The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press:
The Sunday Times quotes an article by Eddie Fenech Adami saying that MPs should stand and be counted on divorce. It also carries an interview with Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando who said that in view of the divorce result, MPs cannot vote ‘no’.
The Malta Independent says that 37 MPs have declared that will vote ‘yes’ for divorce in Parliament. It also says that bus passengers will pay more from July 3.
MaltaToday says some MPs have told Lawrence Gonzi that his position as head of the PN is untenable.
It-Torca says the Cabinet is divided on divorce. It also reports how a woman was ‘butchered’ in Bugibba.
KullHadd reports that there is panic within the Nationalist Party following the divorce referendum.
Il-Mument highlights a statement by the Prime Minister who said that there is a majority in favour of divorce in Parliament. It also says that Joseph Muscat kept Marie-Louise Coleiro’s decision not to contest the next election hidden from the executive.
Illum says the PL has asked Robert Abela, the President’s son, to be a candidate on the sixth district, replacing Marie-Louise Coleiro.
The overseas press
NATO warplanes have launched intensive air raids on Tripoli and its eastern suburbs, where several explosions were heard. AFP said four blasts shook the Libyan capital at around 1.30 a.m. Malta time. Earlier, two powerful but distant blasts were felt in the centre of the capital on Saturday evening, followed by several others a few minutes later. Witnesses said the explosions came from Tajura, a suburb that has often been targeted by Nato.
Meanwhile, Nato has used UK Apache attack helicopters in Libya for the first time. They attacked and destroyed two military installations, a radar site and a military checkpoint near Brega, the Captain of HMS Ocean told the BBC. The Apaches are understood to have faced incoming fire.
Portugal goes to the polls today in an early general election to decide who would implement an EU-IMF bailout deal worth €78-billion. Expresso says final opinion polls gave the Social Democrats (PSD) around 37 per cent of the vote against 31 per cent for the Socialists, in power since 2005. Portugal's three main parties have agreed to the conditions attached to a bailout deal struck in May with the International Monetary Fund and the European Union. These include deep cuts in public spending on health, education, pensions and jobless benefits at a time when the unemployment rate hit a record 12.6 per cent in April.
Kathemerini says hundreds of people from Greece's two main private and public sector unions protested in central Athens to condemn the government's new bailout deal with international lenders. The European Union, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank on Friday agreed to extend the next tranche of funds under Greece's rescue accord package, most likely in July. Trade unions say that the new payout will see more misery for the population in the shape of additional and tougher austerity measures.
Vjesnik reports that Pope Benedict has given his strong backing to Croatia's bid to join the EU. On his first visit to the nation, he said he understood fears of a loss of cultural identity from joining the bloc but said Europe needs to be reminded of its Christian roots. The Pope was warmly welcomed in the staunchly Catholic nation, leading a prayer vigil for thousands in Zagreb.
Al Jazeera says President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen is in Saudi Arabia for medical treatment, a day after he was wounded. Yemen officials said earlier that his injuries from Friday’s attack on his compound were more serious that previously believed. He has a shrapnel wound below his heart that is also impacting on his lung. Saleh has been facing demonstrations and calls to step down.
El Mercurio reports that a chain of volcanoes has erupted in southern Chile and more than 3,500 people are being evacuated to shelters. Large columns of smoke have been seen rising from the volcano system near the border with Argentina. Witnesses reported a powerful smell of sulphur.
Welt am-Sonntag says scientists trying to find the source of E.coli bug that has killed at least 20 people and infected some 18,000 others have been examining a restaurant in the city of Lübeck in northern Germany. Health experts are also investigating food stalls at a festival attended by about 1.5 million people in Hamburg in mid-May.
Delhi Globe reports that the police have broken up an anti-corruption protest led by a controversial yoga guru. Reports said about 20 people were injured as police fired tear gas to disperse the supporter of Baba Ramdev. He had been fasting to demand that the government took action to recover millions of dollars of suspected bribe money held in foreign bank accounts.
According to La Prensa, the army in Mexico has arrested the millionaire tycoon and former mayor of Tijuana, Jorge Hank Rhon, after a large cache of weapons was found at his home. Police said dozens of rifles and grenades were confiscated.