€330,000 restoration work investment underway at Marina Curtain

Feb 9 2023

The so-called Marina Curtain in Valletta, is currently being restored under the supervision of the Restoration Directorate. It forms part of Valletta’s original enceinte designed by Francesco Laparelli in 1566, which serves to link the flank of the bastion of St Peter and Paul anchoring the land front on the eastern side of the city with St. Barbara Bastion overlooking the Grand Harbour.

During a press conference, the Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government,Owen Bonnici explained that the works are being done with an investment of Euro 330,000 and cover circa 3000 m2 of bastions. The restoration process started in October 2022 and will be concluded this year. have a 12 month implementation period.

Minister Owen Bonnici said that it is thanks to such initiatives that we have the opportunity to continue taking care of our national heritage, a heritage that shapes our identity as a people.

“This restoration fulfils our cultural strategy in a way that our heritage is more accessible, and due to the numerous significant finds of historical and artistic worth, we are bringing back a historical site that can admired also by the general public and tourists,” Dr Bonnici explained.

The Senior Architect Chanelle Busuttil explained how the restoration works currently being carried out consist of cleaning, re-pointing and plastic repair of the stone fabric and of the upper parapet wall.

“The consolidation works on the other hand can be categorized in three main interventions: firstly, the replacement of the missing stone cladding, secondly the repair of the remaining existing stone cladding and finally the rock consolidation through rock bolting and shotcrete,” Perit Busuttil explained.

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PwC Malta acquires Megabyte Limited

Feb 9 2023

PwC Malta is pleased to announce that it has acquired 100% of share capital of Megabyte Limited (Megabyte).

Megabyte was founded in 1977 and is one of the pioneers in the local IT industry offering Engineering Support and Software Services for its clientele. It has been on the forefront of digital innovation, providing technology solutions and bespoke IT services designed to grow businesses.

Megabyte’s client base includes some of Malta’s well-established companies, large and small, from across various sectors including financial services, manufacturing, infrastructure as well as public sector entities. Being a gold partner of HP, Megabyte’s Engineering Support Services is focused on the procurement, installation and maintenance of HP equipment.

The Software Services division is centred around Megabyte’s partnership with Oracle, with the company being an accredited partner in the local market offering the suite of Oracle products. “Such an acquisition is a unique opportunity for PwC Malta,” David Valenzia, the firm’s Territory Senior Partner stated.

“Our PwC Technology team is now in excess of 60 people as our capacity to deliver IT business solutions to our clients continues to evolve. We will be increasing our local community of solvers by integrating a strong managerial team along with a large number of experienced software developers, consultants, engineers and technicians, who will be helping us build trust and deliver sustained outcomes.”

Michel Ganado, Consulting Partner at PwC Malta, observed that “this transaction will strengthen our brand position and expand our footprint in the local technology sector by enhancing our service of ering thereby allowing us to deliver comprehensive and innovative business solutions to our clients.”

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New European Super League could have 80 teams competing

Feb 9 2023

A new European Super League is being proposed, which could feature up to 80 teams in a multi-division format, according to the competition’s CEO, Bernd Reichart.

The competition will be based purely on sporting performance, with no permanent members.

Reichart believes that the current state of European football is in danger of collapsing, and that clubs are not given enough say in important decisions that affect both the sport and finances.

He says that clubs often feel unable to speak out against the current system due to the threat of sanctions.

Reichart said that discussions about the changes needed to the current system were open, honest, and constructive, and have led to clear ideas about how to proceed.

LaLiga has criticized the plans, calling the Super League a “selfish, elitist, and greed-driven project.” The league’s statement compared the Super League to the “wolf in the story of Little Red Riding Hood.”

A22, the organization behind the proposed Super League, is challenging UEFA and FIFA’s right to block the formation of the Super League and sanction participating clubs in court, claiming that the governing bodies are taking advantage of their dominant position under EU competition law.

A decision from the European Court of Justice is expected later this year.

Reichart says that the Super League will be open to all teams, with qualification based on performance at the national level.

The national leagues will still be considered the “foundation” of the sport, but the Super League will generate new revenues to support the entire pyramid. The minimum of 14 matches in the Super League will provide stability and predictability for revenue, according to Reichart.

Reichart also outlined plans for cost control, saying that clubs should spend a fixed percentage of their annual football-related revenue on player salaries and net transfers, and not rely on capital injections that could skew the competition.

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Maltese basketball player Sophie Abela highlighted internationally

Feb 9 2023

Swieqi born Sophie Abela, a UCCS senior guard and basketball player, has had her career and her successes highlighted by international media.

The Maltese sports starlet was given a spotlight by news platform ‘The Scribe’, detailing how she found a passion for basketball at an early age.

Sophie finished her Maltese schooling when she was 16 years old, moving to Italy to play the sport she loved until she could continue studying.

She moved to La Junta, Colorado to play basketball for Otero Junior College when she turned 18.

She helped her team win their conference championship and then joined the Mountain Lions in 2021. Despite injuries in her senior season, she continued to push forward.

Not even a broken hand could stop her from chasing her dream, as she also highlighted how Malta needs to boost its sports sector. She never missed an assignment in 4 years, mirroring this consistency in class out in the court.

‘With graduation only a few months away, Abela is excited to begin this next chapter in her life. She plans to return to Europe, but like most students, Abela doesn’t know the exact path her life will take. However, if her time at UCCS is any indicator of how her life will go, I think we can all be sure that not only will she succeed, but so will those she dedicated herself to.’

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