The “Taipei International Sporting Goods Show” (TaiSPO) organised by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) will be held at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 1 (TaiNEX 1) from March 3rd to March 6th, 2021.
The innovative month-long integrated online platform (TaiSPO Online) will be launched on March 3rd, 2021 as a comprehensive sporting goods sourcing platform.
The TaiSPO Online platform has four major features: “Virtual”, “Network”, “Experience”, and “Insight”. The virtual presentation will be alike to the presentation in the physical exhibition hall, allowing participants to feel like they are in a real exhibition area. International buyers will be able to “Leave a Message”, “Make an Appointment”, and “Matching”, allowing buyers to have direct online discussions with exhibitors, who can in turn connect and engage with potential buyers.
An online exhibition zone will be set up at the physical exhibition site, allowing visitors to visit the event virtually, giving an immersive user experience and enable interactaction between exhibitors and buyers.
For more information, click here to visit the official website.
This performance by Ryuichi Sakamoto was commissioned by the UCCA Center for Contemporary Art and streamed live via the Kuaishou app, which has over 300million users. Entitled “Voluntary Garden Online Concert: Sonic Cure”, nine musicians were selected to perform. They all had various styles and differences in their art and included Sakamoto (b. 1952) to Liu Yucao (b. 1995), multimedia artist Feng Mengbo to suona master Guo Yazhi, all coming together to give an improvised concert, performing in relay via the Kuaishou app.
The UCCA website shares that this performance on 29 February 2020 featured musicians Feng Mengbo, Huang Jin, “Two Chamber Quarters” Pang Kuan, and Xia Yuyan who are in Beijing; Zhang Meng in Shanghai; Feng Hao in Hefei; Liu Yucao and Guo Yazhi in Boston; and Ryuichi Sakamoto in New York. The seven solo performers and one duo each performed an unprecedented musical conversation broadcast to audiences across the world. In this featured post, we showcase Mr. Sakamoto’s act.
A renowned keyboardist and songwriter attached to the Haruomi Hosono’s Yellow Magic Orchestra, he is a synth pop pioneer and famed for solo experiments that collaborated with global genres and classical impressionism that led to him scoring over 30 films including Nagisa Oshima’s Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence, Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Last Emperor and The Sheltering Sky, and Alejandro González Iñárritu’s The Revenant. In the past 20 years alone, he’s written a multimedia opera, turned a glass building into an instrument, and travelled to the Arctic to record the sound of melting snow. That exploratory spirit runs through Sakamoto’s 2017 album, async, which paints an audio portrait of the passing of time informed by his recovery from throat cancer. “Music, work, and life all have a beginning and an ending,” said Sakamoto in early 2019. “What I want to make now is music freed from the constraints of time.”
Mr. Sakamoto wanted to share this with you who are in isolation.
Here is another performance, dedicated to the isolated: https://youtu.be/X6td9KUZMfw and a fan-produced playlist from his album Energy Flow.
Coming up…
Ryuichi Sakamoto: seeing sound hearing time
M WOODS is presenting an exhibition devoted to Ryuichi Sakamoto. The exhibition is Sakamoto’s first institutional solo show in China. It includes work in various media from the last thirty years and new outdoor site-specific installations made especially for M WOODS.
Exhibition Dates: 5 March 2021 – August 8, 2021 M WOODS HUTONG
With collaborative works by Shiro Takatani Daito Manabe Zakkubalan Apichatpong Weerasethakul Curated by Sachiko Namba, Victor Wang, Zhang Youdai. (Source: Instagram)
Editor’s note: AFT has dedicated 2021 to raising awareness about non-communicable diseases. Diagnosed with stage three throat cancer in 2014, Mr. Sakamoto told Thailand Tatler in an interview that even listening to music was “too hard for me—maybe because music is too important to me. To enjoy it requires a certain amount of energy, and I lost a lot of it during [that time]”. On behalf of AFT, we wish him continuous improvement in his health and deep appreciation for his art. Thank you and take care, Mr. Sakamoto.
The Novel Coronavirus nCoV or COVID-19 has been one of the most widespread diseases so far. With a death rate of 1.52 million people, many believe that this pandemic is the greatest challenge in history. But there is a bigger and far more dangerous disease that has been in our lives for longer.
Photo via Pexels Alex Green
What are NCDs?
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, respiratory diseases and diabetes, are the leading causes of death in the world. They contribute to 71% of global deaths each year. This invisible pandemic causes more death and suffering than COVID-19, year after year.
NCDs kill approximately 41 million people every year. This is more than the population of Malaysia and Singapore put together! Unfortunately, many people remain unaware of this pandemic that has been wreaking havoc for quite a while now.
NCDs are diseases which are non-infectious, meaning that they cannot spread from one person to another. They tend to last for a long duration and occur as a result of a combination of:
Genetic – Certain diseases such as diabetes, asthma and cancer are genetic, meaning that they can be inherited from parents or ancestors. (We will investigate how certain interventions have shown positive effects in disease management in another feature article later – Ed.)
Physiological Factors – These are factors that are related to a person’s body and can be influenced by genes, lifestyle and other factors. For instance, obesity and high blood pressure are physiological factors.
Environmental Factors – These include factors such as access to clean water, air pollution, sanitation and poverty.
Behavioural Factors – These are factors that are related to an individual’s actions and lifestyle such as smoking, drinking too much alcohol and lack of physical activity. These can be reduced through changes in lifestyle.
Cardiovascular diseases (e.g. heart attacks and stroke)
Cancer (lung, breast, skin and the like)
Chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma
Diabetes
An indiscriminating disease
Just like COVID-19, NCDs do not discriminate but the most vulnerable are those living in developing countries. Poverty is closely linked with NCDs and increases the risk of death and disability from NCDs.
Each year, WHO reports that 15 million people between the ages of 30 and 69 years die from an NCD, and over 85% of these “premature” deaths occur in developing countries. The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), a leading voice and repository for facts and information on U.S. health-care issues shared in a post published on 29 Jan 2019, “The U.S. Government and Global Non-Communicable Disease Efforts” that chronic diseases in developing countries are not given the importance and attention it deserves (Ed.)
According to WHO (2018), NCDs account for:-
26.6% of all deaths in Taiwan,
63% of all deaths in India,
68% of all deaths in the Philippines,
73% of all deaths in Indonesia,
74% of all deaths in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand,
More than 80% of all deaths in Fiji, and
89% of all deaths in China.
The rate of deaths caused by NCDS are extremely high in Western countries with NCDS accounting for: –
74% of all deaths in Brazil,
89% of all deaths in the United Kingdom, and
91% of all deaths in Australia and Italy.
It has been predicted that by 2030, the global average NCD deaths from the total number of deaths would be 75.26%. That’s a whopping two-thirds of total fatality.
Ann Keeling, Chair NCD Alliance and IDF CEO stated “90 million avoidable deaths from NCDs will occur worldwide within the next decade if nothing is done. We’re angry and we want action!”
The risk factors that increase the chances of NCDs include the person’s lifestyle and environment.
This includes age, gender, genetics, exposure to pollution, lack of physical activity, smoking tobacco and drinking too much alcohol.
The rise of NCDs poses devastating health consequences for individuals, families and communities, and threatens to overwhelm health systems. However, most NCDs are considered preventable because they are caused by modifiable risk factors. Having an healthy and active lifestyle such as regular physical activity and nutritious food reduces the likelihood of getting NCDs.
Countries and other stakeholders have to support a holistic approach to health, which promotes good health and healthy behaviours, prevention of NCDs and accounts for the early detection, diagnosis, management, and treatment of NCDs.
This article has been researched, compiled and written by the team at Asia Fitness Today; Sneha Ramesh – Intern, Monash University (Sunway campus), Syuhada Adam – Editorial consultant, Nikki Yeo & Jasmine Low – Director/Producer.
Asia Fitness Today has embarked on MISSION 2030 — to halve NCD rates in the Asia Pacific region by 2030. If we could ask if you could please share this article on social media or with someone you know and care about so we can perpetuate this ripples of awareness in the community. It begins with a whisper, a drop in the ocean and slowly, change can happen. It begins with us. Learn more: www.move8.org.
References:
World Health Organization. (2015, October 5). NCDs, poverty and development. https://www.who.int/global-coordination-mechanism/poverty-and-development/en/
Benham, B. (2018, April 5). Poverty Increases Risk of Non-Communicable Diseases in Lower Income Co. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. https://www.jhsph.edu/news/news-releases/2018/poverty-increases-risk-of-non-communicable-diseases-in-lower-income-countries.html
World Health Organisation. (2019, June 12). Noncommunicable diseases. https://www.who.int/health-topics/noncommunicable-diseases#tab=tab_1
World Health Organisation. (n.d.). World Health Organization – Eastern Mediterranean Region. http://www.emro.who.int/noncommunicable-diseases/causes/index.html
We’re reporting live from Sydney this year. Watch this other angle on AFTNN’s twitch account from our friend’s balcony! Shirl is a 75-year old pioneer client and muse of the Move8 MoveAID movement. We joined her and her carer as they enjoyed the fireworks from home.
Sydney’s fireworks usually attracts over 1 million people around its foreshore. This year, with only 5 visitors are allowed per household, most of us will be watching it from our own homes after a #stayathome plea from the NSW premier, Gladys Berejiklian.
Wishing you a Happy New Year from all of us at AFTNN!
It is said that good things comes in small packages. Cleverin is a unique anti-viral and bactericidal product that has been proven to remove 99% of airborne viruses and bacteria by harnessing the power of Chlorine Dioxide, or Clo2.
The product is the brainchild of Taiko Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. based in Osaka, Japan. The company itself has been around for more than 70 years and has expertise in various business segments related to consumer pharmacology.
A recent report by Taiko Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., which elucidated the mechanism by which Chlorine Dioxide molecules block infection by the COVID-19 (SARS CoV 2) virus in the human body, was published in the English academic journal, Annals of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutics, under the title “Inhibition of the Binding of Spike Protein of SARS CoV 2 Coronavirus to Human Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 by Chloride Dioxide” (2020, Volume 5, Issue 5, Article 1195).
Cleverin is already available in 8 countries with expansion plans to the rest of Asia Pacific, Europe, including Russia, Mexico, Brazil and the US. A quick search on the internet finds that the product is also already available in Indonesia, South Korea, Singapore and the Philippines on top of its home market in Japan, of course.
Speaking at the virtual launch of the Malaysian market, Senior Vice President of Overseas Business of Taiko Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Mitsuhiro Yamashita, began his address by greeting the media in fluent Indonesian.
“We are pleased to introduce the Cleverin brand to the Malaysian market. We are confident that the brand will be met positively by Malaysians, as all households here will truly benefit from this all-in-one disinfector, steriliser, deodoriser and virus eliminator. Currently, we hold more than 130 relevant patents in the world and have seen annual sales in excess of USD 95 million. In fact, Cleverin is the best-selling product of its kind in Japan, where one Cleverin product is sold every five seconds1. These factors, in themselves, bear testament to Cleverin’s efficacy, which is backed by science and extensive research,” said Yamashita.
Cleverin is also proven to be as safe as it is effective. All its products are made with materials which have passed stringent safety procedures and tests in Japan and around the world. Cleverin products are also non-toxic to humans, and can safely be used around children, pets and elderly. The products’ safety and efficacy are also attested by its endorsement by various clinics, health professionals and governments, further lending credibility to Cleverin’s authenticity.
In Malaysia, Cleverin is available in two types – the stand-type Gel and the Stick Pen Type.
The stand-up Cleverin Gel is ideal for use in rooms and enclosed spaces with no power supply required for use. The Cleverin Gel is available in two sizes – 60 grams (RM58), which is able to disinfect a room of up to 13 square metres and lasts up to a month; and 150 grams (RM98) which is ideal for rooms of up to 20 square metres and lasts up to two months.
Meanwhile, the Cleverin Stick Pen Type is designed to be a more mobile and portable device, which can be used just about anywhere – even in the user’s own shirt pocket to remove viruses and bacteria in the surrounding air. The Cleverin Stick Pen is available in a single pack (RM49) which comes with two refills and each refill can last for about two weeks. Also available are refill packs (RM48) which contain six refills each.
Both the Cleverin Gel and Cleverin Stick Pen Type are easy to use anywhere – in the home, at the office, as well as in schools, hospitals, restaurants – just about everywhere.
The Cleverin range is now available online via Lazada and Shopee and will expand the distribution to retail outlets in Malaysia in 2021. Meanwhile, the rest of the world will just have to wait until Cleverin arrives on their shores.
WHO today launches a year-long global campaign for World No Tobacco Day 2021 – “Commit to Quit.” The new WHO Quit Challenge on WhatsApp and publication “More than 100 reasons to quit tobacco” are being released today to mark the start of the campaign.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to millions of tobacco users saying they want to quit. The campaign will support at least 100 million people as they try to give up tobacco through communities of quitters.
“Commit to Quit” will help create healthier environments that are conducive to quitting tobacco by advocating for strong tobacco cessation policies; increasing access to cessation services; raising awareness of tobacco industry tactics, and empowering tobacco users to make successful quit attempts through “quit & win” initiatives.
WHO, together with partners, will create and build-up digital communities where people can find the social support they need to quit. The focus will be on high burden countries* where the majority of the world’s tobacco users live.
WHO welcomes new contributions from partners, including private sector companies that have offered support, including Allen Carr’s Easyway, Amazon Web Services, Cipla, Facebook and WhatsApp, Google, Johnson & Johnson, Praekelt, and Soul Machines.
Quitting tobacco is challenging, especially with the added social and economic stresses that have come as a result of the pandemic. Worldwide around 780 million people say they want to quit, but only 30% of them have access to the tools that can help them do so. Together with partners, WHO will provide people with the tools and resources they need to make a successful quit attempt.
“Smoking kills 8 million people a year, but if users need more motivation to kick the habit, the pandemic provides the right incentive,” said WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
WHO released a scientific brief earlier this year showing that smokers are at higher risk of developing severe disease and death from COVID-19. Tobacco is also a major risk factor for noncommunicable diseases like cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory disease and diabetes. Moreover, people living with these conditions are more vulnerable to severe COVID-19.
Both global and regional cessation tools will be rolled out as part of the campaign. WHO’s 24/7 digital health worker to help people quit tobacco is available in English and will soon be released to support people in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish.
“Millions of people worldwide want to quit tobacco – we must seize this opportunity and invest in services to help them be successful, while we urge everyone to divest from the tobacco industry and their interests,” said Dr Ruediger Krech, Director of Health Promotion.
To create environments conducive to quitting tobacco, WHO has worked with partners and countries around the globe to implement tobacco control measures that effectively reduce the demand for tobacco.
WHO calls on all governments to ensure their citizens have access to brief advice, toll-free quit lines, mobile and digital cessation services, nicotine replacement therapies and other tools that are proven to help people quit. Strong cessation services improve health, save lives and save money.
Regular physical activity is proven to help prevent and manage noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and several cancers. It also helps prevent hypertension, maintain healthy body weight and can improve mental health, quality of life and well-being.
Physical activity refers to all movement. Popular ways to be active include walking, cycling, wheeling, sports, active recreation and play, and can be done at any level of skill and for enjoyment by everybody.
Daily recommendation for children & adolescents – WHO 2020
Yet, current global estimates show one in four adults and 81% of adolescents do not do enough physical activity. Furthermore, as countries develop economically, levels of inactivity increase and can be as high as 70%, due to changing transport patterns, increased use of technology for work and recreation, cultural values and increasing sedentary behaviours.
Increased levels of physical inactivity have negative impacts on health systems, the environment, economic development, community well-being and quality of life.
— Lee Se-dol, South Korea’s professional Go player
When one man is pitted against the machine, one that is AI-powered with algorithms and permutations in its favour, there’s no other resolve than to fight until the end.
With more board configurations than there are atoms in the universe, the ancient 3,000 year old Chinese game of Go has long been considered a grand challenge for artificial intelligence.
On 9th March 2016, Lee Se-dol began playing a five-game match, broadcast live, against the computer program AlphaGo, developed by a London-based artificial intelligence firm Google DeepMind, for a $1 million match prize. He said “I have heard that Google DeepMind’s AI is surprisingly strong and getting stronger, but I am confident that I can win at least this time”. In an interview with JTBC Newsroom on February 22, 2016, he showed confidence in his chances again, while saying that even beating AlphaGo by 4–1 may allow the Google DeepMind team to claim its de facto victory and the defeat of him, or even humanity. In this interview he pointed out the time rule in this match, which seems well-balanced so that both he and the AI would fairly undergo time pressure. In another interview at Yonhap News, Lee Se-dol said that he was confident of beating AlphaGo by a score of 5–0, at least 4–1 and accepted the challenge in only five minutes. He also stated “Of course, there would have been many updates in the last four or five months, but that isn’t enough time to challenge me”.
Hundreds of millions of people around the world watched as a legendary Go master took on an unproven AI challenger for the first time in history.
His competing against the AlphaGo computer drew comparisons to Garry Kasparov’s chess matches against the Deep Blue supercomputer in 1997.
On 19 November 2019, Lee announced his retirement from professional play, arguing that he could never be the top overall player of Go due to the increasing dominance of AI. Lee referred to them as being “an entity that cannot be defeated”.
He lost 4-1 to AlphaGo in that five-round tournament but still remains the first and only Go player to beat Google’s algorithm.
The 36-year-old officially stepped down from competing by submitting a letter of retirement to South Korea’s Go Association.
Team AFT has compiled some of the most entertaining and educational sports, health & fitness podcasts to be featured right here. Enjoy listening! Submit podcasts
AsiaFitnessToday.com presents The Kurang Manis Podcast, a 40-min talk show on sports, fitness & wellness with personalities from Asia & the Pacifics (English/various). A documentary, “Redifussion-inspired”, raw as can be chit chat with athletes, medical doctors, allied health professionals, the fitness & wellness world – you. A show about us. We tell your stories as they happen in our lives. Join us every so often and bring yer cuppa tea! In Malaysia, it’s the Teh Tarik, made frothy by swift hand movements of a tea-pulling expert but 8 tsp of condensed milk?! Kurang manis, boss!
A tribute to Salleh Ben Joned (1941-2020): A Most Unlikely Malay (in two parts)with daughter Anna Salleh
Salleh Ben Joned is a witty, fearless and charismatic poet and writer that some have called the ‘bad boy of Malaysian literature’. He is a satirist, critic and libertarian, known for challenging taboos about race, religion, sexuality and a whole lot more. In this two-part documentary series, his eldest daughter Anna takes us on a wild ride through the life and times of her infuriating yet utterly loveable father. Learn more about Salleh in his blog.
This documentary is dedicated to Halimaton Attan, the late wife of Salleh Ben Joned and mother to Adam and Hawa Salleh.
Director/Producer Diane Rodgers, RD & Lauren Stine hosts Episode 117 with Dr. Sylvia Karpagam from India.
Indian Public Health doctor, writer, researcher and advocate of the right to health and the right to food Dr. Karpagam discusses the malnutrition and the effects of the Vegetarian Myth in India. Did you know, 80% of India actually eats animal foods and it’s a dangerous myth that it is a vegetarian country?
SINGAPORE SPORT LOSES TRAILBLAZER IN PENNEFATHER; ESPORTS THRIVES THROUGH CORONAVIRUS
#GameOfTwoHalves is a weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday hosted by Lee Yulin, Sazali Abdul Aziz, Rohit Brijnath and David Lee. Produced by The Straits Times, SPH Ep 82.
Japan: Deep Dive from Japan Times
TOKYO OLYMPICS POSTPONED UNTIL 2021
Japan Times staff writer Ryusei Takahashi and host Oscar Boyd discuss the impact of Japan’s unprecedented postponement of the Tokyo Olympics to 2021.
Indonesia: Podkesmas (Podcast Kesehatan Masyarakat)
Podkesmas Asia Network: Empat pria dengan banyak perbedaan dalam diri mereka, dari perbedaan waktu lahir, perbedaan pasangan hidup, perbedaan saldo rekening, dan juga perbedaan popularitas. Hanya satu yang sama dari mereka, mereka yakin Podcast ini PASTI LUCU DAN BERGELIMANG TAWA!
Episod kali ni special sikit sebab semua record dari masing masing. Kalau nak dengar kelam kabut nya macam mana? Jom duduk rumah dan dengarkan kitorang !
For Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird, life in the WNBA paled in comparison to the lavish treatment they received in Russian professional basketball, courtesy of their team owner and benefactor, Shabtai Kalmanovich. Kalmanovich spoiled his stars, showering them with expensive gifts, luxury hotels, and private concerts — but eventually the two stars would have to confront his shadowy past. Listen now.
Message from AXN via their Facebook: Thank you for your support for AXN All-Stars. Due to unforeseen circumstances, our YouTube has not been approved on time by some of the music rights owners and the show will not be able to premiere on AXN Asia’s YouTube tonight. Please check back with us tomorrow on our progress in making AXN All-Stars available to you on YouTube.AXN respects the intellectual property rights of all creative work and rest assured the AXN team is working hard to have this approved by the remaining rights owners. In the meantime, let’s continue to enjoy the show on Facebook.
31 October 2020
Lock in this date, 28th November 2020 for an exclusive virtual extravaganza concert with 19 artists from nine international locations performing to a global audience! World class illusionist, Cosentino from Australia, acclaimed magician Cyril Takayama, American singer/song writer Michael Bolton and Spice Girl Mel C, Asia’s Got Talent judges French-Indonesian singer Anggun and Canadian musician David Foster, Taiwanese hip-hop dance group Maniac Family, Japanese comic duo Yumbo Dump and top Indonesian artist Afgan who has been actively fundraising to provide PPE equipment for hospitals as both his parents are medical professionals.
Team AFT attended a Zoom Press Conference hosted by Allan Wu of AXN All-Stars, George Chien of KC Global Media Asia, the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy for the Republic of Indonesia – Wishnutama Kusubandio with celebrities Anggun, Afgan, Cosentino, David Foster and Cyril Takayama.
This extravaganza will be streamed on via YouTube and Facebook, and is presented by television network AXN All-Stars together with Wonderful Indonesia and InDOnesia CARES – an initiative by The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy in support of Indonesia’s effort in implementing the cleanliness, health, safety, and environmental sustainability protocols across the tourism industry as mandatory precautions. The website shares a comprehensive list of tourism hotspots that have opened up.
A tribute to front line workers, it was curated to collectively lift spirits in the greatest celebration of hope.
“As a brand that thrives on creativity and innovation, we’re proud to partner with the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Republic of Indonesia to create AXN All-Stars, a digital showcase that re- imagines the entertainment experience amid our current climate,” said George Chien, President & CEO, KC Global Media Asia.
“Our current surroundings might be encircled with restrictions, but the desire to impact and reach communities with the power of entertainment remains intact. It is more pertinent now than ever, to leverage this and keep the spirit of togetherness alive. We want to bring communities together while cultivating a spirit of resilience and hope amid a bleak situation,” said Wishnutama Kusubandio, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Republic of Indonesia.
AXN All-Stars will stream live for free on Saturday 28 November at 11pm (AEDT) on AXN Asia’s YouTube and Facebook.
