When summer is upon us, the weather dominates most of our thoughts. How hot will it be and how humid? MaltaWeather.com continues to help us keep in touch with the latest weather reports and forecasts, as does GozoWeather.com, which is about to celebrate two years since it appeared online.

Speaking of Gozo, please join me in congratulating Pierre J. Mejlak, who this month starts leading the production team at aboutmalta.com through his new job as MaltaMedia's head of news and content. Pierre has worked freelance with MaltaMedia since 1999, and joined the aboutmalta.com Newsletter editorial board about this time last year. He has just finished his studies at the University of Malta and now embarks on what I'm sure will be a long and successful career.

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. Silvio De Bono's Weekly Commentary
     b. Festa Season in Malta & Gozo
3. This Month in Maltese History
4. What's On This Month

01 The beginning of June brings rise in tariffs, new regulations
02 Shipyard will be closed down unless financial targets are reached, warns Minister
03 Life imprisonment for murdering a police officer
04 Voters urged to keep up high participation tradition
05 World Environment Day; local situation highlighted
06 Saturday's turnout to reach 85%
07 Malta marks 85th anniversary of Sette Giugno riots
08 Proposal for landfill near Mnajdra and Hagar Qim withdrawn
09 Amnesty International writes to Maltese Minister over Eritrean’s ordeal
10 European Parliament Elections kick off in UK, The Netherlands
11 Day of reflection before going to the polls
12 Malta Votes in European Parliament and Local Elections
13 Gonzi admits defeat, Sant jubilant
14 Simon Busuttil grabs first EP seat
15 The five Maltese MEPs elected
16 Drug haul at Qormi
17 EU summit kicks off in hope of finalising European Constitution
18 17-year-old worker dies after fall
19 MLP declares victory in Local Council Elections
20 Unexplainably cured child linked to miracle by Dun Gorg Preca
21 Maltese Bishops join chorus on Christianity in the EU Constitution
22 PM explains aspects of EU constitution treaty
23 Another 37 illegal immigrants make it to Malta
24 EU Commission recommends further steps to curb Malta’s deficit
25 Pope says Malta has vital role in upholding Christian identity in Europe
26 PM Gonzi meets elected Maltese MEPs
27 AD invites PN and MLP for discussions on electoral reform
28 Youth unemployment ratio averaged 8.3 % over the past four years
29 Mnarja celebrations untainted by fireworks factory explosion
30 Man arrested after 9 cannabis plants are uncovered

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

a. Silvio De Bono's Weekly Commentary

After an 11-month hiatus, Silvio De Bono is back with his weekly commentary on the MaltaMedia Online Network. A management consultant by profession, and a former broadcast journalist and newscaster, his comments on current affairs in Malta are very to the point, and Internet users are invited to have their own say...especially if you disagree with what he has to say!
 

b. Festa Season in Malta & Gozo

The Maltese sky rumbles during the day and lights up at night; church bells toll for hours on end and people flock to the streets and squares of every town and village in Malta and Gozo. It's festa season! This special feature from MaltaMedia is packed with interactive information about the various aspects of the festa season in the Maltese Islands. The feature includes various audio and video webcasts in Maltese about particular celebrations, which stand out in the Maltese calendar of summertime celebrations.

30 YEARS AGO (18 July 1974)
The first Government Tourist Board Information Office at Luqa Airport opens today.

20 YEARS AGO (1 July 1984)
The 27th International Fair of Malta opens at Trade Fair Grounds in Naxxar after a two year suspension; a record number of 200 exhibitors taking part.

10 YEARS AGO (9 July 1994)
The Maltese Referendum Movement holds its first round table conference in Valletta and urges the Government to hold a referendum on European Union (EU) membership.

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS
1 July 1953: Lawrence Gonzi, Prime Minister
5 July 1844: Fortunato Mizzi, Prime Minister
5 July 1911: Gorg Borg Olivier, Prime Minister
17 July 1933: Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, Prime Minister

DEATH ANNIVERSARIES
2 July 1997: Carmen Carbonaro, Broadcaster, dies at 92
6 July 1962: Paul Boffa, Prime Minister, dies at 72
19 July 2003: Walter R. Zahra, Trade Unionist, dies at 87
26 July 1962: Dun Gorg Preca, Founder of the M.U.S.E.U.M., dies at 82

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.

Thursday 1 July 2004
Canada Day in Gozo
Two annual events celebrating Canada Day, organized by the Maltese Canadian Association in Gozo.

Friday 16 - Sunday 18 July 2004
14th Malta Jazz Festival
The line-up for this year's Malta Jazz Festival includes the Johann Strauss Big Band, The Souldbop Band, and The Yellow Jackets, Joao Bosco e Grupo, and guitarist John Scofield.

Thursday 22 July 2004
Malta Pride March: Gay Rights? Human Rights
The Malta Gay Rights Movement (MGRM) is organizing the first Pride March in Valletta, Malta at 7pm.

Friday 23 July - Sunday 1 August 2004
The Farsons Great Beer Festival
A 10-day, fun festival for all the family, this free event offers an array of live entertainment by top local singers, bands and DJs at Ta' Qali National Gardens.

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