The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press:
The Times says Labour MP Adrian Vassallo was absent for 90 per cent of parliamentary sittings this year. It also reports how The Times won a freedom of expression case in the European Court of Human Rights.
The Malta Independent says a conference on refugees was told there is a need for proper studies.
MaltaToday focuses on Eddie Fenech Adami and says that the ghosts of the past have returned to haunt the PN. It also says that dead dogs seen in the sea off Marsalforn yesterday were mistaken for a floating corpse.
In-Nazzjon reports that a national strategy on the development of digital games is being prepared. It also says that the US Commander in Nato has thanked Malta for helping aircraft in emergencies.
l-orizzont says Lawrence Gonzi had warned of an early election if he lost last Saturday’s vote in Parliament.
The overseas press
Deutsche Welle reports that finance ministers of the 17 eurozone member-states have failed to reach any agreement on how to help keep Greece from defaulting on its debt. After six-and-a-half hours in Brussels, the ministers set up another meeting for Sunday evening in Luxembourg, just before scheduled talks on Monday. Greece's faltering economy and the decreasing public confidence in its ability to make good on government bonds have convinced the EU that Greece would soon need a second package of emergency loans on top of the €110 billion the EU and International Monetary Fund agreed to lend Greece last year.
Meanwhile, Reuters reports that Greek unions prepared to stage a general strike and protesters vowed to surround parliament later today to prevent a debate on deeply-unpopular austerity measures as two ruling party members said they would vote against the government. Prime Minister George Papandreou is struggling to muster support for a five-year plan that includes tax rises and spending cuts.
Al Arabiya says Nato has resumed its airstrikes on the Libyan capital of Tripoli, blasting at least two targets just before midnight. East of the capital, alliance aircraft have begun dropping leaflets warning government troops to abandon their posts outside Zlitan, west of the rebel-held port city of Misrata.
Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reports that rebel forces have been advancing along the Mediterranean coast toward Zlitan, but say they have been instructed by NATO to withdraw ahead of expected bombing runs to old front lines in Dafniya. On Monday, NATO said attack helicopters struck two of Gadhafi's military boats off the coast of Misrata, as well as military vehicles and equipment concealed beneath trees in Zlitan.
USA Today says the Republicans have urged President Barack Obama to explain the legality for the continued US military involvement in Libya. House Speaker John Boehner said the White House would clearly be in violation of the 1973 War Powers Act this weekend because the President did not seek Congressional approval for the operation within 60 days of the March 19 American airstrikes against Muammar Gaddafi's forces. The White House said it was nearing completion of an "extensive" response to congressional inquiries.
The Wall Street Journal quotes US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke warning that the country's creditworthiness was at risk if its borrowing limit was not raised. He said the US could lose its coveted AAA credit rating if Congress did not vote in favour of lifting the debt ceiling of $14.3 trillion (€10 trillion). If there was no deal by August, the US may start defaulting on obligations.
Al-Arab says Syrian government forces were expanding their operations against unrest in the north of the country. Tanks and troops were said to be moving on the town of Maarat al-Numan, causing thousands of residents to flee. Damascus insisted it was tackling armed groups which had been targeting security forces and looting villages. But some of the several thousands of Syrians who have fled into Turkey say army "thugs" and pro-government mercenaries have gone on the rampage, torching deserted homes and stealing what they can.
The UN Refugee Agency has accused the Sudanese authorities of blocking humanitarian aid to key parts of the South Kordofan region where tends some 100,000 people have fled fighting in the past 10 days. The Washington Post says the agency has appealed to the Sudanese government to allow planes to land in the area. Sudan has stepped up air strikes against groups aligned with South Sudan which is due to become independent net month.
Asia Observer reports that police in Pakistan have arrested two men for stripping a woman naked and parading her in a village. One of the offenders had accused the woman's son of having illicit relations with his wife. Public dishonouring of women is not uncommon in Pakistan and other parts of South Asia. The police said villagers where the incident took place did not try to stop it because the offenders were armed.
The Times features the court appearance of the nine men accused of grooming and exploiting young girls in what is believed to be the first trial involving charges of sex trafficking of British children in the UK. The jury was told teenage girls were treated as "sexual commodities to be sold or gifted". The men face more than 50 charges including rape, controlling child prostitution and sexual activity with girls under the age of 16. One of the defendants is accused of trafficking a child in the UK for exploitation.
The Scoop says the wedding of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner to his 25-year-old girlfriend has been called off, following her change of heart. Mr Hefner was to marry Crystal Harris, who was featured in the magazine as Playmate of the Month in December 2009, on Saturday. The 85-year-old has been married twice before, in 1949 and 1989.