These are the main stories featured in today's Maltese newspapers:

Times of Malta reports that the government has ordered the Tax Compliance Unit to start an investigation into possible tax evasion by Pierre Sladden and his com- pany Redmap Ltd, as the fallout over the Panama Papers continues. It also reports that prostitution and illegal drugs pumped €24 million into the economy last year, increasing by a fifth over 2014.

In-Nazzjon reports that Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi had been acquitted in the defamation case instituted by the former police commissioner. It quotes magistrate Joe Mifsud saying that if the police was not convinced of the case then they should not have proceeded further. 

The Malta Independent says that a survey commissioned by the paper has shown an 18 per cent drop in government approval ratings among Labour voters. Still, a small majority still give the thumbs up to the government's overall performance.

L-Orizzont reports that more than 4.7 million passengers crossed over to Gozo last year. It also carries a picture of a ceremony in Valletta yesterday to mark the award of the George Cross to Malta.