The International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva Reveals More than 40 Scientific and Technological Innovation Achievements from Hong Kong
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The Hong Kong Innovation and Invention Exhibition, led by the Hong Kong Exporters' Association, participated in the 49th International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva, Switzerland for the first time. The exhibition showcased over 40 cutting-edge inventions and technologies from Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Innovation and Invention Exhibition showcased innovations and inventions in five major categories: smart city, smart home and life, innovative finance, health technology and pharmaceuticals, intelligent transportation, and intelligent industry. Some of the showcased products include SINOVATED TECHNOLOGY's intelligent monitoring system for eldercare centers, GREEN DAY INC's carbon dioxide recovery and resource regeneration device, ETBadge's blockchain-based certification system, Gense Technologies' portable health screening device, and the electronic lock developed by the Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre. Eric Sun, Chairman of Hong Kong Exporters' Association, highlighted the global potential of Hong Kong's technology companies and the exhibition's role in aiding overseas market expansion and internationalization. Caroline Simonet, Director of the Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions, praised Hong Kong's dynamic spirit of invention and emphasized the importance of fostering international exchange and collaboration for innovation.
#HongKong #Innovation #Technology #Inventions #Exhibition #Geneva
Nasa seeks cheaper ideas for Mars sample return mission amid budget crunch
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Nasa is seeking a cheaper, simpler approach to retrieve soil samples collected on Mars and fly them back to Earth. A formal request for proposals will be sent to Nasa centers, laboratories, and space industry companies. The overhaul will focus on innovation and proven technology to reduce development time, risks, and costs. The move comes after an independent review found the program hindered by unrealistic budget and schedule expectations. The mission's next phase involves sending a second robotic landing craft to Mars to retrieve the samples and launching them into Martian orbit for rendezvous with a third spacecraft that would fly them back to Earth. The original launch and return dates were anticipated for the late 2020s and early 2030s, respectively, with costs projected at $5 billion to $7 billion. However, the review found that costs could soar to as high as $11 billion and the specimens would not be delivered to Earth before 2040. Nasa officials are considering leaving behind some of the samples and hope to find a solution with the help of Nasa, JPL, and aerospace industry partners.
#Nasa #Mars #SampleReturnMission #BudgetCrunch
https://www.asiaone.com/world/nasa-seeks-cheaper-ideas-mars-sample-return-mission-amid-budget-crunch
Will Smith to address his Oscars slap ahead of movie comeback
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Will Smith, the 55-year-old actor, is preparing to address his infamous Oscars slap "head on" as part of his big PR campaign ahead of his Hollywood comeback. He will tackle the slap and how he has changed since then, and is likely to speak about his marriage to Jada, after they secretly split up more than six years ago. Will has a big fan base who want him back in the thick of the action, and he has previously apologized to Chris Rock for his behavior at the Oscars.
https://www.asiaone.com/entertainment/will-smith-address-his-oscars-slap-ahead-movie-comeback
Tennis drama Challengers showcases Zendaya's versatility
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Zendaya produces and stars in the tennis drama Challengers. The film, directed by Luca Guadagnino, follows the story of Tashi Duncan, a former tennis champion who now coaches her husband Art. When Art's former best friend Patrick reappears, problems from their past start affecting their present. The actors immersed themselves in the world of tennis for authenticity. Challengers, which marks the screenwriting debut of Justin Kuritzkes, will be released globally on April 24.
#Zendaya #Challengers #Tennis #Drama #LucaGuadagnino
https://www.asiaone.com/entertainment/tennis-drama-challengers-showcases-zendayas-versatility
Jane Goodall's 90th birthday wish? More time to get out the conservation message
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British primatologist-turned-conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall will mark her 90th birthday next month with a series of talks. Her greatest wish is for people to start thinking more about the environment. Goodall wants more years to continue spreading the message about slowing down climate change, loss of biodiversity, alleviating poverty, and ending industrial farming. She rose to prominence in the 1960s for her groundbreaking research on wild chimpanzees in Gombe, Tanzania. Goodall's upcoming talks will focus on her reflections as she turns 90 and the need for immediate action. The events will raise money for the Jane Goodall Institute and the Roots and Shoots youth program. Goodall remains hopeful that there is time to persuade the wealthy to be more considerate of the future. She will speak in Seattle on March 30 and in New York on April 1.
#JaneGoodall #Conservation #Environment #ClimateChange #Biodiversity #Poverty #IndustrialFarming #Talks #Fundraising
Vietnam minister says president's resignation has not affected policies
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Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son stated that the resignation of Vietnam's second president in little over a year has not affected the country's foreign and economic policies. Son emphasized that Vietnam has a collective leadership and policymaking system, with collective-decided economic development plans set out during Communist Party congresses held every five years. He also expressed Vietnam's hope for the United States to recognize it as a market economy and called for increased economic trade and investment cooperation between the two countries. The resignation of the president, Vo Van Thuong, has raised questions about stability in Vietnam, but analysts believe that the current leadership changes will not impact the country's key policies. Vietnam seeks good relations with all major powers and welcomes efforts to stabilize relations between the United States and China.
#Vietnam #ForeignMinister #President'sResignation #ForeignPolicy #EconomicDevelopment #MarketEconomy #UsvietnamRelations #Stability
https://www.asiaone.com/asia/vietnam-minister-says-presidents-resignation-has-not-affected-policies
North Korea scraps all economic co-operation with South Korea
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North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly has voted to scrap all agreements signed with South Korea on promoting economic co-operation. The assembly also voted to abolish laws governing economic ties with Seoul, including the special law on the operation of the Mount Kumgang tourism project. The project was suspended in 2008 after a South Korean tourist was shot and killed by North Korean guards. North Korea considers the South as an enemy at war and last year scrapped a military pact signed in 2018 aimed at de-escalating tension near the military border. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol called the shift in North Korea's inter-Korea policy 'an extraordinary change' but said it was hard to understand the thinking behind the move. Yoon remains open to engaging the North, even by holding a summit meeting with Kim, and providing aid if it would help its economy. Kim Jong-un has pushed the North to develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles while its economy languished. Kim recently toured factories and gave guidance on modernizing facilities as part of a new regional development policy.
#NorthKorea #SouthKorea #EconomicCo-operation #SupremePeople'sAssembly #MountKumgangTourismProject #MilitaryPact #YoonSuk-yeol #KimJong-un #NuclearWeapons #BallisticMissiles
https://www.asiaone.com/asia/north-korea-scraps-all-economic-co-operation-south-korea
UK minister to meet with US lawmakers on restoration of Northern Ireland government
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Chris Heaton-Harris, the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, will travel to Washington to discuss the restoration of Northern Ireland's devolved government with US lawmakers and promote its economic potential. Northern Ireland recently appointed its first Irish nationalist leader after a two-year deadlock over post-Brexit trade frictions. Heaton-Harris will meet with representatives from the US State Department, the US National Security Council, and businesses to highlight Northern Ireland as a place to trade, invest, visit, and study. The US has played a significant role in brokering a peace deal in Northern Ireland in 1998. President Joe Biden has expressed pride in his ancestral ties to Ireland and has urged Northern Irish political leaders to restore the government with the promise of US investment. Heaton-Harris will also discuss the implementation of a new law that gives conditional amnesties to former soldiers and militants, which Ireland has challenged legally.
#NorthernIreland #ChrisHeaton-harris #UsLawmakers #DevolvedGovernment #EconomicPotential #Post-brexitTradeFrictions #UsStateDepartment #UsNationalSecurityCouncil #Power-sharingGovernment #1998PeaceDeal #JoeBiden #ConditionalAmnesties #FormerSoldiers #Militants #Ireland
https://www.asiaone.com/world/uk-minister-meet-us-lawmakers-restoration-northern-ireland-government
Coface Country and Sector Risk Barometer – Q4 2023: 2024, a pivotal year
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After a somewhat turbulent 2023, 2024 is shaping up to be a decisive year with more than 60 national elections and risks mounting on a slowing global economy. Global growth is expected to slow to 2.2% in 2024. The Chinese economy is stalling at the beginning of the year, with concerns about the property market correction and deflationary pressures. In Europe, stagnation is expected in the first half of the year. Core inflation is still twice the central bank target in most developed monetary areas. Interest rates are expected to remain high throughout the year in all advanced economies. Emerging economies will be the main drivers of global growth, contributing 1.7 percentage points to world GDP growth. Instability in the Red Sea region is a major threat to maritime traffic. Shipping companies are already avoiding the Suez Canal, resulting in higher costs and fares. Freight rates have more than doubled from Shanghai to Europe. Coface is a leader in trade credit insurance and risk management.
#Coface #RiskAssessment #GlobalEconomy #EconomicOutlook #InterestRates #MaritimeTraffic #FreightRates
https://www.asiaone.com/business/coface-country-and-sector-risk-barometer-q4-2023-2024-pivotal-year
Bangladesh welcomes Biden letter on support for economic goals
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President Joe Biden has sent a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh, expressing the US's willingness to work with Bangladesh to help achieve its economic goals. This comes nearly a month after Hasina was sworn in for her fourth term following an election boycotted by the opposition. The US government has been critical of Bangladesh's democracy and human rights records, but Biden's letter signals a desire to improve the relationship and reach new heights. The United States is committed to supporting Bangladesh's ambitious economic goals and partnering on a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific. The US embassy in Dhaka has not yet responded to requests for comment. The United States is the biggest buyer of Bangladeshi clothes and has the ability to restrict visas for individuals believed to undermine the democratic election process. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) boycotted the election after Hasina refused their demand for her resignation and the appointment of a neutral authority to oversee the election. Hasina has been credited with turning around the economy, but critics have accused her of human rights violations and suppressing dissent.
#Bangladesh #JoeBiden #SheikhHasina #Us-bangladeshRelations #EconomicGoals
https://www.asiaone.com/world/bangladesh-welcomes-biden-letter-support-economic-goals