Now that the 2008 general elections and Easter are gone and (almost) forgotten it's time to move on to the next big thing. Funnily enough we Maltese know how to have a break, especially when we're not expected to. I mean, this month there's not much out of the ordinary to really talk about.

Still, this month's newsletter continues to bring you the regular features we present every month: a news round-up of the previous month, a look at a couple of features on the MaltaMedia Online Network, a sample of dates from aboutmalta.com Today in Maltese History, and some highlights from the Events Calendar for this month.

Enjoy it while you can. It won't be long before it feels like summer couldn't come sooner.

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. ImagineGozo.com
     b. Malta General Elections 2008
3. This Month in Maltese History
4. What's On This Month

01 Boatload of illegal immigrants enters Malta
02 10,000 immigrants waiting for better weather
03 Dr Sant's interview rescheduled after PBS face-off
04 Elderly man faints and dies after minor car accident
05 Man guilty of cultivating cannabis jailed 12 years
06 Last few hours of campaigning before "reflection"
07 5,266 voting documents remain uncollected
08 Voting ends at all polling stations
09 Sorting of votes starts amid premature celebrations
10 Victorious Gonzi announces new chapter for Malta
11 Lawrence Gonzi sworn in as Prime Minister of Malta
12 New Grand Master for Knights of Malta
13 MUT looking forward to cooperate with new minister
14 30-year-old sustains grievous injuries after fall
15 Motorcyclist critical; door on fire in Naxxar
16 73 MLP, 70 PN local councillors elected
17 New Cabinet meets for the first time on Monday
18 Unidentified lifeless body of a man found in Sliema
19 New MLP leader to be elected on 5th June
20 Common fund for Naxxar tragedy victims
21 U.S. welcomes Malta's decision to rejoin PFP
22 Holy Saturday celebrations pave way for Easter
23 Hilton Malta's extension creates 150 new jobs
24 Morena launches video and official website
25 Young woman seriously injured in car crash
26 YMCA Malta in trouble over EU subsidies
27 Malta ranked in 21st place in wealth and stability
28 New local councillors sworn in
29 Falzon announces candidature for MLP leadership
30 Evarist Bartolo to stand for post of MLP leader
31 Fuel prices to increase in April

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

a. ImagineGozo.com

It's been two years since we offered readers of this newsletter a sneak peek at the newest website on the MaltaMedia Online Network: ImagineGozo.com - photo albums of Gozo and Comino by Joe Zammit. The site remains popular with Internet users looking for beautiful images from around Gozo and Comino showing the islands in a way that only someone who knows them inside out can do.
 

b. 2008 Malta General Elections

MaltaMedia's special feature on the 2008 general elections that took place on March 8, 2008, gives you eveything you need to know about the outcome, the parties' campaigns, events, the voting system in Malta, as well as results of bygone elections.

50 YEARS AGO (28 April 1958)
Two men die in an explosion at the Zebbug Fireworks Factory; this is the second such explosion this year.

30 YEARS AGO (1 April 1978)
British millionaire John Gaul, wanted by the British police in connection with the murder of his wife, turns up in Malta. The British High Commission, acting on instructions from the British Government, asks for this extradition.

10 YEARS AGO (26 April 1998)
Dr George Abela resigns from his post as advisor to Prime Minister Dr Alfred Sant.

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS
4 April 1931 - Patri Dionisju Mintoff, Peace Lab Founder
6 April 1951 - John Suda, Actor
23 April 1959 - Georgina [Sammut] Abela, Singer
28 April 1941 - Norman Hamilton, Broadcaster

DEATH ANNIVERSARIES
5 April 1976 - Giuseppi Mallia "Il-Futru", Character Film Actor, dies
5 April 1979 - Herbert Ganado, Journalist/Politician, dies at 73
16 April 1990 - Pierre Muscat, Politician, dies at 38
23 April 1956 - Arthur Vassallo, BBC Announcer, dies after an explosion in London

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.

2-6 April 2008
Hansel and Gretel
Produced by Drama Troupe in collaboration with the Ian Tomlin School of Music at Napier University in Edinburgh; held at St James, tickets: €12/€15.

5-6 April 2008
Mechanised Ground Fireworks Festival
The 2nd National Festival of Mechanised Fireworks which will be held in Saint Publius Square starting at 10pm.

15 April 2008
George Cross Medal Presentation Ceremony
St George's Square in Valletta will be transported back in time by 66 years through a re-enactment of the awarding of the George Cross Medal to the people of Malta, starting at 6pm.

25-26 April 2008
White Russian Quintet
Fringe! Productions presents two concerts launching the debut CD by a Paris-based jazz quintet led by Maltese guitarist Sandro Zerafa at Warehouse No.8 Off Racecourse Street in Marsa.

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