These are the leading stories making front page headlines in newspapers this Wednesday.
Times of Malta leads with Armenian bank Ardshinbank confirming it has submitted a bid for HSBC Malta, describing itself as “quite confident” about its chances of acquiring the bank.
The newspaper also gives prominence to former European Commissioner Helena Dalli being appointed acting president. The appointment was confirmed yesterday afternoon.
The Malta Independent leads with Dalli’s appointment, which faced criticism from the Opposition.
It also gives prominence to Żurrieq agricultural land known as Tal-Bebbux being saved from development after the government bowed to pressure from residents, activists and farmers.
In-Nazzjon leads with statistics on mental health emergencies, which it says are growing at an “alarming rate”, and the cessation of the citizenship-by-investment scheme.
It also features Dalli’s appointment, which it calls “unacceptable” in light of her prior position in the Muscat Cabinet, and a fatal car crash in Lija on Wednesday morning.
l-orrizont leads Dalli’s appointment, the Lija crash and an interview with new General Workers Union technoloogy secretary Jason Gatt, who says he “always admired” the union.
Malta Business Weekly features an analysis on two new barometers carried out by auditing firm PwC.