Latest news with #IP
NDTV
2 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
IP University Announces New 3-Year LLB Program, Application Starts July 18
IP New 3-Year LLB Program 2025: Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU), New Delhi has announced the introduction of a new three-year Bachelor of Laws (LLB) program. The program will commence from the academic session 2025-2026, aiming to provide quality law education to students. Students will be able to enroll in three law institutes of the IP university, namely: University School of Law & Legal Studies (USLLS), Dwarka Campus, Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies (VIPS), Pitampura, Delhi Chandraprabhu Jain College (CPJ College), Narela, Delhi. A total of 180 seats will be available with 60 seats for each institute. Candidates will be able to fill the application form for the program starting from July 18, 2025. Eligibility Criteria For The Program Student applying for the program must have passed graduation in any discipline with a minimum of 50 per cent marks. The admission will be done based on the merit rank achieved by the student in the Common Entrance Test (CET). The CET will test the candidates' ability in Language and Comprehension (25 questions), General Knowledge and Current Affairs (25 questions) and Basic Understanding of Law and Legal Reasoning for 50 questions. Seat Allocation 85 per cent Seats will be allotted to Delhi Region Candidates, those who have passed the qualifying examination from any school/college situated in Delhi. The rest 15 per cent will be reserved for candidates from outside Delhi. Students will be required to pay a prescribed fee of Rs. 2500 to fill the application form. Students can check the detailed notification regarding the New 3-Year LLB program here, " 3-Year LLB Program".
Web Release
3 days ago
- Business
- Web Release
commitment to expanding international partnerships sUAE reaffirmand support its contribution to innovation IPto develop
H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, led the UAE delegation at the 66th series of Meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The meetings commenced at the Organization's headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and will continue until 17 July. H.E. Bin Touq emphasized that, under the visionary leadership of the UAE, the country has established a world-class intellectual property (IP) protection system, which serves as a cornerstone of its knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy. He highlighted the UAE's comprehensive strategy to modernize IP legislation and policies, ensuring robust frameworks for trademarks, creative works, and innovations that not only safeguard intellectual property but also actively promote its development and growth. H.E. said: 'Over recent years, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism has spearheaded strategic initiatives to foster innovation and safeguard creative ideas, most notably through our comprehensive national IP system. This pioneering framework streamlines procedures, accelerates service delivery across all IP applications, raises awareness about creators' rights protection, and delivers a seamless stakeholder experience in line with international best practices.' Furthermore, H.E. highlighted the launch of the Green IP initiative – a national program aimed at fast-tracking patent examinations for sustainable technologies, underscoring the UAE's commitment to circular economy principles and eco-innovation. He also emphasized ongoing efforts to develop domestic expertise, including the trademark registration agent accreditation program conducted in partnership with the Emirates Intellectual Property Association (EIPA). Additionally, H.E. announced a pioneering initiative to establish an intangible assets financing framework, creating a standardized IP valuation system to improve funding access and liquidity for selected SMEs and startups in the digital and technology sectors. 'The UAE has also introduced a pioneering collective license management system for music rights — a landmark regulatory advancement that brings structure to the entire music value chain, including composition, songwriting, performance, production, and publishing. The Emirates Music Rights Association was awarded the first license, followed by Music Nation. This strategic move aims to foster the sector's growth and develop a knowledge-based creative economy driven by innovation,' H.E. Bin Touq added. In addition, H.E. Bin Touq highlighted the UAE's launch of its first Geographical Indications system — a historic initiative that formally protects distinctive national products tied to specific regions in the country. The inaugural registration phase recognizes four iconic products embodying the UAE's cultural and geographical identity: honey from the Hatta region; ceramics from the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah; Dabbas dates from the Al Dhafra region; and traditional palm frond products crafted across various emirates, reflecting the nation's rich artisanal heritage. His Excellency added: 'We firmly believe that intellectual property serves as a fundamental catalyst for enhancing the UAE's competitiveness and sustaining its long-term growth. Therefore, we are actively expanding our international partnerships by joining key global treaties and agreements related to intellectual property. Notable among these are the Lisbon Agreement for the Protection of Appellations of Origin and their International Registration, the Budapest Treaty, which fosters a supportive research environment in the field of microorganisms, and the Strasbourg Agreement concerning the International Patent Classification. These steps have contributed to improving the efficiency of the national intellectual property system, expanding the scope of international protection it offers.' His Excellency emphasized the importance of concluding negotiations on the adoption of the Protection of Broadcasting Organizations Treaty and the treaties on Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions, following the successful adoption of the Genetic Resources Treaty and the Riyadh Design Law Treaty. He reaffirmed the UAE's full support for the organization's ongoing efforts in this regard. The UAE is actively considering the proposal to host an external office of WIPO in the country, in line with its status as a regional and global hub for innovation and technology. His Excellency further underscored the importance of advancing dialogue on the inclusion of the Arabic language within the Madrid System, as this would foster greater linguistic diversity and empower Arabic-speaking communities to fully access and benefit from the Organization's services. The Minister of Economy and Tourism concluded his remarks by reaffirming the UAE's commitment to continuing constructive cooperation with the Organization and its member states to strengthen international IP protection, support the growth of creative economies around the world, and keep pace with the digital transformations in this vital sector. UAE's IP sector continues to achieve record-breaking results His Excellency reviewed key indicators demonstrating the continued growth of the UAE's national IP system. He highlighted that by the end of May 2025, the total number of registered national and international trademarks exceeded 385,774. In addition, registered IP works recorded a growth of 33.23 per cent during the first five months of this year compared to the same period in 2024. In 2024, the Ministry recorded an increase in the total number of national and international trademark registration applications, which reached 33,874 from 31,288 in 2023, representing an 8 per cent growth. Furthermore, the number of registered trademarks nearly doubled during the same year, rising to 31,535 from 16,712 in 2023, achieving an impressive 89 per cent growth. Between January and May 2025, a total of 15,179 new trademarks were registered. Regarding copyrights, the UAE recorded a 28.93 per cent increase in IP registrations in 2024, reaching a total of 2,763 IP works compared to 2,143 in 2023. This growth highlights the rising public awareness on the importance of protecting authors' rights, as well as the increasing confidence of creators and innovators in the country's legislative framework. Recent indicators also show sustained growth in the industrial property sector, driven by enhanced legislations and streamlined procedures. The number of patent and utility certificate applications increased to 3,622 in 2024, compared to 3,415 in 2023, reflecting a 6 per cent growth. From January to May 2025, applications saw a further increase of 19.43 per cent compared to the same period in 2024. As for industrial designs, the number of applications grew from 1,134 in 2023 to 1,252 in 2024, reflecting an annual growth of 10.41 per cent. The sector witnessed a remarkable 70 per cent surge in design applications during the first five months of 2025 compared to the same period last year, highlighting the UAE's attractive investment environment and the growing interest of companies and inventors in protecting their innovations.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Straits Times
What's in store for policyholders after GE removes pre-authorisation letters for two private hospitals
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox GE temporarily stopped issuing pre-authorisation certificates for admissions to Mount Elizabeth Hospital and Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital from June 17. SINGAPORE - Some policyholders of Great Eastern (GE) found themselves in a pickle after the insurer temporarily stopped issuing pre-authorisation certificates for admissions to Mount Elizabeth hospitals from June 17. Policyholders will now have to re-evaluate whether they want to go to Mount Elizabeth Hospital or Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital for treatment; switch to another private hospital; or change insurance provider altogether. The incident has also highlighted the need for a separate pool of funds for unexpected medical expenses, even though the verdict on such a fund is mixed. Integrated Shield Plan (IP) holders of GE policies have to make some choices now that pre-authorisation for planned medical procedures has been suspended at the two Mount Elizabeth hospitals. Pre-authorisation is not required for emergency situations, where immediate medical attention is needed. Mr Alex Lee, president of the Singapore Actuarial Society (SAS), said those who still decide to go to the two hospitals for treatment will have to foot the bill out of their own pockets first and claim it back later. Mr Lee added that GE may reimburse the claim if it is deemed as reasonable. This will be no different from the scenario in which the policyholder has received pre-authorisation for the medical procedure. However, the insurer could also reject the claim if the treatment is excluded under the policy conditions, he said. Mr Kyith Ng, senior solutions specialist at insurance advisory firm Havend, said these GE policyholders will have to face the uncertainty over whether their insurance will cover their hospital expenses and how much of the bill it will cover. SAS' Mr Lee said other policyholders, who want peace of mind before their medical treatment starts, could choose to move to another private hospital where GE continues to offer pre-authorisation for admissions. There are eight private hospitals in Singapore, including the two Mount Elizabeth ones: Gleneagles, Parkway East, Farrer Park, Raffles, Thomson Medical Centre and Crawfurd Hospital. There is also one private not-for-profit hospital, Mount Alvernia. The process of pre-authorisation allows an insurer to assess whether a medical procedure recommended by the doctor is necessary and at a reasonable cost, said Associate Professor Chen Renbao from the department of finance at the National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School. Upon approval, policyholders have a gauge of the estimated treatment costs and know how much their insurance policy will cover prior to hospitalisation. There are some GE policyholders who are contemplating whether to switch to another insurance provider. They can do so if they do not have pre-existing illnesses, which will exclude these medical conditions from any new insurance coverage. One policyholder who wishes to remain anonymous told The Straits Times that his entire family uses Mount Elizabeth hospitals. He is thinking of switching to another IP insurer but is concerned about any exclusions that will not be covered. He told ST that GE should not impose such restrictions on existing policyholders and that these restrictions should only apply to new ones. Of the seven private insurers that offer IPs, Income and Singlife do not offer pre-authorisation for medical procedures. The other four, AIA, Prudential, HSBC Life and Raffles Health, do but Havend's Mr Ng said there is no certainty they will continue to do so. 'What GE does may make the other insurers wonder if they can do the same,' he added. If policyholders switch insurers and that insurer later makes changes to its claims policy, they could be caught in a bind, Mr Ng noted. Health insurance provides a safety net against unexpected health issues and offers individuals and their families protection in case major medical treatment becomes necessary. Mr Ng said an individual could build up savings specific for medical needs as another safety net. The fund can be used to pay any pre-hospitalisation procedures such as scans, blood tests or post-hospitalisation expenses like physiotherapy or speech therapy. Policyholders have to pay pre- and post-hospitalisation expenses in cash and then submit the claims for approval, Mr Ng added. Furthermore, some claims might take longer than usual to process. Mr Ng has seen cases drag out for as long as six months. Claimants will face a cash-flow crunch if they do not set aside enough cash on hand, he added. There are situations where individuals will need to pay medical costs upfront, though this is not always so, Mr Ng noted, adding that they just need to ensure they have an adequate amount to supplement those needs. Otherwise, they may be compelled to use the money set aside for other purposes, like their children's education or their own retirement. 'The money has to come from somewhere.' So, by setting aside say $20,000, individuals know how much money they have for such exigencies and will not have to take the money from their other financial funds, Mr Ng said. However, Associate Professor Walter Theseira from the Singapore University of Social Sciences, said it is not efficient for most people to maintain 'substantial funds in cash for medical needs', given that these are infrequent and large. He said the point of having more comprehensive insurance is to reduce the need to maintain funds just for medical purposes. If insurance does not give individuals such assurance, 'it is not of much value as an insurance product'. The Ministry of Health (MOH) has said it is engaging with GE to better understand the impact of its decision to suspend pre-authorisation certificates for Mount Elizabeth hospitals. In its reply to queries from the media on June 19, MOH said IP insurers 'would have to ensure that policyholders continue to be able to access the full benefits of their policies in accordance with the terms and conditions for claims, as stated in their policy contracts'. SAS' Mr Lee said GE is not in breach of contractual obligations. This is because 'issuance of Certificate of Pre-authorisation is at Great Eastern's discretion', according to the policy contract that SAS has sighted. According to GE's website, the insurer states that it has 'observed that, over the past few years, certain private hospitals have been charging significantly more for similar treatment or the same clinical outcomes'. Mr Lee noted that by withdrawing pre-authorisation for the two hospitals, GE hopes that it will help address 'the issue of rising charges from the two hospitals'. Prof Chen from the NUS Business School said that GE is prioritising healthcare providers that offer high-quality care and better cost management, specifically those that are more cost-effective and transparent about pricing. Having looked through the financials of all the IP insurers which filed their latest 2024 results with the Monetary Authority of Singapore, Havend's Mr Ng said he can see that GE is 'trying to control the cost levers' within its control. The insurer posted an underwriting profit in 2024 of $4.8 million, after making an underwriting loss of $44.9 million in 2023. This makes GE one of the three IP insurers which turned in a profit in 2024. The other two are Prudential and AIA. Three other IP insurers, Singlife, Income and HSBC Life, widened their underwriting losses while the last one, Raffles Health, narrowed its underwriting losses. Mr Lee said that insurance, especially in cases requiring little or no out-of-pocket expense, strengthens policyholders' sense of affordability. Demand induced by this stronger sense of affordability can drive up medical costs, he noted, adding that this never-ending cycle of medical cost inflation can be broken if the sense of affordability gets meaningfully dampened. However, Mr Lee pointed out that there are other factors such as shortage of medical professionals, supply chain disruptions and medical innovations that will drive up medical inflation. He added that if medical costs continue to rise, insurers will have no choice but to raise premiums because there is hardly any pricing buffer left in the rates being charged. Mr Lee said: 'At its core, this pre-authorisation withdrawal aims to address rising medical costs that, if poorly controlled, lead to premium rates spiralling upwards in future.' Prof Theseira added: 'This certainly could be perceived as a shot across the bow for private hospitals and doctors who have higher than average charges. 'If the decision changes patient behaviour, it would pressure private healthcare providers to moderate charges or risk similar actions being levied against them by other insurers.'
The Journal
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Philip Dwyer loses appeal against trespass conviction at direct provision centre
CAMPAIGNER PHILIP DWYER trespassed at a direct provision centre for International Protection (IP) applicants at Inch in Co Clare where residents were being besieged by protesters outside the property, a court has heard. At Ennis Circuit Court this evening, Judge Francis Comerford upheld the trespass conviction imposed on Dwyer, an anti-immigrant activist, at Magowna House on 18 May 2023. Described in court by his counsel Anne Doyle BL as a 'Citizen Journalist', Dwyer (56) of Tallaght Cross West, Tallaght, Dublin 24 was appealing the district court trespass conviction imposed in March and Judge Comerford also affirmed the district court fine of €500. Dwyer told the court that he was at Magowna House to ask questions in his role as a journalist. Judge Comerford said that Dwyer 'might be entitled to make enquiries and go to someone's door, but he went well beyond it here'. At the time, there were protests at Magowna House where 29 International Protection applicants were being accommodated and there were blockades on local roads which were attracting media attention. Judge Comerford said that a group of people here came to seek refuge 'and were brought by the State to a relatively isolated, rural location where they were alone and away from a lot of resources and facilities'. 'And in effect, they were besieged in the premises they were brought to,' the judge said. 'It was made absolutely clear to them that they weren't welcome and there were protesters outside the property and there were bales of hay blocking access to prevent others joining them.' He said that there were 30 or 40 protesters protesting against their presence. Judge Comerford said that the big difference between Dwyer and protesters outside was that he went inside the property, where the other protesters didn't. Advertisement Judge Comerford said that he accepted the evidence of the Manager of Magowna House at the time, Ahlam Salman who said that Dwyer's presence on the property made her feel 'afraid'. Video footage made by Dwyer was played to the court, where he can be heard saying that he had arrived at a 'people trafficking centre'. In the footage shown in court, Dwyer can be heard saying, 'these are all foreign people telling me what I can't do in my own country'. Dwyer can be seen addressing a Ukrainian man wearing a fluorescent jacket: 'Do you think Irish people are stupid? Do you think we are all idiots? I wouldn't blame you, to be honest with you.' He asks later: 'What is your problem? You are not in Ukraine, this is my country…What are you hiding? I am just asking questions on behalf of the people of Ireland. The people in this country are very concerned about this.' After seeing some men believed to be International Protection applicants staying at the centre, Mr Dwyer asks: 'Why are these people covering their faces….This is Ireland. This is my country.' Counsel for the State Sarah Jane Comerford BL (instructed by State Solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey) said to Dwyer that his words 'had a menacing undertone' to the people to whom he spoke on the property. In response, Dwyer said: 'I wasn't menacing to anybody.' He said: 'I 100% stand over those comments. We all have to respect one another. I tried to be respectful when I went in there.' He said: 'I was treated very badly. I was treated with hostility… I felt quite intimidated as well. That is part of the job.' He went on to tell the court: 'I have thousands of viewers, sometimes hundreds of thousands.' Counsel for Dwyer, Anne Doyle BL, said that she was not instructed by her client not to enter any mitigation concerning penalty 'as my client stands by his actions', Doyle said that 'he maintains that he was working in the course of his duties and does not accept the verdict'.
Straits Times
29-06-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Forum: Sustaining affordable healthcare is a shared responsibility
We refer to the Forum letter 'Insurers' restriction of patient choice undermines trust in system' (June 19) and wish to provide context on pre-authorisation and panel doctors. To ensure a sustainable healthcare ecosystem, all parties need to play a part in making quality healthcare affordable and accessible. Insurers and patients are payers of healthcare services. Healthcare providers who recommend treatments and charges must do so responsibly to manage healthcare inflation. The year-on-year increase in medical costs is untenable, and Integrated Shield Plan (IP) insurers will continue to be proactive in introducing measures to ensure patients continue to receive quality care while balancing the collective needs of policyholders to keep premiums affordable. Ultimately, policyholders bear the brunt when medical and claims costs escalate. This is why IP insurers regularly review claims data and update their practices, measures and controls to ensure a sustainable healthcare system. Pre-authorisation and panel doctors were among measures recommended by the multilateral Health Insurance Task Force in 2016 to address escalating healthcare costs. Pre-authorisation is a service – not a contractual clause – that gives policyholders assurance that their treatment will be covered when deemed fair and medically necessary. Not all IP insurers offer this service, and, where it is limited to selected hospitals, it is often due to cost or implementational considerations. The absence of pre-authorisation does not restrict a policyholder's choice of healthcare provider. Besides pre-authorisation, policyholders may apply for an electronic letter of guarantee as a waiver of deposit, reducing the need for upfront payment. Panel doctors provide quality treatment at pre-agreed rates, and policyholders may enjoy additional benefits such as lower co-payments. The introduction of panel doctors has reduced instances of over-treatment and over-charging, helping to ensure a more sustainable healthcare system for all. Despite rising premiums, the total IP portfolio continues to operate at single-digit gross margin and sometimes at a loss. The insurance industry is committed to policyholders' interests and to communicate any changes to benefits and coverage. We urge all parties – including doctors, hospitals, government agencies and patients – to work collaboratively in managing healthcare costs to ensure continued access to quality healthcare in Singapore. Chan Wai Kit Executive Director Life Insurance Association, Singapore More on this Topic Forum: What readers are saying Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
