Living Between Two Languages: What It’s Like Growing Up Bilingual in Malta
Growing up in Malta means growing up bilingual. We move between Maltese and English daily — often without thinking. But behind this linguistic flexibility lies a deeper question: does bilingualism empower us, or does it slowly blur parts of our identity? This photo reel captures the everyday reality of living between two languages.
Is tourism in Malta a blessing or a curse?
Malta welcomed over 3.5 million tourists in 2024, fueling economic growth but overwhelming local services, harming the environment, and changing traditional lifestyles. As authorities consider caps and emissions cuts, the nation faces a crucial balancing act between prosperity and preservation.
European Heritage Days as a Cultural Laboratory
Architecture takes center stage for the 2025 European Heritage Days.
An Olympic Flame in turbulent times
The flame lit in Olympia travels toward Milan–Cortina amid a Europe shaped by war, diplomatic tension and shifting alliances. Debates over Russian and Belarusian athletes underline how deeply politics now intersects with the Olympic stage. Italy prepares for record crowds and a sprawling, high-stakes Winter Games that mirror the continent’s uncertainty.
Louvre and the secret life of Europe’s stolen art
The Louvre heist was framed as a “wound to the French soul,” even though the stolen regalia were prized mostly for their material value. The incident exposed gaps in security and the speed with which political narratives take shape. It also resurfaced questions about the origins of the stones themselves, which came from Asia, Africa, or South America.
Care for a body: Where Art Meets Activism
Read Ally's coverage of the "Care for a body" exhibition, featuring 30 artists from 15 countries.
Banksy and the shadows of censorship
Banksy’s mural outside the Royal Courts of Justice, showing a judge about to strike a protester, was erased within hours. Its removal became part of the artwork itself - a performance of censorship that spoke louder than the image. By silencing the wall, London’s justice system exposed its reflex to control dissent and frame activists as the “dangerous Other.”
Mădălina Surducan: Young people are increasingly engaged in the world they live in – and in politics
Mădălina Surducan manages one of the key cultural bookstores in Cluj-Napoca, a university city where, she says, reading still matters — and young people come in often, drawn not only to literature, but also to critical theory, philosophy, and contemporary essays. You’ll find them in the bookstore searching for “really cool stuff,” she says with a smile.
