No.10 in the Maltese Music Charts is “Tonight” by Seether. Seether is a South African rocker band and they have been around for 12 years.

“Tonight” appears on Holding Onto Strings Better Left To Fray. The single is the follow up to “Country Song”.

At No.9 we find RHCP with “Look Around”. “Look Around” is from Red Hot Chili Pepper‘s album I’m With You. I’m With You is their tenth studio album.

Nicki Minaj with “Starships” is at No.8 “Starships” is the official lead single from her potentially career-shaping second album.

No.7 on the charts is Far East Movement featuring Justin Bieber with “Live My Life”. The Far East Movement party boys hop aboard a bus and take to the streets of Amsterdam in this video.

At No.6 we find Gotye Featuring Kimbra – “Somebody That I Used To Know”. This is from Gotye’s new album Making Mirrors.

David Guetta featuring Chris Brown with “I Can Only Imagine” is at No.5. Guetta needs no introduction as a French house music producer and DJ.

Rihana featuring Jay-Z with “Talk That Talk” is at No.4. The album with the same title, is Rihana’s sixth studio album.

No.3 in the charts is Katy Perry with “Part of Me”. Much like her pop-star peers, Katy Perry cites Madonna as a big influence.

Chris Brown featuring Rihana is at No.2 with “Turn Up The Music” from his fifth album Fortune. This is a high energy song which draws from the genres of electronic dance, house and dance-pop.

Malta’s top choice is currently Madonna feat LMAO with “Gimme All Your Lovin’”. To date Madonna, has 13 No.1 hit singles.

In March the Royal Commonwealth Society launched an exciting new project, the Jubilee Time Capsule. This is a unique social archive that aims to tell the people’s history of the last 60 years through a range of innovative media. Next year the Capsule will be presented to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to mark Her Diamond Jubilee.

The RCS wants stories from all over the Commonwealth, and Malta is no exception!

They want to hear your stories about an event in the last 60 years that was important to you, your family, your community, or Malta. Maybe you have a story about Independence Day in 1964, Festa celebrations in your village, a family wedding or a special birthday. You can upload a photo, a video, an audio recording or a written piece. Simply visit the Jubilee Time Capsule website, www.jubileetimecapsule.org, and follow instructions to enter your story.

For further details see jubileetimecapsule.org, or email us at jubilee@thercs.org.

Other sources have reported seeing thousands of foreign mercenaries roaming the streets and more are being brought in to stem the rebellion. Serbian pilots are reputed to be manning the planes which are dive bombing protesters.

Two Libyan Airforce Mirage jets landed in Malta yesterday with their pilots asking for political asylum. No official reaction from the Maltese government so far other than that the pilots which landed here yesterday are Libyan colonels who defected.

Latest News:

22nd March 2011

• 17:30hrs – There are reports of more attacks on the rebel-held western city of Misrata and a high number of casualties including four children killed when the car they were traveling in was hit. Residents said 40 people were killed in the town yesterday, although that cannot be confirmed.
• 15:00hrs – US fighter jet crash lands in field near Benghazi.
• 12:00hrs - Attacks on Libyan strategic air and sea defences continue – many casualties reported but difficult to verify credible reports from regime.
• 10:30hrs – PM Gonzi makes statement in Parliament describing Malta’s stance in the Libyan crisis.
• 09:00hrs – Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s air defenses were being protected last night by crowds of civilians who, through a mixture of fervor and fear, have become human shields in Libya.

20th March 2011

• 18:00hrs – Coalition forces are still assessing damage caused by Tomahawk cruise missile attacks but this is said to be “significant”.
• 17:00hrs – Malta has refused the UK permission to use the island as a base.
• 12:00hrs – Cyprus opposes the use of the two British bases on the island for the enforcement of the Libyan no-fly zone, but has conceded that it has no power to stop their involvement.

18th March 2011

• 20:00hrs – With reference to certain reports in international media, the Maltese Government denies that any request was made by the Libyan Government for Malta to supervise and implement a ceasefire.
• 19:00hrs – In a rather tamely delivered press conference, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi confirmed that Malta will not be used as a military base for UN missions on Libya to enforce the no fly zone but added that Malta would be “respecting” the sanctions imposed on Libya. He also revealed that the Libyan PM had called him earlier in the afternoon asking him for backing on the UN situation.
• 15:00hrs - Libyan government declares ceasefire – all foreign assets and personnel to be protected.
• 14:00hrs - After a week of rapid advances against retreating rebel fighters, regime forces were said to be 100 miles from Benghazi. Colonel Gaddafi said that any foreign attack would put at risk British and other ships and aircraft in the Mediterranean, but Nato is already there in force.
• 12:30hrs - The 10-0 vote, with abstentions by five Security Council members, gives UN backing for “all necessary measures” to protect Libyan civilians from attack by land, sea and air. It came as Colonel Gaddafi issued a chilling warning to the people of Benghazi. “We are coming tonight” he said in a radio address, “There won’t be any mercy”.
• 10:00hrs - Western air strikes on tanks, artillery and air defense installations were possible at any moment after a dramatic shift in American strategy which set the stage for a UN Security Council vote that could plunge US forces into a new war in the Middle East.
• 09:00hrs - Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s fate was in the hands of Nato last night after the United Nations authorised direct military strikes on Libyan targets to reverse his headlong gains against rebel fighters and to prevent a massacre of innocents in Benghazi.

14th March 2011

• 12:00hrs – The rebels were also under pressure in the west, where a showdown was looming at the last opposition stronghold, Misrata. Residents and rebels said that Libyan troops have prevented food and medical supplies from entering the port city during three weeks of clashes that have left more than 60 dead and hundreds wounded.
• 09:00hrs – Panic-stricken rebels fled the eastern town of Brega under heavy artillery fire yesterday as units loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi reversed the momentum of Libya’s revolution, with no foreign intervention in sight.

12th March 2011

• 21:00hrs – The oil refinery in Zawiya has reopened after suspending production for three days while loyalist and rebel forces fought for control of the city. Nasser Sharif, the refinery’s chief administrator, told AFP last week that it had been running at 80 to 90 per cent of its capacity, producing 120,000 barrels a day.
• 19:30hrs – Tripoli had sent envoy Salma Rashed to Cairo to replace Abdelmoneim al-Huni, who resigned as Libya’s ambassador to the Arab League last month in protest at the killing of demonstrators. Also sent was the electricity minister, Umran Abu Kraa.
• 18:00hrs – The Arab League will not allow two Tripoli envoys to attend its crisis meeting in Cairo tomorrow, where a no-fly zone over Libya is expected to be discussed, senior officials said today. Libya was suspended from all Arab League meetings on March the 2nd.
• 15:00hrs – Regime warns civilians against protests after prayers.
• 12:00hrs – Gaddafi forces push rebels out of Ras Lanuf.
• 10:30hrs – Cameron and Sarkozy lead demands for no-fly zone.
• 09:00hrs – EU leaders meet to discuss intervention.

10th March 2011

• 18:30hrs – Negotiations on no fly zone continuing.
• 18:00hrs – Pro Gaddafi forces reportedly in control of Ras Lanuf, rebels fleeing to the East.
• 17:00hrs - Maltese PM Lawrence Gonzi leaves for Brussels to attend extraordinary EU summit on Libya.
• 16:30hrs – Russian foreign minister reportedly open to a no fly zone over Libya.
• 15:00hrs - Forces loyal to Gaddafi are reportedly advancing closer to the rebel-held oil town of Ras Lanuf, firing shells and carrying out an air strike behind rebel lines. Smoke is still rising from a huge oil facility on the town’s outskirts which was bombed yesterday.
• 14:00hrs - On the ground, a Libyan insurgent claims that rebels retook the heart of Zawiya, the closest city to Tripoli, overnight after it appeared to change hands twice yesterday.
• 13:00hrs – AFP is reporting that Zawiya has fallen again to government forces, quoting a resident contacted by telephone.
• 12:00hrs - An official at the Elysees Palace says France will be sending an ambassador to Benghazi and receiving a Libyan envoy in Paris. He was speaking after a meeting between Sarkozy and officials from the Libyan National Council.
• 09:00hrs - France’s President Sarkozy’s office has announced that it now recognizes the rebel Libyan National Council as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people.

9th March 2011

• 20:00hrs – Mr Mohammed Taher Siyala, Under Secretary for International Co-operation called on the Maltese Prime Minister and explained the Libyan Government’s position on the recent events. During the meeting, the Prime Minister reiterated the Maltese Government’s position as stated publicly, and insisted that all violence has to stop immediately.
• 18:30hrs – Heavy shelling and fighter strikes reported on Ras Lanuf oil facilities in Libya. Reports that installations have also been attacked.
• 12:30hrs – MaltaToday reports that a private jet belonging to Gaddafi has been seen at least three times in Malta.
• 10:00hrs – US and UK wriggle on imposition of no-fly zone in Libya.

8th March 2011

• 21:00hrs – It remains unclear whether pro-Gaddafi loyalists have re-taken Zawiya, the closest rebel-held city to Tripoli. A government official claimed armed forces had recaptured the city, but some residents reported that rebels still held the city’s main square in spite of the heavy barrage of artilery from tanks and aerial assaults. The city has been sealed off and phone lines have been cut, making it impossible to verify accounts of what is going on.

7th March 2011

• 10:00hrs – Saif Gaddafi threatens Europe with huge wave of immigrants if Libyan standoff continues.
• 09:30hrs – SAS team who botched rescue attempt in Eastern Libyan desert arrive back in Malta.
• 08:00hrs – Concerted effort by Gaddafi forces to retake eastern Libya.

3rd March 2011

• 15:00hrs – Around 2,000 Eritrea nationals stranded in Tripoli are appealing for evacuation to Malta.
• 12:30hrs – Western journalist Oliver Poole has been allowed to visit Ras Lanuf to see the preparations Gaddafi’s forces are making to defeat the rebels. He reported that they were well armed with modern automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades, and their fanatical officers were contemptuous of the ragtag army they faced.
• 12:00hrs – Reports of another attack on Brega as pro Gaddafi forces attempt to retake crucial city.
• 10:30hrs – Attacks by pro Gaddafi forces rebelled, but stalemate still ensues.
• 09:00hrs – Mediation efforts underway by Arab League and UN to end violence in Libya.

2nd March 2011

• 18:00hrs – Gaddafi’s government denies reports that it has attacked rebel controlled towns.
• 15:30hrs – Gaddafi’s forces retake rebel-held town of Brega, Libya after aerial bombardment.
• 10:30hrs – Ajdabiyah under air attack By Gaddafi Forces.
• 10:00hrs – Both sides now gear up for protracted civil war in Libya.
• 08:30hrs – Libyan Embassy in Malta is again flying the Green Gaddafi flag.

1st March 2011

• 16:00hrs – The UNHCR has warned that the situation on Libya’s borders is “reaching crisis point”. The UN refugee agency says 140,000 people have fled Libya to either Egypt or Tunisia, with the numbers increasing by the day.
• 15:00hrs – Extraordinary EU summit on Libya called for 11 March.
• 13:30hrs – Rebels reportedly fend off counterattack by pro Gaddafi forces in Western town of Zawiyah.
• 12:00hrs – Green flag at Libyan Embassy in Malta now replaced with revolution flag.
• 09:00hrs – The United States is also swinging into action, repositioning a number of its warships, including an aircraft carrier, and fighter planes. Some 2,000 US marines are heading for the Mediterranean. France is similarly examining a range of “military solutions” for the crisis.
• 08:30hrs – Pro-Gaddafi forces reportedly recapture some towns in the West of Libya.
• 08:00hrs – Britain speaks out on use of military force in Libya.

28th February 2011

• 16:30hrs – UN and EU slap sanctions on Gaddafi. So far no response from the Libyan leader with reportedly over 80 per cent of oil facilities now in rebel hands.
• 15:00hrs - 4 ships carrying over 3200 foreign nationals dock in Malta over the past twelve hours; a number of which needed hospitalisation.
• 14:00hrs – Tajoura just 20km East of Tripoli reported to be in rebel hands.
• 12:30hrs – Situation quiet in Tripoli as pro Gaddafi forces barricade themselves in.
• 12:00hrs – Benghazi interim government refutes any international military intervention.
• 10:30hrs – Town of Zawiyah reportedly in rebel hands.
• 10:00hrs – Controversy erupts over former Labour MP’s comment on TVM this morning regarding Libyan relations.
• 09:30hrs - Oil prices jump to nearly $100 a barrel.
• 09:00hrs - Canada imposed sanctions on Libya in a swift Sunday night move.
• 08:30hrs - The Maltese government has just published the legal notice no 69 with the United Nations Sanctions according to the National Interest Powers Enabling Act.

27th February 2011

• 19:00hrs – Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi: 53 Maltese persons are still in Libya, 23 of these do not wish to return, while 30 are still in unspecified locations in the desert and we are doing our best to bring them back. A total of 8000 persons have been brought to Malta from 89 different nationalities and this number expecting to increase dramatically still.
• 17:00hrs – Malta Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi to address the media at 19:00hrs.
• 15:00hrs – Pro Gaddafi tanks reportedly surrounding the town of Zawiyah.
• 14:30hrs – Exclusive breakdown of arrivals in Malta on ships from Libya: Vietnamese 857, Thai 728, Pakistan 83, Ethiopia 22, Philippines 20, China 11, Egypt 10, Brasil 8, Siria 4, Sri Lanka 2, Mauritania 1, Mauritius 1, Morocco 1 & South Africa 1. Totaling to 1749!
• 12:00hrs – Reports of residents barricading themselves in their homes in Tripoli. Sources report Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi taken ill. Ship with almost 1800 refugees fleeing Libya coming in Malta now.
• 11:00hrs – The Prime Minister, the Hon Lawrence Gonzi, visits the call centre at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs where the co-ordination exercise for the Maltese in Libya is being organised.
• 09:30hrs – Maltese Prime Minister, the Hon Lawrence Gonzi, visits VISET and will be meeting the Maltese medical and assistance teams before the arrival of over 1800 evacuees on board the SNAV Toscana.

26th February 2011

• 21:00hrs – Two Maltese catamaran ferries currently in Tripoli taking on evacuees.
• 20:30hrs – Former Libyan Justice minister forms interim government in Benghazi.
• 20:00hrs – Ship docks in Malta with UK nationals fleeing Libya.
• 19:30hrs – UK closes its embassy in Tripoli.
• 19:00hrs – Saif el Islam Gaddafi says that “All Libya is armed” as fears of civil war continue to materialise. Reports of heavy fighting in Misurata with regime mercenaries shipped in to retake control of the important port city.
• 18:00hrs – Chinese Premier sends thanks to Malta. Chinese nationals leaving Malta on flights destined for China.
• 14:30hrs – Cancellation of Flight KM696/7 – Air Malta announces that following a review of the deteriorating situation in and around Tripoli and the increasing chaos within the Tripoli Airport terminal it has decided to cancel flight KM696/7 scheduled to operate to Tripoli at 1100 hours today. Air Malta regrets any inconvenience to its passengers.
• 14:00hrs – Grimaldi Ferry “Roma” arrives at Valletta Grand Harbour carrying over 2,200 persons, the great majority of whom Chinese, from Tripoli, Libya. On board the vessel there were 9 Maltese persons and a number of Europeans who disembarked.
• 12:30hrs – Gaddafi reported to have over USD 3 billion stashed away in the UK.
• 12:00hrs – Strangely quiet in Tripoli as residents terrified to go out for fear of shooting.
• 11:45hrs – China charters vessels to bring army of 3000 nationals over to Malta.
• 11:30hrs – Last night British special forces were seen in Malta readying to rescue the last British citizens from Libya by helicopter.
• 11:00hrs – Exclusive information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicates that the following embassies are closed in Libya: The United Kingdom Embassy, The French Embassy, The Canadian Embassy and The United State Embassy.
• 10:00hrs – The second catamaran from Tripoli, arrived at the Valletta Grand Harbour at 22.45hrs. The passengers were disembarked and taken to an accommodation by 23.45hrs. The disembarkation proceeded in a very organised way as with the first catamaran. Four persons needed medical assistance due to length of the journey. Such assistance was given immediately on the spot.
• 09:00hrs – HMS Cumberland arrived at Malta’s Grand Harbour yesterday bringing loads of UK nationals from Libya.

25th February 2011

• 21:30hrs – Virtu Ferries catamaran from Libya arrives in Malta, passengers reported to be in a bad state.
• 19:30hrs – “In the first wave of fire, seven people within 10 meters (yards) of me were killed. Many people were shot in the head” one protester said. “It was really like we are dogs, we can’t see where it is coming from” explained another one, who said a man next to him was shot in the neck.
• 19:20hrs – A witness told the Associated Press that Gaddafi was part of a crowd of thousands who were shot at by gunmen on rooftops and in the streets with automatic weapons and even an anti-aircraft gun.
• 19:00hrs – Shortly before Colonel Gaddafi entered Green Square, anti-regime protesters said they came under a hail of bullets as they approached the area.
• 18:30hrs – Reports of heavy gun-fire in various Tripoli districts: Fashloum, Ashour, Jumhouria, Souq Al Jouma. Gunfire shots and people screaming.
• 18:00hrs – Estimates of over 6000 youths from Tajoura heading towards Green Square.
• 16:30hrs – Eyewitnesses are reporting tens of thousands of people including women heading for the square. Other reports that security forces have shot dead five persons in Eastern Tripoli.
• 12:00hrs – Malta expected to handle thousands of foreign personnel evacuating from Libya.
• 10:00hrs – Opposition forces reportedly massing outside Tripoli for last battle of the city with pro Gaddafi forces.
• 09:00hrs – German frigate Type F209 sighted off Balluta Bay. Reportedly assisting with evacuations from Libya.

24th February 2011

• 20:00hrs – Plans for a massive final push by opposition forces expected tomorrow in the final battle for Tripoli say sources in Benghazi and Tobruk.
• 15:30hrs – Reports have come in that foreign airlines are canceling flights as gunfire rages in Tripoli.
• 15:00hrs – Gaddafi makes his second speech to the nation but concedes he is only the “symbolic ruler of Libya”. The speech came via telephone and it is unclear if Gaddafi is still in the country.
• 12:30hrs – Multiple reports confirm that military airplanes are bombing protesters in Tripoli.
• 11:00hrs – Anti-Gaddafi protesters have reportedly taken control of Khoms, Misrata, Tarhounah, al Zawiya, Zenten and Zouara, 120 kms west of Tripoli.
• 10:00hrs – AD calls for proper European burden sharing on immigrants issue.
• 09:00hrs – Massacres reported at Al Zawiya.
• 08:30hrs – Some 85 Maltese still trapped in Libyan desert outposts.
• 08:00hrs – Massive influx of refugees and foreign workers fleeing Libya expected to transit through Malta.
• 07:30hrs – Maltese authorities deny Aisha Gaddafi was aboard Libyan plane which was turned back yesterday.

23rd February 2011

• 20:30hrs – Libyan ambassador brought in to negotiate Aisha Gaddafi’s landing in Malta.
• 19:00hrs – Al Jazeera: Malta is becoming the entry point for all EU nationals fleeing Libya.
• 18:30hrs – PRESS STATEMENT – GOVERNMENT OF MALTA – With reference to reports being aired on Al Jazeera English alleging that the Maltese Government confirmed any information that was requested of it, the Maltese Government denies having made any communication with the said broadcaster to that effect.
• 17:30hrs – Daughter of Muammar Gaddafi, Aisha Gaddafi reported aboard plane, government sources have told Malta Today. Flightradar24 showing turning back of “Thomas Cook” flight, but this could be the LAA flight. Government sources have confirmed: Aisha Gaddafi on board.
• 16:30hrs – Libyan aircraft denied landing permission at MIA. A Libyan Arab Airlines ATR 42 turbo-prop aircraft has been refused permission to land at Malta airport and is currently circling some 40 miles south of Malta.
• 15:30hrs – Air Malta are reportedly changing €600 for the Tripoli Malta flight, instead of the usual €220. Flight KM696 to Tripoli today will depart from Malta International Airport at 16:00hrs Malta time instead of 17:15hrs.
• 14:30hrs – Reports state that Misurata, an important city about 200km from Tripoli has fallen to rebels. Sporadic reports of gunfire in Tripoli, but no serious clashes.
• 13:00hrs – Libya’s former justice minister says that he has proof that Gaddafi ordered Lockerbie bombing.
• 12:00hrs – The Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) refers to the Aljazeera report “Libyan ship spotted off Malta coast“. The AFM denies it is monitoring any Libyan naval vessels, alleged to be approaching Maltese shores.
• 11:00hrs – Sources in Tripoli report that the University of Tripoli is quiet with no one around at about 11am.
• 10:30hrs – French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called for “concrete sanctions” against Libya.
• 10:00hrs – Italian Foreign Minister says that reports of over 1000 dead in Libyan violence “credible”.
• 09:30hrs – Mass evacuations of European and other nationals taking place. Air Malta allowed extra flight, which will arrive in Malta around 12:10hrs.
• 09:00hrs – Alternattiva Demokratika in Malta calls for the freezing of the Gaddafi family assets in Malta “to make up for decades of servile bootlicking up to the regime”.
• 08:30hrs – The two ships currently in Maltese waters are reputedly waiting for clearance from the Maltese authorities.
• 08:00hrs – In Washington, Ibrahim Sahad, head of the National Front for the Salvation of Libya, said that 600 protesters had been killed and 3,000 injured. With the foreign media banned from Libya and the regime trying to impose an information blackout, there was no way of verifying those figures. The Libyan Government said that 300 people had died in the revolt, including 111 soldiers.

22nd February 2011

• 22:00hrs – Libyan Minister of Interior announces that he has joined the citizen’s revolution.
• 21:30hrs – The Bani Walid tribe: “We have organised a march of anger heading to Tripoli”.
• 20:00hrs – European nations considering sanctions against Libya are being blocked by states including Italy and Malta, diplomatic sources have told AFP.
• 19:30hrs – No Libyan ship entered territorial waters. AFM helicopters searched the area but found nothing.
• 18:30hrs – Gaddafi addresses the nation in a rambling 1 hour speech inciting violence and hatred against his fellow Libyans. Also calls and goads the West traitors adding that he will “fight to the last drop of his blood”.
• 18:00hrs – The Libyan vessel which surrendered in Maltese waters was carrying around 200 personnel.
• 16:30hrs – Al Jazeera: Italian navy apparently monitoring Libyan vessel off coast of Malta.
• 16:05hrs – Sources reportedly have told Al Arabiya that Gaddafi will announce “grand reforms” in his speech. The Libyan people have made it abundantly clear, however, that they do not want “reforms”.
• 16:00hrs – Libyan State TV has announced that Gaddafi will make a speech shortly. It is not known when the speech will air. Taking yesterday’s appearance as an example, it was announced 5 hours prior to it actually airing.
• 15:30hrs – Human Rights Watch, citing hospital sources: 62 killed in Tripoli since Sunday.
• 14:30hrs – Unconfirmed reports are stating that Gaddafi has left Tripoli and is in his Southern stronghold close to the desert border.
• 14:00hrs – The manager of Al Afriqiyah airline has resigned as he says he will not allow his planes to bring in foreign mercenaries.
• 13:30hrs – In the meantime, protests outside the Libyan Embassy in Malta have escalated with a Libyan flag being burned.
• 12:30hrs – Al Jazeera Breaking News: Statement by Libyan Military Officers asks all members of the Libyan army to head to Tripoli & remove Gaddafi.
• 11:00hrs – One Libyan army officer that defected is saying several officers were executed in the past few days by the regime.

Updated by Gerald Fenech

24 acts are going to be battling it out to represent Malta this year, and amongst them are previous representative Fabrizio Faniello, and other well-known local performers such as Petra Zammit, Klinsmann Coleiro, J. Anvil and Claudia Faniello.

A new name on the scene this year is Kelly Schembri singing “Love me like your money”, written by Sven Lundhol, Erik Rydmark and Gerard James Borg. This song has had some good feedback to date. Kelly is one of the favourites to win the Maltese vote and to represent her country at the 2011 Eurovision in Germany. Malta is the most successful country to never win Eurovision, having come in 2nd place in 2002 and 2005, and 3rd in 1992 and 1998 with singers including Chiara, Ira Losco and Mary Spiteri.

Here’s a list of all the singers who shall be performing at the 2011 Malta Eurovision Song Festival on 11th February. 16 of them go through to the final on the 12th at The Malta Fairs & Convention Centre in Ta’ Qali:

1. Amber – Catch 22 (Ray Agius, Godwin Sant)
2. Jessica Muscat – Down Down Down (Philip Vella, Jessica Muscat)
3. Wayne Micallef – Everybody Sing (Wayne Micallef, Wayne Micallef)
4. Richard Edwards – Finally (Jan Van Dijck, Richard Micallef)
5. Cherise Grixti – Heart of Glass (Philip Vella, Gerard James Borg)
6. Marilena Gauci – He’s a Demon (Michael Henry, Anthony Grech)
7. Eleanor Cassar – Hypnotized (Paul Giordimania , Fleur Balzan)
8. Raquela – If I Could Do It All Again (Marc Paelnick, Mathias Strasser)
9. Domenique Azzopardi – I’ll Follow the Sunshine (Ralph Siegel, Dr. Bernd Meinunger)
10. Jamie Tonna – Lost Without You (Marco Debono, Aidan O’Connor)
11. Kelly Schembri – Love Me Like Your Money (Sven Lundhol, Erik Rydmark & Gerard James Borg)
12. Sophie Debattista – Love to Love You (Elton Zarb, Sophie Debattista)
13. Baklava – Mood Dance (Philip Vella, Gerard James Borg)
14. Claudia Faniello – Movie in my Mind (Philip Vella, Gerard James Borg)
15. Fabrizo Faniello – No Surrender (Johan Stentorp , Johan Bederholm)
16. Ally – Numb (Ally, Ally)
17. Glen Vella – One Life (Paul Giordimania, Fleur Balzan)
18. Kurt Calleja – Over and Over (Johan J’atmberg, Kurt Calleja)
19. Klinsmann Coleiro / Benjamin Darmanin – This Love (Klinsmann Coleiro, Jonathan Spiteri)
20. J. Anvil – Topsy Turvy (Jonas Gladnikoff, Niall Mooney, Andrew Zahra, Deo Grech, Natasha Turner)
21. Amber – Touch Wood (Ray Agius, Alfred Sant)
22. Anna Azzopardi – Unfaithful (Renato Briffa, Keith Zammit)
23. Petra Zammit – Unintentional (Elton Zarb, Rita Pace)
24. Rosman Pace – You’ll Never Know (Steven D. Cook, Jordan Milnes)

The site is a valuable resource for anyone living in or visiting the Maltese islands, and provides a wealth of facts, figures and opinions about different aspects of life in this small Mediterranean country.

Articles are categorised into different sections, including accommodation, cost of living, places of interest, restaurant reviews, towns and villages and Maltese society, amongst a variety of others.

Expatfocus.com, a website with 200,000 visitors per month mostly from the UK and the USA, has recently granted malta.cc its “Recommended Website” Award. This award recognises the fact that the site has particular relevance to anyone thinking about making Malta their home. Over recent months, the site has also featured on several international websites and was featured in the UK’s “A Place in the Sun” magazine; a spin-off from the popular Channel 4 TV show that’s syndicated worldwide on cable channels. US-based website, tripbase.com featured the site on a guide to holidaying with children in Europe, and asked malta.cc’s founder, Mark Debattista, for comments about the child-friendliness of the main resorts.

“I created the site to provide information about all-things Malta related, and the project has gained momentum ever since. More and more frequently, I’m being approached by travel-related websites and journalists for input, which is amazing seeing as this is something I set up for fun”.

About malta.cc

malta.cc is a blog all about Malta. Visitors to the site originate from 90 different countries, the top five being people from Malta, United Kingdom, United States, Italy and Australia. We encourage readers to contribute by discussing topics, sharing comments and chatting online and the site is more than happy to publish guest blog posts and can be contacted via email: info@malta.cc

Both Benji and Seb started sailing at a very young age. Seb comes from a family with a legacy of success in the sport. His grandfather, John Ripard, represented Malta in the sailing events in the Rome Olympics in 1960 and crewed a yacht with his brother.

Both Seb’s father and uncle are keen sports sailors and are skippering a J-133, The Jaru, in this year’s Rolex Middlesea Race on October 2010. Seb and Benji will be crew members on The Jaru for this prestigious sailing event that attracts the yachting fraternity from around the globe.

Seb started out at age 7 by sailing in the Optimist class, in fact, Seb sailed the first Optimist that was brought to Malta. An Optimist (Oppi) is a boat that’s nicknamed the bathtub, due to its small size, and is aimed at youngsters aged 7-15. Seb had a good deal of success and continued sailing at school in England, where he captained his school to victory. At University in Southampton, he started co-crewing a friend’s 49er, a skiff dinghy that’s the recognized model of boat for the fastest yachting event at The Olympics. In 2009, Seb and his friend entered the World Championships and finished in 11th place, albeit in the oldest and heaviest 49er there.

Benji also started out young and by the age of 13, he was Malta’s National Optimist class champion. He represented Malta at the Small Nation Games and won joint Gold. That same year he placed 5th in the European Championships in Croatia. He then moved up to the Laser Radial class and again won Gold at The Small Nation Games. Moving up another class to Laser Standard, Benji realized that he didn’t have the physique for the discipline and jumped at the chance when Seb called out of the blue to team up on a 49er.

The boys have been working hard over the past few months and will be training throughout the Winter. In coming months, they will be competing all over Europe in the ISAF (International Sailing Federation) World Cup. These events will take them to the UK, Spain, France, Italy, Germany and Poland. In 2011 they will be training in Malta/Europe, competing in the ISAF World Cup (Australia, USA, Europe) and then hopefully qualifying for the Olympics at the Perth 2011.

Click here to visit their own website!

Such people are seeking asylum in Malta, claiming persecution in their own country, and they arrive in Malta without passports or other means of identification. Malta lies just a few hundred kilometres off the Libyan coast, the alleged departure point of vessels carrying migrants from Africa. Many migrants are from war-torn and extremely poor countries with a poor tolerance of human rights, such as Somalia. As Malta signed the Geneva convention, along with other European countries, then the rights of asylum seekers have to be respected. Libya did not sign the treaty, so boats cannot be sent back to Libya.

During the period 2004 – 2008, from spring to autumn, boats containing 27 or 28 migrants were arriving in Malta every few days. Some boats were rescued by AFM patrol boats in Maltese or International waters. Malta has a population of just over 400,000 and the highest population density in Europe, and in 2006 alone, 1800 such irregular migrants arrived on the island. Due to this influx, racist sentiments have been building with many angry comments posted on websites, such as that of the Times of Malta.

Under current EU rules, the country where the migrants arrive has a duty to take care of them and prevent them moving elsewhere in the EU, which, for Malta, is slightly ironic as it’s suggested that these people don’t want to be in Malta at all – they want to settle in mainland Europe. In Malta, irregular migrants are housed in tents in closed detention centres, harsh conditions that have been condemned internationally.

The number of illegal immigrants arriving in Malta has declined steeply over the past two years.

The tale has been told on several websites, and is also popular on t-shirts and tea towels sold in the tourist resorts of Malta such as Bugibba, Qawra, St. Julian’s, Sliema and Mellieha. If you go into any souvenir shop in these bustling seaside towns, you can usually find the story of The Italian Man Who Went To Malta.

The Italian man who went to Malta lyrics are along the lines of this:

One a day I’m going to Malta to big a hotel. In the morning I go down to eata breakfast.
I tell a waitress: “I wanna two piece of toast.”
She bring me only one piece.
I tell her: “I wanna two piece.”
She says: “Go to the toilet.”
I say: “You no understand? I wanna two piece in my plate.”
She says: “You better no p*** in a plate, you son of a b****!”
I don’t even know the lady and she call me sonova b****!

The second part of the story confuses the word fork with a similar-sounding swear-word, and is much along the same lines as the first paragraph of the fable.

The third and final part goes like this:

So, I go back to my room in d hotel and there is no sheets on the bed. So I call the manager.
I tell him: “I wanna sheet.”
He tell me: “Go to the toilet.”
I say: “You don’t understand? I wanna sheet on a bed.”
He says: “You better not s*** on my bed you son of a b****”
I go to the check out and the man at the desk said: “Peace on you!”
I said: “P*** on you too, you sonova b****!!!!!”
I’m gonna back to Italia, Arrivederci

No-one knows the true origin of this funny tale, but it has been popular with visitors and Maltese alike for years. Here’s the official video, enjoy!

This will be Pope Benedict’s first visit to the Republic; Pope John Paul II visited Malta on two separate occasions, in 1990 and again in 2001. On the afternoon of Saturday 17th April, Pope Benedict will depart Fiumicino Airport in Rome bound for Malta, and the flight is scheduled to arrive at around 5pm. From there, The Pope will travel to The Presidential Palace in Valletta for a courtesy visit with the President of Malta, Mr George Abela. Once this reception has been concluded, His Holiness shall travel north-west to the historic town of Rabat to visit St. Paul’s Grotto.

On Sunday 18th April 2010, Pope Benedict will be celebrating Mass at The Granaries in Floriana, where seating capacity will be around 5,000 for this highlight of The Pope’s visit. The Mass shall start at around 10am, with The Pope starting the ceremonial procession from the Church of St. Publius. The procession will make its way through the congregation and after Mass, The Pope shall recite The Regina Coeli, a prayer that’s usually undertaken at St. Peter’s Square.

From the Granaries, The Pope will return, once again to Rabat, for lunch at the Apostolic Nunciature with the Bishops of Malta. Afterwards, Pope Benedict will depart for the Port of Kalkara, from where he will sail across The Grand Harbour to Valletta for a meeting with several youth groups, performers and bands who are taking part in a concert at 2.15pm.

For more information about The Papal Visit, contact The Diocesan Curia:

Archbishop’s Curia
St Calcedonius Square
Floriana FRN 1535
Malta.

Telephone: (+356) 21 245350

Email: papalvisit@maltadiocese.org

Many discussions are ongoing online, mainly on the timesofmalta.com but even there, not all comments are being published and today we read a fresh new article which is clearly aimed at removing the focus from the original one. For this reason I encourage you to keep discussing here on this ever popular local blog.

Enemalta was blamed by many, but they confirmed that appropriate investigation has been carried out at all of the corporation’s installations, in several towns and villages and no leakages have been detected. They also reassured the public that the foul smell of gas reported across Malta is not hazardous, but they could not identify its source.

Loads of comments have been pouring in, all trying to come up with explanations about the bad smell hitting our island. Given the widespread detection of these gases, I personally think it could be any of the following two options:

1. Last year in 2008, a similar foul smell was detected in parts of England and Wales and they could not identify its sources exactly either, click here to read more.
2. Scientists confirm that foul-smelling sulfur gas accompanied by earth tremors could be an indication that a volcano is waking up. It’s also a known fact that there’s a dormant volcano below sea level between Malta and Sicily. Adding to that, the Seismic Monitoring and Research Unit at the University of Malta recorded earthquake activities south-west of Malta too, click here to see live analysis.

The questions we’re all asking now:

1. Are local authorities doing all the necessary investigations to identify the cause of this foul smell?
2. Is there a reason to be concerned or is it just a natural occasionally recurring phenomenon?

Feel free to comment below and share your ideas! If you’re interested in reading about the naming of disasters, read more here.