Malta and international press digest

The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press:

The Times leads with a plea from the GRTU for the authorities not to stop refunds for businesses as the VAT fraud investigation continues. It says stopping refunds could make cashflow problems worse.

The Malta Independent says the division of the Forensic Lab has caused huge problems for police scientific investigations.

In-Nazzjon says there are clean sources of energy in sites for the disposal of bulky refuse. It also claims that PL General Secretary Jason Micallef did not say the truth on the invitation for the inauguration of the President.

l-orizzont says Italian trade unions are considering taking direct action in solidarity with Maltese port workers following the attacks on the GWU over union recognition at Malta Freeport.

The Press in Britain

The Daily Telegraph tells how British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is facing demands for an inquiry and a personal apology over the smear emails scandal that led to key Brown aide Damian McBride's resignation.

The Guardian says Gordon Brown has been warned that Labour must clean up its act following the explosive leaked emails that discussed how to attack senior Tories.

The Daily Mail claims Tory leader David Cameron is said to be "absolutely furious" that the PM has failed to personally apologise for the incident.

The Times quotes counter-terrorism sources saying most of the Pakistani men arrested last week in an anti-terrorist operation will be deported rather than charged.

The Independent claims Thailand's capital was plunged into chaos as the authorities declared a state of emergency.

The Financial Times claims that the remaining lifespan of the UK's North Sea oil and gas production risks being halved as the economic crisis has prompted a plunge in exploration.

The Daily Express says millions of lives could be saved with the development of a fast new cancer test using blood from a simple pin-prick.

The Daily Mirror reports overworked medics were involved in at least 2,200 errors last year which left patients dead, injured, or in agony.

And elsewhere…

France 24 announces that a US navy mission has rescued Richard Phillips, the US captain held hostage by Somali pirates for five days on a lifeboat in the Indian Ocean.

The Jerusalem Post says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas he intended to resume talks and co-operation to promote peace. It was their first contact since Mr Netanyahu took office on 31 March. Mr Abbas initiated the telephone call, which Mr Netanyahu's office described as "friendly and warm".

L’Avvenire reports Pope Benedict XVI said the entire world needed to rediscover hope to end wars, poverty and financial turmoil. In his Easter Sunday message, the Pope said he travels to the Holy Land in a few weeks and would take a message of hope and love to the region.

Il Tempo says earthquake survivors sought comfort amid the tragedy that levelled their cities and killed 294 people as they celebrated Easter Sunday Mass in makeshift chapels across central Italy. Premier Silvio Berlusconi, who attended a Mass for rescue workers and volunteers in the city of L'Aquila, declared the emergency phase over, but said it would still be months before most people displaced by the quake will know if they can go back to their homes.

Bangkok Post reports that at least 49 people were injured, two critically, as Thai forces began a crackdown against anti-government protesters in Bangkok.

Afghan Daily says an Afghan women's rights activist and provincial legislator in her 50s, was shot by Taliban gunmen on Sunday outside her home in Kandahar. The Taliban -- who had restrictive policies against women when they were in government between 1996 and 2001, including barring them from work outside of the home -- have carried out similar assassinations in Kandahar.

According to Jakarta News, conservationists have discovered a new population of orangutans in a remote, mountainous corner of Indonesia -- perhaps as many as 2,000 -- giving a rare boost to one of the world's most critically endangered great apes.

The Washington Post reveals that the Obamas have chosen their family pet – a six-month-old Portuguese black and white water dog named Bo. It is a gift from Senator Edward Kennedy, who owns several Portuguese water dogs himself. The dog is expected to make his debut in public life on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia has banned vehicle number plates which are seen as "offensive" in English when Arabic letters are given in the Latin alphabet. Saudi newspaper al-Watan said the banned words included "sex" and "ass", but the first on the list, for unexplained reasons, is the combination "USA". The paper said 90,000 existing plates were to be replaced.