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PT Hutama Karya exceeds targets, reports 43% increase in profit

State-owned construction company PT Hutama Karya (Persero) reported solid financial performance through the third quarter ended September 2019, according to the company’s unaudited financial statements. Hutama reported net profit of Rp 2,101 trillion, an increase of 43% from the third quarter 2018, and no less than double the September target set last year, and a full 95% of the annual profit target. This achievement was driven by streamlined work flows, efficiency in procurement and general business innovation, so that Cost of Revenue decreased by 82%.

“By the end of 2019, Hutama Karya had finished constructing 469.5 km of the JTTS (Trans-Sumatra Toll Road), with 373 km of the toll road in full operation, including the 140 km Bakauheni-Terbangi Besar section, the 189 km Terbangi Besar-Pematang Panggang-Kayu Agung section, and the 13 km Medan-Binjai and 22 km Palembang-Indralaya sections. Meanwhile, the 74 km Sigli-Banda Aceh section and 131 km Pekanbaru-Dumai sections 1-6 are presently under construction,” said President Director of Hutama Karya, Bintang Perbowo.

Bintang says that Hutama Karya hopes to finish construction of the Trans-Sumatra Toll Road by 2024 and is ready to work on other strategic national projects. “To finish the construction of Trans-Sumatra for 2024, Hutama Karya requires some Rp460 trillion of total investment. As of September 2019, our company’s Gross Gearing Ratio was 0.67, with a Debt Covenant of 2.25. So the company still has a room to add sources of funding,” Bintang says.

In order to fulfill the loan portion as one of the funding sources, Hutama Karya is planning to issue a global bond in the near future. “We are currently preparing for the Global Ratings process and other permissions,” adds Bintang.

Hutama Karya was assigned by the government to develop and operate the 24-section 2,769 km Trans-Sumatra Toll Road, connecting Aceh Province with Lampung Province. Currently, there are 12 priority sections being constructed, which are expected to boost the regional as well as national economy. This mega project also makes Indonesia part of the Asian Highway Network, the land transportation network with 141,000 km international standard highways that passes through 32 countries in Asia and Europe.

The Indonesian government assigned the construction with good reason. “The government intends to maximize the natural resource potential by industrial down-streaming, which will accelerate regional and national economic growth; making Sumatra a new growth engine for Indonesia,” Bintang continues.

“The existence of Trans-Sumatra will provide many logistical as well personal benefits in Sumatra due to shorter travel time, which will reduce the logistics costs for local products, as well as natural resources and other resources which can be distributed faster with affordable cost. The priority is to expedite the mobility of goods and people, such as from Aceh to Belawan Port, Medan and Kualanamu International Airport, which will boost the tourism industry, increase the commuter flow in Stabat-Binjai-Medan, and reduce the congestion in Medan.”

One of the most important indicators for measuring the success of the Trans-Sumatra Toll Road will be the regional development of Sumatra after the integrated infrastructure has been built. “We are anticipating the Sumatra region to attract commercial and industrial projects. Our studies identify at least 84 planned infrastructure projects in the non-property segment around Trans-Sumatra, comprising industrial areas, airports, ports, streets and bridges, irrigation and dams, and energy and rail projects,” Bintang said.

PT Hutama Karya (Persero)
Muhammad Fauzan, Corporate Secretary
Media enquiries:
Intan Zania, Corporate Communication
Phone: +82 21 810 3708 ext.504
Email: Intan.Zania@hutamakarya.com

Combined Data Approach Could Accelerate Development of New Materials

Researchers in Japan have developed an approach that can better predict the properties of materials by combining high throughput experimental and calculation data together with machine learning. The approach could help hasten the development of new materials, and was published in the journal Science and Technology of Advanced Materials.

Scientists use high throughput experimentation, involving large numbers of parallel experiments, to quickly map the relationships between the compositions, structures, and properties of materials made from varying quantities of the same elements. This helps accelerate new material development, but usually requires expensive equipment.

High throughput calculation, on the other hand, uses computational models to determine a material’s properties based on its electron density, a measure of the probability of an electron occupying an extremely small amount of space. It is faster and cheaper than the physical experiments but much less accurate.

Materials informatics expert Yuma Iwasaki of the Central Research Laboratories of NEC Corporation, together with colleagues in Japan, combined the two high-throughput methods, taking the best of both worlds, and paired them with machine learning to streamline the process.

“Our method has the potential to accurately and quickly predict material properties and thus shorten the development time for various materials,” says Iwasaki.

They tested their approach using a 100 nanometre-thin film made of iron, cobalt and nickel spread on a sapphire substrate. Various possible combinations of the three elements were distributed along the film. These ‘composition spread samples’ are used to test many similar materials in a single sample.

The team first conducted a simple high throughput technique on the sample called combinatorial X-ray diffraction. The resulting X-ray diffraction curves provide detailed information about the crystallographic structure, chemical composition, and physical properties of the sample.

The team then used machine learning to break down this data into individual X-ray diffraction curves for every combination of the three elements. High throughput calculations helped define the magnetic properties of each combination. Finally, calculations were performed to reduce the difference between the experimental and calculation data.

Their approach allowed them to successfully map the ‘Kerr rotation’ of the iron, cobalt, and nickel composition spread, representing the changes that happen to light as it is reflected from its magnetized surface. This property is important for a variety of applications in photonics and semiconductor devices.

The researchers say their approach could still be improved but that, as it stands, it enables mapping the magnetic moments of composition spreads without the need to resort to more difficult and expensive high throughput experiments.

Further information

Yuma Iwasaki

NEC Corporation

y-iwasaki@ih.jp.nec.com

Paper

https://doi.org/10.1080/14686996.2019.1707111

About Science and Technology of Advanced Materials Journal

Open access journal STAM publishes outstanding research articles across all aspects of materials science, including functional and structural materials, theoretical analyses, and properties of materials.

Shunichi Hishita

STAM Publishing Director

HISHITA.Shunichi@nims.go.jp

Press release distributed by ResearchSEA for Science and Technology of Advanced Materials.

Aptorum Group Announces Further Positive Data for its ALS-4 Small Molecule Anti-virulence (Non-bactericidal) Drug Candidate for Treatment of Infections caused by Staphylococcus Aureus

Aptorum Group Limited (NASDAQ: APM) (“Aptorum Group”), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel therapeutics to address global unmet medical needs, announces further positive data from its current investigational new drug (IND)-enabling studies for ALS-4, a small drug molecule candidate indicated for the treatment of infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus (or “S. aureus”), including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, one of the “super-bugs”), based on a novel anti-virulence non-bactericidal approach. Subject to completion of the current studies, Aptorum Group targets to submit IND for ALS-4 in second half of 2020 and commence a phase 1 trial in North America.

ALS-4 is a small molecule which inhibits dehydrosqualene desaturase of S. aureus (incl. MRSA), an enzyme that is critically involved in the biosynthesis of staphyloxanthin, a commonly visible “golden pigment” covering the bacteria. Staphyloxanthin is believed to be primarily responsible for the bacteria’s defense mechanism against the attack from reactive oxygen species (ROS) deployed by phagocytic cells and neutrophils.1

Through inhibiting the production of staphyloxanthin, we believe that ALS-4 renders S. aureus highly susceptible to the host’s immune defense (see below for in vivo data and experimental outline). This novel mechanism is significantly different from the bactericidal approach found in currently marketed antibiotics used to treat S. aureus, which are experiencing increasing drug resistance issues2. Specifically, MRSA infections in humans typically exhibit high rates of morbidity and mortality and can cause metastatic or complicated infections such as infective endocarditis or sepsis, with relapse and hospital readmission after S. aureus bacteremia common and costly3.

Based on our testing in a rat bacteremia survival model, a lethal (109 CFU) dose of MRSA (USA300-LAC) was introduced through the tail vein. ALS-4 was administered orally at 10mg/kg per animal 30 minutes after the infection for twice a day thereafter (N=9). A control untreated group was given a sterile vehicle solution (N=9). Survival was monitored for 7 days. 0 out of 9 animals (0%) in the control untreated group survived past day 4, in contrast, 5 out of 9 animals (56%) treated with ALS-4 survived past day 7, which is determined to be statistically significant compared with the control group (p=0.013).

In addition we conducted a study in a non-lethal rat bacteremia infection model. The animals were challenged with a non-lethal (107 CFU) dose of MRSA (USA300-LAC) through the tail vein. In order to simulate a more realistic clinical scenario, treatment was introduced 14-days after the model induction, where ALS-4 was administered orally twice a day at 10mg/kg per animal (N=8). A control untreated group was given a sterile vehicle solution (N=8). After 7 days of ALS-4 treatment, the kidneys were collected and the bacterial titers were measured. Remarkably, ALS-4 reduced the organ bacterial load by 99.5%, from 63,096 plus-minus 18 CFU/g in the control group to 316 plus-minus 49 CFU/g in the ALS-4 treated group, which is determined to be statistically significant (p=0.01).

Last but not least, ALS-4 has successfully inhibited staphyloxanthin production in 11 strains of S. aureus. These include 5 strains of Methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA): SH1000, HG003, USA300-JE2, Newman, and ATCC29213 with an IC50 of 70.5 plus-minus 6nM, 54.4 plus-minus 4nM, 37.7 plus-minus 4nM, 23.7 plus-minus 1nM, and 30.02 plus-minus 5nM respectively; 5 strains of Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA): USA300, USA300-3, USA300-LAC, ST239III, and COL, with an IC50 of 30.8 plus-minus 5nM, 42.8 plus-minus 6nM, 43.6 plus-minus 5nM, 16.3 plus-minus 8nM, and 0.9 plus-minus 1nM respectively; and 1 strain of vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (VISA), Mu3 with an IC50 of 2.6 plus-minus 1nM.

Based on our testing, we believe ALS-4 increases the susceptibility of S. aureus including MRSA to oxidative damage by inhibiting production of staphyloxanthin,. In a hydrogen peroxide killing assay, after the addition of 1.5% H2O2, ALS-4 demonstrated an additional reduction of bacterial CFU by 93.5%, from 61,600 plus-minus 6437 CFU/ml in the untreated group to 4,000 plus-minus 230 CFU/ml in the ALS-4 treated group, which is determined to be statistically significant (p=0.003).

With respect to the study carried out to investigate the capability of ALS-4 to induce antibiotic resistance in S. aureus after prolonged exposure, USA300-LAC was cultured in 3 different conditions for 10 days. For the treatment group 1 micromolar of ALS-4 was added; for the positive control group 0.12 microgram/mL of clindamycin and 16 microgram/mL of erythromycin was added from day 1 to day 4, after which clindamycin was withdrawn. For the negative control group, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was added. On day 11, the bacteria were harvested and then cultured for 16 hr for the determination of the MIC of clindamycin. The prolonged exposure to ALS-4 or DMSO does not affect the MIC value of clindamycin (0.12 microgram/mL); while the prolonged exposure to clindamycin + erythromycin triggers antibiotics resistance rapidly with the MIC increased from 0.12 microgram/mL to greater than 5 microgram/mL.

Based on our study we believe ALS-4 is unlikely to be prone to drug resistance since it is non-bactericidal. Growth inhibition studies were performed on different strains of S. aureus and other bacteria, including 3 strains of MSSA (ATCC29212, SH1000 and HG003), 1 strain of MRSA (USA300), 1 strain of VISA (ATCC700698 Mu3), as well as 6 different bacteria (E. coli, A. baumannii, S. cerevisiae, B. subtilis, E. faecalis, and K. pneumoniae). In all of the tested strains of bacteria, no growth inhibition effect was observed at the highest tested concentration of ALS-4 (250uM). Therefore ALS-4 does not appear to have any direct bacteriostatic or bactericidal activity against many species of bacteria, thus greatly reducing the selection pressure for drug resistance to emerge.

We also assessed the potential impact on the efficacy of vancomycin, the mainstay of treatment for infections caused by MRSA, when used in conjunction with ALS-4. 8 different strains of S. aureus (USA300 FPR3757, USA300-3, USA300-LAC, USA300-JE2, Mu3, HG003, ATCC29213 and clinical isolate ST239III) were used in this study. Our data showed that no effect on the MIC of vancomycin was observed when the concentration of ALS-4 was below 25 microgram/mL. Therefore, we believe that ALS-4 does not interfere with the action of vancomycin.

In addition, compared with the current mainstay of treatment for S. aureus infections such as vancomycin or daptomycin which is typically administered in an IV injectable form (with the exception of an oral form vancomycin specifically for treatment of Clostridium difficile diarrhea and staphylococcal enterocolitis only), an oral active agent enables wider market penetration targeting both outpatient as well as potential prophylactic markets.

GLP Toxicity Data
ALS-4 is currently undergoing IND-enabling studies and has so far shown positive safety profiles. As elucidated in our previous press release dated September 9, 2019, ALS-4 did not show any mutagenicity in the in vitro Ames tests. Our currently generated in vitro micronucleus test results also showed that ALS-4 is not genotoxic, indicating the non-mutagenic nature of the drug. Furthermore, the results of the in vitro hERG assay study predicts a low risk of ALS-4 causing cardiac QT prolongation.

For further general presentation, please visit: http://ir.aptorumgroup.com/static-files/bcf77574-7bd6-4b9d-8110-d53837238f16

For further technical presentation, please visit: http://ir.aptorumgroup.com/static-files/66346f79-7a03-474a-89be-0eaafaa00d9d

About Aptorum Group Limited
Aptorum Group Limited (Nasdaq: APM) is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to developing and commercializing novel therapeutics to tackle unmet medical needs. Aptorum Group is pursuing therapeutic projects in orphan diseases, infectious diseases, metabolic diseases and other disease areas.

For more information about Aptorum Group, please visit www.aptorumgroup.com.

Disclaimer and Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes statements concerning Aptorum Group Limited and its future expectations, plans and prospects that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For this purpose, any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “intends,” “target,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “continue,” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Aptorum Group has based these forward-looking statements, which include statements regarding projected timelines for application submissions and trials, largely on its current expectations and projections about future events and trends that it believes may affect its business, financial condition and results of operations. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions including, without limitation, risks related to its announced management and organizational changes, the continued service and availability of key personnel, its ability to expand its product assortments by offering additional products for additional consumer segments, development results, the company’s anticipated growth strategies, anticipated trends and challenges in its business, and its expectations regarding, and the stability of, its supply chain, and the risks more fully described in Aptorum Group’s Form 20-F and other filings that Aptorum Group may make with the SEC in the future. As a result, the projections included in such forward-looking statements are subject to change. Aptorum Group assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

1 mBio 2017 8(5): e01224-17
2 Microbiol Spectr. 2019 Mar;7(2)
3 Clin Infect Dis. 2019 Nov 27;69(12):2112-2118

Contacts
Investors:
Tel: +852 2117 6611
Email: investor.relations@aptorumgroup.com

Media:
Tel: + 852 2117 6611
Email: info@aptorumgroup.com

NetDragon’s Multiple Online Education Products Support Continuous Online Learning amid No-School Period

NetDragon Websoft Holdings Limited (“NetDragon” or “the Company”, Hong Kong Stock Code: 777), a global leader in building internet communities, acknowledges that the novel coronavirus has recently been a major concern for many. In order to support the call of China’s Ministry of Education (“MoE”) to “build online cloud classes to ensure students can study at home when face-to-face classes are not allowed”, NetDragon announces that, as a part of upholding corporate social responsibility, the Company’s online education platform One Stop Learning is introducing a new service plan to provide live-streaming of courses for over 10 million users free of charge. Meanwhile, NetDragon also offers online interactive education platform and resources to teachers and students in Hong Kong and Macau to continue virtual schooling for free.

On 1 February, the Fuzhou Bureau of Education published the “Guidelines on proper management of education for primary, secondary, and vocational schools amidst postponement of school semesters”. The guidelines state that NetDragon’s One Stop Learning is chosen as the official platform in support of Fuzhou’s “Continuous Learning amid School Suspension” mandate. NetDragon’s One Stop Learning platform will facilitate online learning of over one million teachers and students as well as several million parents, showcasing technical capabilities of NetDragon and its One Stop Learning platform in sustaining quality service.

On top of Fuzhou, One Stop Learning platform has also been aiding the Department of Education of Hubei Province. In collaboration with Hubei Province, NetDragon established the “Hubei Education Cloud Platform”, which has gradually rolled out free education services, including online lectures, online teaching videos and micro lessons, to over a million teachers and students in Hubei Province. The construction and testing of the platform were completed in merely three days and live trials were conducted in three cities, including Macheng, Xiantao and Yangxin on 30 January. The platform received enthusiastic support from the Center for Educational Technology of Xiantao City. One Stop Learning platform will extend its services to support online live stream schooling for nearly 30 cities, counties and districts in Hubei Province and ensure “Continuous Learning amid School Suspension” is well-implemented.

The service of One Stop Learning platform’s “Continuous Learning amid School Suspension” not only provides the latest information of the novel coronavirus and public health measures, but also supports features including teachers’ class preparation and teaching, online assignments and exams, live-communication between schools and parents, academic research, and operational management that allows users to efficiently accomplish their daily work.

In addition to One Stop Learning, NetDragon is offering its integrated software for lesson preparation and delivery, 101 Education PPT, to all teachers in China free of charge, to facilitate easy online lesson preparation and delivery. Supported on multiple platforms including PC, iOS and Android, 101 Education PPT is an integrated teaching software which comes with millions of readily-available teaching materials. Besides, Kami English, an oral English teaching and learning assistant system for K-12 students introduced by NetDragon’s subsidiary Chivox, is opening all online VIP-exclusive services free of charge to all students and teachers in primary and secondary schools across the country, as well as extending VIPs’ subscription period, to ensure students can carry on with their English learning during this school suspension period.

In Hong Kong and Macau, classes are also tentatively suspended until March or later. As such, Edmodo, a subsidiary of NetDragon, will continue to support online interactive learning during the period. On the Edmodo platform, teachers can share reading materials and educational videos with the class, along with online discussions to encourage independent learning among students, such that they can keep up with their learning progress. On the other hand, the Company also uses Amazon Web Services (“AWS”) to provide a free “cloud-based learning platform” to serve as a short-term solution for schools in Hong Kong with cross-border students who may encounter issues when commuting between Hong Kong and mainland China. This cloud can be utilised as a platform for teachers to share their lecture recordings and for students to retrieve learning materials; and coupled with the support of assignment delivery function on Edmodo, students can make use of these tools to facilitate their daily learning at home.

In the face of the novel coronavirus, we will continue our full support towards both students and teachers by rolling out more online education services. Knowledge is the key to a brighter future, and at NetDragon, we uphold this especially during such tough times.

About NetDragon Websoft Holdings Limited
NetDragon Websoft Holdings Limited (HKSE: 0777) is a global leader in building internet communities with a long track record of developing and scaling multiple internet and mobile platforms that impact hundreds of millions of users. These include China’s number one online gaming portal, 17173.com, and China’s most influential smartphone app store platform, 91 Wireless, which was sold to Baidu for US$1.9 billion in 2013 as the largest Internet M&A transaction in China.

Established in 1999, NetDragon is one of the most reputable and well-known online game developers in China with a history of successful game titles including Eudemons Online, Heroes Evolved and Conquer Online. In recent years, NetDragon has also started to scale its online education business on the back of management’s vision to create the largest global online learning community, and to bring the “classroom of the future” to every school around the world. For more information, please visit www.netdragon.com.

For investor enquiries, please contact:
NetDragon Websoft Holdings Limited
Ms. Maggie Zhou
Senior Director of Investor Relations
Tel.: +852 2850 7266 / +86 591 8390 2825
Email: maggie@nd.com.cn
Website: ir.netdragon.com

Maybank Marathon Raises the Bar for Bali 2020

Maybank Indonesia has announced the date for its ninth Maybank Marathon event in Bali, an annual international road race event to be held on August 30, 2020. Registration starts on Feb 25 at 12:00 WIB . Categories of competition are marathon (42.195 km), half-marathon (21.0975 km), 10K and kids dash.

This year’s Maybank Marathon has been designated a World Athletics ‘Bronze Label’ Road Race, and becomes the first marathon in Indonesia to have achieved this prestigious label. The ‘Bronze Label’ is only awarded to a marathon event that fulfills all international requirements and regulations and has been verified by World Athletics.

Taswin Zakaria, President Director of Maybank Indonesia says, “Our achievement in obtaining the World Athletics ‘Bronze Label’ not only affirms our Maybank Marathon as an international standard, but places Indonesia as a country that has international marathon event.” The Marathon is also included in the Abbott WMM Wanda Age Group World Rankings, allowing runners to earn rank & points according to Abbott WMM criteria.

To assist runners’ preparations towards the marathon event, Maybank Indonesia will conduct series of running activities “Road to Maybank Marathon” in the next six months. In partnership with medical experts, nutritionists and running coaches, runners are welcomed attend marathon preparation trainings and education classes prior to the Race Day.

These classes include running clinics and Sunday Morning Runs. Runners may also attend classes to get familiar with and manage to finish race before cut-off time (COT), these COTs will be implemented on every category i.e.10K with 2 hour COT, half marathon with 3.5 hour COT and marathon with 7 hour COT.

“With the Bronze Label, we are committed to continuously improving our race quality in terms of race comfort and safety, in particular improvements over race infrastructure, quality of medical facilities in the field, and implementation of ‘You Register, You Run’ to ensure that runners are those who are registered within our database,” said Taswin.

Maybank Marathon is an international event with a touch of Balinese culture, natural beauty and hospitality of the people. Each year since the inaugural marathon, Maybank Indonesia conducts sustainable and socially responsible programs for the Balinese community in Gianyar and Klungkung. This year’s series of economic empowerment and educational support programs will again be carried out by Maybank Indonesia for those local communities.

Maybank Marathon has been the premier marathon in Indonesia, listing in the official directory of the Boston Marathon, and receiving international honors as one of eleven “Remarkable races in the world that you must participate in before you die”, The Active, one of “The 52 Best Races on Earth 2016” by Runnersworld, and Best Marathon 2016 and Most Popular Sports Event 2018 by Venue Magazine.

PT Bank Maybank Indonesia Tbk (Maybank Indonesia) is one of the largest banks in Indonesia and part of the Maybank Group. Maybank Indonesia provides a full range of products and services for individual and corporate customers through Community Financial Services (Retail Banking and Non-Retail Banking) and Global Banking. Maybank Indonesia also develops Digital Banking services through Mobile Banking, Internet Banking and Maybank M2U.

Maybank Indonesia has 380 branches including Syariah branches across Indonesia, 21 Mobile Cash Cars and 1,601 ATMs with CDMs (Cash Deposit Machines) connected to over 20,000 ATMs incorporated in ATM PRIMA, ATM BERSAMA, ALTO, CIRRUS, and 3,500 Maybank ATMs in Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei. As of September 2019, Maybank Indonesia managed customer deposits of Rp115.6 trillion with total assets valued at Rp177.9 trillion.

For further information, contact:
Esti Nugraheni
Corporate & Brand Communications
Maybank Indonesia
Tel. +62-21-2922-888

ACT to Send 10,000 Boxes of Masks to Indonesians in Hong Kong

JAKARTA – (ACN Newswire) – The outbreak of coronavirus which began in China now threatens people around the world. While it is unknown how the virus is transmitted and as no treatment has been found, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). A coordinated international response is required to mitigate it.

“The coronavirus epidemic has become a humanitarian crisis,” said Ahyudin, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of ACT, at a press conference this week. “We have to understand that it is humanity that is afflicted. And this should become the momentum for moving the community forward to face this humanitarian crisis. It is fitting to make this dangerous outbreak a global humanitarian moment.”

Ahyudin said humanitarian and government institutions were needed together to overcome the crisis. “Together, regardless of nation, race or religion, we will find a solution. Moreover, this is a global crisis, and our brothers are at risk such as the workers from Indonesia (WNI) in Hong Kong,” he said.

There are some 265 thousand Indonesian workers in Hong Kong who are at risk from the epidemic. Seeking to protect their health, they are wearing masks, which are now in short supply. “Public demand is soaring while supplies are running low because masks prevent the coronavirus from spreading,” said Yana, an Indonesian worker in Hong Kong.

ACT responded to the call for masks with a target of 10,000 boxes for Indonesian citizens in Hong Kong. “2,500 mask boxes will be sent for our brothers and sisters in Hong Kong in the first batch,” says Sucita Ramadinda of the ACT Global Humanity Response Team. In addition to distributing masks, ACT is preparing sanitation kits and food packages for Indonesians in Hong Kong.

ACT distributed masks to Indonesian citizens arriving from China at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, and the ACT medical team conducted a health campaign for visitors at the airport as a step in preventing the spread of coronavirus in Indonesia. — ACT NEWS. All Rights Reserved.

About ACT Foundation

ACT Foundation (Aksi Cepat Tanggap) is an Indonesian Relief which focuses on natural and humanitarian disaster management, covering emergency, rescue, medical, relief, reconstruction and recovery. Independently established in 2005, ACT has developed programs for malnutrition, famine, children, health and sanitation, education, economic empowerment, community development and social conflict. ACT is engaged in 30 provinces and 100 cities in Indonesia, and sponsors aid missions across 22 countries in Asia, Europe and Africa. Visit us at https://global.act.id/ and follow ACT NEWS on https://news.act.id/ and ACT TV on https://actnews.tv.

Educators, Policymakers & Technology Leaders to Assess the Future of Filipino Education at EduTECH Philippines

Philippines – (ACN Newswire) – The 4th annual EduTECH Philippines 2020 which will be held on 19-20 February at SMX Convention Center, Manila will once again bring together the Philippines’ entire education ecosystem to discuss new strategies, pedagogies and innovations to bring 21st-century quality education to all in the Philippines.

Opening the event is Ms Atima Joshi, Founding Principal, Middleton International School, Singapore who will be delivering a keynote on Capacity building of educators. In the afternoon, Mr Craig Kemp, Owner and Global Edtech Consultant Ignite EdTech and Mr Raphael Nikko Almazar, Key Accounts Manager, Lenovo (Singapore) Pte Ltd will address the audience with insights into Education 4.0: The Future of Education and Smart Schools: K12 IT Leaders Insight respectively.

On the second day of the event, Mr Paul Roland Alfonso-Maiquez, Director of Technology, VERSO International School, Bangkok, Mr John Fong, Chief Executive Officer, SP Jain School of Global Management and Ms Emie Baylon, EdTech Coordinator, De La Salle Santiago Zobel School kickstart the morning with insights on Robotics, STEAM and Classrooms of the Future. Fr. Benigno Beltran, Chief Learning Strategist, The Philippine Sustainability Challenge will conclude the afternoon keynotes with case studies on Collaboration and Technopreneurship.

In addition to the visionary keynotes, there will be a series of case studies and sharing sessions across six theatres of content – K-12, Tertiary, STEAM, Tech Innovation, Learning Spaces, Smart School & Campus and #teachtechtalks. Over 200 inspirational speakers from across the Philippines will address key issues including K-12 strategies, tertiary education, flipped learning, digital storytelling, integrated STEM education, education 4.0, makerspaces, partnerships & stakeholder management in education and more.

Besides the conference, the exhibition will feature a showcase of the latest education technologies by over 70 industry players and a maker space with hands-on activities by Science Center Singapore. Some of the exhibiting companies include Lenovo, Microsoft, Intel, Canvas, Oracle, Zoho Corp, GO Philippines and more.

The two-day free-to-attend conference and exhibition are expected to gather over 4,000 education stakeholders from the Philippines and beyond.

About EduTECH Philippines 2020

Date: 19-20 February 2020

Conference & Exhibition opening hours: 09:00 am

Registration & badge collection starts from 08:00am

Venue: Level 2, Function Room 1-5, SMX Convention Center, Manila, Philippines

Website: http://bit.ly/39cTUUZ

About Terrapinn

Terrapinn is a business media company. Its products are trade exhibitions, conferences, training solutions, and electronic and print publications. For more information, please visit www.terrapinn.com.

Note: Press registration for the conference is compulsory and advance scheduling for speaker/ sponsor interviews is recommended. Press passes are strictly reserved for reporters, journalists, editors only. The final issuance of press passes is subjected to Terrapinn’s discretion. For your complimentary press pass, please contact the following:

Jessica Foong

Senior Marketing Manager

Terrapinn Pte Ltd

Tel: +65 6322 2715

Jessica.foong@terrapinn.com

Jacobson Pharma Launches First Influenza/RSV Home Diagnostic Kit in Hong Kong and Macau

Jacobson Pharma Corporation Limited (“Jacobson Pharma” or the “Group”; Stock Code: 2633), a leading company engaged in research, development, production, marketing and sale of generic drugs and branded healthcare products, announced the launch of its first home diagnostic product for influenza/RSV under the brand name of “Dr. Freeman Flu/RSV Combo” (the “Product”) in Hong Kong and Macau since January 2020. The product is available in different over-the-counter channels including major healthcare chain stores and drug stores.

Dr. Freeman Flu/RSV Combo is a handy one-step home diagnostic test designed for qualitative determination of specific types of Influenza A and B virus and respiratory syncytial virus (“RSV”) with test results available in 8 minutes. The Product marks the first among others of its home diagnostic portfolio to be launched under the branded healthcare business platform of the Group. The Group is contemplating a potential strategic spin-off of its branded healthcare business which comprises proprietary medicines, proprietary Chinese medicines and branded health and wellness products such as health supplements, personal care products and diagnostic kits.

In scientific terms, Dr. Freeman Flu/RSV Combo uses monoclonal antibodies specific to the corresponding antigens of influenza and RSV for determination of the specific types of influenza and RSV infected, apart from the indication of the presence of influenza.

Mr Derek Sum, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Jacobson Pharma, commented, “We are very pleased for bringing in this useful home diagnostic product for influenza /RSV to the markets in Hong Kong and Macau. As a handy, speedy and specific self-diagnostic tool for the communicable disease, we believe the Product can highly benefit the public by helping influenza/RSV infected patients to seek prompt and effective medical treatment at the onset of the illnesses, especially during the peak flu seasons.

Bearing with the commitment to fulfilling unmet healthcare needs of consumers, we will continue to enhance our portfolio with high quality, innovative and well-trusted products in the expansion of our branded healthcare business as a strategic growth platform. Our ongoing efforts are set to strengthen our long-term strategic position and thereby enhancing the shareholders’ values.”.

About Jacobson Pharma Corporation Limited (Stock Code: 2633)
Jacobson Pharma is a leading generic drug company in Hong Kong. The Group’s proprietary brand portfolio, notably being Po Chai Pills, Ho Chai Kung Tji Thung San, Contractubex Scar Gel, Flying Eagle Wood Lok Medicated Oil, Tong Tai Chung Woodlok Oil, Doan’s Ointment, Saplingtan, Shiling Oil and Col-gan Tablet have been widely recognised by the market. The Group aims at the continued strategic enrichment of both of its generic drug and branded healthcare portfolios through the addition of high value-added products. With its corporate headquarters based in Hong Kong, the Group has also established its operating subsidiaries in China, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore and Cambodia forming a regional commercial platform to tap the market potential in the Asia Pacific and Greater China region. Jacobson Pharma has been a constituent stock of MSCI Hong Kong Micro Cap Index since 1 June 2017. For more details about Jacobson Pharma, please visit the Group’s website:
http://www.jacobsonpharma.com

For media enquiries, please contact:
Strategic Financial Relations Limited
Vicky Lee Tel: (852) 2864 4834 Email: vicky.lee@sprg.com.hk
Stephanie Liu Tel: (852) 2864 4852 Email: stephanie.liu@sprg.com.hk
Rachel Ko Tel: (852) 2864 4806 Email: rachel.ko@sprg.com.hk
Fax: (852) 2527 1196

Industry Leaders to Congregate in Bangkok to Discuss Asia’s Future Energy Needs

THAILAND, Feb 5, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Almost 200 Global Leaders will take the stage at Future Energy Asia Exhibition and Conference 2020 to address Asia’s rapidly evolving energy mix and showcase strategies that energy professionals can adopt to accelerate energy transition towards a cleaner sustainable energy future. H.E. Sonthirat Sontijirawong, Minister, Ministry of Energy of the Kingdom of Thailand, will officially open the conference and exhibition and deliver the inaugural keynote at Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Center (BITEC) when the event starts on 12 February 2020.

Attendees will hear from C-level executives representing Thailand’s energy leading organizations, including EGAT, PTT Group, PTTEP and the Ministry of Energy. Energy leaders from Thailand’s ASEAN neighbors Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and Singapore will also attend the conference, as public and private sector experts around the region share what they are doing at a policy and project level to meet the estimated 60 percent energy demand growth.

The three-day conference presents a complete tool kit for energy transition in Asia. The first day, 12 February, focuses on Integration: discussions will give deep insights into how renewables and natural gas can be used to deliver a sustainable and clean energy future. On day two, the focus will be on partnerships, especially regional energy partnerships within ASEAN, as well as partnerships between the public and private sectors that can help drive energy transition. The final day focuses on transformation, and looking into how disruptive innovation can impact the region’s future energy mix.

A unique feature of the Future Energy Asia Exhibition and Conference is its Centres of Technical Excellence Theaters (COTES). These provide free-to-attend technical and technology ‘TED talk’-type content, covering a wide range of energy-related topics including energy transition and digitalization, as well as will showcasing the most important new energy projects in the region.

Chriptopher Hudson, President of DMG Events the organizer of the Future Energy Asia Exhibition and Conference, said: “The Future Energy Asia Conference is truly global with delegates and speakers from every corner of the world making their way to Bangkok. The event is designed to be a platform that provides an excellent opportunity to drive collaboration between new energy suppliers, electricity generators and the energy transition supply chain; building alliances between public and private sectors to help build a clean energy future in ASEAN. We have attracted a large number of global buyers and sellers who will display their products, services, established alliance, and demonstrate the innovations needed by Asian countries to develop their energy industry.”

Future Energy Asia is also supported by Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB). “We are delighted to welcome back Future Energy Asia 2020, a world-class event that will be 15 percent larger for its second edition,” said Mr. Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, the President of TCEB. “With 20 percent more trade visitors expected this year, drawn to a host of new and returning exhibitors that include international pavilions from the US and Italy, the event will connect key global energy sector stakeholders as never before. Thailand supports any event focused on innovation that contributes to our nationwide Thailand 4.0 economic growth strategy. And by partnering with events such as this through a range of market-leading initiatives, TCEB is doing its part to make shows such as Future Energy Asia as successful as possible.”

The Future Energy Asia Exhibition and Conference 2020 will take place at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Center (BITEC) from 12 to 14 February 2020. For more information, please visit www.futureenergyasia.com

For more Information, please contact:

Mayuri Emma Jayaphorn (Yuree) or Pimpen Aphinivet (Mew)

Tel: 094-229-2365 or 080 989 5582

E-mail: yuree@spark.co.th or mew@spark.co.th

Spark Communications

STREAMWIDE outlines strategic partnership with AIRBUS Secure Land Communications

STREAMWIDE, the specialist in critical communication solutions, today details the agreement and strategic partnership, announced at the end of 2018, with AIRBUS Secure Land Communications (AIRBUS SLC). AIRBUS SLC and STREAMWIDE have signed a long-term technical and commercial partnership agreement for the development and integration of STREAMWIDE’s ‘Team on mission’ and ‘Team on the run’ technologies inside the AIRBUS Tactilon portfolio of solutions and services.

‘Team on mission’ and ‘Team on the run’ solutions are “all-in-one” software solutions for secure communication and process management, meeting the current needs of government users and professionals in public safety, transport, public services and industry (Transport, Utility and Industry – TUI), but also of all other industries and professional users around the world.

The AIRBUS Tactilon portfolio includes Tactilon Management, Tactilon Agnet and Tactilon SMVNO solutions. It also offers AIRBUS specific integration with AIRBUS Tetra and Tetrapol portfolio of networks, control rooms equipment, and end-user devices as well as AIRBUS specific user experiences.

This multi-year agreement should allow the acceleration of the development of STREAMWIDE solutions, further accentuate its current technological advance and support the growth of future revenues.

AIRBUS SLC does not own any asset or any share of STREAMWIDE Equity.

About AIRBUS Secure Land Communications (AIRBUS SLC)

Secure Land Communications (SLC), an Airbus business unit, offers advanced communication and
collaboration solutions to gather, process and deploy intelligence. Its portfolio is tailored to the needs of
Public Safety, Defence and Transport, Utility and Industry (TUI). It includes infrastructures, devices, applications and services based on Tetra, Tetrapol and Broadband technologies (either single, hybrid or multi-technology solutions). As the European leader and a key international player, SLC has customers in more than 80 countries and employs around 1,150 people in 17 countries. www.securelandcommunications.com.

About STREAMWIDE (Euronext Growth: ALSTW)

A major player for 20 years in the critical communications market, STREAMWIDE has successfully
developed its Team on mission (mission critical) and Team on the run (business critical) software
solutions for administrations and businesses. These solutions for smartphones and PCs, offered in a
SaaS model or on Premise, benefit from numerous functionalities such as the multimedia group
discussions, VoIP, push-to-talk (MCPTT and MCx new generation 4G / 5G LTE), geolocation, digitization
and automation of business processes. These innovative solutions meet the growing needs for digital
transformation and real-time coordination of interventions. They allow field teams to transform
individual contributions into collective successes and to act as one man in the most demanding
professional environments.

STREAMWIDE is also present on the Value-Added Services software market for telecom operators
(visual voice messaging, billing and charging of calls in real time, interactive voice servers, applications
and announcements) with more than 130 million end users all over the world.

Based in France and present in Europe, USA, Asia and Africa, STREAMWIDE is listed on Euronext Growth (Paris) – FR0010528059. For more information, http://www.streamwide.com and visit our LinkedIn pages @streamwide and Twitter @streamwide.

Distributed by Actusnews S.A.S. source: https://bit.ly/2S14WXQ