Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/497863
Events 28 maltatoday, Sunday, 19 april 2015 Citroën C4 Cactus wins the 2015 World Car Design Of The Year Award in New York Citroën C4 Cactus won the 2015 World Car Design of the Year award on Thursday 2 April, on the occasion of the New York Interna- tional Motor Show. The jury of the World Car of the Year competition rewards the car that stood out in the course of the year, thanks to a design that chal- lenges the established codes and embodies a bold and innovative style. With its audacious stylistic statements and a design that op- timally reconciles the attractive and the functional, C4 Cactus suc- ceeded in winning the most votes. This international award recog- nizes the creativity and the cour- age of Citroën's designs. Alexandre Malval, Citroën's Style Director, had the honour of receiv- ing the 2015 World Car Design of the Year award for C4 Cactus at the New York International Motor Show. Each year, the World Car of the Year jury awards this prize to the new car with the most innova- tive design that challenges the con- ventional codes. C4 Cactus is a cool, optimistic and original car, with a unique personality, that offers a genuine alternative to conventional sa- loons. C4 Cactus is designed to reconcile practicality and a cool look. Its pure, smooth expanses are animated by graphical features that all serve a purpose, like the Airbump® or the light signature. Citroën C4 Cactus has joined a list of illustrious prize-winners, which in recent years has included the BMW i3, the Jaguar F-Type, the Range Rover Evoque and the As- ton Martin Rapide. And this was not Citroën's first success in the 11 year-old World Car of the Year competition. In 2006, C4 Coupé won the Design prize, and the brand has already figured amongst the finalists on four occasions. These repeated successes further underscore Citroën's reputation for styling. A unique style that appeals to everyone's imagination, even in countries where the brand is not marketed, with its immediately recognisable bodyshapes that have forged the history of the automo- bile. Linda Jackson, Citroën's CEO, claimed, "This prestigious prize rewards all of the Citroën brand's audacity and creativity. Citroën C4 Cactus does not look like any other car, precisely because it is a Citroën, and because Citroën's design is dif- ferent and unique. It forcefully rep- resents the identity of our brand. This is what customers expect from Citroën and this is why we have been so successful for more than 90 years. And there are more surprises to come!" This major prize is the latest in a series of more than 30 international awards claimed by C4 Cactus since its launch. Recognition from both professionals and the general pub- lic, since more than 60,000 custom- ers in Europe have already ordered a C4 Cactus and expressed their enthusiasm about this model. The Malta Communications Au- thority (MCA) has today publi shed on its website a consultation docu- ment outlining the way service pro- viders may gain virtual access to the Fibre to the Home (FTTH) network where this is deployed by GO plc. This access solution allows a serv- ice provider that wants to access the FTTH network to do so without the need to duplicate the network deployed by GO plc. The consulta- tion document sets out the techni- cal conditions upon which access can be granted, and the mechanism through which wholesale prices will be established. In this manner the MCA is ensur- ing that service providers will be provided with an adequate access solution that is not subject to any uncompetitive practices. At the same time, the MCA was mindful not to hamper GO plc's investment in the FTTH network. The MCA has engaged with GO plc in a pri- vate consultation process on all as- pects of this solution, and the docu- ment is now being issued for public consultation. The MCA believes that this frame- work facilitates the availability of competitive high speed broadband packages for residential and busi- ness users alike, and in so doing fur- ther contributes to the attainment of the 2020 Digital Agenda targets of the European Union and places Malta on the forefront of European states with high speed broadband connectivity. The consultation paper is available on the MCA website at: http://www. mca.org.mt/consultations/virtual- unbundled-access-fibre-home-im- plementing-vula-remedy Building on last year's initiative, Banif Bank will be sponsoring Ian Ciantar, a first time LifeCycle athlete, who will be taking on this year's challenge. Ian, together with several other cyclists, will be em- barking on a 2,000km round trip around Iceland this July in order to raise funds and awareness for the Renal Unit. Banif Bank will be of- fering its support and will be keep- ing up to date with Ian's progress as he undergoes intense training over the coming months to be in top physical and mental shape ahead of the event. The LifeCycle challenge is an an- nual event first held in 1999, with the aim of supporting patients suffering from end stage renal dis- ease. Each year, a dedicated team of Maltese cyclists tackle what is one of the most gruelling endur- ance events in Europe, covering an average of 2,000km over 10 days. The funds generated by the initia- tive go towards raising awareness about the illness, and funding the Renal Unit and the care if offers, to improve the quality of life of pa- tients. On similar lines the Banif team has chosen to support two athletes attempting the ALIVE2015 Cycling Challenge, through the Bank's Casual Fridays initiative. At the behest of staff members, the funds collected will go towards sponsor- ing Robert Cuschieri and Sandra Schembri Wismayer who will be joining 43 other participants and cycling over 1,000km across 7 countries from Liechtenstein to England over a period of seven days in July. The event's objective is to support a research project in the field of Children's Cancer which is being facilitated by the University of Malta's Research, Innovation and Development Trust (RIDT). "Such endeavours harmonise with the Bank's values of ambition, humanism and determination," said Martin Borg, Area Manager. "We are always on the lookout for initiatives like these as they offer much on different fronts - on the one hand you have the element of promoting active lifestyles and overcoming obstacles, and on the other they greatly contribute to- wards raising funds and aware- ness for very important causes. The Bank, and its employees, are pleased to be able to do their part by way of offering support and fur- thering exposure for these causes." Between 19 and 23 May, Mediter- ranean Ceramics will be display- ing its work at the Chelsea Flower Show for the fourth consecutive year. This world-famous event, which is organised by the Royal Horticultural Society, takes place in central London on a yearly ba- sis and it is widely considered to be the gardening event of the year. Having opened its doors in 2010, Mediterranean Ceramics has since become one of the island's leading artisanal brands – renowned for its exclusive, hand-made ceram- ics and its work in volcanic stone. The company is particularly well known for its outdoor-living col- lection, which includes chess and backgammon volcanic table tops and volcanic top counters with in- tegrated barbecues. These pieces are all adorned with gorgeous de- signs that will help to embrace the floral feel of the Chelsea Flower Show. "It is a real honour for us to be asked to exhibit for the fourth time in a row at such a prestigious event," say David and Brian Grima, who established the Mediterrane- an Ceramics brand five years ago. "We could never have foreseen this when we started working and managing manufacturing in earth- enware 20 years ago." The Chelsea Flower Show was first held in 1905, when the Royal Horticultural Society decided to collaborate with the Chelsea Hos- pital. Since then, the show has been held at many different ven- ues and has become a staple of the London social calendar. In fact, it was only every cancelled during the Second World War, and was revived in 1947. "Our items, with their colour- ful designs, fit in perfectly at the show," David Grima explains. "But, more importantly, we believe that their colours, and the strong ma- terials used to create our bespoke items, really reflect our country's easy-going, yet sturdy, character. We will be incredibly proud to be flying, yet again, the Maltese flag in Chelsea." All of Mediterranean Ceram- ics' products are hand-made, with their volcanic stone tabletops in- dividually created and crafted by specialist artisans who customise each design and shape. These are then fired in kilns to become heat-, frost- and water-proof, as well as re- sistant to salt, atmospheric agents, spills, impacts and scratching. To view Mediterranean Ceram- ics' work you can visit their Studio at the Ta' Qali Crafts Village, their flagship store at the Valletta Wa- terfront and online on www.medi- terraneanceramics.com Maltese artisans to exhibit at the Chelsea Flower Show The MCA issues consultation on the provision of access to fibre-to-the-home networks Banif Bank sponsors LifeCycle athlete From left: Martin Borg, Alan Curry and Ian Ciantar