London artist David Speed paints gorgeous mural at popular Japanese spot AKI

Jan 10 2023

When it comes to classy dining experiences, contemporary Japanese restaurant AKI is at the pinnacle of it all, with stunningly-gorgeous decor and a menu which perfectly encapsulates Japanese gastronomy.

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If that wasn’t enough, the popular Japanese spot recently unveiled a brand new mural in their private dining area, created by prolific London-based neon graffiti artist David Speed.

Speed is a multi-disciplinary artist who is currently focused on neon painting, an illuminated dance of light and shadows which results in dramatic-yet-happy works. His works can be found around the world, with most pieces based in London and others found in cultural hotspots like Lyon and Seattle, and now Malta!

AKI is no stranger to innovation, previously working with creators such as Kris Micallef on their cocktail menu and Austin Camilleri on the jaw-dropping gold leaf sculpture at the entrance.

Beyond the restaurant’s aesthetic, AKI gives new life to traditional Japanese dishes, providing a unique dining experience with a refined menu of delicacies.

In a nutshell, AKI is where classic meets contemporary, presenting patrons the opportunity to dine on an indulgent Japanese experience whilst being surrounded by an environment unlike any other.

AKI is part of Lifestyle Group and sister restaurant to the newly opened LOA in St. Paul’s Bay.

Have you ever visited AKI?

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Why does Netflix keep cancelling shows you enjoy?

Jan 10 2023

Very recently, the show 1899, which accumulated a massive fanbase petitioning for its continuation, was cancelled by Netflix.

This led to many fans asking why streaming giants like Netflix take this route and why series get cancelled despite rave reviews.

It was even more surprising considering that there were other massive shows which, given time after a bombastic first season, fulfilled their promise potential of continuing to deliver.

According to a Forbes article, the reason behind the cancellation is a metric called the ‘completion rate’, which measures just how many viewers actually watched the series all the way through to the end.

Whilst the overall number of hours a show was viewed can give you an idea of how long audiences spent on a show, the completion rate is used to suggest whether those numbers would translate into a strong viewer base for future seasons.

Forbes pointed to First Kill, which cancelled after just one season. While many viewers spent much more time on First Kill, only 44% of those fans saw the whole thing. 1899 only got a 32% on the metric, possibly leading to the cancellation.

This completion rate is also considered very important by YouTubers how cut off their videos more and more abruptly to ensure maximum viewership.

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Man punches police officer for telling him to wear mask in hospital

Jan 10 2023

Requested bail was denied for a man who allegedly punched a police officer after he asked he put on a mask whilst in Mater Dei Hospital.

The 26-year-old from Marsaskala was arraigned by Inspector Eman Hayman before magistrate Ian Farrugia this morning.

The court was informed that the accused, who said he is unemployed, is currently and voluntarily living at Mount Carmel Hospital. The incident had taken place on January 3rd, with the accused inflicting grievous injuries.

After the man was seen walking in the hospital without a mask and directed towards a shop to buy one, an argument ensued and led to the accused punching the officer on the spot. After a brief altercation, the man was arrested on the spot.

The man had previously been accused of stabbing his friend in the face in 2015 and had been on bail since 2019. The accused’s father told the courtroom that he was open to allowing the accused to reside with him. Bail was however denied.

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Malta registered another increase in house prices during Q3 of 2022

Jan 10 2023

In the third quarter of 2022, house prices, as measured by the House Price Index, rose by 6.8% in the euro area and by 7.4% in the EU compared with the same quarter of the previous year.

In the second quarter of 2022, house prices rose by 9.2% and 9.8% in the euro area and EU respectively. These figures come from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

Compared with the second quarter of 2022, house prices rose by 1.0% in the euro area and by 0.9% in the EU in the third quarter of 2022.

Among the Member States for which data are available, fifteen showed an annual increase in house prices in the third quarter of 2022 of more than 10%. The highest increases were recorded in Estonia (+24.2%), Hungary(+21.0%) and Lithuania (+19.3%), while prices fell only in Denmark (-2.4%).

In Malta, when comparing the third quarter of 2021 with the same quarter of 2022, prices went up by 6.3%.

On the other hand, compared with the previous quarter, prices increased in twenty Member States, including Malta (1.1%).

The highest increases were recorded in Cyprus (+5.8%), Bulgaria (+4.1%) and Austria (+4.0%), while decreases were observed in Denmark(-3.8%), Sweden (-3.1%), Finland (-1.3%), Romania (-1.2%), Italy (-1.0%) and Germany (-0.4%).

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Photo Source: Polina Kovaleva