farm shop. The royal palace in London said the foxes had jumped over a 1.2 metre electric fence at the estate in south-west England to attack the hens in broad daylight - killing about 40 in recent weeks. Farmers have long complained of a growing fox plague in rural England, which some link to the controversial ban on hunting foxes with dogs.