Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1512001
4 NEWS 4 St Paul's Bay sees highest number of new dwellings for third consecutive quarter ST Paul's Bay has remained the country's top locality for issued building permits in the third quarter of 2023, NSO data sug- gests. In fact, Malta's largest locality has seen the highest number of approved building permits for three consecutive quarters. During the third quarter of 2023, a total of 384 building permits were issued, cover- ing the construction of 1,827 new dwellings. A comparison with the same quarter in 2022 reveals a 13.9% decrease in the number of building per- mits and a 12.7% decrease in the number of approved new dwellings. On average, each building permit corresponded to the ap- proval of 4.8 new dwellings. The majority of the newly ap- proved dwellings in were apart- ments, amounting to 1,337 units, followed by penthouses (276), maisonettes (141), ter- raced houses (61), and other residential units (12). Apart- ments accounted for 73.2% of the overall approved new dwellings. At the local level, St Paul's Bay led with the highest num- ber of approved new dwellings (222), followed by Mosta (110), Birkirkara (107), Ħal Qormi (85), and Tas-Sliema (82). A recent Housing Authority study also shows that St Paul's Bay is the most popular locality among first-time buyers. A closer look at the region- al breakdown indicates a 6.5% decrease in the number of new dwellings approved in Malta, while in Gozo and Comino, there was a more substantial decrease of 35.5%. The Northern Harbour dis- trict registered the highest number of approved new dwellings (528), with the West- ern district recording the low- est (160). A regional breakdown indicates a 6.5% decrease in the number of new dwellings approved in Malta, while in Gozo, there was a more substantial decrease of 35.5% when compared to 2022 FAMILY medicine specialist and co-founder of pro-choice NGO Doctors for Choice Na- talie Psaila has been named on BBC's list of 100 most inspira- tional and influential women from around the world in 2023. Psaila has been on the fore- front in the campaign to de- criminalise and legalise abor- tion in Malta, and for the better access to contraception. She has also published a sex education book aimed at 10 to 13-year-olds called My Body's Fantastic Journey, to help im- prove knowledge of reproduc- tive health in the country. She also established a helpline that gives support to women be- fore, during and after abortion. Speaking to the BBC, Psaila said he near total ban in Malta, where terminations are only al- lowed if a woman's life is at risk, means women take pills with- out medical supervision. Notable names from the BBC 100 Women 2023 list include former First Lady of the United States, attorney and campaign- er Michelle Obama, footballer Aitana Bonmatí, human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, actresses America Ferrera and Dia Mirza, beauty mogul Huda Kattan, AI expert Timnit Gebru, cam- paigner Ulanda Mtamba, writer Oksana Zabuzhko and feminist leader Gloria Steinem. Maltese pro-choice campaigner named on BBC's list of 100 most inspirational and influential women Family medicine specialist and co- founder of pro-choice NGO Doctors for Choice Natalie Psaila has been named on BBC's list of 100 most inspirational and inf luential women from around the world in 2023 Natalie Psaila