“Back in 2014, Malta International Airport set out to further develop the country’s tourism product by investing directly in Malta’s heritage and the environment through the independent Malta Airport Foundation,” said outgoing Malta Airport Foundation chairman, Fredrick Mifsud Bonnici.

“Five years on, with a slew of successful projects already under its belt and a renewed vision for the future, the foundation can look forward to completing the projects it has taken on while exploring new partnerships and potential investment opportunities,” Mr Mifsud Bonnici added.

“Mr Mifsud Bonnici’s contribution and leadership throughout these past five years have set the Malta Airport Foundation off on a strong footing,” incoming chairman Mr Formosa Gauci said.

“As I step into my new role, I look forward to continuing to work closely with the board as well as key stakeholders to enable the foundation to continue preserving and promoting the identity of the Maltese Islands whilst honouring our country’s heritage,” the new chairman added.

The NGO says that its refreshed branding reflects the “vibrant settings” in which it operates, ranging from the “Mediterranean blues” of the surrounding waters to “deep earth tones reminiscent” of traditional Maltese landscapes.

Under new leadership and with a renewed identity, the Malta Airport Foundation promises to continue investing in the preservation and conservation of local heritage, while also keeps a commitment to its mission of reimagining local heritage as it brings forgotten or hidden aspects of Malta’s history and culture back to life.

Since its establishment, the foundation has launched two underwater documentaries, putting the islands of Filfla and Comino in the spotlight, is currently supporting the ongoing excavation of a Phoenician shipwreck in Gozo and is sponsoring research work being carried out by the University of Malta on a triptych dedicated to the Virgin of Succours. The foundation has also partnered up with NGO Żibel to commission sea bins in both Marsaxlokk and Marsascala. Nine seabins have been approved and funded while another nine seabins are in the pipeline to be added to Malta’s shoreline.

Recently, the foundation unveiled the newly restored 17th-century Ta’ Xutu watchtower, which was the first project to be taken on in collaboration with Din l-Art Ħelwa. The foundation also made substantial headway on the restoration of the Combined Operations Room in Valletta, which is expected to be reopened to the public early next year, and sponsored several local events, including the fifth edition of the Valletta Film Festival and the Joseph Calleja annual concert, the press statement adds.

The post Malta Airport Foundation names new chairman first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The locations of the currently-approved seabins are Pietà, St Julian’s, Msida, Marsaxlokk, Marsascala, Ta’ Xbiex, Kalkara, and Gżira, while the areas of the new nine in the pipeline are still unknown.

A seabin is a device floating on water and collecting garbage from the sea. Such a device is designed to float near ports, marinas and yacht clubs, according to Business Insider. A pump equipped to the seabin creates a flow of water that collects rubbish and debris in a catch bag.

Private entities like Norwex — a company funding ten of all the 18 planned seabins — will fund the installation of the seabins, while Strand Marine and Auto Systems Ltd will concentrate on logistical work.

Non-profit organisation (NGO) Żibel is in charge of the educational aspect. The Cleansing and Maintenance Division will collaborate with Żibel in order to take care of the maintenance of the bins. Żibel collected more than six tonnes of trash from Malta’s coastline during the summer, which the NGO says is only the “tip of the iceberg”, according to a report by the Times of Malta.

Furthermore, Mr Parnis said that the government is committed to ensuring that people have a cleaner island while Parliamentary Secretary for Consumer Rights, Public Cleansing and Support for the Capital City Deo Debattista added the importance of cleanliness not only on land but also at sea.

“As a division, we will be collecting detailed statistics on the amount and the kind of waste collected, this will help us better understand the cleanliness-levels at sea,” said Parliamentary Secretary for Consumer Rights, Public Cleansing and Support for the Capital City Deo Debattista. He also underlined the importance of understanding that illegally dumped waste ends up in the sea causing continuous issues. He added that two workers will be exclusively assigned to this project.

“We believe that this installation of new seabins is necessary because these provide a holistic solution for the reduction of waste in our sea and for reducing the damage that this waste is doing to the marine ecosystem,” added Mr Parnis.

The post Nine seabins to go afloat off Malta’s shores first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The signing ceremony marks the exponential growth of the Binance for Children initiative, according to the company. In fact, the first pilot project called “Binance Lunch for Children”, kicked off at Jolly Mercy Learning Center at Kampala, Uganda, in February 2019,

By the end of May 2019, Binance for Children had reached 3,990 children, and that number is constantly increasing, given the increase in children going back to school thanks to this simple act of providing food, according to the press release.

Gume Fredrick Ngobi, Minister of State for Cooperatives in Uganda, said that the project would contribute to the government’s efforts towards the achievement of the Millenium Development Goal (MDG) 2 indicator on quality education, having achieved the national MDG 2 indicator on access to education after introducing universal education at both primary and secondary levels.

“The adoption of blockchain and crypto in charity is not as easy as many people might think,” said Athena Yu, Executive Director of Binance Blockchain Charity Foundation (BCF), during the signing ceremony, “We are inspired by the Ugandan government, which is willing to work closely with us to explore various possibilities in blockchain-enabled solutions for children’s education and health. Together, we will enhance this new way of charitable giving with more transparency and sustainability.”

BCF is honoured to work with the government of Uganda in using blockchain and cryptocurrency to provide better transparency and efficiency throughout the traditional charity processes. The organisation is grateful for the government’s acceptance and enthusiasm for blockchain-powered philanthropy.

BCF Executive Director Athena Yu and the Safe Future CEO Mula Anthony said that the Binance for Children project will be responsible for project implementation and will ensure the delivery of meals, solar panels, sanitary pads, school supplies, LED screens, and other items to 160 schools in Uganda.

The post Binance signs MoU with Ugandan NGO first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.