The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press.
Times of Malta reports that former presidents agree with George Abela's stance against signing the Civil Unions Bill. It also reports that Mater Dei Hospital needs 500 more beds.
The Malta Independent says the gay marriage bill featured in a meeting between the Pope and President George Abela.
In-Nazzjon reports how Mepa has again approved the use of heavy fuel oil for the power station.
l-orizzont asks if limits have been broken in emission levels at the power station.
The overseas press
ABC reports the search for the missing Malaysian airliner in the southern Indian Ocean has shifted to a different part of the Indian Ocean after what authorities said was “a new credible lead”.
Fox News announces the UN General Assembly has declared illegal the Russian-backed referendum in the Crimea region of Ukraine. One hundred countries voted in favour of approving a UN General Assembly resolution which also affirmed Ukraine's territorial integrity. Eleven nations voted against and there were 58 abstentions. The resolution is not binding but observers point out its Western backers hope it would emphasise Russian diplomatic isolation.
The Washington Times says the US Congress has passed legislation backing a one-billion-dollar loan guarantee for Ukraine. It comes after the International Monetary Fund agreed to a loan deal with Ukraine worth between 14 and 18 billion dollars.
President Obama met Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi for talks in Rome after meeting Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and Pope Francis earlier in the day. Ansa reports the US president spent over two hours, longer than scheduled, in talks and lunch at the presidential palace.
Obama started a busy day of engagements with a 50-minute meeting with Francis in the Vatican. Avvenire says they discussed questions of particular relevance for the Church, such as the exercise of the rights to religious freedom, life and conscientious objection, as well as the issue of immigration reform.
VOA News reports the US Air Force has dismissed nine mid-level nuclear commanders at a nuclear missile base which is the centre of a scandal of cheating in exams. In addition to the nine officers sacked, the senior commander of Malmstrom Air Force Base's 341st Missile Wing, Col Robert Stanley, was allowed to resign. Ninety-one missile launch crew members have thus far been implicated in the cheating scandal.
The Turkish government has blocked access to the video-sharing website You Tube days after taking similar action against Twitter. Gazete Oku says the authorities won a court order against You Tube following the up-loading of an audio recording apparently of senior security officials discussing possible military action in Syria.
The Lancet reports new research from the United States and Europe has found that banning smoking in public places has helped to cut premature births and asthma in children by 10 percent. According to the World Health Organisation, tobacco already kills around six million people a year worldwide, including more than 600,000 non-smokers who die from exposure to second-hand smoke.
Houston Chronicle says six people were arrested after the police served more than two dozen search warrants after a months-long investigation into baggage theft at Los Angeles International Airport. Officials say those arrested were primarily employees or ex-employees of contracting companies hired to handle luggage and do not work for the airport itself.