Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1512576
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 DECEMBER 2023 8 COMMERCIAL Premier Capital plc celebrates milestone with 100th McDonald's opening in Romania PREMIER Capital plc has in- augurated its 100th McDon- ald 's restaurant in Romania, the largest of the company's six licensed markets, which also include Estonia, Greece, Lat via, Lithuania and Malta. The first McDonald's restau- rant in Romania was opened in 1995 and the brand is now a fa- miliar landmark in more than 30 cities and towns across the country, with a team of over 5,400 people. "The opening of the 100th restaurant in Romania is a sig- nificant chapter in our history in the Romanian market. The new McDonald's restaurant represents our commitment to continue expanding our footprint with modern res- taurants, offering memorable experiences to customers and employment opportunities to the communities in which we operate," said Melo Hili, Chairman of Premier Capital plc. The €1.5m investment in- corporated new sustainability efforts, including photovoltaic panels to generate energy for its own consumption, smart waste management and elec- tric vehicle charging stations. This addition takes the to- tal number of restaurants op- erated by the group to 182. The new restaurant in Drobe- ta-Turnu Severin is the 10th opening this year, with three more locations earmarked for completion before year end. New Ukraine war film to screen at Spazju Kreattiv A new war documentary film that sheds light on Russian war crimes committed against Ukraine's national and multi- cultural heritage is soon set to screen in Malta, as part of its world premiere tour. Screening at Spazju Kreattiv on 15 December, Erase the Na- tion documents the resilience and determination of individu- als from the world of culture, as they fight to preserve Ukraine's unique history and heritage in the ongoing war with Russia. A Q&A session will follow with the film's director and host To- masz Grzywaczewski – a war journalist and documentary filmmaker with experience of the Ukrainian frontline, and an author of several non-fiction books focusing on Central and Eastern Europe. "Often, when films focus on war crimes of any kind, cul- ture is forgotten," explains Grzywaczewski. "I wanted to tell the story of Ukrainian cul- ture and the tireless and coura- geous work of those fighting to protect it from wilful destruc- tion. Malta's culture is equally rich, historic and unique, and people in Malta understand how important culture and his- tory are to the national identity, so I believe that Ukraine's ef- forts to protect its own culture will especially strike a chord here in Malta." Produced by Inbornmedia and supported by the Polish Nation- al Institute of Cultural Heritage, the Ministry of Culture and Na- tional Heritage and the Polish Support Centre for Culture in Ukraine, the powerful film also highlights the deliberate devas- tation of Ukrainian monuments throughout the country to re- write the nation's history. These range from archaeological sites and museums to modern librar- ies and schools, as well as sacred places such as the cathedral in Odessa. Likewise, it pays tribute to the artists who have perished in the conflict, who would now nev- er have the chance to compose new songs, direct new films or craft new poetry, emphasising the long-term loss of Ukrainian heritage that has already result- ed from the war. "Before the war, there were over 5000 museums, 65 histori- cal-cultural reserves and around 170,000 monuments, including seven UNESCO World Herit- age sites in Ukraine. Already, Ukraine's Ministry of Culture and Information Policy has reg- istered more than 800 cases of destruction by Russian troops on Ukraine's cultural heritage – a number that rises daily," adds Grzywaczewski. "I hope that this film will raise aware- ness about what is happening in Ukraine and highlight the scale of assistance that is needed to protect and restore its cultural heritage." Erase the Nation will screen at Spazju Kreattiv, Valletta, on 15 December 2023 from 6pm until around 7.30pm. A Q&A session will follow. Tickets are free, al- though booking in advance is required at www.kreattivita.org.