Study Suggests That One in Three Children are Short-Sighted

Sep 25 2024

Children’s eyesight is deteriorating globally, with one in three now suffering from short-sightedness, according to a comprehensive study. The research, which analyzed data from over five million young people across 50 countries, reveals that myopia has tripled since 1990, now affecting 36% of children. The rise is particularly significant following the Covid pandemic, where increased screen time and reduced outdoor activity negatively impacted vision.

Asia reports the highest rates of myopia, with 85% of Japanese children and 73% of South Korean children affected. In contrast, countries like Paraguay and Uganda report much lower rates, around 1%. The UK, Ireland, and the US are at 15%.

Myopia usually begins in primary school and worsens until around age 20. Genetic factors, along with early education starting as young as two in places like Singapore, contribute to the condition. To protect eyesight, experts recommend children spend at least two hours outdoors daily and undergo eye tests between ages seven and ten. While myopia cannot be cured, it can be managed with corrective lenses. Without intervention, the condition could affect over half of the world’s youth by 2050.

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Trailer Released For Disney Channel’s “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place”

Sep 25 2024

Disney Channel has unveiled the trailer for “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place,” a sequel to the beloved series “Wizards of Waverly Place.” The show features David Henrie reprising his role as Justin Russo, now an adult who has opted for a normal, non-magical life with his family—wife Giada and their children, Roman and Milo. However, Justin’s peaceful life takes a turn when his sister Alex, played by Selena Gomez in a guest appearance, arrives with a young wizard named Billie (Janice LeAnn Brown) in need of guidance.

The official synopsis teases Justin’s struggle to balance mentoring Billie in the ways of magic while managing his everyday responsibilities and safeguarding the future of the Wizard World. The trailer hints at the challenges ahead, showing Justin returning to the Russo family lair to begin Billie’s rocky training.

“Wizards Beyond Waverly Place” is written and executive produced by Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas, with Gary Marsh, Jonas Agin, Gomez, and Henrie also serving as executive producers. The pilot was directed by Andy Fickman, who will continue directing multiple episodes. The series debuts on October 29 at 8:00 p.m. ET on Disney Channel, with episodes available on Disney+ and Disney Channel On Demand the following day.

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Davide Tucci To Portray Frank Sinatra In Italian Series ‘Miss Fallacci’

Sep 25 2024

Between October 16 and 27, during the Festa del Cinema di Roma, actor Davide Tucci will star in the highly anticipated eight-episode series Miss Fallacci, where he portrays Frank Sinatra.

The series, featuring Mariam Orsini in the role of iconic journalist Oriana Fallacci, will premiere at the festival before being broadcast on Rai 1.

Miss Fallacci is inspired by real-life events that Fallacci recounted in her works I sette peccati di Hollywood and Penelope alla guerra, and takes viewers back to the early days of her career in the 1950s, when she worked for the newspaper L’Europeo in a male-dominated field.

Her big break comes when she is sent to the U.S. as a correspondent, covering the stories and lives of prominent personalities, including Sinatra.

For Tucci, this marks his second series on Rai Uno, following his appearance in the seventh season of Un Passo dal Cielo.

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Tucci’s recent work includes the Italian film So Tutto di Te, Netflix’s Barbarians, and Hallmark’s For Love & Honey. He will also be part of the high-budget series Those About To Die, set to stream on Amazon Prime and Peacock, alongside stars such as Sir Anthony Hopkins, Gabriella Pession, and Tom Hughes. The series boasts a production budget of $140 million.

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Maltese Honeybee Declared National Insect

Sep 25 2024

Malta has officially proclaimed the Maltese honeybee (Apis mellifera ruttneri) as its National Insect, joining five other recognized national species. This distinctive honeybee, known locally as “in-naħla ta’ Malta,” has evolved in isolation on the Maltese Islands, making it ideally adapted to the region’s hot and dry summers.

Honeybees are vital for both agriculture and biodiversity, providing essential services like pollination and the production of honey and beeswax. With this new status, the Maltese honeybee will enjoy enhanced legal protections and increased public awareness regarding its crucial role in environmental health.

Minister for the Environment, Miriam Dalli, celebrated the declaration, saying, “This declaration is a proud moment for Malta. The Maltese honeybee is a symbol of our natural heritage and a key player in sustaining both our environment and agriculture.”

Meanwhile, Minister for Agriculture, Anton Refalo, highlighted the initiative as a significant step toward preserving local genetic resources and enhancing agricultural products. This initiative aligns with ongoing efforts by the Ministries and the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) to foster biodiversity monitoring and conservation, including the Malta Pollinator Monitoring Scheme, which relies on the support of volunteers and citizen scientists.

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