The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press
The Sunday Times says the US Ambassador has tendered his resignation while urging Barack Obama to visit Malta. It also says that Nato stopped a Tripoli-bound ship which left from Malta.
The Malta Independent says there is new hope for adoption for institutionalised children.
MaltaToday says Richard Cachia Caruana, Malta’s Permanent Representative to the EU, has fired a driver suspected of having leaked a story on irregular employment. It also says that an opinion poll on divorce shows a narrowing gap, with 42% in favour and 35% against.
Illum says the police have received new information about the killing of Karin Grech. It says that after the closing of the medical school, a group of people used to meet in a legal office to plan actions.
It-Torca says warships are denying humanitarian assistance to migrants at sea.
KullHadd quotes Cardinal Tarcisio Bertrone saying Europe has lost the spirit of solidarity.
Il-Mument says Labour has selected Keith Schembri to be its campaign manager for the next general election. It also says that the SDM Youths have won the KSU election at the university
The overseas press
Granma reports that President Raul Castro of Cuba has said top political positions in the island, including the presidency, should henceforth be limited to two five-year terms. Speaking at the start of the first congress of Cuba's ruling Communist Party in 14 years, he also promised "systematic rejuvenation" of the government, saying the party leadership was in need of renewal and should subject itself to severe self-criticism.
Al Jazeera says Libyan rebels have pushed toward the strategic oil port of Brega while Muammar Gaddafi's forces pounded besieged Misrata to the west. The Nato-led air campaign has failed to alleviate the siege of month-old siege of Misrata. Gaddafi's forces pounded the town with rockets and mortars on Saturday, targeting a dairy factory and another that makes cooking oil. Gaddafi's forces have also been bombing the road from Ajdabiyah, 80 km east of Brega, for several days.
Al Thawra reports Syrian President Basahr al-Assad has announced that long-standing laws would be lifted in the coming week – satisfying one of the main demands of anti-government protesters. In a televised speech to his newly-formed cabinet, he said new security legislation would be introduced.
Al-Ahram says an Egyptian court has ordered the dissolution of the political party of former president Hosni Mubarak. The court said the funds and property of the National Democratic Party should be confiscated.
According to USA Today, a severe spring storm has raged across North Carolina destroying homes and businesses and leaving officials with an unknown number of casualties from a system that has already been blamed for killing 17 people in four states. The storms began in Oklahoma on Thursday and marched through Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.
The Guardian reports that Saturday’s presidential election in Nigeria appeared to have gone largely without incident. President Goodluck Jonathan has staked his reputation on the conduct of the election, repeatedly promising it would be free and fair. Official results are expected on Monday.
Helsingin Sanomat says Finns go to the polls today with the opposition True Finns Party, that rejects bailouts for Portugal and other debt-ridden eurozone members, expected to make strong gains. The party, which also opposes immigration, has quadrupled its support since the last election and is poised to finish among the top four. Finland has pledged some €8 billion in guarantees of a total €440 billion in the eurozone's main bailout fund.
The Irish Times quotes the Irish National Organistion for the Unemployed describing as "utter rubbish" suggestions made by the European Commission mission chief to Ireland that the phasing out of social welfare payments for the long-term unemployed should be introduced. Istvan Szekely told Social Protection Minister Joan Burton those on long-term unemployment should have their dole payments gradually phased out as an incentive for them to return to work.
Britain's most senior Catholic leader has warned Prime Minister David Cameron not to use the Big Society as "a cloak for masking (spending) cuts". He told The Sunday Telegraph that he feared communities hit by the economic downturn would suffer if they did not get support. Archbishop Nichols also accused the banks of failing to contribute their share to helping the victims of the economic crisis. Francis Maude, Minister for the Cabinet Office, said the country could not go on with debts costing £120 million in daily interest alone.
Le Jour reports that the leader of the party of Laurent Gbagbo, the deposed former president of Ivory Coast, has urged his supporters to put an end to violence and work for national reconciliation. Forces loyal to Alassane Ouattara, who won November's presidential election, captured Mr Gbagbo this week.
ABC News says Oscar-winning actor Nicolas Cage has been arrested in New Orleans after an alleged drunken row with his wife Kim in a New Orleans street. He was charged with domestic abuse and other offences and was released on a $7,000-bond. Cage, the nephew of film director Francis Ford Coppola, has the Oscar for his portrayal of a down-and-out alcoholic in the 1995 film "Leaving Las Vegas".
The Stage reports that the London Philharmonic Orchestra is to record the national anthems of all 205 countries participating in the 2012 Olympics. The recordings, which start next month, would be played at the welcoming and medal ceremonies. It would take the musicians at least 50 recording hours over six days to finish the project.
The Irish National Organistion for the Unemployed has described as "utter rubbish" suggestions made by the European Commission mission chief to Ireland that the phasing out of social welfare payments for the long-term unemployed should be introduced. Istvan Szekely is reported to be in discussions with the Social Protection Minister Joan Burton on ways to cut social welfare, as part of the EU/IMF bailout deal. He told her those on long-term unemployment should have their dole payments gradually phased out as an incentive for them to return to work. But the Head of Policy and Media at the INOU Brid O'Brien said what the unemployed need is job creation.