Today's front pages – April 30, 2026
The top stories in Malta's newspapers
The following are the top stories in Malta's newspapers on Thursday.
Times of Malta leads with news that illegal padel courts on Manoel Island have been built atop Roman-era archaeological remains, with one academic calling for their restoration and incorporation into the future national park.
The newspaper also reports that former Housing Minister Roderick Galdes met with the prime minister privately yesterday, later saying he did not know yet whether he would be an election candidate. The PL Executive earlier decided not to accept his candidature.
The Malta Independent leads with Labour Party campaign pledges to increase the stipend paid to students and “stronger support” for first-time buyers. The party has announced interest-free loans of up to 25 per cent of a property's value.
It also features news that, with the dissolution of Parliament ahead of the election, controversial planning reform bills and media reform laws have fallen through.
L-orizzont also features Labour Party campaign pledges to increase stipends and support for first-time buyers, while giving prominence to other proposals to double the carer’s grant, increase support for the elderly, and others covering the Gozo ferry service.
It also reports a “significant reduction” in the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion, and the signing of a new collective agreement for Engineering Resources Limited workers.
In-Nazzjon leads with Opposition Leader Alex Borg’s campaign pledges on healthcare and students, which include boosting healthcare sector students with a stipend matching the minimum wage, healthcare workplace improvements and a five-year tax break for Maltese specialists returning from living abroad.
The paper also advertises a PN campaign rally taking place in Għargħur this evening at 6.30pm.
Malta Business Weekly leads with BOV reporting pre-tax profits of €54 million for the first quarter of this year, a decrease of 19.5% compared to the same quarter of last year.
The outlet also gives prominence to news that firms reported increased optimism in the first three months of the year, despite global uncertainties, and teases a number of opinion articles.