Happy New Year! It's 2005, and we're looking forward to whatever the new year will bring with it. However, there's no doubt that 2004 was a very eventful year for Malta.

It has now become expected of the MaltaMedia Online Network to provide the most comprehensive online review of the past year from a Maltese perspective. I would like to thank my colleagues for making this special feature available every year. This year the people who worked with me on the annual round-up feature are (in alphabetical order): Mario Axiaq, Antoine Busuttil, Ruth Davies, Martin Debattista, Joe Meilak, Pierre J. Mejlak, Roseanne Sammut, and Mark Vella Gera. These people worked as a team throughout 2004 on the various websites within the MaltaMedia Online Network. A number of other people collaborated with us over the past year, and we thank them too. We also thank our various sponsors and advertisers.

On a more personal note, 2004 was a very eventful year for me too. Some of the most significant moments are chronicled in my blog, which continues to bring me close to people who care about me, and I for them. I'm sure this will continue during 2005, which already promises some exciting new things. More about that in next month's newsletter.

Is-Sena t-Tajba!

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. Send a New Year Online Card
     b. 2004: A Year in Review
3. This Month in Maltese History
4. What's On This Month

01 Maltese Bishops condemn UN abortion proposal
02 Air Malta Airbus hit by birds on take-off
03 Maltese-registered vessel caught carrying cocaine in Russia
04 Maltese in Australia ordered to remove crib from store
05 Malta's GDP 25 per cent below EU average
06 Man dies at workplace
07 Customs seize nine million counterfeit cigarettes
08 Film-documentary probes nuclear submarine leak in Sicilian-Maltese channel
09 No agreement reached on Working Time Directive
10 Malta blocks EU rules to punish polluting ships' captains
11 International Day for Human Rights marked by petition
12 Man arraigned after discovery of 40 packets heroin
13 Malta celebrates its 30th anniversary of becoming a republic
14 Malta more densely populated than Gozo
15 Parliament approves Budget 2005 without Opposition’s vote
16 Government to revise Tug Malta tariffs
17 Four Maltese bands featured in Austria
18 Film shooting in Malta quiet for 2004
19 American who fled to Malta to avoid trial pleads guilty to drug charges
20 Cabinet discusses illegal immigration National Policy
21 "Don't drink and drive" campaign launched
22 go mobile teams up with Cartoon Network
23 Corkskrew sign promotional deal in America
24 Malta featured in Italian magazines
25 Christmas witnesses nine new arrivals
26 Maltese Islands hit by strong winds
27 2c increase in the price of Maltese loaf
28 HSBC and GWU agree on new Collective Agreement
29 8 Maltese citizens still missing after SE Asia tsunami
30 30-year-old woman still missing in SE Asia
31 4 charged with credit card fraud

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

a. Send a New Year Online Card

You may have sent and/or received Christmas e-cards, but now it's time to send a New Year greeting. These e-cards show various scenes of the Maltese Islands associated with the New Year, including street decorations and Malta's own three wise men! Users can also chose a popular tune to go with the card. This is a great way to send last-minute or belated wishes to friends and family through the Internet.
 

b. 2004: A Year in Review

Interesting documentation of the ins and outs from a year full of intrigue and anticipation. Take a look at the main aspects of life in 2003 through a Maltese perspective with insights on news, sports, weather, Gozo, technology, people who passed away, and more.

30 YEARS AGO (4 Januray 1975)
Prime Minister Dom Mintoff leads official delegation on a two-week tour of Middle and Far East countries, including Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain and China.

20 YEARS AGO (15 January 1985)
Addressing Arab and Maltese teachers of Arabic at the Junior Lyceum in Blata l-Bajda, Prime Minister Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici complains that the teaching of Arabic fell short of expectations and states that the Ministry of Education would be embarking on a programme to improve standards of Arabic as from this year.

10 YEARS AGO (13 January 1995)
A new department is set up within the Ministry of Social Policy to ensure equality for women in all sectors; the director is Angela Callus.

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS
2 January 1948: Louis Galea, Politician
3 January 1935: Lino Cassar, Film Critic & Journalist
9 January 1909: Sir Anthony Mamo, 1st President of Malta
30 January 1975: Lawrence Gray, Pop Singer

DEATH ANNIVERSARIES
1 January 1975: Mary Mejlak, Writer/Poet, dies at 70
13 January 1973: Effie Ciantar, Broadcaster, dies at 54
16 January 2004: Carmelo Zammit, Salesian Priest, dies at 72
22 January 1984: Mikiel Gonzi, Metropolitan Archbishop, 99

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.

3 - 31 January 2005
Photos of the Spring Festival
Photographic exhibition at the China Cultural Centre, 173 Melita Street, Valletta.

7 - 9 January 2005
Annual Bird Show
The Bird Breeders Association is organising the Annual Bird Show at The Trade Fair Grounds in Naxxar.

9 January 2005
Epiphany Concert
The National Orchestra of Malta presents the Epiphany Concert at the Grand Council Chamber, The Palace Valletta.

15 - 22 January 2005
International Chess Tournament
This tournament is be organised as a '9-round Swiss' by the Malta Chess Federation in collaboration with the International Chess Organising Committee at the Paradise Bay Hotel, Cirkewwa.

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