The following are the leading stories in the Maltese and overseas press today.
The Times quotes Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando saying he ‘did not lie to the party’ over the Mistra development case. It also reports how a man is to be charged after the discovery of another illegal fireworks factory, this time near Mellieha.
In-Nazzjon reports that agreement has been reached for the collection of separated waste from next Month. The agreement involves the government and local councils, among others. It also reports that Dubai Internet City attracted 112 new companies in 2007. SmartCity is being developed on the same model.
l-orizzont says pressure is being placed by the PN for Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando to resign before Parliament convenes. It says the government has not announced when Parliament will be summoned in order to allow time for Dr Pullicino Orlando to step down after embarrassing it over the proposed Mistra development. It also says that Joseph Muscat MEP has confirmed his candidature for the leadership of the Labour Party.
The Malta Independent says the MLP leadership contest is gathering steam, with Joseph Muscat confirming on Sunday that he will submit his candidature.
The Press in Britain…
The Daily Mail says Gordon Brown faces a growing revolt over his Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. It asks whether whether the premieer will back down after as many as 12 ministers have intimated they would resign if forced to support the Bill.
The Daily Telegraph reports the government’s head-on clash with the Church over the Bill. It also reports that a coalition of medical charities has written to MPs, urging them to support the controversial legislation, claiming it will allow "new avenues of scientific inquiry to be pursued".
The Independent claims a potential cure for Parkinson's is a step closer with a study showing it is possible to treat it with cells from cloned embryos.
The Guardian reveals radical plans for a voting reform, including opening polling stations at weekends and making it compulsory to vote.
The Times has learnt that in a bid to combat smoking, cigarettes are to be forced under the counter, with shops banned from displaying tobacco products.
The Daily Express warns Britons face a £2bn pension black hole because they are ditching savings plans to meet living costs.
The Sun reports that a group of 64 gypsies has set up camp just yards from the country home of government minister Tessa Jowell.
The Financial Times claims England's leading universities are set to snub Government plans for intensive business-friendly degrees.
According to The Record, traditional Scottish mince is to be banned immediately by EU food watchdogs.
The Herald reports that pensioners are facing higher charges for basic support and services even though figures show budgets for the care of elderly were under-spent.
And elsewhere…
The International Herald Tribune quotes the International Olympic Committee (IOC) calling for a swift end to violence in Tibet. A spokesman in Geneva said its primary role was to deliver "the best possible" Olympics in Beijing this year. Meanwhile a Tibetan dissident group has said it is planning a protest during the flame-lighting ceremony for the Beijing Games later today in Greece's Ancient Olympia. The Olympic flame relay is expected to last 130 days and covers a distance of 137,000 kilometres, passing through the five continents. Chinese state media have renewed their acusation that the Dalai Lama of masterminded last week's unrest to coincide with the Summer Olympic Games.
Avvenire reports Pope Benedict’s call for an end to injustice, hatred and violence around the world and has urged peaceful solutions in hot spots including Tibet, the Middle East and Africa The pontiff then offered Easter greetings in 63 languages (including Maltese) to the tens of thousands pilgrims in the rain-soaked square and millions of others watching live broadcasts in 67 countries.
USA Today says the US military death toll in Iraq has reached 4,000 after four soldiers were killed in a bomb after a day of violence in the country. Rockets and mortars pounded Baghdad's Green Zone and a car bomber struck an army post in Mosul. Meanwhile Iraqi Police sais at 45 people were killed in three seperate incidents in Iraq.
Al-Ayyam quotes US Vice President Dick Cheney saying an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement will require "painful concessions" by both sides, but with hard work "success will be achieved." He was speaking in the West Bank after meeting moderate Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas. Cheney held talks with the moderate Palestinian leader after arriving in Ramallah following a string of meetings with senior Israeli officials. President Abbas said that peace required Israel to halt its controversial activities like settlements and military operations.
Yemen Times leads with the agreement signed between rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas to reconcile their differences. The talks, to be mediated by Yemen, are aimed at finding a solution to the split between the West Bank and Gaza. The first round of talks is scheduled for April 5 which will focus on Gaza control, elections and security.
Kiev Post reports 18 Ukrainian sailors are still trapped underwater in their capsized tugboat after it collided with a cargo ship in Hong Kong waters. The sailors were trapped in the ship's hull and could still be alive if they found an air pocket inside the vessel.
Strait Times quotes the new president-elect of Taiwan saying he has no immediate plans to visit China but will work to fulfil his pledge to improve relations between the two countries. Ma Ying-jeou trounced ruling party rival Frank Hsieh after a campaign that focused on relations with China. A sitting Taiwanese president has not set foot on the mainland since a civil war in 1949 and Ma said he has no plans to visit in the near future.
Kurier reports a group of singing monks who caught the ear of the Pope are set for wider fame after signing a major recording deal. The monks, from the Monastery of the Holy Cross in the heart of the Vienna Forest in Austria, captivated Pope Benedict when he visited last year. Their talents also impressed record company bosses at Universal Music, who have signed them to make a commercial recording within the next few weeks.