The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press:
The Times reports that all gas regulators, valves have failed lab tests in Finland. It also says that a skeleton found in Qala has been linked to an elderly Briton missing since June. It also reports that all gas regulators, valves have failed lab tests in Finland.
The Malta Independent on its front page features comments made in political conferences by Lawrence Gonzi and Joseph Muscat.
In-Nazzjon quotes the prime minister saying the government is stable and determined to give families what they deserve.
l-orizzont also leads with the discovery of the skeletal remains in Qala. It also says that the GWU was instrumental in legislation against precarious work.
The overseas press
Bloomberg reports that Asian stocks fell ahead of a meeting by Greek leaders later today to decide who would head a new unity government that would help secure international financing after Prime Minister George Papandreou agreed to step down. At the same time, the euro weakened against the dollar and yen as concern mounted that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi would fail to muster a majority for a key parliamentary vote tomorrow. The Swiss franc dropped.
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou has confirmed he would stand down as part of an agreement to form a national government to tackle the country’s debt crisis. Kathimerini says the formal announcement was made in a statement from the office of President Karolos Papoulias after he had hosted talks between Papandreou and the main Opposition Leader Antonis Samaras. Further discussions are due to take place today to discuss the make up of the new administration and choose a successor. Front-runner Loukas Papademos, a former vice president of the European Central Bank, has Brussels, seal of approval. The interim government is expected to be in place for three to four months.
Corriere della Sera says embattled Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has insisted he had enough support to continue as leader, even as 20 government MPs threatened to break ranks in a key vote on the country’s budget. Defying calls for his resignation, he claimed he had enough support to survive a vote of confidence on Tuesday and implement economic reforms aimed at preventing Rome from succumbing to the eurozone debt crisis. The head of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, has claimed that Italy’s plans to reduce its debts “lack credibility”.
Meanwhile, Il Tempo reports tens of thousands of Italians took to the streets in Rome over the weekend calling for Berlusconi's resignation. The head of the leftwing Democratic Party, Pier Luigi Bersani, joined the protesters in their criticism of Berlusconi's handling of the debt crisis, accusing him of undermining the nation's international credibility. Italy’s cost of borrowing has jumped to the highest rate since the country adopted the euro.
According to Börzen Zeitung, the German government has reached a deal on tax breaks for German workers, bringing an end to a dispute that has divided the two coalition partners since their government began. The tax break plan is to encompass €6 billion, which will be paid out in two- and four-billion-euro installments, in 2013 and 2014, respectively.
The Daily Mail reports that a huge row has broken out in the UK between the police and a rugby club over the cause of the M5 disaster which left seven dead and 51 injured. The police believe a ‘smoke bank’ drifting across from the rugby club firework display turned treacherous fog into an impenetrable black cloud. However, the event organiser insisted he had been made a ‘scapegoat’ and the weather and even the motorists themselves were responsible for the horror. Blinded by the smoke, more than 30 cars and six articulated lorries collided causing a huge fireball to erupt, engulfing the vehicles and trapping motorists and passengers.
Beirut’s Red Star quotes residents in the restive Syrian region of Homs saying government troops pushed forward their assault on the area, killing at least 11 people on Sunday. The violence on the first day of Eid al-Adha, or Feast of the Sacrifice, added to fears that a peace plan brokered by the Arab League last week was unravelling and prompted Qatar's prime minister to call for an emergency meeting to discuss the Syrian government's failure to abide by its commitments.
Ansa reports that Miss Venezuela, Ivian Sarcos, 22, has won the 60th edition of the Miss World contest. She is a graduate in human resources and works in communications. One of 13 children, Sarcos said her proudest moment was "when I did my Communion". Second and third place were won by Miss Philippines and Miss Porto Rico. Next year's Miss World will be held in China's Inner Mongolia.
Irish News reports Singer Lady Gaga has dominated the MTV Europe Music Awards in Belfast winning best female, best song and best video as well as the new Biggest Fan category. Her track Born This Way scooped Best Song and Best Video. Teen star Justin Bieber and R&B singer Bruno Mars were the other big winners, receiving two prizes each. The show also included a video tribute to the late Amy Winehouse, who died earlier this year in London.