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

The Times says the two nuns implicated in the Lourdes Home abuse cases are to move out. It also reports that EU-US talks on a visa waiver will start this week. Malta has been holding its own talks with the US on the removal of visa requirements. On the back page it reports that Lucio Dalla is to give a performance at Ta’ Qali.

l-orizzont says the GWU in continuing to insist that workers at ST Microelectronics should be paid previously agreed pay rises. The company is warning that it is under pressure because of a downturn in the world electronics market and the weak dollar. The newspaper also reports that the case of Jamie Zammit, a young boy suffering a rare disorder, was mentioned during a European Parliament debate on organ transplants.

In-Nazzjon leads with the conferment of an honorary degree to Roberto Benigni. It also highlights the proposals made by the government to the opposition on the running of Parliament.

The Malta Independent leads with the PM’s offer of the Speaker post to the Opposition and Dr George Abela’s press conference about his MLP leadership plans.

MaltaToday midweek says that according to Alfred Sant, George Vella was right when he contradicted George Abela on the MLP’s position on the EU in 1998. It also reports that Labour MP Carmelo Abela is showing an interest in running for the post of deputy leader for of the MLP.

The Press in Britain...

Under the heading "Shamed MEPs in expense cover-up", Metro says the European Parliament has voted not to make public reports by auditors into alleged financial abuse by staff.

The Daily Express reports that the British family shopping bill, based on the cost of 24 staple foods, has soared by a whopping £15 a week which is putting more pressure on hard-up families.

The Times also leads on the rising cost of food declaring that the era of cheap food has ended.

The Daily Record reports that a filling station in Fife has raised the cost of diesel by 25 percent - and was charging £1.45 a litre - amid fears of fuel shortages if a strike at Grangemouth oil refinery goes ahead. It also reported that the station was charging £1.25 for a litre for unleaded petrol.

A five pence rise in the price of petrol at the pumps in the past 48 hours has prompted accusations of profiteering in The Daily Mail. Average unleaded is now around 109p a litre - all but £5 a gallon - and diesel is at 118p. The paper also reports on the hunt for missing James Hughes after the death of his mother.

The Daily Mirror prints a picture which shows the agony of Liverpool's John Arne Riise who scored an own goal in the last minute of the Champions League semi-final against Chelsea to end the game 1-1.

The Scotsman reveals there is big re-think underway into the environmental damage caused by the drive for biofuels to counter rising petrol prices. The Prime Minister has said he will reconsider greater use of biofuels.

London's Evening News says Sir Winston Churchill has been voted as England's ultimate hero in a poll to mark St George's Day. The wartime prime minister won 30 percent of the vote beating St George himself into second place with 21 percent. Lord Nelson was in third place with 10 percent of the vote. Queen Victoria was the highest ranked woman in 7th place.

And elswhere...

Strasbourg's Dernieres Nouvelles reports that the European Commission will increase food aid by more than €117 million, to offset the impact of rising food prices on the world's most vulnerable

South Africa's Mail & Guardian reports from Harare that Zimbabwe's church leaders have warned that post-election violence in the country could reach genocidal proportions without the intervention from the international community.

The New York Times reports that the United Nations estimates that the death toll in the five-year Darfur conflict in Sudan may have reached up to 300,000 so far.

Sydney Morning Herald leads with the arrival in Canberra of the Beijing Olympic flame, ahead of tomorrow's controversial torch relay.

Parenting World reports that academics have discovered evidence that a child's gender is associated with its mother's diet.