The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press:
The Sunday Times quotes Simon Busuttil saying he would work closely with ministers who had endorsed rival candidate Tonio Fenech in the race for the PN deputy leader's post.
The Malta Independent on Sunday quotes Simon Busuttil saying he wants to build the bridge of trust with the people.
MaltaToday quotes a whistleblowerin the Rita Schembri case claiming he was jailed because of political pressure.
It-Torca reports that the government has admitted that those on the minimum wage will pay income tax.
Il-Mument says the election of Simon Busuttil is a new page for the PN.
Illum says the Cabinet has been humiliated with Tonio Fenech's defeat.
Similarly, KullHadd says Tonio Fenech's defeat in the deputy leadership race means that most of the PN councillors do not have confidence in the majority of the Cabinet ministers, who supported him.
The overseas press
Al Ahram announces Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi has called for a December 15 referendum on the disputed draft constitution. In a nationally-televised speech to the Islamist-led panel that hurriedly approved the draft charter, Morsi urged Egyptians to participate in the referendum, adding it would be a brick in Egypt’s democratic experience. Earlier, thousands of people demonstrated across Egypt in his support. In Alexandria clashes broke out between Morsi supporters and what the state-run news agency Mena unidentified “activists”.
Enrique Peña Nieto has taken the oath of office as Mexico’s new president, bringing the old ruling party back to power after a 12-year hiatus. El Periodico reports he has promised to govern democratically with transparency. His swearing in was marred by protesters outside the Congress lobbing home-made bombs and firecrackers.
Al Watan saysVotes are being counted in Kuwait after one of the country’s most polarised elections in recent times. Early indications suggest that minority Shia candidates were heading for their best results following calls for a boycott by the Sunni-dominated opposition.
Radio Tunis reports fresh clashes broke out on Saturday for the fifth straight day in the Tunisian flashpoint town of Siliana, where police tried to disperse several thousand protesters with tear gas and tanks. Some protesters responded by throwing stones.
According to Fox News, Internet and telephone services in Syria's capital, Damascus, have been restored after a two-day blackout. Experts have blamed the outage on the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad, but the government has denied accusations it was behind the latest communications cut.
North Korea state-controlled KCNA news agency reports the country plans to launch a long-range rocket later this month – a move set to sharply raise tensions in North-east Asia. Asian Times says previous tests by North Korea have been condemned as violations of UN resolutions, especially by South Korea, Japan and their ally, the United States, and punished with sanctions. While much of the world suspects Pyongyang is testing ballistic missiles capable of launching nuclear warheads, Pyongyang insists it is trying to send satellites into orbit.
Huffington Post says the world may be witnessing the beginning of the end for AIDS. A recent report from UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, reveals a more than 50 percent decline in new HIV infections in 25 low- and middle-income countries over the last decade. Thirteen of those countries are located in sub-Saharan Africa, where this global epidemic continues to plague the population. The news came in time for World AIDS Day, December 1, and as the 1,000-day deadline for achieving the Millennium Development Goal regarding HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention was reached.
Aljazeera reports M23 rebel fighters have pulled out of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo city of Goma, 10 days after its capture. The move boosts hopes that regional peace efforts could lead to an end to fighting.
ABC reports that an Australian boy is missing after being attacked by a crocodile while he was swimming. Police in the Northern Territory said that adults tried to save the 12-year-old child by spearing the animal but it dragged him into deeper waters.
El Pais says Spanish authorities have unveiled some of the treasure from a frigate that sank more than 200 years ago with more than 500,000 silver coins onboard. The treasure from the Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes, estimated to be worth around $500 million, was discovered by a United States salvage company in 2007. The Spanish naval ship, which was sunk by the British navy in 1804, returned to Spain in February after a five-year legal battle with Odyssey, the US treasure-hunting company that hauled it up. The trove contains hundreds of thousands of coins and artefacts, such as religious images and chests.
Retail Week says the typical family Christmas takes 12 days, 14 hours and 13 minutes to organise. A study by retailer Wilkinson found that, from shopping for presents, putting up decorations and cooking Christmas couples spend almost two weeks trying to make December 25 as special as possible. Eight out of 10 families have relatives over to stay during the seasonal period. One in 10 spend at least a week getting the house in order before they arrive, but 5% have a quick dust around just an hour or less beforehand.
The San Diego Union-Tribune says some dolphins used by the Navy to track down mines will be replaced by a 12-foot unmanned torpedo-shaped vehicle – but they'll be reassigned, not retired. The military said the machines can do some of the same mine-hunting duties as the sea creatures. And they can be manufactured quickly, unlike the seven years it takes to train a dolphin. But the dolphins won't be relieved of duty. They'll be used along with sea lions for port security and retrieving objects from the sea floor.
O Globo reports hundreds of Brazilians have marched through Rio de Janiero in protest against government plans to privatise the Maracanã football stadium. Built for the 1950 World Cup, the stadium is being renovated for the city's upcoming sporting events that include the final match of the 2014 World Cup and the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2016 Olympics. They say the stadium was a symbol of the city.