#denmark visit germany 2024

[theroyalsandi]

Danish Royal Family - Queen Mary attending the 25th anniversary celebration of the Nordic embassy complex at Schloss Bellevue in Berlin, Germany. (Photos courtesy of Shutterstock) | October 21, 2024

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved on our archive

By Anthony Robledo

The side effects of newly discovered COVID-19 strain XEC might not be as severe, but is part of the more contagious variant class, experts say.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines XEC as recombinant or hybrid of the strains KS.1.1 and KP.3.3., both from the Omicron family that became the predominant strain in the U.S. late December 2022.

The variant, which first appeared in Berlin in late June, has increasingly seen hundreds of cases in Germany, France, Denmark and Netherlands, according to a report by Australia-based data integration specialist Mike Honey.

XEC has also been reported in at least 25 U.S. states though there could be more as genetic testing is not done on every positive test, RTI International epidemiologist Joëlla W. Adams said.

"We often use what happens in Europe as a good indication of what might happen here," Adams told USA TODAY Friday. "Whenever we're entering into a season where we have multiple viruses occurring at the same time, like we're entering into flu season, that obviously complicates things."

What is the XEC variant? New COVID strain XEC is a recombinant strain of two variants in the Omicron family: KS.1.1 and KP.3.3.

The hybrid strain was first reported in Berlin late June but has spread across Europe, North America and Asia with the countries Germany, France, the Netherlands and Denmark leading cases.

Is the XEC variant more contagious? While there's no indication the XEC strain will increase the severity of virus, it could potentially become a dominant strain as Omicron variants are more contagious. However, current available COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots are particularly protective against XEC as it is a hybrid of two Omicron strains.

"These strains do have the advantage in the fact that they are more transmissible compared to other families, and so the vaccines that are currently being offered were not based off of the XEC variant, but they are related," Adams said.

Like other respiratory infections, COVID-19 and its recent Omicron variants will increasingly spread during the fall and winter seasons as students return to classes, kids spend more time inside and people visit family for the holidays, according to Adams.

How can we protect ourselves from XEC and other variants? The CDC continues to monitor the emergence of variants in the population, according to spokesperson Rosa Norman.

"At this time, we anticipate that COVID-19 treatments and vaccines will continue to work against all circulating variants," Norman said in a statement to USA TODAY. "CDC will continue to monitor the effectiveness of treatment and vaccines against circulating variants."

The CDC recommends that everyone ages 6 months and older, with some exceptions, receive an updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine to protect against the virus, regardless whether or not you have previously been vaccinated or infected.

Norman urged Americans to monitor the agency's COVID Data Tracker for updates to new variants.

KP.3.1.1:This dominant COVID-19 variant accounts for over 50% of cases, new CDC data shows

What is the dominant strain of COVID in the US? COVID-19 variant KP.3.1.1 is currently the dominant strain accounting for more than half of positive infections in the U.S. according to recent CDC projections.

Between Sept. 1 and Sept. 14, 52.7% of positive infections were of the KP.3.1.1 strain, followed by KP.2.3 at 12.2%, according to the agency's Nowcast data tracker, which displays COVID-19 estimates and projections for two-week periods.

KP.3.1.1 first became the dominant strain in the two-week period, starting on July 21st and ending on August 3rd.

"The KP.3.1.1 variant is very similar to other circulating variants in the United States. All current lineages are descendants of JN.1, which emerged in late 2023," Norman previously told USA TODAY.

COVID XEC symptoms There is no indication that the XEC variant comes with its own unique symptoms.

The CDC continues to outline the basic COVID-19 symptoms, which can appear between two to 14 days after exposure to the virus and can range from mild to severe.

These are some of the symptoms of COVID-19:

Fever or chills Cough Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Fatigue Muscle or body aches Headache Loss of taste or smell Sore throat Congestion or runny nose Nausea or vomiting Diarrhea

The CDC said you should seek medical attention if you have the following symptoms:

Trouble breathing Persistent pain or pressure in the chest New confusion Inability to wake or stay awake Pale, gray or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds

[louisupdates]

Prince William's Royal Night Out

Published Jun 21, 2024 at 4:49 AM EDT | Updated Jun 21, 2024 at 9:44 AM EDT

Prince William visited Germany on Thursday to attend a high-profile soccer match on the evening before his 42nd birthday.

The prince was photographed alongside European royalty at the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament group stage match between England and Denmark. He attended in his capacity as president of the Football Association in Britain, a role he was given by Queen Elizabeth II in 2006.

[…]

William not only met European royalty at the game but also pop royalty, in the form of former One Direction band member Louis Tomlinson.

Footage of the prince and the singer chatting behind the scenes at the stadium has gone viral online. It is not the first time the two have met. The pair were photographed together at the Royal Variety charity performance in 2014 and 2017.

In 2018 when William and Kate named their youngest son Louis, Tomlinson posted a lighthearted social media message dedicated to the prince, including the line: "Young Louis welcome to the world. I'll take you under my wing lad."

[gabriellademonaco]

Queen Mary’s Engagements in Oct 2024:

01/10: Opening of Parliament

02/10: Official Visit to Brazil - Boat Trip on the Amazon, Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve and the Amazonian Museum MUSA

02/10: Official Visit to Brazil - Official Reception by the Governor of Amazonas

03/10: Official Visit to Brazil - National Research Institute for the Amazon Forest, Center for Bioeconomy, Lunch

04/10: Official Visit to Brazil - Official Meeting with President of Brazil

04/10: Official Visit to Brazil - Public School, Agricultural Research Institute

04/10: Official Visit to Brazil - Working Dinner with UNFPA at Danish Embassy

05/10: Official Visit to Brazil - Botanical Garden with UNEP

08/10: State Visit from Iceland - Day 1

08/10: State Visit from Iceland - Banquet

09/10: State Visit from Iceland - Day 2

09/10: State Visit from Iceland - Return Event

10/10: State Visit from Iceland - Official Farewell

10/10: Christmas Seal

10/10: 25th Anniversary of the American Chamber of Commerce in Denmark

11/10: 750th Anniversary of Holstebro City

21/10: Official Visit to Germany - Official Welcome at Schloss Bellevue, Reception at the Bundestag

21/10: Official Visit to Germany - Nordic Embassy Complex 25th Anniversary

21/10: Official Visit to Germany - Official Dinner

22/10: Official Visit to Germany - Official Welcome in Schleswig-Holstein, Sailing Tour, Energy Conference at GEOMAR, Danevirke, Flensborghus

[lost-carcosa]

Danish king changes coat of arms amid row with Trump over Greenland

Design shows intent to keep control of Faroe Islands and Greenland – which Trump says he would like the US to buy

The new design (right) features a large polar bear and ram, representing Greenland and the Faroes.

The Danish king has shocked some historians by changing the royal coat of arms to more prominently feature Greenland and the Faroe Islands – in what has also been seen as a rebuke to Donald Trump.

Less than a year since succeeding his mother, Queen Margrethe, after she stood down on New Year’s Eve 2023, King Frederik has made a clear statement of intent to keep the autonomous Danish territory and former colony within the kingdom of Denmark.

For 500 years, previous Danish royal coats of arms have featured three crowns, the symbol of the Kalmar Union between Denmark, Norway and Sweden, which was led from Denmark between 1397 and 1523. They are also an important symbol of its neighbour Sweden.

But in the updated version, the crowns have been removed and replaced with a more prominent polar bear and ram than previously, to symbolise Greenland and the Faroe Islands respectively.

The move comes at a time of increased tension over Greenland and its relations with Denmark, which continues to control its foreign and security policy.

Incoming US president Trump last month said again that he wants the US to buy Greenland, and the Greenlandic prime minister, Múte Egede, recently accused Denmark of genocide in response to investigations of the forced contraceptive scandal of the 1960s and 70s. In Egede’s own new year’s address he accelerated calls for Greenlandic independence and called for the “shackles of the colonial era” to be removed.

Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr, was expected to visit Greenland on Tuesday, a local government official told Reuters, adding that it was a private visit and that he would be recording material for a podcast and would not meet with any local officials.

Trump Sr later confirmed the trip was taking place in a post on his Truth Social website, without mentioning a date. He added: “Greenland is an incredible place, and the people will benefit tremendously if, and when, it becomes part of our Nation. We will protect it, and cherish it, from a very vicious outside World. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!”

The royal household said the coat of arms, which is used on official documents and seals and elements of which date back to the 12th century, “strengthens the prominence of the commonwealth”. The three crowns, it said, had been removed “as it is no longer relevant”.

The changes, it said, were made after a recommendation from a committee that was appointed straight after his accession on 14 January 2024.

Last week, in his first new year speech, the king said: “We are all united and each of us committed for the kingdom of Denmark. From the Danish minority in South Schleswig – which is even situated outside the kingdom – and all the way to Greenland. We belong together.”

Since 1819, the royal arms have been changed three times before now, in 1903, 1948 and 1972. But the latest changes have been met by shock in some quarters.

Ever since the peace treaty of Knäred in 1613, which ended the Kalmar war, Sweden was “forced to accept the Danish king’s rights to use the Swedish symbol of the three crowns, said Dick Harrison, a history professor at the Swedish University of Lund, making its removal from the Danish coat of arms now “a sensation”.

“The symbol survived the huge defeats in the wars against Sweden in the 1640s and the 1650s, the loss of Norway in 1814, the loss of Schleswig to Germany in 1864, the transition to modernity, the loss of Iceland and the German occupation in world war II,” he said. “Thus, from the point of view of history, the fact that King Frederik X has decided to remove the symbol is a sensation.”

But Sebastian Olden-Jørgensen, a historian at the Saxo Institute at the University of Copenhagen, said it sends clear signals about current geopolitics, especially amid Greenlandic calls for independence.

“When the Greenlanders, and in a sense also the Faroese, toy with the idea of achieving full independence, the royal house shows they support the state’s policy, which is to preserve the unity of the realm,” he told Berlingske.

Royal expert Lars Hovbakke Sørensen believes the changes reflect the king’s personal interest in the Arctic, but also send a message to the world.

“It is important to signal from the Danish side that Greenland and the Faroe Islands are part of the Danish realm, and that this is not up for discussion. This is how you mark it,” he told TV2.

[tilbageidanmark]

The 1,289 movies I saw in 2024...

This is my fourth 'End of Year' recap. In January 2021, during the Covid lock-down, I began logging the many films that I watch every day, just to keep track. In the beginning I jotted a line or two about each, only to create a record. But then I started adding longer notes and more elaborate impressions, and before I knew it, I've got a 'Film Project' on my hands.

The obsessive project mushroomed. In the course of these four years, I watched and reviewed a total of 4,126 movies; 885 in 2021, 954 in 2022, 998 in 2023, and a ridiculous number of 1,289 movies this last year.

And it seems that I'm just getting started.

As I wrote before, I owe an apology to nobody for my indulgence. I derive great pleasure from discovering daily the best movies ever made, and I enjoy even more the process of thinking about them and coming up with my own specific takes, if I can. As an un-accomplished 'Creator', composing short reviews fills me with just the right amount of self-fulfillment. The fact that I am blessed with the physical and financial ability to enjoy this type of existence right now, at the end of my own life and while civilization collapses all around us, is not lost on me either.

The project, like the many others I created before it, is purely personal, and is a strict 'labor of love'. Watching a movie today is an individual experience [Except of one visit, I haven't been to a theater in many years], and maintaining this blog (which hardly anybody visits), is done as a form of mental masturbation; I do it every day because I like it a lot, and because it doesn't hurt anybody. I described my background before, so there's no need to repeat it here.

So here are some generalities, with a dozen 'Best-Of' samples below.

I've made a concerted effort to watch more films helmed by women directors - 215 in all (but only 16% of the total). Next year I will increase that number.

I like good documentaries, and of the 1,289 movies, 170 were documentaries. However, most of them were not that great. Surprisingly, only 99 were repeat films that I had watched before – it felt as if the number would be higher. I also started watching many more short films (5 to 40 minutes), and I plan focusing even more on short films in the coming year.

As I'm moving away from Hollywood-type blockbuster fair, I saw 737 “Foreign” films (read: Not American) which were 57% of the total. Next year I will be sure to increase that ratio too.

Here is the break-down by country:

From the UK (108)

From France (106)

From Canada (44)

From Japan (40)

From Denmark (25)

From "Czechoslovakia" (24)

From Germany (21)

From Sweden (20)

From Italy & "Russia" (18 each)

From Israel & Poland (17 each)

From Brazil (16)

From Australia, Iran & Ireland (13 each)

From Iceland, Korea & Spain (12 each)

From Hungary (11)

From Turkey (10)

The rest were films from China, Romania, The Netherlands, Argentina, India, Yugoslavia, Belgium, Finland, Latvia, Mexico, Chile, Croatia, Norway, Austria, Cuba, Egypt, Greece, Morocco, Palestine, Scotland, Switzerland, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Nigeria, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Haiti, Lebanon, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Afghanistan, Armenia, Colombia, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Jordan, Paraguay, Portugal, Senegal, Sudan, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia and Wales. [But unlike 2023, no films in Babylonian this year...]

Many of these 1,293 movies were terrible. But only 23 of them I simply couldn't finish. They included: Otto Preminger's 'Exodus', Troma Studio's 'Poultrygeist', Polanski's 1970 'A day at the beach', The Japanese 'Patisserie Coin de rue', Bob Fosse 'All that Jazz', M. Night Shyamalan 'The happening', Gene Hackman's 'Heartbreakers', Elaine May 'A new leaf', Etc. Many of the others were boring, tedious, stupid. YMMV.

Next year I will also start keeping track of the genres, which I haven't done up to now. I may try new things, but there are some popular genres I generally stir away from: Superheros, horror, franchise, fantasy. There were six A.I.-generated films that I saw this year. I predict that in 2025 we will have the first 'good' A.I. features.

I wish I had signed up to Letterboxd at the start. It would have made sorting the list so much easier. But I've been dropping out of all social media (reddit and tumblr are the only ones still standing), and I don't plan on starting on a new platform.

I only felt the urge to "rate" 40% of the movies I saw (527), and of the ones that I did rate, there were 18 which I designated “Best”, and 78 to which I gave the 10/10 score. 'Best' for me usually meant that it offered a 'very' strong emotional reaction.

40 years ago I studied film at Copenhagen University, but it's only during these last few years that I've become pretty knowledgeable about the overall history of the cinema. It is therefore my favorite experience today to come across a movie I never even heard of, maybe from a different time and place, which knocks me completely over.

And so, here are a few of the less obvious gems which I enjoyed the most this year. Many more on the blog. Check them all out if you want.

The films of Icelandic Hlynur Pálmason (all but 'Winter brothers'). My favorite was 'White, white day', a masterful feat of slow film making, with unusual choices in its subtle direction. A policeman grieves for his wife who died in a car accident. The man renovates a house, takes care of his cute granddaughter, and then, (like ‘The Descendants’), he discovers that before she died, his beloved wife had an affair with some guy. A stunning story of heartbreak, resignation and acceptance. The Trailer.

Nuri Bilge Ceylan 8 films (I still haven't seen his 'Casaba' and 'Clouds of May'). My favorite of his: 'About Dry Grasses' which plays for over 3 hours in the desolate, snow-covered mountains of Eastern Anatolia. Like Mads Mikkelsen in 'The Hunt’, a teacher in a small village is being falsely accused of improper behavior toward a 14-year-old girl. But the slow and meandering story embraces other themes as well, of longing, of truth seeking, of weariness, complacency and contempt. With a delusional, self centered man and the two females he misunderstands and maligns. It includes one shocking 'break the 4th wall’ moment (at 2:05:00) which illustrates that nothing we think and believe in is true. The trailer.

'A brand new life' (2009), a heart-breaking Korean story, based on the director’s personal life. A sweet 9-year-old girl is abandoned by her father, who one day and without any warning drops her off at a Catholic orphanage in the countryside and leaves. Life is suddenly too painful for her. With the cutest little girl, who has to deal with life’s harshest lessons. A relatable debut feature, it uses the simplest and purest film language. It's similar to other tragic stories about innocence lost; Carla Simón’s ‘Summer 1993’, the French film 'Ponette’, and the Irish 'The Quiet Girl’ from last year, all with the same kind spirit and sad understatements. The trailer.

'The Last Repair Shop', winner of last year's Oscar for Best Documentary Short. A quiet story about a shop that maintains and repairs the 80,000 musical instruments used by students of the Los Angeles school district. It’s about mending broken things so they can be whole again, performed by people who were also broken, but are now whole. Similar to and even better than the 2017 Oscar nominee 'Joe’s Violin'.

'Ága', my first Bulgarian film, but it plays somewhere in Yakutsk, south of the Russian arctic circle. An isolated old Inuit couple lives alone in a yurt on the tundra. Slow and spiritual, their lives unfold in the most unobtrusive way, it feels like a documentary. But the simplicity is deceiving, this is film-making of the highest grade, and once Mahler 5th is introduced on a small transistor radio, it’s transcendental. The emptiness touched me deeply. (I should watch it again!). The trailer.

'Symphony No. 42' by Hungarian animator Réka Bucsi. It consists of 47 short & whimsical vignettes, without any rhyme or rhythm; A farmer fills a cow with milk until it overflows, a zoo elephant draws a “Help me” sign on a canvas, a UFO sucks all the fish from the ocean, wolves party hard to 'La Bamba’, an angry man throws a pie at a penguin, two cowboys holding blue balloons watch a tumbleweed rolls by, a big naked woman cuddle with a seal, etc. etc. Bucsi made it before Don Hertzfeldt’s 'World of tomorrow’ and even before 'Echo', my favorite Rúnar Rúnarsson’s. 10 perfect minutes of surrealist chaos.

'Shirkers', a 2018 documentary. Sandi Tan was an avant-garde teenage punker when she set out to make Singapore’s first New Wave road movie in 1992, together with 2 female friends and a middle aged mentor. But when the shooting was over, this 'mentor’ collected the 72 canisters of completed film as well as all supportive materials, and disappeared. For 20 years, Sandi and friends could not figure out what had happened, and eventually gave up on their groundbreaking work. This documentary pieces together the mystery, telling about the process of making the original movie, the consequences of losing - and finding it again - after all this time. Absolutely tremendous. The trailer.

'Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains' is young Chinese prodigy Gu Xiaogang's debut feature. A slow epic saga (2.5 long hours) of a large family struggling during four seasons through life’s ups and down in this provincial city. It’s a metaphor for a classic scroll painting from the 14 century, and it is apparently only the first chapter in an upcoming trilogy. A stupendous, slow-moving masterpiece told in a magnificent style, and half a dozen transcendental set pieces. The trailer.

The short jazzy documentaries of Dutch Bert Haanstra, especially 'Glass' (1958), the first Oscar win for The Netherlands, and 'Zoo', which was made 3 years later.

'Apollo 11', a documentary by Todd Douglas Miller. An exhilarating re-telling of the moon landing from 2019. Perfectly crisp and emotionally laid out, without any bullshit narration, talking heads interviews or irritating recreations. Just jaw-dropping photography which puts you in the middle of the action. The trailer.

I’ve always loved Buñuel’s last 3 films, maybe because they were so easy to watch. The fire and brimstone of his youth were distilled into accessible, vivid tableaux. Re-watching his 'The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie', (or “Six friends and the impossible dinner”) was just delightful: You nearly feel sorry for these poor 1-procenters, who can’t find a decent place to eat in. Their illogical dreams dredge out their childhood traumas, and there’s no explanations to anything that happens. It was the New 4K trailer which drew me back.

The magical work of Australian stop-motion animator Adam Elliot. Especially, 'Mary and Max'. A weirdly adult 'Wallace and Gromit', a dark and tragic clay figure story, voiced by Philip Seymour Hoffman and Toni Collette. Two damaged and unfortunate souls connect by becoming pen pals; A lonely Australian 8-year-old girl with an ugly birthmark on her forehead, and an obese Jewish New Yorker with Asperger’s. It encompasses 20 years of outlandish long-distance emotions which ends with the acknowledgment of friendship. The trailer.

'Pirosmani' (1969), my first Georgian masterpiece which was not made by Sergei Parajanov. It’s an awe-inspiring biography of Nikolai Pirosmanashvíli. He was a self-taught, naïve Georgian painter who lived during Vincent van Gogh’s time, and like him, died destitute and unappreciated by his piers, only to find prominence decades after his death. (Japanese Trailer here.) It’s an absorbing and visually-stunning film, composed of rural tableaux and primitive folk setting, a mixture of Henri Rousseau, Gauguin, Édouard Manet, Bruegel and Jodorowsky. A sad, slow and formal composition, full of sublime pathos and simplicity.

'For the hungry boy' (2018), my all-time favorite Paul Thomas Anderson work, even more than his “Phantom Thread”, out of which these discarded shots were collected. Vicki Krieps is a major crush. The score is Jonny Greenwood’s “House of Woodcock” from the movie. I've seen it at least 15 times since October.

'Nostalgia for the light' (2010), my first film by Chilean Patricio Guzmán. His life-long work had been occupied with the Chilean coup d'état and the collective scars suffered by the people of Chile to this day. This beautiful documentary starts with examining the gigantic telescopic installations at the Atacama desert, used by astronomers to discover the origins of the cosmos. He then segues into the story the 60,000 'disappeared’, who were imprisoned in large concentration camps in the same area, and then murdered without a trace. A group of wives and sisters have been roving for decades now the same barren area, searching for bone fragments of their loved one. So both archaeologists and astronomers are looking for clues about the past. The trailer.

A woman interviewed in one continued shot: A small 1993 French masterpiece 'Emilie Muller'. A young woman arrives for her first ever audition where she’s asked to show the contents of her handbag. As soon as I finished watching it, I had to watch it again, and then a third time.

“Wow! So, are there any last words you would like to say, about this whole thing?” Not really.

Here is a Google spreadsheet with the output of all 4 years.

Please become one of the few regular people who visit this blog. I post 20-30 new film reviews every Monday morning, Copenhagen time. Bookmark and interact.

Arigato gozaimasu.

[ifreakingloveroyals]

Through the Years → Queen Mary of Denmark (938/∞) 21 October 2024 | Queen Mary of Denmark arrives with King Frederik at Schloss Bellevue palace in Berlin, Germany. The Danish Royal Couple are in Berlin to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Nordic Embassies later today. Tomorrow they will visit the Danish minority in Schleswig-Holstein. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

[kyndaris]

2024: Fear Leads to Anger, Anger Leads to Hate, Hates Leads to Suffering

Every time when it comes to the end of the year, I'm amazed at what was crammed into just 12 short months. Yet, with two major conflicts in the world, the rising cost of living, and people looking to settle old scores, the world feels like it sits once again at a precipice. Social media, especially, has seen a resurrection of the 'us' versus 'them' discourse with outrage being the sole currency being traded on. Grace and goodness have been tossed aside. Empathy, too, is just a tool to be levied.

But what I've seen most in the headlines and news articles I've perused is an undercurrent of exhaustion. Everybody is tired.

It's a struggle for so many to just survive.

So, to distract y'all from the dismal nature of our own persona lives, here's a recap of the biggest events of the year. First up to bat? Queen Margrethe II of Denmark abdicating the crown where she is to be succeeded by her son, Frederik. Then there was an earthquake in northwest Japan!

In the Nordic regions of Europe, extremely cold weather buffeted the countries that called it home whilst floods persisted in Germany, France and the Netherlands.

In the ongoing Israel and Hamas conflict in the middle east, a deputy Hamas leader was killed in Lebanon in an alleged drone strike (don't worry, we'll return here when Israel escalates and begins targeting Hezbollah later on in the year). At least the International Court of Justice ruled that genocide was probably being carried out in the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Meanwhile, the military junta was forced to cede control of the capital of the Kokang region in northeast Myanmar as rebels continued to fight against their oppressors.

There was violence, too, in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, due to a glitch in payroll systems leading to about $100 being docked from the pay of public servants. And worse, Ecuador was plunged into chaos due to increased gang activity revolving around drugs.

Yemen's Houthi rebels also vowed retaliation against the US and the UK following strikes in the area to prevent them from attacking commercial ships trying to reach the Red Sea. And in Senegal, the government delayed their election, cut off the internet and tear-gassed protestors.

All of this was to distract from how Mother Nature, too, was rebelling against her human overlords with bird flu killing thousands of elephant seal pups in the Antarctic peninsula.

In happier news, Japan was the fifth country to land on the moon! Oh, and Greece was the first Orthodox Christian same-sex marriages!

But just to shake up the status quo, King Charles was diagnosed with cancer, there was a severe fire outbreak in the refugee camp in Cox's Bazaar, South Korean doctors resigned en masse due to being overworked and underpaid, and the Palestinian authority government resigned. Of course, a month or two after King Charles was diagnosed with cancer, Kate Middleton was also diagnosed with cancer.

And while I was hoping the Republicans would actually grow a spine, many of the other candidates pulled out of the election race leaving Trump as the sole contender. To fast forward what most people were betting on, he also soundly won the American election in November. Except, of course, Trump's opponent at the end was not incumbent Joe Biden but rather Vice President Kamala Harris (thus shattering any faith I had in humanity and relegating the US down to the bottom of countries I would like to visit in the next four years).

Putin, too, continued on as president of Russia although his hold on the country has been tenuous at best. More so when there was an attack on a Moscow concert hall courtesy of ISIS-K.

In quick succession: there was a massive bridge collapse in Baltimore when a container ship crashed into it, an earthquake in Taiwan and a massacre on Easter in Ecuador. Israel, still trying their best to tarnish whatever goodwill they still had on the world stage, killed seven aid workers trying to help those trapped on Gaza. They also exchanged missile attacks with Iran.

Closer to home for me, there was a mass stabbing at Bondi Junction Westfield shopping centre. Six people were killed, including the attacker. And just to show off how big corporations consistently make misstep after misstep, Qantas' latest travel app revealed the person information for almost all their clients, as well as their flight details!

Elsewhere in the world, as we headed towards June, the Slovakia prime minister was shot and there were mass riots in New Caledonia. The Iranian president was also killed in a helicopter crash. This was later followed up by the Malawi vice president killed in a plane crash.

Further indications of another pandemic brewing on the horizon saw the avian bird flu reaching Antarctica, with even a few cases detected in Australia (leading to brief egg shortages). Oh, and there was also a landslide in the Papua New Guinea, killing hundreds.

More chaos ensued when Trump was found guilty in a hush money trial. Unfortunately, sentencing was delayed due to the Supreme Court finding presidents can be above the law (honestly, why does anyone bother anymore?) Hunter Biden, too, was found guilty of gun charges. And before I forget, the International Court of Justice further ordered Israel to stop their assault on Rafah (which was summarily ignored).

As the world tilted on its axis following the economic struggles that came from a post-pandemic world, we also saw further unrest in Argentina following the passing of radical economic reforms. Tax changes in Kenya also sparked protests. And, to the surprise of many, the Tories were finally ousted as the ruling party of the United Kingdom. Enter Sir Keir Starmer as the new prime minister.

In other parts of the world, there was a failed coup in Bolivia and Masoud Pezeshkian wins the Iran presidential election.

Closer to home, Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, faced court on a tiny island in the Pacific before returning to Australia. And for the first time in a long while, Russian spies were detected stealing defence secrets from our small island nation!

As the months headed towards the latter half of the year, Donald Trump survived not one, but two, assassination attempts. With his flagging numbers and poor showing at the first debate, Biden stepped down as the Democratic candidate and threw his support behind Kamala Harris. Unfortunately, it was not enough to heal a fractured United States of America that was too focused on the past to see the path forward to a better future.

And, to show just how fragile our world is without the conveniences of technology, the Cloudstrike outage had everything from airports to banks shutting down.

With the social contract fraying worldwide, we saw riots in Bangladesh, Venezuela and the United Kingdom (although these were all for different reasons). Heck, there were even protests in Israel as the people wanted their loved ones back instead of the endless back and forth between Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas. But as the conflict in the Middle-East deteriorated further, Lebanon, too, was drawn into it. Several people and thousands injured in pager and radio explosions. Not content to simply send a message, the Israeli Defence Force also launched a strike on Beirut.

Mother Nature, however, was not content to simply have humans duke it out with each other. Severe flooding in Japan saw thousands evacuated. In Spain, too, homes were lost. Heck, there were also two damaging hurricanes in the United States of America as well!

But it was not all doom and gloom! For, in Thailand, the government also saw fit to legalise same-sex marriage! Oh, and King Charles and Queen Camilla came to pay a visit to Australia!

To round out the year, and to show how fractious the world had become, we saw anti-government demonstrators in Pakistan, a no-confidence motion for the French Prime Minister (with Francois Bayrou being appointed after it), antagonisms between the Vice President and President of the Philippines, martial law being declared in South Korea and Syrian rebels toppling the Bashar al-Assad government. In Canada, too, there are rumblings to oust Prime Minister Justin Trudeau!

Of course, nothing else truly mattered to the people except the shooting of the United Healthcare CEO in New York outside his hotel. In a rare alliance between the left and the right (at least in America), people cheered at the prospect of finally taking the fight to the ones who have truly been keeping people down despite record-breaking profits all round.

And so closed 2024.

On a personal level, 2024 hasn't seen much change from the previous years. I've continued to enjoy my video games, read my books, share my musings on the internet and try my hand at posting the stories in my head online. The one thing that was a bit of a drastic change was nuking my personal Discord server (one I shared with my friends and was created during the pandemic) because I couldn't stomach the bad faith arguments employed by people I thought were friends. Especially when they aped comments from the anti-woke crowd for games that weren't even out yet.

While 2025 doesn't look particularly rosy, I'm hopeful people can come together. The cycles of hatred we perpetuate do nothing to improve the current state of things. And if we were to ever stop and think, would anyone who had died want a legacy built on the blood and bones of children and innocents?

That is not to say we must forget the past.

But we must also ask ourselves, what good does it do to carry around a heavy ball of iron of hate for everyone that has wronged you.

Nobody is perfect. A bad day can lead to hurtful comments that last a week, a year or a lifetime for the person you said them to even if you forget it the very next second.

Yet to tiptoe around people, fearing offence is not the solution either.

Of course, it's important to realise the consequences of one's own actions. Nobody intends to do wrong by another (usually). And yet, it happens. Why?

It should come as no surprise that what inspires us to be better people can also drag us down into the depths of depravity. To quote one of my favourite shows in 2024, "Why does anyone commit acts other deem unspeakable? For love."

So, what can we do?

For me, I believe that's slowing down our decision-making and listening. In the end, there is barely any difference between my beliefs and those of the person next to me. It is simply how we internalise the information presented to us that differs.

We, as humans, need to learn patience, resilience and tolerance.

Change takes times. Language evolves.

More importantly: "Sometimes taking a leap forward means leaving a few things behind."

[usafphantom2]

The Netherlands allocates 350 million euros to Ukraine to acquire air-to-ground weapons for the F-16 and drones

The Pentagon would have insisted that the Ukrainian F-16s should only be used within the borders of Ukraine.

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 03/21/2024 - 09:00 in Military, War Zones

The Dutch government announced new aid for Ukraine, with the allocation of more than 150 million euros for the purchase of F-16 ammunition and another 200 million euros for the acquisition of ISR drones.

The announcement came from the Minister of Defense of the Netherlands, Kajsa Ollongren, after the recent meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG).

The Netherlands has taken a proactive position in supporting Ukraine in the midst of the ongoing conflicts, highlighting its commitment to international security and cooperation. The ammunition, designed specifically for use in F-16 aircraft, should be purchased directly from the industry, ensuring timely support for Ukraine's military needs.

In addition to air support, the Dutch government is expanding its contributions to include unmanned aerial systems. With an investment of more than 200 million euros, the Netherlands plans to acquire and donate a substantial number of ISR (Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance) drones to Ukraine. These drones, which have already demonstrated their effectiveness on the battlefield, will be acquired in collaboration with other partners and the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Further demonstrating its support, the Netherlands is fulfilling its previous commitment by sending F-16 fighters to Romania. These jets are not only intended for defensive operations, but also to serve as a crucial component of a training center for Ukrainian and Romanian pilots. This initiative, highlighted by the sending of aircraft along with spare parts and necessary ammunition, was detailed by General Onno Eichelsheim, Commander of the Dutch Armed Forces, during the UDCG meeting.

The Netherlands, in collaboration with Denmark and the United States, leads the UDCG air force coalition. A total of 18 Dutch F-16 jets have been designated for training purposes in Romania, while another 24 are being prepared for delivery in Ukraine. This preparation is a coordinated effort between the coalition partners, illustrating a united front in the provision of military assistance to Ukraine.

The Pentagon would have established "red lines" in relation to the use of Ukrainian F-16 fighters in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, stating that they should only be used within the sovereign territory of Ukraine.

This stance was transmitted by Patrick Ryder, press secretary of the U.S. Department of Defense, in an interview with RFE/RL.

Tags: Military AviationF-16 Fighting FalconRNLAF - Royal Netherlands Air Force / Royal Dutch Air ForceWar Zones - Russia/Ukraine

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Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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[personalcareexpo]

Visa-free! 🎉Entry policy relaxed!🎉 Visa waiver added!🤝 Relax visa requirements for foreigners!😆

🐼Relaxing visa conditions for foreigners， More convenient for overseas visitors✈️ To visit exhibitions in China for business cooperation💼🥂 ! ! !

In 2023, the transit policy and visa process will be optimized, international flights will resume and increase at a faster pace, and multiple entry favorable policies will further facilitate international business exchanges. China's door to the world will open wider and wider!🐼💖🤗

01✨

Shanghai port issued a new visa-free transit reminder📣 The National Immigration Bureau issued a new visa-free transit policy in November, 23📣

At present, the 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy is implemented at 31 ports in 23 cities in 18 provinces for people from 54 countries. Namely Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Norway, the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and other countries, totaling 54 countries with valid international travel documents and confirmed dates and seats within a limited time. Persons from 54 countries who transit from China to a third country (region), with valid international travel documents, and connecting passenger tickets with fixed dates and seats within a limited time, may apply for transit visa exemption to the port entry inspection authorities of the cities that implement the transit visa exemption policy, and the exit border inspection authorities will handle the temporary entry formalities for them. The duration of visa-free stay starts from 00:00 on the next day of entry.

❤️[Please see the table at the bottom for details of Shanghai ports]👇👇

02✨

📢New news on visa-free policy released in November 📢China’s new visa-free policy promotes high-level opening-up

On November 24, 2023, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that China has decided to try to expand the scope of unilateral visa-free countries and implement a unilateral visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from six countries: France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia. From December 1, 2023 to November 30, 2024, ordinary passport holders from the above countries who come to China for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit for no more than 15 days can enter China without a visa.

03✨

New news on convenient foreign personnel coming to China released in January📣 The National Immigration Administration has officially implemented five measures to facilitate foreign nationals to come to China📣

Another good news has come recently. Starting from January 11, the National Immigration Administration has officially implemented five measures to facilitate foreigners coming to China, which mainly include:

Relax the conditions for foreigners coming to China to apply for port visas. For foreigners who urgently need to come to China to engage in non-diplomatic and official activities such as business cooperation, visits and exchanges, investment and entrepreneurship, visiting relatives, and handling private affairs, and who do not have time to apply for a visa abroad, they can apply for a port visa entry to the port visa authority with relevant proof materials such as invitation letters.

For foreigners, 24-hour direct transit passengers at nine international airports including Shanghai Pudong, Beijing Capital, Beijing Daxing, Hangzhou Xiaoshan, Xiamen Gaoqi, Guangzhou Baiyun, Shenzhen Bao'an, Chengdu Tianfu, and Xi'an Xianyang are exempted from border inspection procedures.

Foreigners in China can apply for visa extension, replacement and reissue at their nearest location.

Foreigners in China who need to enter and exit multiple times can apply for a re-entry visa.

Simplify the application materials for visa documents for foreigners in China.

04✨

📢Starting from February 9, China and Singapore will exempt each other from visas

On January 25, representatives from the government of the People's Republic of China and the government of the Republic of Singapore signed the 'Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Singapore on Mutual Visa Exemption for Ordinary Passport Holders' in Beijing. The agreement will officially enter into force on February 9, 2024 (Lunar New Year’s Eve). By then, people from both sides holding ordinary passports can enter the other country without a visa to engage in tourism, family visits, business and other private affairs, and their stay shall not exceed 30 days. If you enter the other country to engage in activities that require prior approval, such as work or news reporting, or plan to stay in the other country for more than 30 days, you must obtain the corresponding visa before entering the other country.

As of January 25, China has concluded mutual visa exemption agreements covering different passport types with 157 countries, and has reached agreements or arrangements with 44 countries to simplify visa procedures. Comprehensive mutual visa exemption has been achieved with 22 countries including Singapore, Maldives and Kazakhstan. In addition, more than 60 countries and regions offer visa-free or visa-on-arrival convenience to Chinese citizens. The convenience for Chinese citizens to leave the country has been greatly improved, and the 'gold content' of Chinese passports will become increasingly valuable. (Source: CCTV News)

05✨

Starting from March 1, China and Thailand will exempt each other from visas📣

On January 28, the government of the People's Republic of China and the Royal Government of Thailand held a signing ceremony in Bangkok for an agreement on mutual visa exemption for ordinary passport holders. The agreement will take effect from March 1, 2024.

After the news was released, data from a travel platform showed that the search popularity of Thailand-related keywords on the platform increased by more than 7 times compared with the previous day. Among them, air tickets and hotels increased by more than 6 times compared with the previous day. (Source: CCTV News)

In addition, recently, China has stated that it will grant unilateral visa-free treatment to Sweden and Ireland. This is the second time that China has granted visa-free treatment to European countries after France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Italy.

#visa #China #chinesevisa #visafree #entrypolicy #visawaiver #businessinchina #transitpolicy #internationalflights #internationalbusinessexchanges #business #Shanghaiport #transitvisaexemption #tourism #visitrelatives #visitfriends

[theroyalsandi]

Danish Royal Family - Queen Mary arrives at Schloss Bellevue palace to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Nordic Embassies in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Sean Gallup) | October 21, 2024

[savibangar]

Tooth Replacement Market Size, Share, and End User 2031

Meticulous Research®, a leading global market research firm, has released a report titled “Tooth Replacement Market by Product [Dental Implants (Titanium, Zirconium), Dental Prosthetics (Bridges, Crowns, Dentures, Veneers, Abutments), Bone Graft, Sutures, CAD/CAM, Scanner], End User [Dental Laboratory, Clinic, DSO] - Global Forecast to 2031.” 

Download Research Report Sample @ https://www.meticulousresearch.com/download-sample-report/cp_id=3155

According to this report, the tooth replacement market is projected to grow at a   CAGR of 7.7% from 2024, reaching approximately   $30.6 billion by 2031. Growth drivers include the high incidence of edentulism and dental caries, increasing disposable incomes, and the rising adoption of digital dentistry among practitioners. However, the market faces challenges from the high costs of dental implants and procedures, as well as complications related to dental treatments.

Dental service organizations (DSOs)   are enhancing access to affordable care for a broader patient base. With financial backing, DSOs provide essential business and management resources, allowing dental professionals to concentrate on delivering quality care without the burden of administrative tasks. This trend has led to the growth of DSOs, which have become integral to the dental industry, enabling clinics to serve larger patient populations with a wider array of services.

Key Players

Key Players The key players operating in the tooth replacement market are Straumann AG (Switzerland), Dentsply Sirona Inc. (U.S.), ZimVie Inc. (U.S.), Envista Holdings, Corporation (U.S.), OSSTEM IMPLANT CO. LTD (South Korea), Dentium CO. LTD. (South Korea), Kulzer GmbH (Germany), Ultradent Products, Inc. (U.S.), Ivoclar Vivadent AG (Liechtenstein), COLTENE Group (Switzerland), Bicon LLC (U.S.) Implant Direct Corporation (U.S.), 3SHAPE A/S (Denmark), Midmark Corporation (U.S.), PLANMECA OY (Finland), Align Technology Inc. (U.S.), Condor Technologies NV (Belgium), CAMLOG Biotechnologies GmbH (Switzerland), AVINENT IMPLANT SYSTEM, S.L.U. (Spain), and Neoss Ltd. (U.K.).

Tooth Replacement Market: Future Outlook

The tooth replacement market is categorized by   Product Type   into dental implants, dental prosthetics, dental surgical supplies, CAD/CAM systems, and dental scanners. The   dental scanners segment   is expected to experience the highest growth rate during the forecast period, driven by the prevalence of edentulism, advancements in scanner technology, and a growing preference for same-day dental implant procedures.

Browse in depth @  https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/tooth-replacement-market-3155

The integration of   augmented reality (AR)   and   artificial intelligence (AI)   with intraoral 3D scanning technology offers significant potential for enhancing dental imaging. AR can provide an immersive experience for both dentists and patients, improving understanding of dental structures and treatment options. Additionally, AI can analyze 3D scans for quick evaluations and optimized treatment recommendations, enhancing the accuracy and personalization of dental care.

By   end user  , the market includes dental clinics and hospitals, dental laboratories, DSOs, and academic and research institutes. In 2024, the   dental clinics and hospitals segment   is anticipated to hold the largest market share, largely due to the adoption of digital dentistry, which includes advanced imaging and 3D printing technologies. These innovations facilitate precise diagnostics and treatment planning, improving patient outcomes.

Traditional dental implants often require multiple visits and long wait times. In contrast, 3D printing technology enables dentists to design and create custom implants quickly, allowing for same-day delivery of implants and prosthetics.

Geographic Review

This report analyzes key regions, offering a comprehensive view of the tooth replacement market across   North America (U.S. and Canada), Europe (Germany, France, U.K., Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Netherlands, RoE), Asia-Pacific (Japan, China, India, Australia, South Korea, and RoAPAC), Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, and RoLATAM), and the Middle East & Africa  . North America is projected to lead the market in 2024, followed by Europe and Asia-Pacific. Factors contributing to North America's significant market share include a rising incidence of dental disorders, high purchasing power, skilled dental professionals, a well-established dental care sector, and increasing use of CAD/CAM technologies.

Request Customization Report @  https://www.meticulousresearch.com/request-customization/cp_id=3155

Related Research Report:

Dental Materials Market by Type (Ceramics, Metal-Ceramics, Amalgam, Resin-based Composites, Glass Ionomer, Biomaterials {Bone Grafts, Membrane}, Bonding Agents), End User (Dental Lab, Dental Manufacturer, Clinics, Research) - Global Forecast to 2030 >> https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/dental-materials-market-3182

Dental 3D Printing Market by Product (Service, Printer, Scanner, Material [Polymer, Metal, Zirconia, Alumina]) Technology (Polyjet, FDM, SLS, Vat Photopolymerization) Application (Orthodontics, Prosthodontics, Implant) End User—Global Forecast to 2031 >> https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/dental-3d-printing-market-5487

[theborderlessworld]

Italy, France, Germany: 38 European countries can now visit China visa-free

China's rapidly expanding visa-free scheme aims to boost tourism.

China's visa-free list continues to grow, with eight more European countries being added.

Citizens of Bulgaria, Romania, Malta, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Estonia and Latvia have now been granted visa waivers for the Asian nation.

Tourists from these countries, as well as Japan, will be able to enter China visa-free from 30 November 2024 until 31 December 2025.

Passport holders from Andorra, Finland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Slovakia and Norway were recently added to the list, which grants them stays in China of up to 30 days without a visa.

Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, Portugal and Slovenia were granted the access in October.

It brings the total number of European countries granted visa-free access up to 38.

In July, tourists from Poland, Australia and New Zealand were also granted unrestricted entry to China until the end of 2025.

Since the start of 2024, the scheme has been announced in stages, with various European nations and Malaysia also gaining visa-free access. It aims to encourage more people to visit China for business and tourism, and promote exchanges between Chinese citizens and foreign nationals.

Which European countries can travel to China visa-free?

Citizens of 38 European countries can stay in China without a visa for up to 30 days.

The full list of European countries now includes Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland. Tourists from these countries will be allowed to enter China for short stays without a visa until the end of next year.

The aim is “to facilitate the high-quality development of Chinese and foreign personnel exchanges and high-level opening up to the outside world,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a briefing on the initial announcement made in November.

International travel to China is still bouncing back

China's strict pandemic measures, which included required quarantines for all arrivals, discouraged many people from visiting for nearly three years. The restrictions were lifted early last year, but international travel has yet to bounce back to pre-pandemic levels.

China previously allowed citizens of Brunei, Japan and Singapore to enter without a visa but suspended that after the COVID-19 outbreak. It resumed visa-free entry for Brunei and Singapore in July but has not done so for Japan.

In 2023, China recorded 35.5 million entries and exits by foreigners, according to immigration statistics. That compares to 97.7 million for all of 2019, the last year before the pandemic.

From July to September this year, China recorded 8.2 million entries by foreigners, of which 4.9 million were visa-free, the official Xinhua News Agency said, quoting a Foreign Ministry consular official.

The Chinese government has been seeking foreign investment to help boost a sluggish economy, and some businesspeople have been coming for trade fairs and meetings, including Tesla's Elon Musk and Apple's Tim Cook. Foreign tourists are still a rare sight compared to before the pandemic.

How else is China simplifying travel for Europeans?

Last year saw a surge in interest in China as a tourist destination among Europeans.

Data from online travel agency Trip.com showed a 663 per cent increase in overall bookings from Europe to China compared to 2022, and an almost 29 per cent increase on 2019.

The United Kingdom and Germany were among the top 10 sources of inbound travellers to China globally, the data shows.

Shanghai remains the most popular destination among Europeans with its alluring blend of modernity and tradition, followed by Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

Sanya, a beachside city on the southern end of China’s Hainan Island, and Chengdu - the capital of southwestern China's Sichuan province - are emerging destinations.

Beyond it's new visa-free schemes, the country is further encouraging inbound tourism by promoting cultural and historical attractions in partnership with Trip.com. China is also enhancing tourism infrastructure by investing in technology, travel guides and e-payment systems.

Source: https://www.euronews.com/travel/2024/11/22/china-aims-to-boost-tourism-by-giving-visa-free-entry-to-these-five-european-countries

[global-research-report]

How Clinical Trial Supplies Are Changing the Landscape of Clinical Research

Clinical Trial Supplies Industry Overview

The global clinical trial supplies market size was estimated at USD 3.97 billion in 2030 and is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5% from 2024 to 2030. Increasing volume of clinical trial studies coupled with the growing complexity in conduction of these trials are some of the major factors driving the market growth.

Globally, an increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases and the rapidly aging population are expected to drive the growth of R&D of biologics, which is expected to further propel the demand for efficient clinical supplies and contribute to the growth of the clinical trial supplies industry. Furthermore, an increase in the demand for orphan drugs and high investment in the R&D of rare diseases are also expected to contribute toward the development of biologic drugs. Thus, owing to these factors, this segment is likely to witness significant growth during the forecast period.

Gather more insights about the market drivers, restrains and growth of the Clinical Trial Supplies Market

For instance, in 2022, Novartis invested around USD 10 billion in research and development. It also secured 23 approvals in the European Union, Japan, China, and the U.S. for new drugs and rare diseases. The company is also conducting 44 ongoing phase III programs in India with 17 clinical programs running in rare diseases such as atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and Lupus Nephritis.

Direct-to-Patients (DTP) is an upcoming segment in the distribution of clinical trial supplies, which is expected to be the future model of distribution. DTP is one of the emerging models that involves delivering drugs to patients directly to create patient-centric trials. This would facilitate fewer visits to the site and reduce the burden on participants. The COVID-19 outbreak has led to the increased adoption of such a model, to continue clinical trial studies with minimum disruption. In addition, patient retention and a diverse pool of patients worldwide are some of the notable reasons that can be attributed to the high adoption of this model.

Browse through Grand View Research's Medical Devices Industry Research Reports.

The S. donor egg IVF services market size was estimated at USD 398.5 million in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.4% from 2025 to 2030

The global electro-medical and electrotherapeutic apparatus market size was estimated at USD 66.2 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.4% from 2025 to 2030.

Clinical Trial Supplies Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global clinical trial supplies market based on clinical phase, product/service, end-use, therapeutic use, and region:

Clinical Trial Supplies Clinical Phase Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

Phase I

Phase II

Phase III

Others

Clinical Trial Supplies Product/Service Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

Manufacturing

Storage & distribution

Cold chain based

Non-cold chain based

Supply chain management

Clinical Trial Supplies End-Use Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

Pharmaceuticals

Biologics

Medical device

Others

Clinical Trial Supplies Therapeutic Use Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

Oncology

CNS

Cardiovascular

Infectious disease

Metabolic disorders

Others

Clinical Trial Supplies Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

North America

US             

Canada

Europe

UK

Germany

France

Italy

Spain

Denmark

Sweden

Norway

Asia Pacific

Japan

China

India

Australia

South Korea

Thailand

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Argentina

Middle East & Africa

South Africa

Saudi Arabia

UAE

Kuwait

Key Companies profiled:

Almac Group

Biocair

Catalent Inc.

KLIFO

Movianto

PCI Pharma Services

Sharp Services, LLC

Thermo Fischer Scientific Inc.

Marken

PAREXEL International Corporation

Recent Developments

In February 2023,Catalent completed a USD 2.2 million expansion of its clinical supply facility in Singapore. This expansion has enlarged the site's footprint to 31,000 square feet, providing room for installing 35 new freezers dedicated to ultra-low temperature (ULT) storage.

In January 2023,ASLAN Pharmaceuticals and Thermo Fisher Scientific entered into a partnership to manufacture a high concentration formulation of Eblasakimab for upcoming studies. Thermo Fisher Scientific will contribute its expertise in biologic manufacturing and scale-up capacity to oversee a clinical supply of Eblasakimab for the anticipated Phase 3 studies.

In July 2023,Almac Sciences announced the opening of a custom-built GMP warehouse and dispatch hub at Almac Group’s global headquarters in Craigavon, UK. The facility will support all the manufacturing and lab activities of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients from development to their commercialization.

Order a free sample PDF of the Clinical Trial Supplies Market Intelligence Study, published by Grand View Research.

[ifreakingloveroyals]

Through the Years → Queen Mary of Denmark (940/∞) 22 October 2024 | Queen Mary of Denmark waves to people in front of the Schleswig-Holstein state government building in Kiel, Germany. The visit of Schleswig-Holstein and the Danish minority will mark the end of the 2-day visit of the Danish Royal Couple to Germany. (Photo by Gregor Fischer/Getty Images)

[031cinephile]

COMPLICATED FREEDOMS at the 11th EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL in SOUTH AFRICA

Film-lovers can look forward to an entertaining and provocative array of new award-winning films from Europe as the European Film Festival returns for its 11th edition in South Africa from 10-20 October.  Women challenging patriarchy and convention; relationships and independence; humour, satire and surrealism; coming-of-age stories; dysfunctional families; grumpy old men; restless youth; the pursuit of dreams; a realistic rom-com; and a riotous hip-hop biopic - all this and more.

Presenting films from 14 countries, and including two Oscar nominations, the festival is a showcase of high-quality cinema from the film industries in the respective participating countries of Belgium, Denmark, France, Georgia, Germany, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.

“The films all speak to the topic of Freedom in one or the another, from the personal to the political, and often both,” says Magdalene Reddy, co-director of the festival.  “Whether it is a developmental journey, a process of unfolding, an illumination, or a result of political changes in the world around us, Freedom comes at times of its own choosing, and one doesn't always know what it looks like until you get there.  The films this year offer a multi-faceted and evocative glimpse of what freedom means to a wide-ranging cast of characters and in an equally diverse range of situations – Complicated Freedoms!”

Sandra Kramer, EU Ambassador to South Africa, comments:  “We are delighted to bring to you the 11th edition of the European Film Festival in South Africa with a carefully curated selection of films from several EU Member States as well as from Georgia, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom. This year, we celebrate the transformative power of cinema in exploring the topic of freedom through the lens of talented filmmakers from across the world. Let’s gather to appreciate these stories that remind us of the responsibility to protect and promote the freedoms that unite us all.”

Cinema screenings take place in Johannesburg at Sterkinekor’s The Zone in Rosebank, and in Cape Town at The Labia.  Eleven of the films will be available in the free programme of online streaming accessible across South Africa during the festival period of 10-20 October.  For more information visit www.eurofilmfest.co.za

The European Film Festival 2024 is a partnership project of the Delegation of the European Union to South Africa and 14 European embassies and cultural agencies in South Africa:  the Embassies of Belgium, Denmark, Georgia, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the British Council, Camoes Institute of Portugal, French Institute in South Africa, Goethe-Institut, Italian Cultural Institut, and Wallonie-Bruxelles International, The festival is organised in cooperation with Cineuropa and coordinated by Creative WorkZone.