Giving birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy: How a premature birth affects a mum’s physical and mental health

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The long-term effects of stress from a pre-term baby may also be felt in a parent’s mental health. A 2014 study of 183 children born very pre-term ( Week 30 or earlier ) showed that when these pre-term babies turned seven, their parents were more likely to exhibit moderate to severe anxiety symptoms compared with parents of full-term babies.

They even reported higher levels of depression, poorer home working, and ultimately higher rates of family stress.

Nevertheless, not every pre-term delivery results in such problems. ” Long-term medical implications vary based on the circumstances surrounding their delivery,” said Dr. Sharon Foo, consultant obstetrician and gynecologist and maternal-foetal medicine specialist from Thomson Specialists ( Paragon ).

Research indicates that there are n’t major problems in the long run for parents who had spontaneous preterm delivery. It is crucial to take into account each case’s particular environment.

HELP FOR Mother OF PRE-TERM Children

For mothers, and their immediate family and friends, strong assessment and recommendation to healthcare professionals — be it their doctor, a counselor, or other specialists— are essential for long-term wellbeing and intellectual well-being.

Dr. Foo emphasized the value of family support and a nurturing care setting. Subjective research has identified emotional effects, including what mothers describe as ‘ shattered expectations’,’ helplessness and horror’, and fear about’ the infant’s vulnerable health’ and ‘ the need to adjust to the birth and care of a pre-term infant’ as vital anxieties these mothers face,” she said.

To lessen their fear of the unknown, Dr. Lee at SGH suggests that mothers who are at risk of a preterm delivery visit the NICU.

” At SGH, we refer these women to Neonatology colleagues for counselling. They will be given details about the likelihood of neonatal survival and hear about the timing and duration of the births.

Couples will also be informed about what to expect after the birth of the baby and how to care for them while the baby is still young.

Dr. Lee also advised speaking with other preemie parents to learn more about their journey and find inspiration, focusing on bringing their healthy baby home.

Dr Foo added that there are support groups, parenting websites, and mental wellness therapy available. Ultimately, it is important to recognise that self-care comes in many forms — getting sufficient sleep, eating well, and engaging in movement to kick-start recovery. &nbsp,Continue Reading

Commentary: Headline GDP may mask more important drivers of economic progress

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CHINA: DARK CLOUDS AND SILVER LININGS

China offers another circumstance study. The country’s second-largest economy grew by 5.2 per cent in real term next month. Contrary to the upbeat feelings in the United States, which increased by only 2.5 %, the economic sentiment in China has been gloomy.

Part of this is due to aspirations, against the landscape of past financial growth. China’s GDP growth has decreased from an average of nearly 10 % between 1979 and 2017, to an average of over 5 % from 2018 to 2023. Although China is expected to overtake the developed economies in terms of money, its levels are still only a fraction of what the United States’.

Beyond the title figures, it is clear that there are major challenges to the Chinese market. Given that the industry accounts for about 30 % of GDP, the home business crisis is looming large. Foreign direct investment has decreased while a sizable portion of the Chinese youngsters are pessimistic. &nbsp,

To fully comprehend the situation, one needs to take a closer look at the factors contributing to China’s subsequent GDP growth.

While private enterprises have gained ground over the past decade, the share of state-owned enterprises ( SOEs ) have recently experienced a decline.

According to a report from the Peterson Institute for International Economics, the share of the state market in China’s 100 largest listed firms increased from 2020 to 2023, with State market capitalization increasing to 61 % in the first half of that year. Given that SOEs are perceived as less effective and innovative than their counterparts in the private sector, this does not have much to say about economic vitality.

However, the SOEs are frequently called upon to shore up the main government’s financial agenda. Lately, they were mobilized to buy empty homes with low-cost funding from the state. These techniques may promote title growth while concealing underlying market weakness.

On a positive note, China’s growth is increasingly driven by new technologies including renewable energy, electric vehicles ( EVs ) and artificial intelligence. In 2023, China’s clean energy industry accounted for about 40 per cent of the country’s economic growth, according to a recent World Economic Forum statement.

This coincides with President Xi Jinping’s stated goal of China transiting from high-speed rise to high-quality development. China must remain connected to global supply chains and business networks in order for it to succeed while obtaining the necessary technologies and inputs to maintain its position as a competitive force.

However, the US and EU have increased tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles due to the Chinese government’s support for the EV business. China increasingly relies on local use to support growth because trade barriers restrict export growth possible. To prevent households from accumulating higher levels of cautious savings, social security may require basic reforms.

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Loan-to-value limit for HDB loans lowered in new property cooling measure; eligible first-time buyers to get higher housing grant

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SINGAPORE: The Ministry of National Development ( MND ) and Housing and Development Board ( HDB) on Monday ( Aug 19 ) announced a set of measures to cool the resale market and to provide more support for lower-to-middle income first-time home buyers. Here is the whole statement: With effectContinue Reading

First supermoon of the year rises over Singapore

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As long as the skies are clear, the trend may be immediately obvious somewhere in Singapore, according to SCOB.

The Marina Barrage, East Coast Park, and the Southwestern Hills are recommended viewing places for the would, which are open to the public.

The fish is named in conjunction with the idea that this tuna is more readily caught during this time, according to the theory.

Additionally, there is a blue sky every year.

The observatory said the term “is used to describe the next full moon in the astronomical season,” which has four full moons in addition to the usual three. &nbsp,

The last seasonal Blue Moon occurred in August of this year, and it wo n’t last until May of that year. &nbsp,

The community also took to social media and&nbsp, Twitter groups like as&nbsp, CloudSpotting &amp, SkySpotting Singapore to reveal their evening views. &nbsp,

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Payout of S,000 for the involuntarily unemployed meant to keep ‘handout dependency’ at bay, say experts

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SINGAPORE: The amount of monetary assistance for the unconscious unemployed&nbsp, is meant to support applicants while ensuring that happiness dominance does not kick in, said&nbsp, academics and sociologists. &nbsp,

Under the new&nbsp, SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support Scheme, lower- and middle-income workers who have lost their jobs would get up to S$ 6, 000 ( US$ 4, 600 ) over a period of up to six months. &nbsp,

This was announced by&nbsp, Prime Minister&nbsp, Lawrence Wong during his&nbsp, National Day Rally speech on Sunday ( Aug 18 ), in a major shift in Singapore’s approach towards helping the unemployed.

Eligible jobseekers&nbsp, may furthermore do their part by going for education, job training and job matching solutions.

According to experts, financial aid may be provided for an excessive amount of time or for an excessive amount of time, which could lead to unwanted outcomes.

According to Mr. Christopher Gee, deputy director at the Institute of Policy Studies ( IPS), if the amount is too high, behaviors may change and a worker’s motivation to pursue a job search may decline.

” Moreover, the higher the amount of financial help, the more expensive the project will be”, said Mr Gee, who is also a senior research fellow heading the Governance and Economy office.

According to sociologists, retrenched employees are likely to need to use their savings or rely on family members for assistance with the highest monthly budget of up to S$ 1, 000. &nbsp,

” If it is just at most S$ 1, 000 a month, then it is best seen as a key amounts, particularly with the prices that is still with us, and so unlikely to result to a perspective of happiness dependency”, he said.

Dr. Tan, who serves as an alternative principal research fellow and educational director at Social Lab at IPS, said,” The calculate seems more like a symbolic gesture, sticking close to the basics of self-help as the first line of defense.” &nbsp, &nbsp,

Manpower Minister Tan See Leng&nbsp, will provide more information about the new system.

The program would assist retrenched Singaporeans who were formerly earning an average monthly income of less than S$ 5, 000 while they seek out a new career, according to the Workforce Singapore website on Monday morning.

Nevertheless, as of 3pm on Monday, the S$ 5, 000 number was removed, and the site stated that the program is for “lower- to middle-income retrenched Singapore people”. &nbsp,

Responding to CNA’s queries, a spokesperson from WSG said:” More details of the scheme will be made known at ( the Ministry of Manpower’s ) upcoming announcement and details of the event will be made known very soon” .&nbsp,

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FAQ: What you need to know about Singapore’s revamped Gifted Education Programme

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HOW WILL CERTAIN Kids BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR THE NEW PROGRAMMES?

Students are currently chosen for the GEP through a two-stage selection process in Key 3, and those chosen are invited to continue their education at one of the nine major schools that offer the program. &nbsp,

Under the new program, the first step of the standardized GEP collection evaluation, which examines their English and Mathematics abilities, at Major 3 will be retained. &nbsp,

The next step, which involves English and Mathematics tests as well as a basic skill paper, may become scrapped. &nbsp,

After that, individuals can also be selected for the high-ability initiatives at “multiple times” between Major 4 and Primary 6, said the Education Ministry. &nbsp,

Schools can even identify individuals suitable for the programs based on day-to-day studies, teacher recommendations and their work, MOE said, adding that there is” no set weighting” for these testing procedures. &nbsp,

This novel approach will provide more in-depth and detailed information about potential and capabilities of students over time.

More students enrolling in private lessons as a result of MOE’s findings that in recent years the GEP selection process causes anxiety, according to the government. &nbsp,

According to MOE, this novel approach will lessen the emphasis on the selection process. &nbsp,

Like the GEP, parents and students are completely to choose out of the new initiatives. &nbsp,

WHEN WILL THE NEW Project Get IMPLEMENTED? &nbsp,

The 2024 Primary 1 cohort will no longer receive the GEP in its present type. This means that students who are in the second batch of students under the new program format, which is called the “new shape of the program,” will be in the classes of 2026 and 2027. &nbsp,

When they are in Key 3 in 2025 and Major 4 in 2026, the last group of students in the current GEP program will take the two choice tests. &nbsp,

Nine primary schools currently offer the GEP: Anglo-Chinese School ( Primary ), Catholic High School ( Primary ), Henry Park Primary School, Nan Hua Primary School, Nanyang Primary School, Raffles Girls ‘ Primary School, Rosyth School, St Hilda’s Primary School and Tao Nan School. &nbsp,

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Revamped GEP to start with 2024 Primary 1 cohort, 10% of students to be selected for high-ability programmes

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IDENTIFYING Kids FOR THE Schemes

Students are currently invited to enroll in one of nine GEP key institutions starting in Key 3, and those chosen are chosen for the GEP through a two-stage training in Primary 3.

According to the Education Ministry, the next day this is conducted is for individuals who will be in Key 3 in 2025, and the last diet of kids in Primary 4 will be in 2026. &nbsp,

Under the new program, the first step of the standardized GEP collection evaluation, which examines their English and Mathematics abilities, at Major 3 will be retained. The next step, which includes a basic ability test and tests for English and mathematics, will be eliminated. &nbsp,

Not only will this be the first time that students can get screened for enrollment in school-based programs. According to the Education Ministry, they can be chosen for school-based programs and after-school modules at various points between Main 4 and Major 6. &nbsp,

Schools can even identify individuals suitable for the programs based on day-to-day studies, teacher recommendations and their work, MOE said, adding that there is” no set weighting” for these testing procedures. &nbsp,

This novel approach will provide more in-depth and detailed information about potential and capabilities of students over time.

Some individuals may be early stockings, while others may rose afterwards, said MOE in a lecture on Monday. &nbsp,

The Education Ministry stated that” we do n’t want to just be focusing on the P3 selection test for GEP as a single time window to actually identify students with particular intellectual boosts.” &nbsp,

High-ability students may stay in their own schools at higher primary without having to transfer to one of the nine GEP schools at Major 4, according to MOE, adding that with programs in all schools.

More students enrolling in private groups to plan for the GEP choice process, according to the government, with more individuals experiencing anxiety at the GEP collection process in recent years. &nbsp,

Although choosing individuals for the GEP may depend on whether they are selected, MOE added, it may not be in their children’s best interests to take these preliminary courses. &nbsp,

They might be able to find in through the selection process, but they might never succeed. That’s certainly a problem for us as well”, said the Education Ministry. &nbsp,

Education Minister Chan Chun Sing said on Monday that kids should be aware of the drawbacks of teaching their children at a high level at an earlier period than usual. &nbsp,

There is no need for us to environment our children if we now understand that there are actually several points of entry and exit. And in reality, if anything, it will do the baby more hurt than good”, he said, adding that parents may allow their children develop at their normal level.

Delivering TEACHER Solutions

Because MOE has been expanding its power over the years, the state would not have been able to make these changes in the GE P’s early years, according to Mr. Chan. &nbsp,

Under the new program, 10 per share of the kids, or about 3, 000 pupils across 180 primary schools will be able to meet school-based programmes for high-ability learners, he noted.

Every school will have about 15 students on average, according to Mr. Chan, some of whom may have slightly more than others. &nbsp,

” But in general, we’ll be able to have sufficient resources to distribute across all the different schools in order to conduct these programmes”, he added. &nbsp,

Over the years, teachers have received training to support high-ability learners, according to MOE, adding that teachers will also be trained to provide differentiated instruction in class. &nbsp,

In accordance with the new approach, MOE will use the expertise of the nine GEP primary schools to develop higher-ability learners.

” One direct implication is that we will deploy some of these teachers to support the after-school modules, so they may be posted to the schools hosting the after-school modules from 2027 onwards”, said the Education Ministry. &nbsp,

According to MOE, there will likely be more schools that will offer the after-school modules than the current nine GEP primary schools. They will be chosen based on factors like geographic diversity to accommodate students from across Singapore. &nbsp,

Since students may also have commitments to co-curricular activities or other programs, MOE said, adding that both parents and students are also free to opt out of the programs. For the time being, students are only required to attend these after-school modules about once a week. &nbsp,

Some students who are chosen to enroll in after-school modules in more than one subject may enroll in more than one module per week or enroll in multiple modules in different subjects throughout the academic year, according to the Education Ministry. &nbsp,

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Australian News Corp exec apologises for doing Nazi salute

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The head of Foxtel, an Australian cable television provider with a bulk ownership of News Corp., has “unreservedly” apologized after a photo of him showing up in a Nazi salute.

According to Patrick Delaney, he said he thought the movement was” the similarity” between it and the one made by some Western Sydney football fans ten years ago.

In an email to employees that was seen by the BBC, he wrote,” Regardless of the context, the truth I demonstrated this unpleasant salute was wrong.”

The Jewish Council of Australia condemned Mr Delaney’s behavior as “deeply concerning”.

” Equally]concerning ] is that he operates in a media industry where he felt this was somehow okay”, Sarah Schwartz, the council’s executive officer, said in a statement on Monday. The welcome is an unpleasant and violent work not only for Jews but also for various racialized groups, according to the statement.

In his internal memo, Mr Delaney said that he had been” searching ]his ] mind” for a circumstance where” a photo capturing me in this pose could ever be possible”.

He then stated that during his career as the network’s CEO, he had made the statement that he was making an impersonation of a group of European Sydney Raiders fans during the 2014-15 season.

Mr Delaney said the picture- first published by Crikey- was” fully inconsistent” with his “values, beliefs, and community connections”.

In response to the unprecedented Hamas-led strike on southern Israel on October 7th, he signed the” Say No to Antisemitism letter” with other prominent American leaders and condemned “racism in all its types.”

About 1, 200 people were killed in that assault, and 251 others were taken prisoner.

Mr Delaney added that he would continue to meet with Israeli officials to “express” his “deep grief”.

However, Ms. Schwartz argued that the idea that Mr. Delaney may sign a letter outright against racism while also being able to perform a Nazi respect was proof that the country needed “more than simplistic pledges.”

In response to rising society tensions over the Israel-Gaza war, Australia is currently grappling with a sharp rise in both hatred and Islamophobia.

The federal government appointed a special envoy to combat antisemitism in July, and promised to nominate an Islamophobia relative in the upcoming month.

During a visit to Sydney in November, Lachlan Murdoch called on News Corp’s workers in Australia to “address and address” all kinds of hatred and said there was” no room for sophistry” or fence-sitting on the topic.

When a foundation across the world’s houses, Foxtel’s business type has been in sharp decrease in recent years, after being displaced by the increase of cheaper foreign streaming services.

News Corp announced earlier this month that it was thinking about selling the struggling give TV provider.

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EQT Private Capital Asia agrees .1bn deal for PropertyGroup Guru; buys Korean recycler and seeks .5bn fundraise | FinanceAsia

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PropertyGuru Group ( PropertyGuru), a leading property technology company in Southeast Asia ( SEA ), has been acquired by Hong Kong-based EQT Private Capital Asia for$ 1.1 billion in cash.

TPG ( through TPG Asia VI SF and TPG Asia VI SPV, in its capacity as general partners of TPG Asia VI Digs ), which owns around 26.5 %, and KKR ( through Epsilon Asia Holdings II ), which owns around 29.6 % of the business. In order to help the bargain, both companies have entered into voting and aid contracts with the business and EQT Private Capital Asia. &nbsp,

PropertyGuru’s board of directors, acting upon the advice of a particular commission, unanimously approved the deal and recommends acceptance of the acquisition by PropertyGuru’s owners, according to an August 16 news.

The offer is equal to$ 6.70 per share and represents a 52 % premium to PropertyGuru’s closing share price on May 21, 2024, the last unaffected trading day prior to media speculation regarding a potential transaction, and a 75 % and 86 % premium to the company’s 30-day and 90-day volume-weighted average share price, respectively, for the period ending May 21, 2024, the announcement said. &nbsp,

The deal is expected to close in Q4 2024 or Q1 2025, subject to final problems, including acceptance by PropertyGuru’s shareholders and certificate of regulatory approvals.

Upon completion of the transaction, PropertyGuru’s shares will no longer trade on the New York Stock Exchange ( NYSE), and PropertyGuru will become a private company. PropertyGuru’s office will be in Singapore.

 

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer acted as the unique committee’s legal counsel, and Moelis &amp, Company is its financial consultant. Ropes &amp, Gray serves as EQT Private Capital Asia’s legal advisor, and Morgan Stanley Asia ( Singapore ) serves as its financial advisor. Latham &amp, Watkin is KKR and TPG’s legal advisor, and JP Morgan Securities Asia Private is their financial director.

 

PropoertyGuru Group has a consolidation program with members of BPEA Private Equity VIII, a purpose-driven international investment company, in order to have the business acquired by EQT Private Capital Asia. &nbsp,

 

Development potential&nbsp,

 

The firm was founded in 2007 by Steve Melhuish and Jani Rautiainen, and provides online property markets for home seeking, real estate agents, home developers, banks and brokers across Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand. In a special purpose acquisition ( SPAC ) agreement with Bridgetown 2 Holdings, which Richard Li and Peter Thiel supported, PropertyGuru was listed on the NYSE in March 2022 and raised$ 254 million. &nbsp,

Hari Krishnan, chief executive officer &amp, managing director, PropertyGuru, said in a statement,” We are pleased to embark on this new chapter with EQT. This agreement comes after decades of transformative growth, which TPG and KKR have supported, making us the industry’s top proptech platform.

Krishnan added:” As we continue to innovate and provide value to our consumers, customers, and stakeholders across the place, EQT’s international experience in building marketplaces and commitment to sustainable development will further improve our perception to power communities to live, function, and thrive in tomorrow’s cities”.

” PropertyGuru has firmly established itself as the leading property market system in Lake, and we are deeply impressed by the strong base it has built over the past 17 years as well as with its brilliant team,” said Janice Leow, partner in the EQT Private Capital Asia consulting team and head of EQT Private Capital SEA.

Leow continued,” We think our offer strategically positions PropertyGuru to fully exploit its long-term growth potential while offering shareholders compelling value and certainty.” With EQT’s significant experience in the technology, online classifieds and marketplace sectors, we aim to further strengthen PropertyGuru’s platform, driving enhanced innovation and deeper engagement with its consumers, customers and stakeholders”.

Buys Korean recycler, seeks$ 12.5bn raise

For an undisclosed sum, EQT Infrastructure VI purchased a KJ Environment from Genesis Private Equity. According to a media release, the goal is to establish” a sclaed and diversified end-to-end waste treatment scheme platform focused on plastic recycling and waste-to-energy in South Korea.” &nbsp,

KJ Environment works across recyclable waste sorting, plastic recycling and waste-to-energy. It has locations in the Greater Seoul Metropolitan Area, which provide services to catchment areas that account for more than 50 % of the nation’s GDP and population.

The purchase is EQT’s second infrastructure investment in South Korea.

In the release, Sang Jun Suh, a partner in the EQT infrastructure advisory team, stated,” We look forward to using EQT’s extensive experience investing in sustainable waste and recycling solutions across geographies, combined with our strong local footprint and industrial network, to help KJ Environment become a true market leader in the waste treatment space.

The business strengthens EQT’s track record of supporting infrastructure companies in the Asia Pacific region by extending its global portfolio of businesses that engage in waste-related business. Since 2020, EQT Infrastructure has invested €5 billion ($ 5.52 billion ) of equity, including co-investment, in Asia Pacific companies. Around 11, 000 people work the portfolio managed by EQT’s infrastructure team in Asia Pacific.

The transaction is subject approvals and&nbsp, is expected to close in Q4 2024. EQT was advised by JP Morgan on financials, Kim &amp, Chang for legal, and PwC for financial and tax.

With this transaction, EQT Infrastructure VI is expected to be 45-50 % based on target fund size and subject to customary regulatory approvals.

Meanwhile, EQT is looking to raise around$ 12.5 billion for EQT Private Capital Asia’s BPEA Private Equity Fund IX.

 

¬ Haymarket Media Limited. All rights reserved.

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Pakistan denies slowing internet by building firewall

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Pakistan’s government has refuted states that it is building an online network, which has caused agonizingly slower connections in recent days.

Instead, it blamed the widespread use of secure connections or VPN (virtual private networks) for the crawling speeds.

Business organizations were quick to point out that poor communication could cause a “mass emigration” of IT companies.

Shutting down the computer to stifle opposition is a well-known ploy in the scripts of the government of Pakistan and different parts of Asia.

Since the riots sparked by former prime minister Imran Khan last year, the government has blocked social media platforms and throttled connection speeds as the battle for public support spilled over from the streets to the digital space.

The micro-blogging platform X has been blocked since the February elections due to “national security” concerns.

Mr Khan’s group supporters are big clients of X and he is the most common Pakistani on the platformn, with nearly 21 million followers.

However, Shaza Fatima, the minister of state for information technology, claimed on Sunday that the condition was not responsible for the latest thawing.

She claimed that her group has been “working hard” with telcos and internet service providers to solve the problem.

Ms Fatima said a “large people” had been using VPNs and” this strained the system, causing the computer to get slow”.

She criticized” completely misleading” claims that the position was to blame for the slow connections.

But, Ms. Fatima claimed that the government has been upgrading its computer systems to enhance cyber security.

” It is the right of the government to]take such measures ] given the cyber security attacks that this country has to go through”, she said.

Company leaders and organizations have been warned that sluggish links may threaten Pakistan’s ability as a leader in the world of business.

The Pakistan Software Houses Association said this could cost the IT sector up to$ 300 million, calling it a “direct, tangible and aggressive assault on the industry’s viability”.

If no fast and decisive action is taken,” a mass exodus of IT organizations is not just a chance but an immediate truth,” it said.

According to a plea that the Islamabad High Court has filed, the online access is now a fundamental right under the constitution of Pakistan.

BBC Urdu provided more monitoring.

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