The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press:
The Times reports that the PN is to seek rights for gay couples. General Secretary Paul Borg Olivier said at the opening of the party congress yesterday that the party cannot ignore new realities in society. It also wants to give more autonomy to parliament.
The Malta Independent says same sex unions are on the PN agenda. It also says that Arriva and the GWU have resumed discussions on bus drivers’ rosters.
l-orizzont says agreement has been reached between the GWU and Arriva. It also reports that the Hamrun bomb may have been activated by a mobile phone.
In-Nazzjon leads with an address by Tonio Borg under the heading ‘together we will overcome the challenges of the future’.
The overseas press
The Financial Times reports British Prime Minister David Cameron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have agreed to disagree on fundamental differences such as the introduction of a financial transaction tax in the European Union, or the use of the European Central Bank as a “lender of last resort” in the eurozone. But the pair stressed their close friendship and common interest in stabilising the eurozone debt crisis, cutting borrowing, limiting the EU budget and preserving the single market.
Ansa quotes the new Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti saying he would target privileged sections of Italian society as he tries to steer Italy out of its debt crisis after his emergency government became operative on Friday by winning a confidence vote in the House. He said efforts in terms of taxes and modernisation would be asked of those groups who had, up to now, given less. Monti said he would meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Strasbourg on Thursday to discuss the escalating eurozone crisis.
The International Herald Tribune says the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, has passed a resolution expressing deep growing concern over Iran’s nuclear programme. The IAEA called on Iran to clear up outstanding questions about its nuclear capabilities, but did not refer it to the UN Security Council. It follows a report to the agency last week, warning that Iran had carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device. Meanwhile, Teheran has dismissed the resolution, calling the IAEA “polorised and politicised”.
Al Ahram reports that tens of thousands of Egyptians have held rallies in Cairo and Alexandria to denounce what they see as “moves by the military authorities to entrench their powers”. Demonstrators from every walk of life gathered n Tahrir Square in Cairo. The army and security forces did not intervene.
Al Bawaba quotes official sources in Damascus saying the Syrian authorities have agreed in principle to accept an Arab League mission. But the sources ay the Syrian government ha asked for a much smaller delegation than the 500 observers the League proposed. Syrian opposition groups have dismissed the government’s mover as another delaying tactic. In the UK, The Independent says Britain has formally opened talks with the Syrian opposition movement as pressure mounts against the regime's crackdown on protesters.
O Globo reports that an indigenous leader has been gunned down by a group of up to 40 masked gunmen in front of his community. Nisio Gomes, 59, was part of a Guarani Kaiowa group that returned to their ancestral land at the start of this month after being evicted by ranchers. Land disputes between indigenous groups and ranchers are common.
The Sydney Morning Herald says the police have charged a 35-year-old male nurse with murder after a devastating fire at a home for the elderly in Sydney. Five people died and more than 50 suffered from smoke inhalation. The officials say it was the worst nursing home fire in Sydney in decades.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that a US factory worker claims he was fired after he refused to wear a "666" sticker that he feared would doom him to eternal damnation. Billy Hyatt says in a federal lawsuit that he was fired in 2009 after he refused to wear the sticker proclaiming that his factory in Atlanta had been accident-free for 666 days. That number is the "mark of the beast" in the Bible's Book of Revelation describing the apocalypse. Mr Hyatt says he is a devout Christian and told a manager the sticker would violate his beliefs. He said he was then told his beliefs were "ridiculous". He was suspended and fired a few days later.
The Daily Mail says that latest figures reveal that more than 11,500 over-60s were granted a divorce in 2009 in Britain – an increase of four per cent in two years. This contrasts with a fall in the divorce rate for all age groups of more than 11 per cent. Ros Altmann, director general of the over-50s group Saga, said on reaching retirement, and without the routine of work to fill the day, many realise they can no longer stand their husband or wife. Some discover they have nothing in common with each other once their children fly the nest.