Examine individual changes

'{{otheruses1|the Mediterranean country}} {{Infobox Country |native_name = ''Repubblika ta' Malta'' |conventional_long_name = Republic of Malta |common_name = Malta |image_flag = Flag of Malta.svg |image_coat = Coat_of_arms_of_Malta.svg |image_map = Location Malta EU Europe.png |map_caption = Location of Malta (dark green) <br /> – within the [[European Union]] (light green) on the [[Europe|European continent]] (dark grey) <br /> |national_motto = |national_anthem = ''[[L-Innu Malti]]''<small><br/>("The Maltese Anthem")</small> |official_languages = [[Maltese language|Maltese]], [[English language|English]] |demonym = Maltese |ethnic_groups = [[Maltese people|Maltese]] 95,3%, [[British people|British]] 1,6%, other 3,1% <ref>[http://www.populstat.info/Europe/maltag.htm Populstat.info]</ref> |capital = [[Valletta]] (''[[de facto]]'') |latd=35 |latm=53 |lats=42 |latNS=N |longd=14 |longm=30 |longs=36 |longEW=E |largest_city = [[Birkirkara]] |other_cities = [[Sliema]] [[Floriana]] [[Qormi]] [[Mellieha]] [[Paola]] |government_type = [[Parliamentary republic|Parliamentary Republic]] |leader_title1 = [[President of Malta|President]] |leader_title2 = [[Prime Minister of Malta|Prime Minister]] |leader_name1 = [[George Abela]] |leader_name2 = [[Lawrence Gonzi]] |accessionEUdate = May 1, 2004 |area_rank = 200 <!--rank based on sovereign states only--> |area_magnitude = 1_E8 |area_km2 = 316 |area_sq_mi = 121 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]--> |percent_water = 0.001 |population_estimate_year = 2007 |population_estimate = 410,290 |population_estimate_rank = 174th <!--rank based on sovereign states only--> |population_census = 404,962¹ |population_census_year = 2005 |population_density_km2 = 1,298 <!--2007--> |population_density_sq_mi = 3,391 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]--> |population_density_rank = 6th <!--rank based on sovereign states only--> |GDP_PPP_year = 2008 |GDP_PPP = $9.806 billion<ref name=imf2>{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2009/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2006&ey=2009&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=181&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=66&pr.y=3 |title=Malta|publisher=International Monetary Fund|accessdate=2009-04-22}}</ref> |GDP_PPP_rank = |GDP_PPP_per_capita = $23,760<ref name=imf2/> |GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = |HDI_year = 2006 |HDI = {{increase}}0.894 |HDI_rank = 36th |HDI_category = <span style="color:#090;">high</span> |sovereignty_type = [[Independence]] |established_event1 = from the [[United Kingdom]] |established_date1 = September 21, 1964 |established_event2 = Republic |established_date2 = December 13, 1974 |currency = [[Euro]] ([[Euro sign|€]])²[[List of banks in Malta|Banks]] |currency_code = EUR |country_code = MLT |time_zone = [[Central European Time|CET]] |utc_offset = +1 |time_zone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]] |utc_offset_DST = +2 |drives_on = left |cctld = [[.mt]] ³ |calling_code = 356 |GDP_nominal_year = 2008 |GDP_nominal = $8.338 billion<ref name=imf2/> |GDP_nominal_rank = |GDP_nominal_per_capita = $20,202<ref name=imf2/> |GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = |religion = [[Roman Catholicism]] |percent_religion = 98<!--CIA World Factbook, August 2006. See external links.--> |national_bird = [[Blue rock thrush]] |national_plant = [[Maltese rock centaury]] |national_tree = [[Tetraclinis|Tetraclinis Articulata]] |national_poet = [[Dun Karm]] |footnotes = ¹ Total population includes foreign residents. Maltese residents population estimate at end 2004 was 389,769. All official population data provided by the NSO.<ref>http://www.nso.gov.mt/statdoc/document_file.aspx?id=1653</ref><br/>²Before 2008: [[Maltese lira]]<br/>³ Also [[.eu]], shared with other [[European Union]] member states. }} '''Malta''' {{Audio-IPA|en-us-Malta.ogg|/ˈmɔːltə/}}, officially the '''Republic of Malta''' ({{lang-mt|Repubblika ta' Malta}}), is a [[population density|densely]] populated [[developed country|developed]] [[European microstates|European]] [[microstate]] in the [[European Union]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.traveltips24.com/European_Microstates.htm |title=European Microstates hotels, youth hostels, nightlife. European Microstates culture, tourist attractions, souvenirs. European Microstates travel tips, flights |publisher=Traveltips24.com |date=2008-12-22 |accessdate=2009-03-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/klu/adco/1998/00000020/00000001/00135717#aff_1 |title=IngentaConnect Career guidance in Malta: A Mediterranean microstate in transitio |publisher=Ingentaconnect.com |date=2006-06-16 |accessdate=2009-03-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/offbeat-news/the-microstate-environmental-world-cup-malta-vs-san-marino/613 |title=The Microstate Environmental World Cup: Malta vs. San Marino |publisher=Environmentalgraffiti.com |date=2007-12-15 |accessdate=2009-03-31}}</ref> The [[island nation|island]] [[nation]] comprises an [[archipelago]] of seven islands situated in the [[Southern Europe]]an areas of the [[Mediterranean sea]], 93&nbsp;km [[Italian peninsula|off the coast]] of [[Sicily]] ([[Italy]]), 288&nbsp;km east of [[Tunisia]] and 300&nbsp;km north of [[Libya]]. The islands enjoy a [[Mediterranean climate]].<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mt.html#Geo CIA Factbook] - Geographic location</ref><ref>[http://www.doi.gov.mt/en/islands/location.asp The Maltese Islands], Department of Information - Malta.</ref> Throughout its history, Malta's location in the [[Mediterranean Sea]] has given it a strategic importance.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://home.wanadoo.nl/bezver/introduc.html|publisher=A History of Malta|title=Situation|date=6 February 2008}}</ref> Consequently, a sequence of powers including the [[Phoenician]]s, [[Roman Empire|Romans]], [[Fatimids]], [[Kingdom of Sicily|Sicilians]], [[Knights of St John]] and [[United Kingdom|British]] have all conquered Malta. Malta gained [[independence]] from the [[United Kingdom]] in 1964 and became a Republic in 1974 but remains a member of the [[Commonwealth of Nations]]. It is currently a [[Member State of the European Union|member]] of the [[European Union]], which it joined in 2004, and also of the [[United Nations]]. Malta is known for its [[world heritage site]]s,<ref name=Unesco>{{cite web | title= Megalithic Temples of Malta| url= http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/132|accessdate=2008-09-16}}</ref> most prominently the [[Megalithic Temples of Malta|Megalithic Temples]] which are the oldest free-standing structures on Earth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bradshawfoundation.com/malta/ |title=The Prehistoric Archaeology of the Temples of Malta |publisher=Bradshawfoundation.com |date= |accessdate=2009-03-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.otsf.org/ |title=Malta Temples and The OTS Foundation |publisher=Otsf.org |date= |accessdate=2009-03-31}}</ref><ref>David Trump et al., Malta Before History (2004: Miranda Publishers)</ref> According to the [[Acts of the Apostles]], [[Paul of Tarsus|St. Paul]] was shipwrecked on the island. Malta is also considered a [[Location hypotheses of Atlantis|potential location]] for the mythical lost island of [[Atlantis]].<ref>[http://www.atlantis-scout.de/Franke_Atlantis=Sicily_Atlantis2008_Proceedings.pdf]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://atlantisinmalta.art.officelive.com/default.aspx |title=Atlantis In Malta |publisher=Atlantisinmalta.art.officelive.com |date=2009-03-17 |accessdate=2009-03-31}}</ref> Malta's [[capital city]] is [[Valletta]]. The country's official languages are [[Maltese language|Maltese]] and [[English language|English]], which replaced [[Italian language|Italian]] in 1934. Malta has a long legacy of [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholicism]], which continues to be the official and dominant [[religion in Malta]]. ==Etymology== The origin of the term "Malta" is uncertain and the modern day variation derives from the [[Maltese language]]. The most common [[etymology]] is that it comes from the [[Ancient Greek language|Greek]] word μέλι (''meli'') ('honey'). The Greeks called the island Μελίτη (''Melite'') meaning "[[honey]]" or "honey-sweet" possibly due to Malta's unique production of honey; an [[Endemism|endemic]] species of [[apis mellifera ruttneri|bee]] lives on the island, giving it the popular nickname the "land of honey".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/2003/06/29/l7.html|publisher=Malta Today|title=Controversy over unique Maltese bee population|date=February 6, 2008}}</ref> Not only was there Greek influence on the island as early as [[700 BCE]],<ref name="ndmh">{{cite news|url=http://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/islands/dates.asp|publisher=Department of Information - Maltese Government|title=Notable dates in Malta's history|date=February 6, 2008}}</ref> but the island was later governed by the Greek-speaking [[Byzantine Empire]] from 395 to 870.<ref name="ndmh" /> Another etymology is the [[Phoenician languages|Phoenician]] word ''Maleth'', the Phoenician name for the islands, meaning "a haven"<ref>{{cite book |last=Pickles |first=Tim | title = Malta 1565: Last Battle of the Crusades |publisher=Osprey Publishing |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=0LuvbRQ78sIC&pg=PA11&lpg=PA11&dq=Maleth+Malta+haven&source=web&ots=PGO2OF9Y9I&sig=rcodiMbexlDy5YwMXhelH7zEYyw |isbn=978-1855326033}}</ref> in reference to Malta's many bays and coves. == History == {{main|History of Malta|Timeline of Maltese history}} ===Ancient civilizations=== {{see also|Megalithic Temples of Malta|Magna Graecia|Phoenicia|Ancient Rome|Sicilia (Roman province)|Byzantine Empire}} [[Image:Éléphant nain maltais.jpg|thumb|right|[[Prehistoric]] [[dwarf elephant|pygmy elephant]], discovered in [[Għar Dalam]]]] The Maltese islands were first settled in [[5200 BC]] by stone age farmers who had arrived from the larger island of [[Sicily]], possibly the [[Sicani]]. The extinction of the [[Maltese Hippopotamus|dwarf hippos]] and [[Elephas falconeri|dwarf elephants]] has been linked to the earliest arrival of humans on Malta.<ref>[http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/3096/palaeol.html Palaeolithic Man in the Maltese Islands], A. Mifsud, C. Savona-Ventura, S. Mifsud</ref> The Sicani were the only known tribe known to have inhabited the island at this time<ref name="gozo">{{cite news|url=http://www.islandofgozo.org/history.htm|publisher=IslandofGozo.org|title=Gozo|date=7 October 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.localhistories.org/malta.html|publisher=LocalHistories.org|title=Brief History of Malta|date=7 October 2007}}</ref> and are generally regarded as related to the [[Iberians]].<ref>{{cite book | last = Anthon| first =Charles| title =A Classical Dictionary: Containing an Account of the Principal Proper Names| publisher =New York Public Library| url =http://books.google.com/books?id=3iQQAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA1232&dq=sicani#PRA1-PA1231,M1}}</ref> The population on Malta grew [[cereals]], raised [[livestock|domestic livestock]] and, in common with other ancient Mediterranean cultures, worshiped a [[mother goddess|fertility figure]] represented in Maltese prehistoric artifacts as exhibiting the large proportions seen in similar statuettes, including the [[Venus of Willendorf]]. [[Image:Malta 16 Mnajdra.jpg|thumb|right|The temple complex of [[Mnajdra]]]] [[Image:Ggantija Temples (1).jpg|thumb|left|[[Ggantija]] Temples]] Pottery from the [[Għar Dalam]] phase is similar to pottery found in [[Agrigento]], Sicily. A mysterious culture of [[megalithic]] temple builders then either supplanted or arose from this earliest period of Maltese civilization. The surviving monuments they constructed on Malta and Gozo are the oldest standing stone structures on [[Earth]].<ref name="otsf"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://users.aber.ac.uk/jpg/malta/arch.html |title=Aberystwyth, The University of Wales |publisher=Users.aber.ac.uk |date= |accessdate=2009-03-31}}</ref><ref>David Trump et al., ''Malta Before History'' (2004: Miranda Publishers)</ref> The temples were used from 4000–2500 BCE and were constructed with a distinctive architecture, typically a complex trefoil design. There is some evidence that their rituals included [[animal sacrifice]], however information from this period is tentative. The culture apparently disappeared from the Maltese Islands around 2500 BCE with historians and archeologists speculating that the temple builders fell victim to famine or disease. War is discounted as a likely cause as archeological digs have yielded little or no evidence of weapons. During 3500 BC, these people built some of the oldest free-standing structures in the world in the form of the megalithic [[Ġgantija]] temples on [[Gozo]],<ref name=otsf>{{cite web|url=http://www.otsf.org/ |title=Old Temples Study Foundation |publisher=OTSF |date= |accessdate=2009-03-31}}</ref> other early temples include those at [[Ħaġar Qim]] and [[Mnajdra]].<ref>{{cite book | last =Sheehan| first =Sean | title =Malta| publisher =Marshall Cavendish| url =http://books.google.com/books?id=LRGrRy7S750C&pg=PA87&dq=%C4%A6a%C4%A1ar+Qim+and+Mnajdra&sig=ACfU3U1ozj76aQDaWbOpgv4EsJxWGi8jgg| isbn=0761409939}}</ref> Thereafter, the Maltese Islands were depopulated for several decades until the arrival of a new influx of [[Bronze Age]] immigrants, a culture that [[cremation|cremated]] its dead and introduced smaller megalithic structures called [[dolmens]] to Malta.<ref>Daniel Cilia, [http://web.infinito.it/utenti/m/malta_mega_temples/linetime.html "Malta Before Common Era", in ''The Megalithic Temples of Malta'']. Retrieved January 28, 2007.</ref> Around [[700 BC]], the [[Ancient Greece|Ancient Greeks]] settled on Malta, especially around the area now occupied by [[Valletta]].<ref name="ndmh">{{cite news|url=http://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/islands/dates.asp|publisher=Department of Information - Maltese Government|title=Notable dates in Malta's history|date=6 February 2008}}</ref> A century later, [[Phoenician]] traders,<ref name="ndmh" /> who used the islands as a stop on their trade routes from the eastern [[Mediterranean Sea]] to [[Cornwall]], joined the natives on the island.<ref>{{cite book | last = Owen| first =Charles | title =The Maltese Islands| publisher =Praeger| url =http://books.google.com/books?id=OhRCAAAAIAAJ&q=malta+Phoenician++%22trading+post%22&dq=malta+Phoenician++%22trading+post%22&pgis=1}}</ref> The Phoenicians inhabited the area now known as [[Mdina]] and its surrounding town of [[Rabat]], which they called ''Maleth''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.edrichton.com/MdinaHistory.htm |title=History of Mdina |publisher=Edrichton.com |date= |accessdate=2009-03-31}}</ref> The Romans also made use of this city, designating it (and the island) ''Melita''.<ref name="malticross">{{cite book | last = Castillo| first = Dennis Angelo | title =The Maltese Cross: A Strategic History of Malta| publisher =Greenwood Publishing Group| url =http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=i5ns5LNtoiUC&pg=PA25&lpg=PA25&dq=MALTA+sEMPRONIUS&source=web&ots=JHcfabryVa&sig=cXCtKu3apl5Y2y7OEhaMvt1CMM0&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result#PPA25,M1|isbn=0313323291}}</ref> [[Image:Roman Malta.jpg|thumb|left|180px|[[Ancient Rome|Roman]] mosaic from [[Rabat, Malta]].]] After the fall of [[Siege of Tyre|Phoenicia]], in 400 BC the area came under the control of [[Carthage]], a former Phoenician colony.<ref name="maltihist">{{cite book | last = Terterov| first = Marat | title =Doing Business with Malta| publisher =GMB Publishing Ltd| url =http://books.google.com/books?id=kc7DO3TZEYcC&pg=PA4&dq=malta+Phoenician++%22trading+post%22&sig=ACfU3U2Sm0qNg7diIWAe4mLI4LUqiRKNgA#PPA4,M1|isbn=1905050631}}</ref> During this time the people on Malta mainly cultivated [[olives]] and [[carobs]], and produced [[textiles]].<ref name="maltihist"/> During the [[First Punic War]] of 218 BC, tensions led the Maltese people to rebel against Carthage and turn control of their garrison over to the [[Roman Republic]] consul [[Tiberius Sempronius Longus (consul 218 BC)|Sempronius]].<ref name="malticross"/> Malta remained loyal to Rome during the [[Second Punic War]] and the Romans rewarded it with the title ''[[Civitas|Foederata Civitas]]'', a designation that meant it was exempt from paying [[tribute]] or the rule of [[Roman law]], although at this time it fell within the jurisdiction of [[Sicilia (Roman province)|Sicilia province]].<ref name="malticross"/> In 117 AD, the [[Maltese Islands]] were a thriving part of the [[Roman Empire]], being promoted to the status of ''[[Municipium]]'' under [[Hadrian]].<ref name="malticross"/> During 60 AD, in the north of the island at [[San Pawl il-Baħar|Saint Paul's Bay]], one of the apostles of [[Jesus Christ]] named [[Paul of Tarsus|Saint Paul]] was shipwrecked on the shores.<ref name="malticross"/> Tradition holds he stayed in Malta for three months, introducing [[Christianity]] and performing various miracles.<ref name="malticross"/> This is documented in the [[Bible]] in the ''[[Acts of the Apostles]]''.<ref name="malticross"/> When the Roman Empire split into Eastern and Western divisions in the 4th century, Malta fell under the control of the Greek speaking [[Byzantine Empire]] which was ruled from [[Constantinople]].<ref name="ruff">{{cite book | last = Borg| first = Victor Paul | title =The Rough Guide to Malta & Gozo| publisher =Rough Guides| url =http://books.google.com/books?id=o1QO1Tk-FsMC&pg=PA331&dq=byzantine+malta&lr=&as_brr=3&sig=ACfU3U38b0XhbN8wTPyxs2tPEX0RbyVg9w|isbn=1858286808}}</ref> Although Malta was under Byzantine rule for four centuries, not much is known from this period. There is evidence that [[Germanic tribes]], including the [[Goths]] and [[Vandals]], briefly took control of the islands before the Byzantines launched a counter attack and retook Malta.<ref name="ruff"/> ===Middle Ages=== {{see also|Byzantine-Arab Wars|Emirate of Sicily|Kingdom of Sicily|Crown of Aragon}} [[Image:Roger I of Sicily.jpg|thumb|left|145px|[[Roger I of Sicily]] returned Malta to Christian rule.]] [[Image:Flag of the Kingdom of Sicily.svg|thumb|right|150px|Aragonese flag of the [[Kingdom of Sicily]].]] Malta was involved in the [[Byzantine-Arab Wars (780–1180)|Byzantine-Arab Wars]], and the conquest of Malta is closely linked with that of Sicily due to admiral [[Euphemius (Sicily)|Euphemius]] betraying his fellow Byzantines and requesting that the [[Aghlabid]] dynasty invade the area.<ref name="stan">{{cite news|url=http://archaeology.stanford.edu/MountPolizzo/handbookPDF/MPHandbook5.pdf|format=PDF|publisher=Archaeology.Stanford.edu|title=Brief history of Sicily|date=7 October 2007}}</ref> As part of the [[Emirate of Sicily]] rule switched to the [[Fatimid]]s in 909.<ref name="gozmalt">{{cite book | last = Bain| first =Carolyn | title =Malta & Gozo| publisher =Lonely Planet| url =http://books.google.com/books?id=lqHLlLsgi1IC&pg=PA22&dq=malta+arab&lr=&as_brr=3&sig=ACfU3U3QDGMLZFGwiilmVB0bB-Nfsq8X9w|isbn=174059178X}}</ref> The Arabs introduced new [[irrigation]], some [[fruit]]s and [[cotton]] and the [[Siculo-Arabic]] language was adopted on the island from Sicily and Southern Italy: it would eventually evolve into the [[Maltese language]].<ref>{{cite book | last = Wilson| first =Andrew | title =Corpus Linguistics Around the World| publisher =Rodopi| url =http://books.google.com/books?id=jIP9WiIOtKYC&pg=PA64&dq=Siculo-Arabic+Maltese&lr=&as_brr=3&sig=ACfU3U0ANaOtExtwNoXiIbN9koijAKe_9A|isbn=9042018364}}</ref> The native Christians were allowed [[freedom of religion]] but had to pay [[jizya|an extra tax]] to the occupying power.<ref name="gozmalt"/> The [[Normans]] from the [[Duchy of Normandy]] relieved Sicily and the Maltese Islands in 1091<ref name="malticross"/> and [[Roger I of Sicily]] was warmly welcomed by the native Christians.<ref name="malticross"/> The Maltese offered to fight for him and in response Roger reportedly tore off a portion of his flag, half-red half-white, presenting it to the Maltese; this formed the basis of the [[flag of Malta]].<ref name="malticross"/> [[Image:Malta by Piri Reis.jpg|thumb|right|180px|[[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] map of Malta, by [[Piri Reis]]]] The Norman period was productive; Malta became part of the newly formed [[Kingdom of Sicily]] which also covered the island of Sicily and the southern half of the [[Italian Peninsula]].<ref name="malticross"/> The [[Catholic Church]] was re-instated as the state religion with Malta under the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Palermo|See of Palermo]] and much [[Norman architecture]] sprung up around Malta especially in its ancient capital [[Mdina]].<ref name="malticross"/> [[Tancred of Sicily]], the last Norman monarch, made Malta and Gozo a [[Feudal Lordship|feudal lordship]] or [[fief]] within the kingdom and a [[Count of Malta]] instated. As the islands were much desired due to their strategic importance, it was during this time the men of Malta were [[Militarization|militarise]]d to fend off capture attempts; the early counts were skilled [[Republic of Genoa|Genoese]] [[corsair]]s.<ref name="malticross"/> The kingdom passed on to the [[House of Hohenstaufen]] from 1194 until 1266. Malta was part of the [[Holy Roman Empire|Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation]] for 72 years. Even if Malta was erected into a county and a marquisate, its trade was totally ruined, and for a considerable period of it remained solely a fortified [[garrison]]. <ref>Montgomery Martin, Robert. [http://books.google.com/books?id=yDQGAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA568&dq=strabo+melita&lr= ''History of the colonies of the British Empire''], W. H. Allen, 1843, p 569 {{quote|Malta remained for 72 years subject of the emperors of Germany. The island was after the period of Count Roger of the Normans afterwards given up to the Germans, on account of the marriage between Constance, heiress of Sicily, and Henry VI., son of the Emperor Friedrick Barbarossa. Malta was erected into a county and a marquisate, but its trade was now totally ruined, and for a considerable period of it remained solely a fortified garrison.}}</ref> It was under [[Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick I]] that all remaining Muslims were expelled from Malta (in 1224<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.aboutmalta.com/history/time-Line.htm|publisher=AboutMalta.com|title=Time-Line|date=7 October 2007}}</ref>) and the entire Christian male population of [[Celano]] in [[Abruzzo]] was exported to Malta.<ref name="malticross"/> [[Image:JPDV.jpg|thumb|left|[[Jean Parisot de La Valette]], the founder of [[Valletta]]]] For a brief period the kingdom passed to the [[Capetian House of Anjou]], however high taxes made the dynasty unpopular in Malta, due in part to [[Charles I of Naples|Charles of Anjou]]'s war against the [[Republic of Genoa]] and the island of Gozo was sacked in 1275.<ref name="malticross"/> A large revolt on Sicily known as the [[Sicilian Vespers]] followed these attacks, that saw the Peninsula separating into the [[Kingdom of Naples]]; the Kingdom of Sicily, including Malta, then fell under the rule of the [[House of Barcelona|Aragonese]].<ref name = "knowital"/> Relatives of the [[kings of Aragon]] ruled the island until 1409, when it passed to the [[Crown of Aragon]].<ref name="knowital">{{cite news|url=http://www.knowital.com/history/sicily/sicily-history.html|publisher=KnowItal.com|title=History of Sicily|date=7 October 2007}}</ref> Early on in the Aragonese reign the sons of the monarchy received the title, "Count of Malta". It was also during this time that much of the [[Maltese nobility]] sprang up. However by 1397 the bearing of the title "Count of Malta" reverted to a feudal basis with two families fighting over the distinction, which caused much distress. This led the [[Martin I of Sicily|king]] to abolish the title. Dispute over the title returned when the title was reinstated a few years later and the Maltese, led by the local nobility, rose up against Count Gonsalvo Monroy.<ref name="malticross"/> Although they opposed the Count, the Maltese voiced their loyalty to the [[Sicilian Crown]], which so impressed [[Alfonso V of Aragon|Alfonso IV]] that he did not punish the people for their rebellion but promised never to grant the title to a third party, instead incorporating it back into the [[Crown of Aragon|crown]]. The city of [[Mdina]] was nicknamed ''Città Notabile'' as a result of this sequence of events.<ref name="malticross"/> ===Knights of Malta and Napoleon=== [[Image:Mdinakathedraal.jpg|thumb|150px|[[St. Paul's Cathedral, Mdina]] designed in the [[Baroque architecture|Baroque]] style.]] In 1530 [[Charles I of Spain]] gave the islands to the [[Knights Hospitaller|Order of Knights of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem]] in perpetual lease. These knights, a military religious order now known as the [[Knights Hospitaller|Knights of Malta]], had been driven out of [[Rhodes]] by the [[Ottoman Empire]] in 1522. In 1551, [[Barbary corsairs]] enslaved the entire population of the Maltese island [[Gozo]], about 5,000, sending them to [[Libya]]. The knights withstood a full-blown [[Siege of Malta (1565)|siege by the Ottoman Turks]] in 1565, at the time the greatest naval power in the Mediterranean. The knights, fighting alongside the Maltese, were victorious and speaking of the battle [[Voltaire]] said, "Nothing is more well known than the siege of Malta".<ref>Fernand Braudel, The Mediterranean and the Mediterranean World in the Age of Philip II, vol. II ( University of California Press: Berkeley, 1995).</ref> After this they decided to increase Malta's [[fortification]]s, particularly in the inner-harbour area, where the new city of [[Valletta]], named in honour of [[Grand Master (order)|Grand Master]] [[Jean Parisot de la Valette|Jean de la Valette]], was built. They also built [[watchtower]]s along the coasts - the [[Wignacourt towers|Wignacourt]], [[Lascaris towers|Lascaris]], and [[de Redin towers]] - named after the Grand Masters who ordered the work. The Knights' presence on the island saw the completion of many architectural and cultural projects, including the embellishment of [[Birgu|Città Vittoriosa]], the construction of new cities including [[Zebbug|Città Rohan]] and [[Zabbar|Città Hompesch]] and the introduction of new academic and social resources. Approximately 11,000 people out of a population of 70,000 died of [[plague (disease)|plague]] in 1675.<ref>[http://www.emergency-management.net/malta_di.htm Malta Disaster]. Ministry for Justice and Home Affairs.</ref> [[Image:Detail St John's.JPG|thumb|left|150px|[[Baroque]] interior detail from [[St John's Co-Cathedral]], [[Valletta]]]] The Knights' reign ended when [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon]] captured Malta on the way to [[Egypt]] during the [[French Revolutionary Wars: Campaigns of 1798|French Revolutionary Wars]] in 1798. As a ruse, Napoleon asked for safe harbour to resupply his ships. Once safely inside Valletta's harbor he turned his guns against his hosts. [[Grand Master (order)|Grand Master]] [[Ferdinand von Hompesch zu Bolheim]] capitulated and Napoleon stayed in Malta for a few days, during which time he systematically looted the movable assets of the island and established an administration controlled by his nominees. He then sailed for Egypt, leaving behind a substantial garrison. The occupying French forces were deeply unpopular with the Maltese, due particularly to the French forces' hostility towards Catholicism. The French financial and religious policies angered the Maltese who rebelled, forcing the French to retreat within the city fortifications. Great Britain, along with the [[Kingdom of the Two Sicilies]], sent ammunition and aid to the Maltese and Britain also sent [[Royal Navy|her navy]], which blockaded the islands. General [[Claude-Henri Belgrand de Vaubois]] surrendered his French forces in 1800. Maltese leaders presented the island to Sir [[Alexander Ball]], asking that the island become a British [[Dominion]]. The Maltese people created a Declaration of Rights in which they agreed to come "under the protection and sovereignty of the King of the free people, His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland". The Declaration also stated that "his Majesty has no right to cede these Islands to any power...if he chooses to withdraw his protection, and abandon his sovereignty, the right of electing another sovereign, or of the governing of these Islands, belongs to us, the inhabitants and aborigines alone, and without control."<ref>{{cite book | last=Holland | first=James | title=Fortress Malta: An Island Under Siege, 1940-1943 | publisher=Miramax Books | year=2003 | isbn=1-4013-5186-7}}</ref> ===British rule and World War II=== {{main|Siege of Malta (World War II)}} [[Image:BombDamageMalta.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The heavily bomb-damaged Republic Street in [[Valletta]] during the [[Siege of Malta (World War II)|Siege of Malta]], 1942.]] In 1814, as part of the [[Treaty of Paris (1814)|Treaty of Paris]], Malta officially became a part of the [[British Empire]] and was used as a shipping way-station and fleet headquarters. Malta's position half-way between [[Gibraltar]] and the [[Suez Canal]] proved to be its main asset during these years and it was considered an important stop on the way to [[India]]. In 1919 British troops fired on a rally protesting against new taxes, killing four Maltese men. This lead to increased resistance and support for the [[Pro-Italian Maltese|pro-Italian]] parties that had challenged the English presence on the island. The event, known as [[Sette Giugno]] ([[Italian language|Italian]] for ''7 June''), is commemorated every year. In the early 1930s the British [[Mediterranean Fleet (Royal Navy)|Mediterranean Fleet]], which was at that time the main contributor to commerce on the island, moved to [[Alexandria]] as an economic measure. During [[World War II]], Malta played an important role owing to its proximity to [[Axis Powers|Axis]] shipping lanes. The bravery of the Maltese people during the second [[Siege of Malta (World War II)|Siege of Malta]] moved [[George VI of the United Kingdom|HM King George VI]] to award the [[George Cross (Malta)|George Cross]] to Malta on a collective basis on [[April 15]] [[1942]] "to bear witness to a heroism and devotion that will long be famous in history". Some historians argue that the award caused Britain to incur disproportionate losses in defending Malta, as British credibility would have suffered if Malta surrendered, as [[Singapore]] had.<ref> {{cite web | title=The Siege of Malta in World War Two |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/siege_malta_06.shtml | accessdate=2007-04-15}}</ref> A replica of the George Cross now appears in the upper hoist corner of the [[Flag of Malta]]. The collective award remained unique until April 1999, when the [[Royal Ulster Constabulary]] became the second{{ndash}} and, to date, the only other{{ndash}} recipient of a collective George Cross. ===Independence=== Following the war, the [[Labour Party (Malta)|Labour Party]] pursued a goal of integration with Britain, but abandoned it when it became clear that the British would not accept total integration. Eventually, Malta received its independence on September 21, 1964 ([[Independence Day (Malta)|Independence Day]]). Under its 1964 [[constitution]], Malta initially retained Queen [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Elizabeth II]] as [[Queen of Malta]] and thus [[Head of State]], with a [[Governor-General]] exercising [[executive (government)|executive]] authority on her behalf. On December 13, 1974 ([[Republic Day (Malta)|Republic Day]]) Malta became a [[republic]] within the [[British Commonwealth of Nations|British Commonwealth]], with the [[President of Malta|President]] as [[head of state]]. A defence agreement signed soon after independence (and re-negotiated in 1972) expired on March 31, 1979 ([[Freedom Day (Malta)|Freedom Day]]), under the prime minister [[Dom Mintoff]]. On that day British military forces departed and Admiral Sir John Hamilton GBE, Commander in Chief of the Eastern Mediterranean fleet, lowered the [[Union Jack]] for the last time. The Maltese then raised the Maltese flag over the Freedom Monument in [[Vittoriosa]], to the sound of the first playing of Malta's national anthem. Malta adopted a policy of [[Neutral country|neutrality]] in 1980 and was a member of the [[Non-Aligned Movement|Movement of Non-Aligned Countries]] until 2004. In 1989 Malta was the venue of a [[Malta Summit|summit]] between US President [[George H.W. Bush]] and Soviet leader [[Mikhail Gorbachev]], their first face-to-face encounter, which signaled the end of the [[Cold War]]. Malta joined the [[European Union]] on May 1, 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://europa.eu/abc/history/2000_today/index_en.htm|title=The History of the European Union - 2000-today|accessdate=2007-10-12}}</ref> Following the European Council of 21 June to 22 June 2007 it joined the [[Eurozone]] on January 1, 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.euractiv.com/en/euro/cyprus-malta-set-join-eurozone-2008/article-163836|title=Cyprus and Malta set to join eurozone in 2008|date=16 May 2007|accessdate=2007-10-12}}</ref> == Politics and government== <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Georgeabela.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[George Abela]] has been [[President of Malta]] since 2009]] --> [[Image:Courthouse Valletta.jpg|thumb|left|290px|The Courthouse, [[Valletta]]]] {{main|Politics of Malta|Government of Malta}} Malta is a [[republic]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legal-malta.com/law/constitution-1.htm|title=Chapter 1 / The Republic of Malta / Maltese Constitution|work=Constitution of Malta Act, 1964|accessdate=2007-10-12}}</ref> whose [[parliamentary system]] and [[public administration]] is closely modeled on the [[Westminster system]]. Malta had the second highest [[voter turnout]] in the world (and the highest for nations without [[mandatory voting]]), based on election turnout in national [[lower house]] elections from 1960 to 1995.<ref>Mark N. Franklin. "Electoral Participation." in ''Controversies in Voting Behavior''</ref> The [[unicameral]] [[House of Representatives of Malta|House of Representatives]], (Maltese: ''Il-Kamra tad- Deputati''), is elected by direct universal suffrage through [[single transferable vote]] every five years, unless the House is dissolved earlier by the [[President of Malta|President]] on advice of the [[Prime Minister of Malta|Prime Minister]]. The House of Representatives is made up of sixty-five [[Member of Parliament|Members of Parliament]]. However, where a party wins an absolute majority of votes, but does not have a majority of seats, that party is given additional seats to ensure a parliamentary majority. The [[Constitution of Malta]] provides that the President appoint as Prime Minister the member of the House who is best able to command a (governing) majority in the House. The [[President of Malta|President of the Republic]] is elected every five years by the House of Representatives. The role of the president as head of state is largely ceremonial. The main political parties are the [[Partit Nazzjonalista|Nationalist Party]], which is a [[Christian democracy|Christian democratic]] party, and the [[Partit Laburista|Labour Party]], with [[Joseph Muscat|Dr. Joseph Muscat]] as its leader, which is a [[social democracy|social democratic]] party. The Nationalist Party is currently at the helm of the government, the Prime Minister being [[Lawrence Gonzi|Dr. Lawrence Gonzi]]. The Labour Party is in opposition. There are a number of smaller political parties in Malta that presently have no parliamentary representation. Until [[World War II]] Maltese politics was dominated by the [[Languages of Malta|language question]] fought out by [[Pro-Italian Maltese|pro-Italian]] and [[Pro-British Maltese|pro-British]] parties.<ref>[http://www.maltavoyager.com/history_independence.html Maltavoyager.com - History - The Independence<!-- bot-generated title -->] at www.maltavoyager.com</ref> Post-War politics dealt with constitutional questions on the relations with Britain (first with [[History of Malta#Attempted integration with the United Kingdom|Integration]] then [[History of Malta#Independence (Indipendenza)|Independence]]) and, eventually, relations with the [[History of Malta#EU membership (L-Unjoni Ewropea)|European Union]]. [[Image:Malta location map.svg|thumb|left|260px|Administrative divisions of Malta]] ===Administrative divisions=== {{main|Local councils of Malta}} Since 1993 Malta is divided into 68 elected [[local council]]s, with each council responsible for the administration of cities or regions of varying sizes. Administrative responsibility is distributed between the local councils and the central government in [[Valletta]]. There are no intermediate levels between local government and national government and the levels of the 6 districts (5 on the main island) and of the 3 regions (2 on the main island) serve primarily statistical purposes. The Local Councils Act, 1993 (Act XV of 1993) was published on June 30, 1993, subdividing Malta into 54 local councils in Malta and 14 in [[Gozo]]. The inhabitants who are registered elect the Council every three years, as voters in the Local Councils' Electoral Register. Elections are held by means of the system of proportional representation using the single transferable vote. The [[List of mayors of Malta|mayor]] is the head of the Local Council and the representative of the Council for all effects under the Act. The Executive Secretary, who is appointed by the Council, is the executive, administrative, and financial head of the Council. All decisions are taken collectively with the other members of the Council. Local councils are responsible for the general upkeep and embellishment of the locality, allocation of local wardens and refuse collection; they also carry out general administrative duties for the central government such as collection of government rents and funds and answer government-related public inquiries. == Geography == [[Image:View of Nature Reserve from St. Agatha's Tower.JPG|thumb|250px|right|Maltese Landscape]] [[File:Saint Paul's Bay.JPG|thumb|250px|St. Paul's Bay, Malta.]] [[Image:Satelite image of Malta.jpg|thumb|left|260px|Satellite image of Malta]] {{main|Geography of Malta}} Malta is an [[archipelago]] in the central [[Mediterranean Sea]] (in its eastern basin), some 93&nbsp;km south of the [[Italy|Italian]] island of [[Sicily]] across the Malta Channel. Only the three largest islands [[Malta Island]] (Malta), [[Gozo]] (Għawdex), and [[Comino]] (Kemmuna) are inhabited. The smaller islands, such as [[Filfla]], [[Cominotto]] and the [[Islands of St. Paul]] are uninhabited. Numerous bays along the indented coastline of the islands provide good harbours. The islands of the archipelago were formed from the high points of a [[land bridge]] between [[Sicily]] and [[North Africa]] which became isolated as sea levels rose after the last [[Ice Age]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reading.ac.uk/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.asp?lID=12783&sID=48883|title=Island Landscape Dynamics: Examples from the Mediterranean|accessdate=2008-12-13}}</ref> The archipelago lies on the edge of the African tectonic plate, as it borders with the Eurasian plate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://earth.geology.yale.edu/RETREAT/maps/Mediterranean%20map2001sheet1%20tectonics&kinematics.jpg|title=Geodynamic Map of the Mediterranean|author=Commission for the Geological Map of the World|accessdate=2008-11-28}}</ref> The modern-day landscape is characterised by low hills with terraced fields. The highest point is at [[Ta' Dmejrek]] on Malta Island at 253 metres (830&nbsp;[[foot (length)|ft]]) near [[Dingli]]. Although there are some small rivers at times of high rainfall, there are no permanent rivers or lakes on Malta. However, some watercourses are found around the island that have fresh water running all year round. Such places are [[Baħrija]], l-Intaħleb and San Martin. Running water in Gozo is found at Lunzjata Valley. Malta implemented the [[Schengen Agreement]] on December 21, 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/snapshot2007/travel/travel_en.htm|title=Europe and you in 2007, Passport-free travel extended|author=European Commission|accessdate=2007-12-21}}</ref> Customs and border controls remained at airports until March 2008. The south of Malta is not [[Extreme points of Europe|Europe's most southern point]]; that distinction belongs to the [[Greece|Greek]] island of [[Gavdos]]. [[Phytogeography|Phytogeographically]], Malta belongs to the Liguro-Tyrrhenian province of the [[Mediterranean Region]] within the [[Boreal Kingdom]]. According to the [[World Wide Fund for Nature|WWF]], the territory of Malta belongs to the [[ecoregion]] of "Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands and Scrub".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/ecoregions/mediterranean_forests_scrub.cfm | title=Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands and Scrub - A Global Ecoregion | publisher=Panda.org | accessdate=2008-11-28}}</ref> ===Islands=== The main islands, and the only inhabited ones of the country are [[Malta (island)|Malta Island]], [[Comino]] and [[Gozo]]. Other islands that form part of the [[archipelago]] include: [[Cominotto]] (''Kemmunett'', uninhabited), [[Filfla]] (uninhabited), [[Fungus Rock]] (''Il-Ġebla tal-Ġeneral'', uninhabited), [[Manoel Island]] (which is joined to the town of [[Gżira]], on the mainland by a bridge), and the [[Islands of St. Paul]] (uninhabited). The Maltese Islands have been an independent [[republic]] since 1974. The centre of government, commerce and a primary centre of [[Culture of Malta|culture]] is the capital city of [[Valletta]] on the eastern coast of [[Malta]]. Maltese Islands are as the following: {{col-start}}{{col-break}} * Barbaganni Rock * [[Comino]] * [[Cominotto]] * Delmarva Island * [[Filfla]] * Fessej Rock * [[Fungus Rock]] * Għallis Rock * [[Gozo]] * Halfa Rock {{col-break}} * Large Blue Lagoon Rocks * [[Islands of St. Paul]]/Selmunett Island * [[Malta (island)|Malta Island]] * [[Manoel Island]] * Mistra Rocks * Tac-Cawl Rock * Qawra Point/Ta` Fraben Island * Small Blue Lagoon Rocks * Sala Rock * Xrob l-Għaġin Rock {{col-end}} ===Climate=== The climate is [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] Csa), with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. There is no real thermal dormant season for plants, although plant growth can be checked briefly by abnormal cold in winter (patches of ground frost may occur in inland locales), and summer heat and aridity may cause vegetation to wilt. Effectively there are only two seasons, which makes the islands attractive for tourists, especially during the drier months. However, strong winds can make Malta feel cold during the springtime. [[Image:Valletta-view-from-senglea.jpg|thumb|left|500px|Malta has a predominantly Mediterranean climate]] Water supply poses a problem on Malta, as the summer is both rainless and the time of greatest water use, and the winter rainfall often falls as heavy showers running off to the sea rather than soaking into the ground. Malta depends on underground reserves of fresh water, drawn through a system of water tunnels called the Ta' Kandja galleries, which average about 97&nbsp;m. below surface and extend like the spokes of a wheel. In the galleries in Malta's porous limestone, fresh water lies in a lens upon brine. More than half the potable water of Malta is produced by [[desalination]], which creates further issues of fossil fuel use and pollution.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6525069.stm BBC News "Briney future for vulnerable Malta"] 4 April 2007</ref> The lowest temperature ever recorded at Valletta was on February 19, 1895, with {{Convert|1.2|°C|°F|1|abbr=on|lk=off}}, and the highest temperature was {{Convert|43.8|°C|°F|1|abbr=on|lk=off}} recorded in August 1999 at Luqa International Airport. An unofficial lowest temperature of {{Convert|-1.7|°C|°F|1|abbr=on|lk=off}} was recorded on February 1, 1962 in the [[Ta' Qali]] airfield with snow on the ground. Snow is virtually unheard of, with very few and brief snow flurries recorded in February 1895, January 1905 and January 31, 1962. No accumulation has been reported on the coast at least since 1800, but on the last day of January 1962 snow briefly covered some parts of the interior of the main island. The following night the only frost in the history of Malta was recorded in the [[Ta' Qali]] airfield. {| class="wikitable" border="1" style="font-size:90%;width:100%;border:0;text-align:center;line-height:120%;" |- ! style="background:#9cc; color:navy;" height="17" |Month ! style="background:#9cc; color:navy;" | Year ! style="background:#9cc; color:navy;" | Jan ! style="background:#9cc; color:navy;" | Feb ! style="background:#9cc; color:navy;" | Mar ! style="background:#9cc; color:navy;" | Apr ! style="background:#9cc; color:navy;" | May ! style="background:#9cc; color:navy;" | Jun ! style="background:#9cc; color:navy;" | Jul ! style="background:#9cc; color:navy;" | Aug ! style="background:#9cc; color:navy;" | Sep ! style="background:#9cc; color:navy;" | Oct ! style="background:#9cc; color:navy;" | Nov ! style="background:#9cc; color:navy;" | Dec |- ! style="background:#9cc; color:navy;" |Avg high °C (°F) | style="background:#ff9; color:black;" | 21 (71) | style="background:#ddd; color:black;" | 15 (59) | style="background:#ddd; color:black;" | 15 (59) | style="background:#ffc; color:black;" | 16 (61) | style="background:#ff9; color:black;" | 18 (65) | style="background:#ff9; color:black;" | 22 (72) | style="background:#fc6; color:black;" | 27 (80) | style="background:#ff8000; color:black;" | 32 (86) | style="background:#ff8000; color:black;" | 32 (86) | style="background:#ff8000; color:black;" | 28 (82) | style="background:#fc6; color:black;" | 24 (75) | style="background:#ff9; color:black;" | 19 (67) | style="background:#ffc; color:black;" | 16 (61) |- ! style="background:#9cc; color:navy;" height="16;" |Avg low temperature °C (°F) | style="background:#ddd; color:black;" | 15 (60) | style="background:#80ffff; color:black;" | 9 (49) | style="background:#80ffff; color:black;" | 9 (49) | style="background:#80ffff; color:black;" | 10 (51) | style="background:#ddd; color:black;" | 12 (54) | style="background:#ddd; color:black;" | 15 (59) | style="background:#ff9; color:black;" | 19 (66) | style="background:#ff9; color:black;" | 22 (71) | style="background:#ff9; color:black;" | 22 (72) | style="background:#ff9; color:black;" | 20 (69) | style="background:#ff9; color:black;" | 18 (64) | style="background:#ddd; color:black;" | 14 (57) | style="background:#80ffff; color:black;" | 11 (52) |- | colspan="14" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;"|''Source: [http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=79561&refer= Weatherbase]'' |} == Economy == {{main|Economy of Malta}} Until 1800 Malta had very few industries except the [[cotton]], [[tobacco]] and shipyards industry. The [[dockyard]] was later used by the British for military purposes. At times of war Malta's economy prospered due to its strategic location. This could be seen during the [[Crimean war|Crimean War]] of 1854. This benefited those who had a military role, as well as the craftsmen. In 1869 the opening of the [[Suez Canal]] benefited Malta's economy greatly, as there was a massive increase in the shipping which entered the port. [[Entrepôt]] trade saw many ships stopping at Malta's docks for refuelling, which brought great benefits to the population. Towards the end of the 19th century the economy began declining, and by the 1940s Malta's economy was in serious crisis. This was partially due to the longer range of newer merchant ships which required less frequent refuelling stops. [[Image:AIDAcara Valetta.jpg|thumb|left|Valletta's maritime industrial zone]] Presently, Malta’s major resources are [[limestone]], a favourable geographic location and a productive labour force. Malta produces only about 20% of its food needs, has limited freshwater supplies and has no domestic energy sources. The economy is dependent on foreign trade (serving as a freight trans-shipment point), manufacturing (especially electronics and textiles) and tourism. Tourism infrastructure has increased dramatically over the years and a number of good-quality hotels are present on the island, although overdevelopment and the destruction of traditional housing is of growing concern. An increasing number of Maltese now travel abroad on holiday.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=57309|title=More Maltese travel abroad|work=The Malta Independent|accessdate=2007-10-12}}</ref> Although they are still a net importer of tourism, the ratio of inbound tourists to outbound tourists is decreasing. The popular ''[[Glassblowing|Mdina Glass]]'' enterprise was established on the island in 1968 by Michael Harris, a former tutor at the UK's [[Royal College of Art|RCA]]. [[Films shot in Malta|Film production]] is a growing contributor to the Maltese economy, with several big-budget foreign films shooting in Malta each year. The country has increased the exports of many other types of services such as banking and finance. The government is investing heavily in the country's provision of education. As all education is free, Malta is currently producing a pool of qualified persons which heavily contribute to the country's growing economy. Malta has recently [[privatization|privatised]] some state-controlled firms and liberalised markets in order to prepare for membership in the [[European Union]], which it joined on May 1, 2004. For example, the government announced on January 8, 2007 that it is selling its 40% stake in Maltapost, in order to complete a privatisation process which has been ongoing for the past five years. Malta and [[Tunisia]] are currently discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for petroleum exploration. ===Money and Banking=== The [[Central Bank of Malta]] (Bank Ċentrali Ta' Malta), has two key areas of responsibility: the formulation and implementation of monetary policy and the promotion of a sound and efficient financial system. It was established by the Central Bank of Malta Act on 17 April 1968. The Maltese government entered [[ERM II]] on May 4, 2005, and adopted the [[euro]] as the country's currency on January 1, 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6288084.stm|title=Cyprus and Malta to adopt euros|date=10 July 2007|work=BBC News Business|accessdate=2007-10-12}}</ref> ====Currency==== [[Image:1 Euro coin Mt.gif|thumb|140px|The [[Maltese euro coins|Maltese 1 Euro coin]]]] {{main|Maltese euro coins|Euro gold and silver commemorative coins (Malta)}} [[Maltese euro coins]] feature the [[Maltese Cross]] on €2 and €1 coins, the [[Coat of Arms of Malta|Maltese Coat of Arms]] on the €0.50, €0.20 and €0.10 coins, and the [[Mnajdra]] Temples on the €0.05, €0.02 and €0.01 coins.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymalta.com/wt/2006/06/maltese-cross-on-euro-coins.shtml|title= Maltese Cross on the Euro coins|work=Malta Media|date=June 12, 2006|accessdate=2007-10-12}}</ref> Malta has already produced collectors' coins with face value ranging from 10 to 50 euro. These coins continue an existing national practice of minting of silver and gold commemorative coins. Unlike normal issues, these coins are not legal tender in all the eurozone. For instance, a €10 Maltese commemorative coin cannot be used in any other country. ====Banking==== The two largest (and oldest) banks in the country are [[Bank of Valletta]] and [[HSBC Bank Malta]], both of which can trace their origins back to the 19th Century. Malta is also home to an international financial center with several foreign offshore banks. ==Transportation Infrastructure== ===Highways=== Traffic in Malta [[Driving on the left or right|drives on the left]], as in the [[United Kingdom|UK]]. Car ownership in Malta is exceedingly high, given the very small size of the islands; it is the fourth highest in the European Union. The number of registered cars in 1990 amounted to 182,254, giving an automobile density of 582 per km².<ref>Sammut & Savona-Ventura, "Petrol Lead in a Small Island Environment", ''International Journal of Risk & Safety in Medicine'' 9 (1996) at 33-40.</ref> Malta has 2,254 kilometres of road, 1,972&nbsp;km (87.5%) of which are paved and 282&nbsp;km are unpaved (December 2003).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationmaster.com/country/mt-malta/tra-transportation|title=''NationMaster'' - Transportation statistics|accessdate=2007-02-19}}</ref> ===Buses=== [[Image:Map of Malta 2.png|thumb|210px|Principal highways]] [[Image:FBY749.jpg|left|thumb|A traditional [[Malta bus|Maltese bus]] in [[Sliema]]]] {{See also|Malta bus}} [[Bus]]es are the primary method of public transport for the islands, which offer a relatively cheap and frequent service to many parts of Malta and Gozo. The vast majority of buses on Malta depart from a large circular terminus in [[Valletta]]. The island has had buses since 1905. Due to their appearance, Malta's classic buses have become tourist attractions in their own right and appear on many Maltese advertisements to promote tourism, as well as on gifts and merchandise for tourists. However, these old buses are slowly being replaced by a more modern fleet, albeit still customised in the tradition of the older buses. The buses used to be colour coded, according to the their routes, before being painted green. Now the buses in Malta are all dark yellow, with a band of orange, while those on the sister island of [[Gozo]] are grey, with a red band. There are approximately 500 buses in public transit service in Malta. The drivers themselves own most of the buses, but operate to a unified timetable set by the transport authority. Malta buses carry approximately 31 million passengers per year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businesstoday.com.mt/2006/11/22/l4.html|title=Transportation statistics|work=Business Today|author=Debono, James|date=[[2006-11-22]]|accessdate=2007-02-19}}</ref> On any one day, half the bus fleet works on the public transport network (called 'route buses'), while the other half provides private tours and school transportation. ===Railway=== Between 1883 and 1931, Malta had a railway line that connected [[Valletta]] to the army barracks at [[Mtarfa]] via [[Mdina]] and a number of towns and villages. The railway fell into disuse and eventually closed altogether, following the introduction of electric trams and buses. At the height of the bombing of Malta during [[World War II]], [[Benito Mussolini|Mussolini]] announced that his forces had destroyed the railway system. But by the time war broke out, the railway had been mothballed for more than nine years. ===New public transport network=== A new public transport network is being proposed for the islands of Malta and Gozo that will include a day service from 6am to 11pm and a night service from 11pm to 6am. The proposed network would provide three types of services. The fast Crossline services would operate at a frequency of 30 minutes. These would connect with Mainline services, which would operate at a frequency of between 10 and 30 minutes. At regional and local levels the Feederlines would serve villages and neighbouring areas at a frequency of 30 minutes. Apart from the interchange at Valletta, which would be upgraded, the proposal includes other major interchanges in the network at [[Mater Dei]], [[Luxol]] in [[Swieqi]], [[Paola]], [[Marsa]], [[Malta International Airport]] and [[Msida]]. Public transport information would be made available in various media including real time, mobile and online. Enhanced bus stop and interchange facilities would provide shelter, security, information, comfort and convenience. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://secure2.gov.mt/mitc/page.aspx?pageid=156&lid=1|title=Malta public transport reform|work=MITC|author=MITC, James|date=[[2008-12-06]]|accessdate=2008-12-06}}</ref> ===Ports and harbours=== [[Image:Valletta-Harbour.jpg|left|thumb|300px|[[Valletta]] Harbour]] [[Image:Gozo Ferry Disembarking.jpg|right|thumb|A ferry departs at [[Ċirkewwa]] harbour from [[Mġarr]], [[Gozo]]]] Malta has three large natural harbours on its main island. [http://www.maltastreetmap.com Map of Malta and Gozo] *The [[Grand Harbour]], located at the eastern side of the capital city of [[Valletta]], has been a harbour since [[Roman Empire|Roman]] times. It has several extensive [[docks (maritime)|docks]] and [[Wharf|wharves]], as well as a cruise liner terminal. A terminal at the Grand Harbour serves [[ferries]] that connect Malta to [[Pozzallo]] & [[Catania]] in [[Sicily]]. *[[Marsamxett Harbour]], located on the western side of Valletta, accommodates a number of yacht marinas. *[[Marsaxlokk Harbour]], at [[Marsaxlokk]] on the south-eastern side of Malta, is the site of the [[Malta Freeport]], the islands' main cargo terminal. There are also two man-made harbours that serve a passenger and car ferry service that connects [[Ċirkewwa|Ċirkewwa Harbour]] on Malta and [[Mġarr|Mġarr Harbour]] on [[Gozo]]. The ferry makes numerous runs each day. ===Airports and heliports=== [[Image:Malta International Airport2.jpg|right|thumb|[[Malta International Airport]]]] [[Malta International Airport]] is the only airport serving the Maltese Islands. It is built on the land formerly occupied by the [[Royal Air Force|RAF]] [[RAF Luqa|Luqa]] air base. A heliport is also located there, but the scheduled service to Gozo ceased in 2006. Since June 2007, [[Harbour Air Malta]] has operated a thrice-daily floatplane service between the sea terminal in Grand Harbour and Mgarr Harbour in Gozo. Two further airfields at [[Ta'Qali]] and [[Ħal Far]] airfields operated during World War II and into the 1960s but are now closed. Today, [[Ta'Qali]] houses a national park, [[Ta'Qali Stadium|stadium]], the Crafts Village visitor attraction and the [[Malta Aviation Museum]]. This museum preserves several aircraft, including [[Hurricane]] and [[Spitfire]] fighters that defended the island in [[World War II]]. [[Image:Air.malta.a320-200.9h-aep.arp.jpg|left|thumb|An [[Air Malta]] flight]] The national airline is [[Air Malta]], which is based in at Malta International Airport, and which operates services to 36 destinations in Europe and North Africa. The owners of Air Malta are Maltese government (98%) and private investors (2%). Air Malta employs 1,547 staff and a 25% shareholding in [[Medavia]]. Air Malta has concluded over 191 interline ticketing agreements with other IATA airlines. It also has a codeshare agreement with Qantas covering the following routes: Sydney-Singapore-Heathrow-Malta, Sydney-Bangkok-Heathrow-Malta and Melbourne-Singapore-Heathrow-Malta. In September 2007, Air Malta made two agreements with Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways by which Air Malta wet-leased two Airbus aircraft to Etihad Airways for the winter period starting September 1, 2007, and provided operational support on another Airbus A320, aircraft which it leased to Etihad Airways. == Military == {{main|Armed Forces of Malta}} The objectives of the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) are to maintain a military organisation with the primary aim of defending the Islands' integrity according to the defence roles as set by Government in an efficient and cost effective manner. This is achieved by emphasising the maintenance of Malta's territorial waters and airspace integrity. The AFM also engages in combating terrorism, fighting against illicit drug trafficking, conducting anti-illegal immigrant and anti-illegal fishing operations, operating Search and Rescue (SAR) services, and physical/electronic security/surveillance of sensitive locations. Malta's Search and Rescue area extends from east of Tunisia to west of Crete covering an area of around 250,000&nbsp;km². As a military organisation, the AFM provides backup support to the [[Malta Police Force]] (MPF) and other government departments/agencies in situations as required in an organised, disciplined manner in the event of national emergencies (such as natural disasters) or internal security and bomb disposal. On another level, the AFM establishes and/or consolidates [[bilateralism|bilateral co-operation]] with other countries to reach higher operational effectiveness related to AFM roles. == Demographics == {{main|Demographics of Malta}} ===Population=== [[Image:Valletta.jpg|thumb|left|230px|[[Valletta]], Malta's historical capital city]] A census of population and housing is held every ten years. The last census was held over three years in November 2005 and managed to enumerate an estimated 96% of the population. A preliminary report was issued in April 2006, and results were weighted to an estimate for 100% of the population. Native [[Maltese people]] make up the majority of the island. However there are minorities, the largest of which are [[British people]], many of whom retired to Malta. <!--Note to Editors: All information, INCLUDING COMMENTARY, is from 2005 census except where indicated. Location for verification and for updating on next year's demographic review are commented.-->The resident population of Malta, which includes foreigners residing in Malta for at least a year, as of November 27, 2005 was estimated at 404,039 of whom 200,715 (49.7%) were males and 203,324 (50.3%) were females<!--Table 2: Population and sex ratio: 1842-2005-->. Of these, 17.1 per cent were aged 14 and under, 68.2 per cent were within the 15–64 age bracket whilst the remaining 13.7 per cent were 65 years and over<!--Table 8: Total population by broad age group and locality as at 27 November 2005-->. Malta's [[population density]] of 1,282 per [[square kilometer]] (3,322/[[square mile|sq&nbsp;mi]]) <!--Table 6: Population density: 1995-2005-->is by far the highest in the EU<!--Table 15: Population density in Europe-->, and one of the [[List of countries by population density|highest]] in the world. The only census year showing a fall in population was that of 1967, with a 1.7% total decrease, attributable to a substantial number of Maltese residents who emigrated.<ref name="Census2005">{{cite book |authorlink=http://www.nso.gov.mt |title=Census of Population and Housing 2005: Preliminary Report |publisher=National Statistics Office |year=2005 |location=Valletta |url=http://www.nso.gov.mt/statdoc/document_file.aspx?id=1653 |id=ISBN-13 978-99909-73-38-9}}</ref> The Maltese-resident population for 2004 was estimated to make up 97.0% of the total resident population.<ref name="Demo2004"/> Through all the censuses since 1842 there was always a slightly higher female-to-male ratio. Closest to reaching equality were 1901 and 1911 censuses<!-- (1000:1000 and 1003:1000 respectively)-->. The highest female-to-male ratio was reached in 1957 (1088:1000), and since the ratio has been constantly dropping. The 2005 census showed a 1013:1000 female-to-male ratio<!--Table 2: Population and sex ratio: 1842-2005-->. Population growth has slowed down, from +9.5% between the 1985 and 1995 censuses, to +6.9% between the 1995 and 2005 censuses (a yearly average of +0.7%)<!--Commentary p. xvii & Chart 3: Percentage population change between censuses-->. The birth rate stood at 3860 (a decrease of 21.8% from the 1995 census) and the death rate stood at 3025. Thus, there was a natural population increase of 835 (compared to +888 for 2004, of which over a hundred were foreign residents).<ref name="NSO 20060711">{{cite press release |title=World Population Day - 2006: Special Observances |publisher=National Statistics Office |location=Valletta |date=10 July 2006 |url=http://www.nso.gov.mt/statdoc/document_file.aspx?id=1719 |accessdate=2006-07-12}}</ref> [[Image:Vallletta Waterfront.jpg|thumb|right|230px|The [[Valletta Waterfront]] illuminations]] <!--May be used in any future section on the pension problem-->The population's age composition is similar to the age structure prevalent in the EU<!--Chart 11. Comparative distribution bet Malta and EU25-->. Since 1967 there was observed a trend indicating an aging population, and is expected to continue in the foreseeable future. Malta's [[Dependency ratio|old-age-dependency-ratio]] rose from 17.2% in 1995 to 19.8% in 2005, reasonably lower than the EU's 24.9% average. In fact, 31.5% of the Maltese population is aged under 25 (compared to the EU's 29.1%); but the 50-64 age group constitutes 20.3% of the population, significantly higher than the EU's 17.9%. In conclusion, Malta's old-age-dependency-ratio is expected to continue rising steadily in the coming years<!--Commentary p.xxvii-->. Maltese legislation recognizes both civil and canonical (ecclesiastical) [[marriage]]s. Annulments by the Ecclesiastes and civil courts are unrelated and are not necessarily granted. There is no [[divorce]] legislation and [[abortion]] in Malta is illegal. A person must be 18 to marry.<ref>[http://www.weddingvendors.com/marriage-license-laws/united-states/montana/ Montana Marriage License Information, Laws, Requirements<!-- bot-generated title -->] at www.weddingvendors.com</ref> The number of brides aged under 25 decreased from 1471 in 1997 to 766 in 2005; while the number of grooms under 25 decreased from 823 to 311. There is a constant trend that females are more likely than males to marry young. In 2005 there were 51 brides aged between 16 and 19, compared to 8 grooms.<ref name="NSO 20060711"/> At the end of 2007, the population of the Maltese Islands stood at 410,290 and is expected to reach 424,028 by 2025. At the moment, females slightly outnumber males, making up 50.3 per cent of the population. The largest proportion of persons{{ndash}} 7.5 per cent{{ndash}} were aged 25-29, while there were 7.3 per cent falling into each of the 45-49 and 55-59 age brackets.<ref>[http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080712/local/population-in-malta-gozo-exceeds-410-000 Timesofmalta.com - Population in Malta, Gozo exceeds 410,000<!-- bot-generated title -->] at www.timesofmalta.com</ref> === Languages === {{main|Languages of Malta}} :''See also: [[#Languages in education|Languages in education]] section (below)'' The [[Maltese language]] ({{lang-mt|Il-Malti}}) is the mother tongue of the [[Maltese people]] and the official language of Malta, alongside [[English language|English]]. Maltese, which is constitutionally the [[national language]], is [[language family|genetically]] a [[Semitic language]], descended from [[Siculo-Arabic]] (from [[southern Italy]]),<ref>[http://www.macmillandictionary.com/MED-magazine/February2005/27-LI-Maltese.htm MED Magazine]{{dead link|date=March 2009}}</ref> with substantial borrowing from [[Sicilian language|Sicilian]], [[Italian language|Italian]], a little [[French language|French]], and more recently, and increasingly, [[English language|English]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aboutmalta.com/grazio/study2.html|title=Evolution of the Maltese Language}}</ref> It is closely related to Tunisian Arabic. The [[Maltese alphabet]] consists of 30 letters based on the [[Latin alphabet]], but uses the [[diacritic]]ally altered letter ''[[ż]]'' (found in [[Polish language|Polish]]), ''[[ċ]]'' and ''[[ġ]]'' (comparable to [[Esperanto]] ''[[ĉ]]'' and ''[[ĝ]]''), as well as the letters ''[[għ]]'', ''[[ħ]]'', and ''[[Ie (digraph)|ie]]'', which are unique to Maltese. [[Italian language|Italian]] was the official language of Malta until 1934, when it was replaced by English and Maltese, thus ending the Language Question. The language still maintains strong ties to the country, and is spoken by the majority of the population as a [[second language]] today. Italian television channels from Italy-based broadcasters, such as [[Mediaset]] and [[RAI]], reach Malta and remain popular.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/country_profiles/1045691.stm Country profile: Malta] BBC News; [[2008-01-10]]; [[2008-02-21]]</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_237.en.pdf |title=Europeans and languages |accessdate=2007-01-29 |year=2005 |month=September |format=PDF |publisher=European Commission |pages=p.4}}</ref><ref name=LinguisticView>Ignasi Badia i Capdevila; [http://www6.gencat.net/llengcat/noves/hm04primavera-estiu/a_badia2_3.htm A view of the linguistic situation in Malta]; NovesSl; 2004; retrieved on [[2008-02-24]]</ref> The [[Eurobarometer]] states that 100% of the population speaks Maltese, 88% speaks English, 66% speaks Italian, and 17% speaks French,<ref>http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_243_en.pdf</ref> rendering the country one of the most pan-linguistically fluent in the [[European Union]]. However, public opinion on what language they "preferred" to use was different, with 86% of the population expressing a preference for Maltese, 12% for English, and 2% Italian.<ref name=LinguisticView/> ===Religion=== {{main|Religion in Malta}} [[Image:St John's Co-Cathedral.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The façade of [[St John's Co-Cathedral]]]] The Constitution of Malta provides for freedom of religion but establishes [[Christianity in Malta|Roman Catholicism]] as the state religion. Freedom House and the World Factbook report that 98 percent of the population is Roman Catholic, making the nation one of the most Catholic countries in the world. There are more than 360 churches in Malta, Gozo, and Comino, or one church for every 1,000 residents. The parish church (Maltese: ''"il-parroċċa"'', or ''"il-knisja parrokjali"'') is the architectural and geographic focal point of every Maltese town and village, and its main source of civic pride. This civic pride manifests itself in spectacular fashion during the local village '''festas''', which mark the feast day of the patron saint of each parish with marching bands, religious processions, special [[Holy Mass|Masses]], [[fireworks]] (especially [[fireworks#Maltese petards|petards]]), and other festivities. Making allowances for a possible break in the appointment of bishops to Malta during the period of Arab rule (869 to 1127 CE), the Maltese Church is frequently referred to today as the only extant [[Apostolic See]], other than [[Rome]] itself. According to tradition, and as recorded in the [[Acts of the Apostles]], [[Paul of Tarsus|St. Paul]] founded the Church in Malta in 70 CE, following his shipwreck on these Islands. The earliest Christian place of worship in Malta is therefore said to be the cavern on the north-east of Malta, now known as St. Paul's Grotto, where the Romans reputedly imprisoned St. Paul during his stay on Malta. There is evidence dating to the 3rd century CE of Christian burials and rituals having taken place in the general vicinity of the Grotto. Further evidence of Christian practices and beliefs during the period of Roman persecution appears in the many [[catacombs]] that lie beneath various parts of Malta, including St Paul’s Catacombs and St Agatha’s Catacombs in [[Rabat, Malta|Rabat]], just outside the walls of [[Mdina]]. The latter, in particular, were beautifully frescoed between 1200 and 1480, although marauding [[Ottoman Empire|Turks]] defaced them in the 1550s. There are also a number of cave churches, including the grotto at [[Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mellieħa|Mellieħa]], which is a Shrine of the Nativity of Our Lady where, according to legend, [[St. Luke]] painted a picture of the [[The Madonna|Madonna]]. It has been a place of pilgrimage since [[medieval]] times. The Acts of the [[Council of Chalcedon]] record that in 451 CE, a certain Acacius was Bishop of Malta (''Melitenus Episcopus''). It is also known that in 501 CE, a certain Constantinus, ''Episcopus Melitenensis'', was present at the [[Fifth General Council]]. In 588 CE, [[Pope Gregory I]] deposed Tucillus, ''Miletinae civitatis episcopus'', and the clergy and people of Malta elected his successor Trajan in 599 CE. The last recorded Bishop of Malta before the invasion of the Islands was a Greek by the name of Manas, who was subsequently incarcerated at [[Palermo]], Sicily.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09574a.htm |title='&#39;Catholic Encyclopedia'&#39; |publisher=Newadvent.org |date= |accessdate=2009-03-31}}</ref> [[Image:Domen i Mosta.jpg|thumb|240px|The [[Mosta Dome]] known as "Ir-Rotunda"]] Classic Maltese historian, '''Gian. Francesco Abela''', states that following their conversion to Christianity at the hand of [[Saul of Tarsus|St. Paul]], the Maltese retained their Christian religion, despite the [[Fatimid]] invasion.<ref>G.F. Abela, ''Della Descrittione di Malta, (1647) Malta''.</ref> It is possible that Abela's writings assisted the [[Knights of Malta]] in their efforts to win the hearts and minds of the Maltese by describing Malta as a divinely ordained "bulwark of Christian, European civilization against the spread of Mediterranean Islam".<ref>A. Luttrell, ''The Making of Christian Malta: From the Early Middle Ages to 1530'', Aldershot, Hants.: Ashgate Varorium, 2002.</ref> The native Christian community that welcomed [[Roger I of Sicily]]<ref name="malticross"/> was further bolstered by immigration to Malta from Italy, in the 12th and 13th centuries. [[Image:ZTN city center.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[Żejtun]] city centre Parish church]] For centuries, the Church in Malta was subordinate to the [[Diocese of Palermo]], except when it was under [[Charles of Anjou]], who appointed bishops for Malta, as did - on rare occasions - the Spanish and later, the Knights. Since 1808 all bishops of Malta have been Maltese. As a result of the [[History of Malta#Norman period|Norman]] and [[History of Malta#Spanish period|Spanish]] periods, and the rule of the Knights, Malta became the devout [[Roman Catholic|Catholic]] nation that it is today. It is worth noting that the Office of the [[Roman Inquisition|Inquisitor of Malta]] had a very long tenure on the island following its establishment in 1530: the last Inquisitor departed from the Islands in 1798, after the Knights capitulated to the forces of [[Napoleon Bonaparte]]. During the period of the [[Republic of Venice]], several Maltese families emigrated to [[Corfu]]. Their descendants account for about two-thirds of the community of some 4000 Catholics that now live on that island. The patron saints of Malta are [[Paul the Apostle|Saint Paul]], [[Saint Publius]] and Santa Agatha. Although not a patron saint, [[George Preca|St George Preca]] (San Ġorġ Preca) is greatly revered as the first canonised Maltese saint. [[Pope Benedict XVI]] canonised him on June 3, 2007. Also, a number of Maltese individuals are recognised as [[Blessed]], including [[Maria Adeodata Pisani]] and [[Nazju Falzon]], having [[Pope John Paul II]] [[beatified]] them in 2001. Various [[Roman Catholic]] religious orders are present in Malta, including the [[Jesuits]], [[Franciscans]], [[Dominicans]] and [[Little Sisters of the Poor]]. Most congregants of the local [[Protestantism|Protestant]] churches are not Maltese; their congregations draw on the many British retirees living in the country and vacationers from many other nations. There are approximately 500 [[Jehovah's Witnesses]]; [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (Mormons), the [[Bible Baptist Church]], and the [[Fellowship of Evangelical Churches]] have about 60 affiliates. There are also some churches of other denominations, such as [[St. Andrew's Scots Church, Malta|St. Andrew's Scots Church]] in Valletta (a joint [[Presbyterian]] and [[Methodist Church of Great Britain|Methodist]] congregation) and [[St Paul's Anglican Cathedral]], as well as a [[Seventh-day Adventist Church|Seventh-day Adventist]] church in [[Birkirkara]]. The [[Judaism|Jewish]] population of Malta reached its peak in the Middle Ages under Norman rule. In 1479, Malta and [[Sicily]] came under [[Kingdom of Aragon|Aragonese]] rule and the [[Alhambra Decree]] of 1492 forced all Jews to leave the country, permitting them to take with them only a few of their belongings. Several dozen Maltese Jews may have [[Religious conversion|converted]] to Christianity at the time in order to remain in the country. Today, there is one Jewish congregation. [[Zen Buddhism]] and the [[Bahá'í Faith]] claim some 40 members. There is one [[Muslim]] mosque. A Muslim primary school recently opened; its existence remains a point of some controversy. Of the estimated 3,000 [[Islam in Malta|Muslims in Malta]], approximately 2,250 are foreigners, approximately 600 are naturalized citizens, and approximately 150 are native-born Maltese.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2003/24422.htm |title=International Religious Freedom Report 2003{{ndash}} Malta |accessdate=2008-01-09 |publisher=[[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]], [[United States Department of State]]}}</ref> ===Migration=== EU nationals require neither a [[visa (document)|visa]] nor a passport (an ID card or an expired passport are enough) to enter the country. Citizens of a number of third world countries are not required to apply for a visa and require only a valid passport when residing in Malta for up to three months. Visas for other nationalities are valid for one month. Immigrants, even those with EU citizenship, are required to apply for a work permit. This exception to EU law was agreed upon before accession to safeguard the Maltese [[labour economics|labour market]]. <!--Add statistics on legal immigration and emigration-->The estimated net inflow (using data for 2002 to 2004) was of 1,913 persons yearly. Over the last 10 years, Malta accepted back a yearly average of 425 returning emigrants.<ref name="Demo2004">{{cite book |last=National Statistics Office|title=Demographic Review 2004 |publisher=National Statistics Office |year=2005 |location=Valletta |url=http://www.nso.gov.mt/statdoc/document_file.aspx?id=1542 |isbn=99909-73-32-6 |page=59}}</ref> During 2006, a total of 1,800 illegal immigrants reached Malta making the boat crossing from the North Africa coast. Most of them intended to reach mainland Europe and happened to come to Malta by mistake.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Frendo holds talks with three European Union Commission Members |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs |location=Valletta |date=30 January 2006 |url=http://www.foreign.gov.mt/showdoc.aspx?id=210&filesource=4&file=Press%20release%20EU%20Commissioners%20300106.pdf |format=PDF|accessdate=2006-07-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4365030.stm|title=Immigrant frustration for Malta|date=21 October 2005|accessdate=2007-10-12|work=BBC News Europe}}</ref> In the first half of 2006, 967 irregular immigrants arrived in Malta{{ndash}} almost double the 473 who arrived in the same period in 2005.<ref name="Frendo03072006">{{cite press release |title=Statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Michael Frendo to resident EU Ambassadors on irregular immigration in Malta |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs |location=Valletta |date=3 July 2006 |url=http://www.foreign.gov.mt/showdoc.aspx?id=210&filesource=4&file=Illegal%20Immigration%20-%20Statement%20for%20EU%20Ambassadors%20030706.pdf |format=PDF|accessdate=2006-07-06}}</ref> Many immigrants have perished in the journey across the Mediterranean, with one notable incident being the [[May 2007 Malta migrant boat disaster]]. Around 45% of immigrants landed in Malta have been granted [[refugee]] (5%) or protected humanitarian status (40%). A [[White Paper]] suggesting the grant of Maltese citizenship to refugees resident in Malta for over ten years was issued in 2005. Historically Malta gave refuge (and assisted in their resettlement) to eight hundred or so East African Asians who had been expelled from [[Uganda]] by [[Idi Amin]] and to just under a thousand [[Iraq]]is fleeing [[Saddam Hussein]]'s regime. Detention costs for the first half of 2006 alone cost € 746,385.<ref>{{cite news |publisher=The Sunday Times |url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/core/article.php?id=230879 |title=Immigrants refused entry into Malta |date=16 July 2006 |accessdate=2006-07-17}}</ref> In 2005, Malta sought EU aid in relation to reception of irregular immigrants, repatriation of those denied refugee status, resettlement of refugees into EU countries, and maritime security.<ref>{{cite conference |first=Michael |last=Frendo |title=Illegal Immigration in Malta |booktitle=EU Foreign Ministers Council |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs |date=5 July 2005 |url=http://www.foreign.gov.mt/showdoc.aspx?id=96&filesource=4&file=ILLEGal%20Immigrants.pdf |format=PDF|accessdate=2006-07-06}}</ref> In December 2005, the European Council adopted ''The Global Approach to Migration: Priority Actions focusing on Africa and the Mediterranean''; but the deployment of said actions has been limited to the western Mediterranean, thus putting further pressure on the central Mediterranean route for irregular immigration of which Malta forms a part. {{col-start}}{{col-break}} {| class="wikitable" border="1" |- ! SUMMARY OF MALTESE MIGRATION PATTERNS (1946-1996)<ref>Source: [http://www.maltamigration.com/statistics/?s=4A624EE1-7D7101215028-ACE Malta Migration Museum Committee]</ref> |- ! Country ! To ! From ! Net migration ! Return % |- | '''Australia''' | 86,787 | 17,847 | 68,940 | 21.56 |- | '''Canada''' | 19,792 | 4,798 | 14,997 | 24.24 |- | '''UK''' | 31,489 | 12,659 | 18,830 | 40.20 |- | '''U.S.A.''' | 11,601 | 2,580 | 9,021 | 22.24 |- | '''Other''' | 1,647 | 907 | 740 | 55.07 |- | '''Total''' | 155,060 | 39,087 | 115,973 | 25.21 |} {{col-break}} {| class="wikitable" border="1" |- ! NUMBER OF MALTESE EMIGRANTS IN N. AFRICA<ref>Source: Mgr. Philip Calleja, ''Statistics and History of Maltese Migration Movements'', Study Session I of the Maltese Migrants' Convention (Malta), 1969.</ref> |- ! Country ! Year - 1842 ! Year - 1865 ! Year - 1880s |- | '''Algeria''' ''([[Algiers]], Philipville and [[Bône]])'' | 5,000 | 10,000 | 15,000 |- | '''Tunisia''' ''([[Tunis]])'' | 3,000 | 7,000 | 11,000 |- | '''Egypt''' | 2,000 | 5,000 | 7,000 |} {{col-end}} == Education == [[Image:St Aloysius' College (Malta).jpg|thumb|left|300px|A vintage photograph of [[St Aloysius' College (Malta)|St Aloysius' College]]]] Primary schooling has been compulsory since 1946; secondary education up to the age of sixteen was made compulsory in 1971. The state provides education free of charge, and the [[Roman Catholic Church|Church]] and the private sector run a number of schools in Malta and [[Gozo]], such as [[St Aloysius' College (Malta)|St. Aloysius' College]] in [[Birkirkara]],Savio College in Dingli and [[San Anton School]] in the valley of ''L-Imselliet'', close to the village of [[Mġarr]]. The state pays most of the teachers' salary in Church schools.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aboutmalta.com/grazio/education.html|title=Education in Malta|accessdate=2007-10-12}}</ref> As of 2008, there are two international schools, Verdala International School and QSI Malta. Education in Malta is based on the [[Education in the United Kingdom|British model]]. [[Primary school]] lasts six years. At the age of 11 pupils sit for an examination to enter a [[secondary school]], either a [[church school]] (the Common Entrance Examination) or a [[state school]]. [[Pupil]]s sit for SEC [[O-level]] examinations at the age of 16, with passes obligatory in certain subjects such as [[mathematics]], [[English language|English]] and [[Maltese language|Maltese]]. Pupils may opt to continue studying at a [[sixth form college]] such as Junior College, St. Edward's College, [[St Aloysius' College (Malta)|St Aloysius' College]] and [[De La Salle]] or else at another post-secondary institution such as [[MCAST]]. The sixth form course lasts for two years, at the end of which students sit for the Matriculation examination. Subject to their performance, students may then apply for an [[undergraduate]] [[academic degree|degree]] or [[diploma]]. The [[University of Malta]] (U.o.M.) provides [[Tertiary]] education at diploma, undergraduate and [[postgraduate]] level. The adult [[literacy rate]] is 92.8%.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mt.html#People|title=CIA Factbook|accessdate=2007-10-12}}</ref> <!-- This section is linked to from the "Languages" section above. If changing the section title, update the link as well. --> ===Languages in education=== <!-- The education system in Malta puts less emphasis on the [[Maltese language]] than other areas of the government do. --> English and Maltese are both used to teach students at primary and secondary school level, and both languages are also compulsory subjects. [[Public school]]s tend to use both Maltese and English in a balanced manner. [[Private school]]s prefer to use English for teaching, as is also the case with most departments of the [[University of Malta]]; this has a limiting effect on the capacity and development of the Maltese language.<ref name=LinguisticView/> Most university courses are in English.<ref>[http://www.macmillandictionary.com/MED-magazine/February2005/27-LI-Maltese.htm MED Magazine<!-- bot-generated title -->] at www.macmillandictionary.com</ref> Of the total number of students studying a first foreign language at secondary level, 51% take Italian whilst 38% take French. Other choices include German, Russian, Spanish, and Arabic.<ref name=LinguisticView/><ref>[http://www.nso.gov.mt/statdoc/document_file.aspx?id=580 Foreign Language Learning]; National Statistics Office - Malta; [[2004-09-01]]; retrieved on [[2008-02-25]]</ref> ==Healthcare== Malta has a long history of providing healthcare to its citizens. The first hospital recorded in the country was already functioning by 1372.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/hotsprings/2615/medhist/hospital2.htm |title=Civil Hospitals In Malta In The Last Two Hundred Years |publisher=Geocities.com |date= |accessdate=2009-03-31}}</ref> Today, Malta has both a public healthcare system, known as the government healthcare service, where healthcare is free at the point of delivery, and a private healthcare system.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sahha.gov.mt/pages.aspx?page=156 |title=The Health Care System in Malta_1 |publisher=Sahha.gov.mt |date= |accessdate=2009-03-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gov.mt/servicecluster.asp?s=4&l=2 |title=Government Of Malta - Health Services |publisher=Gov.mt |date= |accessdate=2009-03-31}}</ref> Malta has a strong general practitioner-delivered primary care base and the public hospitals provide secondary and tertiary care. The Maltese Ministry of Health advises foreign residents to take out private medical insurance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alloexpat.com/moving_to_malta_forum/healthcare-in-malta-t162.html |title=HEALTHCARE IN MALTA - Allo' Expat Malta |publisher=Alloexpat.com |date=2006-10-17 |accessdate=2009-03-31}}</ref> Malta was ranked number five in the [[World Health Organization]]'s ranking of the world's health systems,[http://www.photius.com/rankings/healthranks.html] well above the [[United States]] (at 37), [[Australia]] (at 32), and [[Canada]] (at 30). The [[United Kingdom]], the best of this group of larger comparator countries, was ranked at number 18, which is interesting in that the healthcare system in Malta closely resembles the British system,<ref name="ph">{{Cite web |author=info@icon.com.mt |url=http://www.stphilips.com.mt/StPhilips/hospital.asp |title=St. Philip's Hospital - A modern 75-bed hospital equipped with the latest medical technology - Malta |publisher=Stphilips.com.mt |date=2004-07-02 |accessdate=2009-03-31}}</ref> as healthcare is free at the point of delivery. Malta has a strong general practitioner-delivered primary care base, supplemented by secondary care and tertiary care provided by a number of public hospitals. The recently completed [[Mater Dei Hospital]] is one of the largest medical buildings in Europe (see [[List of hospitals in Malta]]). ===Hospitals=== The recently completed [[Mater Dei Hospital]] is one of the largest medical buildings in Europe (see [[List of hospitals in Malta]]). In addition, Malta has three major private hospitals: *[[St Philip's Hospital]], with a capacity of 75 beds, is in Santa Venera. *[[St James Capua Hospital]] (the former Capua Palace Hospital), with 80 beds, is in Sliema. *St James Hospital has several sites, including a 13 bed unit in Zabbar, as well as a partner hospital in [[Libya]]. St Mark's Clinic, in Msida, with a capacity of 5 beds, also offers some private hospital services. <ref name="ph"/> [[Image:MMSA Checking Blood Pressure.JPG|thumb|left|Maltese student checking blood pressure]] The [[University of Malta]] has a [[medical school]], a [[dental school]], and a [[nursing school]].<ref>[http://www.um.edu.mt/courses/bsc_nursing.pdf]</ref> ===Medical Tourism=== In recent years, Malta has advertised itself as a [[medical tourism]] destination,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=61027 |title=INDEPENDENT online |publisher=Independent.com.mt |date=2009-03-26 |accessdate=2009-03-31}}</ref>, and a number of [[health tourism provider]]s are developing the industry. However, no Maltese hospital has undergone independent [[international healthcare accreditation]]. Malta is popular with British medical tourists,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.treatmentabroad.net/medical-tourism/news/november-2007/malta-popular-with-uk-medical-tourists |title=Malta popular with UK medical tourists |publisher=Treatmentabroad.net |date=2008-05-02 |accessdate=2009-03-31}}</ref><ref>[http://ageconcern.org.uk/AgeConcern/News_MoreInfo.asp?Articleid=18342883&titleID=Malta+'popular+with+UK+medical+tourists'+(05.11.07) ]{{dead link|date=March 2009}}</ref> pointing Maltese hospitals towards seeking UK-sourced accreditation, such as with the [[Trent Accreditation Scheme]]. Dual accreditation with the American-orientated [[Joint Commission]] is necessary if hospitals in Malta wish to compete with the Far East and Latin America for medical tourists from the [[United States]]. ===Medical associations=== The [[Medical Association of Malta]] represents practitioners of the medical profession. [[MMSA]] is a separate body representing Maltese medical students, and is a member of [[EMSA]] and [[IFMSA]]. [[MIME]], the Maltese Institute for Medical Education, is an institute set up recently to provide CME to doctors in Malta as well as medical students. The [[Foundation Program]] followed in the UK is to be introduced in Malta in order to stem the 'brain drain' of medical students to the British Isles. [[MADS]], the Malta Association of Dental Students, is a student association set up to promote the rights of Dental Surgery Students studying within the faculty of Dental Surgery of the University of Malta. It is affiliated with [[IADS]], the International Association of Dental Students. ==Art and architecture== [[Image:Vallettaupperbarraccagardens.JPG|thumb|300px|left|Lower Barrakka Gardens]] Malta has a long history of architecture, influenced by many different mediterranean cultures over its history, and most recently, British architecture. The first settlers on the island constructed [[Ġgantija]], the oldest manmade freestanding structure in the world. Malta is currently undergoing large scale building projects that includes constructions such as [[SmartCity Malta]], the [[M-Towers]], and [[Pendergardens]], while areas such as the [[Valletta Waterfront]] and [[Tigne Point]] are receiving renovation. The Neolithic temple builders [[39th century BC|3800]]-2500 BC endowed the numerous temples of Malta and Gozo with intricate bas relief designs, including spirals evocative of the tree of life and animal portraits, designs painted in red ochre, ceramics, and a vast collection of human form sculptures, particularly the Venus of Malta. These can be viewed at the temples themselves (most notably, the [[Hypogeum]] and Tarxien Temples), and at the National Museum of Archaeology in [[Valletta]]. The Roman period introduced highly decorative mosaic floors, marble colonnades and classical statuary, remnants of which are beautifully preserved and presented in the Roman Domus, a country villa just outside the walls of [[Mdina]]. The early Christian frescoes that decorate the [[catacombs]] beneath Malta reveal a propensity for eastern, [[Byzantine]] tastes. These tastes continued to inform the endeavours of [[medieval]] Maltese artists, but they were increasingly influenced by the [[Romanesque art|Romanesque]] and [[Southern Gothic]] movements. Towards the end of the 15th century, Maltese artists, like their counterparts in neighbouring Sicily, came under the influence of the School of [[Antonello da Messina]], which introduced [[Renaissance]] ideals and concepts to the decorative arts in Malta.<ref name="hopeandoptimism1">{{cite web|url=http://www.hopeandoptimism.com/essay.htm |title=D. Cutajar, "An Overview of the Art of Malta" |publisher=Hopeandoptimism.com |date= |accessdate=2009-03-31}}</ref> The artistic heritage of Malta blossomed under the [[Knights Hospitaller|Knights of St. John]], who brought Italian and Flemish [[Mannerist]] painters to decorate their palaces and the churches of these islands, most notably, [[Matteo Perez d'Aleccio]], whose works appear in the [[Grandmaster's Palace|Magisterial Palace]] and in the [[St. John's Co-Cathedral|Conventual Church of St. John]], and Filippo Paladini, who was active in Malta from 1590 to 1595. For many years, Mannerism continued to inform the tastes and ideals of local Maltese artists.<ref name="hopeandoptimism1"/> [[Image:Mdinakatedral.jpg|thumb|300px|right|[[St. Paul's Cathedral, Mdina]]]] The arrival in Malta of [[Caravaggio]], who painted at least seven works during his 15-month stay on these islands, further revolutionized local art. Two of Caravaggio's most notable works, ''The Beheading of St. John the Baptist'', and ''St. Jerome'' are on display in the [[Oratory]] of [[St. John's Co-Cathedral]], [[Valletta]]. His legacy is evident in the works of local artists Giulio Cassarino (1582-1637) and Stefano Erardi (1630-1716). However, the [[Baroque]] movement that followed was destined to have the most enduring impact on Maltese art and architecture. The glorious vault paintings of the celebrated Calabrese artist, [[Mattia Preti]] transformed the severe, Mannerist interior of [[St. John's Co-Cathedral]]into a Baroque masterpiece. Preti spent the last 40 years of his life in Malta, where he created many of his finest works, now on display in the Museum of Fine Arts in [[Valletta]]. During this period, local sculptor [[Melchiorre Cafà|Melchior Gafà]] (1639-1667) emerged as one of the top Baroque sculptors of the Roman School. Throughout the 18th century, [[Neapolitan]] and [[Rococo]] influences emerged in the works of [[Luca Giordano]] (1632-1705) and [[Francesco Solimena]] (1657-1747), and local artists Gio. Nicola Buhagiar (1698-1752) and Francesco Zahra (1710-1773). The Rococo movement was greatly enhanced by the relocation to Malta of Antoine de Favray (1706-1798), who assumed the position of court painter to Grand Master Pinto in 1744. [[Neo-classicism]] made some inroads among local Maltese artists in the late 18th century, but this trend was reversed in the early 19th century, as the local Church authorities - perhaps in an effort to strengthen Catholic resolve against the perceived threat of Protestantism during the early days of British rule in Malta - favoured and avidly promoted the religious themes embraced by the [[Nazarene movement]] of artists. [[Romanticism]], tempered by the naturalism introduced to Malta by [[Giuseppe Calì]], informed the "salon" artists of the early 20th century, including Edward and Robert Caruana Dingli. Parliament established the National School of Art in the 1920s. During the reconstruction period that followed the [[World War II|Second World War]], the emergence of the "Modern Art Group", whose members included Josef Kalleya (1898-1998), George Preca (1909-1984), Anton Inglott (1915-1945), Emvin Cremona (1919-1986), Frank Portelli (b.1922), Antoine Camilleri (b.1922) and Esprit Barthet (b.1919) greatly enhanced the local art scene. == Culture == {{main|Culture of Malta}} The culture of Malta reflects the various cultures that have come into contact with the [[Maltese Islands]] throughout the centuries, including neighbouring [[Mediterranean]] cultures, and the cultures of the nations that ruled Malta for long periods of time prior to its [[History of Malta#Independence|independence]] in 1964. ===Folklore=== [http://www.maltastreetmap.com Map of Malta and Gozo] ==== Weddings ==== [[wedding|Traditional Maltese weddings]] featured the bridal party walking in procession beneath an ornate canopy, from the home of the bride's family to the parish church, with singers trailing behind serenading the bride and groom. The Maltese word for this custom is '''il-ġilwa'''. This custom along with many others has long since disappeared from the Islands, in the face of modern practices. [[Image:Maltesewedding.jpg|left|thumb|250px| Recreation of a traditional Maltese [[16th century]] wedding]] New wives would wear the [[għonnella]], a traditional item of Maltese clothing. However, it is no longer worn in modern Malta. Today's couples are married in churches or chapels in the village or town of their choice. The nuptials are usually followed by a lavish wedding reception, often including several hundred guests. Occasionally, couples will try to incorporate elements of the traditional Maltese wedding in their celebration. A resurgent interest in the traditional wedding was evident in May 2007, when thousands of Maltese and tourists attended a traditional Maltese wedding in the style of the 16th century, in the Village of [[Żurrieq]]. This included ''il-ġilwa'', which led the bride and groom to a wedding ceremony that took place on the parvis of St. Andrew's Chapel. The reception that followed featured folklore music (''[[għana]]'') and dancing. ====Traditional life==== Traditional Maltese proverbs reveal a cultural preoccupation with childbearing and fertility: "''iż-żwieġ mingħajr tarbija ma fihx tgawdija"'' (a childless marriage cannot be a happy one). This is a belief that Malta shares with many other Mediterranean cultures, most notably, [[Israel]], [[Palestine]] and [[Morocco]]. In Maltese folktales, the local variant of the classic closing formula, "and they all lived happily ever after" is "''u għammru u tgħammru, u spiċċat''" (and they lived together, and they had children together, and the tale is finished).<ref>Pullicino, ''supra'', at 208-9.</ref> Rural Malta shares in common with Mediterranean and traditional Jewish society a number of superstitions regarding fertility, menstruation, and pregnancy, including the avoidance of cemeteries during the months leading up to childbirth, and avoiding the preparation of certain foods during menses. Pregnant women are encouraged to satisfy their cravings for specific foods, out of fear that their unborn child will bear a representational birth mark (Maltese: ''xewqa'', literally "desire" or "craving"). Maltese and Sicilian women also share certain traditions that are believed to predict the sex of an unborn child, such as the cycle of the moon on the anticipated date of birth, whether the baby is carried "high" or "low" during pregnancy, and the movement of a wedding ring, dangled on a string above the abdomen (sideways denoting a girl, back and forth denoting a boy). Traditionally, Maltese newborns were baptised as promptly as possible, partly out of fear of [[limbo]] should the child die in infancy, and partly because according to Maltese (and Sicilian) folklore an unbaptised child is not yet a Christian, but "still a Turk". Traditional Maltese delicacies served at a baptismal feast include ''biskuttini tal-magħmudija'' (almond macaroons covered in white or pink icing), ''it-torta tal-marmorata'' (a spicy, heart-shaped tart of chocolate-flavoured almond paste), and a liqueur known as ''rożolin'', made with rose petals, violets and almonds. On a child's first birthday, in a tradition that still survives today, Maltese parents would organize a game known as ''il-quċċija'', where a variety of symbolic objects would be randomly placed around the seated child. These may include a hard-boiled egg, a [[Bible]], [[crucifix]] or [[rosary beads]], a book, and so on. Whichever object the child shows most interest in is said to reveal the child's path and fortunes in adulthood. Money refers to a rich future while a book expresses intelligence and a possible career as a teacher. Infants who select a pencil or pen will be writers. Choosing bibles or rosary beads refers to a clerical or monastic life. If the child chooses a hard-boiled egg, it will have a long life and many children. More recent additions include calculators (refers to accounting), thread (fashion) and wooden spoons (cooking and a great appetite). ==== Carnival ==== [[Image:Carnivalhorse.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[Maltese Carnival|Carnival parades]] line the streets of Malta's cities]] '''[[Maltese Carnival]]''' (Maltese: ''il-karnival ta' Malta'') has had an important place on the cultural calendar for just under five centuries, introduced to the Islands by [[Grand Master (order)|Grand Master]] [[Piero de Ponte]] in 1535. It is held during the week leading up to [[Ash Wednesday]], and typically includes masked balls, fancy dress and grotesque mask competitions, lavish late-night parties, a colourful, ticker-tape parade of allegorical [[float (parade)|floats]] presided over by King Carnival (Maltese: ''ir-Re tal-Karnival''), marching bands and costumed revellers. ==== Fantastic creatures==== Maltese folktales include various stories about mysterious creatures and supernatural goings on. These were most comprehensively compiled by the scholar (and pioneer in Maltese [[archeology]]) [[Manuel Magri|Manwel Magri]]<ref>"Patri Manwel Magri u l-Ipoġew", Lil Ħbiebna, Novembru 2003, pp. 195-197.</ref> in his core criticism "''Ħrejjef Missirijietna''" ("Stories from our Forefathers"). This collection of material inspired subsequent researchers and academics to gather traditional [[Folk tale|tales]], [[fable]]s and [[legend]]s from all over the Archipelago. Magri's work also inspired a series of comic books (released by Klabb Kotba Maltin in 1984): the titles included ''Bin is-Sultan Jiźźewweġ x-Xebba tat-Tronġiet Mewwija'' and ''Ir-Rjieħ''. Many of these stories have been popularly re-written as [[Children's literature]] by authors writing in [[Maltese language|Maltese]], such as [[Trevor Żahra]]. While giants, witches and dragons feature in many of the stories, some contain entirely Maltese creatures like the [[Kaw kaw]], [[Il-Belliegħa]] and [[L-Imħalla]] amongst others. The traditional Maltese obsession with maintaining spiritual (or ritual) purity<ref>Zarb, T. Folklore of An Island, PEG Ltd, 1998</ref> means that many of these creatures have the role of guarding forbidden or restricted areas and attacking individuals who broke the strict codes of conduct that characterized the island's pre-industrial society. ==== Mnarja ====<!-- This section is linked from [[June 29]] --> Mnarja, or l-Imnarja (pronounced ''lim-nar-ya'') is one of the most important dates on the Maltese cultural calendar. Officially, it is a national festival dedicated to the feast of [[Saint]]s [[St. Peter|Peter]] and [[Saul of Tarsus|St. Paul]]. In fact its roots can be traced back to the pagan [[Roman Republic|Roman]] feast of ''Luminaria'' (literally, "the illumination"), when the early summer night of [[June 29]] was illuminated by torches and bonfires. A national feast since the rule of the [[Knights of Malta|Knights]], Mnarja is a traditional Maltese festival of food, religion and music. The festivities still commence today with the reading of the ''"bandu"'', an official governmental announcement, which has been read on this day in Malta since the 16th century. Originally, Mnarja was celebrated outside St. Paul's Grotto, in the north of Malta; however, by 1613 the focus of the festivities had shifted to the [[Cathedral]] of [[Paul of Tarsus|St. Paul]], in [[Mdina]], and featured torchlight processions, the firing of 100 petards, horseraces, and races for men, boys and slaves. Modern Mnarja festivals take place in and around the woodlands of [[Buskett]], just outside the town of [[Rabat]]. It is said that under the Knights, this was the one day in the year when the Maltese were allowed to hunt and eat [[hare|wild rabbit]], which was otherwise reserved for the hunting pleasures of the Knights. The close connection between Mnarja and rabbit stew (Maltese: ''"fenkata"'') remains strong today. In 1854 British governor [[William Reid]] launched an agricultural show at Buskett which is still being held today. The farmers' exhibition is still a seminal part of the Mnarja festivities today. Mnarja today is one of the few occasions when participants may hear traditional Maltese "[[għana]]". Traditionally, grooms would promise to take their newly- or recently-wed brides to Mnarja during the first of year of marriage and, for luck, many of the brides would attend in their full wedding gown and veil, although this custom has long since disappeared from the Islands. ==== Holy Week ==== '''[[Holy Week in Malta|Holy Week]]''' (Maltese: ''il-Ġimgħa Mqaddsa'') starts on [[Palm Sunday]] (''Ħadd il-Palm'') and ends on [[Easter Sunday]] (''Ħadd il-Għid''). Numerous religious traditions, most of them inherited from one generation to the next, are part of the [[Easter|paschal]] celebrations in the Maltese Islands, honouring the death and resurrection of [[Jesus]]. ===Music=== [[Image:Teatro Manoel facade.jpg|thumb|left|230px| [[Manoel Theatre]]]] While Maltese music today is largely [[western music|western]], traditional Maltese music includes what is known as [[Għana (folk music)|għana]]. This consists of background [[folk guitar]] music, while a few people, generally men, take it in turns to argue a point in a [[singsong]] voice. The aim of the lyrics, which are improvised, are to create a friendly yet challenging atmosphere, and it takes a number of years of practice to be able to combine the required artistic qualities with the ability to [[debate]] effectively. ===Literature=== Documented Maltese literature is over 200 years old. However a recently unearthed love ballad testifies to literary activity in the local tongue from the Medieval period. Malta followed a Romantic literary tradition, culminating in the works of [[Dun Karm]], Malta's National Poet. Subsequent writers like [[Ruzar Briffa]] and Karmenu Vassallo tried to estrange themselves from the rigidity of formal themes and versification. It was late in the 1960s that Maltese literature experienced its most radical transformation amongst poets, prose writers and dramatists. Names of significant poets that stand out from the last quarter of the 20th century include [[Mario Azzopardi]], Victor Fenech, Oliver Friggieri, [[Joe Friggieri]], Charles Flores, Daniel Massa, Maria Ganado, Lillian Sciberras and Akille Mizzi. In prose, [[Frans Sammut]], Paul P. Borg and Joe J. Camilleri led the avantguard while in theatre the names that matter include [[Francis Ebejer]], [[Alfred Sant]], Doreen Micallef and Oreste Calleja. The next generation of writers widened the tracks further, especially in prose. Guze' Stagno, [[Karl Schembri]] and Clare Azzopardi are young writers fast establishing themselves while in poetry, significant names include Adrian Grima, [[Immanuel Mifsud]], Norbet Bugeja and Simone Inguanez. In literary criticism, [[Peter Serracino Inglott]], Oliver Friggieri and Charles Briffa introduced perceptive historical, philosophical and psycho-social themes into Maltese theory. Other writers, born in Malta or of Maltese descent, have established careers abroad. These included the novelist [[Trezza Azzopardi]], best-selling children's author [[Saviour Pirotta]] and comic-book artist/journalist [[Joe Sacco]]. ==== Print ==== {{further|[[List of newspapers in Malta]]}} [[Image:TimesMTheader.png|thumb|right|The Times]] The most widely read and financially the strongest [[newspapers]] are published by Allied Newspapers Ltd., mainly the [[The Times (Malta)|The Times]] (27%) and [[The Times (Malta)|The Sunday Times]] (51.6%). Due to [[bilingualism]] half of the [[newspapers]] are published in [[English language|English]] and the other half in [[Maltese language|Maltese]]. The Sunday newspaper It-Torċa (The Torch) published by the Union Press, a subsidiary of the [[General Workers' Union (Malta)|GWU]], is the paper with the biggest circulation in the Maltese language. Its sister paper, [[L-Orizzont]], is the Maltese daily with biggest circulation. Newspapers are definitively losing out to [[radio]] and [[television]] (and [[radio]] is losing to [[television]]) as preferred source of [[news]]. There is a high number of daily or weekly newspapers, there is one paper for every 28,000&nbsp;people. [[Advertising]], [[sales]] and [[subsidies]] are the three main methods of financing [[newspapers]] and [[magazines]]. However, most of the papers and [[magazines]] tied to [[institutions]] are subsidised by the same [[institutions]], they depend on [[advertising]] or subsidies from their owners.<ref name="autogenerated1" /> ===Sports=== <!-- Image with inadequate rationale removed: [[Image:JustinHaber.jpg|thumb|right|[[Justin Haber]], current G.K of [[Sheffield United F.C|Sheffield Utd]]]] --> Malta has its own national football stadium, [[Ta' Qali Stadium]]. It is generally noted that the population tends to be split half and half with regards to supporting Italy or England in sports games, due to the cultural affinities of the island.<ref>{{cite news |author= |title=Maltese mad keen on England |date=2000-06-01 |work=[[BBC News]] |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/euro2000/teams/england/773547.stm |accessdate=2008-08-05 }}</ref> Malta also hosts a snooker round, the [[Malta Cup]], which as of 2008 became a non-ranking event.{{fact|date=January 2009}} In 2008 Malta's [[Tony Drago]] was a member of a victorious European [[Mosconi Cup]] team, which was played in Portomaso, Malta.{{fact|date=January 2009}} The [[Malta national football team|Maltese national football team]] won several matches over big opponents that reached the final phases in [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]]s like [[Belgium national football team|Belgians]] and [[Hungary National football team|Hungarians]] and the [[Greece national football team|Greeks]]. Boxer [[Jeff Fenech]] is Maltese by his parents' side.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youngvictorboxing.com.au/jeff_fenech2.htm |title=Jeff Fenech |publisher=Youngvictorboxing.com.au |date= |accessdate=2009-03-31}}</ref> There are over 1200 [[rock climbing]] routes in Malta. The island offers a mixture of both [[trad climbing]] and [[sport climbing]] and also offers a good variety of [[bouldering]] and [[deep water soloing]] . The geography and small size of the island makes the climbing easily accessible. The sport is currently not that popular with the Maltese community however the participation levels are growing.[http://www.maltaactivities.com Information and images of rock climbing in Malta] ====Special activities==== Boċċi is the Maltese version of the Italian game of [[Bocce]], French [[Pétanque]] and British [[Bowls]]. Other than certain differences in rules and the ground on which the game is played, one of the most obvious differences between Maltese Boċċi and foreign equivalents is the shape of the bowls themselves which tend to be cylindrical rather than spherical in shape. Many small clubs (usually called "Bocci Klabbs" or "Klabbs tal-Bocci") can be found in many Maltese localities and are usually well-frequented (particularly by elderly men) and are quite active on the local and European level. In the last decade the aviation sport of Microlight Flying has been introduced on the island by the Island Microlight Club.<ref>[http://www.islandmicrolightclub.com Island Microlight Club Malta - spread your wings and fly!<!-- bot-generated title -->] at www.islandmicrolightclub.com</ref> In under ten years there are a total number of twenty two microlight aircraft that operate out of the [[Malta International Airport]]. ===Cuisine=== {{main|Maltese cuisine}} [[Image:Malta Pastizzi.JPG|thumb|left|150px|''Pastizzi'', a typically Maltese delicacy]] [[Image:Malta ftira.JPG|thumb|right|175px|A variety of Maltese bread, called ''ftira'']] Maltese cuisine is typically Mediterranean, based on fresh seasonal locally available produce and seafood, with some influence from Italian cuisine, particularly Sicily and the south. There are many unique and distinctive local dishes and the cuisine also embodies the gastronomic legacies of Malta's past, including not only Italian or Tunisian, but Spanish, Berber, and more recently British and French influence. Maltese cuisine is still popular in households and restaurants in Malta, but influences from outside Malta's shores continue, though nowadays they come through travel and TV rather than foreign domination. Alongside Malta's traditional cuisine with its strong Southern Mediterranean character, there is today an eclectic mix of dishes drawn from other cuisines, not only Italian but also Asian, North American and Mexican for example. This article on Maltese cuisine however refers exclusively to the traditional dishes of Malta and Gozo, still widely prepared and enjoyed on the islands of Malta and Gozo. In conclusion, the Maltese cuisine is the result of a long relationship between the [[Maltese people|Islanders]] and the many foreigners who dominated Malta over the centuries. This marriage of tastes has given Malta a distinctive cuisine that is decidedly [[Mediterranean cuisine|Mediterranean in character]]. While many dishes are native to the island, some popular Maltese recipes show [[Sicilian cuisine|Sicilian]], [[Italian cuisine|Southern Italian]] or [[Turkish cuisine|Turkish]] culinary influences. Popular local dishes include ''ftira biż-żejt'', ''ġbejniet'', ''pastizzi'' and ''Ross il-Forn''. === Media === {{further|[[List of radio stations in Malta|Radio stations in Malta]]}} There is not as great a presence of the [[institutions]] – [[Christian Church|church]], [[political parties]], [[trade unions]] - in the [[print media]] as in the broadcasting media; moreover they are absent from the ownership of the [[newspapers]] published in [[English language|English]]. Trade Unions are not represented in the broadcasting media, but are in the print media, and only the [[General Workers' Union (Malta)|General Workers Union]] owns a newspaper. The [[Malta Workers' Union|UHM]], the second biggest [[Trade Union|union]], has no newspaper, TV, or radio stations.<ref name="autogenerated1">[http://www.ejc.net/media_landscape/article/malta/ Media Landscape - Malta - European Journalism Centre<!-- bot-generated title -->] at www.ejc.net</ref> ==== Broadcasting ==== {{further|[[Television in Malta]]|[[Digital television in Malta]]}} [[Image:Public Broadcasting Authority Emblem (Malta).jpg|thumbnail|right|Public Broadcasting Authority Emblem]] There are 8 major nationwide television channels in Malta: [[TVM (Malta)|TVM]], [[One Television]], [[NET Television (Malta)|NET Television]], [[Smash Television]], Favourite Channel,ITV,Education22 and Family TV - currently transmitted by analogue terrestrial, free-to-air signals. The state and [[List of political parties in Malta|political parties]] subsidise most of the fundings of these television stations. The [[Public Broadcasting Services]] is the state-owned station and is a member of the [[EBU]]. Media Link Communications Ltd and [[One Productions Ltd]] are affiliated with the [[Nationalist Party (Malta)|Nationalist Party]] and [[Labour Party (Malta)|Labour Party]] respectively. Smash Communications Ltd is privately owned. The Broadcasting Authority supervises all local broadcasting stations and ensures their compliance with [[legal]] and licence obligations as well as the preservation of due impartiality; in respect of matters of [[political]] or [[Industry|industrial]] controversy or relating to current public policy; while fairly apportioning broadcasting facilities and time between persons belong to different political parties. The Broadcasting Authority ensures that local broadcasting services consist of public, private and community broadcasts that offer varied and comprehensive programming to cater for all interests and tastes. The only commercial TV station attracts an audience of 2%. Cable, terrestrial and satellite reception are all available, though the cable service is the most diffused. Cable subscriptions reached almost 124,000 in February 2006 reaching about 80% of Maltese households, and a small but increasing number of households are owning satellite dishes to receive other European TV networks such as the [[BBC]] from [[Great Britain]] and [[RAI]] from [[Italy]]. ===Other=== {{columns |width=200px |col1 = *[[Public holidays in Malta]] *[[List of Maltese people]] *[[Maltese people]] |col2 = *[[Maltese language]] *[[Maltese nobility]] *[[Maltese Italians]] |col3 = *[[Endemic Maltese wildlife]] *[[The Scout Association of Malta]] *[[Ganutell]] }} == See also == {{portal|Malta|Flag of Malta.svg}} {{portal|Commonwealth realms|Flag of the Commonwealth of Nations.svg}} * [[BirdLife Malta]] * [[Monasteries in Malta]] * [[History of Malta#British rule|British Malta]] * [[Malta Conference]] [http://www.maltastreetmap.com Malta Street Map] ==External links== {{sisterlinks|Malta}} <!-- WARNING: BEFORE ADDING A LINK IN THIS SECTION, PLEASE DISCUSS IT ON THE TALK PAGE. THIS MEASURE HAS BEEN TAKEN IN THE LIGHT OF PERSISTENT ADDITIONS OF COMMERCIAL LINKS AND VANDALISM TO THIS SECTION. ADDING SPAM WILL RESULT IN A WARNING! --> ; Government * [http://www.maltastreetmap.com Map of Malta and Gozo] *[http://www.gov.mt Gov.mt]{{ndash}} Maltese Government official site *[http://uk.geocities.com/hashanayobel/lex/lexindex.htm Laws of Malta]{{ndash}} A summary of principal laws and glossary of terms. *[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-m/malta.html Chief of State and Cabinet Members] *[http://www.afm.gov.mt The Maltese Armed Forces official website] *[http://www.mepa.org.mt Malta Environment and Planning Authority's] [[GIS]] [http://www.mepa.org.mt/planning/index.htm?MapServer.htm&1 Map Server] which includes place names and street's layout and names ; General information *{{CIA World Factbook link|mt|Malta}} *[http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/malta.htm Malta] from ''UCB Libraries GovPubs'' *{{dmoz|Regional/Europe/Malta}} *{{wikiatlas|Malta}} ; News media *[http://www.timesofmalta.com The Times of Malta] ; Travel *[http://www.visitmalta.com Official Maltese Tourism website] *{{wikitravel}} ; Other *[http://www.englishmaltesedictionary.com English Maltese Dictionary] *[http://malta.cc Malta Blog] *[http://www.imagesofmalta.com] Photographs and a history of the Maltese islands. == Notes and citations == <!--This article uses the Cite.php citation mechanism. If you would like more information on how to add references to this article, please see http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Cite/Cite.php --> {{reflist|2}} == References == * {{cite web | title=Map of Malta and Gozo |work=Street Map of Malta and Gozo |url=http://www.maltastreetmap.com/ |accessdate=2009-04-10}} * {{cite web | title=Photos of Gozo sister island of Malta |work=Photos of Gozo |url=http://www.gozo.us |accessdate=2006-11-17}} * {{cite web | title=Photos of Malta |work=Photos of Malta |url=http://www.pvv.org/~bct/malta/ |accessdate=2008-05-26}} * {{cite web | title=Malta |work=[[CIA World Factbook]] |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mt.html |accessdate=2006-09-06}} * {{cite web | title=Gov.mt |work=Government of Malta |url=http://www.gov.mt|accessdate=2005-11-01}} * {{cite encyclopedia | title=Malta |work=MSN Encarta |url=http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761555566/Malta.html |accessdate=2005-11-01}} * {{cite news | title=1942: Malta gets George Cross for bravery |work=BBC "On this day" |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/15/newsid_3530000/3530301.stm | accessdate=2006-06-22}} * {{cite book |first=H. Bowen |last=Jones |coauthors=''et al.'' | title=Malta Background for Development |publisher=Dhurham College |year=1962 |id={{OCLC|204863}}}} * {{cite book |author=Carolyn Bain | title=Malta |publisher=Lonely Planet Publication |year=2004 |isbn=1-74059-178-X}} * {{cite book |author=Paul Williams | title=Malta | publisher=Pen and Sword Books | year=2009 |isbn=9781848840126 [http://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/?product_id=1860 Malta - Island Under Seige]}} * {{cite book |last=United Nations Development Programme | title=Human Development Report 2005 - International cooperation at a crossroads: Aid, trade and security in an unequal world |year=2006 |publisher=Oxford University Press |url=http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2005/ |isbn=0-19-522146-X}} <!--* For the migration section: http://www.alternattiva.org.mt/filebank/documents/Fiona%20TEXEIRE-%20At%20the%20Gate%20of%20Fortress%20Europe.pdf [gotta shorten this thing, somehow]--> *[http://www.omertaa.org/volumes/volume20071/index/index.html Omertaa, Journal for Applied Anthropology]{{ndash}} Volume 2007/1, Thematic Issue on Malta *[http://www.lapasserelle.com/lm/pagespeciales/anglicistes/malta2006/Malta-The_George_Cross_Island/indexmalta.html Malta-The George Cross Island] {{Navbox |name = Malta topics |state = {{{state|collapsed}}} |title = {{flagcountry|Malta}}&nbsp;[[List of Malta-related topics|topics]] |groupstyle = padding:0.2em 1.0em; line-height:1.1em; <!--reduces wide gap between wrapped groupname lines--> |liststyle = padding:0.4em 0; line-height:1.4em; <!--otherwise lists can appear to form continuous whole--> |group1 = [[History of Malta|History]] |list1 = {{nowrap begin}} [[Timeline of Maltese history|Timeline]]{{·w}} [[Megalithic Temples of Malta]] {{·w}} [[Monarchs of Malta|Monarchs]]{{·w}} [[Kingdom of Sicily]]{{·w}} [[Knights Hospitaller]]{{·w}} [[Siege of Malta (1565)|The Great Siege]]{{·w}} [[Malta exiles|Exiles]]{{·w}} [[Siege of Malta (World War II)|Siege during World War II]] ([[SS Ohio|SS ''Ohio'']]){{·w}} [[Award of the George Cross to Malta|Award of the George Cross]] {{nowrap end}} </div> |group2 = [[Politics of Malta|Politics]] |list2 = {{nowrap begin}} [[Constitution of Malta|Constitution]]{{·w}} [[President of Malta|President]]{{·w}} [[House of Representatives of Malta|House of Representatives]]{{·w}} [[List of political parties in Malta|Political parties]] ^{([[Nationalist Party (Malta)|Nationalist]] {{·w}} [[Malta Labour Party|Labour]] {{·w}} [[Democratic Alternative (Malta)|Green party]] {{·w}} [[Imperium Europa]] {{·w}} [[National Action (Malta)|National Action]])} {{·w}} [[Foreign relations of Malta|Foreign relations]] {{·w}} [[Elections in Malta|Elections]]{{·w}} [[Local councils of Malta|Local councils]]{{·w}} [[Armed Forces of Malta|Armed Forces]] {{nowrap end}} |group3 = [[Geography of Malta|Geography]] |list3 = {{nowrap begin}} [[:Category:Caves of Malta|Caves]]{{·w}} [[List of cities in Malta|Cities]]{{·w}} [[:Category:Fortifications of Malta|Fortifications]]{{·w}} [[:Category:Islands of Malta|Islands]]{{·w}} [[:Category:Maps of Malta|Maps]] {{nowrap end}} |group4 = [[Economy of Malta|Economy]] |list4 = {{nowrap begin}} [[Maltese lira|Lira]] ^{([[Coins of the Maltese lira|coins]])} {{·w}} [[Euro]] ^{([[Maltese euro coins|coins]])} {{·w}} [[List of Maltese companies|Companies]]{{·w}} [[Central Bank of Malta|Central Bank]]{{·w}} [[:Category:Retailing in Malta|Retailing]]{{·w}} [[:Category:Trade unions of Malta|Trade unions]] {{nowrap end}} |group5 = [[Culture of Malta|Culture]] |list5 = {{nowrap begin}} [[Maltese cuisine|Cuisine]] {{·w}} [[Music of Malta|Music]]{{·w}} [[Religion in Malta|Religion]] ^{([[Archbishop of Malta|Archbishop]])}{{·w}} [[Freemasonry in Malta|Freemasonry]] {{nowrap end}} |group6 = [[Maltese people|People]] |list6 = [[Demographics of Malta|Demographics]] {{·w}} [[Pro-Italian Maltese|Pro-Italians]] {{·w}} [[Pro-British Maltese|Pro-British]] {{·w}} [[List of Maltese people|List of people]]<br /> ''Populations abroad'': [[Maltese American|America]] {{·w}} [[Maltese Australian|Australia]] {{·w}} [[Maltese Brazilian|Brazil]] {{·w}} [[Maltese in the United Kingdom|UK]] |group7 = [[Languages of Malta|Languages]] |list7 = [[Maltese language|Maltese]] {{·w}} [[English language|English]] {{·w}} [[Italian language|Italian]] ^{([[Sicilian language|Sicilian]])}{{·w}} [[Maltese literature|Literature]] |group8 = [[Flags and symbols of Malta|Symbols]] |list8 = [[Flag of Malta|National flag]] {{·w}} [[Coat of Arms of Malta|Coat of arms]] {{·w}} [[Maltese Cross]] {{·w}} [[Holidays in Malta|Holidays]] |group9 =<br />[[:Category:Education in Malta|Education]],<br />and [[:Category:Health in Malta|Healthcare]] |list9 = {{nowrap begin}} [[List of universities in Malta|Universities]] ^{([[Student Associations at the University of Malta|Student Associations]])} {{·w}} [[List of hospitals in Malta|Hospitals]] {{nowrap end}} |group10 = [[Communications in Malta|Communications]] |list10 = [[Transportation in Malta|Transportation]] {{·w}} [[Malta bus|Bus]] {{·w}} [[Malta International Airport|Air]] ^{([[Air Malta|Airline]])} {{·w}} [[Grand Harbour|Sea]] |below = '''[[Portal:Malta|Portal]]''' }} {{Template group |title = Geographic locale |list = {{Malta Islands}} {{Malta-LocalCouncils}} {{Countries of Europe}} {{Countries and territories bordering the Mediterranean Sea}} }} {{Template group |title = International membership |list = {{Members of the European Union (EU)}} {{Council of Europe}} {{WTO}} {{Commonwealth of Nations}} {{Afro-Asiatic-speaking}} }} [[Category:Malta| ]] [[Category:Island countries]] [[Category:Republics]] [[Category:Italian-speaking countries]] [[Category:English-speaking countries and territories]] [[Category:Mediterranean islands]] [[Category:Members of the Commonwealth of Nations]] [[Category:Collective George Cross recipients]] [[Category:Former British colonies]] [[Category:Liberal democracies]] [[Category:States and territories established in 1964]] {{Link FA|sk}} <!--Other languages--> [[af:Malta]] [[als:Malta]] [[am:ማልታ]] [[ang:Melita]] [[ar:مالطة]] [[an:Malta]] [[arc:ܡܠܛܐ]] [[roa-rup:Malta]] [[frp:Malta]] [[ast:Malta]] [[gn:Malta]] [[az:Malta]] [[bn:মাল্টা]] [[zh-min-nan:Malta]] [[be:Мальта]] [[be-x-old:Мальта]] [[bar:Malta]] [[bs:Malta]] [[br:Malta]] [[bg:Малта]] [[ca:República de Malta]] [[cv:Мальта (патшалăх)]] [[ceb:Malta]] [[cs:Malta]] [[co:Malta]] [[cy:Malta]] [[da:Malta]] [[de:Malta]] [[dv:މޯލްޓާ]] [[dsb:Malta]] [[et:Malta]] [[el:Μάλτα]] [[es:Malta]] [[eo:Malto (lando)]] [[eu:Malta]] [[ee:Malta]] [[fa:مالت (کشور)]] [[fr:Malte]] [[fy:Malta]] [[fur:Malte]] [[ga:Málta]] [[gv:Yn Valta]] [[gd:Malta]] [[gl:Malta]] [[hak:Mí-li-thai]] [[ko:몰타]] [[haw:Malata]] [[hy:Մալթա]] [[hi:माल्टा]] [[hsb:Malta]] [[hr:Malta]] [[io:Malta]] [[ilo:Malta]] [[bpy:মাল্টা মিউনিসিপিও]] [[id:Malta]] [[ia:Malta]] [[ie:Malta]] [[os:Мальтæ (паддзахад)]] [[is:Malta]] [[it:Malta]] [[he:מלטה]] [[jv:Malta]] [[pam:Malta]] [[ka:მალტა]] [[ks:माल्टा]] [[csb:Malta]] [[kk:Малта]] [[kw:Malta]] [[sw:Malta]] [[kv:Мальта]] [[ht:Malt]] [[ku:Malta]] [[la:Melita (res publica)]] [[lv:Malta]] [[lb:Malta]] [[lt:Malta]] [[lij:Malta]] [[li:Malta]] [[ln:Malta]] [[jbo:Malta]] [[lmo:Malta]] [[hu:Málta]] [[mk:Малта]] [[mg:Malta]] [[ml:മാള്‍ട്ട]] [[mt:Malta]] [[arz:مالطا]] [[ms:Malta]] [[nah:Malta]] [[nl:Malta (land)]] [[nds-nl:Malta (laand)]] [[ne:माल्टा]] [[new:मल्ता]] [[ja:マルタ]] [[ce:Мальта]] [[pih:Marlta]] [[no:Malta]] [[nn:Malta]] [[nrm:Malte]] [[nov:Malta]] [[oc:Malta]] [[uz:Malta]] [[ps:مالټا]] [[pms:Malta]] [[nds:Malta]] [[pl:Malta]] [[pnt:Μάλτα]] [[pt:Malta]] [[crh:Malta]] [[ro:Malta]] [[rmy:Malta]] [[rm:Malta]] [[qu:Malta]] [[ru:Мальта]] [[sah:Мальта]] [[se:Málta]] [[sm:Malitia]] [[sa:माल्टा]] [[sco:Maltae]] [[stq:Malta]] [[sq:Malta]] [[scn:Malta]] [[simple:Malta]] [[sk:Malta]] [[sl:Malta]] [[szl:Malta]] [[so:Malta]] [[sr:Малта]] [[sh:Malta]] [[fi:Malta]] [[sv:Malta]] [[tl:Malta]] [[ta:மால்ட்டா]] [[tet:Malta]] [[th:ประเทศมอลตา]] [[tg:Малта]] [[tr:Malta]] [[udm:Мальта]] [[uk:Мальта]] [[ur:مالٹا]] [[ug:Malta]] [[vec:Malta]] [[vi:Malta]] [[vo:Malteän]] [[fiu-vro:Malta]] [[wa:Male]] [[war:Malta]] [[wo:Malt]] [[wuu:马耳他]] [[yi:מאלטא]] [[zh-yue:馬耳他]] [[diq:Malta]] [[bat-smg:Malta]] [[zh:马耳他]]'