The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press
The Sunday Times carries an interview with the prime minister, who says he wants a clear vote of confidence tomorrow.
The Malta Independent on Sunday also focuses on tomorrow’s vote of confidence and also says that Carm Mifsud Bonnici is shocked by what parliament has done.
MaltaToday leads with comments by Nationalist MP Charlo’ Bonnici who was also critical of Franco Debono. It also says that bus drivers and fishermen, like hunters, are being driven crazy.
It-Torca highlights ‘government usury’ caused by high interest rates on administrative payments. It also says that the Selmun Palace Hotel may become an old people’s home.
Il-Mument reports that Malta has the fourth lowest unemployment rate.
Illum quotes Francis Zammit Dimech saying the government could have moved for debate Franco Debono’s motion on justice and home affairs reforms.
KullHadd leads with Joseph Muscat’s proposals on social justice. It also says that Daphne Caruana Galizia is a millstone around the government’s neck.
The overseas press
Al Jazeera shows large crowds demonstrating in Cairo as well as Alexandria, Suez and Mansoura, against what they see as the lenient sentences handed down at the trial of the former president, Hosni Mubarak yesterday. Both Mubarak and his former Interior Minister Habib Adly, Mubarak were jailed for life for complicity in the killing of protesters in last year’s uprising but six former police commanders were acquitted. Mubarak and his sons were cleared of corruption. The acquittal of the six officials has sparked widespread anger and triggered concern that the convictions of Mubarak and Adly could be overturned on appeal.
Meanwhile, Mubarak has been taken to hospital after being given a life sentence after a court convicted him for complicity in the murder of protesters during the uprising that forced him from power. Egyptian State TV network said he suffered a "health crisis" as he was flown to Tora jail in Cairo by helicopter after the guilty verdict, and was later admitted to the prison hospital. Around 850 demonstrators were killed, most shot to death, in Cairo and other major cities across the country in 18-days of nationwide protests.
Avvenire says Pope Benedict XVI has told thousands of young people in a packed Milan football stadium to keep their ideals high, attend Sunday Mass regularly and to pray daily. On the second day of a three-day visit to Milan as part of Church activities aimed at showing support for families, he also urged states to recognize “the uniqueness of the family, founded on marriage and open to life". He also underscored the Church's welcoming of divorcees, saying they must understand that the Church loves them and was “truly committed to helping them”.
Al-Arabiya reports international envoy Kofi Annan has criticised President Bashar al-Assad for failing to comply with a peace plan to end the Syria conflict. In a bleak assessment of the situation to members of the Arab League, Annan said his forces were carrying out atrocities, arbitrary arrests and other abuses regardless of the world outcry against him. “The prospect of an all-out war was growing by the day, risking drawing in the whole region.” United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay has warned Assad there could be no amnesty for his crimes, as bloodshed continues across the country.
The conflict in Syria has led to crashes between rival factions in Lebanon. The Daily Star says at least 10 people were killed and many others injured others injured in gun battles between pro- and anti-Syrian groups. The news came as activists reported fresh shelling in the Houla region in central Syria, where a massacre last week left more than 100 people dead.
USA Today reports that more than 1,200 fire-fighters are battle a huge wild fire in southwestern New Mexico. Specialist troops were dropped by helicopter to try to extinguish flames sweeping through rugged mountains and canyons of the region. Officials said that the forest fires, caused by lightning, were the worst in New Mexico’s history.
Britain is set to begin a second day of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. Sky News says a thousand boats would take to the River Thames today for what would be the major public event of the celebrations. Up to a million people are expected to watch from the river banks and public spaces in London as a flotilla stretching for miles travels towards Tower Bridge. The celebrations officially begun yesterday with a 41-gun salute at the Horse Guards Parade in central London, marking the exact anniversary of her coronation. The 86-year-old monarch was given a rapturous reception by a flag-waving crowd of more than 130,000. A religious service at St. Peter's Cathedral and a carriage procession through the streets of London are among the events that will mark the end of the Jubilee celebrations on Tuesday.
Russian news agency Itar-Tass quotes Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov saying no special document on the missile defence has been prepared for the meeting of the presidents of Russia and the US during the G20 summit in Mexico. In a television interview, Lavrov said there was dialogue on the issue, which currently leads to nothing because of “the categorical refusal of the American partners to take into account our concerns”. He accused the US of being “unwilling, or unable” to budge a centimetre from their own plans.
Deutsche Welle says thousands have taken to the streets of Hamburg, in a counter-demonstration to a neo-Nazi march. Barricades set up to prevent the far-right parade were set alight by counter demonstrators as were police vehicles. Stones were also thrown at the police by the counter demonstrators. Some 19 police officers were reported to have been injured, with 12 arrests, mainly of anti-Nazi demonstrators.
AFP reports that a day after Irish voters backed a European Union fiscal pact, German Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday called on her political opponents to do the same. In a speech to her party members, Merkel said Germany should adopt the fiscal pact before summer holidays. She needs a two-thirds majority in Germany's lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, to adopt the text. This means she must at least persuade the Social Democratic Party to vote "yes". Only countries that ratify the pact will have guaranteed access to the EU's new permanent bailout fund.
People Magazine announces the death of actress Kathryn Joosten, best known for her role on Desperate Housewives as plucky neighbour Karen McCluskey. She was 72. Two-time Emmy Award winner, Joosten succumbed to her 11-year battle with lung cancer. Kicking off her career as an actor at the age of 42, she scored small roles on Dharma and Greg, My Name is Earl, and Ally McBeal. But it was her comedic contributions to Wisteria Lane that earned her the Outstanding Guest Actress Emmy in 2005 and 2008. Housewives ended its run on ABC last month – and Joosten's character passed away in the series finale. Her co-star, Felicity Huffman, Tweeted onSaturday that “she was an amazing woman and a wonderful actress".