Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/960495
maltatoday SUNDAY 1 APRIL 2018 4 News JAMES DEBONO 28 per cent of Maltese have told a Europe-wide survey that they did not walk for more than 10 minutes during a seven-day period. The Eurobarometer survey held in December 2017 asked respondents on how many days they walked for at least 10 min- utes at a time in the last seven days. Only the Cypriots (32%) and the Portuguese (29%) were less likely to walk at least for 10 minutes during that week. On average 15% of Europeans had walked at least once for more than 10 min- utes. In contrast only 7% of Germans did not have a 10-minute walk in the previous week. Respondents in Cyprus (32%), Portugal (29%), Malta (28%), It- aly (27%) Poland (22%), Romania (21%) and Hungary (20%) were the most likely to say they did not walk for ten minutes or more on any day during the previous week. The percentage of Maltese who never walked in a particular week increased by 13 points since 2013. But despite the decrease in walking the percentage of Mal- tese who never exercise or play sports has decreased by 19 points since 2013. The Maltese aversion to walking is not limited to the month of De- cember when the survey was held. 23% replied that "in general" they never walk for more than 10 minutes. When asked how often they ex- ercise or play sport, 56% of the Maltese replied 'never'. Back in 2013, 75% of Maltese had replied that they never practise any sport. Only six countries have seen a decrease in the proportion that never exercises or plays sport. The largest decreases are found in Malta (-19pp), Bulgaria (-10pp) and Cyprus (-8pp). While in the EU overall, the most common setting for physi- cal exercise is a park or outdoors (40%), in two countries (Greece, 42% and Malta, 31%) the most popular setting is on the way be- tween home and school, work or shops. Car-mad Malta reveals aversion to walking 28% of Maltese said they did not walk for anything more than 10 minutes over a week maltatoday SUNDAY 1 APRIL 2018 reveals aversion Physical activity: A profile of the Maltese Malta EU Average Never walk for more than 10 min 23 11 Did not walk for more than 10 min in previous week 28 15 Spend more than 5 hours 30 minutes sitting 39 41 Are members of a health and fitness centre 7 11 Are members of a sports club 9 12 Never engage in any sports/physical activity 56 46 ATTARD residents are up in arms against the development of a supermarket; a shop and 38 apartments build over four sto- reys on 1,135 sqm of land. A number of mature trees in- cluding Olive and Pine are found in this green area bordered by Triq il-Linja, Triq Anthony Schembri and Triq il-Mithna, a short distance away from the of- ficial residence of the US ambas- sador. Residents have pointed out that two supermarkets namely Scott's and M4 already exist in the area while Smart and PAMA are with- in a short distance by car. Others expressed concern on the congestion and parking even if the project has three levels of basement garages. Most objected to the loss of another open space. "Attard has been turned into a concrete jungle", reads one of the objections. The PA has already received more than 30 objections from residents living in the area. Said Investments Limited is be- hind the development. Another application has been presented by Ta' Dernis Ltd on another open space on the oppo- site side of Triq il -Linja. The ap- plication foresees the construc- tion of two offices, two shops, 12 apartments, a maisonette, and basement garages. In 2015 the PA had approved a development on an adjacent site along Triq il-Mithna consisting of the demolition of an existing rustic building to make way for apartments on three storeys. Attard supermarket plans raise residents' ire CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 B.L. Nian Limited and Dodoone Limited. Bacchi and many of his co-accused were charged with money laundering, mafia asso- ciation, fraud and numerous other offenses. He had allegedly provided for the creation of remote accesses dealing with the management of quotas and the operation of the online gam- ing network. Bacchi's betting shops – officially 'data trans- mission centres' or CTDs – featured terminals that connected to the Malta-licensed Phoenix gambling sites. The unauthorized operations reportedly generated undeclared revenue of €1 million each month, with a chunk of that sum alleg- edly kicked back to Cosa Nostra members. Diomiro remains under arrest expecting ex- tradition. Diomiro was the director of two Maltese companies, namely Dodoone Limited and B.L. Nian Limited, set up in late 2012. Both compa- nies were in turn owned by two shareholding Maltese companies, G.F. Dama Limited and Vincileo Limited, which in turn were held by nominee shareholders GVM Holdings. Another company which held the gaming li- cence, Phoenix International, was also held by GVM Holdings. The MGA's suspension notice ordered Phoenix to "indefinitely suspend all gaming operations, cease to register new players, sus- pend all transactions on all websites, including deposits and withdrawals, and submit all data and documentation requested by the Author- ity." GVM director David Gonzi, son of the for- mer prime minister, had already declared that his company had offered fiduciary services to the gaming operators but that the relationship was terminated on 30 October 2016. "The shares in the company have since that date been held directly by the shareholder. GVM Holdings is a licensed fiduciary com- pany providing fiduciary services in terms of the Trusts and Trustees Act. I hold a one third-shareholding in GVM Holdings and was appointed as the third director of GVM Hold- ings on the 2nd December 2014. As from De- cember 2015, GVM has been winding down its activities and has since sent termination letters to all its clients." Gonzi was already associated with the Betu- niq bust in Malta, but his name was removed from the list of potential suspects in Opera- tion Gambling, an investigation into money laundering by the 'Ndrangheta criminal or- ganisation. Gonzi's GVM Holdings had also given the Italians fiduciary services. tia.reljic@mediatoday.com.mt Malta to extradite company director linked to Mafia 'betting boss' Nino Bacchi Under arrest: Betting boss Benedetto Bacchi, a mafia associate, arrested in Palermo over a gaming racket whose operation was also based in Malta