The following are the leading stories in Maltese and foreign newspapers:
The Times says that Brussels expects spring hunting to stop once and for all. The paper also reveals that Thursday's murder victim was shot twice in the head.
On the issue of spring hunting, The Malta Independent says the European Court of Justice assessed the European Commission case against Malta as "well founded".
Il-Gens Illum also leads with the spring hunting issue but it also refers to the forthcoming visit by the Archbishop to Brussels and Luxembourg next month and the current visit to Detroit by the Bishop of Gozo.
In-Nazzjon leads with the report by Business Europe which sees Malta economic climate as sound. The paper also says that there have been no developments in the Birkirkara murder case.
l-orizzont leads with the murder case and asks whether the police have established the motive for the Mafia-style killing. It also quotes GWU Secretary General Tony Zarb saying that the union would work with any MLP leader who respects it and its officials.
The Press in Britain...
The effects of a two-day strike at Scotland's largest oil refinery is featured in six of Britain's newspapers this morning. The giant Grangemouth oil refinery has been closed down ahead of the strike by 1,200 workers in a row over pensions which threatens fuel supplies. BP has also started making preparations to close down a pipeline that delivers 30 percent of the UK's daily oil output and which relies on power from Grangemouth.
The Daily Mail reports that if one can find petrol, it's becomingly even more expensive.
The Scotsman says the Unite union, whose members are on strike over their pension schemes, is fighting a political battle at the refinery. It pictures a young man holding before him a T-shirt with the slogan "Fighting for our Pension".
The Daily Express claims ministers tried to reassure drivers about supplies - and started a panic.
The Herald says strike at the giant Grangemouth refinery began to bite - even before workers downed tools - with some filling stations running dry.
As well as leading on the oil refinery strike, the Daily Telegraph reports that the grey squirrel is threatened by a rival, black, variety. It seems that the grey, which has ousted the red squirrel from much of Britain, faces a battle for it habitat in eastern areas.
The Times' main photograph reflects the refinery story while its lead claims the era of the amateur landlord has all but ended, with banks effectively refusing to lend to new entrants to the buy-to-let market.
The Financial Times is more positive about financial prospects saying the UK will escape a repeat of the negative equity crisis of the 1990s unless there is an unprecedented slump in house prices.
The Guardian claims that the attempt by supermarkets and industry to become 'greener' by using 'eco-friendly bioplastics' made from plants is causing concern and consumer confusion as many increase greenhouse gas emission on landfill sites and cannot be recycled in the UK.
The Independent's lead is based on claims from a senior BA pilot that derogatory remarks about race by his colleagues are so common they are treated as normal.
The Record is aghast that only two junior doctors, who each had eight months' experience, were left to care for more than 500 patients in 18 wards during a busy night shift at Edinburgh's Royal Infirmary. But the authorities denied patient safety had been compromised.
And elsewhere...
EUobserver reveals that the Lisbon treaty is set to be examined by the Czech and German courts to see if it breaches national laws, raising the risk that the January 2009 deadline for its implementation across the EU will be delayed
Zimbabwe Independent reports that riot police and intelligence officers have ransacked the opposition party headquarters and the offices of independent election monitors, taking away material documenting President Robert Mugabe's apparent electoral defeat.
The People's Daily says that Chinese officials will hold talks "in coming days" with the Dalai Lama's representatives. This would be the first meeting since rioting broke out in Tibet last month. The Dalai Lama has welcomed Beijing's offer, saying it was a step in the right direction. The international community has oured praise on China's gesture.
Nagano's Shinano Mainichi reports that the Japanese leg of the Olympic torch relay was held with thousands of riot police lining the streets, helicopters buzzing overhead and demonstrators gathering for a pro-Tibet prayer vigil
Wall Street Journal says that oil prices rose sharply on news that a ship under contract to the US Defence Department fired warning shots at two Iranian two boats in the Persian Gulf. The news raised concerns that a conflict between US and Iranian forces could cut oil supplies from the region.
The Italian on-line new aggregator Adnkronos International reports that Al-Qaeda has released a new video attacking the US and Israel, as well as a photo display including an image ridiculing Pope Benedict XVI. Both have been released on Islamic forums on the internet in response to the controversial short film produced by a right-wing Dutch parliamentarian. In one of two photos, the Pope is shown with a Nazi symbol next to President Bush above a series of swords and shields with the flags of Afghanistan, Palestine, Iraq and Lebanon.
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reports Germany wants to extend restrictions on workers from the European Union's youngest members until 2011.
Jornal do Brazil says rescue crews have scoured mountains for signs of a Roman Catholic priest who vanished near the Brazilian port city of Paranagua strapped to 1,000 helium balloons.Fr Adelir Antonio di Carli went missing after setting out to break a record by floating more than 400 miles. But instead he drifted out to sea, and the only trace found was a cluster of balloons floating in the ocean.