The following are the main stories in Friday’s newspapers.

Times of Malta says the Contracts Department is being accused of “illegally” removing a crucial clause in a multimillion euro cleaning tender offer that would have excluded companies with tax arrears. In another story, the newspaper says the price of housing in Malta grew by almost four per cent in the last three months of last year, the third-highest rate in Europe.

The Malta Independent says that while the European Commission is saying that all is well and good with the issuing of Maltese Schengen visas for Algerians in 2016/7, it has ignored the fact that thousands of visas were issued by Malta’s consulate in Algiers without the right checks and balances in 2014/5.

L-Orizzont speaks to activists who express concern that racial hate in Malta is on the increase.

In-Nazzjon says Health Minister Chris Fearne has been caught lying regarding plans to bring to Malta injured Libyans for treatment.