More fruit but less exercise for Maltese kids during lockdown

Oct 9 2021

According to two separate studies shedding light on the pandemic’s impact on Maltese life in general, more fruit were eaten but less exercise was carried out as we endured quasi-lockdowns. The studies by the Malta Medical Journal focused on lockdown’s impact on health, showing an increased weight gain in Maltese children due to a lifestyle characterised by staying indoors. Sweetened beverages however were heavily impacted with a positive boost in the consumption of fruit and vegetables.

The online questionnaire involved 531 parents and showed that the preferred beverage for Maltese children was water at 94%. Only 14% reported a preference for sugar-sweetened beverages. This was reported as a positive improvement from data published in 2015 concerning the Food and Nutrition Policy and Action Plan for Malta which reported an average of 44% of youth admitting to drinking sugar-sweetened beverages almost daily. The enforced relocation of food and beverage consumption to the home rather than restaurants or take-aways was seen as the main motivator behind this.

Despite an increase in fruit and vegetable consumption was noted, it still did not reach up to recommended amounts. The intake was around 84% of the recommended 5 portions of fruit and vegetables daily on average. More than a quarter of parents stated that their kids were eating more food during lockdown – perhaps due to the immediate availability of food and an increase in boredom.

Despite healthier nutritional habits confirmed by the study, most children gained weight. 40% of parents stated that their children’s weight was between 1 to 2 kg lower when the pandemic hit, with 8% claiming it was 3 to 5kg lower. 46% claimed it remained the same. This was attributed to kids sitting down more and engaging in activities which encourages this behaviour.

However, a decrease in moderate to vigorous exercise was also noted. Before the pandemic, 21% reported achieving the recommended one hour of daily exercise, but this decreased to 17% during lockdown. 54% of children were able to achieve the daily recommended amount of exercise at least 5 days a week before the pandemic. This decreased to 32% when it hit, with 95% of children spending at least two hours or more doing sitting down activities.

#MaltaDaily

Social housing waiting list to drop as many find new homes

Oct 9 2021

By the end of this year, the number of people waiting for social housing is expected to drop by a whopping 60% as new public accommodation becomes available. This was revealed by Social Accommodation Minister Roderick Galdes as he addressed a press conference Friday evening. The waiting list for social housing was at its highest in 2017, having 3,288 hopefuls awaiting a state-financed home.

The waiting list will stand at 1,321 by the end of 2021, which marks a 60% drop from 2017. Around 279 families will be moving into their new home as early as 2022 as newly built housing sites in areas such as Attard, Birkirkara, Siggiewi, Kirkop, Zebbug, Qrendi and Zurrieq all become available. There will also be an additional 100 housing units allocated rom a new rental scheme operated conjointly between government and private owners.

These projects will result in less than 800 people on the waiting list by the end of 2022, with the approved applicants soon to be notified about when they will be given their keys to their new abode and its location. The Minister said that in the housing sector, the ministry is not only ‘giving a key to a new home but a key to a new life’, as he highlighted how the allocations are based on a new policy announced last August seeking to help those in need.

The Minister also revealed that this would be the first time the government will be fully transparent in the way social housing is allocated as it publishes the process. He said that a new profiling study and the building of around 1,700 new homes halved the waiting list rate. There had been around 700 allocations in the past three years – from existing available housing units to new ones from restorations and regenerations of vacant homes.

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: Roderick Galdes FB

Meet Europe’s newest airline – Italia Trasporto Aereo

Oct 9 2021

As of October 15, the skies will be introduced to Europe’s newest airline Italia Trasporto Aereo. With just a week to go before the launch and with Alitalia’s floundering over the years, ITA was ruled as a separate company in September by the EU. There has been a lot of debate as to whether ITA was a separate enough entity to take over, and we’ll make do with the scarce information we have. ITA is set to take over most, if not all, of Alitalia’s slots. Alitalia served 94 destinations, with 26 of those being in Italy.

ITA will be starting slow however, with 16 local local destinations, 19 short and medium haul destinations (Malta included), and 2 long haul destinations (Tokyo and New York). March 2022 will see Buenos Aires, Boston and Sao Paolo added, along with Luxembourg, Stuttgart and Florence. Los Angeles is scheduled for summer 2022 along with other European destinations. The company’s press release about its US flights might also imply that it could focus on long-haul business.

The airline also announced it will buy 28 new aircraft and leasing 45 more. The first new jets will enter ITA’s fleet in early 2022, and states that 70% of the fleet will be new-generation eco-friendly aircraft by late 2025. It plans to start with 52 and increase to 105 by 2025. The big question is whether or not the airline will survive, with the short-haul competition being its biggest challenge. With new leadership, zero debt and a new fleet, it might have a better faring chance than Alitalia did.

#MaltaDaily

Malta suffer a 4-0 defeat against Slovenia

Oct 9 2021

Malta’s national football team suffered a 4-0 defeat by a superior Slovenia play at the National Stadium last night. Slovenia’s returning Josip Ilicic delivered a double score, with Sporar and Sesko rounding up the 4-0 score in the 49 and 67 minutes respectively. This was the heaviest defeat in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers for Devis Mangia’s team, and should serve as an opportunity to brush up before the vital clash against Cyprus next week.

They will still have to play without two key players however, as both Joseph Mbong and Alex Satariano received a yellow card. The Maltese will have to show how last night’s defeat was merely a slip up after stellar performances against Cyprus, Russia and the same Slovenia before yesterday. The title of captain was handed over from Steve Borg to Zach Muscat as Slovenia welcomed back a previously suspended Ilicic. The national team are definitely becoming a competitive powerhouse at an international level, and yesterday’s unfortunate result could be just what was required to refocus and get back on the pitch.

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: SportsDesk (Chris Sant Fournier)