The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press:
The Sunday Times says VAT refunds of some €10m have been postponed because of the ongoing fraud investigation at the VAT Department. It also reports that workers at Boffa Hospital were exposed to asbestos for many years.
The Malta Independent reports that the site proposed for an airstrip at Ta' Lambert, Gozo is full of archaeological remains which are being harmed by dumping. It also reports how the President’s official photo has been withdrawn.
It-Torca says Malta, like the rest of the EU, is to have ‘tolerant’ speed cameras. It also reports that two young people have died of meningitis so far this year. It another story, it says cargo from Italy is being blacklisted.
Il-Mument’s lead is about €23 million being invested on science facilities at Mcast. It also reports that the Prime Minister will launch the local reforms on Wednesday.
MaltaToday says Simon Busuttil and Edward Scicluna are leading the race for the election of MEPs, and Labour is expected to win an absolute majority.
Illum says former Labour leader Dom Mintoff embarrassed Sharon Ellul Bonici when they met at the March 31 PL activity.
KullHadd alleges that Caqnu is building without permits and the PN is working on a strategy which does not give prominence to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.
The Press in Britain
The Sunday Times reveals details about the "juvenile and inappropriate" emails that were sent from a Number 10 account by top Brown aide Damian McBride.
The Observer tells how Mr McBride resigned after the Prime Minister said there was "no place" in politics for such material.
The Sunday Telegraph says the Conservatives have accused Labour of resorting to "politics of the gutter" over the emails sent by PM aide Damian McBride to Derek Draper, who runs a Labour-supporting website.
The Mail on Sunday tells how Gordon Brown's spin doctor was sacked after writing ideas for smear stories against senior Tories David Cameron and George Osborne.
The Sunday Express says health bosses have been awarding themselves huge pay rises while their patients are exposed to superbugs and life-threatening delays in treatment.
The News of the World claims a relative of US President Barack Obama has been arrested over a UK cafe attack.
And elsewhere...
Il Tempo says some 20,000 Italians, living in tents after the earthquake which killed at least 293, are preparing to celebrate Easter Sunday at open-air masses. Temporary altars have erected for the Masses to be said and the Pope has sent local children chocolate eggs. The search for survivors will end late today.
Corriere della Sera reports that Somali pirates captured an Italian-flagged tugboat with 16 crew including 10 Italians and is believed to be heading toward the Somali coast. The tugboat has enough fuel and food on board to last a month.
Meanwhile, East African Standard reports that 19 American sailors who escaped a pirate hijacking off the Horn of Africa have reached safe harbour, mourning the absence of the captain they hailed for sacrificing his freedom to save them. Capt. Richard Phillips was still held hostage in an enclosed lifeboat by four pirates being closely watched by U.S. warships
El Pais says a leading member of the militant Basque separatist group Eta has been captured at Paris' Montparnasse train station. He had been under police surveillance during the train journey.
German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck has told Bild that measures governments have taken so far to calm financial markets could have serious repercussions once the ongoing crisis was over.
The New York Times quotes the French ambassador to the UN saying the five permanent Security Council – China, United States, France, Britain and Russia – and Japan have reached an agreement on a draft statement condemning North Korea's recent rocket launch which they say is designed to carry a warhead as far as Alaska. Pyongyang has insisted that the rocket it launched on April 5 was a communications satellite.
Bangkok Post reports that Thailand's prime minister has declared a state of emergency in the beach resort of Pattaya and the surrounding province after anti-government protesters stormed a regional summit between delegates of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and six dialogue members. The summit was also called off after hundreds of demonstrators broke into the hotel hosting the meeting.