HONG KONG MEANS BUSINESS

12 DECEMBER 2018

MARKET SPOTLIGHT Start-up Brings Genomics Services to Asia Gene scans which let everyone lead healthier lives come at an affordable price. Everyone reading this is the product of genes plus environment – genes specify many traits, such as height, while the environment influences the result.  More US Trade Latest Developments and Support for SMEs A new webpage brings businesses the latest updates and regulatory alerts related to United States trade. FIRST PERSON Boutique Pizza Makes Foray into Asia Award-winning Geneva-based restaurant Kytaly chooses to open its first international outpost in Hong Kong. INSIDE CHINA Students Bone Up on Belt and Road A contest broadcast on prime-time TV gives youth a chance to learn about the ample opportunities this giant development project offers. HEADS-UP HKTDC Education & Careers Expo This event provides a hunting ground for students and job-seekers of all ages. VENTURE HONG KONG Re-birth for Comprehensive Baby-products Store Two sisters set up an outlet for mums and babes after their employer shuts down, leaving a gap in the market. LIFE & STYLE Putting Kennedy Town on the Map One of Hong Kong’s most intriguing neighbourhoods has received a boost following the launch of a guide by travel app and map maker iDiscover. UPCOMING EVENTS 17 Dec New Marketing Trends Workshop– “Digital and Social Media Marketing – Trends... 17-19 Dec Hong Kong Jewellery Business Mission to Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area 19-20 Dec Lifestyle Expo in Mumbai 2018 FIND AN EVENT   MULTIMEDIA SEE THIS Cheers for Wine & Spirits Fair 2018 HEAR THIS Hong Kong: A Fruitful Pairing for Italian Wine MORE MULTIMEDIA   RESEARCH Technology Innovation Opportunities in the Bay Area: The Hong Kong-... China’s Catering Market (3): New Online Promotional Strategies ASEAN: Market Profile MORE RESEARCH

AHEPA Participates at International Conference on Eastern Mediterranean

AHEPA Participates at International Conference on Eastern Mediterranean  Supreme President George E. Loucas provided a welcome address, and Supreme Secretary George Horiates presented as a panelist, at an international conference titled, "New Realities in the Eastern Mediterranean" held yesterday at the Konrad Adenauer Conference Center, Mishkenot Shaananim, Jerusalem. The Jerusalem Institute for Strategic Studies (JISS) and B'nai B'rith International (BBI) sponsored the conference which was held in cooperation with AHEPA and the American Hellenic Institute (AHI). Supreme Secretary Horiates spoke on the topic, "Promoting Mediterranean Awareness in the U.S." read news release AHEPA Happenings | Harrisburg Chapter Feeds Needy   AHEPA Chapter 64, Harrisburg, Pa., distributed 220 turkeys to 12 venues to help feed the needy of the Harrisburg-Carlisle area for the Holiday Season. They distributed the turkeys on December 8.    "Invite 1" Membership Campaign Underway As our year-end membership deadline looms, Supreme President George E. Loucas calls on Ahepans to "Invite 1" to join the Order. Season of Giving | Celebrate the Holidays with a Gift that Makes a Difference During this Season of Giving, the Order of AHEPA invites the community to give a gift that will help to make a difference in people's lives -- with a gift to one of AHEPA's charitable giving entities.  They help AHEPA meet its commitment to philanthropy, a facet of the Order's mission. Over the decades, AHEPA has provided millions of dollars in disaster relief, has supported America's military service members through organizations such as the USO, and has backed researchers searching for a cure to deadly diseases, among many other worthy causes. Recently, AHEPA has administered humanitarian aid to the people of Greece, including public health assistance, through the AHEPA Charitable Foundation. Take Action. Make an online tax-deductible donation today Don't forget to follow AHEPA on social media:

Join AHEPA Today! In Our Own Words. What AHEPA means to us. Join AHEPA Now Upcoming Events & Deadlines   December  13 | U.S.-Greece Strategic Dialogue, State Department, Washington, D.C.  Visit to Saint Basil Academy, Garrison, N.Y. 31 | Membership submission year-end deadline January 4-6 | Epiphany events, Tarpon Springs, Fla. February  1 | Deadline for the spring 2019 issue of The Ahepan Greek American News Digest   Editor's Note: Editorials, Commentaries, and Opinion pieces are shared for information purposes only and do not necessarily reflect the views or policy positions of the Order of AHEPA, its affiliated organizations, and members.     Greece Drags Itself Back Toward Normality Bloomberg (Dec. 7)    As the cradle of democracy, Greece knows better than most countries what politics is all about. Yet, for the last eight years, any discussions between lawmakers from the left and right there have been overshadowed by the country's economic collapse, and the string of rescue programs put together by the European Union and International Monetary Fund.  read more    An exclusive interview with the head of the Greek Delegation, to the Greece-US strategic dialogue Alternate Foreign Minister Giorgos Katrougalos Greek News Online (Dec. 9)    On Thursday, December 13, Greek-American relations turn a new page with the inauguration of their strategic dialogue. The meeting will take place in Washington, D.C.; the two delegations are headed by Alternate Foreign Minister Giorgos Katrougalos and the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.  read more     Greece's alternate defense minister: Countervailing forces are clashing on the international stage Defense News (Dec. 9)   Defense and security policies are constituent elements of the state's hard core, and as such are resistant to change. This very statement also implies that any change or reshaping of these policies reflects deep and fundamental changes of both national and international essence.  read more  St. Nicholas Feast Day Marks New Beginning for National Shrine The National Herald (Dec. 11) On the feast of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, December 6, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America administered the solemn Affirmation of Office to the first Board of Trustees for the new St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at the World Trade Center (WTC). This historic and emotional moment took place in the Archdiocesan Chapel of St. Paul, and marks a new beginning in the life of this sacred church.  read more For retiring Congresswoman Tsongas, a chance to say thanks in Lowell Lowell Sun (Dec. 10) It took U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas close to an hour to greet everyone who came out Sunday to her celebration. Hundreds of people lined up in the atrium of, fittingly, the Tsongas Center, hoping to catch a moment with the congresswoman and offer warm wishes as she heads into retirement next month. Tsongas stood at the front of the line, embracing friends and supporters who stood by her through more than a decade in office.  read more   Judicial council rejects appeal for release by N17 convict Savvas Xiros Ekathimerini (Dec. 10)   A Piraeus Council of Appeals Court Judges on Monday rejected an appeal by November 17 convict Savvas Xiros to be given early release on the grounds of poor health.  While acknowledging Xiros's health problems, the judges deemed that Xiros, 55, should remain in Attica's high-security Korydallos Prison and serve 25 years of actual jail time before he can be eligible for release.  read more   Miss Greece Parades in Traditional Costume at Miss Universe Pageant The Pappas Post (Dec. 10) Miss Greece Ioanna Bella opted for a complete, traditional version of her nation's national dress for the costume parade at the 2018 Miss Universe competition taking place in Thailand.  read more | video Led Zeppelin Changed the Life of John Varvatos-and It Wasn't the Music Wall Street Journal (Dec. 11) John Varvatos, 64, is a menswear designer and the chairman of John Varvatos Enterprises, which specializes in rock-inspired men's fashion. He also is president of John Varvatos Records in Nashville. He spoke with Marc Myers. I was 18 when I went to my first arena rock concert. I saw Led Zeppelin at Detroit's Cobo Hall in July 1973. The sound of 20,000 people screaming in reaction to the music and the band gave me goosebumps.  read more (subscription req'd)   Lanthimos' The Favourite Nominated for 5 Golden Globes The National Herald  (Dec. 7) The Golden Globe nominations were announced on December 6 by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos' The Favourite is up for five of the coveted awards this year. The film is nominated for Best Picture (Comedy), Best Actress for Olivia Colman, Best Supporting Actress  for Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz, and Best Screenplay for writers Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara. read more     War and peace: Pericles' fascinating journey from Greece to the Bronx Riverdale Press (Dec. 9)   What started as a graduate school dissertation turned into a very personal project for Perry Rizopoulos.  Just a few years after graduating as Manhattan College's valedictorian, Rizopoulos started to really think about the life the grandfather he was named for, Pericles Rizopoulos, and what life for him was like during World War II.  Rizopoulos now has something to show for that exploration of the past, with his memoir, "Wheat Songs: A Greek-American Journey."   read more    Feeding NYC's Homeless: Way of Life for this Westchester Community The Pappas Post (Dec. 9)  For a decade, hundreds of volunteers from a Greek Orthodox church have carpooled every month to New York City, where they set up an outdoor dining room to feed dozens of homeless.  read more

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION update

Lava brew, clones from seed, personal heat patches, and Hurricane MariaÂs landscape legacy

12/14/2018 12:00 AM EST

Lava brew, clones from seed, personal heat patches, and Hurricane MariaÂs landscape legacy GEO: Hurricane Maria's Footprint UNH Researchers Find Unexpected Impact of Hurricanes on Puerto Rico's Watershed NSF Luquillo Critical ...

This is an NSF Multimedia Gallery item.

Tracking neural activity, muscle movement in hydra (Image 5)

12/11/2018 12:00 AM EST

Rice University graduate student Krishna Badhiwala captures a hydra for study in a custom microfluidic system in the lab of electrical and computer engineer Jacob Robinson. The Rice lab is studying the hydra to characterize the relationship between its neural activity and muscle movements. [Image 5 ...

This is an NSF Multimedia Gallery item.

Tracking neural activity, muscle movement in hydra (Image 1)

12/11/2018 12:00 AM EST

Rice University graduate student Elaa Hilou sets up an experiment to study the effect of a spinning magnetic field on a colloid of micron-sized magnetic particles. [Image 1 of 7 related images. See Image 2.] More about this image Jacob ...

This is an NSF Multimedia Gallery item.

Tracking neural activity, muscle movement in hydra (Image 7)

12/11/2018 12:00 AM EST

Rice University electrical and computer engineer Jacob Robinson and his lab have developed methods to corral tiny, squid-like hydra to perform the first comprehensive characterization of relationships between neural activity and muscle movements in the animals. [Image 7 of 7 related images. Back to ...

This is an NSF Multimedia Gallery item.

Tracking neural activity, muscle movement in hydra (Image 6)

12/11/2018 12:00 AM EST

Rice University electrical and computer engineer Jacob Robinson peers into a chamber of hydra cultivated in his lab for testing. The Rice team is developing techniques to characterize the nervous systems of hydra. [Image 6 of 7 related images. See Image ...

This is an NSF Multimedia Gallery item.

Tracking neural activity, muscle movement in hydra (Image 3)

12/11/2018 12:00 AM EST

Rice University graduate student Elaa Hilou (left) and Professor Sibani Lisa Biswal set up an experiment in a device that combines a rotating magnetic field and a microscope. The researchers are studying the effects of a spinning field on magnetic particles. Their findings could help researchers ...

This is an NSF Multimedia Gallery item.

Tracking neural activity, muscle movement in hydra (Image 2)

12/11/2018 12:00 AM EST

Micron-sized magnetic particles are set to go for a spin in a custom rig used by Rice University researchers to study the effects of a spinning magnetic field on materials. [Image 2 of 7 related images. See Image 3.] More about this ...

This is an NSF Multimedia Gallery item.

Using laser light to tune electronic energy levels

12/11/2018 12:00 AM EST

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have discovered a new way of using laser light to tune electronic energy levels in 2D films of crystal. More about this image Faster, more efficient data storage and computer logic systems could be on the horizon thanks to a new ...

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Corals on the Great Barrier Reef

12/11/2018 12:00 AM EST

Corals on the Great Barrier Reef. A recent study suggests that corals in the Great Barrier Reef have enough genetic variation to adapt to and survive rising ocean temperatures for at least another century. More about this image Using genetic samples and computer simulations, ...

This is an NSF Multimedia Gallery item.

Chemists have developed safe alternatives to phthalates used in plastics by preventing chemical leac

12/08/2018 12:00 AM EST

Researchers at University of California, Santa Cruz, have developed safer alternatives to phthalate plasticizers -- which can leach out of plastics into food water and the environment -- potentially preventing a variety of health problems. The alternatives can still enhance the suppleness, ...

This is an NSF Multimedia Gallery item.

Biologists discover a tick's metabolism speeds up after months of fasting so it can pursue a meal

12/08/2018 12:00 AM EST

Scientists at the University of Cincinnati say the hungrier ticks are, the harder they try to find people or other hosts -- a finding that could have implications for the spread of tick-borne diseases such as Lyme or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. The researchers explain that starved ticks' ...

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A new study finds drought-resistant plants native to West Africa can irrigate food crops

12/08/2018 12:00 AM EST

Scientists have developed a crop system that takes advantage of Guiera, a plant native to West Africa, to help sustain food supply for a growing population. A new study shows that the shrub, abundant in the Sahel region, can share the precious water they draw in and boost production of one of the ...

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A new type of electronic glove gives robots a sense of touch, plus the ability to perform simple tas

12/08/2018 12:00 AM EST

Stanford researchers have developed an electronic glove that bestows robotic hands with some of the manual dexterity humans enjoy. The research team demonstrated that the sensors work well enough to allow a robotic hand to touch a delicate berry and handle a ping-pong ball without squashing them, ...

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CANADA latest

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with Louise Arbour, United Nations Special Representative for International Migration

December 14, 2018
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke today with Louise Arbour in her capacity as the United Nations Special Representative for International Migration.

The Prime Minister congratulated Ms. Arbour for the successful conclusion of the Intergovernmental Conference to Adopt the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration, held in Marrakesh, Morocco on December 10-11, 2018.  

Prime Minister Trudeau reaffirmed Canada’s support for the Compact, recognizing the importance of this global agreement that sets out important principles that will help guide countries to better manage the opportunities and challenges associated with global migration movements. 

The Prime Minister thanked Ms. Arbour for her personal leadership and dedication on migration issues—an example of the important contribution being made by Canadians working within the multilateral system to respond to some of the most pressing challenges in the world today.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with Armenian Prime Minister-elect Nikol Pashinyan

December 14, 2018
Ottawa, Ontario

Today the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, spoke with the Prime Minister-elect of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan.

Prime Minister Trudeau congratulated Prime Minister-elect Pashinyan on his victory in Armenia’s parliamentary elections on December 9. The leaders discussed the importance of free and fair democratic elections and the rule of law.  

The two leaders noted the warm relationship between Canada and Armenia, and looked forward to deepening and strengthening bilateral cooperation and partnership, including in areas such as infrastructure investment.