The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press.
The Times says the Curia will not oppose a revision of the Church-State agreement, particularly regarding the role of the Ecclesiastical Tribunal in the declaration of marriage annulments.
The Malta Independent reports that MPs who are discussing the Divorce Bill have agreed on maintenance details. It also says that Foreign Minister Tonio Borg was impressed by Benghazi’s spirit when he visited the city yesterday.
l-orizzont under the heading “Oppression of the citizen” hits out at new powers being given to the Commissioner of Inland Revenue to seek out information on people’s wealth from other people.
In-Nazzjon quotes the Prime Minister saying the divorce debate showed Labour’s intolerance to contrary views.
The overseas press
The Guardian announces that Britain's most senior police officer, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson, has resigned following the phone hacking scandal. He had faced criticism for hiring former News of the World executive Neil Wallis, who was questioned by police investigating hacking, as an adviser. Sir Paul said his links to the journalist could hamper investigations but he denied any wrongdoing.
Meanwhile, Sky News says Rebekah Brooks, the former chief executive of Rupert Murdoch’s News International, has been released on bail following her arrest over allegations of corruption and phone hacking. The arrest came after she resigned on Friday to avoid distracting attention from the company's efforts to "fix the problems of the past".
Al Jazeera quotes Libyan rebels saying they have been engaged in street battles with Muammar Gaddafi’s forces in the eastern oil town of Brega. Rebel forces have been advancing on Brega for several days despite heavy artillery fire from government troops holding the town. Reuters reports that Nato aircraft have been targeting pro-Gaddafi forces near Brega in recent days, reporting hits on armoured vehicles and rocket launchers near the town.
Al Ahram says doctors treating the ousted former President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt have denied a claim by his lawyer that he had gone into a coma. Mubarak’s senior doctor, Assem Assam, said his condition was stable and the patient had merely became dizzy due to low blood pressure.
Meanwhile, Cairo’s ERTV reports that Egypt's prime minister, under pressure from protesters demanding a purge of remnants of the former regime, has named 12 new cabinet members in a reshuffle. One of the casualties was Antiquities Minister Zahi Hawass. For months, critics attacked his credibility and accused him of having been too close to the regime of ousted President Mubarak.
Il Tempo quotes the head of the United Nations AIDS programme calling for an increase in access to drugs that help treat or prevent the spread of the disease. Michael Sidibe told the opening session of an international AIDS conference in Rome that it was "morally wrong" to keep millions of people off lifesaving medication. According to the World Health Organization, in Africa, the hardest hit continent, 6.6 million people are now on AIDS medication, but nine million people eligible for treatment are on waiting lists.
Kabul Post says a senior advise to Afghan President Hamid Karzai has been killed in an attack on his home in the capital Kabul. The adviser, Jan Mohammad Khan, was a former provincial governor. Security forces fought with gunmen outside his house after the attack. The incident comes less than a week after Mr Karzai's brother, Ahmed Wali Karzai, was assassinated.
Cronos reports that Colombia’s air force has bombed a suspected arms factory operated by the FAC guerrilla group, killing four militants. Mines, mortars and explosives were recovered.
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reports that Japan has won the women’s world cup football final for the first time, beating the United States 3-1 on penalties after coming from behind twice in a 2-2 tie. The paper says the Japanese went to Germany to play for their earthquake and tsunami-ravaged country and left with the Women's World Cup trophy, holding it high above their smiling faces, flecked with gold confetti.
Clarin says Brazil were knocked out of Copa América, losing 2-0 to Paraguay after missing four penalties in the shoot-out after a goaless draw. There was an upset in the day's other quarter-final, with Venezuela defeating Chile 2-1 to reach the last four of the Copa América for the first time. Venezuela will face Paraguay on Wednesday, the day after Peru face Uruguay in the other semi-final.