Happy New Year! It's 2006, and we're looking forward to whatever the new year will bring with it. Many people are glad 2005 is over but it was still a fairly eventful year.

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, Robert Micallef, Roseanne Sammut, and Mark Vella Gera. These people worked as a team throughout 2005 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, especially our Managing Director Dr. Ing. Saviour Zammit. We also thank our various sponsors and advertisers.

On a more personal note, some of the significant moments I experienced in 2005 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 2006, which will undoubtedly bring some exciting new things with it. More about that starting 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. 2005: A Year in Review
     b. Send a Free New Year Greeting E-card
3. This Month in Maltese History
4. What's On This Month

01 Euro changeover master plan finalised
02 Customs seize contraband alcohol bottles
03 Joanna Drake appointed EU representative in Malta
04 Local aviation to be included in EU's greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme
05 Almost Lm600,000 raised in CHOGM cars auction
06 Malta raises illegal immigration at OSCE
07 Grimaldi refuses to re-open Sea Malta privatisation
08 2,000 ecstasy pills found in Sliema
09 Gozo has the lowest rate of graduates in Europe
10 Government spends 3.1% of GDP on subsidies to private sector
11 Malta’s funds untouched amid criticism for proposed EU budget
12 Clerical posts for former Sea Malta shore based workers
13 Bad weather hits Maltese Islands
14 Austrian company to employ Denim Services employees
15 Life imprisonment for double murder
16 Increase in the number of Malta-Gozo ferry passengers
17 EU leaders agree on Budget 2007-2013
18 British magazine awards Maltese Online Casino Authority
19 University student accused of trafficking 1,954 ecstasy pills
20 33 refugees resettled in Holland
21 Appropriate action to be taken after Safi incidents - UNHCR
22 Maltese website selling Tamiflu drug illegally
23 "Munich", partly shot in Malta is released limitedly in USA
24 Two accidental deaths on Christmas Eve
25 Four new arrivals on Christmas Day
26 L-Istrina raises Lm 1,292,849 for charity
27 Gozo archaeological treasures to return home
28 Fuel market liberalisation set back
29 Dead body recovered from sea
30 34 persons granted refugee status in 2005
31 Driver seriously injured in traffic accident

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

a. 2005: 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 2005 through a Maltese perspective with insights on news, sports, weather, Gozo, technology, people who passed away, and more.
 

b. Send a Free New Year Greeting E-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.

30 YEARS AGO (16 January 1976)
Eddie Fenech Adami is elected leader of the Nationalist Party.

20 YEARS AGO (18 January 1986)
Members of the pressure group Zghazagh ghall-Ambjent hold protest walk at Wardija to show their disapproval of environmental damage by buildings.

10 YEARS AGO (1 January 1996)
Seat belt use comes into force for all cars.

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
27 January 1944: Lino Briguglio, Economist

DEATH ANNIVERSARIES
1 January 1975: Mary Mejlak, Writer/Poet, dies at 70
13 January 1973: Effie Ciantar, Broadcaster, dies at 54
22 January 1984: Mikiel Gonzi, Metropolitan Archbishop, 99
23 January 2005: Karmen Mikallef Buhagiar, Literary agent

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.

January 1 onwards
Insights
An exhibition of paintings by John Grima at the National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta.

January 14
Grand Concert
The National Orchestra will dedicate this concert at the Mediterranean Conference Centre to the memory of the late violinist James Grech, a former member of the orchestra, who died recently.

January 21 onwards
Symbolic Imagery of Archaic Gems
An exhibition of paintings by Monica Spiteri, at the Medieval Hall, National Museum of Archaeology, Valletta.

January 28 onwards
Characters in Beijing Opera
An exhibition organised by the Cultural Centre of the People's Republic of China in Malta and Heritage Malta, at the National Museum of Archaeology, Valletta.

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