We might be getting a COVID-19 cure pill this year

Sep 28 2021

A clinical trial at Fred Hutch cancer research centre in Seattle have just attempted to test an antiviral treatment which could stop the COVID-19 virus in its early course through the body. Virologist at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Timothy Sheahan stated that ‘oral anti-virals have the potential to not only curtal the duration of one’s COVID-19 syndrome, but also have the potential to limit transmission to people in your household if you are sick.’

Antivirals are already essential treatments for other viral infections, including hepatitis C and HIV. They can be engineered to boost the immune system to fight infection, block receptors so viruses can’t enter healthy cells, or lower the amount of active virus in the body. There are currently at least three promising antivirals for covid being tested in clinical trials, with results expected as soon as late fall or winter. One is being produced by Pfizer, but the top contender is a medication called molnupiravir, which works to interfere the virus’ ability to replicate.

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Photo Source: Nasdaq

UEFA ends legal battle against European Super League clubs

Sep 28 2021

Earlier today, UEFA released a statement where they announced that they will have to end their legal battle against the 3 remaining ESL clubs. These three clubs are Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona and they are the only clubs that are still onboard with the European Super League project.

Uefa statement 🚨📑

“Following stay of proceedings against Barça, Juventus and Real Madrid, in the matter related to violation of UEFA’s legal framework with Super League, UEFA Appeals Body declared today the proceedings NULL & void, as if the proceedings had never been opened”.

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 27, 2021

The other 9 teams who were ‘founding clubs’ of the competition have all been told that they will not have to pay their fine. These teams backed down from the competition because of fan reactions. These teams include English giants Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool and Milano teams Inter and AC Milan.

This news comes after a court in Madrid didn’t side with UEFA and argued that they couldn’t punish the rebel teams for wanting to create their own tournament. Many experts in football have stated that we haven’t heard the last of the European Super League, with even Barcelona president Joan Laporta stating that the competition is “still alive”.

UEFA have stated that “UEFA will continue to take all necessary steps, in strict accordance with national and EU law, in order to defend the interests of UEFA and of all football stakeholders,” meaning they will continue fighting against the Super League.

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Fines if you stay in your car in Gozo Channel ferry garage

Sep 28 2021

Police are being situated aboard the Gozo Channel ferry to inform passengers not to remain in their cars as the voyage between the sister island progresses. Passengers are being informed to occupy the passenger spaces aboard the vessel, with authorities having the right to hand out fines if these regulations are breached. Sources speaking to newsroom Newsbook, the incentive is to raise awareness and protect people should incidents aboard the vessel occur.

Sources from the Gozo Channel company revealed that should an incident occur, the garage doors seal shut and thus endanger the lives of those downstairs. Despite the ships being designed to undergo a slow sinking to give time for passengers to evacuate, the dangers posed far outweigh the risk of staying downstairs. Those downstairs will also not receive help due to being locked in the garage which can occupy up to 150 vehicles.

Speaking to Newsbook, Gozo Channel Chairman Joe Cordina stated that the company operates according to European and Transport Malta regulations. The rules prohibit anyone from staying in their car during a voyage between the islands. The chairman stated that it is the captain and the crew’s responsibility to make sure that no one remained in their cars, referring to a PA system message issued before every voyage.

These regulations go against measures taken by the government during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, when Prime Minister Robert Abela urged people to avoid going up to the passenger area and stay in their vehicles to avoid spread. The UHM Voice of Workers plead to the government to retract the measure immediately as passengers made their way to Gozo during Carnival.

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How can a PE teacher teach English and Maths? – Confusion as schools reopen

Sep 28 2021

As Education Minister Justyne Caruana assures the public that students in state schools will be returning to classrooms next Wednesday with the appropriate educators, Malta Teacher’s Union expressed concern about the lack of teachers. They revealed that they were not informed that peripatetic teachers were to be added to teach following the opening of 131 new classes.

Caruana said that out of these 500 peripatetic teachers, 81 were asked to teach primary classes whereas 22 of them offered to take up a class. With 103 peripatetic teachers in primary, Permanent Secretary expressed concern about MUT’s behaviour, stating that an agreement was in fact in place and denying that there are 150 primary school classes without a teacher.

Speaking on the matter, former editor at Times of Malta and online editor of MataToday Kurt Sansone asked how a PE teacher who never taught a primary class will be expected to captain English, Maltese, Mathematics and other Year 5 classes. He highlighted how the matter is made worse when considering that the teacher was informed over the weekend of such updates and expected to provide schemes of work according to the syllabus. He expressed his pity for these educators and for the students who will be educated by a lost teacher.

Comments about the situation also expressed concern. Some pointed out how finding educators is, and will become, more of a problem because ‘we have screwed up our economy.’ Pointing out how a tiler ‘probably earns 3 times as much what a teacher earns,’ a particular commenter argued that we are ‘rewarding low skilled jobs and penalising high skilled jobs. […] Instead of incentivising people to take up teaching or the caring professions we are bringing in cheap labour to substitute it.’

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Photo Source: The Guardian, Justyne Caruana FB, Kurt Sansone FB