For the past few months we have been telling you that in 2004 aboutmalta.com celebrates 10 years since it appeared on the Internet as the first Maltese website; back then the site was called Grazio's Malta Virtwali. Rather than simply make this celebration an empty anniversary celebration, the MaltaMedia Online Network has embarked on a very specific task: making the first Maltese website strong enough so it does not disappear any time soon.

With this in mind, over the past few weeks we have installed a brand new server system to upgrade the technical back-end of aboutmalta.com, along with all the other sites on the MaltaMedia Online Network. This step was absolutely necessary since we firmly believe that to make any Internet project last longer than aboutmalta.com has already lasted, a strong technical infrastructure is required.

Now that all this is in place, expect more visible celebrations over the coming months. Feel free to contact us if you have any comments on aboutmalta.com how we should mark our 10th anniversary.

Meanwhile, the Malta Song for Europe 2004 contest, Valentine's Day, and the traditional lenten Carnival are just three of the many activities occurring this month. As always, aboutmalta.com brings each of these events to the Internet through the MaltaMedia Online Network.

Toni Sant
Consulting Editor, aboutmalta.com

P.S. To subscribe to this newsletter just contact us.

1. Last Month's Daily News from MaltaMedia
2. Top Picks:
     a. Malta Song for Europe 2004
     b. Valentine's Day e-Cards
3. This Month in Maltese History
4. What's On This Month

01 2004: the year of new Maltese leadership
02 Equipment destined to Hussein was seized in Malta
03 Government preparing to celebrate Malta's EU accession
04 Opinion poll reveals Christmas is losing its true spirit
05 Maltese-Australian boxer Jeff Fenech assaulted and injured
06 Fourteen companies interested in Malta-Gozo air service
07 Maltese travellers to the U.S. included in anti-terrorist programme
08 Zejtun man gets 21 years behind bars for murder
09 Irish presidency to throw EU enlargement party
10 AD and European Greens lash out at MLP's legal actions
11 Two rare spoonbills shot dead at nature reserve
12 PM and Richard Cachia Caruana testify in Meinrad Calleja trial
13 Finance Minister confirms verifications of Maltese-Parmalat companies
14 Joe Borg and Richard Cachia Caruana confirmed for top Brussels posts
15 The country needs to take drastic and immediate measures, says FOI
16 Iz-Zambi says Il-Hafi stabbed RCC
17 Air Malta inaugurates new Airbus fleet
18 Zammit Dimech expected to contest for PN leader
19 Alfred Sant accepts “wrong choice” for EU membership
20 Heritage park design competiton attracts over 90 entities
21 Four illegal immigrants rescued from the seas
22 Three Sicilian fishermen saved from sinking boat
23 Church leaders urge authorities to address unemployment issue
24 Serious shortage of Maltese linguists for EU jobs
25 Muslims in Malta rally against hijab ban
26 John Dalli kicks off PN leadership campaign
27 Unemployment prompts meeting and protest march in Valletta
28 Over 7 million cigarettes seized at the Freeport
29 Worm causing delays in e-mail delivery
30 More than 13,000 unemployed in September 2003
31 Parmalat scandal: Malta has nothing to hide says Finance Minister

Read and/or listen to the latest daily news from MaltaMedia.com.

a. Malta Song for Europe 2004

Preparations for Malta's chance to shine in front of the largest television audience start with the annual Malta Song for Europe contest. This year's hopefuls will sing their hearts out on the 13th and 14th of February, mesmerized by the grand prize: representing Malta at the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 in Turkey this May. Song clips, lyrics, and all the latest information available at EurovisionMalta.com.
 

b. Valentine's Day e-Cards

You're never too old to express your appreciation for someone you love or admire. Maltese-born creative Gattaldo created a series of free animated e-cards just for this occassion. Macromedia's Flash Player is required to view these e-cards, but you can download it through the page where the cards are displayed. Other Valentine e-cards are available too. And remember that it doesn't have to be the 14th of February to let someone you treasure know how much you appreciate them!

30 YEARS AGO (22 February 1974)
Prime Minister Mintoff is admitted to St. Luke's Hospital after suffering some external head injuries in a fall during private equestrian activities.

20 YEARS AGO (8 February 1984)
In conformity with an official policy of not allowing Maltese art treasures to be exhibited abroad, a request from the Metropolitan Museum of New York for Caravaggio's painting of The Beheading of St John to be included in an extensive exhibition is turned down.

10 YEARS AGO (21 February 1994)
New traffic arrangements at the City Gate terminus are launched today preventing light traffic from entering the area, with the aim of making the bus terminus run smoother and with less chaos.

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS
5 February 1922: Antoine Camilleri, Artist
7 February 1934: Eddie Fenech Adami, Prime Minister
8 February 1968: Claudette Pace, Entertainer
28 February 1948: Alfred Sant, Leader of the Opposition/MLP

DEATH ANNIVERSARIES
4 February 2002: Agatha Barbara, 3rd President of Malta, dies at 78
15 February 2003: Vincent Apap, Sculptor, dies at 93
16 February 2003: Sonny Monte, Singer, dies at 55, in car accident
22 February 1963: Ruzar Briffa, Poet/Medical Doctor, dies at 57

See aboutmalta.com's daily full list of birthdays, deaths, and events in Maltese history.

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

6 - 8 February 2004
Noise Off
Masquerade Theatre Company presents the hilarious British farce by Michael Frayn at the Manoel Theatre for a second weekend.

10 February 2004
Feast of St. Paul's Shipwreck
St. Paul's Parish in Valletta celebrates this unique feast in winter with a number of external activities - weather permitting!

13 - 14 February 2004
Malta Song for Europe 2004
Following up on Lynn Chircop's 2003 disappointment, Malta chooses the song that will represent it in this year's Eurovision Song Contest.

20 - 24 February 2004
Carnival 2004
More colourful merriment and subversive behaviour than you can shake a stick at, from Valletta to Nadur and from Victoria to Ghaxaq.

View aboutmalta.com's full calendar for this month's events in Malta and Gozo, or to submit a future event to our calendar.