SpiderMan gifts Pope Francis his own Spidey mask

Jun 23 2021

You read that correctly. 2021 has just got more bizarre as Pope Francis has met the friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man. Attending Pope Francis’ general audience at the Vatican on Wednesday June 23rd, a man in a full blown Spider-Man costume popped up and sat down in the sombre VIP section in the Vatican’s San Damaso Courtyard. Whether he drove there or swung his way there is still a mystery.

Spider-Man can then be seen gifting the 84-year-old Pope his very own Spider-Man mask. It was later revealed by Reuters that the man behind the mask is Mattia Villarditam 27-year-old who works in sick children’s hospitals. And he does this whilst donning the Spidey suit amongst other hero costumes. Mattia was also appointed as Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic just last year by Italian President Sergio Mattarella for his caring work.

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Photo Source: PA Images

Malta and Balearics may join UK’s green travel list

Jun 23 2021

Malta, along with the Balearic Islands, could soon be added to the quarantine-free holiday destination list as part of a limited update to the UK’s green travel list. The update is set to take place on Thursday, with Malta being the only conventional holiday hotspot to turn green according to The Times newspaper. A government source however added that the Balearics have a ‘real possibility’ of joining. This depends on a last-minute decision by ministers, with the potential move being a ‘game changing’ moment for the struggling travel industry.

The Spanish archipelago is visited by more than five million Britons every year as it includes Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza. The green-light was speculated to be given in early June for Malta, but no new destinations were added, with Portugal moving to the amber list. Media minister John Whittingdale said he hoped the government would place more countries on the green list, but still urged people to holiday in Britain instead of jetting off abroad.

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Photo Source: Simply Business

Britons may have to take COVID-19 jabs for the next 10 years

Jun 23 2021

Head of NHS Providers Chris Hopson said that vaccine top-ups may be a thing for an entire decade as health chief Matt Hancock started to prepare plans for an autumn booster shot. Hopson warned that the country needs to move away from being ‘reactionary’ to COVID-19 and start planning ahead. He said that COVID-19 vaccines are going to be needed on annual basis for ‘five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10 years.’

The government was also called on to give the health service time to plot out potential COVID-19 vaccine booster campaigns. The campaigns need to become ‘business as usual’ instead of ‘emergency responses’. The Health Secretary also said that officials were waiting on government funded trials into whether mixing different jab gives better protection.

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Photo Source: France 24

WWII war shelter discovered in Sliema Annunciation Square

Jun 23 2021

Work on Sliema’s Annunciation Square have unearthed entrances to an air-raid shelter. An inspection team from the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage will decide on how to preserve the shelter. Sliema mayor Anthony Chircop stated that the council was insisting that the shelter will be surveyed to ensure it remains safely intact, along with preservation as part of the country’s heritage.

The council would not however be asking for the subterranean chamber to be opened up for the public. A decision on how to best close it off after certifying its soundness would have to be taken. Another shelter in Dingli Circus is already in the care of the local council, but it is riddled with problems such as flooding.

The mayor said that what was important was that the shelter was surveyed to determine whether the structure could support whatever happened above it on the ground. Architect Edward Said has also asked for a proper land and archeological survey of the underground structure. He maintains that the entrance should be left accessible rather than closed off, as this would render it forgettable.

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Photo Source: Times of Malta