Vigil for late Sion Grech in Valletta demands answers and justice

Feb 24 2023

A vigil held in Valletta in front of the Court saw many turn out in support of Sion Grech’s grieving family and demanding more answers about the now closed case.

The vigil saw NGOs such as Moviment Graffiti, MGRM, Young Progressive Beings, Women’s Rights Foundation and Għajjejt u Xbajt come together to remember the life of the 20 year old.

Sion was stabbed 17 times and had her body dumped in a field in Marsa back in 2005.

‘After the Grech family waited 18 years for the court case to open, the case closed this January, with a number of errors from the side of the police force; over 50 witnesses contradicted each other, and evidence got lost, amongst other errors. Meanwhile, Sion’s parents died with the hopes of justice being served for their daughter.’

With ‘the murderers still out in the open’ and questions remaining unanswered, the vigil attendees asked whether Sion being a transgender sex worker had anything to do with the inaction and the delay.

‘Most importantly, we are remembering a woman who was loved by her family and her friends, who did not live to see the day where she could live her authentic self as she deserved.’

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Mixed reactions to billboards in Malta condemning Putin

Feb 24 2023

Billboards were erected in Malta condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin for his invasion of Ukraine as it coincides with the first anniversary of the war this Friday.

The billboards read: ‘Mr Putin, You Have Been Killing Innocent Civilians For A Whole Year’ and were, according to Times of Malta, reportedly put up by the Ukrainian community in Malta.

With a rally set to be held in Valletta on Friday evening calling for Ukraine’s victory and an end to the war, the setting up of billboards led to mixed reactions on social media.

A post demanding the removal of the billboard was even uploaded to local Facebook group ‘Are You Being Served?’, receiving the same feedback from commenters on the post.

Others backed the erection of the billboards, saying that being neutral does not mean one should ignore the realities of the ongoing war and condemning it.

What do you make of this?

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Maltese chef in New York City serves host of EU ministers at United Nations dinner

Feb 24 2023

On Thursday, a Maltese chef had the opportunity to serve a host of European ministers, including Maltese Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade Ian Borg and Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba at a dinner organised by the Maltese presidency in New York.

The dinner, held at the InterContinental, had chef Ruben Ruggier serve a host of political bigwigs including Malta’s own Ian Borg, Ambassador of Malta & PermRep to the UN in NY Vanessa Frazier, Ukrainian Minister Dmytro Kuleba, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and many others during Malta’s month of Presidency of the United Nations Security Council.

Prior to the high-end event, Borg had the opportunity to link up with chef Ruben, with the Minister himself visiting the chef’s kitchen before the major event during Malta’s UN Security Council Presidency.

On February 1st, Malta assumed the UN Security Council Presidency, one of the UN’s six major organs in the maintenance of international peace and security.

February’s agenda included discussions such as the cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organisations and the maintenance of peace and security in Ukraine.

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“We are living through challenging times”, Ian Borg addresses UN-EU briefing at United Nations

Feb 23 2023

Malta Daily reporting LIVE from the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

On Thursday, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade Ian Borg addressed the Security Council Briefing on Cooperation between the UN and regional and subregional organisations at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

During the intervention in his capacity as a representative of Malta, Borg stated that Malta, as a proud EU member, strongly supports enhanced cooperation between the European Union and the United Nations.

Borg explained how the European experiment that is the EU was born from the ashes of the Second World War and exemplifies the peace, stability, prosperity, and growth brought forth by multilateralism.

“In this midst, we have a responsibility to ensure that where possible regional and international organisations come together to provide that much needed convergence and collaboration,” the Minister stated.

Addressing the event, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell discussed how a rise in power politics has led to more distrust, point-scoring and vetos. The EU High Representative expressed that the price is being paid problems not solved, conflicts that fester and people left at the mercy of events.

Prior to expressing the EU’s commitment to peace and security, sustainable development and human rights, Borrell did state that we are facing a ‘global emergency’ and that the “United Nations and the multilateral systems are under threat like they never were before.”

Photo Source: Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade

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