Times of Malta says former colleagues of Valletta 2018 artistic director Mario Philip Azzopardi claim he threatened to use political connections to block artists’ access to public funds while repeatedly boasting of being a “political appointee. In another story, Chamber of Advocates president George Hyzler says doubts on whether Caroline Farrugia Frendo is eligible to become magistrate should be clarified as it was in the interest of the justice system to have certainty.

Malta Today says the dry winter will have implications on the harvest of summer fruits.

L-Orizzont says the school Theresa Nuzzo and the Marsa Football Nursery were concerned for children because of at the amount of used syringes being left outside the school.

In-Nazzjon quotes shadow minister Jason Azzopardi insisting that Justice Minister Owen Bonnici has no other option but to go to Commission for the Administration of Justice on the nomination of Dr Farrugia Frendo following the doubts raised about the nomination.

The Malta Independent says Dr Bonnici is ready to shoulder the responsibility and appoint Dr Farrugia Frendo as magistrate without seeking approval from the Commission.