President Metsola welcomes Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Brussels

Feb 9 2023

As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepared to address MEPs in a formal sitting in Brussels this morning, EP President Roberta Metsola welcomed him for the first in-person address there.

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A post shared by Roberta Metsola (@roberta.metsola)

Metsola took to social media to say that this is a historic day for Europe, saying she is proud to announce the Ukrainian President’s presence at the European Parliament.

Zelenskyy addressed MEPs remotely during a March 1st session, shortly after Russia started its war in Ukraine, and then on December 14th when Parliament’s 2022 Sakharov Prize was awarded to the people of Ukraine.

Metsola had visited Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Ukraine herself, receiving massive praise for her bravery.

A historic day for Europe.

Proud to announce that the President of Ukraine @ZelenskyyUA will be at @Europarl_EN this morning.

To address the people of Europe from the House of European democracy.

🇪🇺🇺🇦

— Roberta Metsola (@EP_President) February 9, 2023

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Pensioners could get free transport to use reverse vending machines

Feb 9 2023

The Maltese government is engaged in negotiations with the operator of the Beverage Container Refund Scheme (BCRS) in order to provide free transportation to the elderly who wish to use the reverse vending machines (RVMs).

According to Environment Minister Miriam Dalli, the operator, BCRS Malta Ltd., is a non-profit organization that brings together the Malta Beverage Producers Association, the Malta Beverage Importers Association, and the Malta Beverage Retailers Association.

The government is working with a government organization that provides transport to the elderly to extend its services to include RVMs.

At present, there are 305 RVMs across Malta, and 8 more are expected to be installed in the near future. The scheme has faced controversy over the manner in which it is run, as the more containers that are recycled, the less revenue the operator receives.

There have also been concerns about the potential for profit-making, as back in 2014, a similar scheme was planned by Yorgen Fenech and Keith Schembri’s business partner, Malcolm Scerri.

The government is thus working to address the controversies surrounding the BCRS by offering free transportation to the elderly and making it easier for them to recycle containers using RVMs.

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Turkish restaurant will donate all launch earnings to earthquake survivors

Feb 9 2023

The new Posh Turkish restaurant set to open in PAVI Qormi this Friday has pledged to donate all opening day proceedings to the earthquake zone.

The restaurant will be opening this Friday, February 10th 2023 at noon and will be giving away the proceedings to the epicentre of the tragedy in Kahramanmaraş, where 10 Turkish cities were affected.

The establishment had been raising hype towards their launch as the recent earthquake which hit both Turkey and Syria prompted many to donate many belongings to help the survivors.

The death toll has, as of latest reports, passed 15,000. Rescuers, including Maltese Civil Protection Department officials, are finding it difficult to help victims trapped underneath rubble and debris.

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Malta’s CPD team in Turkey gives update as earthquake death tool surpasses 15,000

Feb 9 2023

Deaths continue to rise in Turkey and Syria in the aftermath of a string of devastating earthquakes, with civil protection teams from across the world contributing to the search and rescue efforts.

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Al Jazeera have reported earthquake survivors calling the disaster “worse than the bombardment in Syria”, with relief efforts yet to reach parts of the country.

The region has reportedly suffered at least 100 aftershocks since the initial earthquake, with the second 7.6 magnitude tremor contributing to major damages.

Malta’s Civil Protection Department has released another update video from Malatya in Turkey, speaking in front of a collapsed building, as the Maltese CPD was utilising life locators to attempt to find signs of life amid the wreckage.

The CPD official spoke how weather conditions are not favourable either, with other factors such as language barriers and methodologies affecting progress.

Reliable sources have reported that the search and rescue team have since been provided an interpreter.

#MaltaDaily