The following are the leading stories in the Maltese and foreign press, with the local press dominated by the incident which disrupted the recording, yesterday, of a press conference at PBS by Alfred Sant

The Times said a TV recording was called off as Dr Sant objected to the presence of a PN candidate. It also reports how the Prime Minister has asked the Mepa auditor to probe the Mistra case. It also reports how 13 NGOs have called for spring hunting to be banned.

The Malta Independent says sparks flew at PBS as an MP turned up as a ‘journalist’. It also reports Lawrence Gonzi saying the electoral campaign had seen concrete proposals by the PN versus a smear campaign by the PN. On the inside pages, AN leader Josie Muscat is quoted saying that Malta was divided in two, with political parties on one side and society on the other. AN wants a national government for Malta.

In-Nazzjon reports a press conference by Lawrence Gonzi where he said that the PN is a guarantee of jobs and peace of mind. It also reports that Dr Sant had run away from a confrontation with Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando by walking out of a PBS press conference.

l-orizzont says Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando was informed last December of the application for development on his land in Mistra. It also reports a GWU rally for Enemalta workers where the workers backed GWU efforts to negotiate a better financial package.

The Press in Britain...

The Metro leads with how 32-year-old serial killer nurse Colin Norris, from Glasgow killed four elderly patients with fatal doses of insulin and attempting to murder a fifth. Norris, described as "extremely arrogant", is set to be jailed for life.

The Express claims foreigners have taken almost nine out of every 10 new jobs since Labour came to power - and their numbers are increasing every year.

The Daily Mail reports Princess Diana ditched surgeon Hasnat Khan, once described as the "love of her life", in favour of Dodi Fayed because she was dazzled by the Fayed family.

The Sun reports that, as she issued a fresh plea for the return of her missing daughter, the mother of Shannon Matthews' expressed fear that her daughter could be dead. Police are delving into the criminal records of members of her family.

A survey by The Times found that one in five pupils will miss out on their first choice of secondary school and parents unhappy with the situation are being urged to appeal against the decision.

The Telegraph says the credibility of Gordon Brown's review of 24-hour licensing was under fire after it emerged the man leading it has boasted of his drinking.

The Independent predicts the European Union will declare war on on the continent's last tax havens of Liechtenstein, Monaco, Andorra and Switzerland, whose low taxes and bank secrecy rules it sees as an incitement to tax evasion.

The Financial Times quotes one of Gordon Brown's top business advisers saying the Government must be careful to ensure its tax policy does not inflict a blow on competitiveness.

And elsewhere...

Hannoversche Allgemeine quotes German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy declaring they had reached a "compromise" on Sarkozy's proposal for a Mediterranean Union, about which Berlin had expressed misgivings. France had envisaged a grouping of Mediterranean rim states, including its former North African colonies, drawing on EU funds while sidelining non-Mediterranean EU countries such as Germany. Both leaders said they would present details to partners at a coming EU summit.

New York Times reports the UN Security Council's approval of a third round of sanctions against Iran, with near unanimous support, over the country's nuclear programme. For the first time, the resolution bans trade with Iran in goods that have both civilian and military uses.

Jerusalem Post quotes Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert pledging to keep hitting targets in Gaza until Palestinian militants stopped firing rockets at Israel. Olmert made the comment as Israeli troops pulled out of the Hamas-run territory after a five-day operation that killed more than 110 Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers. Hamas militants said they would continue to launch rockets at Israel.

Pravda says Russian riot police have detained dozens of protesters who tried to gather in central Moscow to hold an unauthorised rally against the presidential election victory of Dmitry Medvedev. In an authorised rally in St Petersburg, around 3,000 people showed up, led by former world chess champion and Kremlin critic, Garry Kasparov. Medvedev easily won the presidential election on Sunday, collecting more than 70 percent of the vote.

The East African reports the United States has launched an air strike against a target in southern Somalia near the Kenyan border where a suspected leader of the al-Qaeda terror network was believed to be. Witnesses said at least four civilians were killed in the strike.

The Palm Beach Post says a gunman dressed in a suit and tie has burst into a Wendy's restaurant in West Palm Beach, Florida, killing one person and injuring five others, three of whome are in a critical condition. The attacker then shot himself dead.

The Lancet, the British Medical Association Journal, quotes the warning by the National Childbirth Trust that inaccurate and confusing labelling on formula milk could put babies at risk. Powdered milk is not sterile and can be contaminated with bacteria, which could cause illnesses such as meningitis and septicaemia. Although illness is rare, the World Health Organisation and Food Standards Agency advise making up only one bottle at a time using water at or above 70⁰C.