Grip strength may be a simple and inexpensive indicator of overall health and the risk of cardiovascular disease, according to the results of the international PURE study, published in the medical journal *The Lancet*.
The study included 139,691 adults aged 35 to 70 from 17 countries. Participants were followed for an average of about four years, and grip strength was measured using a special device—a hand dynamometer.
According to the researchers’ findings, lower grip strength was associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, heart attack, and stroke. Each 5-kg decrease in grip strength was associated with a 16% increase in the risk of all-cause mortality, a 17% increase in cardiovascular mortality, a 7% increase in the risk of heart attack, and a 9% increase in the risk of stroke.
The study authors also noted that grip strength proved to be a stronger predictor of overall and cardiovascular mortality than systolic blood pressure. However, this does not mean that blood pressure measurements are no longer important; rather, it suggests that muscle strength can serve as an additional, simple marker of risk.
Popular tests, such as asking, “Can you hang from a pull-up bar for one minute?” may partially reflect grip strength, forearm endurance, body weight, and overall physical fitness. However, it’s important to distinguish: the study in The Lancet assessed not the time spent hanging on a pull-up bar, but specifically handgrip strength using a dynamometer.
General guidelines for pull-up performance are often listed separately for men and women.
For men, the baseline levels are as follows:
up to age 30 — 60–90 seconds,
ages 30–40 — 45–60 seconds,
ages 40–50 — 30–45 seconds,
ages 50–60 and older — approximately 15–30 seconds.
For women, the guidelines are lower:
up to age 30—40–60 seconds,
ages 30–40—30–45 seconds,
ages 40–50—20–30 seconds,
ages 50–60 and older—15–20 seconds.
These figures are not medical standards and cannot be used for diagnosis. The result is influenced not only by grip strength but also by body weight, the condition of the shoulder joints, technique, training experience, and overall health.
It is not an individual hanging time record that has medical significance, but rather the overall trend: a weaker grip may be a marker of lower muscle mass, low physical activity, age-related changes, or comorbidities. This is why researchers consider grip strength to be a potentially useful screening indicator in clinical practice.
At the same time, doctors emphasize that a weak grip or a short time spent hanging on the bar is not a diagnosis in itself. It is merely a signal that attention should be paid to physical activity, cardiovascular risks, nutrition, sleep, weight, blood pressure, and overall health.
According to Fixygen, PJSC “Zaporizhskloflus” will hold a general meeting of shareholders virtually on July 14, 2026, as reported in the SMIDA disclosure system on June 9.
Details of the agenda are provided in the issuer’s announcement.
PJSC “Zaporizhskloflus” is registered in Zaporizhzhia. According to public registration data, the company operates in the chemical manufacturing sector. The company was established in 1994, and its authorized capital is 109.47 thousand UAH. The company’s publicly stated areas of activity include materials for the glass and related industries.
In June 2026, the TAS Insurance Group (Kyiv) paid out 343.5 thousand UAH under its insurance contracts, which is 74.1% more than during the same period in 2025.
According to the insurer’s website, 19.3% of total payouts were for comprehensive auto insurance (CASCO), or 66.4 million UAH (34.5% more than in May 2025); 49.1% were for mandatory third-party liability insurance (OSCPV), or 168.7 million UAH (2.1 times more); and “Green Card” insurance—15.9%, or 54.6 million UAH (+59.2%).
The share of voluntary medical insurance (VMI) in the company’s claims portfolio was 42.04 million UAH (+41%). Meanwhile, under property insurance policies, the company paid out 3.2 million UAH, which is 3.4 times more than the figure reported for May of last year.
Under other insurance policies, the company paid out 8.57 million UAH during the month—2.2 times more than last year.
TAS Insurance Group was registered in 1998. It is a universal insurer offering over 80 types of insurance products across various categories of voluntary and mandatory insurance. It has an extensive regional network: 28 regional directorates and branches and 450 sales offices throughout Ukraine.
According to Fixygen, the National Bank of Ukraine imposed a penalty of 432.35 thousand UAH and issued a written warning against FC “Business-Partner” LLC.
As reported on the regulator’s website, the sanctions were imposed for submitting regulatory reports to the NBU containing inaccurate data, as well as for failing to ensure the functioning of a comprehensive, adequate, and effective internal control system.
Specifically, the fine was imposed for violating the requirements of paragraph 5 of Section I of the Rules for the Preparation and Submission of Reports by Non-Bank Financial Services Market Participants to the National Bank of Ukraine, approved by NBU Board Resolution No. 123 of November 25, 2021.
The company must pay the fine within one month from the date the decision takes effect. In addition, by July 15, 2026, FC “Business-Partner” must remedy the violations of the requirements for the financial company’s corporate governance and internal control systems, as well as the operational shortcoming specified in the warning.
Business-Partner Financial Company LLC is registered in Ukraine under EDRPOU code 43310379. The company operates in the non-bank financial services market. Such institutions are supervised by the NBU following the transfer of control functions over the non-bank financial sector to the regulator.
Source: NBU
Ukraine and Albania have signed an agreement on international road transport, which provides for regular freight and passenger transportation, according to Deputy Prime Minister for Recovery and Minister of Community and Territorial Development Oleksiy Kuleba.
“In practice, this means more opportunities for exporting Ukrainian goods, simplifying operations for carriers, developing new transport routes through the countries of Southeast Europe, and improving transport accessibility for citizens of both countries,” Kuleba wrote on Telegram on Tuesday.
According to him, Albania has now become the 37th country with which Ukraine will have “transport visa-free travel.”
It is noted that the ministry is also continuing to work on expanding Ukraine’s international transport links and opening new markets for carriers.
ALBANIA, CARRIERS, ROAD TRANSPORT, transport visa-free travel, UKRAINE
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is implementing the “Digital Finance Future Ukraine” advisory project in Ukraine with an estimated total budget of $2.83 million, aimed at developing digital financial services and attracting private capital, according to the corporation’s website.
According to the IFC, the project aims to expand access to financing for the general public and small and medium-sized businesses by promoting digital financial services as part of Ukraine’s recovery efforts.
The project involves collaboration with government agencies, financial institutions, fintech companies, as well as participants in the venture capital and private equity markets.
It is noted that the project, approved by the IFC on May 6, 2026, consists of three components.
The first component aims to align Ukrainian legislation and the regulatory environment in the field of digital financial services with European Union standards.
The second component is aimed at modernizing financial infrastructure and attracting private capital to the fintech sector, in particular through the development of open banking, venture capital, and direct investments.
The third component is designed to promote cooperation, innovation, and regional integration of the fintech market, as well as to provide its participants with the tools and knowledge needed to expand digital financial services and broaden access to capital.
The project is expected to be completed by March 31, 2030.
According to data on the IFC website, since the start of the full-scale invasion, the amount of financing provided by the corporation in Ukraine had reached $2.8 billion as of February 2026; in particular, over $1 billion was mobilized from partners and donors.
