Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/352862
Events 39 maltatoday, Sunday, 27 July 2014 HSBC Malta has announced the launch of its 2014 Yes for Students campaign, which will run till 31 Oc- tober 2014. Full-time students attending the higher forms of Secondary Schools, MCAST, Sixth Form, University or any other established post-secondary and tertiary academic institution can enjoy tailor made services through the Bank's Yes 4 Students 13+, 16+ and 18+ packages. Benefits include free international debit cards, attractive interest rates on loans, preferential foreign exchange rates for Maltese students studying abroad and for foreign students study- ing in Malta, as well as free mobile and internet banking among others. "Student life can be fun but it is also an important stepping stone to the professional world. At HSBC Malta, we are committed to providing students with an enriched bank- ing experience that not only offers them a great sense of fun and reward, but also pre- pares them for their long-term personal fi- nancial management," said Paul Steel, Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management at HSBC Malta. This year, HSBC Malta has again partnered with SCAN Malta to offer gifts that compliment HSBC Yes 4 Stu- dents financial packages. All students who open an HSBC Yes 4 Student ac- count before 31 October can choose one of the following instant gifts - 4GB Pen Drive, Dynamode Headphones or Dicota Mini Optical Mouse. Students who direct their stipends into YES 4 account are also eligible for a choice of gift options, some of which are completely free of their charge while others are offered at highly dis- counted rates. Free gift options include a Sony Dig- ital voice recorder, Philips Pro hair clipper, Philips hair dryer, Sennheiser Professional headphones and Philips digital tuning clock radio. Special of- fers at highly discounted rates include a Fuji digital photo camera 14MP for €25, a 1TB USB3.0 portable external hard drive for €35, an Agfa video ac- tion camera for €45, a Samsung / Asus 7" Android tablet for €129 or a Toshiba 32" LED HDTV for €199. Students may apply for an HSBC Student Account online at www.hsbc. com.mt/yes4, where the full range of gifts is also on display. This year, on- line applicants will also receive an ad- ditional €38 voucher from SCAN or 16GB pen drive. More information about HSBC's Yes 4 Students packages can be obtained by visiting www.hsbc.com.mt/yes4, by calling Customer Service on 2380 2380, or by visiting any HSBC branch in Malta and Gozo. On the 16 July 2014, The Medina Restaurant celebrated a milestone in its history – fifty years since the restaurant first opened its doors to start serving its customers with its menu of fine dining. The Medina, with its unique ro- mantic setting, is situated in Holy Cross Street, right in the heart of the Silent City of Mdina, in the ex- act same medieval location as the very day its legacy started, back in July 1964. During its years of operation The Medina has remained con- sistent as one of the best and most popular fine dining restaurants on the island. It is not by coinci- dence that it has regularly won top awards in 'The Definitive(ly) Good Guide' Malta and Gozo Restaurant Survey. It also won the prestigious international award by the Hotel Catering Interna- tional Management Association for the Best Hospitality Assured Business. Coinciding with these 'golden' anniversary celebrations, The Medina has been awarded Trip Advisor's Certificate of Ex- cellence 2014. For the past fifty years many famous people, including mem- bers of various European Royal families, have passed through its doors and enjoyed the first-class fine dining experience that The Medina has to offer. To name a few: actors Omar Sharif and Ar- nold Schwarzenegger, members of the British Royal family such as Princess Margaret, Lord Mount- batten of Burma, as well as Prin- cess Caroline and Prince Albert of Monaco, ex-French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing and sev- eral others. As important to The Medina as its foreign celebrities are its es- teemed local customers, many of whom return time and time again to sample the restaurant's menu and to experience its romantic ambience, often celebrating an- niversaries and special occasions of their own. By all accounts, over its fifty years to date, The Medina justifiably lays claim to countless marriage proposals from people choosing it as 'the special place' in which to wine and dine a loved one prior to popping the impor- tant question. Returning custom- ers frequently narrate their own stories from special memories of romantic moments at The Medi- na that are worthy of celebrations in their own right. Back in July 1964, the opening of The Medina was inaugurated by Dr Paolo Borg Olivier, the Minis- ter of Tourism and Culture at that time. On the 16 July 2014, Gavin Gulia Chairman of Malta Tour- ism Authority, did the honours to mark The Medina's special golden anniversary. During the celebra- tions, two of The Medina's em- ployees, Clement Galea (chef) and Paul Scicluna (restaurant manager) were presented with long-service awards in recognition of 34 years of loyal service. Noel Debono, owner of The Me- dina Restaurant, said: "This is a really special time for The Medina and its employees. We are grate- ful to all our esteemed customers and suppliers who have supported us right from the early days and throughout the past fifty years. We know that The Medina, as a first- class top restaurant on the island, continues to go from strength to strength and we look forward to the next fifty years still to come." The consolidated Middlesea Group result for the first six months of 2014 amounted to a profit before tax of €8.21 million, compared to €6.4 mil- lion registered during the comparative period last year. The profit after tax for the 6 months ended 30 June 2014 was €5.93 million compared to €4.47 million as at June 2013, of which al- located to shareholders amounted to €3.09 million as compared to €2.44 million in 2013. The improved re- sults were generated mainly from the Group's life operations with MSV Life p.l.c. registering higher profits than the comparative period last year. The general business returned a satisfac- tory result in an increasingly competi- tive market. The Group's gross premium written increased by 16.9% during the first half of 2014. The Company's turnover registered another important growth compared to the slow growing Mal- tese market with an increase of 12.9%. This successful strategy is significant in the light of the continuous fierce competition and severe price under- cutting dominating the general busi- ness market. MSV Life p.l.c.'s premium written increased by 18.4% contribut- ing to an increased volume of busi- ness for the Group. General Business Gross Premium written increased by 12.86% from €16.06 million in 2013 to €18.13 million as at 30 June 2014. Return from Investments allocated to the non-technical account for the six months to 30 June 2014 amounted to a gain of €2.98 million compared to €2.68 million in 2013. In the first six months of the year the major developed economies continued to show signs of moderate progress towards recovery underpinning posi- tive stock market performance. This had a positive inf luence on the invest- ment portfolio returns particularly that of MSV Life p.l.c., registering re- turns higher than previous year and forecasts. With local financial sector equities experiencing a downturn, the Holding Company portfolio registered losses during the period under consid- eration. The Group continues to enjoy a healthy Solvency position as a result of the positive results attained by it. Middlesea Insurance p.l.c.'s solven- cy position as at 30 June 2014 on its general business stood at 474% of the minimum solvency requirement (31 December 2013- 515%) following the payment of the dividend for Financial Year 2013. Gross Technical Reserves at 30 June 2014 increased by 5.8% to €1.35 billion over the 31 December 2013 reserves of €1.27 billion. Net of reinsurers' share, technical provisions stand at €1.33 bil- lion, an increase of 5.9% over the 31 December 2013 provisions of €1.25 billion. Total assets increased by 5.4% and to- talled €1.52 billion as at 30 June 2014, as compared to the total assets of €1.44 billion at 31 December 2013, whilst Total Equity of the Group attributable to shareholders amounted to €72.91 million as at 30 June 2014, down from €73.10 million at 31 December 2013 as a result of the payment of dividend. HSBC launches the 2014 Yes 4 Students campaign Middlesea registers €8.21 million profit before tax for the first six months of 2014 Chanel – Reflets D'ete De Chanel - Summer Make Up 2014 Summer loves colour with a passion. In the ra- diant light, pink is even more cheerful, orange tones explode with vitality and sunbeams of gold and bronze dazzle like never before. At the water's edge, the colours in the sum- mer palette shimmer to the max: pure or flamboyant, always magical in the reflection of the waves. An idyllic vision of sunny days that we wish would last forever. The Chanel Makeup Studio dreams up a collection of shades to reveal infinite combi- nations on the nails and lips. For an endless summer… Makeup opts for luminously pure and pale shades on skin with a tanned, nude effect. On eyelids, bronze, copper or lavender eyeshad- ows play with the light, as radiant and glim- mering as sun-dappled water. The transpar- ent glosses and the nail colours overflow with pastel or pop tones. An original nail colour heightens the playful spirit of the summer collection: the perfectly white and opaque Le Vernis Eastern Light teams up with every shade and reinvents the summer manicure. Chanel is exclusively distributed by Alfred Gera & Sons Ltd The Medina Restaurant celebrates 50 years