Malta
Balotelli levels as Italy draw 2-2 with Brazil
Mar 21, 2013 19:23 EDT
Daniele De Rossi sparked Italy's fightback and Mario Balotelli scored a superb second-half equaliser as the Azzurri battled to a 2-2 draw against Brazil in a friendly on Thursday.
Buffon relishes Brazil test
Mar 21, 2013 03:19 EDT
Italy will have one eye on the Confederations Cup this June when the Azzurri take on Brazil in a friendly Thursday, says Juventus and Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon.
Buffon relishes Brazil test
Mar 20, 2013 21:37 EDT
Italy will have one eye on the Confederations Cup this June when the Azzurri take on Brazil in a friendly Thursday, says Juventus and Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon.
Injured Chiellini out of Italy squad for Brazil
Mar 20, 2013 09:46 EDT
Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini has been forced out of the Italy squad ahead of a friendly against Brazil and could miss a World Cup qualifier against Malta next week, according to the Italian football federation.
Four countries bring air pollution under EU limit
Mar 18, 2013 17:28 EDT
Eight European Union countries exceeded the bloc's air pollution limits in 2011, down from 12 the previous year, the European Environment Agency said in a report published on Monday.
Cerci gets call as Prandelli names Italy squad
Mar 17, 2013 16:13 EDT
Torino midfielder Alessio Cerci was the only uncapped addition to Italy coach Cesare Prandelli's 27-man squad ahead of an upcoming friendly against Brazil and a 2014 World Cup qualifier against Malta next week.
Homemade alcohol kills 60 in Libya: ministry
Mar 12, 2013 13:36 EDT
Sixty people have died in Libya from drinking homemade alcohol and hundreds more been poisoned, the government said on Monday as authorities in the Muslim state vowed a crackdown on booze trafficking.
Homemade alcohol kills 51 in Libya: health ministry
Mar 11, 2013 15:44 EDT
More than 50 people have died in Libya since Saturday after drinking cheap homemade alcohol and hundreds were poisoned, the health ministry said on Monday, as the authorities in the Muslim country vowed a crackdown on booze trafficking.
China adds spice to flat Cyprus housing sector
Mar 06, 2013 23:09 EST
The real estate sector on the recession-hit Mediterranean holiday island of Cyprus, an EU member, is turning to Chinese investors seeking easier access to Europe.
'Sinners' who hid sex abuse 'should vote for pope'
Feb 25, 2013 05:09 EST
Cardinals suspected of having protected predator priests should be allowed to take part in next month's papal conclave, the Vatican's former prosecutor on child sex abuse cases said Monday.
German financier named new Vatican bank chief
Feb 15, 2013 13:27 EST
The Vatican on Friday named a German financier as head of its scandal-hit bank to help overhaul the secretive institution, but the news was overshadowed by his ties to a warship builder.
Libya talks focus on tighter borders to improve security
Feb 12, 2013 12:20 EST
Top Libyan and Western officials on Tuesday agreed on a plan to improve security following the 2011 ouster of Moamer Kadhafi, including tighter borders, disarming former fighters and training troops.
English couple describe special 'aura' of ailing Pope
Feb 11, 2013 11:37 EST
Pope Benedict XVI appeared frail and was clearly ailing but still gave off a special aura during one of his last public appearances before his shock retirement announcement, witnesses said Monday.
Pope receives Knights of Malta on 900th anniversary
Feb 09, 2013 17:04 EST
Pope Benedict XVI met with around 4,000 members and volunteers of the Order of Malta at the Vatican on Saturday in a special ceremony marking 900 years since the famous crusading order was placed under papal protection.
Cyprus gives Palestinians full diplomatic status
Feb 08, 2013 12:50 EST
Cyprus said on Friday it has upgraded its relations with the Palestinians to full diplomatic mission status, one of just eight European Union countries to do so.
Fitch highlights threat of ageing time-bomb
Jan 21, 2013 08:15 EST
Many advanced economies will be threatened by another, long-term fiscal shock unless they tackle the problem of ageing populations, the ratings agency Fitch warned on Monday.
Bulgaria to appeal FIFA racism punishment
Jan 09, 2013 12:35 EST
Bulgaria's football union said Wednesday it would appeal a FIFA decision that it has to play its next World Cup qualifying match behind closed doors because of racism by its fans.
Hungary, Bulgaria hit by FIFA sanctions over racism
Jan 08, 2013 15:01 EST
Bulgaria and Hungary will each play their next World Cup qualifying matches on March 22 behind closed doors after racist incidents, among other infractions, marred previous encounters, FIFA said Tuesday.
Arafat exhumation hopes to quell poison quandary
Nov 25, 2012 17:52 EST
One of the Middle East's greatest political mysteries will come a step closer to being solved on Tuesday when scientists exhume iconic Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's remains to see if he was poisoned.
EU leaders brace for bitter budget battle
Nov 22, 2012 06:23 EST
Brussels hunkered down on Thursday for what looked set to be a gruelling European Union summit over a trillion-euro budget that has bitterly divided a 27-nation bloc already mired in economic crisis.
Facts from the Wikipedia page:
| Republic of Malta
Repubblika ta' Malta
| ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||
| Anthem: L-Innu Malti ("The Maltese Hymn") | ||||||
 Location of Malta (dark green)
– on the European continent (light green & dark gray) | ||||||
| Capital | Valletta (de facto) 35°53′N 14°30′E / 35.883°N 14.5°E | |||||
| Largest city | Birkirkara | |||||
| Official languages | Maltese, English | |||||
| Ethnic groups | Maltese 95.3%, British 1.6%, other 3.1% [1] | |||||
| Demonym | Maltese | |||||
| Government | Parliamentary Republic | |||||
| - | President | George Abela | ||||
| - | Prime Minister | Lawrence Gonzi | ||||
| Independence | ||||||
| - | from the United Kingdom | 21 September 1964 | ||||
| - | Republic | 13 December 1974 | ||||
| EU accession | 1 May 2004 | |||||
| Area | ||||||
| - | Total | 316 km2 (200) 121 sq mi | ||||
| - | Water (%) | 0.001 | ||||
| Population | ||||||
| - | 2008 estimate | 413,609 (174th) | ||||
| - | 2005 census | 404,9621 | ||||
| - | Density | 1,298/km2 (6th) 3,391/sq mi | ||||
| GDP (PPP) | 2008 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $9.893 billion[2] (142nd) | ||||
| - | Per capita | $23,971[2] (37th) | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | 2008 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $8.370 billion[2] | ||||
| - | Per capita | $20,280[2] | ||||
| HDI (2007) | ▲0.902 (very high) (38th) | |||||
| Currency | Euro (€)2 (EUR) | |||||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |||||
| - | Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||||
| Drives on the | left | |||||
| Internet TLD | .mt 3 | |||||
| Calling code | 356 | |||||
| 1 Total population includes foreign residents. Maltese residents population estimate at end 2004 was 389,769. All official population data provided by the NSO.[3] 2Before 2008: Maltese lira 3 Also .eu, shared with other European Union member states. | ||||||
