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43 Events maltatoday SUNDAY 14 JANUARY 2018 Malta Design School students complete Diploma in Interior Design awarded by the City of Oxford College THE Malta Design School announced the graduation of the first group of students who have completed its MDS Diploma in Interior Design awarded by the City of Oxford Col- lege. The school's Group Director of Applied Learning Foundation attended their gradua- tion ceremony. Jean-Marc Bianchi, founder of the Malta Design School, said he was very pleased by the collaboration with the City of Oxford College over the MDS Diploma in Interior Design. "I would attribute our recent success, to the fact that, having joined forces with City of Oxford College we have conducted our Course in Interior Design with added confi- dence," he said. "I can assure you that our students have worked hard to obtain this diploma recogni- tion with the same enthusiasm." City of Oxford College said it was look- ing forward to working with the school as it moves forward. Valletta 2018 is Here! THE European Capital of Culture year ushers in an exciting celebra- tion that's rooted in the unique heritage of the Maltese Islands. Valletta 2018 is an island-wide festa that's set to unlock everyone's imagination; it's a year packed with over 400 events that invites every- one to discover, enjoy and create culture together. Throughout the year, Valletta 2018 will explore the creative past, present and future of the Maltese Islands thanks to a wide and acces- sible programme of creative events and initiatives. From internation- ally renowned performances, es- tablished festivals and activities for the whole family, to community outreach projects, creative work- shops, and platforms for emerging talent, the year 2018 holds some- thing for everybody! This January, everyone is invited to celebrate the launch of Valletta 2018 with the spectacular displays that make up FOUR SQUARES and a treasure-trove of activities set to unfold during OPENING WEEK. FOUR SQUARES – the Official Opening Celebration of Valletta 2018 20 January 2018 - 19:00 onwards Don't miss this spectacular launch party that's unlike anything ever seen on the Islands! Everyone is invited to experience the music, dance and inspiring per- formances that are set to light up four main squares in Valletta: Tri- ton Square, St George's Square, St John's Square, and Castille Square. Each square hosts a twenty-min- ute kick off show at 19:00, with en- cores every hour, on the hour, up until 23:00. A massive concert/afterparty or- ganised by Tenishia (Joven Grech) and the Malta Philharmonic Or- chestra will close the celebrations in St George's Square. For more information about Four Squares visit: www.valletta2018.org VALLETTA 2018 OPENING WEEK 14-21 January 2018 Across Valletta This week-long festival, which involves several communities in Valletta, explores the culture, tra- ditions and hidden gems of our be- loved Valletta. Opening Week's got a vast pro- gramme packed with performanc- es, exhibitions, music and much more. Highlights include per- formances by local bands Brodu, Mistura, and the acoustic duo known as Xarulù, stand-up com- edy by Chris Dingli and Philip Le- one-Ganado, artistic interventions by Teatru Triptiku, open days and exhibitions that uncover Valletta's little-known treasures, and a host of activities for children and young people. The festival's varied themes – Festa, Pop-up, Music & Theatre, Children & Young People, Sport and History – offer a 360-degree exploration of Valletta that ensures many fun-filled outings for family, friends and curious visitors in the city. For a full list of events visit: www.valletta2018.org Discover the Valletta 2018 Cultural Programme January's week-long celebration is just the beginning of this spec- tacular festa. The Valletta 2018 Cultural Pro- gramme is hosting a whole year's worth of accessible events devoted to exploring and celebrating con- temporary life on the Maltese Is- lands. With six programme strands to explore – Community, Visual Arts & Design, Children & Young Peo- ple, Performance, Film & Opera, Music, and City Highlights – the year 2018 holds something for eve- rybody! Plan your very own year in cul- ture by visiting www.valletta2018. org or download the Valletta 2018 app. Wazdan, the major casino games producer with products covering slots, table games and video poker have announced a number of key management appointments; from the left, David Mann, Michael Follett, Lauryn Duncan and Jeremy Fall WAZDAN, the major casino games producer with products covering slots, table games and video poker has appointed former Rank Group executive Jeremy Fall as head of marketing and brand while nam- ing veteran IT specialist Michael Follett as head of product manage- ment with David Mann in the busi- ness development role and Lauryn Duncan in a key sales role with new and existing clients. Fall has taken up the new role af- ter serving with Grosvenor Casinos, Betclic and Evoke Gaming where he was brand custodian for Bertil Bin- go and Casino as well as MamaMia Bingo and Casino. Prior to his time at Wazdan, Fall was with WebFu- sion and New Era Publishing in high-profile marketing roles. Follett is the former Head of Evoke Core at Evoke Gaming, responsible for managing the product strategy and implementation of systems and services. Follett is also a CRM spe- cialist and has significant exposure to consultancy and revenue-build- ing around customer acquisition, retention and reactivation. Mann has over a decade of in- dustry experience, formerly head of sales at Spigo after spending a number of years with William Hill and Betway before his appointment at Wazdan. Lauryn Duncan, former Head of Sales and Marketing at NetRefer, takes over a sales and business de- velopment role at Wazdan and will lend her strategic expertise to help grow the business. She was previ- ously Head of Operationsat NetRe- fer after executive positions at S.A. Ladder in South Africa and Hirst Handling. Her experience spans Europe, Africa and Asia following a stint in Hong Kong. Many of Wazdan's games are powered by their innovative suite of added-value tools, Volatility Level, Double Screen Mode, Unique Gamble Feature and Energy Saving Mode, features designed to enhance customer experience and engage- ment, improve retention, encourage extended play and which provide operators with the ability to activate multiple produce higher yield. Malcolm Ferrante, a Director of Wazdan, said: "Jeremy, Michael, David and Lauryn all share our unique Wazdan vision, and are now supporting brand penetration as well as spearheading the develop- ment of a number of investments to further bolster our outstanding innovation in game development." Ferrante continued, "We believe their passion and professionalism in the casino industry will help us on our mission to be the industry's first choice for slots games that have outstanding features including our world's-first Volatility Levels. It's a very exciting time for Wazdan and we will be making further major announcements in the run-up to ICE that truly exhibit our passion for game-making." Are you getting enough sleep? SLEEP plays a vital role in good health and well-being throughout our lives. Getting enough quality sleep at the right times can help protect mental health, physical health, quality of life, and safety. The National Sleep Foundation, a US non-profit organisation, rec- ommends six to eight hours for older adults and up to 17 hours per day for newborns. Studies show that a good night's sleep is crucial to health, brain function, and emotional well-be- ing. Depriving the body of sleep has been associated with many health risks, and places a tremendous burden on virtually every organ system in the body. During sleep, the body is at work, rebuilding and maintaining itself. Sleep provides a boost to the immune system and it balances the hormones. Sleep is necessary to prepare the brain for another day of learning. Both children and adults who fail to get the proper sleep have trou- ble learning, focusing and paying attention. "Ensure that you get enough sleep," insists Dr David K. Hill, Chief Medical Advisor at doTER- RA, the world largest essential oils company sourcing over 100 essential oils from more than 40 countries. "Sufficient amounts of rest provide bodies with an op- portunity to recover from the day's activity, improve energy levels, and reduce the effects of stress." If you currently struggle with falling asleep, diffuse doTERRA Serenity® for about 30 minutes before you go to bed, or take do- TERRA Serenity® softgels. A drop or two of doTERRA Lavender on your bed sheets or pillow can also create a calming sleep environ- ment which the body requires. DoTERRA essential oils like Lav- ender, Serenity® and Bergamot can be used by adults and children via diffusion in the bedroom or used topically on the soles of the feet to promote relaxation: perfect for a good night's sleep. For children and those with skin sensitivity, it is recommended to dilute the favourite essential oils with a few drops of fractionated coconut oil when applied topically. Other recommended essential oils and blends that help sleep are Veti- ver, doTERRA Peace® and Roman Chamomile. One of the most researched bene- fits of essential oils is their calming and relaxing properties. Including essential oils in the bedtime rou- tine may be that extra push one needs. Consult your physician if you are pregnant, nursing or under a doctor's care and these products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. DoTERRA is the world leader in sourcing, testing, manu- facturing, and distribution of Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade® (CPTG) essential oils through a global network of more than three million inde- pendent direct-sale distributors, known as Wellness Advocates. A Latin derivative, doTERRA means "Gift of the Earth" as it sets the standard for essential oils by having developed the exper- tise and commitment required to derive these unique oils directly from the best sources in the world. DoTERRA provides local growers and distillers fair compensation for their efforts, creating stronger local economies and a healthier, stable supply chain. Wazdan significantly strengthen management team