The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press:
The Sunday Times says a Misco survey commissioned by the newspaper found that should a referendum on divorce be held, 40 per cent would vote ‘yes', 45 per cent would vote ‘no' and 14 per cent were undecided. Most respondents wished a referendum to be held before the general election.
The Malta Independent on Sunday says the constituted bodies have expressed surprise at the government's change of heart over the composition of the MCESD.
MaltaToday, like the other newspapers, highlights the landslide victory by Norman Darmanin Demajo in the election for MFA president. It says former president Joe Mifsud was thrashed. In another story, it quotes Karol Aquilina, PN deputy mayor of Siggiewi, saying that the mayor did his best to protect the interests of the PL in the issue over the club premises.
It-Torca says ETC chairman Sandra Sladden is avoiding questions on funds lost by the corporation, and is hiding behind the prime minister. It also says that a Maltese man has been held in Egypt after a fight in which he was badly beaten up.
Il-Mument quotes the prime minister underlining the key role of the ETC in job creation. It also says that slabs with carvings on them have been found during excavations of the site of the Opera House.
Illum quotes former MFA President Joe Mifsud saying he would never do anything to harm the MFA.
KullHadd says there is segregation in a home for the elderly, Roseville, owned by Zaren Vassallo. Those sent to the home by the Social Services Department are receiving inferior treatment than other residents. It also features complaints about a shortage of medicines.
The overseas press
China Today says at least 65 people have been killed and hundreds others are missing in landslides triggered by heavy rain in China, in the latest natural disaster to strike the flood-hit nation. At least 50,000 people have been affected by floods which have submerged half of Zhouqu county, where authorities have deployed 2,400 soldiers and about 100 medical experts to help in search and rescue efforts.
Ekho Moskvy radio station reported that the worsening ecological situation in the Russian capital prompted Austria, Poland and Canada to evacuate their embassy staff from Moscow. Earlier, the US, Britain, France, Bulgaria and Germany also cautioned their citizens against travelling to Moscow and other disaster-hit areas in Russia.
The International Herald Tribune reports 10 doctors, nurses and logistics personnel - all members of a Christian medical team - have been found dead in Afghanistan's Badakshan region. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the deaths of six Americans, two Afghans, a German and a Briton, accusing them of "preaching Christianity". They were attacked as they were returning to Kabul after their two-week mission in the remote Parun valley of Nuristan province about 260 kilometers north of Kabul. The gunmen spared an Afghan driver, who recited verses from the Islamic holy book Quran as he begged for his life.
Gramma says former Cuban President Fidel Castro has appealed to President Obama to prevent a global nuclear war. In an emphatic speech that marked his first official government appearance since emergency surgery four years ago, Castro told the 600 lawmakers present that Mr Obama has not yet realised the enormity of the problem, even if his advisers had. In written opinion columns, Castro has been warning for months that the US and Israel would launch a nuclear attack on Iran and that Washington could also target North Korea.
Pravda reports that Russia's foreign ministry has accused the United States of violating its obligations under 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty and of failing to properly safeguard radioactive materials. It said in particular that the US has failed to provide assurances that some of their nuclear missile launchers and bombers converted to carry conventional weapons could not be retrofitted.
Al Ayyam says Palestinian authorities in Gaza have shut down the territory's only power plant after running out of fuel in the middle of a heatwave. Fuel for the plant comes from the rival Palestinian government in the West Bank, which accused officials in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip of failing to make scheduled payments. The power outage was affecting hospitals and water wells and also cut power to the territory's sewage treatment plant, which was allowing waste to spill into the Mediterranean.
El Tiempo reports that Juan Manuel Santos has been sworn in as the new president of Colombia. In his inaugural speech, Mr Santos said that mending relations with neighbours Ecuador and Venezuela would be one of his government's main priorities. He also told Colombia's left-wing rebel groups the door to dialogue was open, but they would have to renounce violence first.
In Venezuelan, El Universal says that in response, President Hugo Chavez said he would like to meet "face-to-face" with Mr Santos. Speaking on live TV after Mr Santos' inauguration, Mr Chavez said he wanted to "turn over the page" in relations with Colombia. Mr Chavez broke off diplomatic ties with Colombia two weeks ago after Bogota accused him of harbouring Farc rebels. The Venezuelan president did not attend the inauguration, but did send his Foreign Minister, Nicolas Maduro.
Az-Zaman says explosions have killed at least 25 people and wounded as many as 160 at a downtown market in Iraq's second-largest city of Basra, at the end of a violent day that also saw the slaying of seven policemen around the country. It was the latest spate of attacks to come as all but 50,000 U.S. military troops head home by the end of the month.
Scandinavia Now reports the annual World Sauna Championships in Finland have ended in tragedy with the death of one of the finalists. Russian finalist Vladimir Ladyzhensky and Finnish rival Timo Kaukonen were both taken to hospital after collapsing and Mr Ladyzhensky later died. The event, which has been running since 1999, requires participants to withstand 1100C for as long as possible.