Billie Eilish to be youngest solo Glastonbury headliner ever at 20

Oct 5 2021

Billie Eilish, who is set to turn 20 in December, will be making history as she is set to be the youngest ever solo headliner at Glastonbury Festival. The festival tweeted out the reveal excitedly, anticipating the young artist’s performance on the Pyramid Stage during the 2022 showcase. This will also be her first UK festival headline performance. The festival’s organiser Emily Eavis confirmed the booking, stating that this feels like the perfect way for them to return.

We are very excited to confirm that @billieeilish will headline the Pyramid Stage on the Friday night at Glastonbury 2022, to become the Festival’s youngest ever solo headliner. This will be her first UK festival headline performance. pic.twitter.com/k307gNKyAU

— Glastonbury Festival (@glastonbury) October 4, 2021

She is also set to be the first female headliner since 2016, after Taylor Swift’s booking for 2020 having been cancelled due to the pandemic. Eilish had already made musical history after becoming the youngest solo performer to ever win album of the year at the 2020 Grammys. The festival is an internationally acclaimed five-day event held in the UK, with Eilish set to star on the Friday night. The currently 19-year-old released her second studio album Happier Than Ever this year to a massive fanbase and critical acclaim.

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Photo Source: Sky News, BBC

Doubling in breast surgeries after reports of delays

Oct 5 2021

Following concerns of unacceptable delays for cancer patients, the Health Ministry reported that breast surgery operating lists at Mater Dei Hospital are being doubled to maintain a target date of four weeks from diagnosis. Waiting times of up to three months for urgent operations have been experienced by patients over the last few months. This is because surgeons’ operating lists, with up to seven patients on each, were slashed by more than half from five lists a month to two.

Support groups pointed at the worrying delay in, what could be potentially life-saving, breast cancer surgery, stating that the standard time frame to start curative treatment and remove seriously malignant tumours was four to six weeks after diagnosis.

Theatre lists had been reduced drastically during the peak of the pandemic, especially due to the redeployment of specialised staff to the new COVID-19 ITUS. The ministry stated that cancer cases have always been prioritised.

The Health Ministry assured that they are catching up on delayed cases and rapidly returning to normal. They added that breast screening numbers have returned to pre-pandemic levels. The Action for Breast Cancer Foundation and Europa Donna Malta Breast Care Support Group had written to the health authorities, urging them to address the problem as a matter of urgency.

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Photo Source: Wikipedia, The Independent

Drug tests for police officers to prevent abuse

Oct 5 2021

A drug test is being envisioned for police officers to prevent drug abuse within the force. Speaking about the transformation strategy seeking to further modernise and make the force more accountable, commissioner Angelo Gaga stated that the face is fighting corruption. This includes police officers being able to report colleagues on crimes without being identified and action taken against them. Starting 2022, police officers who refuse undergoing the drug test may be dismissed from the force.

An internal consultation is currently ongoing in the force, revealed Gafa, which aims to introduce this procedure after the law was enacted by Parliament. He said that the aim is that the Force’s high officers undergo the test at least once a year. Other measures are also set to be implemented including a registry in which all gifts offered to police members are to be listed.

Gafa also referred to the public inquiry conclusions on the murder Daphne Caruana Galizia and revealed that courses will be held so that officers maintain good relations with journalists to avoid leaks in the media. This comes following talks with the Institute of Maltese Journalists. The strategy is set to be fully implemented by 2025, with Interior Minister Byron Camilleri saying that the Police Force is trusted more by the public with a 6% increase within twelve months.

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Photo Source: Malta Police Force FB, Verywell Mind

Pfizer booster shot approved for over-18s by European Medicine Agency

Oct 5 2021

Pfizer BioNTech’s COVID-19 booster vaccine has been given backing by the European Union’s drug regulator on Monday for people aged 18 and over. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) sated that the booster doses may be considered at least 6 months after the second dose has been administered for anyone over the age of 18. Following studies which showed a rise in antibody levels following booster doses, the recommendation was issued by the agency’s human medicines committee.

The agency is in support of giving a third dose of either the Pfizer jab or the Moderna vaccine to people with severely weakened immune systems at least 28 days after their second shot. This decision also comes after studies showed a similar increase in antibody production against the COVID-19 virus in people with weekend systems and organ transplant patients. The EMA recommendations go to the European Commission for approval and then to health authorities in all 27 EU nations, who in turn decide the rollout strategy.

Numerous studies have indicated that the Pfizer, and even Moderna, shots remain strongly protective months after people receive second dose. Hospitalisation and death are massively decreased, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) urging wealthy nations not to use booster doses this year as there is no data proving they are necessary. It said that vaccines would be better used in helping developing countries which are still low on even administering their first shots.

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Photo Source: The Financial Times