The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press.
The Times of Malta reports that an Air Malta plane had a near miss over Swiss airspace
The Malta Independent leads with comments by Simon Busuttil that the Security Service can be trusted.
Malta Today quotes John Dalli saying that he had planned his Bahamas trip before July 3 and it was not linked to the OLAF probe.
l-orizzont highlights new government tender rules to deter precarious work.
In-Nazzjon also leads with the assurances given to Simon Busuttil on the Security Service.
The overseas press
Tribune de Genève reports United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed “grave concern” at the fate of some 2,500 civilians caught in the crossfire in Homs as Syrian government forces battle rebels for control of the central Syrian city.
mewstimes.com quotes Ban saying the world's nations would have to pick up the pace to meet some of their key anti-poverty targets set for 2015. He was speaking at the opening session of the Economic and Social Council, ECOSOC, at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva. This year’s annual UN forum spotlights the role of science, technology and innovation for development.
Portugal Post quotes Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho saying he would not stand down, despite the resignation of two key members of his government in as many days. He said he would not abandon Portugal, hours after Foreign Minister Paulo Portas announced his resignation. On Monday, Finance Minister Vitor Gaspar stepped down, pointing to public opposition to austerity measures. Portugal is struggling to meet the terms of its €78 billion bailout in 2011.
Cairo Radio says President Mohammed Morsi has vowed not to resign, hours before a deadline to yield to the demands of millions of protesters or see the military suspend the constitution, disband parliament and install a new leadership. In a late-night televised appeal for calm, the Islamist leader demanded that the powerful armed forces withdraw their ultimatum, saying he rejected all “dictates” - from home or abroad. Outside on the streets, the sense that both sides are ready to fight to the end sharpened, with clashes between his supporters and opponents that left at least seven dead.
Die Presse reports the plane carrying Bolivian President Evo Morales home from Russia was rerouted to Austria on Tuesday after France and Portugal refused to let it cross their airspace because of suspicions that NSA leaker Edward Snowden was on board. Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca denied that Snowden was on the plane, which landed in Vienna, and said France and Portugal would have to explain why they cancelled authorisation for the plane.
The Associated Press reveals that during the first six months of this year, US Transportation Security Administration screeners found 894 guns on passengers or in their carry-on bags – a 30 percent increase over the same period last year. The TSA set a record in May for the most guns seized in one week – 65 in all, 45 of them loaded and 15 with bullets in the chamber and ready to be fired. That was 30 percent more than the previous record of 50 guns, set just two weeks earlier. Security at airports around the world, especially in the US, has been greatly strengthened since 9/11 a decade ago.
The Irish Times says politicians in the Republic of Ireland have overwhelmingly voted to introduce limited abortion. One hundred and thirty eight members of the Irish Parliament voted to give the controversial bill a second reading and move the legislation to the committee stage, while 24 voted against. The Bill will allow for a termination where three medics unanimously agree that a suicidal woman is at risk of taking her life because of her continuing pregnancy.
According to Le Parisien, French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been stripped of her European Parliament immunity and may now face charges of racism over comments she made comparing Muslim street prayers to an occupation of French territory. The European Parliament, meeting in Strasbourg, voted by show of hands to withdraw Ms Le Pen’s immunity at the request of a French prosecutor. The vote followed a recommendation last month by the parliament’s judicial affairs committee it be withdrawn so that she could defend herself against the charges, filed by an anti-racism association.
Pope Francis has lent his support to Brazil's most widespread demonstrations in more than 20 years, according to foreign the Spanish daily El Pais. The paper quotes him as saying the protests “are just and coherent with the Gospel”. The protests began mid-June to condemn a series of transport-fare increases, though now are being directed towards expensive events such as the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games, both of which Rio de Janeiro is hosting. According to the same article, Pope Francis plans to make reference to the demonstrations in his sermons during World Youth Day between July 22 and 29 in Rio de Janeiro.