These are the main headlines of the local and international newspapers.
The election of Paul Borg Olivier as general secretary of the Nationalist Party features prominently on the front pages of the four local dailies. The Valletta lawyer, who succeeds Joe Saliba, was elected at a meeting of the PN executive committee.
Other stories:
The Times reports on the cordial meeting between the Government and the General Workers’ Union on the shipyards’ future in the wake of the government’s decision to privatise the enterprise.
In-Nazzjon says that both sides will meet again but no date has been set.
Il-Ġens Illum claims that the main thrust of the 150-minute meeting was the future of the workers. It also points out that the Archbishop will this evening at Mdina inaugurate the Pauline Year.
The Malta Independent and l-orizzont lead with an Appeals Court’s decision to uphold a man’s bid to be registered as the biological father of a child who was born and given for adoption without his knowledge. Her mother had told him she had miscarried.
The Press in Britain…
The Daily Mail reports the Queen is angry at being forced to live a 'patch and mend' existence as her palaces crumble around her. Aides tell the paper that the rise in the cost of living means she cannot rewire Buckingham Palace.
The Daily Express also airs the Queen's grumblings, saying she is asking the taxpayer for more cash because she can't live on £40m a year.
The Daily Telegraph reports Chancellor Alistair Darling has been forced to retreat on car taxes to prevent a Labour rebellion.
According to the Financial Times, UK equities are heading for their worst first half-year performance in 14 years after a turbulent week in the markets,
The Guardian reports on how Zimbabweans have to vote for President Robert Mugabe - or risking suffering violence at the hand of his thugs.
The Independent reports Zimbabweans - dissidents and fundraisers - living in Britain are also being hassled by Mr Mugabe's men.
The Times says the Government will have to pay a £1.1bn bill to people yet to be compensated for the 10p tax 'fiasco'.
And elsewhere…
The International Herald Tribune quotes Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai describing the country's election run-off as "an exercise in mass intimidation" and urged the world to reject the vote. The European Union and the US dismissed the vote as meaningless. Turnout is reported to have been low and official results are expected over the weekend.
The Washington Times says with US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and senator Hillary Clinton held a joint rally, during which Clinton urged her supporters to back Obama's bid for the White House, saying it was necessary to ensure that the next president is a Democrat. Obama in turn paid tribute to Clinton's commitment to key issues facing the country.
Moscow Times reports Russia and the European Union have formally launched negotiations on a new strategic partnership pact at an EU-Russia summit in Siberia. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso called for a "new chapter" in relations.
Corriere della Sera says Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's cabinet has approved a bill granting immunity to the country's top four elected officials - the president, prime minister and the two speakers of parliament - during their terms in office. Berlusconi, who faces corruption charges, claims that the courts have persecuted him ever since he entered politics 14 years ago.
El Correo reports the Basque regional parliament in Spain has approved plans for a referendum on self-determination. The poll on October 25 is likely to lead to a confrontation with the federal government which has condemned it as illegal.
Washington Post quotes a new US defence department report saying the Taliban in Afghanistan have regrouped. It said that despite efforts to capture and kill key leaders, the Taliban are likely to maintain or increase the scope and pace of attacks.
Kathimerini says Greek police stopped a protest staged by naked cyclists, but let them continue when they put clothes back on.