This month marks the third year since Grazio's Malta Virtwali started being transformed into aboutmalta.com. It also marks the second year since we started publishing this newsletter. In these past three years, the pioneering project started by Grazio in 1994 has evolved into a strong online community hub for us Maltese around the world, and anyone interested in our country and culture. Suffice it to say that the number of subscribers for this newsletter has more than doubled over the past 12 months.

On behalf of the editorial board and all the regular contributors to aboutmalta.com I would like to thank you for subscribing to this newsletter, and invite you to contact us if you have any comments or suggestions. And please spread the word about how consistant this online service has been over the years.

Grazzi!

Toni Sant
Consulting Editor, aboutmalta.com

P.S. To subscribe to this newsletter click here.

1. Last Month's Daily News from MaltaMedia
2. Top Picks:
     a. The New MMON Message Board
     b. June29th.com
3. This Month in Maltese History
4. What's On This Month

01 German woman dies in traffic accident
02 Constitutional Court starts hearing former Judges' complaint
03 Court hears testimony of Arrigo's close friend
04 Police use rubber bullets to control protest at Ta' Kandja
05 Court says PBS is at fault over MLP spots
06 Task force remains mum about child porn case
07 Italian unions say Birgu Casino is performing dismally
08 Malta marks Victory Day
09 'L-Imnieħru' to face money laundering charges
10 Ombudsman hits back at government
11 Two arraigned over warden's murder; both denied bail
12 Al Qaeda suspects were scheduled to visit Malta
13 Maltapost loses another top official
14 New EU members will apply larger part of Schengen agreement
15 Woman on danger list after ecstasy overdose
16 Verheugen vows that candidate countries will not be net contributors
17 Dutch women apprehended at MIA after drug find
18 Four-star hotels suffer major blow, MHRA survey shows
19 PM still open about timing of EU referendum, general elections
20 Malta exempted from new directive on importation of food stuffs
21 Archbishop warns politicians on upcoming EU referendum
22 Only 28.7% of Maltese are satisfied with the administration of justice
23 Dispute between Polidano and the MEPA resolved
24 Mintoff makes TV comeback and challenges Alfred Sant
25 General Elections could be called after EU membership
26 Attempts to control behaviour of foreign students in Malta
27 Government's expenditure, revenue, debt and deficit up in August
28 Malta not exempt from new tough EU tobacco product regulations
29 Court freezes Port Cottonera bank accounts over Casino issue
30 Former judges no longer under house arrest

CLICK HERE for the latest daily news from Malta.

a. The New MMON MESSAGE BOARD

As the MaltaMedia Online Network continues to grow, established parts of it are periodically upgraded. The MaltaMedia Forum has now been integrated into something called the MaltaMedia Online Network Message Board. On this new message board, Internet users from aboutmalta.com, MaltaMedia.com and other affiliate sites can discuss any topic under the sun, from a Maltese perspective. Registration is free and safe, and the right for freedom of expression is heralded as a main attraction for this online service.
 

b. JUNE29TH.COM

Good Maltese community sites are rare. Even more rare are good community sites from Gozo. June29th.com is certainly a wonderful exception. This virtual meeting place for all Nadurin around the globe is currently celebrating its first year online. The editorial board of aboutmalta.com wishes the team at June29th.com all the best and many happy returns. Keep it up guys!

30 YEARS AGO (11 October 1972)
Malta applies for membership in the World Bank.

20 YEARS AGO (19 October 1982)
Malta is elected to the United Nations Security Council for the first time ever; this will be a two-year term starting from 1st January 1983.

10 YEARS AGO (5 October 1992)
Mid-Med Bank inaugurates its first automated teller machine.

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS
  1 October 1962: Eileen Montesin, Actress/Broadcaster
  8 October 1930: Guido Lanfranco, Folklorist
25 October 1947: Mary Spiteri, Singer
28 October 1934: Hilary Tagliaferro, Priest and Sports Journalist

DEATH ANNIVERSARIES
  4 October 1980: Guze Delia, Poet, dies at 80
  5 October 1995: Lorry Sant, Politician, dies at 58
13 October 1961: Karm Psaila, Priest and Poet, dies at 90
29 October 1980: George Borg Olivier, Prime Minister, dies at 69

CLICK HERE for a full list of this month's birthdays, deaths, and events in Maltese history.

Today in Maltese History is produced exclusively for aboutmalta.com by Mario Axiaq.

4th - 13th October
VOICES - who cares?
The 230-strong choir is back at the Mediterranean Conference Centre for 10 consecutive nights.

5th - 6th October
Mdina & Rabat Festival
The Malta Tourism Authority is once again organising this weekend of musical entertainment, street theatre, folk dancing and pageantry in the streets of the Silent City.

25th - 27th October
Dinner With Friends
Masquarade is producing this play by Donald Marguiles at the Manoel Theatre in Valletta.

26th October
Middle Sea Race
This year's breathtaking 607 nautical mile race promises to be one of the most spectacular ever.

CLICK HERE for a full calendar of this month's events in Malta and Gozo.