This past month, the Maltese media scene lost two most valuable members: journalist Julian Manduca and photographer Alfred Giglio. They were both still in their mid-40s and both died suddenly. Their deaths shocked their colleagues, families and friends tremendously.

I don't mean to be morose in my introduction to this month's newsletter. However, Julian Manduca was particularly dear to us at the aboutmalta.com newsletter. He was one of the newsletter's first subscribers when it first appeared about 5 years ago. He frequently sent us press releases about the theatre company he managed with his wife, Irene Christ, and these often made it to the What's On section, which he encouraged us to introduce and expand on the MaltaMedia Online Network. He will be sorely missed.

I've written about both these losses in my blog; especially about Julian, who was a good personal friend for many years. May they rest in peace.

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. Festa Season in Malta + Gozo
     b. Chiara at EurovisionMalta.com
3. This Month in Maltese History
4. What's On This Month

01 Malta celebrates first year as EU member
02 Government to fight cybercrime
03 'Portes des Bombes' targeted by vandals
04 3,000 heroin drug users in Malta
05 PM meets citizens at Castille
06 Għar Ħasan fence stolen
07 Electoral Commission issues changes in district boundaries
08 MLP takes favourable stance towards EU constitutional treaty
09 Civil society urged to support abortion amendment
10 Tourist dies in hotel fire
11 MEPs vote in favour of overtime limits
12 1,500 grams heroin seized at the Airport
13 Pope John Paul II’s road to sainthood begins
14 Bormla woman to Court on Lm 20, 000 fraud case
15 Archbishop states that Church is young and alive
16 Two men accused of human trafficking for prostitution
17 Customs seize counterfeit clothes and shoes
18 EU confirms maximum funds for Malta
19 German student dies in rough sea
20 Customs seize smuggled alcohol
21 Malta Boat Tragedy to be turned into a movie
22 Malta obtains excellent 2nd place in Eurovision Song Contest
23 Five persons injured in fight
24 American charged with trying to build a bomb for Al Qaeda
25 AFM assisting Italy in illegal immigrants’ search
26 Serial killer charged with 1986 murder
27 ERM II entry has not changed Maltese lira status
28 MLP leader urges electoral reform in constitution
29 Man seriously injured after losing control of vehicle
30 700 grams heroin seized at MIA
31 More asylum seekers rescued by AFM

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

a. 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.
 

b. Chiara at EurovisionMalta.com

The Eurovision Song Contest plays a significant role in Malta's cultural calendar. Chiara's performance garnered the highest number of votes Malta has ever received at the contest. Read news stories spanning back the Malta Song for Europe 2005 festival, watch the video for 'Angel' or enjoy the many delights on offer for pop music fans at EurovisionMalta.com.

30 YEARS AGO (29 June 1975)
Construction work on roof of former 'Sacra Infermeria', the hospital of the Knights of St. John, in Valletta, is completed. The building is eventually developed into the Mediterranean Conference Centre.

20 YEARS AGO (3 June 1985)
International Court of Justice gives ruling on median line dispute between Libya and Malta; by 14 votes to 3 the Court rules that the median line should be set 18 miles closer to Malta thus giving Tripoli, Libya, control over a greater area.

10 YEARS AGO (1 June 1995)
Students at the Gian Frangisk Abela Upper Lyceum boycott their annual exams in protest at the setting-up of the Junior College that will take the place of the Upper Lyceum.

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS

5 June 1964: Jean Paul Fleri Soler, Windsurfer
21 June 1945: Tanya Bayona, Choreographer
28 June 1938: Annetto Depasquale, Auxilliary Bishop
30 June 1934: Mary Rose Bonello, Actress

DEATH ANNIVERSARIES
10 June 1993: Francis Ebejer, Educator/Playwright/Writer, dies at 68
22 June 1983: Francis "Cikku" Saliba, Superior General MUSEUM, dies at 73
25 June 2002: Lady Margaret Mamo, former First Lady
30 June 2001: Mario Muscat, Graphic Designer, dies at 37

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.

4 June 2005
The Malta Fashion Awards
The most prestigious event for fashion in Malta, organised by Unique Promotions, at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta.

4 + 6 June 2005
Festahwid VI
Malta’s only punk festival presented y Reciprocal Records will this year be held at Signals Bar in Tal-Qroqq.

5 June 2005
Nafra
Concert featuring Maltese ethnic instruments and beyond at Gnien l-Indipendenza in Sliema.

14 June 2005
World Blood Donor Day
Various events celebrate voluntary non-remunerated blood donors while encouraging others to donate blood; for latest details see that day's news.

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