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HKBU studies show over half of COVID-19 patients have post-disease syndrome

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 1 November 2023 – The School of Chinese Medicine at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) found that 55% of the patients who sought medical treatment from the “HKBU Chinese Medicine Telemedicine Centre Against COVID-19” during the fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic continued to experience at least one long COVID symptom for six months to a year after diagnosed with an infection. The most common symptoms are fatigue, brain fog and cough.

Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, Director of the Clinical Division at HKBU’s School of Chinese Medicine (middle), together with his research team members Mr Cheung Chun-hoi, Associate Director of the Clinical Division (2nd left); Dr Zhang Jialing, Postdoctoral Fellow of the Centre for Chinese Herbal Medicine Drug Development (1st left); Mr Luo Jingyuan and Wong Hoi-ki, PhD students (2nd and 1st right) of SCM at HKBU, analyse patient statistics to deepen the medical community’s understanding of the symptoms during the early and middle stages of COVID-19 infection as well as the post-COVID syndrome.
Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, Director of the Clinical Division at HKBU’s School of Chinese Medicine (middle), together with his research team members Mr Cheung Chun-hoi, Associate Director of the Clinical Division (2nd left); Dr Zhang Jialing, Postdoctoral Fellow of the Centre for Chinese Herbal Medicine Drug Development (1st left); Mr Luo Jingyuan and Wong Hoi-ki, PhD students (2nd and 1st right) of SCM at HKBU, analyse patient statistics to deepen the medical community’s understanding of the symptoms during the early and middle stages of COVID-19 infection as well as the post-COVID syndrome.

The study also revealed that patients who took Chinese medicine after COVID-19 infection took a shorter time to test negative in rapid tests, and experienced significant symptom relief compared to patients who did not take Chinese medicine.

The research findings have been published in a number of papers in international academic journals including the Journal of Medical Virology and The American Journal of Chinese Medicine.

HKBU established the “HKBU Chinese Medicine Telemedicine Centre Against COVID-19” in 2021 during the fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong to provide free telemedical services for COVID-19 patients. Making reference to the treatment protocols and clinical experiences in Mainland China, the expert team of HKBU’s School of Chinese Medicine formulated the “Chinese Medicine Clinical Guidelines for COVID-19 in Hong Kong” as the University’s clinical diagnosis and treatment standards for COVID-19. The Telemedicine Centre follows the guidelines to provide diagnosis, treatment, and prevention services to COVID-19 patients, close contacts, and caregivers.

Coughing is the most common early symptom of infection

The HKBU research team led by Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, Director of the Clinical Division at the School of Chinese Medicine, conducted a retrospective study using patient statistics collected by the Telemedicine Centre during the fifth wave of the pandemic. The team analysed the symptoms in the first four weeks of about 13,000 patients who were infected with COVID-19 from mid-March to early May in 2022 and underwent home isolation.

The results showed that 93% of patients experienced at least one symptom. The most common symptoms during the first week of infection were cough (91%), sputum (75%), dry throat (50%) and sore throat (44%). 17% of patients still had these symptoms four weeks after infection. Although the symptoms gradually subsided over time, the prevalence of fatigue increased.

Chinese medicine accelerates viral clearance

Among this batch of patients, the research team selected 311 patients who had taken Chinese medicine for five days within 10 days after diagnosis, and another 311 patients who had not taken any Chine medicine during the same period to evaluate the efficacy of Chinese medicine.

The results showed that patients who took Chinese medicine within 10 days after COVID-19 infection needed an average of seven days to test negative in rapid tests, and experienced an average of four symptoms, which were significantly milder compared to patients who didn’t take Chinese medicine. The average time to test negative for patients who did not take Chinese medicine was eight days, and they experienced an average of 11 symptoms. The results show that Chinese medicine is an effective treatment for COVID-19 infection.

Over half of the patients experience long COVID after six months

The research team conducted a follow-up telephone survey from November 2022 to January 2023 with 6,242 COVID-19 patients who sought medical consultation at the Telemedicine Centre between December 2021 and May 2022 to understand their symptoms and risk factors after six months to a year of infection.

The study found that 55% of patients still experienced at least one long-term symptom, i.e. “long COVID” or “post-COVID syndrome”. The most common symptoms were fatigue (36%), brain fog (34%) and cough (31%). Furthermore, females, middle-aged persons, obese people, those with comorbidities such as ophthalmology or otorhinolaryngology diseases, digestive system diseases, respiratory diseases, hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular diseases, and patients with more initial symptoms were more likely to develop long COVID. However, there was no significant correlation between taking three or more doses of vaccine and the occurrence of long COVID.

Professor Bian said: “HKBU established the Telemedicine Centre during the COVID-19 outbreak to provide free treatments for COVID-19 patients. We analysed the Centre’s data to deepen the medical community’s understanding of the symptoms during the early and middle stages of COVID-19 infection as well as the post-COVID syndrome. It allows the public to understand the effectiveness of Chinese medicine in treating COVID-19. The study also shows that the tele-services of Chinese medicine can be an important component of Hong Kong’s healthcare and disease prevention system.”

To address the issues of long COVID, Professor Bian’s team has initiated a series of clinical and basic research, including a survey of COVID-19 patients with diabetes and a clinical trial conducted in collaboration with other partners to investigate the efficacy, safety and action mechanism of senlingcao oral liquid in treating long COVID fatigue. These projects aim to further explore the impact of COVID-19 and its treatment options.

Hashtag: #COVID #LongCOVID #postCOVIDsyndrome

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Thai Government Offers Monetary Incentive for Workers to Return from Israel, Citing Safety Concerns

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin (Photo: Khaosod)

The bodies of 11 Thai citizens landed in Thailand on 1 November, shortly after midnight. They were killed in the Hamas-Israel conflict. 

Greater Bay Airlines launches Manila – Hong Kong scheduled service in November 2023

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 1 November 2023 – Greater Bay Airlines (GBA) will be launching the Manila – Hong Kong scheduled service starting 8 November 2023. This new service will operate five times a week between Manila (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) and Hong Kong. The early morning schedule would be much preferred by travellers who have an aggressive itinerary upon arrival in Hong Kong.

Greater Bay Airlines launches Manila - Hong Kong scheduled service in November 2023

A major commercial and business centre in the Asia Pacific region, Hong Kong is a vibrant city for travellers from all over the world. Hong Kong is a very popular destination for shopping and dining, attending large-scale events ranging from arts and culture to sports and entertainment, as well as visiting various fascinating tourist attractions. Many people will travel to other Mainland China cities via Hong Kong for business and leisure purposes. Hong Kong is also one of the busiest destinations for the people of the Philippines as many of them are working and living in the city.

To mark the launch of the Manila – Hong Kong service, a number of promotion offers will be rolled out to different customer groups such as staff of trade organisations, group travellers and Filipinos working in Hong Kong. Prices of roundtrip tickets for flights departing Manila start from USD50 (applicable taxes and fuel surcharges are not inclusive). For booking and enquiries, please contact GBA Manila Office (email: mnlservice@greaterbay-airlines.com; tel: +632 7753 5823).

The flight schedule of GBA’s Manila – Hong Kong service is as follows:

Flight No. From To Departure/
Arrival
Days of Week
HB232 Manila Hong Kong 0300/0510 Tuesday, Thursday, Friday,
Saturday, Sunday
HB231 Hong Kong Manila 2350/0200+1 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday

The new route is operated by Boeing 737-800 aircraft with an all-economy configuration.

To book a trip, customers may visit the GBA website (www.greaterbay-airlines.com), GBA mobile app or contact GBA Manila Office.

Based in Hong Kong, GBA commenced scheduled service in July 2022 and is currently operating flights to Bangkok, Taipei, Seoul, Tokyo, Osaka and Ho Chi Minh City. For more information, please visit www.greaterbay-airlines.com.

Hashtag: #GreaterBayAirlines


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Tanoto Foundation Collaborates with INSEAD to Support Renovation of Learning Facilities at Asia and Europe Campuses

  • Foundation supports redevelopment of Tanoto Research and Learning Hub at INSEAD Asia Campus in Singapore and Euro-Asia Centre at INSEAD Europe Campus with donation of €3.5 million (S$5.1 million)
  • Gift underscores Tanoto Foundation’s support to develop next generation of leaders in Asia

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 1 November 2023 – Tanoto Foundation today announced the inauguration of the Tanoto Research and Learning Hub (TLRH) at the Asia Campus of leading global business school INSEAD. The Foundation’s support for the new state of the art learning facility in Singapore is part of its efforts to help develop the next generation of leaders working across both East and West.

(From left to right) Ms Inge Sanitasia Kusuma, Country Head of Tanoto Foundation Indonesia, Mr Anderson Tanoto, Member of the Board of Trustees, Tanoto Foundation, Professor Francisco Veloso, Dean of INSEAD, and Ms Yuhanis Yusoff, Head of Tanoto Research and Learning Hub, at the inauguration of the Tanoto Research and Learning Hub, INSEAD Asia Campus
(From left to right) Ms Inge Sanitasia Kusuma, Country Head of Tanoto Foundation Indonesia, Mr Anderson Tanoto, Member of the Board of Trustees, Tanoto Foundation, Professor Francisco Veloso, Dean of INSEAD, and Ms Yuhanis Yusoff, Head of Tanoto Research and Learning Hub, at the inauguration of the Tanoto Research and Learning Hub, INSEAD Asia Campus

This follows the recent opening last month of the newly renovated Euro-Asia Centre (EAC) at the INSEAD Europe Campus in Fontainebleau, France. The redevelopment of the learning facilities at the two campuses was supported by a donation of €3.5 million (S$5.1 million) from Tanoto Foundation to INSEAD.

INSEAD is one of the world’s leading business schools with campuses in France, Singapore, the Middle East and the U.S. The school offers Master in Management (MIM), MBA, Global Executive MBA, Executive Master of Finance, Executive Master in Change, as well as executive education programmes, which are consistently ranked among the best in the world. INSEAD has 66,641 alumni, of whom about 20% are from countries in Asia, including Singapore.

The redevelopment of the Tanoto Research and Learning Hub in Singapore and the Euro-Asia Centre in Fontainebleau is designed to provide students with effective platforms and the resources to spur further innovation and research. The donation is the latest milestone in a partnership between INSEAD and Tanoto Foundation that goes back more than 40 years.

Mr Anderson Tanoto, Member of the Board of Trustees, Tanoto Foundation, speaks at the inauguration of the Tanoto Research and Learning Hub, INSEAD Asia Campus
Mr Anderson Tanoto, Member of the Board of Trustees, Tanoto Foundation, speaks at the inauguration of the Tanoto Research and Learning Hub, INSEAD Asia Campus

Anderson Tanoto, Member of the Board of Trustees, Tanoto Foundation, said: “We have chosen to support these initiatives because of our belief and confidence in INSEAD and its leadership, and because of the alignment in values between our two institutions, particularly our belief in the importance of lifelong learning. Both INSEAD and Tanoto Foundation strongly believe in the transformative power of education and in the importance of building closer ties between Asia and Europe”.

Professor Francisco Veloso, Dean of INSEAD, said: “On behalf of the INSEAD community, I would like to express my thanks to the Tanoto Foundation for their unwavering support and trust in INSEAD. This generous contribution will transform the learning ecosystems at our campuses into models of innovation and learning, fostering the growth of future business leaders and inspiring our dedicated faculty and staff.”

The Tanoto Research and Learning Hub (TRLH) has been revamped to provide a flexible design, using sustainable resources, to enable students to focus on shared learning and access to data. Specific improvements include integrated smart library technology, access to powerful financial databases and a new staircase inspired by the Centre Pompidou in Paris.

The Euro-Asia Centre (EAC) was established by INSEAD as a teaching facility in 1982, with the support of industrial partners including Tanoto Foundation, to strengthen ties between the school and Asia. The EAC has been renovated with enhanced sustainability and future-readiness. The renovation is in line with the wider renewal of INSEAD’s Europe Campus and will adhere to strict French sustainability standards.

The main hall at the new EAC – the biggest and most frequented space in the Centre at close to 500m in size – has been named ‘The Tanoto Foyer’. Also, in recognition of Tanoto Foundation’s commitment to INSEAD, the Amphi 1 lecture hall in the Plessis Mornay Building, another major learning centre on campus, has been renamed the ‘Tanoto Foundation Amphitheatre’.

For over 40 years, the Tanoto family has been a patron and partner of INSEAD. The family’s support for the EAC was among the first joint initiatives between the family and INSEAD, when the school was just beginning its expansion to Asia. The Tanoto family continued to play a significant role in INSEAD’s growth in Asia, providing generous funding for the school’s Asia campus from 2003.

Hashtag: #TanotoFoundation

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About Tanoto Foundation:

Tanoto Foundation is an independent philanthropic organisation founded in 1981 by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto based on the belief that every person should have the opportunity to realise his or her full potential. Tanoto Foundation programmes stem from the belief that quality education accelerates equal opportunity. We harness the transformative strength of education to realise people’s full potential and improve lives. Tanoto Foundation focuses on making an impact in three main areas: improving learning environments, future leader’s development, as well as medical research and sciences.

More information is available at .

MDRT Global Services Rebrands as MDRT Center for Field Leadership

The association unveils a new name and branding to advance its mission of propelling field and home office leaders into greater excellence.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 1 November 2023 – MDRT Global Services announced that, as of November 1, the association will officially be known as the MDRT Center for Field Leadership (MDRT Center). The new name, along with updated branding, more closely reflects the association’s mission: helping field and home office leaders across the globe grow as leaders of financial services organizations and propelling their teams to success.

MDRT Center members are field and home office leaders who continually work to broaden their leadership skills, establish an MDRT culture of excellence within their agencies and advance themselves professionally and personally.

MDRT Center members will have access to all the benefits that were available prior to the rebranding, including key leadership content on the Center’s website like toolkits, videos and articles, and access to Harvard ManageMentor® learning application. Members can also partake in regular webcasts, attend study groups with fellow members and one global MDRT event per year, and apply for an MDRT Culture of Excellence Award.

“The MDRT Center for Field Leadership reaffirms the association’s dedication to amplifying members’ ability to incite growth and empower teams to become the best,” said Gregory Gagne, ChFC, 2024 MDRT President. “We trust that our members in Singapore will better relate and reap the benefits of the association with our new brand as they continuously pursue excellence in the field.”

MDRT Center membership is granted for one year and must be renewed annually. The open enrollment period for membership is November 1 – April 1. Annual membership dues are $600, but applicants may apply for membership after April 1 with a $200 late fee.

Hashtag: #MDRT

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About MDRT Center for Field Leadership

As the newest association under the global MDRT Family of Brands, MDRT Center for Field Leadership (MDRT Center) was created exclusively for financial services field and home office leaders. As a separate, individual membership association, MDRT Center provides its members with exceptional value and leadership growth opportunities. MDRT Center membership allows increased engagement within the MDRT community while providing leaders with strategies to develop a culture of excellence within their respective organizations. To learn more visit mdrtcenter.org.

Indonesian Police Arrest Suspected Militants over Alleged Plot to Disrupt 2024 Elections

(Reuters: Antara Foto/Didik Suhartono)

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia’s elite counterterrorism police squad arrested at least 59 suspected militants in recent weeks in a nationwide crackdown as the country gears up for elections in 2024, police said Tuesday.

The arrests were made in eight provinces since 2 October, including 27 suspects who were arrested Friday, said Aswin Siregar, the spokesperson of the squad known as Densus 88. Those arrested believed to have links to banned extremist groups who were allegedly plotting to disrupt next year’s election, he said.

Indonesia is the world’s third-largest democracy and the most populous Muslim-majority country. It’s set to vote in simultaneous legislative and presidential elections on 14 February. The country has had free and largely peaceful elections since the fall of dictator Suharto in 1998.

Siregar said the arrested suspects told investigators during interrogation that “they have planned action to attack security forces to thwart or disrupt next year’s election.”

“They want to establish a caliphate under Sharia in a secular country,” Siregar said. “Elections are a part of democracy, which is contrary to their beliefs. Therefore, they planned to thwart it.”

Police seized an assault rifle and magazine, dozens of rounds of ammunition and a pistol, as well as airsoft guns and blades that they used in the group’s military-style trainings, Siregar said.

He said 19 of the arrested are suspected of being members of Jemaah Islamiyah, an al-Qaida-linked group responsible for attacks including the 2002 bombings in Bali that killed 202 people, mostly foreign tourists.

About 40 others are believed to have links to a homegrown militant outfit affiliated with the Islamic State group known as Jemaah Anshorut Daulah, while some of them admitted they are part of an unstructured extremist cell.

JI was banned by a court in 2008 and has been weakened by a sustained crackdown on militants by counterterrorism police, with support from the United States and Australia.

An Indonesian court banned JAD in 2018, and the United States listed it as a terrorist group in 2017.

JAD was responsible for several deadly suicide bombings in Indonesia, including a wave of suicide bombings in 2018 in Indonesia’s second-largest city of Surabaya, where two families, including girls who were 9 and 12, blew themselves up at churches and a police station, killing 13 people.

Indonesia has been battling militancy since JI carried out bombings on the resort island of Bali in 2002.

Recently, militant attacks on foreigners have been largely replaced by smaller, less deadly strikes targeting the government — mainly police, anti-terrorism forces and locals deemed to be infidels, inspired by Islamic State group attacks abroad.

By Niniek Karmini ASSOCIATED PRESS

Swiss Fintechs to Showcase Transformative Knowhow at Singapore Fintech Festival 2023

Swiss Pavilion committed to growing its presence in Southeast Asia

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 1 November 2023 – A Swiss delegation representing the best of its financial technologies in the areas of AI, big data & analytics, and cybersecurity will be present at the Singapore Fintech Festival 2023 from 15 to 17 November 2023.

At the Swiss Pavilion, hosted by Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE) and the Swiss Business Hub ASEAN, the Switzerland participants will showcase proven fintech expertise and cutting-edge solutions. This year’s festival theme is “Applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Financial Services“.

Renee Koh, Head of Swiss Business Hub ASEAN, said: “Swiss fintechs have grown more mature as they have emerged from an environment with strong regulatory frameworks that enable a lot of experimentation and testing. In doing so, they have developed a global competitive advantage and participants will bring this to bear at the Swiss Pavilion in Singapore.”

According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Global Innovation Index 2023 report, Switzerland is a leader in technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain.

Switzerland is one of the most advanced financial centres in the fintech and blockchain sector with over 1,000 companies operating in innovation-friendly framework conditions. It also became one of the first countries in the world to enact legal regulations for blockchain technology. This creates legal certainty and enables innovation and growth.

Around 50% of financial institutions supervised by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) currently use AI or have detailed plans to do so, according to its survey conducted in 2022. AI-based applications are essentially deployed in their front offices and for process optimisation purposes. Other areas of application include for example compliance and conduct, financial risk management, system monitoring and language translation.

One of the advocates for greater integration of AI in fintech, Modulos AG, aims to showcase its ‘Responsible AI Platform,’ which operationalises AI governance and ensures seamless alignment with international AI regulations.

“At the Singapore Fintech Festival 2023, we’re eager to demonstrate to financial sector leaders — from banks to insurers and fintech firms — the capabilities of our platform in developing and implementing trustworthy AI applications that prioritize safety, transparency, fairness, and inclusivity,” said CEO Kevin Schawinski.

Hashtag: #FintechFestival2023

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Global partners with Switzerland Global Enterprise, Swiss Business Hub ASEAN

Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE) is the official Swiss organization for export and investment promotion with around 200 employees at offices throughout Switzerland and in 31 countries. S-GE supports Swiss SMEs in their international business and helps innovative foreign companies to settle in Switzerland. In doing so, S-GE relies on a unique network of national and global partners. This is how S-GE creates added value for its clients and prosperity for Switzerland.

As a non-profit organization, S-GE provides a public service for its clients on behalf of the Swiss Confederation (State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO) and the cantons. S-GE operates its 27 offices, known as Swiss Business Hubs and Trade Points, in 31 countries jointly with the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA. Thanks to its global network of partners, S-GE supports its clients in many other countries.

The Swiss Business Hub ASEAN champions the interests of Swiss and Lichtenstein Businesses and is responsible for formulating and overseeing the engagements for the promotion and development of trade and investments in ASEAN.

Agilis Robotics Unveils Groundbreaking Advancements in Endoluminal Surgery

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 1 November 2023 – Agilis Robotics, a leading innovator in surgical robotics, is spearheading a paradigm shift in the field of “incisionless” endoluminal surgery. The company has made remarkable technological breakthroughs in developing highly miniaturized and flexible robotic instruments that offer exceptional dexterity even in the most challenging anatomies. This achievement empowers surgeons to perform intricate tissue resection procedures with precision and ease, directly within natural orifices. Uniquely, the system integrates seamlessly with standard endoscopes used by hospitals and clinics, including colonoscopes and cystoscopes, leveraging existing endoscopic expertise, flattening the learning curve, and improving cost-effectiveness. The robotic instruments offer unprecedented possibilities across endoluminal surgery, spanning the upper and lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract, urinary tract, throat, and gynaecology.

Photo (3).jpg

The system consists of a primary cart, a compact control console, and disposable robotic arms which ensure performance and sterility. The cost of the system will be less than 20% of conventional robotic systems on the market, resulting in lower upfront investment and higher gross profits for medical institutions. The demand for endoluminal surgeries is surging worldwide, driven by increasing cancer screening and detection of early-stage tumours. With more than 3.5 million new GI cancer cases and 690k bladder cancer cases per year globally, Agilis Robotics is strategically positioned to capture the underserved endoluminal surgery market, allowing patients to receive effective early-stage treatment with reduced procedure time and recurrence rates.

Agilis Robotics is a spin-off from The University of Hong Kong and has secured more than HKD 90 million in funding from private investors. The funds are being utilized for further development and preparation for clinical trials. The company has completed six live animal studies with their clinical partners in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, demonstrating promising results for the system’s accuracy, safety, and efficacy. First-in-human trials are targeted for the first half of 2024. The company is actively preparing for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) regulatory submissions, which mark a significant milestone towards commercialization.

The company’s CFO, Hui Ka-Ming, with extensive experience in investing and pre-profit biotech companies, highlights the success of “Chapter 18A” listed companies in the HKEX, despite their relative immaturity compared to Agilis Robotics. Furthermore, Agilis Robotics understands the importance of cost-effectiveness, marketability, and market potential, ensuring a successful venture for investors and hospitals.
Hashtag: #AgilisRobotics

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