COVID-19 tests no longer free in England as from next week

Mar 25 2022

As of coming Monday, COVID-19 tests will no longer remain free in England.

Two years after the country first went into lockdown to prevent further spreading of COVID-19, the English government has decided that English citizens will not be able to receive any more free COVID-19 tests but rather, pay for testing.

This new approach to testing comes as port of the government’s ‘live with Covid’ plan, by which the nation will attempt to move beyond self-isolation and restrictions and towards ‘the new reality’ which politicians have been aiming for in the past months.

By the numbers, an English government website states that “The Test & Trace programme cost £15.7 billion in 2021/22” and with Omicron being the main variant with less severity and the country reaching high immunity, “the value for taxpayers’ money is now less clear.”

Lateral flow tests will remain free for a number of at-risk individuals, who may receive rapid test boxes at not charge, along with PCR tests which will also become paid unless the subject falls into a high-risk category – all while Covid infection rates continue to rise in the UK.

What do you make of this?

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‘The Batman’ director releases chilling deleted scene revealing new Joker

Mar 25 2022

Following the worldwide release and distribution of director Matt Reeves’ take on ‘The Batman’, Reeves has released an eerie deleted scene which sees Barry Keoghan’s Joker come face to face with Robert Pattinson’s Batman.

The Joker character has carried prestige ever since Heath Ledger’s Oscar-winning portrayal of the movie madman and actors have had big shoes to fill ever since. After Ledger, Jared Leto’s notable portrayal certainly did grab the attention of DC fans for his colourful and eccentric take but it was Joaquin Phoenix who truly showed another side to Joker, securing him a well-deserved Oscar for his performance.

Fast forward to 2022 and fans have been gifted a glimpse of Irish actor Barry Keoghan delivering a Hannibal-esque take on the clown prince of Gotham in a way we have never seen before. Menacing, dark and eerie, this deleted scene has been raking in praise for Keoghan’s portrayal and if those few minutes are anything to go by, we can’t wait for what comes next.

Are you a fan of The Batman?

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European Champions Italy fail to qualify for World Cup again

Mar 24 2022

European Champions Italy have gone from cloud nine to World Cup misery once again, in a matter of months. The Azzurri failed to score in a must win game against up and coming side North Macedonia who defended like their lives on the line.

The Macedonians will now be hoping for another surprise win, this time against a Cristiano Ronaldo led Portugal who beat Turkey 3-1. If they manage to beat Portugal, they will go to their first ever World Cup.

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The game was dominated by the Italians with them having around 32 shots compared to North Macedonia’s 4 and also winning the battle in possession, gaining 66% of the ball. Unfortunately for Azzurri fans the attack massively let them down with attackers such as Lorenzo Insigne and Ciro Immobile failing to challenge the goalkeeper and Domenico Berrardi missing numerous chances that could have easily given Italy the lead.

The first goal of the game finally came in the 92nd minute when Macedonian winger Aleksandar Trajkovski stunned the entire football world and managed to find the back of the net. The ball was calmly placed in the bottom left corner, with Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma not being able to prevent it.

This loss will certainly be felt not only by Italians, but millions of Azzurri fans worldwide. This will mean that Italy’s next potential World Cup match will be in the year 2026, 12 years after their last World Cup match against Uruguay in the 2014 Brazil World Cup.

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“Saturday is a test for the PN and the Maltese people”; Bernard Grech addresses PN rally

Mar 24 2022

Addressing Nationalist Party supporters in the thousands at St. George’s Square in Valletta, PN leader Bernard Grech said that the people’s ‘test’ is on Saturday, going on to ask whether “we will continue to congratulate the abuse of power which we have seen till today or whether we will say that that is enough.”

Grech stated that the election on Saturday is not only a test for the Nationalist Party but a test for the people of Malta – a decision which they will take to the voting hall. He went on to sarcastically argue that Labour leader and Prime Minister Robert Abela ‘told us’ that he needs €28,000 per month for working weekends, then went on “to take another €80,000 for working during weekends […] then wanted a home in ODZ and use his power to pay the price – we paid the price.”

Referring to recent news that Junior College will no longer require an obligatory pass in core subjects, Grech stated that Abela discarded the Maltese language when changing the requirements, and shrugged the media by refusing to give interviews to journalists.

The PN leader took a brief moment to ‘address the people as a father’, stating that he wants a better Malta for his children and the Maltese people before going on to state that the people cannot fail to realise that democracy in Malta is once again at risk.

“Do not fear, do not let anyone discourage you, this is the hour of the Maltese and Gozitan people.”

Grech told the people to go and vote all Nationalist Party candidates, calling Saturday’s election ‘crucial’ Malta’s future.

Watch the full event below:

What did you think of Grech’s final speech?

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