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UN Roadmap Outlines Solutions to Cut Global Plastic Pollution

UN Roadmap Outlines Solutions to Cut Global Plastic Pollution
A fruit-shake vendor in Vientiane, Laos (photo: Vannaphone Sitthirath)

Plastic pollution could reduce by 80 percent by 2040 if countries and companies make deep policy and market shifts using existing technologies, according to a new report by UN Environment Program (UNEP).

Thailand, Indonesia Engage in Violent Brawl at SEA Games Football Final

Coaches and football players from Thailand and Indonesia opened a fist flight after the second half of final football math at SEA Games in Cambodia. ( Photo : VNExpress).

Coaches and players from Thailand and Indonesia started fighting during the final football match at the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia on Tuesday.

Drive For Better With Enhanced Quon: Safety Innovation That Puts People First

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 17 May 2023 – UD Trucks today announced its enhanced Quon, equipped with innovative safety features that puts people first. Dependable and safe for all drivers, road users and communities, the enhanced Quon comes with improved technology to assist drivers on the roads. The truck also delivers higher fuel efficiency, performance and productivity, making truck transportation more sustainable while supporting Japan’s 2050 carbon neutrality goals.

“UD Trucks puts people first across its innovations and vehicles,” said Jacques Michel, Senior Vice President, UD Trucks International Sales. “Our enhanced Quon demonstrates that – it provisions the highest level of safety possible for drivers through its integrated suite of advanced and smart detection features, allowing drivers to achieve their progress on the roads.”

Enhanced Quon also provides greater uptime, optimizing operational efficiency and streamlining costs for businesses, and building greater resilience for them amidst times of volatility.

Extensive suite of features keeping drivers and their surroundings safe

Maintaining safety on the roads remains UD Truck’s top priority. This is captured within the enhanced Quon’s design and features, packed with a comprehensive suite of safety technologies. New, advanced features introduced on the enhanced Quon includes the improved Smart Traffic Eye Brake System[1] that uses its new radar and front looking camera to detect any potential collision with a vehicle or vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists, alongside the Moving Off Information Signal function. It also has a new, upgraded Driver Alert System – an in-cab camera, activating a two-step alarm and warning to alert the driver to take a break. The Traffic sign recognition is another integrated feature in the camera which recognizes the traffic signs and displays the same on the instrument cluster helping drivers avoid overlooking signs. These new features come equipped on top of its original active safety technologies, which includes the Traffic Eye Cruise Control with new Stop & Driver Initiate Go function, the Smart BSIS (Blind Spot Information System), Smart Lane Departure Warning System and UD Stability Control.

The enhanced Quon helps to keep drivers safe on the roads and will continue to do so with more features upcoming for the truck. UD Trucks continues to contribute towards improving and driving long-term commercial vehicle safety and protecting drivers, communities and other road users, as part of achieving the automotive industry’s Vision Zero future of no injuries of fatalities from road collisions.

Upgraded trucks delivering superior performance and uptime

The enhanced Quon offers superior reliability and durability, through state-of-the-art enhancements that incurs fewer breakdowns, lowers servicing frequency and maintenance costs, delivering ultimate value to businesses. Additionally, improvements to servicing schedule via a reduction of up to 50 percent[2] visits for servicing, saves on vehicle time spent in workshops for damages and repairs, while concurrently allowing for a reduction in insurance claims[3]. Complemented with smart solutions such as the Smart BSIS (Blind Spot Information System), Smart Lane Change Support and Improved Smart Traffic Eye Brake, possible liabilities from accident claims from vehicles and vulnerable road users can be reduced.

Owners can also expect easy maintenance with UD Trust Service Agreements which includes curation of a maintenance plan based on vehicle usage, covering optimal preventive maintenance and reliable inspections. Quon trucks are also supported with UD Extra Mile Support solutions that taps into the full UD network to access vehicle support which benefits owners throughout their vehicle lifestyle and lifespan – spanning across vehicle handover training programme, manufacturer’s warranty, UD Road Support, on top of reliable servicing by qualified technicians with genuine parts and UD Telematics. There is also lower maintenance cost expected from the enhanced Quon, as its engine uses VDS-5 5W-30 engine oil, enabling change intervals to be increased to up to 95,000km, a 35 percent[4] improvement from VDS-4, where there are also lesser filters to be replaced during servicing.

Enhanced solutions delivering higher fuel efficiency, performance and productivity

The enhanced Quon is UD Trucks’ most powerful and reliable truck yet, with its GH11 engine delivering up to 2.5 percent[5] improvement in fuel economy, reducing operating and ownership costs in the long term. It enables increased engine wear protection and low viscosity, with exceptional anti-wear, deposit and soot control protecting engine and valve train components such as cylinders, pistons and rings. Its new engine and high efficiency rear differential axle carrier also delivers more power and torque by retaining it onto the wheels and reducing drivetrain loss. The truck also comes with an intuitively designed ESCOT-VI 12-speed automated manual transmission that is simple and easy-to-use, providing improved and faster gear shifting while suppressing fluctuations in fuel efficiency.

The truck is also integrated with a ‘Nenpi’ fuel coach system displaying optimal fuel efficiency advice and driving techniques that drivers can leverage. An advanced fuel sending unit installed onboard providing more accurate fuel readings, alongside a redesigned fuel tank for 8L engines that provides higher ground clearance. The truck’s Idle Shut Down feature, which automatically shuts down the engine after a few minutes of idling during parking helps to enhance fuel economy.

For more information, please visit http://www.udtrucks.com/en-int/home


[1] The Smart Traffic Eye Brake provides assistance for safe driving but does not guarantee that all collisions will be avoided. It might not be possible to use this system on some roads and in some weather conditions. Drivers are to take care to drive safely without total reliance on this system.

[2] Based on annual mileage of 80,000km. Depending on applications and road usage.

[3] Up to 27 percent less in bodily damage claims and up to 19 percent less in property damage claims.

[4] Based on the usage of VDS-5 5W-30 engine oil on the new improved GH11 Engine. Test conducted by UD Trucks and dependent on application and road usage.

[5] Based on test conducted by UD Trucks. Depending on applications and road usage.

Hashtag: #UDTrucks

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Lao-American Athletes Excel at 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia

Lao American Athletes Shine at 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia
Dawson Sihavong (left), and Jedidiah Phomsavath Slayman (right). (Photo : US Embassy)

American athletes of Lao descent represented their homeland at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games 2023 held in Cambodia, with some even winning medals for Laos.

Family and health overtake professional success as most important priorities post pandemic: new Prudential and Economist Impact report

  • 70 per cent of people in Asia surveyed say how they define success has changed in the past few years
  • 46 per cent cite spending more time with family as the most important aspiration today
  • One-third of Asian respondents say they regularly make contributions to a retirement fund as a means of improving their financial health

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 17 May 2023 – Prudential plc (Prudential) today released ‘Fulfilling Futures – Re-thinking well-being in Asia: How outlooks on life are changing’, a report written by the Economist Impact, which looks at how people’s aspirations and their concepts of success may be changing amid longer life spans and ever-evolving challenges to health and well-being.

The report explores how people in Asia, at a time of heightened uncertainty, assess different aspects of their well-being, including their physical and mental health, personal finances, social lives, and interaction with their communities. It also explores their use of digital technology to pursue their aims in these areas.

Lilian Ng, Managing Director, Strategic Business Group, Prudential plc said, “It is clear from this research that what matters to Asians has changed in the past few years. The Covid-19 pandemic has had the effect of making people stop and think about their priorities in life.

“As a business focused on helping our customers and communities get the most out of life through making healthcare affordable and accessible and by promoting financial inclusion, understanding what impacts and influences people’s well-being will enable us to better support them in leading longer and more fulfilling lives.”

Family and health are now foremost in perceptions of well-being

The report which surveyed 5,000 residents across 13 markets in Asia found that 7 in 10 respondents (68 per cent) have changed the way they define success in life in recent years. Many cited (43 per cent) the pandemic as a key factor in re-evaluating their priorities.

Five years ago, professional success would have been their chief aspiration. That has now given way to the priority of spending more time with family which surpasses financial, career or even personal health aspirations as determinants of life satisfaction. Maintaining emotional and mental health have risen on people’s priority list as well. It has risen from near the bottom of their priority list five years ago to rank second in importance today.

Building a retirement nest-egg

As Asia’s populations start to age, financial security in retirement is a cause for concern. In Hong Kong for example, financial need is a major motivator to prolong one’s working life. Only half of the respondents from the territory (52 per cent) are satisfied with the state of their financial health today while almost three in five (59 per cent) are confident of saving enough financially to enable living to or beyond age 80.

One-third of Asian respondents say they regularly make contributions to a retirement fund as a means of improving their financial health. It is also clear from the survey responses that many people are looking to diversify their sources of income. For example, just over one-third of respondents (35 per cent) augment their savings and retirement funds by investing in equities and bonds. Meanwhile, one in three people (31 per cent) are taking the riskier route of investing in alternative digital assets such as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and cryptocurrencies.

Implications for Asia’s future

As Asians’ priorities in life shift, the report outlines several recommendations that governments, employers, NGOs and other societal stakeholders can take to improve citizens’ well-being.

In preparation for longevity, governments in the region can help citizens of all ages learn new skills and nudge them toward healthier behaviours and lifestyles. Acquiring new skills can help extend people’s career longevity, keeping them productive and helping them to finance longer lives.

The report also suggests for companies to consider implementing family-friendly policies and benefits that afford employees more time to spend with, and help them care for, their families. This would allow employers to secure and retain needed talent.

Hashtag: #Prudential

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Fulfilling Futures – Re-thinking well-being in Asia: How outlooks on life are changing

Prudential commissioned Economist Impact to write Fulfilling Futures to explore how people’s aspirations and their concepts of success may be changing amid longer life spans and ever-evolving challenges to health and well-being. It is based on a survey of 5,000 people from 13 Asian markets – Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Respondents range from 25 to 55 years old and across income groups.

The full report can be accessed at:

Also available on the website is which explores Hong Kong citizens’ motivations for choosing to work longer and its implications for their quality of life in older age.

About Prudential plc

Prudential plc provides life and health insurance and asset management in 24 markets across Asia and Africa. The business helps people get the most out of life, by making healthcare affordable and accessible and by promoting financial inclusion. Prudential protects people’s wealth, helps them grow their assets, and empowers them to save for their goals. The business has dual primary listings on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (2378) and the London Stock Exchange (PRU). It also has a secondary listing on the Singapore Stock Exchange (K6S) and a listing on the New York Stock Exchange (PUK) in the form of American Depositary Receipts. It is a constituent of the Hang Seng Composite Index and is also included for trading in the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect programme and Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect programme.

Prudential is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial, Inc. a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America, nor with The Prudential Assurance Company Limited, a subsidiary of M&G plc, a company incorporated in the United Kingdom.

About Economist Impact

Economist Impact combines the rigour of a think-tank with the creativity of a media brand to engage a globally influential audience. It believes that evidence-based insights can open debate, broaden perspectives and catalyse progress. The services offered by Economist Impact previously existed within The Economist Group as separate entities, including EIU Thought Leadership, EIU Public Policy, EIU Health Policy, Economist Events, EBrandConnect and SignalNoise.

They are building on a 75-year track record of analysis across 205 countries. Along with framework design, benchmarking, economic and social impact analysis, forecasting and scenario modelling, we provide creative storytelling, events expertise, design-thinking solutions and market-leading media products, making Economist Impact uniquely positioned to deliver measurable outcomes to their clients.

New Frontiers in Medical Diagnostics and Treatments with Nuclear Medicine

Nuclear medicine has come a long way since its potential as a medical speciality was identified over half-a-century ago.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach – 17 May 2023 – Nuclear medicine, a specialised area of radiology, involves the application of radioactive substances in the body and subsequent imaging capabilities to examine the internal workings of our body. The latest advances in nuclear medicine are geared towards enhancing the experience and safety of patients undergoing such treatments, as well as reducing potential side effects.

Picture1.jpg

In 2022, the first fully fledged private nuclear medicine centre in Northern Malaysia was launched in Penang Adventist Hospital[1]. “There is a frequent misassociation of nuclear medicine with nuclear bombs and power plants. In actual fact, nuclear medicine makes use of trace amounts of radioactive energy emitted from the nucleus of the atom for diagnostics and therapeutic purposes,” explained Dr. Alex Khoo, a Consultant Nuclear Medicine Physician at the hospital.

It is important to note that the radioactive dose used in nuclear medicine scans are very low and harmless to the body. Radiation is typically found everywhere, including in our own bodies and the food we eat.

Nuclear medicine opens doors to diagnostics and treatment procedures for illnesses such as hyperthyroidism, thyroid cancer, lymphomas, bone pain and numerous other types of cancers. In nuclear medicine therapy, the radioactive material is combined with a carrier molecule. This is called a radiopharmaceutical. These are administered to the body where they attach to specific cells, destroying them with a high dose of radiation.

Radiopharmaceuticals are highly regulated, and only minimal doses of radiation are typically absorbed by the body, making it safe even for children. “”As the tracers used in nuclear medicine are targeted to a specific organ of interest, treatment is also rather safe. Only the diseased organ is targeted with minimal effect to other parts of the body. For theranostics, patients are only required to ingest minute amounts of radioactive substances in order for imaging equipment to capture changes in organs or tissue structure,” continued Dr. Khoo.

From treating thyroid disease using iodine isotopes to more targeted cancer screening, nuclear technology in medicine has come a long way. Today, high contrast imaging of specific cells and tissues allow earlier detection of conditions, from blood clots to abnormal thyroid tissue, while reducing radiation exposure to permissible limits for both medical professionals and patients.

“New radiopharmaceuticals are being developed, expanding nuclear medicine to fields like cardiology, endocrinology and gastroenterology. For example, the myocardial perfusion scan, allows us to determine the blood flow to the heart muscle and detect obstructions or reduced blood flow in blood vessels, while a radioactive iodine scan can evaluate abnormal thyroid tissue,” said Dr. Aqilah Othman, a Consultant Clinical Oncologist at Sunway Medical Centre.

Besides that, in the field of gastroenterology, nuclear medicine is used for liver-spleen scans to evaluate liver function. In nephrology, it is used for renal scans to detect the location, size, shape, blood supply and function of the kidneys, diagnose urinary tract obstruction and any decreased function. Other nuclear medicine imaging capabilities include scans of other organs like the brain, salivary glands and lungs.

The hospitals in Malaysia adhere to global safety precautions to protect workers, patients and their caregivers from the harmful effects of radiation. These include having dose limits and applying the ‘As Low As Reasonably Achievable’ (ALARA) principle to ensure that doses administered are well below the dose limits.

Nuclear medicine in Malaysia has been growing by leaps and bounds in recent times, and continues to transform the medical landscape to date. With an expanding availability of nuclear medicine technologies and expertise in the country, healthcare travellers who choose to go to Malaysia will be able to experience true care in a safe and trusted destination.

For more information on Malaysia Healthcare and its services, please visit https://malaysiahealthcare.org.my or visit our social feeds at: www.facebook.com/MHTCMalaysia or at LinkedIn (Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council).

Hashtag: #MalaysiaHealthcare

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council

The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) is a government agency under the Ministry of Health Malaysia that has been entrusted with the responsibility of curating the country’s healthcare travel scene. Founded in 2009, MHTC works to streamline industry players and service providers in facilitating and growing Malaysia’s healthcare travel industry under the brand “Malaysia Healthcare” with the intended goal of making Malaysia the leading global healthcare destination. MHTC works closely with over 80 private healthcare facilities in Malaysia, who are registered members of MHTC.

New Frontiers in Medical Diagnostics and Treatments with Nuclear Medicine

Nuclear medicine has come a long way since its potential as a medical speciality was identified over half-a-century ago.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach – 17 May 2023 – Nuclear medicine, a specialised area of radiology, involves the application of radioactive substances in the body and subsequent imaging capabilities to examine the internal workings of our body. The latest advances in nuclear medicine are geared towards enhancing the experience and safety of patients undergoing such treatments, as well as reducing potential side effects.

Picture1.jpg

In 2022, the first fully fledged private nuclear medicine centre in Northern Malaysia was launched in Penang Adventist Hospital[1]. “There is a frequent misassociation of nuclear medicine with nuclear bombs and power plants. In actual fact, nuclear medicine makes use of trace amounts of radioactive energy emitted from the nucleus of the atom for diagnostics and therapeutic purposes,” explained Dr. Alex Khoo, a Consultant Nuclear Medicine Physician at the hospital.

It is important to note that the radioactive dose used in nuclear medicine scans are very low and harmless to the body. Radiation is typically found everywhere, including in our own bodies and the food we eat.

Nuclear medicine opens doors to diagnostics and treatment procedures for illnesses such as hyperthyroidism, thyroid cancer, lymphomas, bone pain and numerous other types of cancers. In nuclear medicine therapy, the radioactive material is combined with a carrier molecule. This is called a radiopharmaceutical. These are administered to the body where they attach to specific cells, destroying them with a high dose of radiation.

Radiopharmaceuticals are highly regulated, and only minimal doses of radiation are typically absorbed by the body, making it safe even for children. “”As the tracers used in nuclear medicine are targeted to a specific organ of interest, treatment is also rather safe. Only the diseased organ is targeted with minimal effect to other parts of the body. For theranostics, patients are only required to ingest minute amounts of radioactive substances in order for imaging equipment to capture changes in organs or tissue structure,” continued Dr. Khoo.

From treating thyroid disease using iodine isotopes to more targeted cancer screening, nuclear technology in medicine has come a long way. Today, high contrast imaging of specific cells and tissues allow earlier detection of conditions, from blood clots to abnormal thyroid tissue, while reducing radiation exposure to permissible limits for both medical professionals and patients.

“New radiopharmaceuticals are being developed, expanding nuclear medicine to fields like cardiology, endocrinology and gastroenterology. For example, the myocardial perfusion scan, allows us to determine the blood flow to the heart muscle and detect obstructions or reduced blood flow in blood vessels, while a radioactive iodine scan can evaluate abnormal thyroid tissue,” said Dr. Aqilah Othman, a Consultant Clinical Oncologist at Sunway Medical Centre.

Besides that, in the field of gastroenterology, nuclear medicine is used for liver-spleen scans to evaluate liver function. In nephrology, it is used for renal scans to detect the location, size, shape, blood supply and function of the kidneys, diagnose urinary tract obstruction and any decreased function. Other nuclear medicine imaging capabilities include scans of other organs like the brain, salivary glands and lungs.

The hospitals in Malaysia adhere to global safety precautions to protect workers, patients and their caregivers from the harmful effects of radiation. These include having dose limits and applying the ‘As Low As Reasonably Achievable’ (ALARA) principle to ensure that doses administered are well below the dose limits.

Nuclear medicine in Malaysia has been growing by leaps and bounds in recent times, and continues to transform the medical landscape to date. With an expanding availability of nuclear medicine technologies and expertise in the country, healthcare travellers who choose to go to Malaysia will be able to experience true care in a safe and trusted destination.

For more information on Malaysia Healthcare and its services, please visit https://malaysiahealthcare.org.my or visit our social feeds at: www.facebook.com/MHTCMalaysia or at LinkedIn (Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council).

Hashtag: #MalaysiaHealthcare

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council

The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) is a government agency under the Ministry of Health Malaysia that has been entrusted with the responsibility of curating the country’s healthcare travel scene. Founded in 2009, MHTC works to streamline industry players and service providers in facilitating and growing Malaysia’s healthcare travel industry under the brand “Malaysia Healthcare” with the intended goal of making Malaysia the leading global healthcare destination. MHTC works closely with over 80 private healthcare facilities in Malaysia, who are registered members of MHTC.

Bucking the trend, Haier leverages innovation based on customer needs to catalyze brand growth

QINGDAO, CHINA – Media OutReach – 17 May 2023 – Initiating a comprehensive global expansion, Haier has implemented the “localization strategy,” achieving genuine localization from research and development, manufacturing, to marketing. Focusing on the needs of Thai users, Haier has innovatively launched differentiated home appliances that align with local customs and preferences, garnering high praise from its users.

Video Link: https://youtu.be/1zwyM5wIt20

Taking air conditioning as an example, Thailand, located in the sweltering tropical region of Southeast Asia, experiences intense heat making air conditioning a frequently used appliance in every household. With the arrival of the rainy season, air conditioners are prone to mold formation, necessitating repeated cleaning by users, a process that is both time-consuming and laborious.

Addressing this particular consumer pain point, Haier has harnessed its unique “10+N” open innovation system, underpinned by ten major global research and development centers, connecting over a million global resources for joint innovation and efficient collaboration. Within a mere six months, a new self-cleaning air conditioner was launched and successfully introduced into the market. In less than three years, this self-cleaning air conditioner ascended to the top spot in the Thai domestic air conditioning industry.

Furthermore, having analyzed the volume and functionality of existing refrigerator products on the market, and conducting in-depth research into Thai consumer eating habits, Haier launched the high-end T-door series. This refrigerator line not only boasts a large capacity to meet the needs of categorized food storage, but also features a variable temperature zone capable of making icy beverages. Additionally, the refrigerator’s embedded ABT antimicrobial technology provides a safeguard for users’ health-conscious fresh food storage needs.

While staying rooted in user needs, Haier has also successively established brands such as Candy and Casarte in Thailand, fully covering the requirements of diverse user segments. In August last year, Haier inaugurated its first Casarte Smart Home Scenario Experience Center at Central World in Bangkok, offering a one-stop solution for smart homes and bringing users a tailored, scenario-based new experience throughout their homes.

Since entering Thailand in 2002, Haier has spent over 20 years cultivating its presence there, winning over an increasing number of users with quality, innovation, and sincerity. Looking forward, Haier Thailand will continue to prioritize maximizing user value, persist in taking user needs as the starting point for innovation, and tirelessly create delightful living experiences for global users.

Hashtag: #Haier

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.