Business

HSBC and ING complete first transaction using Blockchain technology

HSBC Holdings Plc announced that it had performed the world’s first trade finance transaction using blockchain technology, a major step in boosting efficiency and reducing errors in the multi-trillion-dollar funding of international…

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Italy fines Whatsapp for allegedly obliging users to agree to sharing their personal data

Italy’s Competition and Markets Authority (AGCM) announced it was imposing a €3 million (USD3.6 million) fine on messaging service Whatsapp for allegedly obliging users to agree to sharing their personal…

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Growing SMEs for a Digital World – Malta’s Institute of Accountants SME Forum

Digital innovation opens a new future to SMEs but entrepreneurs need to be prepared for the transformation. The 2018 SME Forum, organised by the Malta Institute of Accountants, assesses the…

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Valencia closes in on rooms with a view

Authorities in Valencia are proposing a law to restrain holiday rentals around the city. If the regional government votes in favour of the bill, the Spanish city will be empowered…

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US – China trade off impacts import of Ford automobiles in China

Chinese customs officials are holding up shipments of imported Ford automobiles for technical checks. Trade experts believe the move is meant to put pressure on Washington after US President Donald…

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Trump hints at forfeiting press credentials to ‘negative media’

A Donald Trump tweet seems to suggest that media houses reporting “negative” news about the presidency could have their press credentials forfeited. "Just reported that, despite the tremendous success we…

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Turbulent times for Air France

Air France-KLM, one of the world’s biggest airline groups, is in deep trouble and facing significant turbulent times. Shares in Air France-KLM crashed as much as 14.5% on Monday after…

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Foreign groups banned from buying Facebook ads in Irish referendum on abortion

Facebook is banning foreign groups from buying advertisements related to Ireland's abortion referendum, the company announced Tuesday. The May 25 referendum will decide whether abortion should be legalised in Ireland.…

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USA: Facebook to require extra checks from people buying ads on politics

The Financial Times reports that Facebook will require extra checks from people buying advertisements on political issues ranging from abortion and guns, to education and foreign policy, as the social network tries…

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The No-Selfie Policy of the 2018 Cannes Film Festival

The Cannes Film Festival opens today, one day before the traditional start. The 71st edition of the event is an example in how the film world is facing changes. Festival…

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European fintech eyeing stock market listing

Europe’s biggest fintech IPO is looming after Swedish fintech start-up iZettle announced plans to join the Nasdaq Stockholm stock exchange later this year. The company is seeking to raise SEK2…

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Oil price goes above $70 a barrel for first time in over three years

US crude oil prices have pushed above $70 a barrel for the first time in over three years as concerns have grown over supplies from Iran and Venezuela. West Texas…

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Nestle pays €7.15 billion to sell Starbucks

Nestle and Starbucks announced that the former will pay Starbucks $7.15 billion (5.3 billion pounds) in cash for the rights to sell the U.S. coffee chain’s products around the world,…

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Insight – The media’s place in the sports and politics industry

We live in a world where media is omnipresent, while sport continues to capture the imagination of the masses. Twenty years ago, sports fans were more or less dependent on…

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Proposals at EU level to deal with unfair competition rules in the airline industry

Watered-down proposals to tackle unfair competition from foreign airlines seem to be accepted by European diplomats. Countries, such as France and Germany, and the European Parliament, have pushed for airlines’…

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Which head of state is paid most?

A selection of Heads of State and Government for the 35 OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) were surveyed for their income and how their salaries fare between them…

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Malta – New aircraft maintenance facility for commercial aircraft announced

Bravo Aircraft Technical Services Limited (BATS), is delighted to announce the launch of its new facility at Malta International Airport in addition to their administrative HQ in Gżira. Bravo Aircraft…

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Analysing the EU’s Spring Economic Forecast

The European Commission yesterday published its Spring Economic Forecast. This forecast is based on a set of technical assumptions concerning exchange rates, interest rates and commodity prices with a cut-off date of…

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EU Spring 2018 Economic Forecast: Expansion to continue amid new risks

"The economic expansion in Europe is set to continue at a solid pace this year and next, supporting further job creation. However, we also see increased risks on the horizon.…

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JEEP takes Christabelle to Portugal

JEEP is sending off Christabelle on her much-anticipated Eurovision adventure in Portugal on board a brand the All-New JEEP Compass, compliments of MOTORS INC.Ryan Buttigieg, Motors Inc.’s Chief Operating Officer…

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‘Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and The Rule of Law’ – World Press Freedom Day

Every year, 3 May is a date which celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom, to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their…

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US extends deadline for trade tariffs to June 1st

U.S. President Donald Trump has postponed the imposition of steel and aluminium tariffs on Canada, the European Union and Mexico until June 1, and has reached agreements for permanent exemptions…

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Facebook to introduce the dislike button

Ever felt the need to express the dislike towards someone's post or comment, but you just couldn't? At a time where the digital media platform is experiencing itself a period…

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May, Merkel and Macron discuss the Iranian nuclear deal, US trade tariffs and the E3

A series of phone calls between German Chancellor Angela Merkel, English Prime Minister Theresa May and French President Emmanuel Macron, over the weekend, ended with an agreement about the importance…

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Malta needs to depart from the myopic 5-year political cycle – Part 2

In the first part of this series, we argued how both the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission identified certain aspects of the labour market as key challenges to…

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MISCO strengthens its Business Advisory Service

For the past 35 years, MISCO has assisted countless clients with various business advisory-related services and especially HR related services. These have included organisational restructuring, HR audits, salary benchmarking, job…

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Malta Institute of Accountants to hold SME Forum

The Malta Institute of Accountants will be holding the annual SME Forum on 25th May 2018. The focus of this year’s SME Forum will be the sustainability and growth prospects…

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ECB retains same interest rates

This week, the European Central Bank announced that it will keep its interest rates unchanged. This decision was based on the ECB's regular economic and monetary analyses. In a statement, the…

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Farewell to the designer of the Sinclair ZX Spectrum

In the era of smartphones and tablets and laptops, many still recall their first computer. Probably it had to be the ZX Spectrum. Rick Dickinson, the designer of the Sinclair…

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EU proposes measures to tackle online disinformation

The European Commission is proposing measures to tackle disinformation online, including an EU-wide Code of Practice on Disinformation, support for an independent network of fact-checkers, and a series of actions…

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Express Trailers launch Road Safety Campaign

Today, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Ian Borg launched the Express Road Safety Campaign, which is being led by Express Trailers, aimed at promoting more responsible road sharing.…

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Political adverts to be clearly labelled as such on Facebook

Reuters reports that Micke Schroepfer, the Facebook's chief technical officer announced that the company will introduce new measures with the aim of improving transparency around adverts in Britain by June…

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Unprecedented threats to unprecedented growth

The IMF released its World Economic Outlook in January 2018, where it expressed satisfaction with global economic growth in 2017, where the world economy expanded by 3.7%. Looking ahead, the…

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GG Hospitality appoints Winston J Zahra as CEO – The Caterer

The Caterer: GG Hospitality, the hotel and restaurant firm backed by former Manchester United footballers Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville, has appointed Winston J Zahra as its new chief executive. Zahra…

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Decrease in European deficit and debt registered

In 2017, the government deficit and debt of both the euro area (EA19) and the EU28 decreased in relative terms compared with 2016. In the euro area the government deficit…

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EU Commission opens in-depth investigation into Italian State loan to Alitalia

The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess whether Italy's bridge loan to Alitalia totalling €900 million constitutes State aid and whether it complies with EU rules for…

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Oil prices are artificially Very High! – Trump

"Looks like OPEC is at it again," he wrote. "With record amounts of oil all over the place, including the fully loaded ships at sea, Oil prices are artificially Very…

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Time Magazine unveils its annual list of the 100 most influential people

Time magazine unveiled its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world Thursday, including record numbers of 45 women and 45 people under the age of 40. "The TIME 100, always a…

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Spain overtakes Italy, and it’s not about football.

Italy and Spain, often end up 'fighting it out' on the football pitch. The past weeks saw Roma and Juventus facing Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively. The matches were the…

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Ofcom investigating RT

The United Kingdom launched an investigation on a series of programmes aired by Russian TV, RT. Ofcom is in fact examining instances where Kremlin-backed news channel potentially breached UK broadcast…

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More than a software company : Microsoft shaping the digital future

According to Microsoft's Regional Country Manager Peggy Antonakou, Microsoft is more than a software company. We shape the digital future. If you think your future is a digital one, Microsoft…

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Europe’s vicious circle of misery

You feel World War III is fast approaching when you are in a room in Brussels, during a technical working group meeting, discussing money. Who gets to pay -…

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Microsoft confirms its commitment to Malta as the country is embarking on its next endeavour, in its continuous voyage to be a leader in technology.

Microsoft aims to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. And in this is exactly what we are doing here, today, together, to empower every…

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Moscow Times : Russian Media gives ‘war time’ tips

The Moscow Times: A Russian television channel has instructed viewers to stock up on food and water in case a war breaks out with the United States, playing on fears…

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Facebook – Redefining the arms race

Mark Zuckerberg, the Facebook chief executive, warned on Tuesday of an online propaganda “arms race” with Russia and vowed that fighting interference in elections around the world is now his…

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CNN : The evolution of Zuckerberg from a techie to a world leader overseeing a nation of two billion people he created

CNN's Mark Zuckerberg's growing up moment. CNN's Laurie Segall meets Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg before he addresses the US Congress and gives account of how the techie geek evolved into a world leader,…

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EU countries to commit to doing more together on the digital front

Tomorrow the European Commission will bring ministers, representatives of EU countries, industry, academia and civil society representatives together to encourage cooperation in artificial intelligence, blockchain, eHealth and innovation. Discussions will…

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Facebook is sharing…and its wrong!

Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg has said the social network "didn't do enough" to protect user data in a written statement to the US Congress. Ahead of appearances before US Congress…

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Public Lecture : Relationship between youth work and young people involved in violence

The Faculty of Social Wellbeing of the University of Malta announced that Mr. Pete Harris from Newman University will be holding a public lecture at the University of Malta on…

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When Orange Stands for Road Safety

EXPRESS TRAILERS has chosen April as the Road Safety month and over the coming days, it will be launching a nationwide campaign to promote more responsible road sharing. FRANCO AZZOPARDI,…

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Malta: Business hub for financial, legal and corporate service providers in final stages of completion

Malta: ‘Nu Bis Centre is a novel concept designed to host financial, asset management and corporate service industries and is now at an advanced stage of development. The highly-finished building is…

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Euro area annual inflation up to 1.4%

Euro area annual inflation is expected to be 1.4% in March 2018, up from 1.1% in February, according to a flash estimate from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European…

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87 million people’s data improperly shared by Facebook.

Reuters report that Facebook said on Wednesday that the personal information of up to 87 million users may have been improperly shared with political consultancy Cambridge Analytica, up from a…

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CNN – Trump pushes back against market fears of trade war

CNN reports that US President Donald Trump on Wednesday tried to tamp down economic anxieties over tariffs recently announced by China and the United States. "We are not in a trade…

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February 2018 Euro area unemployment at 8.5% EU28 at 7.1% – Malta (with Germany) registers second lowest unemployment rate

The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 8.5% in February 2018, down from 8.6% in January 2018 and from 9.5% in February 2017. This is the lowest rate recorded…

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Malaysia : Fake News Bill will suppress freedom of expression

FREEDOM of expression and media in Malaysia will be further suppressed say rights groups as the country’s parliament debates a ‘fake news’ Bill ahead of this year’s General Election. A…

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TedX Univeristy of Malta to discuss the evolution of our contemporary reality.

Our communities are living creatures, morphing endlessly to reflect the life within them. As we change, so do the societies we inhabit, swiftly and obediently. In wielding this power, the…

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