Today’s Newspaper

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Today’s news online

MaltaToday Portal Malta Lace Competition 2012: protecting an age-old tradition – HSBC CSR

Vodafone Malta Foundation supports the ESU – Vodafone CSR direct

Timesofmalta.com Protecting age-old tradition – HSBC CSR

Foundation administrator joins ‘heroes’ in London – Vodafone direct Raide your Game Initiative – Vodafone direct Go lottery – Go anti

Slowdown catches up with Vodafone – Vodafone anti

Gozonews.com Dinja Wahda schools awarded on environmental education – BOV CSR

Independent.com.mt Blood donation is a noble cause – BOV CSR

Vodafone in the news

CLIENT: VODAFONE DIRECT MEDIUM: MALTATODAY DATE: 11 NOVEMBER 2012

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Foundation administrator joins ‘heroes’ in London

VVodafone Malta Annual Hero 2012 Roberta Pace joined 25 others from across the mobile operator’s global

company at the Global Heroes initiative in London recently.

Vodafone’s ‘heroes’ are high performers and role models who behave in ‘The Vodafone Way’.

They are selected annually and recognised for their outstanding contribution and the results they bring to the

company’s success.

At the invitation of the group executive committee, they are flown to London for a VIP weekend where they meet

chief executive Vittorio Colao.

Their stories are diverse and range from innovative network solutions to simplifying internal processes to

improving customer experience.

Ms Pace, Vodafone Malta Foundation’s administrator, found new ways to raise awareness and engage staff in

social responsability activities. She increased the participation of employees in carrying out voluntary work for

charities supported by the Vodafone Malta Foundation, and included team-building sessions in the activities.

In London, the Heroes’ programme included a visit to Vodafone’s global headquarters and the Mc Laren

Technology Centre, home of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula One team, sightseeing tours and lavish

meals.

CLIENT: VODAFONE DIRECT MEDIUM: MALTATODAY DATE: 11 NOVEMBER 2012

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Raise Your Game initiative

From left: Karl Galea, Sandro Pisani, Miriam Dalli, Sharon Craig, Daniela Abela, Joseph Cuschieri, Vanessa Marie Farrugia, Claude Muscat Doublesin and Caroline Farrugia.

CLIENT: VODAFONE CSR DIRECT MEDIUM: MALTATODAY.COM DATE: 14 NOVEMBER 2012

CLIENT: VODAFONE CSR DIRECT MEDIUM: MALTATODAY.COM DATE: 14 NOVEMBER 2012

CLIENT: VODAFONE ANTI MEDIUM: INDEPENDENT.COM DATE: 14 NOVEMBER 2012

Wednesday, November 14, 2012 by

Kate Holton, Reuters

Slowdown catches up with Vodafone

A pedestrian passes a Vodafone store on Oxford Street in central London yesterday as the British mobile

operator became the latest company to fall victim to a plunge in demand in peripheral eurozone countries.

Vodafone wrote down the value of its business in Spain and Italy by £5.9 billion (€7.4 billion) and lowered its cash flow forecast as recession-hit southern Europeans cut back on using their mobile phones.

The British mobile operator yesterday became the latest company to fall victim to a plunge in demand in

peripheral eurozone countries, as they drive through austerity measures to reduce government deficits.

Last week, French bank Credit Agricole took a £2 billion writedown on the sale of its Greek business, while

companies from steelmakers to brewers have warned of weakening trade across the eurozone.

Vodafone is in a better position than many rivals thanks to its strength in faster-growing US and emerging

markets, and continues to pay a dividend when others have cut back.

However, the British group’s growth in emerging markets is slowing, and some investors were disappointed by a

smaller-than-expected dividend from its US joint venture Verizon Wireless, announced on Monday.

“If you stripped out the impact from the US then these results would look pretty poor, and that’s a problem,” said

Espirito Santo analyst Will Draper.

CLIENT: VODAFONE ANTI MEDIUM: INDEPENDENT.COM DATE: 14 NOVEMBER 2012

Vodafone said organic service revenue – a key financial metric which excludes acquisitions and one-off costs –

fell 1.4 per cent in the three months ended September.

That included a 11.3 per cent plunge in southern Europe, where consumers are suffering a prolonged recession.

Data last week showed a quarter of a million Spaniards ditched their mobile phones in September.

As a result of weak trading, as well as adverse currency moves, Vodafone said it expected free cash flow for the

full financial year to be in the lower half of its guidance range.

Vodafone said it was writing down the goodwill of its operations in Spain and Italy by £3.2 billion and £2.7 billion

respectively. That left the carrying value of goodwill for the businesses at £2.4 billion and £7.2 billion respectively

at the end of September.

The group’s first-half adjusted operating profit rose 2.2 per cent to £6.2 billion, beating analysts’ average forecast

of £5.9 billion thanks to a strong performance in the US, which accounted for over half the total. Southern Europe

accounted for around 18 per cent of operating profit.

Vodafone said it expected to get a £2.4 billion dividend from its US joint venture Verizon Wireless by the end of

the year and would buy back £1.5 billion of shares with the money.

“We are a little disappointed by the size of the dividend; we believe Verizon Wireless has the capacity to pay

much more, but clearly the shareholders have taken account of the cost of recent spectrum acquisition,” Espirito’s

Draper said, referring to the cost of buying frequencies to run mobile services.

Vodafone said it would pay a six-month dividend in line with its dividend per share growth target of at least seven

per cent per year until March 2013.

Other stories in the news

CLIENT: GO ANTI MEDIUM: INDEPENDENT.COM DATE: 14 NOVEMBER 2012

Wednesday, November 14, 2012 by

Adrian Zerafa, Rabat

Go lottery

I recently received an SMS from Go informing me that I was chosen to participate in a lottery with some great

prizes on offer and that to participate one had to reply to a particular number.

I decided to try my luck and I knew at this point that this was going to cost me €1.20. What I did not know was

that, after the first SMS, I needed to start answering questions to earn points and each question sent by SMS was

going to cost me €1.20 to answer.

I think this is very bad practice since the first message sent by Go should have stated clearly that participation

would require further messages charged at such a high rate. I am not making a fuss over the €1.20 for the first

SMS but it is not fair that Go traps people in taking part in such lotteries without informing them that they would

have to spend much more than they state in their first message.

CLIENT: HSBC DIRECT MEDIUM: MALTATODAY DATE: 11 NOVEMBER 2012

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Protecting an age-old tradition

Winner of this year’s Malta Lace Competition Carmen Ellul (second from right) with (from left) HSBC’s Doriette

Camilleri, Cristina Farrugia, HSBC’s deputy CFO Josephine Magri and Marquis Nicholas de Piro.

“Maltese lace stands shoulder to shoulder with the world’s finest. Each year, we notice improvements in the quality and originality of works,” said Marquis Nicholas de Piro showing an example of Maltese black silk bobbin lacework.

Marquis de Piro organises the annual Malta Lace Competition with the HSBC Malta Foundation’s support. This

year the competition ceremony at Casa Rocca Piccola, Valletta, once again brought together lace-makers,

collectors and other enthusiasts to celebrate the talent, originality and skill of Maltese lace-makers.

“While we strive to safeguard its traditional elements, Maltese lace-making is an ever-evolving craft. We embrace

this as a positive development, one that is reflected in the diversity of the competition’s categories,” said Marquis

de Piro.

“This year we had 19 classes on display, comprising various techniques, materials, types of clothing and other

artefacts. These innovations help keep this art form alive in a way that can be enjoyed by a wide audience and

indeed by future generations.”

The competition includes a Children’s Category for participants under the age of 16. While monetary prizes also

went to the best submission in this group, all participants under 16 received token gifts as an encouragement to

the young competitors andalso to reward their interest in lace-making.

CLIENT: HSBC DIRECT MEDIUM: MALTATODAY DATE: 11 NOVEMBER 2012

“The competition aims to bolster this important part of Malta’s historical and cultural heritage, keeping it alive and

well,” explained Malta Lace Competition CEO Margaret Farrugia.

“This event is encouraging finer and more elaborate works as well as growing enthusiasm. We thank the

foundation for its ongoing support since the very first competition at Casa Rocca Piccola in 2006.”

Casa Rocca Piccola is home to an extensive collection of fine lace, many examples of which are to be showcased

in Marquis de Piro’s forthcoming book Ladies of Malta in Extravagant and Spectacular Maltese Lace, expected to

hit the bookshops in time for Christmas.

The publication will feature a variety of distinguished professional and Maltese women personalities wearing the

very finest of Maltese lace.

CLIENT: HSBC DIRECT MEDIUM: MALTATODAY.COM DATE: 12 NOVEMBER 2012

Monday 12 November 2012 - 05:30

Malta Lace Competition 2012: protecting an age-old tradition “Maltese lace stands shoulder to shoulder with the world’s finest. Each year, we are

noticing improvements in the quality and originality in the works entered into the

Malta annual competition,” said Marquis de Piro while showing an impressive

example of Maltese black silk bobbin lacework.

This year’s overall winner of the Malta Lace Competition Carmen Ellul (second from right) together

with (from left) HSBC’s Doriette Camilleri, Cristina Farrugia, HSBC’s Deputy CFO Josephine Magri

and Marquis Nicholas de Piro.

Franica Pulis

Marquis de Piro organises the annual Malta Lace Competition with the HSBC Malta Foundation's

support. This year the competition ceremony at Casa Rocca Piccola, again brought together lace

makers, collectors, and other interested persons to celebrate the talent, originality, and skill of Maltese

lace makers.

"While we strive to safeguard its traditional elements, Maltese lace making is an ever evolving craft.

We embrace this as a positive development, and one that is reflected in the diversity of the

competition's categories," said Marquis de Piro. "This year we had 19 classes on display, comprising

various techniques, materials, types of clothing and other artefacts. These innovations help to keep this

art form alive in a way that can be enjoyed by a wide audience and indeed by future generations."

CLIENT: HSBC DIRECT MEDIUM: MALTATODAY.COM DATE: 12 NOVEMBER 2012

The competition includes a 'Children's Category' for participants under the age of sixteen. While

monetary prizes also went out to the best submission in this group, all participants under 16 received

token gifts as an encouragement to the young competitors and to reward their interest in lace making.

"The competition aims to bolster this important part of Malta's historical and cultural heritage keeping

it alive and well," explained Margaret Farrugia, Chief Executive Officer of the competition. "This event

is encouraging finer and more elaborate works as well as growing enthusiasm. We thank the HSBC

Malta Foundation for its ongoing support since the very first lace competition at Casa Rocca Piccola in

2006."

The Casa Rocca Piccola is home to an extensive collection of fine lace, many examples of which are to

be showcased in Nicholas de Piro's forthcoming book, entitled 'Ladies of Malta in Extravagant and

Spectacular Maltese Lace'. It is scheduled to hit the bookshops in time for Christmas 2012; this

illustrated publication will feature a variety of distinguished professional and Maltese female

personalities wearing the very finest of Maltese Lace.

CLIENT: BANK OF VALLETTA CSR MEDIUM: GOZONEWS.COM DATE: 14 NOVEMBER 2012

Dinja Wahda schools awarded on environmental education

Published on Wednesday, 14, November, 2012 at 6:45 in Malta News | No Comments

83 primary schools from Malta and Gozo received awards today in recognition of their achievements in environmental

education through the Dinja Wahda (One World) education programme.

Dinja Wahda is an environmental education programme for primary schools run by BirdLife Malta with the support of

Partner in Education Bank of Valletta and in collaboration with the Directorate for Quality and Standards in Education

(DQSE). It includes fun and educational school activities as well as practical projects like recycling and excursions to

Malta’s nature reserves.

All the schools had participated in the Dinja Wahda programme in 2011-12 and were rewarded with Gold, Silver or

Bronze trophies or a certificate according to the number of activities they completed.

The awards ceremony took place at the launch event for the eighth edition of the Dinja Wahda schools programme in

time for the start of the scholastic year 2012-13.

Schoolchildren were excited to receive the award on behalf of their school from the Minister for Tourism, Culture and

the Environment, Mario de Marco, and the Minister for Education and Employment, Dolores Cristina.

Speaking at the event, Minister de Marco praised BirdLife’s work and the success of the project in raising

environmental awareness amongst young people, noting that “The environment has become a much more important

theme for every Maltese and Gozitan family.”

CLIENT: BANK OF VALLETTA CSR MEDIUM: GOZONEWS.COM DATE: 14 NOVEMBER 2012

He went on to speak about the importance of creating a sustainable future, describing the essence of Dinja Wahda as

“What happens in one country can have an effect in other countries” and urging everyone in the audience to be

“ambassadors for Dinja Wahda.”

Education Minister, Dolores Cristina, congratulated the schools and children on their achievements over the last year

and noted the great improvements that have been made in environmental education, awareness and practices in

schools. The Minister commented on the broader impact of the programme, saying, “The first children who started

taking part in Dinja Wahda’s education programme are today parents, who are instilling in their homes and families all

that they have learned from [Dinja Wahda].”

Vanessa Macdonald, Head of PR and Social Media at Bank of Valletta, said, “It is important to instill an appreciation

of Malta’s diverse flora and fauna in our children, as this will stay with them throughout their lives. The Bank is

already doing all it can to reduce its own impact on the environment, but through this sponsorship we are able to

ensure that the future generation will also realise the importance of nature.”

In a special activity for the event, children helped to colour in a giant “environmental clock,” with pictures of 12 of

Dinja Wahda’s activites for schools in the hour positions on its face. “The image of the clock represents the awareness

that Dinja Wahda is raising among children of the need to adopt a lifestyle that protects nature round the clock,

whatever we are doing,” explained Desirée Falzon, BirdLife Malta Education Coordinator. “Dinja Wahda empowers

young people to do just this by teaching them about the Maltese natural environment and how they can help to protect

it through their lifestyle.”

The new edition of the Dinja Wahda Action Guide gives more attention to the topic of biodiversity loss, and introduces

new activities that highlight what is special about Maltese flora and fauna.

Schools interested in finding out more about the Dinja Wahda programme should contact BirdLife Malta. Tel: 2134

7644/5 Email: dinjawahda@birdlifemalta.org

Dinja Wahda is Bank of Valletta’s and BirdLife Malta’s environmental education programme for primary schools,

carried out in collaboration with the Directorate for Quality Standards in Education (DQSE).

Photo – The Dinja Wahda “environmental clock” after being painted by children as part of a special activity for

the event. Photograph by BirdLife Malta.

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CLIENT: BANK OF VALLETTA CSR MEDIUM: INDEPENDENT.COM DATE: 12 NOVEMBER 2012

Blood Donation is a noble cause

Monday, 12 November 2012, 18:16

Blood donation has become a regular event on the Bank of Valletta Group Corporate Social Responsibility calendar. Such events demonstrate that the group’s mission goes beyond its core business activities. Bank of Valletta also aims at improving the wellbeing of the community in which it operates by serving its needs and leading by example.

The six-hour campaign received enthusiastic support from the employees. It was a success as the number of donors exceeded its previous blood donation campaign, with 47 bags of blood collected at the drive.

“All individuals who support blood collection are making an important contribution to the health and wellbeing of our local communities by helping to ensure blood is available for patients in need,” said Vanessa Macdonald, Head Media & Community Relations.

The campaign falls within the Bank’s strategy and its pioneering role in serving the local community and meeting its needs while encouraging its employees to get involved and make a difference.