The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press:
The Times reports that the Labour Party has apologised to Parliamentary Secretary Mario Galea after PL whip Joe Mizzi implied in TV comments that Mr Galea has a drink problem. It also reports that the hunters' federation (FKNK) is being investigated over possible breach of data protection rules.
The Malta Independent quotes the prime minister saying that he had lost all confidence in PL leader Joseph Muscat after what happened in Parliament in the past few days.
In-Nazzjon reports Dr Gonzi saying that the government will take its decisions wisely and win through persuasion. It also reports that more arterial roads would be rebuilt thanks to EU assistance.
l-orizzont quotes Joseph Muscat reiterating his promise that the power station woudl be converted to cleaner technology under the Labour government. lIt also raises questions over the appointment, by direct order, of auditors by the Education Ministry after the EU suspended funding and raised questions over management of Education 22.
The overseas press:
Bangkok Times reports the Thai authorities have rejected protesters' pleas for UN-mediated peace talks and called for the demonstrators in Bangkok to surrender. At least 30 civilians have been killed and 232 injured since violence in the city began escalating on Thursday.
Al Jazeera says Iran, Turkey and Brazil have reached a deal on procedures for a nuclear fuel swap aimed at easing concerns over Tehran's nuclear programme. Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu announced the agreement after Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan postponed a trip to Azerbaijan to join talks on the issue in Tehran.
EU Observer reports that EU Finance Ministers meet in Brussels today to discuss the €750-billion eurozone and International Monetary Fund rescue plan for Greece, which failed to prevent the euro hitting fresh lows against the dollar last week. They will also look at the latest austerity measures announced by Spain and Portugal.
Meanwhile, The Financial Times says the German government is to press other eurozone countries to adopt their own versions of Berlin’s balanced budget law as part of a set of sweeping reforms to stabilise the euro. Germany last year enshrined in its constitution a law that prohibits the federal government from running a deficit of more than 0.35 per cent of gross domestic product by 2016. Applied across the eurozone, that would imply much tighter fiscal discipline than the bloc’s existing rules requiring deficits of less than 3 per cent of GDP.
Berliner Zeitung quotes German Chancellor Angela Merkel telling delegates gathered for the German Trade Union Federation (DGB) annual meeting in Berlin that Europe needed more financial regulation, but mostly had to tackle the yawning gap between its strongest and weakest economies. She also denounced speculation against the euro.
In the UK, The Guardian leads on Chancellor George Osborne setting out plans for an audit of the country's finances as he prepares to cut spending, including public sector pay. The Financial Times reports that Mr Osborne is to create an independent fiscal watchdog to investigate what he claims are fixed Treasury forecasts.
Tribune de Genéve says the largest study to date on links between mobile phone use and certain types of brain cancer had proved inconclusive. The WHO study concluded further research was needed for more conclusive answers. The 10-year research of 13,000 people has been criticised because mobile phone companies provided 25 per cent of the funding.
Avvenire reports an estimated 150,000 people filled St. Peter's Square on Sunday in a major show of support for Pope Benedict XVI over the clerical sex abuse. The pontiff said he was comforted by the spontaneous show of faith and solidarity and again denounced what he called the sin that had infected the church and needed to be purified.
Florida Post says researchers tracking the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico say computer models – based on weather, ocean current and spill data – showed the black ooze may have already entered a major current flowing toward the Florida Keys, and are sending out a research vessel to learn more.
Meanwhile, Oil City Derrick quoted BP saying a mile-long tube was lifting crude oil from a blown well to a tanker ship after three days of battling to get the stop-gap measure into place on the seabed.
Space News says Atlantis arrived at the International Space Station on Sunday for what could be its last visit, delivering fresh batteries and other equipment to help keep the outpost running long after the shuttle programme ends. Shuttle commander Kenneth Ham was visibly moved as he floated into the space station. He grabbed two of the station astronauts in a tight embrace.
The Jerusalem Post reports Israeli antiquities authorities operating under heavy police guard began relocating ancient graves to make way for construction of a hospital emergency room – setting off protests from ultra-Orthodox Jews who say Jewish remains were being disturbed. Archaeologists have determined the graves belonged to Christians or pagans from the Byzantine period, about 1,400 years ago. But ultra-Orthodox Jews insist they are Jewish bones that should not be moved, in accordance with religious practice.
The Daily Mirror says England's bid to host football's 2018 World Cup has been plunged into chaos as its chairman quit amid claims he accused rival nations of corruption. Lord Triesman also resigned from his high-profile post as chairman of the Football Association following allegations he made comments about Spain and Russia planning to bribe referees. England's 2018 bid team has faxed apology letters to the Russian and Spanish FAs as it tries to rescue the World Cup bid following the revelations in the Mail on Sunday.