Blog

  • April’s Vaccine Recommendations Adopted in June 2025 — Vax-Before-Travel

    April’s Vaccine Recommendations Adopted in June 2025 — Vax-Before-Travel

    Atlanta (Vax-Before-Travel News)

    The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently endorsed vaccine recommendations against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), meningococcal, and chikungunya diseases.

    Published on the CDC’s website on June 25, 2025, these recommendations were adopted by the U.S. HHS Secretary.

    As the conclusion of last month’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting, the members issued the following statement, which is inserted below:

    ‘Honesty, transparency, and compassion with regard to public health. These are the three pillars that we, the new ACIP members, are guided by. Our central duty is to protect public health, and we understand that we must answer the call for reestablishing confidence in the scientific examination process. This committee strongly supports the use of vaccines and other countermeasures, predicated on evidence-based medicine, including rigorous evaluation and expansive, credible scientific data, for both safety and efficacy.

    All stakeholders, including healthcare providers, parents, children, schools, nursing homes, insurance providers, public health agencies, manufacturers, and the rare few who may be harmed by recommended interventions, need to have understandable, digestible, scientifically correct information. This group is committed to providing that information, and in order to do so, we must have data representing large populations. Data collection is a central question that may require constructing a broad risk-benefit analysis. The committee will endeavor to assess the status of programs that are intended to collect data from large populations that have, or have not, received vaccines. These data are needed in order to assess both adverse short- and long-term side effects and to evaluate the magnitude of side effects.

    We came to this meeting with no predetermined ideas and will make judgements as if we are treating our own families. Unbiased scientific thinking is fundamental to the committee’s charge. Our votes are recommendations, but we know that some may perceive them as mandates, so we take this responsibility very seriously. We pledge not to hold a vote if there is not sufficient information to enable evaluation of the risks and benefits.

    This committee is not in competition with other committees, organizations, or each other – we are all in competition with the infectious diseases, and we will work together to ensure the best outcomes for public health.’

    Continue Reading

  • Little boy in SW Cambodia becomes 12th victim of H5N1 bird flu in 2025-Xinhua

    PHNOM PENH, July 3 (Xinhua) — A five-year-old boy from southwest Cambodia’s Kampot province has been confirmed for H5N1 human avian influenza, bringing the number of cases to 12 so far this year, the Ministry of Health said in a statement on Thursday.

    “A laboratory result from the National Institute of Public Health showed on July 3 that the boy was positive for H5N1 virus,” the statement said. “The patient has the symptoms of fever, cough, and dyspnea, and he is currently being rescued by a team of doctors.”

    The victim lives in Kamakor village of Angkor Chey district.

    Continue Reading

  • Surrenne’s South of France Debut at The Maybourne Riviera

    Surrenne’s South of France Debut at The Maybourne Riviera

    Following the success of Surrenne Belgravia’s debut in London, the wellness and longevity club has now arrived on the Côte d’Azur, going far beyond a traditional hotel spa with longevity stays, retreats, personalized treatments, and expert-led movement and fitness practices. Surrenne’s holistic and science-backed approach elevates wellbeing for guests and members alike. This debut comes at an exciting time as the summer high season is in full swing and the Riviera is abuzz with the energy of Monaco and recent restoration of Gabrielle Chanel’s clifftop artist and intellectual retreat, La Pausa.

    Spanning three floors, Surrenne Riviera offers signature treatments that merge cutting-edge technology with holistic therapies, tailored to address the unique needs of every guest. Surrenne also offers personalized facials (in partnership with Biologique Recherche – fusing science and skincare for lasting, visible results), recovery therapies including a signature lymphatic drainage treatment, and expert nutritional guidance, complemented by cold therapy, infrared therapy, osteopathy, and red-light therapy.

    Surrenne Riviera also features four wellness-focused studios: the Surrenne Gym with state-of-the-art Technogym equipment; the Performance Studio for one-on-one training; and the open-air Waves Studio and Riviera Reflections, which offer group classes like yoga, spinning, TRX, and Pilates, created with Lagree Fitness.

    More than a wellness retreat and in-keeping with Maybourne’s legacy of excellence, Surrenne establishes a new benchmark in transformative wellbeing for guests and members.

    Perched on the rocky peninsula of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, The Maybourne Riviera offers breathtaking views from Italy in the east to Monte-Carlo in the west. This jewel of the French Riviera features 65 rooms, including 24 suites, each with a private terrace overlooking the Mediterranean. A true gastronomic destination, the hotel boasts 4 restaurants and one bar, including a private beach and abc kitchens, helmed by Michelin-starred chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Surrenne a longevity center, dedicated to well-being, and an infinity pool complete this unique experience, suspended between sky and sea.

    Hotel website

    Surrenne Riviera
    1551 Rte de la Turbie
    Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, 06190
    France

    +33 4 93 37 24 72

    Continue Reading

  • Perceived social status influences women’s cardiovascular risk

    Perceived social status influences women’s cardiovascular risk

    Women who see themselves as having lower social status are more likely than other people to show early signs of heart stress linked to future disease risk, according to a new study led by researchers at McGill and Concordia universities.

    One in three women in North America die from heart disease. Yet, women are less likely to receive important cardiac interventions or therapies than men. This highlights the need to rethink how we assess cardiovascular risk in women.”


    Dr. Judy Luu, Co-Lead Author, Assistant Professor in McGill’s Department of Medicine and a clinician-scientist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre

    Subjective social status – how people feel they rank compared to others in terms of their social standing – has previously been linked to physical and mental health, with lower social status associated with poorer health. The findings of this study are among the first to show measurable, sex-specific effects in the heart.

    More than 400 adults between the ages of 35 and 83, all without diagnosed heart disease, took part in the study. Each completed a questionnaire ranking their social standing on a 10-rung ladder. Cardiac MRI scans then measured early signs of stress in the heart’s tissue.

    Women who ranked their social status lower showed more signs of potential inflammation and early scarring in the heart, even when their income and education matched those who ranked their status higher. Men who ranked their social status lower than others with the same income and education did not show these warning signs.

    Why might women be more affected?

    There are two theories that may explain the findings, said co-lead author Jean-Philippe Gouin, Full Professor of Psychology at Concordia.

    “First, subjective social status may better reflect women’s real-life experiences than objective data on their socioeconomic status,” he said. “For example, even with the same education as men, women often earn less or face additional social pressures. So, their self-perception may capture those realities more accurately.”

    The second theory is about psychological impact, he said. Women may feel fewer opportunities for upward mobility, which can lead to more stress.

    The researchers note that stress is one of the top five risk factors for heart disease in women under 65. Experiences such as trauma, discrimination, and caregiving demands may contribute to the subtle changes in heart tissue observed in this study – suggesting early signs of inflammation, even before disease is diagnosed.

    The researchers plan to follow a larger group of participants over time to see whether these early markers predict heart disease.

    “We hope our work helps shift the paradigm in cardiac care,” said Luu. “We want to make it normal to discuss mental wellness, social circumstances and stress in routine medical practice.”

    Source:

    Journal reference:

    Sánchez-Carro, Y., et al. (2025). Sex Differences in the Association Between Subjective Social Status and Imaging Markers of Cardiac Inflammation and Fibrosis. Biopsychosocial Science and Medicine. doi.org/10.1097/psy.0000000000001411

    Continue Reading

  • Apple may be due for an imminent jump, according to the charts

    Apple may be due for an imminent jump, according to the charts

    Continue Reading

  • Iran diplomat says open to talks if US rules out military action – World

    Iran diplomat says open to talks if US rules out military action – World

    A senior Iranian diplomat said on Thursday his country remains open to diplomacy provided the United States offers guarantees it will not resort to military action against the Islamic Republic.

    The remarks came as US news website Axios, citing two unidentified sources, reported that White House Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff was planning to meet Iran’s foreign minister and chief negotiator, Abbas Araghchi, in Oslo next week.

    Neither Tehran nor Washington confirmed the Axios report, which said a final date for the talks has yet to be set.

    “We are for diplomacy,” Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Majid Takht-Ravanchi told NBC News, adding that the US should “convince us that they are not going to use military force while we are negotiating”.

    “That is an essential element for our leadership to be in a position to decide about the future round of talks,” he added.

    Tehran and Washington had held five rounds of nuclear talks since April 12 and were set to hold a new round two days before Israel launched a bombing campaign against Iran on June 13.

    The Israeli strikes targeted Iranian nuclear sites and killed several senior military officials and nuclear scientists.

    On June 22, the US launched unprecedented strikes of its own on Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz.

    More than 900 people were killed in Iran during the conflict, according to the judiciary.

    The Israeli attacks drew waves of retaliatory drone and missile fire, killing 28 people in Israel, according to authorities.

    A ceasefire between Iran and Israel was agreed on June 24.

    During the nuclear talks, which were stalled because of the fighting, Iran and the US had been at sharp odds over Iran’s uranium enrichment, which Tehran considers a “non-negotiable” right and which Washington has called a “red line”.

    Iran has insisted on its right to enrich uranium even after the 12-day war with Israel.

    “Our policy has not changed on enrichment,” Takht-Ravanchi told NBC News.

    “Iran has every right to do enrichment within its territory. The only thing that we have to observe is not to go for militarisation. “

    At the same time, Iran affirmed its commitment to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), as it accused Germany of “malice” over its criticism of Tehran’s decision to suspend cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.

    “Iran remains committed to the NPT and its Safeguards Agreement,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X.

    “The explicit German support for the bombing of Iran has obliterated the notion that the German regime harbours anything but malice towards Iranians,” he added in response to a German foreign office post criticising the move.

    On Wednesday, Iran officially suspended its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, citing the agency’s failure to condemn Israeli and US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.

    In a post on X, Germany’s foreign office called on Iran to “reverse this decision,” saying it sends a “devastating message”.

    “It eliminates any possibility of international oversight of the Iranian nuclear programme, which is crucial for a diplomatic solution,” it added.

    Araghchi lambasted what he called Germany’s “explicit support for Israel’s unlawful attack on Iran” on June 13, killing top Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists.

    On June 17, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Israel was doing the “dirty work … for all of us” by targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

    Continue Reading

  • Universal Music Greater China unveils global alliance with artist David Tao’s Great Entertainment | Labels

    Universal Music Greater China unveils global alliance with artist David Tao’s Great Entertainment | Labels

    Universal Music Greater China (UMGC) has unveiled a strategic global alliance with Mandopop artist David Tao and his company, Great Entertainment. 

    “The agreement marks David Tao’s entry into UMG’s global artist family and reflects a shared vision to elevate Mandarin pop (Mandopop) to new heights on the international stage,” said a statement. “Through the alliance, Great Entertainment will tap into UMG’s global infrastructure and creative network to help introduce Tao’s artistry to broader audiences worldwide.”

    Widely recognised as the “godfather of Mandarin R&B,” David Tao has played a key role in redefining the sound of Mandarin pop over the past three decades.

    The alliance launches with the global release of Tao’s eighth studio album, Stupid Pop Songs, his first full-length project in 12 years. The album is available now across major digital platforms, with a physical release coming soon via UMGC.  

    Timothy Xu, chairman & CEO of Universal Music Greater China, said: “David Tao is one of the most visionary and influential figures in Mandopop history. His music has shaped the genre and inspired generations with its emotional depth and artistic courage. We are proud to welcome David to the Universal Music family. This alliance underscores our long-term investment in iconic artistry and reinforces our commitment to expanding the global reach of Mandarin pop.”

    David Tao said: “Music has always been a borderless and personal journey for me. This new chapter with Universal Music allows us to bring our creative work to a broader global stage. I’m grateful for the trust and alignment in vision, and excited to explore new possibilities with UMGC to elevate Mandarin pop and share our stories with the world.”

    “As Tao enters this new chapter with UMG, the alliance reflects a shared commitment to championing originality, preserving musical heritage, and bringing Mandarin pop into bold new conversations on the global stage,” added the statement.

    PHOTO: (L-R) David Tao and Timothy Xu

     

    For more stories like this, and to keep up to date with all our market leading news, features and analysis, sign up to receive our daily Morning Briefing newsletter

    Continue Reading

  • Pebble Halo Smart Ring arrives with a digital display, stainless steel design, and a sub-$100 price tag

    Pebble Halo Smart Ring arrives with a digital display, stainless steel design, and a sub-$100 price tag

    Indian smart wearables brand Pebble today announced Halo Smart Ring as its first smart ring, “designed for consumers who want their tech to blend seamlessly with their personal style.”

    The biggest highlight of the Pebble Halo Smart Ring is its active digital display, which shows time, battery status, and health and fitness data.

    Speaking of, the Pebble Halo Smart Ring comes with the usual slew of health and fitness features, including a step counter, a heart rate monitor, sleep tracking (supports REM sleep), stress monitoring, and blood oxygen level measurement. The brand says it also supports multiple sports modes, but doesn’t provide specifics.

    Additionally, the Pebble Halo Smart Ring comes with a chant counter and supports gesture control for playing games, scrolling videos, controlling music and the camera, and flipping pages in e-book readers on the connected device.

    Pebble Halo Smart Ring arrives with a digital display, stainless steel design, and a sub-$100 price tag

    Pebble hasn’t revealed the battery capacity of the Halo Smart Ring, but claims it will have an endurance of 3-4 days, with the charging time being two hours. The Halo Smart Ring has a stainless steel body and is water and dust-resistant; however, Pebble says that “prolonged exposure to water can damage the device” and advises users to remove it “before any water-related activity.”

    Pebble Halo Smart Ring arrives with a digital display, stainless steel design, and a sub-$100 price tag

    The Pebble Halo Smart Ring weighs 19g, has Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity, and comes in six sizes (7 to 12). You can buy one in black, silver, or gold color starting July 4 in India through Pebble’s official website or Flipkart.


    Pebble Halo Smart Ring
    Pebble Halo Smart Ring
    Pebble Halo Smart Ring

    Pebble Halo Smart Ring’s color options

    The Pebble Halo Smart Ring is priced at INR7,999 ($95/€80), but you can get it at a special launch price of INR3,999 ($45/€40) if you pre-book one through Pebble’s website.

    Continue Reading

  • Buenavista doubles down on geospatial AI with €10.5m investment in Xoople

    Buenavista doubles down on geospatial AI with €10.5m investment in Xoople

    Buenavista Equity Partners has deepened its commitment to geospatial artificial intelligence pioneer Xoople, investing a total of €10.5m through its Ventures and Infrastructure funds.

    The capital was committed as part of a €34m round led by Spain’s CDTI and AXIS, the venture capital arm of the state-owned ICO.

    This latest funding round, which closed on 18 June, brings Xoople’s total financing to €115m. The company is developing EarthAI, an integrated system that merges satellite constellations with AI-powered analytics to monitor physical changes on the Earth’s surface. It aims to deliver global, AI-ready datasets to help solve large-scale, real-world challenges.

    Buenavista was Xoople’s first private investor in 2021 and has since continued backing the business across multiple strategies. “We are very pleased to strengthen our position and support Xoople in this new phase, convinced that their proposal has a highly promising future,” said Francisco Marín, Senior Advisor and Partner at Buenavista Ventures and a member of Xoople’s board.

    Marín added that Xoople is a strategic partner in Microsoft’s Planetary Computing initiative, which combines satellite infrastructure with Microsoft’s Planetary Computer Pro platform. This collaboration enables large-scale processing of geospatial data using AI to generate actionable insights for sectors including climate, infrastructure, and urban development.

    Founded in Spain with global ambitions, Xoople is building the next generation of Earth observation technology, offering continuous data streams for pattern recognition, change detection, and predictive analysis. Its mission is to empower organisations and communities to make faster, safer, and more informed decisions.

    The investment underscores Buenavista’s active presence in Spain’s lower mid-market segment. The firm’s Ventures portfolio now includes 19 companies, including Omniscope, acquired earlier this year.

    If you think we missed any important news, please do not hesitate to contact us at news@pe-insights.com.

    Can`t stop reading? Read more.

    Continue Reading

  • World Rugby releases Impact Beyond 2025 progress report ahead of Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

    World Rugby releases Impact Beyond 2025 progress report ahead of Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

    • Over 2,500 members of the women’s rugby community have already benefited from Impact Beyond 2025
    • 42 Unions have received Rugby Rising Play grants
    • Fundraising toolkit launched for unions 

    Impact Beyond 2025 is World Rugby’s ambitious global programme designed to supercharge the growth of women’s rugby long after the tournament concludes, with the pinnacle event set to take place across England from 22 August to 27 September. 

    Working alongside the RFU’s domestic Impact ‘25 programme and a number of inspiring social impact projects spearheaded by the RWC 2025 Local Organising Company (LOC), Impact Beyond 2025 is designed to ensure that this generational moment for rugby creates lasting change – from grassroots participation to the elite level – by empowering more women and girls, strengthening communities, and advancing gender equity across the sporting landscape.

    The report highlights the progress made across three key pillars: 

    • Inspiring more people to play, support, and fall in love with the game
    • Providing targeted career and personal development initiatives working across rugby and supporting them to thrive in their careers
    • Empowering Unions with the tools and networks to build a stronger, more inclusive future for the sport 

    Highlights include: 

    • Over 2,500 members of the women’s rugby community have already benefited from Impact Beyond 2025
    • Over 300 people have attended the first two women’s health webinars  
    • Over 50 Unions have attended Impact Beyond Regional Summits in Africa, Asia and Europe
    • 42 Unions have received Rugby Rising Play grants
    • Fundraising toolkit launched for unions 

    The second instalment of the Impact Report covers the period up to June 2025. The full Impact Beyond 2025 Plan and first report are available on the World Rugby website here with the final report scheduled post-tournament. 

    Welcoming this mid-year report, Sally Horrox World Rugby’s Chief of Women’s Rugby said: “It’s 50 days before Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 kicks off in England, yet Impact Beyond 2025 is already making a huge difference to women’s rugby across the world.  

    “The report evidences great progress, but there is even greater opportunity ahead of us.  I’m looking forward to an incredible Women’s Rugby World Cup, but am equally excited to see the lasting impact that our flagship programmes will have on the sport globally and the evolution of women’s rugby”.

    Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 will be one of the hottest tickets of the sporting summer with over 300,000 people already set to take their place in the stands.  You can join them by visiting www.tickets.rugbyworldcup.com  

    Continue Reading