26 C
Vientiane
Friday, June 6, 2025
spot_img
Home Blog Page 2423

Myanmar Central Bank Bans Payments in Foreign Currency

Myanmar kyat and US dollar
The Myanmar central bank has banned payments in foreign currencies.

The Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) on Wednesday banned foreign currency for local payments to stabilize the foreign exchange rate in the country.

Vietnam Calls for Asia to Create Peaceful, Sustainable Environment for World Prosperity

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Phạm Bình Minh delivering his speech at the 27th International Conference on the Future of Asia in Tokyo on 26 May
Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Phạm Bình Minh delivering his speech at the 27th International Conference on the Future of Asia in Tokyo on 26 May (VNA).

Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Phạm Bình Minh proposed that Asia strengthen its responsibility in keeping and creating a peaceful and sustainable environment for development and prosperity in the region and the world.

Bybit’s World Series of Trading 2022 Entices Top Traders With a Record-Breaking $8M Prize Pool

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – Media OutReach – 26 May 2022 – Bybit’s World Series of Trading (WSOT) has been blazing a trail in competitive digital assets trading, and this year is no exception with registrations set to open on May 26, 2022. Players will compete in the world’s largest crypto trading tournament for a share of the record-breaking prize pool consisting of up to 8 million USDT, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and other perks and giveaways. To champion crypto as a force for empowerment for girls’ education, through the flagship event, Bybit will be donating $400,000 in Bitcoin to UNICEF.

Breaking down the barrier between virtual and physical sports this year, WSOT returns with an exciting arena to pitch participants in an adrenaline-filled race against gaming athletes from some of the world’s most formidable esports organizations. Competing on skills, speed and split-second judgment, the star guests will navigate the crypto sphere with traders from around the world, making WSOT 2022 the platform for crypto lovers to challenge world champions in esports.

“WSOT this year is all about racing to the next level,” said Ben Zhou, co-founder and CEO of Bybit. “We want to encourage gamers, traders, and teams to join us in a spirit of competition and distinguish themselves at the world’s greatest crypto trading tournament. We also want to use this opportunity to amplify the positive impact of crypto: improving financial literacy and financial inclusion, and putting wealth back in the hands of the common people.”

Bybit’s WSOT was pioneered by the cryptocurrency exchange to recognize traders who could achieve the best profit/loss ratio regardless of the investment amount. Last year, WSOT 2021 saw 35,000 participants who unlocked a record $4.09 million of the prize pool and 1,339 NFT awards. Team players from 136 eligible regions formed or joined 196 troops in the main event, with the top team making 20x in earnings. Nearly 20,000 solo players took part in the individual competition, where the winner delivered a profit and loss ratio of 7,265.94%.

Racing to the Next Level

Doubling the prize pool to up to 8 million USDT for three tracks — Solo Race, Squad Race and Speed Zone Loot, WSOT 2022 is set to captivate crypto lovers worldwide.

“The global WSOT community has unlocked a total of over $5 million in prizes in the past two years. And we are presenting an $8-million prize pool this year to share our passion for crypto with as many people as possible,” Zhou said. “WSOT embodies what Bybit is all about: providing an honest, fair, level playing field for traders to capitalize on their talent. We built this ultra-fast platform trusted by the world’s most competitive traders and loved by crypto beginners, because we believe that in the new world of the digital economy everyone should have equal opportunities and the ability to capture wealth with the power of technology.”

Public registration for WSOT 2022 is open globally where Bybit services are available on June 10. While the trading contest period is from June 27 to July 17, 2022, participants can expect a series of perks, task-based and bonus rewards, fee waivers and lucky draws throughout the summer.

With Bybit’s significant market depth and best-in-class liquidity, participants can look forward to going further in trades and enjoy maximum profitability to rank higher on the leaderboards. Additionally, Bybit’s 24/7 multilingual customer support is available to ensure participants get the support they need and have a timely solution to their trading challenges along the way.

Giving Back

Through participating in WSOT, participants will be supporting UNICEF’s work to ensure all children have access to quality digital education. Bybit is committed to furthering its partnership with UNICEF Aotearoa New Zealand to empower girls’ education in East Asia and the Pacific with another BTC donation equivalent to $400,000 at WSOT 2022, or 5% of the prize pool plus contributions from Bybit.

The donation is dedicated to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal No. 4 towards “inclusive and equitable quality education” via UNICEF efforts. It helps fund, among other initiatives, digital education for girls in the region by making science and technology education within reach for marginalized groups with innovative education solutions.

“In order to overcome global challenges and ensure a level playing field for future generations, we must bridge the gender digital divide and support the further education of girls,” Zhou said. “We are grateful for the opportunity to use our platform and resources to support UNICEF’s efforts to ensure all children have access to quality education, especially the most vulnerable groups.”

Read more about WSOT and sign up here: https://go.bybit.com/e/g9Wrgxeajqb

About Bybit

Bybit is a cryptocurrency exchange established in March 2018 that offers a professional platform where crypto traders can find an ultra-fast matching engine, excellent customer service and multilingual community support. The company provides innovative online spot and derivatives trading services, mining and staking products, an NFT marketplace as well as API support, to retail and institutional clients around the world, and strives to be the most reliable exchange for the emerging digital asset class. Bybit is a proud partner of Formula One racing team, Oracle Red Bull Racing, esports teams NAVI, Astralis, Alliance, Virtus.pro and Oracle Red Bull Racing Esports, and association football (soccer) teams Borussia Dortmund and Avispa Fukuoka.

For more information please visit:

For updates, please follow Bybit’s social media platforms on









#Bybit

PolyU develops ultrasensitive and portable detection sensor for rapid, easy and low-cost COVID-19 antibody test

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach26 May 2022 – As the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has continued for over two years, a fast and accurate antibody detection method can help assess the antibody content of the human body, as well as provide reference data for healthcare departments to formulate appropriate vaccination measures. In the long run, the antibody content data can also contribute to epidemiological studies and vaccine development. In view of this, a research team from the Department of Applied Physics of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has successfully developed an ultrasensitive and portable COVID-19 antibody detection sensor based on organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) technology. Fast and easy-to-use, the sensor is designed for testing the antibody levels of people who have either received vaccination or have been infected with the virus.

1.jpg
A research team from the Department of Applied Physics of PolyU has successfully developed an ultrasensitive and portable COVID-19 antibody detection sensor. Present at the press conference were Professor Feng YAN (left), Professor of the Department of Applied Physics, PolyU; and Dr Helen LAW (right), Associate Professor of the Department of Health Technology and Informatics, PolyU.

Currently, the detection of SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) is based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) testing of serum samples. Such testing requires the use of bulky medical equipment and can only be performed in hospitals or specialised testing laboratories. It takes about two days to acquire the test results and the cost is high. There is an alternative rapid method based on lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) testing. However, the sensitivity of this method is lower and incapable of showing the actual level of antibody content.

2.jpg
The COVID-19 antibody detection sensor developed by the PolyU research team comes with an array of advantages – it is highly sensitive, portable, rapid, easy-to-use and low-cost.

The COVID-19 antibody detection sensor developed by the PolyU research team comes with an array of advantages – it is highly sensitive, portable, rapid, easy-to-use and low-cost. The testing procedure is very simple. First, turn on the sensor and connect it to the smartphone app via Bluetooth. Then, drop 10uL of a saliva (or serum) sample on the transistor test area to allow the antibody-antigen reaction. Wait for five minutes, then extract the saliva sample and add an electrolyte drop on the test area. Press the button on the smartphone app to start the test. After about 20 seconds, the app will display the antibody content level of the saliva sample.

The whole detection process takes less than six minutes and the cost per test is only about HK$10.

The antibody detection sensor can test the concentration of antibodies from lower than 10fM to higher than 100nM. The detection limit satisfies the needs of exquisite analytical sensitivity for saliva.

Principal Investigator of the study, Professor Feng YAN, Professor of the Department of Applied Physics at PolyU, said, “Our research team developed a novel technology by applying voltage pulses on the gate of the sliced transistor to accelerate the incubation process resulting in a significant decrease in the overall detection time. Since the detection process is non-invasive, using only saliva instead of blood, self-sampling is highly possible. Moreover, the operation and result reading are very simple with the use of a smartphone, and hence the sensor is suitable for instant detection and large-scale screening scenarios.”

The next plan of the research team is to apply for funding for clinical studies in collaboration with different medical and testing institutions. The research team expects that the novel device can be commercialised as soon as practicable and applied for antibody detection of other viruses, helping to fight diseases and making contributions to epidemiological studies and vaccine development.

#PolyU

Laos Monitors Monkeypox Among Tourists  

Monkeypox virus.

Following a report from the World Health Organization (WHO) that cases of monkeypox have emerged in several countries, health officials in Laos are on high alert.

Over 1 Million Meals Distributed by the Ministry of Health, WFP and World Vision in Savannakhet and Salavan Provinces

Officials provide meals for children and families.

After almost two years of restrictions, Lao PDR has fully reopened its borders on 9 May, recording a significant decrease of COVID-19 cases across the country in the past weeks. With this positive announcement, the Ministry of Health, WFP and World Vision have agreed to end the support provided to Quarantine Centres in Savannakhet and Saravane Provinces that was ongoing for 646 consecutive days.

Bonaqua® Officially Launches Its First Individual Sale Label-less Bottled Water Anywhere in the World

5-day “Bonaqua® Green Market Fair” Promotes Sustainability

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 26 May 2022 – Bonaqua®, the leading bottled water brand[1], is bringing its first individual sale label-less bottled water anywhere in the world to shelves across all channels in Hong Kong. The potentially game-changing design uses fewer packaging materials and improves bottle recyclability.

Officiating Guests (From Left to Right):Ms. Sally Cheng, Hydration & Sports Category Brand Director, GC&M (Greater China & Mongolia), The Coca-Cola CompanyMr. Tim Warwick, Vice President of Operations for Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau and Mongolia at The Coca-Cola CompanyMr. Hunter Jin, Executive Director of Swire Coca-Cola HK & TaiwanMs. Connie Yeung , Director and General Manager of Swire Coca-Cola Hong Kong

Officiating Guests (From Left to Right):
Ms. Sally Cheng, Hydration & Sports Category Brand Director, GC&M (Greater China & Mongolia), The Coca-Cola Company
Mr. Tim Warwick, Vice President of Operations for Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau and Mongolia at The Coca-Cola Company
Mr. Hunter Jin, Executive Director of Swire Coca-Cola HK & Taiwan
Ms. Connie Yeung , Director and General Manager of Swire Coca-Cola Hong Kong

Bonaqua® is celebrating the official launch of this innovative product at a five-day Bonaqua® Green Market Fair at Central Market. Featuring a series of exhibits and giant Bonaqua® bottled water photo spots, it will introduce the concept of Water For Tomorrow and encourage sustainable development in Hong Kong. The public can sign up for Eco workshops curated by local artists who use eco-friendly materials for sustainable lifestyles.

bon1.jpg

Mr. Tim Warwick

Bonaqua’s First Individual Sale Label-less Bottled Water Anywhere in the World

The locally produced Bonaqua® Mineralized Water uses 100% rPET for production, and makes its bottle 52.8%[2] lighter than the conventional PET bottle. Using laser incising technology to highlight product information on the bottle and having a bottle cap (also smaller than the conventional bottle cap) with a sales barcode enables individual sale of the products. The design and the products’ broader availability allows more Hong Kong consumers to participate in building a world without waste. The effort echoes Bonaqua®’s commitment to sustainable solutions and inspiring more consumers to adopt sustainable lifestyles.

New Green Community Program Is About to Start

Bonaqua® is committed to promoting sustainable development throughout the years, e.g. conducting community sustainability awareness campaigns, e.g., the ‘Power of Less’ campaign. This year, partnering with its bottling partner Swire Coca-Cola Hong Kong, Bonaqua® will contribute HK$ 2 million for piloting a community packaging waste recovery program aiming to collect and recycle used bottles or cans in a more efficient approach.

Green Market Fair Promotes Sustainable Lifestyles

Bonaqua® is delighted to present the inaugural Green Market Fair, to be held at the Steam Hub on the first floor of Central Market from 26 to 30 May 2022. It will feature a series of exhibits and various workshops, allowing visitors to practice recycling and sustainable living. Four Eco workshops, curated by local artists to highlight the potential use of sustainable materials in handicraft, art, and fashion.

“As Hong Kong’s most popular bottled water brand, it’s a bold move for Bonaqua® to pilot the launch of its individual sale label-less bottled water anywhere in the world. We are indeed championing a potentially game-changing form of future packaging. By making the Bonaqua label-less bottled water available to a broader range of customers, we would like to invite more consumers to take part in building a world without waste. By going label-less, Bonaqua is enhabling the ‘Power of Less’,” says Tim Warwick, Vice President of Operations for Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau and Mongolia at The Coca-Cola Company.

“As Coca-Cola’s bottling partner, we will continue to leverage our expertise and develop new manufacturing technologies so as to offer consumers even more eco-friendly beverage choices. We weave sustainability into the fabric of our endeavors, including design, sourcing, production and delivery. It is our mission to contribute to a more sustainable way of living,” says Connie Yeung, Director and General Manager of Swire Coca-Cola HK.

To learn more about the Bonaqua® label-less mineralized water, customers can contact the Swire Coca-Cola Hong Kong customer service hotline at +852 2210 3888. They can also purchase the products via the current distribution channels and Swire Coca-Cola HK eShop (www.swirecocacolahk.com) and enjoy complimentary local delivery service when they spend a specific amount.

Details of “Bonaqua® Green Market Fair”

Dates: 26 – 30 May 2022
Time: 10 am – 8 pm
Location : Steam Hub, 1/F of Central Market
Free workshops : “Art Print Drawstring Bags”

26 May, 4 to 5 pm

28 May, 12 to 1 pm

29 May, 12 to 1 pm

“Multi-Purpose Water Bottle Holders”

26 May, 6 to 7 pm

27 May, 12 to 1 pm

30 May, 12 to 1 pm

“Graffiti Art T-shirts”

27 May, 4 to 5 pm

30 May, 4 to 5 pm

“Eco-Friendly Double-Sided Shoulder Bags”

28 May, 4 to 6 pm

29 May, 4 to 6 pm

Registration :

Walk-in applications at the event venue are available on a first-come, first-served basis.


[1] 1 Nielsen MarketTrack Service data shows that Bonaqua® was ranked first in Sales Volume (Litre) in the Packaged Water category for the 15-year period ending November 2021 for Total Supermarkets, CVS, Drug Stores, Provision Stores and Soft Drink Outlets in Hong Kong.

[2] Bonaqua®’s 500 ml bottle weighs 11.8g, which is lighter than the typical PET bottle found in the market, which weighs 18 – 32g. (Source: New Life Plastics Ltd – https://www.nlplastics.com.hk/pet-hdpe/)

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company is a total beverage company, offering over 500 brands in more than 200 countries. In Hong Kong, the company has a portfolio covering sparkling, sweetened and unsweetened tea, juice, sports drink, water, enhanced hydration beverages, etc. We have 15 brands offering 70 different variants such as “Coca-Cola”, “Coca-Cola No Sugar”, “Coke Plus”, “Sprite”, “Fanta”, “Schweppes”, “OOHA”, “Bonaqua” Mineralized Water, “Authentic Tea House”, “Minute Maid”, “Minute Maid Qoo”, “Glaceau vitaminwater”, “Yeung Gwong”, “Aquarius”, “Healthworks”, and “Kochakaden” CRAFTEA”. We are constantly transforming our portfolio, from reducing sugar in our drinks to bringing innovative new products to market. Learn more at and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

#Bonaqua

One Injured Following Head-On Collision Near Vientiane Hospital 

Road accident near Mahosot hospital in Vientiane Capital.
Witnesses assist the driver in exiting the vehicle.

Two vehicles collided near Mahosot Hospital yesterday evening leaving one driver with minor injuries in Vientiane Capital.