by admin | Mar 24, 2025 | cholesterol, healthcare and medicine, healthy living, high cholesterol levels, medicine and healthcare
New research suggests that thousands of lives could potentially be saved by using a combination of statins and another medication for lowering cholesterol levels.
The most extensive study to investigate how to reduce levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol in individuals with clogged arteries indicates that these patients should promptly receive a combination treatment of a statin and an additional medication known as ezetimibe, instead of relying solely on statins.
Combination therapy ought to be regarded as the premier approach for treating patients who have experienced a heart attack, potentially preventing numerous fatalities annually, according to researchers.
Scientists examined the results from 14 prior investigations that included data on 108,353 individuals with an extremely high likelihood of experiencing a heart attack or stroke, as well as those who had already undergone such events.
The research, featured in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings, indicated that combining ezetimibe with a high dosage of statins to lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels resulted in a significant 19 percent decrease in mortality from all causes.
There was additionally a 16 percent decrease in fatalities due to cardiovascular issues, along with a notable reduction of 18 percent and 17 percent, respectively, in significant adverse cardiovascular incidents and strokes when compared to treatment with high-dose statins alone.
The study’s co-author, Professor Peter Toth from the University of Illinois in the US, stated, “This research supports the idea that immediate combination cholesterol-lowering therapy must be regarded as the benchmark for treating individuals at extremely high risk following an acute cardiovascular incident.”
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by admin | Mar 24, 2025 | railway systems, train travel, trains, transportation, vietnam
In May, a train equipped with 20 recently designed luxurious carriages will commence operations, offering passengers a trip from Hanoi to Hai Phong.
The head of Hai Phong’s Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, Tran Thi Hoang Mai, stated that the high-end train is slated to start operations before May 13 in honor of the city’s 70th anniversary since being liberated from French rule.
The train consists of twoVIP carriages, with each carriage containing 16 individual reclining seats along with five sections of twenty-seater couches spread across three separate areas.
The premium compartments feature natural wood flooring, sophisticated interiors, complimentary Wi-Fi access, along with a bar area hosting live music shows.
The leftover 18 carriages provide 56 rotating seats, plastic flooring with carpets, stone-textured plastic walls, along with ornamental LED ceilings.
Authorities in Hai Phong anticipated that the new train would boost railway tourism and offer a distinctive experience for visitors.
The cost of tickets for the train has not been revealed yet.
In the last half-decade, the Hanoi – Hai Phong railway, covering a distance of 102 kilometers, has gained popularity as a destination for culinary excursions. Official figures show that in 2024, over 1.5 million travelers opted for rail travel between these two cities, marking an increase from approximately 1.4 million passengers recorded in 2023.
Lately, numerous high-end trains have been launched on routes to Vietnam’s top tourist spots, elevating the traveling experience for visitors.
by admin | Mar 24, 2025 | business, flights, Travel, travel destinations, vietnam
The restart of both chartered and scheduled flights between Russia and Vietnam has sparked increasing interest in this Southeast Asian destination.
As reported by Travelata.ru, tour sales have seen an increase of 9% within just one month and several-fold growth when compared to the corresponding timeframe from the previous year.
Currently, Vietnam is seeing the most rapid increase in hotel bookings, outpacing Thailand and getting closer to the demand levels seen before the pandemic.
From February 1 to March 18, Sletat.ru saw a 3.4 times surge in tour sales, whereas Level.Travel experienced a fourfold growth in March.
Russian Express reported a 5.5-times increase in February and March compared to the previous year, and Let’s Fly CEO Lyubov Voronina anticipated a growth of 20% in demand, fueled by an expansion in flight routes.
In wintertime 2024, direct flights between Russia and Vietnam were restarted after they had been halted in 2020 because of the pandemic. Aeroflot has begun serving Ho Chi Minh City and plans to commence service to Nha Trang starting March 22nd.
Azur Air and Pegas Touristik have initiated charter operations, whereas Vietnam Airlines intends to launch the Moscow-Hanoi service in May.
According to OneTwoTrip, Vietnam is listed among the top 10 travel destinations for March, seeing double the number of flight and hotel reservations compared to the previous year during this time.
Yandex Travel noted a 49% rise in air ticket sales compared to the previous year, whereas Aviasales experienced a 62.5% boost in their market share within Vietnam. The hotel reservation site Ostrovok identified Vietnam as the most rapidly expanding travel destination, recording a 25% uptick in bookings.
Anex Tour positioned Vietnam as the third top choice for summer travel following Turkey and Egypt. Experts noted that Vietnam’s attractiveness is increasing as Thailand grapples with excess capacity issues.
Voronina pointed out that Mui Ne and Nha Trang resorts provide an appealing option, even during summertime.
Oleg Kozyrev, who serves as the marketing director at Travelata.ru, expressed his belief that Vietnam’s structured tourism sector is poised to recover and return to its pre-pandemic standing.
by admin | Mar 24, 2025 | business, economics, financial markets, investing market news, news
Asian markets fluctuated on Monday as the White House plans to introduce tariffs on major trade partners starting next week, with concerns that these measures might inflict significant damage on the worldwide economy.
A report indicating that U.S. President Donald Trump was contemplating a more focused strategy for the tariffs scheduled to take effect on April 2nd failed to calm investors’ concerns, as the ambiguity undermined their confidence.
Since regaining power in January, the U.S. president has unsettled financial markets by criticizing longtime allies and implementing or threatening significant tariffs on various imported products such as steel and automobiles.
The upcoming Wednesday has become the center of interest, with Trump dubbing it “Liberation Day” as he gets ready to announce a series of retaliatory actions aimed at responding to what other nations have implemented.
“Ahead of Trump’s ‘Freedom Day’ scheduled for April 2nd, along with the subsequent wave of tariff-related statements expected in the coming days or weeks, anticipation and preparedness will increasingly influence market prices, investor sentiments, and trading volumes this week,” noted Chris Weston from Pepperstone.
As the sky turns darker and starts to show signs of bruising, with increasing atmospheric pressure felt across the capital markets, participants wonder whether they should prepare for an approaching storm of uncertainty by securing their positions.
Last week, the Federal Reserve cautioned that “the uncertainty surrounding the economic forecast has grown.” Similarly, the central banks of Japan and Britain expressed concerns regarding the effects of the White House’s policies.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang said at the weekend that Beijing was readying for “shocks that exceed expectations” ahead of the latest measures, adding that “instability and uncertainty are on the upswing”.
As he held meetings with leaders from several of the globe’s largest corporations, such as Apple, Qualcomm, FedEx, and Pfizer, his remarks were made public.
Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers informed Bloomberg News that the actions taken by Trump are “not unexpected, yet they are transformative.”
According to Bloomberg News, the U.S. administration was contemplating a more selective strategy regarding tariffs, where certain nations would be affected more significantly than others, and the actions were anticipated to be less harsh compared to initial expectations.
This followed when the president informed reporters on Friday that he would show “flexibility” in his proposals.
Nevertheless, Asian investors found it difficult to kick-start the week on a positive note as markets seesawed throughout the morning.
Tokyo was flat, while Shanghai, Singapore and Taipei were slightly higher.
Hong Kong, Sydney, Seoul, and Wellington saw slight declines.
Gold traded near $3,025 after reaching several all-time highs the previous week, peaking above $3,057 due to increased demand for safe-haven assets.
Prominent individuals at approximately 0230 GMT
Tokyo – Nikkei 225: REMAINS UNCHANGED AT 37,676.97
Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: Down 0.1% at 23,660.67
Shanghai – Aggregate: Increased by 0.1% to reach 3,369.57
Euro/dollar: Increased to $1.0831 from $1.0815 on Friday
Pound/dollar: Increased to $1.2930 from $1.2918
Dollar/Yen: Increased to 149.75 yen from 149.36 yen
Euro/pound: INCREASED to 83.76 pence from 83.72 pence
West Texas Intermediate: Down 0.2% at $68.13 per barrel
Brent North Sea Crude: Down 0.3% at $71.97 per barrel
New York – Dow: Increased by 0.1% to close at 41,985.35 points.
London – FTSE 100: Decreased by 0.6 percent to close at 8,646.79 points.
by admin | Mar 24, 2025 | africa, community, culture, diversity, politics
On March 22, 2025, Addis Ababa — Ministers from East African nations emphasized during an event in Addis Ababa that the abundant cultural diversity within the region stands not just as a matter of great pride but also functions as a potent binding agent, fostering unity among communities throughout both their own area and the broader expanse of Africa.
Through communal dancing and indigenous musical traditions to distinctive creative forms, cultural heritage connects countries, promoting increased collaboration and unity across East Africa and further afield.
The recently launched second edition of the East Africa Art and Culture Festival took place at the Addis International Convention Center in Addis Ababa, offering an energetic stage to demonstrate this sense of unity.
The festival with the theme “Art and Culture for Regional Unity” highlighted the shared cultural elements that connect East African countries and showcased their individual customs as well.
The event included an extensive array of activities such as conferences, symposiums, cultural displays, circus acts, traditional dishes, fashion presentations, musical performances, movie screenings, theatrical productions, and book expos.
The event was designed not just to display the vibrant artistic legacy of East African countries but also to foster regional collaboration and solidarity.
Notable among those present was Burundi’s Minister for Youth, Sports, and Culture, Ambassador Gervais Abayeho, who highlighted how cultural diversity can promote solidarity.
He stated to the Ethiopian News Agency, “Our cultural heritage’s diversity actually serves as a unifying element for the people of East Africa and across the continent.”
The Minister pointed out the resemblances in cultural dances among various nations, mentioning that Ethiopian dance forms, for instance, have shared characteristics with those found in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and as far as South Africa.
Ambassador Abayeho also highlighted the distinctive nature of Burundi’s cultural legacy, notably its renowned drums, acknowledged as a UNESCO World Heritage.
“He stated that this is something we can take pride in,” noting that cultural expressions such as dance and music act as connectors between East Africa and regions further afield.
Lucy Atto, who serves as the Assistant Commissioner at Uganda’s Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, voiced comparable views, highlighting the common cultural traditions found throughout various countries in Africa.
“African cultures are quite similar. We maintain borders more out of necessity than anything else, yet our dances, musical instruments, and overall essence remain alike. It serves as a reminder of our common heritage,” she stated.
The South Sudanese Minister of Culture, Museums, and National Heritage, Dr. Nadia Arop Dudi, likewise conveyed her appreciation to Ethiopia for organizing the festival, noting that this was a crucial occasion for East Africa.
She stated that this event has motivated them to recognize that East Africa, and indeed the entire continent of Africa, possess a distinctive culture characterized by an abundant cultural diversity which stands unparalleled across the globe.
Ngabo Braive, who serves as the Permanent Secretary at Rwanda’s Ministry of Youth and Culture, highlighted the significance of these festivals for promoting cross-cultural exchanges both regionally and internationally.
“This festival is vital as it enables us to showcase our culture and simultaneously fortifies our bonds, emphasizing the commonalities among our various traditions,” he stated.
He also urged for an increase in the number of festivals throughout East Africa, with the ultimate aim of hosting them internationally to showcase East African cultures on a global scale.
The East Africa Art and Culture Festival, launched in 2022, keeps playing an essential part in showcasing the area’s rich arts and culture scene as well as promoting regional unity.
This occasion serves as an example of how cultural variety can be a strong catalyst for unity and collaboration throughout the region.
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