The following are the top stories in national newspapers today.

Times of Malta says hundreds of people assembled outside the law courts in Valletta yesterday in support of shadow justice minister Jason Azzopardi, who stood charged with defamation. In another story, it says the path forward for the long awaited reform of the European Union’s policy on asylum seekers is unclear as Maltese policy-makers cast doubts over fresh proposals put forward by the European Commission.

The Malta Independent says Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi did not divulge that he was a politician when he solicited the services of Panamanian corporate service providers Mossack Fonseca, according to an interview co-founder Ramon Fonseca Mora had with La Estella.

L-Orizzont quotes Prime Minister Joseph Muscat saying that the tax audit of Dr Mizzi by a world-renowned company will be concluded soon.

In-Nazzjon quotes Opposition leader Simon Busuttil telling the hundreds of people gathered in front of the law courts in support of Dr Azzopardi that the Nationalist Party will continue to fight for democracy.