The following are the top stories in the overseas press. Maltese newspapers were not published today, Good Friday.
Il Tempo reports that as preparations are in hand for this morning's official funeral service for the victims of the Italian earthquake, the official death toll has reached 287, including 20 young people. Strong aftershocks continue to rattle residents, nearly 18,000 of whom are living in tent camps around the stricken central region. A particularly sharply felt tremor rocked the quake-stricken area, lasting a minute and was felt in Rome some 80 kilometers away from L'Aquila. According to the experts, the epicenter of the new quakes is moving to the north.
L'Osservatore Romano says Pope Benedict has sent ceremonial oils blessed on Holy Thursday to Italy's devastated quake zone in a sign of solidarity with the survivors. The Pope plans to tour the area of Italy's worst quake in three decades after the Easter holiday.
Britain's The Daily Telegraph claims an al Qaeda cell planned an 'Easter spectacular' of co-ordinated suicide bomb attacks before being foiled by police.
The Daily Mirror says anti-terror police who swooped after secret documents were exposed have said they stopped a plot to blow up Easter shoppers.
The Daily Mail claims at least 10 of the men held had student visas stamped by the Home Office but only one was studying at a reputable institution.
The Times focuses on the race to find where bombs would have been made to launch a terror attack.
The Daily Star says the terror suspects were planning to bomb a nightclub in an attack on 'Western hedonism'.
The Sun reflects on the resignation of Britain's anti-teroror chief Bob Quick after he inadvertently displayed secret documents as he arrived at Downing Street.
The Daily Express declares Mr Quick's £114,000-pension a 'scandal'.
Al-Quds al-Arabi reports that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said Tehran is ready to join nuclear talks with the West, including the United States. But he insisted that Iran's nuclear rights be respected. But US State Department spokesman Robert Wood said Iran was entitled to a civilian nuclear programme, but that such a programme also entailed responsibilities.
Noviny says Czech President Vaclav Klaus has appointed non-partisan Jan Fischer as new Prime Minister, replacing Mirek Topolanek who lost a no-confidence vote last month. The 58-year-old will also take over at the helm of the European Union, as the Czech Republic currently holds the rotating Presidency of the EU.
Resonansi reports that tens of thousands of demonstrators outside parliament in Tbilisi have demanded the resignation of Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili. They accuse of leading Georgia into a disastrous war with Russia and making an enemy of Moscow.
South China Morning Post reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has made a triumphant return to the 687-seat Supreme People's Assembly since reportedly suffering a stroke last August. He appeared considerably thinner and older than nine months ago.
USA Today reveals American captain Richard Phillips, being held by pirates off the coast of Africa, has made contact with the US Navy and the crew of his hijacked ship the Maersk Alabama and so far is unharmed. Relatives of Capt Phillips said they were told he offered himself as a hostage to save his crew.
Le Monde reports French politicians have unexpectedly rejected a Bill which would have cut off the internet connections of people who illegally download music or films. When the vote was held in a near-empty National Assembly, the Bill was rejected by a vote of 21-15. It would have also created the world's first government agency to track and punish those who steal music and film on the internet.
Stateline says a former Miss West Virginia has won a $7.2 million verdict against nine internet companies which tried to sell pornographic videos they falsely claimed featured her. The videos show a woman, who falsely claimed to be Miss Williams, engaged in sex in the back of a television news truck.
Indianapolis Recorder says an American grandmother of 77 died while trying to break up a sword fight between her grandson and son-in-law. Chris Rondeau, 39, faces charges of attempted murder.