Doctors in Belarus -- a country with one of the highest rates of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in the world -- spent months treating patients with a new drug, bedaquiline, alongside other antibiotics. The results, seen exclusively by AFP, were startling: Of the 181 patients given the new drug, 168 people completed the course and 144 were totally cured. The World Health Organization says currently only 55 percent of people with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis are successfully treated. The Belarus trial cure rate -- 80 percent -- was largely replicated in bedaquiline trials in other countries in eastern Europe, Africa and Southeast Asia, according to abstracts seen by AFP, due to be unveiled at a major tuberculosis conference later this week. "The results from this study confirm... that newer drugs like bedaquiline can cure and are game changers for people living with multidrug-resistant and extremely drug-resistant tuberculosis," Paula Fujiwara, scientific director of The … [Read more...] about ‘Game changer’ tuberculosis drug cures 8 in 10
Game changer weed
’Game changer’ tuberculosis drug cures 9 in 10
Viet Nam News PARIS — A new treatment for a drug-resistant strain of tuberculosis can cure more than 90 per cent of sufferers, according to a trial hailed Monday as a "game changer" in the fight against the global killer. Doctors in Belarus -- a country with one of the highest rates of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in the world -- spent months treating patients with a new drug, bedaquiline, alongside other antibiotics. The results, seen exclusively by AFP, were startling: Of the 181 patients given the new drug, 168 were totally cured. The World Health Organisation says currently only 55 percent of people with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis are successfully treated. The Belarus trial success rate -- 93 percent -- was largely replicated in bedaquiline trials in other countries in eastern Europe, Africa and Southeast Asia, according to abstracts seen by AFP, due to be unveiled at a major tuberculosis conference later this week. "The results from this study confirm... that … [Read more...] about ’Game changer’ tuberculosis drug cures 9 in 10
Thailand: Wild Boars heads to Olympic Youth Games in Argentina
Member of the Wild Boars football team (Photo: Getty Image) Bangkok (VNA) - The 12 Wild Boars footballers and their coach, who became famous after being trapped in a cave in July, left Thailand on October 3 to attend the 2018 Summer Olympic Youth Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The junior football team, comprising 12 boys aged 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old coach Ekkapol Chantawong, became famous worldwide following their spectacular rescue from Tham Luang Cave in Chiang Rai province, where they were trapped inside for more than two weeks due to flooding. At the invitation of President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach, the team will attend the opening ceremony on October 6, several other events, and play a friendly match. After Argentina, Wild Boars will head to the United States to attend the Asia Society’s Asia Game Changers in New York. At the award, the Thai rescuers of the team, represented by Governor of Chiang Rai province Narongsak … [Read more...] about Thailand: Wild Boars heads to Olympic Youth Games in Argentina
Industry 4.0 to be game changer for UPS Vietnam
Daryl Tay talks about how Industry 4.0 will transform the logistics industry Industry 4.0 is now a clear trend in many economic sectors. What are its impacts on the logistics industry? How did UPS prepare for this and what opportunities do you expect in 2018? Logistics companies will need to be more technologically advanced than ever—this new industrial era will push the logistics industry to become much “smarter” and more adaptable. With Industry 4.0, logistics companies will need to take a closer look at how operations and infrastructure can be improved through technology and innovation. UPS was established in 1907. In over 110 years of operations, we have experienced industrial revolution through the second and third iterations—electrical power and computing—and seen firsthand the impact it had on not just our industry, but also those of our customers. While UPS was founded on engineering excellence, today we are more like a technology company with … [Read more...] about Industry 4.0 to be game changer for UPS Vietnam
Australia pledges $400 million to restore Great Barrier Reef
Australia pledged half a billion dollars to restore and protect the Great Barrier Reef Sunday in what it said would be a game-changer for the embattled natural wonder. Scientists have said the reef suffered a 'catastrophic die-off' of coral during an extended heatwave in 2016 AFP/GREG TORDA The World Heritage-listed site, which attracts millions of tourists, is reeling from significant bouts of coral bleaching due to warming sea temperatures linked to climate change. The reef is also under threat from the coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish, which has proliferated due to pollution and agricultural runoff. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said more than A$500 million ($400 million) will go towards improving water quality, tackling predators, and expanding restoration efforts. Turnbull said it was the "largest ever single investment - to protect the reef, secure its viability and the 64,000 jobs that rely on the reef". "We want to ensure the reef's future for the benefit of … [Read more...] about Australia pledges $400 million to restore Great Barrier Reef
Australia pledges US$400 million to restore Great Barrier Reef
Australia pledged half a billion dollars to restore and protect the Great Barrier Reef Sunday in what it said would be a game-changer for the embattled natural wonder. Scientists have said the reef suffered a 'catastrophic die-off' of coral during an extended heatwave in 2016 AFP/GREG TORDA The World Heritage-listed site, which attracts millions of tourists, is reeling from significant bouts of coral bleaching due to warming sea temperatures linked to climate change. The reef is also under threat from the coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish, which has proliferated due to pollution and agricultural runoff. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said more than A$500 million (US$400 million) will go towards improving water quality, tackling predators, and expanding restoration efforts. Turnbull said it was the "largest ever single investment - to protect the reef, secure its viability and the 64,000 jobs that rely on the reef". "We want to ensure the reef's future for the benefit of … [Read more...] about Australia pledges US$400 million to restore Great Barrier Reef
Vietnamobile – the little giant of Vietnam’s mobile telecom market
Vietnamobile, the country’s fourth-largest mobile operator, is making a stunning comeback after spending two years flying under the radar by launching a new product that offers free, unlimited data to subscribers. The company’s ultimate vision, its general director Elizabete Fong says, is to give customers “Unbelievable Freedom” in enjoying their mobile and digital lifestyle. “Groundbreaking,” “disruptive” and “unbelievable” was among the Hong Kong-born excutives favorite adjectives while discussing Vietnamobile’s new ‘Thanh SIM’ during an exclusive interview with Tuoi Tre News on Tuesday. A data-centric world “Since the start of 3G, the whole market has evolved to become more data-centric,” she said, stressing that data is becoming a game-changer for Vietnam’s “very young” telecom market. “Over 50% [of the population] is below 35 years old and we’ve … [Read more...] about Vietnamobile – the little giant of Vietnam’s mobile telecom market
German retail sector experiences record growth in 2017
According to the Wiesbaden-based government statisticians, nominal revenue grew by between 4.5 percent and 4.9 percent in 2017 compared to the previous year."This marks the biggest gain since the beginning of measurements in 1994", a statement by the Federal Statistical Office read. Germany last witnessed a reduction in retail revenue in 2009 at the height of the global financial and economic crisis.Price-adjusted real revenue grew by between 2.7 percent and 3.1 percent in 2017. The estimates were based on data gathered in the period from January until November. In November, the last month assessed by the Federal Statistical Office, the pace of revenue growth quickened again to 4.4 percent on a real price-adjusted basis and 6.2 percent on a nominal basis compared to October.Michael Holstein, economist at DZ bank, pointed to the "positive development of the labor market with a strong increase in employment" and a resulting "greater spending power" as having contributed to a bumper year … [Read more...] about German retail sector experiences record growth in 2017
Seeking Solutions to Foster Connectivity to Global Value Chains
While significant progress has been made in improving logistics infrastructure and services, there is still ample room for further improvement. Vietnam’s ranking in the Logistics Performance Index dropped from 48 in 2014 to 64 in 2016. Mr Ousmane Dione, World Bank Country Director in Vietnam, said effective and efficient logistics and connectivity are key to Vietnam’s regional and global competitiveness. Logistics performance is particularly important for an economy like Vietnam that is highly dependent on participation in global value chains and exports. This will translate into productivity gain which Vietnam needs to achieve its ambitious development objectives. The country’s consistent policy of openness and export-led growth has paid off. The economic reforms undertaken since the 1990s helped spur growth and reduced poverty. Over the past 20 years, Vietnam has signed more FTAs than any other country in the region, making it one of the most integrated … [Read more...] about Seeking Solutions to Foster Connectivity to Global Value Chains
Games keep Facebook users on edge
People no longer come home, turn on the TV, and flip channels to see what is on: Instead, they sit in front of a computer, go to Facebook, and morph into farmers or restaurateurs, co-opting their friends as farm hands and waiters."Facebook is using up all my time," says Hoa Quynh, a Vietnamese official based in Japan whose online moniker is Queenie."Even before checking my email, I go to Facebook just to see if there is anything new on my homepage and to see which of my friends are online. Next, a few minutes are spent commenting on friends’ posts, or taking fun quizzes."Then, I go to my game."In some games, money arrives every hour, and gamers have to get it to the bank before someone steals it.In others, gamers have to buy items to advance their play but only have an opportunity to earn money every six hours.So, Queenie gets up early and sits up late to look after her farm, grow crops, prevent her crops from being stolen, and steal friends’ crops if possible or add … [Read more...] about Games keep Facebook users on edge