Over 14 tonnes of supplies collected in Mellieħa for Ukrainian refugees

Mar 2 2022

Up to 14 tonnes of essential supplies have been collected to help Ukrainian refugees fleeing their country as it is invaded by Russia.

Newsroom the Malta Independent was informed by one of the collection drive organisers in Mellieħa of the massive donation drive. She said it all started when Polish national Renata Kreglicka wanted to collect items help the refugees.

Many Ukrainians are fleeing and crossing the border into the neighbouring country Poland, and the initiative by Kreglicka quickly highlighted the urge by many to help the people losing their homes and security.

Many people drove to Mellieħa to drop off goods, which include everything from food, clothes, bedsheets, hygienic items and medicine. Georgina Devlin-George revealed that around 6 tonnes of items were moved from Mellieħa yesterday.

Another 8 tonnes are to be moved either to a warehouse or the aviation site today. The collection of supplies is set to be taken by plane to Poland tomorrow and eventually given to the refugees at the border. One organiser is set to venture with the plane to ensure delivery.

One of the issues faced by the organisers is organising air transport for the items and the collaboration with organisations on the ground to take and distribute them to Ukrainian refugees. Devlin-George called on other organisations wishing to donate to join in the cause.

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Roberta Metsola joins protest in support of Ukrainians alongside MEPs in Brussels

Mar 2 2022

European Parliament president Roberta Metsola joined in with a crowd of protestors in Brussels who gathered to demonstrate against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Thanking everyone who attended the demonstration, Metsola told everyone that ‘Europe is with you today, we will be with you tomorrow and we will not leave your side.

‘We are here in the EP in the house of democracy and in this House we will work to find a space for you to send a message that is so much needed to the world.’

With the Ukrainian National anthem and Beethoven’s Ode to Joy playing at the end of the protest, MEPs stood in silence when it ended in respect to the struggling Ukrainians as some join the defensive effort and others seek asylum in other countries.

Following the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, MEPs have demanded tougher sanctions on Russia as well as new efforts to grant Ukraine EU candidate status. The Parliament condemned ‘in the strongest possible terms’ Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.

Rejecting the Russian ‘rhetoric hinting at the possible resort to weapons of mass destructions’, the parliament also denounced the role of Belarusian dictator Aliaksandr Lukashenka. Further emergency humanitarian assistance to Ukraine was also called upon.

Just days ago, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy sign the application to have Ukraine join the European Union, with the council moving to consider the possibility as the country faces more bombardment.

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Photo Source: Roberta Metsola FB, European Parliament FB

Malta suspends golden passport scheme for Russians and Belarusians

Mar 2 2022

Malta has officially suspended Russians and Belarusians from its cash-for-passports scheme.

The sudden stance change comes after recent developments when it comes to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The government said that due diligence checks cannot be carried out effectively.

‘Consequently, Community Malta Agency and Residency Malta Agency have suspended, until further notice, the processing of applications for the above-mentioned statuses from nationals of the Russian Federation and Belarus.’

This applies to both Malta’s citizenship-by-investment scheme as well as a residency through investment scheme which is renewed on a yearly basis. Renewal applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Both the US and the European Commission said this weekend that they would take measures to stop such golden passport sales to wealthy Russians as part of a list of sanctions agains the country. Malta resisted introducing this sanction at first.

The Nationalist Party commented on the move after having been very vocal about the need to suspend the scheme. The party said that Robert Abela did this out of convenience and that this proves the PN right. ‘He should have done this well before others told him what to do.’

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Here are some interesting proposals from Volt Malta’s 2022 manifesto

Mar 2 2022

Volt Malta have just published their electoral manifesto, and suffice to say it includes some very interesting (for some controversial) proposals.

The new progressive political party shall be contesting the eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh districts, with two candidates currently revealed: Thomas ‘Kassandra’ Mallia and Alexia Debono.

Outline in 54 pages, the party has proposed, amongst other things, the decriminalisation of abortion and the legalisation of medical abortions up to the first trimester. Two abortions pills are also put up for accessibility as essential medicine as well as legalisation of surgical abortions in exceptional circumstances.

Volt also proposes the legalisation of voluntary passive euthanasia, voluntary indirect euthanasia and voluntary assisted dying. Involuntary and active euthanasia are to be illegal.

Volt are also proposing the regulation of the sex work industry, the legalisation of cooperative run-brothels, STD testing policies for workers, a fixed-term parliament, an end to two party-owned media, a Portuguese drug model and an increase for teacher’s salaries up to €30,000 yearly.

Here are some more proposals being made by Volt Malta:

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The reduction of business start-up costs to €1
A pause to the Malta-Gozo tunnel project
A revision of the 2006 local plans
Inclusion of all psychiatric medicine in the POYC scheme
Hazard pay for COVID front-liners
Increasing minimum wage to €1,100 over three years
Replacing maternity leave with 20 weeks of parental leave per parent.

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