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Rupee Bond Binge by Indian Firms Poised to Slow After Record Run – Bloomberg.com
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Navigating German FDI Rules – A&O Shearman
Key aspects that VC investors need to be aware of
Broad sector coverage: Within the past few years, the list of relevant businesses caught by the German FDI rules was extended from previously 11 to now 31. The German FDI regime now covers several of the most promising emerging and transformative Deep Tech, High Tech, and Green Tech sectors including defense, aerospace, (clean) energy, life sciences, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, robotics, semiconductors, and quantum technology.
Broad personal scope: The German FDI regime typically captures acquisitions by non-EU/EFTA investors. In the defense sector, filing requirements may even apply to non-German acquirers. It is particularly noteworthy that the MoE applies a “look-through” approach, examining the entire chain of ownership up to the ultimate beneficial owner. Consequently, the mere fact that the direct acquirer or the ultimate investor and/or the UBO might be a German or an EU/EFTA based entity does not exclude a filing requirement in any case. Given that the German FDI regulations differ from the common rules on the attribution of voting rights and do not provide for a “dilution” of voting rights, a 10% shareholding of a foreign entity at a higher level of the investor’s acquisition structure may trigger the need for a filing (even if this is just a holding company).
Low thresholds: Compared to most other FDI regimes across the globe, the German FDI screening rules provide for very low voting rights thresholds that trigger a filing requirement. In particular, the German FDI rules are triggered not only when an investor acquires control over a domestic company. Depending on the business of the German target, the acquisition of 20%, or even just 10%, of the voting rights may be subject to prior clearance from the MoE. VC seed and Series A funding may often reach or exceed such thresholds even if the investment volume is not very high.
No enterprise value or turnover thresholds: The German FDI rules do not provide for any de-minimis exemptions with regard to the turnover generated by the target company and/or with respect to the enterprise value or the funding amount. Hence, even low investments in a start-up that does not yet generate any turnover may trigger a filing and clearance requirement.
Stand-still obligation and gun jumping: Transactions that require a mandatory notification are principally subject to a stand-still obligation and a suspensory effect, i.e., the parties are not allowed to complete such a transaction until approval from the MoE. A ban on (i) sharing sensitive information with the acquirer and (ii) exercising voting rights by the acquirer prior to clearance (“gun jumping”) applies. As long as such clearance has not been issued by the MoE, the transaction is temporarily invalid under civil laws.
Multiple clearance requirements/successive funding rounds: Even if an initial investment was cleared by the MoE, subsequent increases in shareholding in later funding rounds (e.g., Series B, C) may trigger new filing obligations if relevant voting rights thresholds are crossed (20%, 25%, 40%, 50%, 75%).
Far reaching ex officio powers of the MoE: All acquisitions of 25% or more of the voting rights by a non-EU/EFTA investor may be called-in by the MoE for a period of up to five years. Parties may therefore carefully consider to file on a voluntary basis in the interest of deal certainty. The advisability of voluntary filing depends on the specific circumstances, including target and investor characteristics and the political climate.
Be aware, but don’t be concerned – FDI filings are no deal-breakers
Most of the transactions are cleared without conditions
Official data published by the MoE show that the overwhelming majority of notified transactions is cleared without any remedies. In 2024, the MoE imposed restrictive measures only in 3% of the transactions it had reviewed. As far as publicly known, only one transaction was blocked in 2024. Whilst these figures have been quite stable in Germany over the past few years, the global FDI landscape paints a mixed picture with an increased number of interventions in some of the key jurisdictions including, in particular, France where 44% of the transactions were subject to remedies, the US (19%) and Italy (13%).
If the MoE stipulates conditions or requests certain commitments from the parties, such remedies are typically tailor-made and address specific concerns. They regularly comprise of, inter alia, (i) limitations on shareholder influence, (ii) requirements with regard to the management composition, and (iii) the obligation to keep running the German business and to continuously supply critical German customers. The allocation of such execution risks and commitments in the transaction documentation is therefore crucial.
Based on our experience, the MoE is usually open to negotiate the content of the remedies with the parties. Contrary to merger control decisions, any such remedies are not made public by the MoE.
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Illness expectations play a crucial role in asthma progression and patient-reported outcomes
Individual expectations about one’s health can influence him/her future condition and the speed of the progression of a disease: in fact, a research conducted by researchers of psychology at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan campus, shows that, after a diagnosis of asthma, people who are optimistic about their health will have a slower progression of the disease.
The study was published in the journal Health Expectations (Wiley) and conducted by full Professor Francesco Pagnini of the Department of Psychology at the Università Cattolica and colleagues.
Professor Pagnini explains: “this study was developed in response to the difficulties reported by patients in managing asthma. Patients helped identify key areas of concern, and their perspectives influenced the choice of outcomes and tools“. Although direct involvement in recruitment and dissemination was limited due to the pandemic, the design and focus of the study were guided by patient priorities, with potential applications in clinical consultations and future co-designed interventions.
Background
After receiving a diagnosis, people often develop expectations about how their condition will evolve, Professor Pagnini explains. This cognitive framework, known as “illness expectations” (IE), comprises future-oriented beliefs about the course of the disease and its symptoms. In chronic conditions such as asthma, IEs can play a crucial role in determining patient-reported outcomes and also variations in clinical markers indicative of disease progression. “In this study, we empirically assessed the impact of IEs on asthma symptoms and respiratory function in patients,” Pagnini affirms.
The study
‘We involved a group of 310 people diagnosed with asthma who were followed for a period of 6 months, with three assessment points, measuring the level of asthma control with the Asthma Control Test (ACT), while respiratory function was assessed through forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) using spirometry,’ he explains. At the beginning of the study, we assessed each person’s IE using the validated Illness Expectation Test (IET), which captures both explicit (conscious) and implicit (unconscious) expectations.
It emerged that people with more negative explicit IE about their asthma reported worse symptoms over time. Explicit IE about symptom progression was also associated with changes in lung function, with more negative expectations predicting greater decline in respiratory performance, the professor adds.
These findings suggest that IE may be significantly associated with asthma outcomes, highlighting their potential relevance in understanding patient experiences and symptom perception. “In experiments with patients affected by other diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, we obtained similar results”, the expert continues.
The hypothesis suggested to explain these results is that, as with the placebo effect, what happens is that if I have an idea about the world and the future that awaits me, that idea will prevail, largely influencing behaviour and thus, for example, modifying adherence to therapies and clinical recommendations, he concludes.
Source:
Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Journal reference:
Volpato, E., et al. (2025). Illness Expectations and Asthma Symptoms: A 6‐Month Longitudinal Study. Health Expectations. doi.org/10.1111/hex.70285.
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Salaried class paid Rs555b in FY24
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ISLAMABAD:Salaried individuals have paid a staggering Rs555 billion in income tax in the last fiscal year, which were Rs188 billion more than the preceding year and also 100% more than the combined taxes paid by retailers and real estate sector.
The record-high contributions by people, who pay income tax on the gross salaries without having the luxury to adjust their expenses, substantially reduced the home-take salaries of a larger segment of society.
According to provisional figures compiled by the Federal Board of Revenue, the salaried persons paid Rs555 billion in income tax during the fiscal year 2024-25. The unwilling contributions were 51% or Rs188 billion more than the taxes collected from the salaried persons in the preceding fiscal year.
In the fiscal year 2023-24, the government had collected Rs367 billion from the salaried persons. The government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had phenomenally increased the tax burden of the salaried class and claimed it would generate only Rs75 billion in additional income taxes.
The highest ever contributions by the salaried persons in a single year showed how the voiceless people have been discriminated against the powerful sectors of the country.
Last month, the government marginally reduced the tax burden of the people earning up to Rs3.2 million annually, which it said would give them a benefit of Rs56 billion. This nominal benefit of Rs56 billion compared to the current contributions is like a drop in the bucket, which would not address the fiscal woes of the salaried individuals.
Despite putting enormous burden on the salaried class, the FBR missed its annual collection target by a margin of around Rs1.2 trillion.
The details showed that non-corporate sector employees paid Rs236.5 billion income tax in the last fiscal year, which is higher by Rs67 billion or 40%. Corporate sector employees paid Rs165 billion in income tax, also higher by Rs54.6 billion or 49%.
Employees of the provincial governments paid Rs99.5 billion in taxes, which was up by Rs49 billion or 98%. The federal government employees paid Rs54.2 billion, higher by Rs17 billion or 45%.
Total income tax payments during the last fiscal year were Rs5.8 trillion and the salaried class paid Rs1 out of every Rs10 collected from the entire country under the head of income tax.
In contrast to Rs555 billion paid by the salaried persons, the retailers, mostly unregistered, have contributed only Rs38 billion on account of withholding income tax on their purchases. The amount of tax that traders paid under section 236-H was 1,360% less than taxes paid by salaried persons.
Besides, wholesalers and distributors also paid Rs25 billion withholding tax in the last fiscal year and almost half of them were unregistered with the FBR, said the sources.
PM Sharif could not live up to his promise of collecting due taxes from the retailers. The Tajir Dost scheme failed to yield desired results and the government has not announced any new measure in the budget to bring the retailers in the tax net.
Its biggest enforcement measure to ban the economic transactions by ineligible persons has become effectively useless after the government exempted more than 90% transactions from the purview of the new law. The government has allowed the ineligible persons, those having not enough declared resources, to buy up to Rs7 million worth of a car, Rs50 million worth plot and Rs100 million commercial property.
In the budget, the government had imposed 2.5% withholding tax on traders, in the hope that this would force them to come into the tax system. Though the increase in the rate did help collect Rs21 billion more from the traders, the intended objective could not be achieved. The traders passed on the cost of the additional tax to the end consumers.
In the last budget, the government had also substantially increased the tax burden of the real estate sector by increasing the rates for the non-filers and also introducing a new category of late filers in the budget.
As a result, during the last fiscal year, the government collected Rs237 billion on sales and purchase of properties. This helped increase collection by 19% compared to the previous fiscal year but it was still below the mark.
The combined taxes paid by both retailers and the real estate sector were 100% less than the total contributions by the salaried persons.
On the sale of properties, the government collected Rs119 billion on account of withholding taxes, which were one-fourth more than the preceding fiscal year. On the purchases of the plots, the government collected another Rs118 billion, also higher by 14%.
In the new budget, the government has abolished the federal excise duty on the real estate sector. The net taxes on the sales and purchases remained unchanged, although the government shifted higher burden towards the sellers by increasing their withholding tax rates.
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Meet the Goblin Prince: Newly discovered dinosaur-era lizard looks like it crawled out of a myth
Sometimes, groundbreaking scientific discoveries don’t come from deep digs in far-off deserts. Sometimes, they’re hiding in plain sight—in this case, in a tiny jar sitting in a dusty museum drawer in Utah. That’s where a new species of prehistoric armored lizard—yes, armored—was just identified, and it’s got a name straight out of Middle-earth.Meet Bolg amondol, a spiky, tank-like lizard that lived around 76 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period. It was about three to four feet long, covered in body armor, and definitely not the kind of lizard you’d want to mess with. Think of it as a mini dinosaur-age monster, one that roamed ancient Utah alongside T. rex and other big-name dinos—and held its own.
From “lizard” drawer to lizard legend
The story of Bolg amondol started not in the field but at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, where paleontologist Dr. Hank Woolley was going through drawers labeled with basic terms like “lizard.” Inside one drawer, he found a small jar filled with fossil fragments—skull pieces, limb bones, vertebrae, and those signature osteoderms (bony plates under the skin). The fossils had been sitting there for decades, unstudied and unlabeled beyond the generic tag.But once Woolley took a closer look, he realized he was holding something special. The bones were surprisingly well-preserved—enough to piece together a nearly complete picture of the animal. And it was unlike anything paleontologists had seen before.
What kind of creature was Bolg?
Bolg amondol wasn’t your average lizard. It belonged to a group called Monstersauria—the ancient ancestors of today’s Gila monsters and beaded lizards. These creatures weren’t massive like the dinosaurs they lived beside, but they were tough. Bolg had sharp, spiked teeth, armored skin, and a bony, ridged skull that looked like it was built for battle.Its name reflects its fierce look. “Bolg” is a nod to the goblin prince in The Hobbit, while “amondol” comes from Tolkien’s Elvish, meaning “mound head”—a reference to its thick, armored skull. Nerdy? Absolutely. Fitting? Even more so.Scientists believe Bolg was a bold little predator, probably snacking on insects, small vertebrates, and even dinosaur eggs when it could. Its armored body would have offered protection while it slinked around ancient floodplains on the hunt.
A peek into prehistoric ecosystems
What makes Bolg’s discovery even cooler is the context. It was found in southern Utah’s Kaiparowits Formation, a fossil hotspot that paints a detailed picture of life in Late Cretaceous North America. In the same region, scientists have uncovered several large lizards, suggesting a diverse and thriving community of mid-sized predators living alongside the giants.One of the most fascinating details? Bolg amondol has close relatives in Asia, suggesting these monstersaurs weren’t just local legends—they were international travelers. This supports the idea that, back in the day, animals could move freely between continents using land bridges that connected North America and Asia.And the fact that this amazing creature was sitting in a museum drawer for years, unnoticed? It’s a perfect reminder of just how much we still have to learn from fossils that have already been found but never fully studied.So next time you walk past a museum display or peek into an old collection, remember: the next great discovery might not require a shovel—just a closer look.
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The effect of motivational interviewing on healthy lifestyle behaviors and quality of life in on menopausal women: a pilot randomized controlled trial | BMC Women’s Health
Study design
This randomized controlled trial was conducted in two different Family Health Centers (FHCs) in a province in eastern Turkey. A schematic of the experimental design is given in Fig. 1. This randomized controlled experimental design was conducted in accordance with the CONSORT checklist steps.
Fig. 1 Setting and sample
The sample size for this study was determined by G power analysis. The population of the study consisted of 1442 women aged between 45 and 54 years and registered to Family Health Centers No. 1 and 3 in a city center, according to the updated data from Tunceli Provincial Health Directorate in 2018. The sample of the study was determined based on a similar study [11], using the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) and the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLPL II). A power analysis was conducted, using G*Power 3.1.9.2 and considering the total MENQOL score after education, with an effect size of 0.48, standard deviation of 7.22, power of 0.80, β of 0.05, and α of 0.05. Accordingly, the sample was determined to consist of 136 menopausal women, including 68 in the experimental group and 68 in the control group. A computer-generated random number table was used, which can be used when the sample size is n < 100. For selecting women in the sample, those in the age group of 45–54 years were numbered according to their registration number in the FHCs, using simple random sampling method and a random number table. To prevent cross-contamination between the groups, data for the experimental group were collected from the Health Center No. 1, and data for the control group were collected from the Health Center No. 3. Similarly, in FHC No. 1 and 3, there are 4 physicians, 4 family health personnel, 2 auxiliary health personnel, 4 polyclinics, 1 nurse room, 1 vaccination room, 1 pregnant-baby monitoring room, 1 intervention room and 1 training room. During the practice, no intervention regarding MG was performed on menopausal women in FHCs.
Ethical approval
For conducting the study, an ethical approval was obtained from the Munzur University Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Committee (Date: 03/09/2018/4579) and written permissions from the Tunceli Provincial Health Directorate and the responsible physicians of Health Centers No. 1 and 3. The participants were informed about the purpose of this study, and their written informed consent was obtained using an informed consent form. Compliance with ethical principles was ensured at every stage of the study. Additionally, permission was obtained for using both HPLPL II and MENQOL. No interventions were conducted on women in the control group until the experimental research was completed. After the post-test was administered to women in the experimental and control groups, those in the control group also participated in a motivational interviewing session upon their wishes.
Participants
Between August 15, 2018, and December 30, 2019, the eligibility of women registered with two different FHCs in the city center of Tunceli was evaluated for inclusion in this study. A total of 8 women from the experimental group, 6 women due to transportation difficulties, moving to another city, caring for family members, treatment of secondary disease, and 2 women due to inaccessibility, were excluded from the study. In addition, a total of 9 women from the control group were excluded from the study 5 of them could not be reached and 4 did not participate in the post-test without submitting any reason.
Inclusion criteria
The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) being literate; (2) being able to make a conscious decision to participate in the study, being able to communicate verbally, and being able to sign a consent form; (3) having had menopause naturally and within the last 3 years; (4) being sexually active; (5) having no hormone replacement therapy.
Exclusion criteria
The exclusion criteria were as follows: (1) unwilling to continue the study; (2) having a psychiatric diagnosis according to the FHC records.
Termination criteria of the study
The termination criteria were as follows: (1) intending to leave the study and (2) move to another city.
Study protocol
The search was randomized by a computer programming module (http://www.randomizer.org/form.htm) designed for controlled trials; a randomization list was prepared, and the participants were randomly assigned either to the experimental group (n = 68) or to the control group (n = 68).
Instruments for evaluation
The following measurement tools were used in this study.
Introductory information form
The introductory information form was prepared by the researcher in line with the literature [24,25,26,27,28,29,30]. It consists of a total of 10 questions about the menopausal women’s socio-demographic characteristics (age, education level, income level, place of residence for the longest time) and history of menopause (duration of being in menopause, training on menopause, thoughts about menopause and coping methods for menopausal complaints).
Health promoting lifestyle profile II (HPLPL II)
The HPLPL II was prepared by Walker et al. in 1987 [31]. This scale is suitable for use in research to evaluate health promotion behaviors within the framework of the health promotion model [11]. The scale includes six dimensions, namely, nutrition, physical activity, stress management, interpersonal relationships, responsibility for health, and spiritual growth (52 items in total). The items are scored based on a 4point Likert scale (never, sometimes, often, and usually). The total score of the scale ranges from 52 to 208. The score of each dimension is calculated separately and a higher scores mean better health. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was found as 0.92 for the total scale and ranged between 0.64 and 0.80 for its dimensions, suggesting that the Turkish version of the scale has sufficient validity and reliability [32]. In the present study, the Cronbach’s alpha value of the scale was 0.88.
Menopause-Specific quality of life (MENQOL)
The MENQOL was developed by John R. Hilditch et al. in 1996 to create a health-specific quality of life scale for menopausal women [33], and its Turkish validity and reliability study was conducted by Kharbouch and Şahin in 2007 [34]. This is a 7-point Likert-type scale containing 29 items and consists of four domains: vasomotor, psychosocial, physical and sexual. Each item is scored from “0” to “6”, where “0” refers to “not bothersome” and “6” to “extremely bothersome”. A higher scale score indicates greater severity of the complaint. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the scale domains was found to range between 0.81 and 0.89 [34]. In the present study, the Cronbach’s alpha value of the scale domains ranged between 0.71 and 0.83.
Nursing interventions
Since the method is a technique that generally requires expertise, it is recommended that practitioners undergo a certain training and certification process in order to apply the technique effectively. The researcher participated in the motivational interviewing program and received a certificate prior to the application in this study. Additionally, expert opinions were received from 5 experts during the preparation of motivational interviewing steps. The nursing intervention was applied to 68 menopausal women included in the experimental group. A total of 9 sessions were conducted, including 1 preparation session, 6 motivational interviews, 1 initial follow-up interview one week after the intervention, and 2 follow-up interviews 4 weeks after the initial follow-up. Considering the interactive training method, the motivational interviewing sessions were conducted in the training room of the Health Center in groups of 10 at three different days (Monday, Thursday, Friday) once a week, through face-to-face sessions each lasting 50–60 min. During the interviews, the women were provided with counseling to activate their own sources of motivation, develop healthy lifestyle behaviors and improve their quality of life specific to menopause. The specific contents of the interventions were as follows:
Table 1 Motivational interviewing steps During the research period, no interventions were applied to women in the control group by the researcher, and they filled in the data collection forms simultaneously with those in the experimental group. During the application, no interventions of motivational interviewing were conducted for menopausal women at the FHCs.
Statistical analysis
The data were coded and statistically analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS 24) software package. Fisher’s exact test and chi-square test were employed by the researcher to determine the homogeneity of women in the experimental and control groups. The effects of healthy lifestyle behaviors and menopausal-specific quality of life between the groups were analyzed using independent samples t-test and repeated measures ANOVA. Cohen’s d value was calculated to determine the effect size for women in the experimental and control groups. The results were evaluated at a 95% confidence interval and a significance level of 0.05.
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Experts warn of unpredictable severity of dengue fever
According to the Ministry of Health (MoH), in the first five months of 2025, the country recorded 22,974 dengue cases and five deaths. This indicates that risks remain, especially in the context of overlapping outbreaks such as dengue, hand-foot-and-mouth disease, and COVID-19 increasing in some localities.
At the end of May, the MoH issued an urgent directive calling for strengthened leadership, surveillance, and communication to reduce dengue-related fatalities.
Dengue was previously known for having an outbreak cycle of about once every five years, with a clear “quiet period”. But now, epidemiological patterns have changed alarmingly. It is no longer seasonal and has spread geographically.
Information about the unpredictable developments, burdens, and risks posed by dengue was shared by experts at a recent online talk show organised by Suc khoe & Doi song, the official media voice of the MoH, in collaboration with Takeda Vietnam Pharmaceuticals Limited. Takeda has made significant efforts to support the health sector by raising community awareness about dengue. The talk show was held under the theme: “Towards zero dengue deaths: Collective disease prevention with integrated solutions”.
Guest speakers at the talk show Dr. Vo Hai Son, deputy director of the Vietnam Administration of Disease Prevention, said, “Previously, high case numbers followed a cycle of about five years, but now it has changed, and high case numbers appear roughly every two years.” He further explained that urbanisation, migration, and easier travel between regions have facilitated the wider and harder-to-control spread of dengue fever.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Thai, vice head of the Infectious Diseases Control Department at the National institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, stated from an epidemiological perspective that dengue has now spread across provinces, including mountainous areas that previously recorded very few cases. This development means that everyone needs to be more proactive in responding to the disease.
Negligence and improper handling
Although general awareness about dengue has improved, according to experts, a significant portion of the population remains negligent and mismanages the illness, leading to cases of late hospitalisation, severe disease progression, and even death.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Do Duy Cuong, director of Bach Mai Institute of Tropical Medicine, said, People with a fever may assume it is due to other illnesses like the flu, but in reality some cases show no clear symptoms, and patients arrive at the hospital late, already in shock or with multiple organ failure.
Misinterpretation of symptoms causes many people to self-treat at home, missing the “golden period” for intervention and facing unpredictable risks A typical case shared by Cuong involved a male student from the countryside living in rented accommodation in Hanoi. Due to poor living conditions, when he had a fever, he just stayed in his room and ate sparsely. He was only admitted to hospital on the fifth day, when his condition had worsened, and he was showing signs of shock and haemoconcentration.
Additionally, dengue is caused by a virus and has no specific cure. The unauthorised use of antibiotics, corticosteroids, or IV fluids without a doctor’s prescription is a serious mistake that can worsen the illness.
Comprehensive collaboration towards zero dengue deaths
To cope with the increasingly complex dengue epidemiology, reduce fatalities, and effectively control outbreaks, experts emphasise the need for a comprehensive strategy including vector control, epidemiological surveillance, early warning systems, behavioural communication, and strengthening of the health system. Among these, vaccination, a new solution endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO), is a part of the overall strategy, enabling proactive prevention and reducing the risk of severe disease progression.
Sharing at the talk show, MSc. Dr. Vo Hai Son emphasised the importance of controlling disease vectors, along with proactive actions from everyone: “Social measures, together with the proactiveness in each locality, neighbourhood, and household, will make people aware of the risks of infection and death due to dengue. From there, we will coordinate with the health sector to eliminate mosquito larvae and mosquitoes. This will help enhance disease and vector control.”
Adding to the vector control solution, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Thai also pointed out the unpredictable challenges in urban environments. “Some people say their apartment is on the 30th floor and they don’t see mosquitoes, so they believe they’re safe. But don’t assume that. Mosquitoes are very smart. They don’t fly directly from the first to the 30th floor, but instead ascend step by step, breeding on each floor. As a result, even the highest floors of apartment buildings will have mosquitoes.”
High-rise apartment buildings are not safe zones for dengue. Mosquitoes will still breed and transmit dengue if not properly controlled From the perspective of an enterprise accompanying Vietnam’s health system, Benjamin Ping, general manager of Takeda, said, “We believe that multi-sectoral collaboration plays a key role because no single unit or organisation can effectively control dengue alone.”
Ping also emphasised the necessity for cooperation between the government, the health sector, businesses, and the community. He stated that Takeda is committed to contributing to collective efforts by strengthening healthcare system capacity, supporting community communication, and ensuring sustainable access to vaccinations as an integral part of the disease control strategy.
Additionally, the role of health education is indispensable. It is necessary to implement diverse, official, and continuous campaigns to raise community awareness, help people understand the disease correctly, recognise early symptoms, avoid negligence, and seek medical care in time. In addition, vaccination is also considered one of the proactive preventive solutions, helping to reduce severe cases and fatalities caused by dengue.
The WHO is currently recommending the use of Takeda’s dengue vaccine for certain populations in countries with high transmission rates and significant dengue burden. This vaccine has been approved in 40 countries, with over 15 million doses distributed globally.
Disclosure
This content was jointly developed by the Sức khỏe & Đời sống Newspaper, and has been professionally reviewed and approved by the Vietnam Association of Preventive Medicine with the aim of raising public awareness. It is intended solely for public informational purposes and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of any health condition. This material is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your physician for further guidance. C-ANPROM/VN/NON/0034
Experts discuss dengue fever prevention in Vietnam Takeda, a global biopharmaceutical company, hosted a series of meetings in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi on September 26-27 to discuss the essential role of vaccines in an integrated dengue prevention strategy in Vietnam and globally.
Integrated solutions for dengue fever prevention in Vietnam Dengue vaccines being available in Vietnam contributes to strengthening the prevention and control strategy for this infectious disease, but synchronised implementation of multiple solutions is needed to ensure vaccine sustainability.
Concerns mount over potential dengue fever outbreaks At a recent scientific symposium on dengue vaccines in Ho Chi Minh City, experts warn that dengue fever is shifting from a seasonal outbreak to a year-round public health threat, with treatment costs in some cases approaching $40,000.
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Asian game developers use AI to breathe new life into characters
SEOUL/SHANGHAI — Video game developers in Asia are racing to apply artificial intelligence technologies to their characters to give users more intuitive interactions and immersive experiences.
Krafton of South Korea is working with U.S. giants like Nvidia and OpenAI, while Chinese players including Novaserene Entertainment and NetEase are powered by DeepSeek, which surprised the world with its advanced yet affordable large language model early this year.
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Hong Kong Shifted in Cost Ranking
Hong Kong, 04 July 2025 – Arcadis has released its highly anticipated International Construction Costs (ICC) 2025 report, which reveals that Hong Kong has achieved a lower ranking compared to 2024, from 9th to 10th. This shift reflects the trend of reduction in construction costs, signalling increased affordability and enhanced competitiveness in the global construction market. Hong Kong’s change in position on the list reflects its ongoing efforts in managing costs while striving to maintain its appeal as a hub for investment and development.
The ICC report, published annually by Arcadis, provides a comprehensive comparison of construction costs across 100 of the world’s largest cities across six continents. The cost comparison covers twenty different building types, including residential, commercial, and public sector developments, and is based on a survey of construction costs, a review of market conditions, and the professional judgement of Arcadis’ global team of experts. The calculations are based in USD and indexed against the price range for each building type relative to Amsterdam. It serves as a valuable benchmark for affordability, market trends, and economic conditions in the construction sector.
The improved ICC 2025 ranking of Hong Kong is positive news for developers, investors, and stakeholders. It highlights Hong Kong’s efforts to reduce construction costs through technological innovation, enhanced procurement strategy, etc. while continuing to uphold its reputation for providing high-quality infrastructure. This progress strengthens the city’s position as a competitive and attractive destination for large-scale developments, infrastructure investments, and urban growth.
“Hong Kong’s enhanced cost competitiveness reflects its commitment to technological innovation and efficiency in construction, and continued efforts are expected to further improve the reduction of construction costs in the coming years.” stated William Fong, Head of Cost and Commercial Management for Hong Kong & Macau. “This advancement not only supports economic growth but also opens new opportunities for sustainable and affordable development,” William added.
Hong Kong remains dedicated to further enhancing its construction sector by investing in cutting-edge technologies, sustainable practices, and streamlined processes. With a positive trend in affordability, the city is well positioned to meet future demands and attract global partnerships for development projects.
For more information, the full report can be downloaded here.
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Justice Mansoor seeks JCP meeting details
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ISLAMABAD:Supreme Court Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah has urged the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) to share the minutes of all its meetings during tenure of Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi.
In a letter written on June 25 to the JCP secretary, Justice Shah raised concern for not sharing the minutes of the JCP meetings to the public.
“I raise an issue of institutional concern: the commission’s discontinuation of the practice of releasing the minutes of its meetings to the public,” says the letter.
Justice Shah believes that the judiciary, as a trend-setter for other state institutions, must hold itself to the highest standards of openness and public accountability.
“The appointment of judges is a public act with far-reaching consequences. The people of Pakistan have a right to know how the judges of the top court in the country are selected, what deliberations take place, and whether constitutional standards are applied in good faith.
“The opacity that now surrounds the Commission’s workings is not healthy, not democratic, and not consistent with the Supreme Court’s image as the guardian of constitutional values,” says the letter.
He; therefore, urges the commission that the minutes of all JCP meetings held during the tenure of the current chairperson (CJP Afridi) be released to the public, in accordance with past practice.
Abdul Moiz Jaferii advocate said that the central premise of the newly instituted processes related to the judiciary was that the method and process of judicial appointments be made more transparent.
A basic feature of this transparency was the releasing of minutes which let the people see the process of determination. This has now ceased. Without reason, he adds.
After the passage of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, the executive has dominancy in the process of judges appointment as well as selection of judges for the constitutional benches.
There is no explanation as why the senior judges were not nominated for constitutional benches in Supreme Court as well as Sindh High Court.
There is no explanation as to why dissenting judges are being sidelined by the commission.
Recently, the JCP ignored the appointment of senior most judges for their appointment as chief justices of the high court.
A lawyer says that they were just ignored because they were not government’s like-minded’ judges.
Similarly, with valid reason, some senior judges, especially Peshawar High Court Judge Ejaz Anwar, were not nominated for the appointment of SC judge.
There is no explanation as how the JCP altered its opinion about a judge whose integrity was under question one year ago.
It is also witnessed that majority of the government-backed lawyers are appointed as judges of the high courts during the tenure of CJP Afridi.
The lawyers whose integrity and competency are beyond doubt were not nominated for appointments as they were not the government’s like-minded’
CJP Afridi so far could not evolve a strategy to minimise the influence of executive in the appointment of judges.
Around 50 judges are appointed in high courts as well as Supreme Court after passage of 26th constitutional amendment.
During the tenure of ex-CJP Qazi Faez Isa, minutes of committee working under the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Act was being shared on the Supreme Court website. However, this practice has been discontinued during ex CJP Yahya Afridi tenure.
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