In today’s talking points, New biometric technology to help seamless exit at Australian international airports; China scientists develop diseases and insects resistant rice with genome-wide chip; Herbal medicines could pose hidden risks to health; China creates a five-year plan on HIV/AIDS prevention.
New biometric technology to help seamless exit at Australian international airports
The Australian government will try to apply new biometric technology to help seamless exit at Australian international airport. The new project sets to kick off later this year with no need to show a passport or incoming passenger card. It allows Australian citizens and some international passport holders to scan passports entering the country, which avoids queuing at the immigration desk. A spokesperson from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection said the department is implementing the “world first” technology to self-process arriving travelers.
Read more at Xinhua
China scientists develop diseases and insects resistant rice with genome-wide chip
According to China National Seed Group, a new rice variety developed with genome-wide breeding chip technology will be grown in Northeast China Heilongjiang Province in April. It is high-yield rice in the country and expected to be the first disease and insects resistant without food safety problems. Scientists said that they have been identifying the genes for five years and recently developed the new breed.
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Herbal medicines could pose hidden risks to health
Researchers from the University of Adelaide have shown that the common belief herbal medicines are safe is not only a misconception but could also be putting users at risk. Lead author of the study, Prof. Roger Byrad from the University of Adelaide, said ‘Toxic side effects of herbal medicines used in traditional societies have been typically not been reported, and this is often cited in favour of their safety…However, the lack of systematic observation has meant that even serious adverse reactions, such as kidney failure and liver damage caused by some plant species, have gone unrecognised until recently. Co-author, Dr. Ian Musgrave from the University’s Discipline of Pharmacology said that some herbal medicines slip through the cracks of Australian regulations because they are not technically medicines under Australian law. Byrad stated in order to avoid any potential issues or complications in the future, a national body the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), should requite manufactures to have samples independently tested before placing them on the market.
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China creates a five-year plan on HIV/AIDS prevention
The Chinese government has issued a five-year action plan for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. According to a plan posted on the website of the State Council on Sunday, the government will make the utmost effort to find out HIV-infected and AIDS patients, reduce infections through drug needles, blood transfusion and mother-to-child transmission, minimise fatality rate and improve patients’ quality of life. The plan will conclude in 2020 and has set multiple targets such as reducing AIDS related activities of male homosexuals by at least 10 percent and decrease mother-to-child transmission rate to less than 4 per cent. The plan also includes the promotions of traditional Chinese medicine in AIDS treatment.
Read more at Xinhua