Journalist Lino Cassar passes away

Lino Cassar, a veteran left-wing journalist and well-known film critic, has died aged 78. Remembered for his towering presence and political humour, Mr Cassar was a contributor in Labour's Is-Sebh in the 1950s, editor of Iz-Zmien from 1967-1971 and the satirical newspapers Ix-Xewka I and Ix-Xewka II  from 1965 to 1978, as well as a contributor to It-Torca. He was also chairman of the Board of Film and Stage Censors from 1972 to 1987 and served as managing director of the Mediterranean Film Studios. In 2007 he received the Gold Award of the Institute of Journalists and had a film column in The Times for some time. The Labour Party in a statement expressed its condolences.