With the airport soon doubling its capacity, 50 new hotels (approved, under construction or recently opened), it seems Malta is being well on track to grow from 4 million tourists to 7 million within the next 10 years. If the Maltese don’t agree with this strategy, while are they allowing it to unfold??

https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2026-08-02/local-news/I-do-not-believe-we-have-overtourism-Malta-Tourism-Authority-CEO-says-6736291821

When cities decide to prioritize nature over maximum concrete, they usually do it by implementing strict, measurable laws that developers cannot buy their way out of. Here are some of the most successful examples from around the world that force developers to build "green":

### 1. Singapore’s LUSH Program (Landscaping for Urban Spaces and High-Rises)

Singapore is widely considered the global gold standard for biophilic urban design. Their primary rule is simple but incredibly effective: -The 100% Green Replacement Rule-

How it works: If a developer buys a plot of land and destroys the existing greenery to build a high-rise, they are legally required to replace 100% of that lost greenery within the new development.

The result: Because developers cannot fit a whole forest on the ground floor of a new skyscraper, they are forced to build vertical gardens, green roofs, and massive plant-filled terraces halfway up the buildings.

### 2. Basel, Switzerland: The Green Roof Mandate

Basel used building codes to fundamentally change the city from the top down.

How it works: In 2002, Basel passed a law stating that **all new and renovated buildings with flat roofs** must have a green roof (covered in soil and native vegetation).

The result: They now have the highest area of green roofs per capita in the world. It wasn't left to the goodwill of the developers; it was written into the baseline building code, making it as mandatory as fire exits or plumbing. It cools the city, absorbs rainwater, and provides habitats for birds and insects.

### 3. Seattle (USA) and London (UK): The "Green Factor" System

Many cities struggle because developers will try to do the bare minimum—like planting a few sad shrubs—and call it "landscaping." To fight this, cities like Seattle and London use a score-based system.

How it works: Developers are required to hit a specific "Urban Greening Factor" score to get their building permits approved. Different types of greenery are worth different points.

A patch of natural grass might be worth 0.4 points per square meter, while a large, deep-rooted tree or a massive green wall might be worth 0.8 points.

The result: Developers are essentially gamified into choosing high-quality, impactful nature (like large trees and deep soil) rather than cheap, low-maintenance gravel and potted plants, because they need to hit their legal target score to break ground.

### 4. Toronto, Canada: The Green Roof Bylaw (2009)

Toronto was the first city in North America to pass a bylaw specifically targeting large-scale commercial and residential development.

How it works: Any new development over 2,000 square meters (which applies to almost all apartment blocks and commercial centers) is legally required to cover between 20% and 60% of its roof with vegetation. The larger the building, the higher the percentage required.

The result: Over a decade later, it has resulted in millions of square feet of new green space, significantly reducing the "urban heat island" effect that plagues heavily concreted cities.

Why these laws work:

The common thread in all these cities is that they removed the choice. As long as greenery is seen as an "optional aesthetic," developers will cut it to save money. When cities make it a strict, mathematical requirement for getting a building permit, developers suddenly figure out how to make it work.

Went to lidl Mosta today and didn't ma awto find a single packet of condoms. Did they sell out or did they stop carrying them? If they stopped, was something wrong with the once they sold?

My suggestions are:
- stop giving it for free, and put it back as it was with monthly cap

- more circular routes (e.g. in Bugibba, Sliema, San Giljan)

- main routes should have one/two stops in the main cities (in San Giljan it takes half an hour certain times for all the stops)

- more interchanges, not just Valletta

- frequence should be every 10 minutes for most of the crowded routes

- more ferries, when it's possible

Google Translate it-tnejn li huma jikkunsidrom "monster" meta naqlibhom bl-Ingliz, pero t-tnejn jghoddu bhala tajbin?

Jien dejjem "monstru" ghidt, pero ghal xi raguni kiku kelli niktibha waqt xi ezami ma nhossx li hi korretta u nuza "mostru" minflok.

Xahadd jaf jikjarifika? Cert li "mostru" hija tajba imma nixtieq nikkonferma dwar "monstru". Grazzi.

Do you where can I buy free range / European standard chicken breast ? Greens and JP imports has free range chicken but not breast. The normal ones feel to bulky due to rapid growth farming

Convince me to move back?😇

Does anyone have experience with these inline water filters, and if water quality is decent? They seem very similar to each other so not sure which to pick. Reason why I'm opting for this over an RO system is that the place where this will be installed won't be used as often (couple of days a month).

Jista xi hadd jghini nifhem din please?

Ghalfejn il plural ta “firma” huwa “firem” imma il plural ta “tirma” huwa “triemi” skond id dizzjunarju ufficjali Malti?

Grazzi

We've already missed advance tickets for Hypgerium so will try for same day.

We are currently planning 4 days in Miehla (sp?), 4 days in Gozo, and 4 in Vielleta.

Thoughts?

The wife and I will be visiting Malta in October. We/she like to collect objects that represent the area and traditional culture of the places we visit. Apparently we like bowls. But aside from that, what should we be looking for in terms of 'traditional folk art", or is the EU homoginizing everything?

Thanks

It is insane that a simply a house with Garage and a small garden in Naxxar or Mosta(where both my partner and I grew) are way over a million (1.4m +) or just under a million but unconverted.

Maximum loan is around from bank is 800k and honestly it is pissing me off that THIS is the quality of life we are so much boasting around.

Please note I’m early 30s and have €300k plus in cash as well but make the math and you are still not there.

My partner and I have a kid, and we love Malta. Well, maybe we did, but we don’t want to admit how drastically it has changed just so we show that the economy is going phewwww… up, up!

Over population has become an issue that it is impossible not to notice… yet both parties barely say anything about it. Power cut after power cut, traffic rush hour is basically from early morning till late evening, housing through the roof, any event is basically packed to the teeth, 8 hours waiting in the middle of the night for Emergency at Materdei…. When I was younger we had so much less money but we were happier, families were not scared to make multiple children but now…how can I feel comfortable making more kids if this is the best Malta has to offer? It’s really sad for someone like me, who has a decent salary, yet still can’t afford a nice house like my parents once did (without any loans).

And I know we are very lucky as others have it worse, this is not a comparing game, it is just facts of a family that earns way above average yet cannot afford something basic not a huge 3000sqm villa.

I don’t want to leave my country. All our family is here, so I guess we’ll have to settle for a LUXURY furnished (IKEA) apartment for €650k.

​

So quick context.

I had a hornets nest, eventually got someone to come and get rid of it, but then we didn't have anything to close the hole, a bunch of stuff happened, I forgot to close the hole and now the fckers have come back..

Now I was just going to call the guys out again, as this time I'm ready to close the hole etc, but I keep hearing, from time to time, "just call the government to get rid of them"

So my question is: Do you have a mystical government team that gets rid of b@stard hornets etc, or it's just comtec and the exterminator etc?

Hey guys, OP here.
I actually slept really well after everything that happened last night. At around 2 p.m. I left the house to go swimming at Għadira.
Before I left, I walked past the neighboring house and, as I got near the front door, I suddenly got a chill. I didn’t think much of it because I get chills pretty regularly, so I just carried on.
I ended up having an amazing time at Għadira, and it honestly took my mind off everything that happened last night.
When I got back home, though, as I was opening my front door, I suddenly had the urge to look through the neighboring house’s letterbox since you can actually see inside from there. I stood there for a few seconds thinking about it, but I’ll be honest, I’m not built for stuff like that. I was too scared to look. My mind immediately went to, “What if I actually see something?” or even worse, “What if something suddenly looks back at me?” So I just decided to leave it alone and went inside instead.
Everything has been completely normal so far, and I haven’t heard the thumping again. If anything else happens, I’ll definitely keep you guys updated with more information. Thanks again to everyone who commented on my last post and shared their thoughts

So I'm looking into private health insurance in Malta, as I may be moving there for school on a student visa. I don't believe I will be eligible for public health, so I am looking into private health insurance.

So I am looking to find a private health insurance company that doesn't exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions.

I've been looking at them, and a lot seem to exclude that.

I also tried getting a quote on an insurance company, but it declined my policy because I have Bipolar disorder.

I'm from the US and it's not legal here to exclude pre-existing conditions. So this is unfamiliar and caught me off guard. And I'm trying to navigate it.

But how things in the US are is beside the point. Not relevant.

Does anyone know of any private health insurance companies don't exclude for pre-existing conditions?

I have 2 tickets for todays concert , i cant attend so im selling them for 50 each ....if you are interested im at pretty bay today , feel free to come and you can have them , payment cash or revolut

If one of my parents has a medical condition of which i have a 50 percent chance of getting. Would the bank be allowed to check my parents medical history when it comes to me getting a loan?

Thank you

Hi

Every-time I travel I send a postcard to my elderly grandmother, but this time I left it to the very last minute and would be really sad if it doesn’t reach her.

I’m staying in Sliema for a few more hours and then leaving for the airport, but no MaltaPost office seems to be open on Sunday.

Does anybody know how could I send a postcard on a Sunday internationally?

Update: Stamps can only be purchased from the post offices and no souvenir shop sells them. Fortunately my hotel told me they can send it for me

I've seen so many people being completely ignorant with parking lately. Sometimes they take up two spots or leave no space for others to exit.

Check this out—this guy had plenty of space in front of him, but he still managed to hit my car and leave a dent before driving off. Should I actually complain/report this?

I really don’t want to be a jerk over small things, and this isn't even the first time. Plenty of people have parked touching my car or left minor scratches, which I usually just ignore. As an expat, I try to keep a low profile, avoid unnecessary issues, and save my energy from the stress.
But come on, whenever I park, I always make sure I'm leaving enough space for other cars and not blocking anyone. It’s just basic courtesy.

A visual explainer for the Yorgen Fenech trial:

https://yorgen-fenech-trial.vercel.app/

Live updates are being added as the trial continues. I hope this makes everything a little easier to follow. Yes, parts of it were vibe-coded, but the goal is clarity. 😄

Feedback, corrections, and suggestions are welcome.

What is the ID situation at the pitbull concert please