The following are the top stories in national newspapers today.

The Sunday Times of Malta says 70 artists, including several high-profile figures, have written to the Valletta 2018 Foundation board flagging up serious issues in the running of the European Capital of Culture initiative six months before its start. In another story, the newspaper says VGH will be paid €188,000 a day, or nearly €70 million a year, to provide beds to the government at the Gozo, Karin Grech and St Luke’s hospitals.

The Malta Independent speaks to restaurateur Julian Sammut who says that growing competition, increasing rents, a severe lack of entry level staff and the personal greed of many operators are forcing many in the business to either abuse the system or lose money and face failure.

MaltaToday says a promise of sale agreement between SmartCity Malta and Ricasoli Properties has already been signed for the sale of land to be developed into the luxury apartments, despite changes to the SmartCity masterplan not yet having been voted upon by Maltese MPs.

Kullħadd says Nationalist MP Jean Pierre Debono was willing to give up his Parliamentary seat for PN leadership contestant Adrian Delia if his wife Kristy was appointed deputy leader for Parliamentary Affairs.

Illum says that Nationalist MPs Clyde Puli and Kristy Debono were yesterday helping Dr Delia campaign in Gozo.

Il-Mument says opposition has mounted to the Prime Minister chief of staff Keith Schembri’s criminal complaint against Opposition leader Simon Busuttil.

It-Torċa says all Palumbo employees have signed a petition calling for a collective agreement and union representation.