The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press:
The Times leads with the appointment by the Prime Minister of an independent board of inquiry which will investigate the death of Gunner Matthew Psaila during AFM training. It also reports on the escape of migrants from Safi detention amp.
The Malta Independent follows the controversy over the eco-contribution on plastic bags and also features the Oscars ceremony on its front page.
l-orizzont asks if bread prices are set to rise because of increased costs for bakers.
In-Nazzjon says Gozo Channel enjoyed record traffic over Carnival. It also reports that cruise line passengers increased impressively in January.
The Press in Britain
The Daily Express leads with the return to the UK of former Guantanamo Bay detainee Binyam Mohamed, who claims he was tortured in Morocco and Afghanistan under the CIA's secret rendition programme.
According to The Daily Telegraph, an education watchdog wants 'back to basics' discipline to curb bad behaviour and improve exam results.
The Guardian leads with a poll showing Labour would do better without Gordon Brown as leader.
The Herald says Gordon Brown has been warned his government will come to an end if he allows Lord Mandelson to go ahead with part-privatisation of the Royal Mail.
The Daily Star reveals dying Big Brother star Jade Goody has a secret spiritual healer.
The Sun also leads on Jade's bittersweet final days, saying she shed a tear as she weakly waved goodbye to pals for what could be the final time.
A tearful Jade also features on the Daily Mirror's front page as exhausted and tearful, she headed home after her wedding.
The Daily Mail has a warning that social networking sites are causing alarming changes in children's brains.
The Independent says senior city bankers are demanding pay rises of up to 10 per cent to compensate the lack of bonuses being awarded.
The Times reports police forces around the country are planning to axe thousands of jobs despite concerns that crime is rising.
The Financial Times says local councils face a £6 billion fall in contributions from property companies this year as developers halt work and renegotiate plans amid the crisis.
The Scotsman says Edinburgh's £512 million tram scheme faces further problems after it emerged that completion of the project could be pushed back until November 2012.
And elsewhere...
The Washington Times reports that President Obama has pledged to halve the US federal budget deficit by the end of his four-year term in office.
The Wall Street Journal says its been a rough day on global markets with US stocks falling to a 12-year low as investors appeared to lose faith in the government's ability to stabilise the financial system.
In an exclusive interview with Bild, Deutsche Bank's chief economist, Norbert Walter says the global economic crisis will hit Europe's largest economy harder than previously thought. He expects the economy to contract by at least five percent this year, one percentage point more than previously predicted.
South China Morning Post says North Korea is preparing to launch a test-purpose communication satellite. Pyongyang has previously tested missiles under the guise of launching a satellite.
The New York Times quotes UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urging Burma's military government to release all political prisoners, including the main opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. His appeal comes after the ruling military junta announced the release of some 6,000 prisoners last Friday.
Lanka Times reports separatist Tamil Tiger rebels have written to the UN, the US, the EU, Japan and Norway, which have been trying to mediate a peace process, say they are willing to accept a cease-fire with the government but that they will not disarm. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has emphasised that his government will only accept an unconditional surrender.
The Jerusalem Post says Israel's Labour Party leader Ehud Barak has rejected an offer to join a coalition under Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu. Following talks between the two, Barak said his party would serve in the opposition.
Al-Ahram says Egyptian authorities have arrested at least three Egyptians in connection with a bomb attack in a Cairo bazaar that killed a French girl and injured 21 other people, mainly tourists.
The Age reports that scores of people have fled their homes in southern Australia amid fears new wildfires are about to devastate the area again. Temperatures soared into the mid-30s while strong winds caused at least two fires to flare and threatened to carry glowing embers into new areas.
USA Today says a judge has ordered a British man convicted of possessing child porn to pay €200,000 to a woman photographed as a child while being abused.
Nigeria Daily says a woman in Nigeria gave birth to sextuplets but died after she developed complications following a Caesarean section.