Mar192017

Yunnan police seize 4 tonnes of drugs over past 5 years

HM Government
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Police in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China’s Yunnan Province have busted 39 major cross-border drug-trafficking cases and seized a total of four tonnes of drugs over the past five years.

Local police cracked 14 cross-border drug-trafficking rings and arrested 127 drug dealers, the public security bureau of the prefecture announced on Friday.

Xishuangbanna police have established good relationship with parties, governments and armed forces from neighboring countries, which contributed to the achievements.

Xishuangbanna, located in the south of Yunnan, is one of the Chinese border regions most affected by drug use, due to its proximity to the opium-growing Golden Triangle in Southeast Asia.

Mar192017

Diabetes drug may help treat breast cancer

East Asia
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Researchers in China have discovered that a drug used to treat diabetes could be effective against a form of deadly breast cancer.

More than 70,000 people die from breast cancer in China every year, according to the national cancer center.

Triple-negative breast cancer is particularly aggressive among the four clinical subtypes of breast cancer, said Dong Chenfang, a professor at Zhejiang University School of Medicine. It has a tendency to quickly spread or metastasize to the brain and lungs. There are currently no effective targeted therapies for this form of breast cancer, which is therefore often fatal, according to Dong.8 Dong and his colleagues found that the levels of a metabolic enzyme called AKR1B1 were significantly elevated in triple-negative breast cancer cells and that this was associated with increased rates of metastasis and shorter survival times.

The researchers also found epalrestat, a drug that inhibits AKR1B1 and is approved in Japan to treat diabetic complications, was able to block the growth and metastasis of the cancer cells.

Dong said the finding is still in the experimental stage. Whether epalrestat can be applied to the clinical treatment still needs further tests.

A detailed research article was published on March 7 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine.

Mar192017

Hong Kong’s pandas say goodbye to public in mating season

East Asia • HM Government
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In anticipation of the upcoming mating season of female giant panda Ying Ying and male giant panda Le Le, Giant Panda Adventure (GPA) of the Hong Kong Ocean Park is temporarily closed from Saturday until further notice, the park announced.

Suzanne Gendron, Executive Director of Zoological Operations and Education of the park, said both pandas have recently displayed oestrus behaviors such as water play and vocalizations by Ying Ying, whilst Le Le has shown increased sniffing of Ying Ying’s scent.

In terms of physical and hormonal changes, the park’s veterinary team and giant panda experts from the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Wolong confirmed that the two giant pandas are entering this year’s breeding season, which, Gendron said, is considered an appropriate timing for the experts to prepare for Ying Ying’s and Le Le’s breeding season this year and temporarily close GPA.

This year, the closure period of GPA where Ying Ying and Le Le reside will be longer than previous years so that expert teams from Ocean Park and Wolong will be able to closely manage and monitor the pair’s breeding behaviour from the moment they exhibit early signs of breeding to the time they hit the peak of their breeding cycle.

The gestation period for giant pandas can last from 72 to 324 days and pregnancy confirmation can only be detected by ultrasound scan earliest 14 days before birth.

Ying Ying and Le Le, who experienced their first mating season in 2011, are turning 12 years old this August.

GPA will be reopened to the public after Ying Ying successfully gives birth to a panda cub, or after she is confirmed non-pregnant, according to the park.

The Ocean Park, founded in 1977, is Hong Kong’s unique home grown theme park and has gained recognition for its animal husbandry, research and relationship with the community.

Mar192017

H7N9 fatalities hit 13 in E China’s Jiangxi

East Asia
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Thirteen of the 37 people infected with H7N9 avian flu have died since January in east China’s Jiangxi Province. [File photo]

Thirteen of the 37 people infected with H7N9 avian flu have died since January in east China’s Jiangxi Province, the provincial health and family planning commission announced Saturday.

The province has stepped up monitoring of the epidemic as well as efforts to halt the operation of live poultry markets and carry out disinfection and quarantine to prevent infection.

The public are advised to avoid contact with dead and live poultry and to seek medical treatment in the event of any suspicious symptoms.

According to the National Health and Family Planning Commission, 79 people died nationwide in January from the virus.

H7N9 is a bird flu strain first reported to have infected humans in China in March 2013. Infections usually occur in winter and spring.

Mar192017

Press release: One Year as Secretary of State for Wales

HM Government
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Exactly one year ago today (19 March), Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns took his seat at the Cabinet table and outlined his ambitions to create a nation which is more ambitious, confident and more outward looking than ever before.

Since then, the Welsh Secretary has overseen a number of key achievements, including:

Wales Act 2017

The Wales Bill received Royal Assent in January 2017, setting in stone a strong package of powers for Assembly members with stability and accountability at its heart.

Fiscal Framework

A new fiscal framework setting out how the Welsh Government will be funded following the devolution of some taxes represents a significant milestone for Wales. The deal provides secure long-term funding for the Welsh Government and gives Cardiff Bay greater visibility when looking at spending decisions.

Severn Tolls

We have announced proposals to see the prices paid at the Severn Tolls for all vehicles halved following the return to public ownership in 2018.

Mobile coverage

Tackling mobile not-spots was an issue highlighted as a priority when Mr Cairns took office with the message that Wales couldn’t be left behind the rest of the UK. In January the UK Government and Ofcom hosted a summit to find a solution and commitments were made to improve the situation.

Business support

Over 80 companies joined the Welsh Secretary in Cardiff at the inaugural Wales Business Export Summit in March this year. The event connected firms starting out on exporting journeys with the expertise and support of the UK Government.

Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns said:

Over the last 12 months I have had the privilege of experiencing the very best of this country – connecting with every corner of Wales, its culture, its history and its people.

The goals we have achieved take us one step closer to achieving this Government’s mission to build a country that works for everyone.

But there is still work to be done. As we prepare to live through one of the most important moments in our country’s history, I will not waste a second in getting on with the job. I will provide the leadership to make sure that Wales is in the strongest possible position to prosper when we leave the European Union, to support jobs and growth and to make sure that the UK Government continues to deliver for the people of Wales.