The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press:
The Times says that fresh doubts have surfaced about whether the death of a lawyer found in her car in Bahar ic-Caghaq on Thursday was really natural, although there were no signs of violence. It also says that the court has ruled that people can use free decoder cards to watch English premier league football without violating copyright.
The Malta Independent reports how the Labour Party is calling for the resignation of Richard Cachia Caruana.
l-orizzzont also leads with the call for Mr Cachia Caruana to resign, while adding that six Nato ships have ‘invaded’ Grand Harbour. The ships are minesweepers. It also says that no disciplinary action is to be taken against the police inspector who made the mistake in the charge sheet against a former priest accused of raping a child. The inspector has retired.
In-Nazzjon claims a Labour councillor assaulted an elderly woman in a hospital. It also says there will be less bureaucracy for small businesses.
The overseas press
France 24 reports that the leading contenders for the French presidency have made their final appeals to voters on the last day of campaigning before tomorrow’s election. Incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy – in office since 2007 – urged supporters to "speak up" and choose "a strong France". Socialist challenger Francois Hollande, who also held a rally, said it was "the left's turn to govern the country". There are 10 candidates in all and if no candidate wins 50 per cent of the votes, there will be a second run-off round.
Voice of America says the Group of 20 major economic powers have pledged more than $430 billion to the IMF’s emergency fund – effectively doubling its lending capacity and assuring finance markets that it had sufficient firepower to handle any new problems from Europe's prolonged debt crisis. Europe and Japan earlier offered to contribute more than $300 billion for the intervention fund. The resources would be available for any member country of the IMF.
The New York Times reports the UN Security Council has drawn up a draft resolution on sending 300 international monitors to Syria after considering two versions. A Russian draft would see observers sent immediately, but Britain, France and Germany want to wait until Syria has withdrawn troops and weaponry from population centres. Some observers are already in Syria monitoring the fragile ceasefire. The Security Council will meet to vote on a resolution this afternoon.
Dawn quotes Pakistani officials saying there were no survivors after a plane carrying 127 passengers and crew crashed in a violent thunderstorm near Islamabad's international airport. The Boeing 737, travelling from Karachi to the capital Islamabad, was operated by local airline Bhoja Air. IKt came down in the residential area of Rawalpindi – only nine kilometres from the airport.
Al Ahram says tens of thousands of protesters have packed Cairo’s Tahrir Square in the biggest demonstration in months against the ruling military. The move, which featured both Islamists and liberals, was aimed at stepping up pressure on the generals to hand over power to civilians and bar ex-regime members from running in upcoming presidential elections.
Al Ayam reports armourned vehicles have been deployed around the Bahraini capital, Manama and on the road to the nearby motor-racing circuit amid continuing anti-government protests ahead of tomorrow’s controversial Formula One grand prix. Demonstrators yesterday hurled petrol bombs at the police who responded with tear gas. As practice runs took place on the track, the Gulf kingdom’s crown prince vowed the country’s premier sporting event would go ahead.
According to Jakarta Post, a former senior official of the Indonesian Democrat Party has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison and fined around $21,000 or receiving bribes. Mohammad Nazaruddin was convicted of receiving nearly $500,000 for corruptly helping a company involved in the last South-East Asian Games. The judge said Nazaruddin had "tainted the image of the government, which is trying to combat corruption".
Vancouver Sun reports a man who has admitted killing more than 50 husky dogs in the Canadian province of British Colombia has been charged with animal cruelty. The man was the manager of a company offering dog-sledge tours. When business slowed after the 2010 winter Olympics ended, he killed dozens of dogs by shooting them or slitting their throats. The man admitted the slaughter when he won a compensation case for post-traumatic stress, saying he was forced to kill the dogs by new owners.
Sky News says Sheffield United striker Ched Evans has been jailed for five years after being found guilty of raping a woman who was "too drunk to consent to sex". Fellow-accused Clayton McDonald of Port Vale has been found not guilty of the same offence. The court heard that both men admitted they had sex with the woman but the prosecution said she was too drunk to consent to sexual intercourse. In her evidence to police, the woman said she has no memory of the incident and believes her drink may have been spiked. Evans, who signed in a deal worth around £3 million in 2009, has scored 34 goals for Sheffield United this season. He has 13 caps and two goals for Wales.