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PML-N questions granting of more reserved seats to JUI-F in KP

Counsel for the PML-N on Monday wondered how the JUI-F could be granted more reserved seats than the PML-N when both parties had an equal number of seats, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Speaking in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) during the hearing of the case related to the distribution of reserved seats among political parties in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), he said that the JUI-F had 10, while the PML-N had eight seats. “Both parties should have got nine seats each,” he argued, adding that there could be a toss in case both parties had an equal number of seats.

A four-member bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, heard the case and later reserved its verdict.

The PML-N’s counsel said that the notifications for the successful PML-N candidates were issued in phases. “Every winning candidate then has three days to join any political party after the issuance of the notification,” he said, adding, “Then each party’s position in terms of its strength in the national and provincial assemblies becomes clear. And it is on the basis of these seats that the parties are granted reserved seats.”

Speaking on the occasion, PPP’s lawyer Nayyer Bukhari said that the nature of his party’s case was different from both the PML-N and the JUI-F. “First, let these parties resolve their dispute,” he added.

PML-N may lose its seats, says JUI-F’s counsel

Later, talking to the media, counsel for the JUI-F Kamran Murtaza said that the PML-N’s claim was that it should get more reserved seats. “They say that they should get more seats after the joining of Tariq Awan,” he said, adding, “If any independent joins a political party after the time given in the constitution, the party’s seats reduce and do not increase.”

Reporter: Usman Khan

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July 14, 2025

Tobacco smoking was positively associated with disease relapse at week

Introduction

Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease characterized by a chronic relapsing-remitting course, and currently there is no complete cure.^1,2 It is estimated that psoriasis affects 1–5% of the global population.³ In China, the number of psoriasis patients is substantial, and the prevalence rate shows an overall increasing trend.⁴ As a systemic disease, psoriasis not only manifests with cutaneous symptoms but also increases the risk of other inflammatory diseases and systemic comorbidities, particularly in patients with severe conditions.⁵ Psoriasis can also affect psychological health and social participation, with patients often facing anxiety and depression, work restrictions, and social stigmatization, which impose a great burden on patients.⁶

Although significant advancements have been achieved in the efficacy of psoriasis treatment through the application of biologics and systemic therapies in recent years, the relapse of psoriasis remains a major challenge in clinical practice. In clinical evaluation of psoriasis, the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) is a commonly used quantitative evaluation tool. National Psoriasis Foundation Medical Advisory Board defines psoriasis relapse as a 50% loss of PASI improvement from baseline in patients who achieve a clinically meaningful response.⁷ Previous studies have shown that more than half of the patients relapse within 6 months after discontinuing treatment.⁸ The recurrent episodes and long-term treatment of psoriasis increase the economic burden among psoriasis patients and undermine their confidence in treatment as well.^6,9

The exact mechanisms underlying the relapse of psoriasis remain unclear. Current perspectives suggest that existing treatments for psoriasis can only suppress the activity of pathogenic immune cells rather than eliminate them. After the discontinuation of treatment, these cells may be reactivated and trigger the recurrence of lesions.⁷ The notion of local “immune memory” is supported by evidence.¹⁰ Tissue resident memory T cells (TRM) in the skin tissue are likely to be an important factor contributing to the relapse of psoriasis. Upon antigen activation, TRM cells can re-initiate the inflammatory cascade, leading to the relapse of the disease.¹¹

Growing evidence indicates that environmental factors (such as diet and obesity, tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking, psychological factors) play an important role in psoriasis development.¹² Tobacco smoking, as a modifiable lifestyle factor, has received widespread attention for its impact on psoriasis. Previous studies have indicated that tobacco smoking increases the risk of developing psoriasis, exacerbates disease severity in patients, and is detrimental to achieving better treatment efficacy.^4,13,14 However, evidence regarding the association between tobacco smoking and psoriasis relapse is still limited. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relapse rate among psoriasis patients and explore the impact of tobacco smoking on disease relapse, so as to provide more precise lifestyle intervention recommendations for patients with psoriasis.

Materials and Methods

Study Design

This observational study was based on a cohort of psoriasis patients established at Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital from 2022 to 2024. In this study, we applied the sample size calculation formula n=[μ_α²× p(1-p)]/δ² for observational study and set p=30% (Zheng et al¹⁵ reported that the prevalence of tobacco smoking was 31% in Shanghai), α=0.05, δ=15% of p, and a non-response rate of 10%, the sample size calculation result indicated that at least 445 psoriasis patients should be recruited. In this study, 551 patients with psoriasis were finally recruited and analyzed. The institutional ethical review board of the Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital reviewed and approved this study (2022–25). We have registered this study in the Chinese clinical trial registry (ChiCTR2200066894), and implemented it in line with the Declaration of Helsinki.

Psoriasis Patient Diagnosis and Enrollment

In this study, the diagnosis of psoriasis was confirmed according to the Chinese Clinical Dermatology, which is in line with the global guidelines for psoriasis diagnosis and treatment.¹⁶ In this study, the inclusion criteria were patients with psoriasis vulgaris aged ≥18 years for both sexes, and without migration plan within a year. The exclusion criteria were patients who were unable to provide informed consent, or with neurological or psychiatric disorders.

Data Collection

In this study, patients with psoriasis underwent physical examination, the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI), physician global assessment (PGA), and body surface area (BSA) evaluations were administered and information was collected through questionnaire interviews by dermatologists during patients’ hospital visits. The questionnaire includes: (1) demographic features: age, gender, education, etc; (2) lifestyle habits: tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking, etc; (3) treatment plan: topical only, non-biological systemic, and biological systemic; and (4) family history of psoriasis, medical history of non-communicable disease (NCD), disease duration and psoriasis severity (BSA, PASI, PGA). The evaluation of diseases severity and treatment effects was conducted at baseline, week 12, week 24 and week 48, respectively.

Definition and Classification

In this study, PASI was used to assess the severity of psoriasis lesions. PASI improvement refers to the improvement in a patient’s PASI score compared to baseline and was calculated by the formula [(PASI at baseline – PASI at week t)/PASI at baseline] ×100%, which was used to evaluate the efficacy of psoriasis treatment. PASI50 and PASI75 were defined as patients achieving ≥ 50% and ≥ 75% PASI score improvement, respectively. The relapse of psoriasis was defined as the loss of 50% PASI improvement from baseline among patients who achieved a clinically meaningful response (PASI50 or PASI75) and discontinued their treatment at week 12.

A smoker was defined as a person who smoked at least 100 cigarettes in his or her lifetime. The collected smoking-related data included the age of tobacco smoking initiation, daily cigarette consumption, and the total duration of tobacco smoking in years. Years of smoking was defined as the years of time interval between the age at smoking initiation and the age at investigation or tobacco smoking cessation, and then was classified into ≤10, 11–20, 21–30, 31–40, and >40 years. Daily cigarette consumption was categorized as <20 and ≥20 cigarettes. An alcohol drinker was defined as a person who drank alcohol at least twice a week for at least six months.

In this study, the age of psoriasis patients was categorized as <35, 35–45, 46–60 and ≥60 years. Education was classified as primary school and lower, junior high, senior high, and college and above. Individual monthly income was categorized as <3000, 3001–5000, 5001–10000 and >10000 (Chinese Yuan, RMB). Marital status was categorized as unmarried, married and divorced/widows/others. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated weight/height² (kg/m²), and was classified into <23.9 (low or normal weight), 24.0–28.0 (overweight) and >28.0 (obesity). NCD comorbidity was defined as patients with ≥1 type of common comorbidity abnormality, such as diabetes, stroke, hypertension, etc. Disease duration of psoriasis was calculated as the time interval (years) between the initial psoriasis diagnosis and the investigation, and was then classified as <5, 5–10 and >10 years.

Statistical Analysis

Statistical analysis was performed by using SAS 9.4 software in this study. Mean and standard deviation (SD) or median and interquartile range (IQR) were used to describe quantitative variables as appropriate, and Student’s t-test or Mann–Whitney U-test was applied to examine the difference between groups. Frequency counts and proportions (%) were used to describe qualitative variables, and the chi-square test was used for comparison between groups. Logistic regression was performed to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) to explore factors associated with the diseases relapse at week 24 and 48 among patients with psoriasis, with a particular focus on the association between tobacco smoking and psoriasis relapse. Subgroup analysis was performed to show the association between tobacco smoking and disease relapse among psoriasis patients in different treatment plan groups. In this study, all performed statistical tests were two-tailed and a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results

Baseline Characteristics of Patients with Psoriasis

The average age of 551 psoriasis patients was 45.8 years, with approximately 70% of patients aged 35 and above, of which 417 (75.7%) were male. 40.3% of patients had college and above education, and 58.8% reported a monthly income >5,000 RMB, and 68.8% of them were married. Nearly 58.4% of patients were classified as overweight or obese based on BMI criteria. In this study, 51.2% of patients reported tobacco smoking, 10.3% reported alcohol drinking, and 42.6% had NCD comorbidities. The median disease duration was 12 years (IQR: 6–21), and the median values of the PASI, BSA, and PGA scores were 11.4 (IQR: 8.0–16.8), 14.2 (IQR: 9.0–25.3) and 2.7 (IQR: 2.0–3.0), respectively. The proportion of psoriasis patients in the acitretin, methotrexate, narrow band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB), and biologics groups were 8.3%, 31.6%, 25.2%, and 34.8%, respectively.

Data in Table 1 indicated that at week 12, 373 patients (67.7%) achieved PASI50, and 300 patients (54.4%) achieved PASI75. Psoriasis patients without PASI50 achievement had higher prevalence of tobacco smoking than those with PASI50 achievement, the finding was similar for PASI75 achievement among patients at week 12. The median disease duration was slightly longer in patients who achieved PASI75. Furthermore, patients with biologic treatment had higher response rates in achieving both PASI50 and PASI75 compared to other treatments. The differences were all statistically significant (p<0.05).

Table 1 The Baseline Characteristics of Patients with Psoriasis in Shanghai ^a

Relapse Condition at week 24 and 48 Among Patients

Data in Table 2 showed the relapse condition at week 24 and week 48 among patients with psoriasis after the achievement of PASI50 and PASI75 at week 12. For patients who achieved PASI50 at week 12, the relapse rate was 41.2% at week 24 and 61.6% at week 48, and patients with relapse had higher score in PASI, BSA, PGA, lower PASI75 achievement and PGA (1/0) rate at week 24 and week 48 as well than those without relapse (p<0.05). Among patients who achieved PASI75 at week 12, the relapse rates were 27.6% and 51.7% at week 24 and 48, respectively. Patients with relapse also had higher PASI, BSA, and PGA scores, but lower PASI75 achievement and PGA (1/0) rate both at week 24 and week 48 than those without relapse (p<0.05).

Table 2 The Relapse Condition at week 24 and 48 After the Achievement of PASI50 and PASI75 at week 12 Among Patients with Psoriasis in Shanghai ^a

Association Between Tobacco Smoking and Disease Relapse at week 24 and 48

Univariate logistic regression analysis indicated that psoriasis patients with tobacco smoking had higher relapse rate than those without tobacco smoking, the OR was 1.06 (95% CI: 0.69–1.62) and 1.38 (95% CI: 0.88–2.15) at week 24 and week 48 for patients achieved PASI50 at week 12, and the OR was 2.20 (95% CI: 1.31–3.71) and 1.83 (95% CI: 1.12–2.97) at week 24 and week 48 respectively for patients achieved PASI75 at week 12 (Table 3). Findings in Table 3 also indicated that patients with overweight or obesity, NCD comorbidities, longer disease duration also had higher relapse rate. Moreover, patients with NB-UVB or biologic treatment had higher relapse rate than those with acitretin/methotrexate.

Table 3 Factors Associated with the Relapse at week 24 and 48 After the Achievement of PASI50 and PASI75 at week 12 Among Patients with Psoriasis in Shanghai

In this study, multivariate logistic regression analysis with the adjustment of potential confounding factors (alcohol consumption, BMI, NCD comorbidity, family history, disease duration, and treatment plan) indicated that psoriasis patients with tobacco smoking had a higher relapse rate at week 24 and 28 both for patients who achieved PASI50 or PASI75 at week 12. The OR was 1.12 (95% CI: 0.70–1.80) at week 24 and 1.40 (95% CI: 0.86–2.28) at week 48 for patients achieved PASI50, and the OR was 2.10 (95% CI: 1.17–3.78) at week 24 and 1.84 (95% CI: 1.07–3.14) at week 48 for patients achieved PASI75, respectively (Figure 1).

Figure 1 Factors associated with the relapse at week 24 and 48 based on multivariate logistic regression after the achievement of PASI50 or PASI75 at week 12 among psoriasis patients in Shanghai. (A) Relapse at wk24 based on PASI50 at wk12 (n=357). (B) Relapse at wk48 based on PASI50 at wk12 (n=333). (C) Relapse at wk24 based on PASI75 at wk12 (n=290). (D) Relapse at wk48 based on PASI75 at wk12 (n=269).

Abbreviations: OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; BMI, body mass index; NCD, non-communicable diseases; NB-UVB, narrow band ultraviolet.

Association Between Tobacco Smoking Feature and Diseases Relapse

We also explored the association between tobacco smoking features and diseases relapse condition at week 24 and 48 among 171 psoriasis patients who smoked and achieved PASI50 at week 12, and 128 patients who smoked and achieved PASI75 at week 12. Data in Table 4 showed that psoriasis patients with relapse had longer years of tobacco smoking (the median value was 30 vs 23 at week 24, and 30 vs 22 at week 48 with PASI50 achievement at week 12; 32 vs 20 at week 24 and 29 vs 25 at week 48 with PASI75 achievement at week 12). Moreover, psoriasis patients with more years of tobacco smoking were inclined to have higher relapse rate at week 24 as well as at week 48, regardless of the PASI 50 or PASI75 achievement at week 12. This study also indicated that psoriasis patients with at least 20 daily cigarette consumption had higher relapse rate at week 24 and at week 48 than those with less than 20 daily cigarette consumption, regardless of the PASI 50 or PASI75 achievement at week 12, but without statistical significance.

Table 4 The Association Between Smoking Initiation Age, years of Smoking, Cigarette Consumption Amount and Relapse Incidence at wk 24 and wk48 After the Achievement of PASI50 or PASI75 at wk 12 Among Psoriasis Patients with Tobacco Smoking Habits

Subgroup and Sensitivity Analysis

Subgroup analysis was performed to demonstrate the association between tobacco smoking and diseases relapse among psoriasis patients achieved PASI50 or PASI75 at week 12 with different treatment plans. Table 5 indicated that patients with tobacco smoking had higher relapse rates at both week 24 and week 48 compared to those without tobacco smoking, regardless of the PASI50 or PASI75 achievement at week 12 in the acitretin/ methotrexate, NB-UVB and biologics groups. For patients received NB-UVB treatment and achieved PASI50 at week 12, patients with tobacco smoking had a relapse rate of 47.9% at week 24 and 76.6% at week 48, respectively, whereas the relapse rate was 44.4% at week 24 and 64.4% at week 48 among patients without tobacco smoking, the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). For patients received NB-UVB treatment and achieved PASI75 at week 12, patients with tobacco smoking had a relapse rate of 64.5% at week 24 and 90.3% at week 48, respectively, whereas the relapse rate was 36.4% at week 24 and 60.6% at week 48 among patients without tobacco smoking, the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05).

Table 5 The Association Between Tobacco Smoking and Treatment Relapse at week 24 and 48 After the Achievement of PASI50 or PASI75 at week 12 Among Psoriasis Patients with Different Treatment Plan in Shanghai

Discussion

Previous studies have shown that tobacco smoking is an independent risk factor for psoriasis.¹⁷ It is positively correlated with disease severity and negatively associated with treatment efficacy.^4,14,18 However, evidence on the association between tobacco smoking and psoriasis relapse was still limited. In this study, we recruited 551 patients with psoriasis to explore the influence of tobacco smoking on disease relapse, findings indicated that tobacco smoking is positively associated with diseases relapse at week 24 and 48 in psoriasis patients, and psoriasis patients with longer smoking duration and more daily cigarette consumption had higher relapse rate.

Over the past decades, significant progress has been achieved in exploring the pathogenesis of psoriasis, which has also been successfully translated into effective therapies. However, psoriasis patients usually experience relapses after discontinuing treatment or even during the treatment course.⁷ The definition of “relapse” varies across different studies, with the common criteria of a 50% loss of maximum PASI improvement or a loss of PGA ≤ 2.¹⁹ In this study, we defined relapse as the loss of 50% PASI improvement in patients who achieved PASI50 or PASI75 at week 12. We noticed that patients who achieved PASI50 at week 12, the relapse rates at week 24 and week 48 were 41.2% and 61.6%, respectively. Meanwhile, for patients with PASI75 achievement at week 12, the relapse rates were 27.6% and 51.7% at week 24 and week 48, respectively. These findings suggested that patients who achieved a higher therapeutic response (PASI75) had a relatively lower relapse rates during the same observation time points, which was in line with previous studies.²⁰ This study also showed that a higher improvement in PASI and a shorter time to achieve the improvement during treatment were important predictors for longer relapse-free duration. An 8-year multi-center retrospective study conducted by Chiu et al²⁰ indicated that the cumulative probabilities of relapse-free at 6 months and 12 months after the withdrawal from ustekinumab treatment were 49.3% and 12.6%, respectively. Blauvelt et al²¹ reported 75.1% patients treated with secukinumab experienced relapse during a 1-year follow-up period. The differences in treatment plans and criteria for relapse assessment maybe the primary reasons for the observed discrepancies in relapse rates compared with those in previous studies.

In this study, we found that tobacco smoking was positively associated with relapse rate at week 24 and week 48, especially among patients who achieved PASI75 at week 12. Patients with tobacco smoking had a 2.10 and 1.84 times higher risk of relapse at week 24 and week 48 than those without tobacco smoking, which was consistent with the findings in previous studies. Warren et al²² revealed that psoriasis patients who smoke had a twofold greater odds of relapse than non-smokers (OR=2.04, 95% CI:1.02–4.07). A meta-analysis also indicated that tobacco smoking is one risk factor for relapse in psoriasis patients after discontinuation of biologics (RR=1.09, 95% CI: 1.02–1.17).⁸ Furthermore, we also noticed that psoriasis patients with more years of tobacco smoking had a higher relapse rate, suggesting that long-term tobacco smoking may be an important risk factor for relapse in psoriasis patients. The impact of smoking on relapse is likely associated with multiple mechanisms. Smoking can induce oxidative stress and generate free radicals, which interfere with signaling pathways related to psoriasis, including nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) and janus kinase signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK-STAT).²³ Moreover, nicotine and other harmful substances in cigarette smoke can induce the activation of immune cells, promote inflammatory events, and thereby worsen or initiate psoriasis.^23,24 Neutrophils are one of the most abundant innate immune cells, and tobacco smokers often exhibit enhanced neutrophil chemotaxis.²³ The infiltration of neutrophils into the lesion areas promotes the formation of Munro′s microabscesses, which is one of the major histopathological hallmarks of psoriasis.^25,26 From a clinical perspective, these findings suggest that psoriasis patients should be advised to quit smoking during treatment to reduce the risk of relapse.

In this study, we also noticed that patients with higher BMI, NCD comorbidities, and longer disease duration may be risk factors for psoriasis relapse. Previous studies indicate that an increase in BMI is significantly correlated with the increased risk of relapse.²² The underlying mechanisms may be related to pro-inflammatory cytokines and adipocytokines secreted by adipose tissue, which may exacerbate the pathological processes of psoriasis.^27,28 In addition, meta-analyses have shown that obesity is associated with lower treatment efficacy of anti-tumor necrosis factor agents, and weight loss may prevent from de novo psoriasis.²⁸ For disease duration, a longer course of psoriasis often implies increased opportunities for reactive oxygen species activation and inflammation which is closely related to the relapse of psoriasis, and previous studies confirm that patients with a shorter disease duration tend to respond better to treatment and maintain a longer relapse-free period.^29–31 Regarding NCD comorbidities, since psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disease, it is often accompanied by multiple comorbidities, with metabolic diseases being the most common.³² Previous research indicates that patients with psoriasis and metabolic syndrome do not exhibit significant improvement in systemic inflammatory biomarkers, even after achieving complete or nearly complete skin lesion clearance. These residual inflammatory factors appear to promote psoriasis relapse, thereby shortening the period of clinical remission.³³

In this study, we found that psoriasis patients treated with NB-UVB and biologics were more prone to relapse compared with those treated with acitretin and methotrexate. This may be attributed to the fact that biologics can reduce or clear skin lesions in the short term, leading to relatively better PASI improvement at week 12, but for patients achieved the some PASI improvement with acitretin and methotrexate treatment, the proportion was lower and most of them had relatively mild skin lesion, which might also contribute to the lower relapse rate. In this study, the subgroup analysis indicated that regardless of patients achieved PASI50 or PASI75 at week 12, patients with tobacco smoking had higher relapse rates in any treatment plan, and this was more pronounced among patients with NB-UVB treatment. Previous studies indicate that tobacco smoking may have adverse effects on the therapeutic efficacy of NB-UVB through the pathway mediated by tumor necrosis factor alpha converting enzyme,³⁴ which might contribute to a higher risk of diseases relapse.

The major strength of this study is the real-world clinical circumstances, which provides evidence that is more reflective of actual clinical practice, and the 48 weeks of follow-up time also provides a relatively long-term clinical data for diseases relapse evaluation. Moreover, the clinical data of psoriasis patients were directly extracted from the health information system (HIS), which ensuring the high data quality, is another strength of current study.

There are several limitations should be considered in this study. First, patients were enrolled in one hospital, so the generalization and representation of the results was limited. Second, the information regarding patients’ tobacco smoking was collected through questionnaire interview, which might lead to recall bias. Third, the evaluation of treatment efficacy and relapse in patients was mainly based on the changes in PASI scores, which may not be sufficient for patients with psoriasis in special areas. All of these aforementioned limitations would restrict the interpretations of clinical findings in some degree, and some improvement should be considered in future study.

Conclusion

Psoriasis patients had high relapse rate at week 24 at week 48, even with the PASI50 or PASI75 achievement at week 12, and tobacco smoking was positively correlated with the relapse, especially among those with longer smoking duration and more daily consumption. Therefore, we recommend that patients with psoriasis should quit smoking and combine this with a healthy lifestyle and standardized treatment to prevent the risk of relapse.

Abbreviations

BMI, Body Mass Index; BSA, Body Surface Area; CI, Confidence Interval; RMB, Chinese Yuan; IQR, Interquartile Range; NB-UVB, Narrow Band Ultraviolet; NCD, Non-communicable Disease; OR, Odds Ratio; PASI, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index; PGA, Physician Global Assessment; SD, Standard Deviation; TRM, Tissue Resident Memory T Cells.

Data Sharing Statement

The data for this study are available upon request from the corresponding author. The request should state the title and aim of the research for which the data are requested.

Ethics Approval and Informed Consent

This study was approved by the Institutional Review Boards of Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, Shanghai, China (2022-25). Informed consent was obtained before starting the study, and the study was strictly performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Funding

This study was supported by the Clinical Research Three Year Plan of SHDC (SHDC2022CRS053, SHDC2024CRX032), the Clinical Research Program of Shanghai Municipal Health Commission (202240371), Intelligence Fund of Shanghai Skin Diseases Hospital (2021KYQD01), China YMIOO Program (LCIIT2022-09), Shanghai Talent Development Fund (2021073), the Innovation of Graduate Student Training Projects in Jiangsu Province (No. KYCX23-2973), the Development Foundation of Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University (No. XYFY202242). These funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or manuscript preparation.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

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30. Gao X, Pan W, Zheng M, et al. Efficacy and safety analysis in Chinese patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis from a phase 3 trial: impact of treatment withdrawal and retreatment of ixekizumab. Adv Ther. 2025;42(1):334–347. doi:10.1007/s12325-024-03030-5

31. Lebwohl M, Iversen L, Eidsmo L, et al. Investigation of plaque psoriasis relapse after secukinumab withdrawal in patients from two Phase III studies. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2024;49(8):793–800. doi:10.1093/ced/llad329

32. Wei L, Chen S, Qiang Y, et al. Tobacco smoking was positively associated with metabolic syndrome among patients with psoriasis in Shanghai: a cross-sectional study. Tob Induc Dis. 2022;20:05. doi:10.18332/tid/144228

33. Coimbra S, Oliveira H, Neuparth MJ, et al. Systemic inflammation and proinflammatory interleukin-17 signalling persist at the end of therapy in patients with metabolic syndrome and psoriasis, reducing the length of remission. Br J Dermatol. 2016;174(2):414–416. doi:10.1111/bjd.14013

34. Serwin AB, Sokolowska M, Chodynicka B. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha-converting enzyme as a potential mediator of the influence of smoking on the response to treatment with narrowband ultraviolet B in psoriasis patients. Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine. 2010;26(1):36–40. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0781.2009.00485.x

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July 14, 2025

One tiny trick just broke light’s oldest rule — and changed optics forever – ScienceDaily
1. One tiny trick just broke light’s oldest rule — and changed optics forever ScienceDaily
2. Overcoming Intrinsic Dispersion Locking by Misaligned Bilayer Metagratings | Newswise Newswise
3. Breakthrough Metagrating Tech Filters Light with Unprecedented Precision—A Game Changer for Advanced Imaging The Debrief
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July 14, 2025
Public discontent grows in Pakistan’s northwest province ruled by Imran Khan’s party — Gallup

ISLAMABAD: A new Gallup Pakistan survey reveals a sharp decline in public satisfaction in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province where the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan has ruled for over a decade, with residents citing poor infrastructure, widespread unemployment and lack of accountability

The findings, based on face-to-face interviews with 3,000 residents across KP’s seven divisions, offer a rare look at grassroots sentiment in a province that has long been a PTI stronghold. The survey was conducted in February and March 2025, with analysis completed by June.

PTI first came to power in KP in 2013 and has governed the province since. Following the last general elections in 2024, the party formed the provincial government once again, even as its founder, Imran Khan, remains in jail on multiple legal charges he says are politically motivated.

“Despite 13 years of PTI governance, even its own voters are expressing disappointment,” the Gallup survey report said. “Up to 49 percent of PTI supporters said no recent development had taken place in their area.”

A majority of respondents, 59 percent, reported rising unemployment, while 67 percent said the government had failed to create jobs or business opportunities. Basic services remain uneven: 66 percent said gas was unavailable, and 49 percent reported poor or no electricity access.

Facilities for youth are especially lacking: 77 percent said they lacked access to parks, 81 percent to libraries, and 70 percent to community centers.

Corruption was a recurring theme across sectors. 52 percent of respondents believe development funds were misappropriated, and just 32 percent said they were used properly. Support for accountability was high even among PTI supporters.

“71 percent of respondents, including 62 percent of PTI voters, support formal investigations into alleged corruption in mega projects during PTI’s rule,” Gallup Pakistan said.

A further 48 percent said corruption in government departments has increased, and 40 percent believe it is more prevalent in KP than in Punjab.

HEEALTH CARD YES, GANDAPUR NO

The PTI’s flagship health insurance scheme, the Sehat Card, remains the most popular initiative, with 83 percent of respondents, 88 percent of them PTI voters, saying it has improved health care access.

Yet only 38 percent of respondents said current KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur is performing better than his predecessors, and 47 percent said they would prefer to see Imran Khan in the role despite his ongoing imprisonment and legal battles.

Half the respondents said Punjab’s chief minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif is performing better than Gandapur.

“The contrast between continued support for PTI’s welfare programs and disillusionment with current leadership signals a shift in political expectations,” the report observed.

The disconnect between government and people on federal ties also comes up in the survey. The PTI-led government has been at odds with the federal administration since at least the 2024 election and even earlier, engaging in protests and public disputes.

Yet the Gallup report shows “85 percent of KP residents favor stronger collaboration between the provincial and federal governments,” suggesting popular support for more cooperative governance.

Another 60 percent of respondents said the KP government had “wasted time in protests and demonstrations rather than focusing on governance.”

The formal justice system is also under increasing public scrutiny. The survey found that 70 percent of respondents feel courts take too long to deliver justice, 50 percent consider the judiciary corrupt, and 53 percent believe court decisions are politically influenced.

In contrast, traditional tribal dispute resolution mechanisms, or Jirgas, are gaining favor.

“84 percent of those aware of the Jirga system support it, and 70 percent believe Jirga decisions are fair,” Gallup reported.

In conclusion, the Gallup Pakistan survey shows that while PTI still enjoys loyalty from a core voter base, rising economic pressures, lack of development and demand for transparency have eroded its standing among the broader population.

“The survey offers a sobering assessment of public sentiment across KP. Despite strong backing for select welfare programs and the continued popularity of PTI among its base, citizens are increasingly frustrated with lackluster service delivery, limited job opportunities, corruption, and unfulfilled promises,” the concluding note in the survey report said.

“The overwhelming demand for accountability and equitable governance signals a critical juncture for provincial leadership and institutions.”

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July 14, 2025
Blast in residential block near Iran’s Qom, source says not Israeli attack

How unequal shelter access puts Israel’s Arab and Bedouin communities at greater risk

LONDON: As Iranian rockets shook East Jerusalem in mid-June, Rawan Shalaldeh sat in the dark while her seven-year-old son slept. She had put him to bed early and hid her phone to prevent the constant alerts from waking him, hoping sleep would shield her child from the terror above.

“The bombing was very intense; the house would shake,” Shalaldeh, an architect and urban planner with the Israeli human rights and planning organization Bimkom, told Arab News.

While residents in nearby Jewish districts rushed into reinforced shelters, Shalaldeh and her family in the Palestinian neighborhood of Jabal Al-Zaytoun had nowhere to go.

Israelis gather in a underground shelter in Tel Aviv on June 24, 2025, after sirens sounded in several areas across the country after missiles were fired from Iran. (AFP/File)

“East Jerusalem has only about 60 shelters, most of them inside schools,” she said. “They’re designed for students, not for neighborhood residents. They’re not available in every area, and they’re not enough for the population.”

Her home is a 15-minute walk from the nearest shelter. “By the time we’d get there, the bombing would already be over,” she said.

Instead, her family stayed inside, bracing for the next strike. “We could hear the sound but couldn’t tell if it was from the bombs or the interception systems,” she recalled. “We couldn’t sleep. It was terrifying. I fear it will happen again.”

That fear is compounded by infrastructure gaps that make East Jerusalem’s residents more vulnerable. “Old homes in East Jerusalem don’t have shelters at all,” she said. “New homes with shelters are rare because it’s extremely hard to get a building permit here.”

Arab and Bedouin communities were left without basic protections enjoyed bytheir Jewish neighbors. (AFP)

Israeli law requires new apartments to be built with protected rooms. However, homes built without permits are unlikely to follow the guidelines, leaving most without safe space.

The contrast with West Jerusalem is stark. “There’s a big difference between East and West Jerusalem,” Shalaldeh said. “In the west, there are many shelters, and things are much easier for them.”

Indeed, a June 17 report by Bimkom underscored these disparities. While West Jerusalem, home to a mostly Jewish population, has about 200 public shelters, East Jerusalem, which is home to nearly 400,000 Palestinians, has just one.

Even where shelters do exist they are often inaccessible. The municipality’s website fails to clearly mark their locations, and many residents are unaware they exist. Some shelters even remain locked during emergencies — especially at night.

The report concluded that the current infrastructure is grossly inadequate, leaving most East Jerusalem residents without access to basic protection during attacks.

Men inspect the destruction to a home in the northern Arab-Israeli city of Tamra, on June 24, 2025, days after after an Iranian ballistic missile slammed into the neighborhood. (AFP)

Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem hold temporary residency IDs that lack any listed nationality and must be renewed every five years. Unlike Arab citizens of Israel — often referred to as “48 Arabs” — or residents of southern Israel, they do not have Israeli citizenship.

For many Palestinian and Arab citizens of Israel, the 12-day Israel-Iran war in June laid bare a deeper inequity — one that extends beyond conflict and into the fabric of everyday life.

“I haven’t spoken with any of my friends in the north yet, but I saw videos on Instagram,” Shalaldeh said. “Arab families tried to enter shelters and were prevented — because they’re Arab.”

The war, she said, exposed an uncomfortable truth for many Arab citizens of Israel. “After the war, many realized they’re not treated like Israelis — even though they have citizenship, work in Israel and speak Hebrew.”

This picture shows Bedouin shelters at Khirbat Khlayel near al-Mughayyir village, north of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on June 1, 2025. (AFP)

“There’s an Israeli policy that tries to blur their identity. But the war opened a lot of people’s eyes. It became clear they’re not equal, and the issue of shelters was shocking for many.”

One town where this inequity became alarmingly visible was Tira, a predominantly Arab community in central Israel with roughly 27,000 residents. Though well within the range of missile attacks, Tira lacks adequate public shelters.

“Most of the few shelters that exist are outdated, insufficient, or located far from residential areas,” Fakhri Masri, a political and social activist from Tira, told Arab News. “In emergencies, schools are often opened as temporary shelters, but they only serve nearby neighborhoods and can’t accommodate everyone.

“Many homes do not have protected rooms, and this leaves families, especially those with children or elderly members, extremely vulnerable.”

Israeli air defence systems are activated to intercept Iranian missiles over the Israeli city of Tel Aviv early on June 18, 2025. (AFP)

When sirens sounded during the attacks, panic set in. “It was the middle of the night,” Masri said. “Many of us had to wake our children, some still half asleep, and scramble for any kind of cover.

With official shelters scarce, families resorted to improvised solutions. “People ran into stairwells, lay on the ground away from windows, or tried to reach school shelters — if they were even open or nearby,” he said.

Others simply fled to their cars or huddled outdoors, hoping distance from buildings would offer some safety.

“It was chaotic, frightening, and it felt like we were left completely on our own,” Masri said. “The fear wasn’t just of rockets — it was also the fear of having no place to run to.”

Underlying this crisis, he argued, is a deeper pattern of state neglect. “Arab towns like Tira were never provided with proper infrastructure or emergency planning like Jewish towns often are,” he said. “That in itself feels like a form of discrimination.

Israeli police officers check the damage following a rocket attack from southern Lebanon that targeted the central Israeli-Arab city of Tira, on November 2, 2024. (AFP File)

“It makes you feel invisible — like our safety doesn’t matter. It’s a constant reminder that we’re not being protected equally under the same state policies.

“We are not asking for anything more than what every citizen deserves — equal rights, equal protection, and the right to live in safety and dignity. It is a basic human right to feel secure at our own home, to know that our children have somewhere safe to go during an emergency.”

Masri, who has long campaigned for equal emergency protections, called on the Israeli government to end discrimination in shelter planning.

“Treat Arab towns with the same seriousness and care as any other town,” he said. “We are people who want to live in peace. We want our children to grow up in a country where safety is not a privilege but a right — for everyone, Jewish and Arab alike.

“Until that happens, we will keep raising our voices and demanding fairness, because no one should be left behind.”

The picture is similar for the roughly 100,000 Bedouin who live across 35 unrecognized villages in the Negev and Galilee regions, often in makeshift homes that provide little protection. Many of these villages are near sensitive sites targeted by Iran.

A bedouin shepherd leads his flock atop his donkey in the hills near the city of Rahat in the north of Israel’s Negev desert on August 28, 2024. (AFP)

One such village is Wadi Al-Na’am, the largest unrecognized village in Israel, home to about 15,000 Bedouin residents in the southern Negev desert.

“When we say unrecognized, it means we have nothing,” said Najib Abu Bnaeh, head of the village’s emergency team and a member of its local council. “No roads, no electricity, no running water — and certainly no shelters.

“During wars, people flee the villages. They hide in caves, under bridges — any place they can find.”

IN NUMBERS

• 250 Shelters built across Negev since Oct. 7, 2023 — half of them by the state.

• 60 School-based shelters in East Jerusalem, concentrated in select locations.

• 1 Public shelter in East Jerusalem.

• 200 Public shelters in West Jerusalem.

(Source: Bimkom)

After the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, the army began installing a small number of shelters in unrecognized villages. But Abu Bnaeh said that these efforts have fallen short.

“In our village, they built two structures,” he said. “But they have no ceilings, so they don’t protect from anything.”

He estimates that more than 45,000 protective buildings are needed across all unrecognized villages.

Cars destroyed in a rocket attack allegedly fired from the Gaza strip are seen through a damaged window of a house in the village of Arara in the Negev Desert, a place residents say is constantly hit by rockets, on October 14, 2023. (AFP)

As the head of Wadi Al-Na’am’s emergency response team, Abu Bnaeh leads a group of 20 volunteers. Together, they assist residents during missile alerts, evacuating families to shelters in nearby townships such as Segev Shalom and Rahat, and delivering food and medicine.

“We train people how to take cover and survive,” he said. “We also help train teams in other villages how to respond to injuries, missiles and emergencies.

“The best way to protect people is simple. Recognize the villages. Allow us to build shelters.”

This picture shows a view of the Bedouin community of al-Auja west of Jericho in the Israel-occupied West Bank on March 16, 2025, which was attacked the previous week by Israeli settlers who reportedly stole sheep. (AFP)

Even recognized villages face issues. In Um Bateen, officially recognized in 2004, basic infrastructure is still missing.

“Although our village is recognized, we still don’t have electricity,” Samera Abo Kaf, a resident of the 8,000-strong community, told Arab News.

“There are 48 Bedouin villages in northern Israel. And even those recognized look nothing like Jewish towns nearby.”

Building legally is nearly impossible. “The state refuses to recognize the land we’ve lived on for generations,” she said. “So, we build anyway — out of necessity. But that means living in fear; of winter collapsing our roofs, or bulldozers tearing our homes down.”

Bedouins from the Zanun family, which is part of the Azazme tribe, eat a holiday meal after slaughtering one of their sheep on the first day of the Eid al-Adha holiday in their village of Wadi Naam, currently unrecognized by Israeli authorities, near the southern city of Beersheba in the Israeli Negev desert. (AFP/File)

Abo Kaf said that the contrast is obvious during her commute. “I pass Beer Sheva and Omer — trees, paved roads, tall buildings. It’s painful. Just 15 minutes away, life is so different.

“And I come from a village that is, in many ways, better off than others,” she added.

With each new conflict, the fear returns. “Israel is a country with many enemies — it’s no secret,” Abo Kaf said. “Every few years, we go through another war. And we Bedouins have no shelters. None.

Bedouins protest against the Israeli government’s demolition of houses in the area, in the southern town of Beersheba, on June 12, 2025. (AFP)

“So not only are our homes at risk of demolition, but we also live with the threat of rockets. It’s absurd. It’s infuriating. If something doesn’t change, there’s no future.”

Michal Braier, Bimkom’s head of research, said that no government body had responded to its report, though many civil society organizations have supported its findings based on specific cases.

“There are stark protection gaps between high- and low-income communities,” she told Arab News. “And most Arab and Palestinian communities rank low on socio-economic indicators.

“This is a very neo-liberal planning and development policy that, by definition, leaves the weak behind.”

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July 14, 2025
Silver Crown Royalties Closes Final Tranche of its Non-Brokered Private Placement

Apollo Silver (Apgo) (Apgof); Right Assets, Right Management and Right Time

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6292/258362_fa89eeeef4e3c963_001full.jpg

For mining investors, Ross McElroy’s name has become legendary; building a successful uranium company and providing shareholders with an exit strategy that made headlines around the world.

McElroy, a professional geologist, brings over 38 years of mining industry expertise, spanning operational and corporate roles across major, mid-tier and junior mining and exploration companies.

Last year, as CEO of TSX-listed Fission Uranium, McElroy executed a deal to be acquired by Australian company Paladin Energy, in an all-stock transaction valued at $1.14 billion.

For Andy Bowering, former CEO and now Chairman at Apollo, bringing in Ross at this stage of the game was a familiar path, following his strategy at Prime Mining Corp and other companies. Bowering handed over the reins to Ross, knowing he could take Apollo from exploration to production based on a track record that few have achieved in the mining sector.

Bowering is a venture capitalist with 30 plus years of history of putting deals together; finding the right assets and then bringing in leadership at the right moment that can take the deal to the next level.

Talking of Ross, he said, “Our ability to attract someone with Ross’ expertise, energy and track record of value creation speaks volumes about the opportunity at Apollo. I believe he will have a transformative impact on the Company’s future and all stakeholders will benefit greatly.”

Bowering also told Investorideas in a recent Exploring Mining Podcast, “I’ve had a few great exits for shareholders but I have never hit the billion dollar mark and that’s why we wanted Ross under our umbrella.”

Apollo’s current portfolio consists of two silver exploration and resource development projects, the Calico Project, in San Bernardino County, California and the Cinco de Mayo Project in Chihuahua, Mexico. Apollo is currently fully funded to advance its projects with cash in the bank of $11 Million in the treasury as of June 2025.

Looking at the current silver projects, the California Calico Project is one of the US’s largest undeveloped primary silver deposits. The Company acquired it for $41 Million and put another $13 Million into it, betting big on the opportunity.

The Calico Project, comprising the adjacent Waterloo and Langtry properties, is located in the historic Calico Silver Mining District in the Mojave Desert of San Bernardino County, California.

Ross McElroy spoke of the Calico Project in a recent interview, saying, “It isn’t just land; it’s land that is meaningful.”

He went on to note, “It is a result of the Calico fault system that runs from the northwest to the southeast and is responsible for the emplacement of Langtry and Waterloo deposits that occur long the Calico fault trend. Importantly, the new claims are following the controlling primary mineralized feature, so they are located along strike and trend for the mineralization in the system.

“We already know that there is are a number or of historic surface anomalies of silver and gold as well as a number of base metals including zinc and copper on the new claims. It is our job to go about executing the proper exploration process in order to generate new and significant targets for drilling.

“We think we can make further discoveries of gold and silver that we see along this trend.”

Apollo announced an updated mineral resource estimate (“MRE”) for the Calico Project (the “2023 MRE”), which now contains 110 million ounces (Moz) silver in 34.2 million tonnes (Mt) at an average grade of 100 grams per tonne (g/t) silver in Measured and Indicated category, and 0.72 Moz silver in 0.29 Mt at an average grade of 77 g/t silver in the Inferred category, all at Waterloo.

Apollo and its management saw an opportunity to expand on the project and on May 20^th, the Company announced it had increased the Calico land package by over 285% from 1,194 ha to 3,409 ha of contiguous claims.

The Calico land package announcement was the first news from Apollo under the new management direction with Ross McElroy as President and CEO.

The newly acquired Mule claims consist of 415 lode mining claims, acquired from LAC Exploration LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lithium Americas Corp. (TSX: LAC) ( NYSE: LAC), the previous operators of the property.

Historic preliminary mapping and sampling of the Mule claims from the former operator have identified several high-grade silver anomalies.

Commenting on the opportunity, Ross McElroy, President and CEO of Apollo said in the press release, “The addition of the Mule claims substantially enhances the Calico Project. Calico already hosts 3 discrete drill delineated zones with resource estimates along a 4km long trend, along the Calico fault zone. The Mule claims increase the overall land area of the Calico project by more than 2.5x. The new claims are strategically located to the east along the very prolific Calico mineralized corridor and represent a great opportunity for further discoveries. Apollo is committed to continuing to unlock value in California for our shareholders.”

With the strong environmental concerns in California, its low 1.1:1 strip ratio ensures optimized operations and a minimalized footprint.

Looking at the growth opportunities at Calico, the Company says there is “potential to expand silver and gold resources and the intent to add barite to future resource update, making a potentially meaningful contribution to project economics.”

With Apollo making its silver assets the primary focus, barite may open other doors, with the US mandate prioritizing critical minerals for national security designating barite as a critical mineral. Barite serves multiple purposes, notably as a weighting agent in oil and gas drilling fluids to manage borehole pressure.

So what’s next for the Calico project? The Company plans continued resource growth and conversion, working to extend the 2024 drill permits at Waterloo Project, and de-risking and advancing the project towards production.

Apollo’s Cinco de Mayo Project, in Chihuahua, is located on the Northwest and Southeast trend that hosts the world’s largest Carbonate Replacement Deposits. Cinco de Mayo is made up of 29 concessions totaling over 25,000 ha located in the Municipio de Buenaventura, with a high-grade historical resource of approximately 154M AgEq oz.

In September 2024, Apollo entered into an exploration, earn-in and option agreement with MAG Silver Corp. (TSX: MAG) and its subsidiary, Minera Pozo Seco, S.A. de C.V. to acquire the Cinco de Mayo Project.

Apollo was able to acquire the option at a discount to its potential valuation, but with a challenge of establishing social license in Mexico. Once social license has been achieved, Apollo Silver will secure the necessary licensing and permits to access and conduct exploration activities on the Cinco de Mayo property.

Bowering’s history with Prime Mining Corp and its ‘boots on the ground’ presence in Mexico gives him in-depth experience on how to navigate the next steps. The Company will be engaging with local community members to rebuild trust and gain access, with a goal of building a mine that will generate employment and meet environmental standards.

An advantage operationally, the Cinco de Mayo’s primary mine is an underground mine, fitting into the current narrative banning future open pit mining, thus aligning with environment concerns.

The Cinco de Mayo project, with the Pegaso Zone representing a potential significant new discovery, is blue sky to Apollo if they achieve exploration approval.

Building shareholder value is important to Apollo’s management team. “Apollo’s strategy is to provide maximum upside to investors through focusing our exploration and resource definition programs in mining jurisdictions with historic silver production and limited modern exploration.”

This is not just a statement on their website; it is backed by their actions. Bowering can relate to investors and is a large shareholder in the company, having put $6 Million of his own capital into the company and not taking a salary during his term as President.

Ross McElroy echoed Andy’s sentiment about having skin in the game, saying recently he is also a shareholder and it’s important to have management that are shareholders, so all of the interests are aligned.

The winning combinations of Ross McElroy and Andy Bowering have track records of successful exit strategies for their shareholders. Apollo’s executive team has been involved in over $5B of M&A activity.

With a base of two significant silver projects, they are also focused on finding additional opportunities and building out assets for Apollo Silver.

With silver prices rising and a renewed focus from the US Government to prioritize critical and strategic mineral resources, Andrew Bowering says, “This is the right place, right time for Apollo.”

Visit www.apollosilver.com for further information.

Apollo Corporate Presentation:

https://apollosilver.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/APGO-Investor-Presentation-2025-06-13.pdf

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Disclaimer/Disclosure: This article featuring Apollo Silver Corp is paid for content as part of a monthly featured mining stock service (payment disclosure). Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This is not investment opinion. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp. Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/. Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp.

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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/258362

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July 14, 2025
Chanel-Supported Artist Group Stages 8-Hour Show At Shanghai’s PSA

Exploring the art form of museum-based performance, Chanel has unveiled “Theater,” the third season of the Next Cultural Producer program, established in collaboration with Power Station of Art, the Shanghai-based contemporary art museum and one of Asia’s largest.

This year’s winning proposal, tiitled “Noon, Wildness, Stream, Washe, Ruins, Theatre,” was curated by the Hangzhou-based artist group Martin Goya Business and opened on July 12 with an unconventional performance that brought together 150 art activists and lasted for eight hours.

A scene from the opening performance.

Courtesy

The exhibition, split into several sections, juxtaposes ancient Chinese architectural forms — such as a Song Dynasty entertainment venue and latticed paper windows — with a symphony of moving images, poetry, crowd-sourced documents from its artist community, and graffiti-like paintings. Together, the exhibition disrupts the museum’s white cube setting and sets the scene for its anachronistic storyline.

Inside “Noon, Wildness, Stream, Washe, Ruins, Theatre.”

Courtesy

On opening night, members of the local artist community — including students, deejays, dancers, emerging talents, and established names — came together for a dynamic performance, or “continuous collective action,” that culminated in a midnight mini-concert by avant-garde rock band Mola Oddity, fronted by former Taiwanese pop star Amber Kuo.

Amber Kuo performing at PSA.

Courtesy of Mola city

“The eight-hour duration [performance] is meant to transcend time by exploring different modes of viewing, including how we perceive things in ancient times versus now,” said Cheng Ran, co-founder of Martin Goya Business, during a panel discussion on Sunday.

“It creates small transformations and frees people from the comfort of familiarity, guiding them towards a more spiritual or contemplative one. You can’t explain the space in a fixed framework; perhaps this is our way of grasping small freedoms,” Cheng added.

Cheng also emphasized that the art institution should “bear witness to emerging artistic careers, rather than serving as the last stamp of approval,” he added.

The four-person artist group, established in Hangzhou eight years ago, is led by Cheng, co-founder Da Mian, a Chinese martial arts fantasy novelist; Taoph, a visual and music curator; and Tan Sin Thiau, a writer.

Members of Martin Goya Business, Tan Sin Thiau, Da Mian, Cheng Ran, and Taoph.

Courtesy

The group, named after one of the 24 cats owned by the group, exists as an outlier from the traditional art system and aims to support, promote, and engage within the local Hangzhou artist ecosystem. It has curated more than 100 events, collaborated with some 400 trans-disciplinary creators, and held exhibitions across 20 countries.

Its latest invention involves a canteen-style restaurant, which turns into a bar operated by artists at night. “The artist community needs to find a sustainable way to build up a community. We have to eat, we can’t exist in a vacuum,” explained Da Mian.

Triggered by Hangzhou’s rapid urbanization, the group had to relocate four times until it found its current studio in the outskirts of the Shanghai-adjacent city. That experience informed a two-story-tall scaffolding structure where 12 artists took turns live-painting, the latter’s work overlaying its predecessor’s.

“Most art exhibitions focus on showcasing the finished painting, but I wanted to present a scene very familiar to painters, the ruins, or the remnants they encounter during the process of relocating their studio. I believe many artists face the same dilemma. Where do you rent a studio and how long can you keep it? In Hangzhou, we are constantly exploring the city’s boundaries as it expands. Each time the city grows, we inevitably face relocation, sometimes even collective relocation,” said Da.

The action-painting.

Courtesy

“When we are confronted by the complex task of moving, which often involves packing up several years of personal work, we have the urge to claim the space our own again. Oftentimes, artists come together, armed with flashlights, sneak inside to make music, to perform, or paint,” added Da.

In the next three months, 1,500 gigabytes of performance footage captured by ten cameras during opening night will be edited down and displayed at the exhibition.

“We had a loose script for the exhibition, but we left it largely open, so the video has to portray the collective creative process; its visual representation needs to be constantly evolving,” explained Da.

The free exhibition is open to the public until Sept. 8.

Co-founded by PSA and the Chanel Culture Fund in 2021, the Next Cultural Producer initiative marks the company’s first partnership with a museum in Asia. The program’s previous two seasons shed light on Chinese craft and architecture in Southern China.

Last May, Chanel signed a strategic partnership with PSA to restore the museum and enrich its collection and research capacity.

PSA is the first state-run contemporary art museum in mainland China. Located in a former power plant along the Huangpu River, the museum spans more than 441,000 square feet and opened in 2012.

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July 14, 2025
Fuel prices expected to increase in Pakistan

The Pakistan government is expected to revise fuel prices in the upcoming review, based on recent global oil market trends. According to initial estimates, petrol prices may rise by up to Rs6.60 per litre, while high-speed diesel (HSD) could see an increase of Rs5.27 per litre.

In contrast, kerosene may become cheaper by Rs3.74 per litre, and light diesel oil (LDO) might drop by Rs2.23 per litre.

A summary containing the proposed price adjustments will be sent to the Prime Minister’s Office on Monday.

Final approval will rest with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, after which the Ministry of Finance will announce the revised prices.

The new prices, once approved, will be applicable for the next 15 days.

On July 1, the federal government has increased petrol prices for the next fortnight, pushing the petrol price up by Rs8.36 per litre.

According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Finance, the petrol price was increased by Rs14.80 per litre, bringing the new petrol price to Rs266.89 per litre.

Similarly, the price of high-speed diesel was raised by Rs10.39 per litre, with the new rate set at Rs272.98 per litre.

It may be noted here that the federal government delayed the announcement of petroleum product prices changes for the next 15 days, missing the usual midnight deadline for the revision.

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July 14, 2025
Adverse Events in Airway Procedures in Kids: Key Risks
TOPLINE:

Adverse events occurred in 2% of children who underwent procedures for airway management under general anesthesia, with higher rates in neonates and infants. Risk factors included younger age, the presence of anatomic difficulties, and undergoing anesthesia outside operating rooms.

METHODOLOGY:

Researchers conducted a prospective observational study at 10 tertiary care hospitals in Japan from June 2022 to January 2024, focusing on the incidence of adverse events during airway management in children under general anesthesia.

A total of 16,695 children (mean age, 6.3 years; 41.4% girls; 1.8% neonates and 11.7% infants) received advanced airway management at least once under general anesthesia, with or without regional anesthesia, including tracheal intubation or the placement of a supraglottic airway device.

Data on patient comorbidities, types of surgeries, training levels of anesthesia providers, and practices for airway management were collected.

The primary outcome was the occurrence of adverse events related to airway management procedures during general anesthesia; the secondary outcome was desaturation, defined as a drop in oxygen saturation of at least 10%.

Occurrences of any adverse events, including at least one hemodynamic and airway-related complication, and respiratory adverse events were recorded, and risk factors for adverse events and desaturation were identified.

TAKEAWAY:

Any adverse events occurred in 2% of cases of airway management, and desaturation was noted in 2.3% of cases. The incidence of any adverse events was 5.8% in neonates and 3.3% in infants, higher than that in preschool and school-going children and adolescents.

Increasing age was linked to reduced odds of any adverse events (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.92; P < .001). Insertion of a supraglottic airway device and the use of muscle relaxants at first attempt were also linked to reduced odds of any adverse events.

Factors associated with increased odds of any adverse events included undergoing anesthesia in CT, MRI, or radiation therapy rooms (aOR, 5.7; P = .006); having airway sensitivity (aOR, 1.46; P = .010); and having one (aOR, 1.74; P = .042) or at least two (aOR, 2.82; P = .017) anatomic difficulties.

The odds of desaturation decreased with increasing age (aOR, 0.78; P < .001) but were higher when anesthesia was provided in catheter labs and CT, MRI, or radiology therapy rooms than when provided in operating rooms. Airway management by nonspecialist anesthesiologists and trainees also was linked to higher odds of desaturation than when the intervention was performed by pediatric anesthetists.

IN PRACTICE:

“Our study, focusing specifically on airway management, showed that approximately 21% of neonates and 7% of infants experienced desaturation, which was higher than that in other age groups,” the researchers reported. “Neonates’ unique physiological and anatomical characteristics can explain this hypoxic progression tendency…The higher desaturation incidence in neonates in our study highlights the necessity for shorter tracheal intubation time and higher first-attempt success rates in neonates,” they added.

SOURCE:

This study was led by Taiki Kojima, MD, MPH, of the Department of Anesthesiology at Aichi Children’s Health and Medical Center in Obu, Japan. It was published online on July 07, 2025, in Anesthesiology.

LIMITATIONS:

The reliance on self-reported data from anesthesiologists may have introduced reporting bias and inaccuracies. Selection bias could have occurred due to missing cases, and unmeasured confounders may have affected the results. The exact incidence of adverse events by device type remained unclear due to multiple attempts with different devices.

DISCLOSURES:

The J-PEDIA study was funded by grants from the Ministry of Education in Japan. This study received Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education in Japan. No additional conflicts of interest were disclosed by the authors.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
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July 14, 2025
Expected to rise for next 15 days

Petrol and diesel prices in Pakistan are expected to increase by up to Rs6.60 per litre for the next 15 days, following a continued upward trend in global crude oil prices, according to industry sources.

At the time of reporting, the proposed hike includes a Rs6.60 per litre increase in petrol and a Rs5.27 per litre rise in high-speed diesel (HSD).

Conversely, the prices of kerosene and light diesel may see reductions of Rs3.74 and Rs2.23 per litre, respectively.

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has completed its work based on the latest global market trends, and a final summary will be submitted to the government by tomorrow.

The oil industry has already shared its calculations with the regulator.

Sources confirmed that the final decision on price adjustments will be made following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s approval of OGRA’s summary.

The proposed changes would come into effect for the next fortnight as part of the government’s regular price review mechanism for petroleum products.

Read: Fuel price hike burns a hole in public pockets

On July 1, the federal government increased petrol and diesel prices significantly for the first fortnight of the month, attributing the hike to global market volatility amid the 12-day Iran-Israel conflict.

Petrol rose by Rs8.36 to Rs266.79 per litre, and high-speed diesel by Rs10.39 to Rs272.98, based on OGRA’s recommendation.

Pakistan, which imports around 85% of its petroleum needs, was directly impacted by the Middle East crisis.

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July 14, 2025