Hong Kong considering complaint to WTO over Trump tariffs: minister
By Lo Hoi-ying
Hong Kong’s commerce minister has said the government is considering launching a dispute with the World Trade Organization (WTO) over America’s “unreasonable” tariffs on the city’s goods, but has dismissed concerns about the policy’s impact.
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau Ying-wah said on Thursday that the Hong Kong government strongly disapproved of the extra 10 per cent tariffs imposed on products from the city.
He also argued the move showed America’s disregard for Hong Kong’s status as a member of the global trade body.
“We are an independent customs territory. This move is extremely unreasonable and dismissive of WTO regulations,” he told a radio programme.
“We will look into the measure and investigate whether it violates WTO agreements. If necessary, we will not rule out taking action according to the guidelines.”
Yau said the United States had made a mistake in imposing the additional tariffs and called on them to “handle the decision prudently”.
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By Lo Hoi-ying
Hong Kong’s commerce minister has said the government is considering launching a dispute with the World Trade Organization (WTO) over America’s “unreasonable” tariffs on the city’s goods, but has dismissed concerns about the policy’s impact.
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau Ying-wah said on Thursday that the Hong Kong government strongly disapproved of the extra 10 per cent tariffs imposed on products from the city.
He also argued the move showed America’s disregard for Hong Kong’s status as a member of the global trade body.
“We are an independent customs territory. This move is extremely unreasonable and dismissive of WTO regulations,” he told a radio programme.
“We will look into the measure and investigate whether it violates WTO agreements. If necessary, we will not rule out taking action according to the guidelines.”
Yau said the United States had made a mistake in imposing the additional tariffs and called on them to “handle the decision prudently”.
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South Korea blocks Chinese AI DeepSeek from government computers
By Park Chan-kyongAgence France-Presse
South Korea’s defence and trade ministries said on Thursday they had blocked DeepSeek’s access to work computers, following a request from the country’s data watchdog for the Chinese artificial intelligence start-up to clarify how it manages user information.
DeepSeek launched its R1 chatbot last month, claiming it matches the capacity of AI pacesetters in the United States for a fraction of the investment.
South Korea, along with countries such as France and Italy, have asked questions about DeepSeek’s data practices, submitting a written request for information about how the company handles user information.
Seoul’s defence ministry said on Thursday it had blocked DeepSeek from military computers connected to the internet, while the trade ministry said that access had been temporarily restricted on all PCs within the agency.
“Access to DeepSeek from military work computers has been blocked,” a defence ministry spokesperson told This Week in Asia.
“The ministry has reinforced security precautions regarding the use of generative AI and implemented necessary pre-emptive measures for military personnel’s work devices.”
The trade ministry said DeepSeek has not responded to the data watchdog’s inquiry.
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By Park Chan-kyongAgence France-Presse
South Korea’s defence and trade ministries said on Thursday they had blocked DeepSeek’s access to work computers, following a request from the country’s data watchdog for the Chinese artificial intelligence start-up to clarify how it manages user information.
DeepSeek launched its R1 chatbot last month, claiming it matches the capacity of AI pacesetters in the United States for a fraction of the investment.
South Korea, along with countries such as France and Italy, have asked questions about DeepSeek’s data practices, submitting a written request for information about how the company handles user information.
Seoul’s defence ministry said on Thursday it had blocked DeepSeek from military computers connected to the internet, while the trade ministry said that access had been temporarily restricted on all PCs within the agency.
“Access to DeepSeek from military work computers has been blocked,” a defence ministry spokesperson told This Week in Asia.
“The ministry has reinforced security precautions regarding the use of generative AI and implemented necessary pre-emptive measures for military personnel’s work devices.”
The trade ministry said DeepSeek has not responded to the data watchdog’s inquiry.
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Uptick in mainland Chinese, foreign visitors to Hong Kong over Lunar New Year
By Jess Ma
Hong Kong welcomed more mainland Chinese and overseas tourists over the Lunar New Year break compared with the 2024 holiday, a development that industry leaders have called encouraging while urging the city to raise its game in terms of offerings.
Immigration Department statistics showed 1.6 million visitors from the mainland arrived in Hong Kong between January 25 and February 4, a 3.5 per cent increase over the same period last year.
In terms of Hong Kong’s festive period, which spanned eight days between January 28 and February 4, 1.2 million mainland visitors entered the city, or 85 per cent of the 1.4 million total arrivals. On a daily basis, an average of 150,000 mainland tourists arrived.
During the eight-day period, the number of overseas visitors jumped by 11 per cent to 205,093 and included many short-haul travellers from Singapore, the Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand.
“The mainland market is recovering, and I am confident about the tourism sector’s outlook in 2025,” Timothy Chui Ting-pong, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, told the Post on Wednesday.
“The mainland tourist numbers over the Lunar New Year holiday are within expectations, even with slight growth.”
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By Jess Ma
Hong Kong welcomed more mainland Chinese and overseas tourists over the Lunar New Year break compared with the 2024 holiday, a development that industry leaders have called encouraging while urging the city to raise its game in terms of offerings.
Immigration Department statistics showed 1.6 million visitors from the mainland arrived in Hong Kong between January 25 and February 4, a 3.5 per cent increase over the same period last year.
In terms of Hong Kong’s festive period, which spanned eight days between January 28 and February 4, 1.2 million mainland visitors entered the city, or 85 per cent of the 1.4 million total arrivals. On a daily basis, an average of 150,000 mainland tourists arrived.
During the eight-day period, the number of overseas visitors jumped by 11 per cent to 205,093 and included many short-haul travellers from Singapore, the Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand.
“The mainland market is recovering, and I am confident about the tourism sector’s outlook in 2025,” Timothy Chui Ting-pong, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, told the Post on Wednesday.
“The mainland tourist numbers over the Lunar New Year holiday are within expectations, even with slight growth.”
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In Japan, surge in store thefts by foreign gangs sparks vigilance warning
By Julian Ryall
Japanese police have intensified calls for tighter security in pharmacies amid a surge in thefts by foreign criminals posing as tourists, with analysts warning that lax internal checks were fuelling increasingly sophisticated shoplifting offences committed in retail stores.
The National Police Agency provided guidelines on combating shoplifters to the Japan Association of Chain Drug Stores in late January, the first time the authorities had reached out to assist a specific retail sector.
Police recorded 13,754 shoplifting cases in pharmacies in the first 11 months of 2024, the Yomiuri newspaper reported. It added that when Japanese suspects were detained, they were caught in possession of stolen items valued at an average of 10,774 yen (US$70.36), but foreign suspects had shoplifted goods worth an average of 88,531 yen.
“There are a couple of reasons for what is going on now, but the police are right to act because this is a growing problem,” said Shinichi Ishizuka, founder of the Tokyo-based Criminal Justice Future think tank.
“A lot more people are coming to Japan as tourists and they are seeing that shops here are not as well protected against shoplifters as in other countries,” Ishizuka told This Week in Asia.
A lack of defences made retail outlets in Japan easy targets for thieves who would take their haul home, Ishizuka said. He cited an arrest in February 2024 of four Vietnamese who had arrived in Japan on tourist visas but took advantage of lax security at Uniqlo stores to steal the apparel chain’s items before shipping them to Vietnam for sale.
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By Julian Ryall
Japanese police have intensified calls for tighter security in pharmacies amid a surge in thefts by foreign criminals posing as tourists, with analysts warning that lax internal checks were fuelling increasingly sophisticated shoplifting offences committed in retail stores.
The National Police Agency provided guidelines on combating shoplifters to the Japan Association of Chain Drug Stores in late January, the first time the authorities had reached out to assist a specific retail sector.
Police recorded 13,754 shoplifting cases in pharmacies in the first 11 months of 2024, the Yomiuri newspaper reported. It added that when Japanese suspects were detained, they were caught in possession of stolen items valued at an average of 10,774 yen (US$70.36), but foreign suspects had shoplifted goods worth an average of 88,531 yen.
“There are a couple of reasons for what is going on now, but the police are right to act because this is a growing problem,” said Shinichi Ishizuka, founder of the Tokyo-based Criminal Justice Future think tank.
“A lot more people are coming to Japan as tourists and they are seeing that shops here are not as well protected against shoplifters as in other countries,” Ishizuka told This Week in Asia.
A lack of defences made retail outlets in Japan easy targets for thieves who would take their haul home, Ishizuka said. He cited an arrest in February 2024 of four Vietnamese who had arrived in Japan on tourist visas but took advantage of lax security at Uniqlo stores to steal the apparel chain’s items before shipping them to Vietnam for sale.
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No more engine trade-off: Chinese-led design breaks power, efficiency deadlock
By Ling Xin
A study led by Chinese researchers has challenged the foundations of classical thermodynamics, showing that a heat engine can achieve both maximum power output and high efficiency – something previously considered impossible.
Published last month in Physical Review Letters, their research broke the traditional barrier requiring engines to sacrifice efficiency for power, paving the way for potentially revolutionary advances in energy conversion technologies that could lead to more efficient heat engines.
The findings could also help scientists enhance tiny biological machines, such as enzymes, by carefully controlling their temperature, and enable artificial cell factories to produce medicine, biofuels and other materials more efficiently.
By designing a simplified engine model with high-energy level degeneracy – where many microscopic states work together – the researchers were able to leverage collective effects and overcome the traditional efficiency-power trade-off, wrote the authors from Beijing Normal University and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, among others.
Their study showed that when many small parts of a system worked together, they could convert energy more efficiently, offering new possibilities for future technology.
Heat engines convert heat into mechanical work by exploiting a temperature difference between a hot source and a cold sink. From steam engines to power plants, they all generate motion or electricity by harnessing thermal energy.
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By Ling Xin
A study led by Chinese researchers has challenged the foundations of classical thermodynamics, showing that a heat engine can achieve both maximum power output and high efficiency – something previously considered impossible.
Published last month in Physical Review Letters, their research broke the traditional barrier requiring engines to sacrifice efficiency for power, paving the way for potentially revolutionary advances in energy conversion technologies that could lead to more efficient heat engines.
The findings could also help scientists enhance tiny biological machines, such as enzymes, by carefully controlling their temperature, and enable artificial cell factories to produce medicine, biofuels and other materials more efficiently.
By designing a simplified engine model with high-energy level degeneracy – where many microscopic states work together – the researchers were able to leverage collective effects and overcome the traditional efficiency-power trade-off, wrote the authors from Beijing Normal University and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, among others.
Their study showed that when many small parts of a system worked together, they could convert energy more efficiently, offering new possibilities for future technology.
Heat engines convert heat into mechanical work by exploiting a temperature difference between a hot source and a cold sink. From steam engines to power plants, they all generate motion or electricity by harnessing thermal energy.
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Jisoo of Blackpink to visit Hong Kong, Macau, Manila and more on fan meet tour
By The Korea Times
By Pyo Kyung-min
Blackpink’s Jisoo is set to embark on a solo fan meeting tour across Asia following the release of her new album, Amortage, set to drop on February 14.
Her agency, Blissoo, said on February 5 that Jisoo will kick off promotions with a special fan meet event, “Soo in Love”, at CGV Cheongdam CineCity cinema in Seoul’s Gangnam district, coinciding with the album’s release date.
After two sessions in Seoul, the event will expand into an Asia tour throughout the first half of the year, titled “Lights, Love, Action!”. The tour is currently scheduled to visit seven cities: Manila, Bangkok, Tokyo, Macau, Taipei, Hong Kong and Hanoi.
This marks Jisoo’s first solo Asia tour since she debuted as a member of the K-pop group Blackpink under YG Entertainment in 2016.
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By The Korea Times
By Pyo Kyung-min
Blackpink’s Jisoo is set to embark on a solo fan meeting tour across Asia following the release of her new album, Amortage, set to drop on February 14.
Her agency, Blissoo, said on February 5 that Jisoo will kick off promotions with a special fan meet event, “Soo in Love”, at CGV Cheongdam CineCity cinema in Seoul’s Gangnam district, coinciding with the album’s release date.
After two sessions in Seoul, the event will expand into an Asia tour throughout the first half of the year, titled “Lights, Love, Action!”. The tour is currently scheduled to visit seven cities: Manila, Bangkok, Tokyo, Macau, Taipei, Hong Kong and Hanoi.
This marks Jisoo’s first solo Asia tour since she debuted as a member of the K-pop group Blackpink under YG Entertainment in 2016.
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South Korea’s Jeju Air, Air Busan offer ultra-cheap fares to revive demand amid safety fears
By The Korea Times
South Korea’s Jeju Air and Air Busan have rolled out significant discounts on plane tickets to stimulate demand, which has recently been declining following their involvement in major aircraft accidents, according to data and industry officials.
The corporate image of Jeju Air was severely tarnished in the aftermath of the tragic plane crash in December last year, which claimed 179 lives. This led to an immediate decline in earnings for the low-cost carrier (LCC), as customers cancelled tickets amid growing safety concerns.
According to data from the ministry of land, infrastructure and transport, the number of passengers flying with Jeju Air dropped by 29.3 per cent over 26 days following the crash on December 29, compared to the previous month.
Responding to the freeze in demand, Jeju Air adopted an ultracheap sales strategy by drastically cutting ticket prices. The airline is selling tickets between Seoul and Jeju for less than 20,000 won (US$13.85), more than twice as cheap compared to its usual pricing.
This is also the case for Air Busan, which is under scrutiny by relevant authorities after one of its passenger jets caught fire before its flight last month.
The fact that both accidents occurred relatively close to each other in time has also had a negative effect on other LCCs amid ongoing passenger safety fears.
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By The Korea Times
South Korea’s Jeju Air and Air Busan have rolled out significant discounts on plane tickets to stimulate demand, which has recently been declining following their involvement in major aircraft accidents, according to data and industry officials.
The corporate image of Jeju Air was severely tarnished in the aftermath of the tragic plane crash in December last year, which claimed 179 lives. This led to an immediate decline in earnings for the low-cost carrier (LCC), as customers cancelled tickets amid growing safety concerns.
According to data from the ministry of land, infrastructure and transport, the number of passengers flying with Jeju Air dropped by 29.3 per cent over 26 days following the crash on December 29, compared to the previous month.
Responding to the freeze in demand, Jeju Air adopted an ultracheap sales strategy by drastically cutting ticket prices. The airline is selling tickets between Seoul and Jeju for less than 20,000 won (US$13.85), more than twice as cheap compared to its usual pricing.
This is also the case for Air Busan, which is under scrutiny by relevant authorities after one of its passenger jets caught fire before its flight last month.
The fact that both accidents occurred relatively close to each other in time has also had a negative effect on other LCCs amid ongoing passenger safety fears.
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We all need a bit of China’s mountain-moving, desert-greening spirit
By Wei Wei
China’s Spring Festival Gala, or Chunwan, holds a special place in Chinese hearts. It is more than an annual television programme; it’s a cultural touchstone that embodies the spirit of perseverance, unity and hope that defines the Chinese people, offering a mix of entertainment and inspiration while often reflecting the nation’s triumphs and challenges.
Not only superstars but also ordinary people from all walks of life are offered leading roles on Chunwan. As I sat watching this year’s gala, I was particularly impressed by the appearance of the representatives from the Taklimakan Desert sand-blocking project.
The Taklimakan is China’s largest desert and the world’s second largest shifting-sand desert. The project, spanning decades, involved planting a massive green belt along the desert’s edge to prevent further expansion. Scientists and workers battled extreme temperatures and scarce water resources. Last November, the final gap in the 3,046km green barrier was closed, effectively encircling this desert known as the “sea of death” and protecting surrounding ecosystems and communities.
Hundreds of thousands of people contributed to this monumental achievement, turning a daunting challenge into a success for human resilience and ingenuity. It is also a testament to the spirit of perseverance so deeply ingrained in Chinese culture.
I am reminded of the ancient Chinese fable of Yugong, or the Foolish Old Man who moved mountains. Faced with towering mountains blocking the way of his village, the man began and continued digging with his family, day after day, despite ridicule from his neighbours. His resolve moved the gods, who ultimately had the mountains removed.
While the Foolish Old Man is mythical, his story resonates with modern Chinese: no obstacle is too great if you’re willing to keep pushing.
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By Wei Wei
China’s Spring Festival Gala, or Chunwan, holds a special place in Chinese hearts. It is more than an annual television programme; it’s a cultural touchstone that embodies the spirit of perseverance, unity and hope that defines the Chinese people, offering a mix of entertainment and inspiration while often reflecting the nation’s triumphs and challenges.
Not only superstars but also ordinary people from all walks of life are offered leading roles on Chunwan. As I sat watching this year’s gala, I was particularly impressed by the appearance of the representatives from the Taklimakan Desert sand-blocking project.
The Taklimakan is China’s largest desert and the world’s second largest shifting-sand desert. The project, spanning decades, involved planting a massive green belt along the desert’s edge to prevent further expansion. Scientists and workers battled extreme temperatures and scarce water resources. Last November, the final gap in the 3,046km green barrier was closed, effectively encircling this desert known as the “sea of death” and protecting surrounding ecosystems and communities.
Hundreds of thousands of people contributed to this monumental achievement, turning a daunting challenge into a success for human resilience and ingenuity. It is also a testament to the spirit of perseverance so deeply ingrained in Chinese culture.
I am reminded of the ancient Chinese fable of Yugong, or the Foolish Old Man who moved mountains. Faced with towering mountains blocking the way of his village, the man began and continued digging with his family, day after day, despite ridicule from his neighbours. His resolve moved the gods, who ultimately had the mountains removed.
While the Foolish Old Man is mythical, his story resonates with modern Chinese: no obstacle is too great if you’re willing to keep pushing.
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University of Hong Kong tops financial reserves table at HK$41.5 billion
By William Yiu
The University of Hong Kong (HKU) recorded the largest financial reserves among the city’s eight public higher education institutions at HK$41.5 billion (US$5.3 billion) in the last academic year, a 12 per cent increase compared with 2022-23.
Authorities provided the Post with the figures for each institution on Wednesday, with increases ranging from 6 to 14 per cent.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) ranked second and third, respectively, for their reserves.
The Post reported the day before that the combined reserves for the eight universities rose to nearly HK$140 billion. But the institutions only told the Post to refer to their annual reports upon inquiry and declined to directly reveal their individual amounts.
All eight public universities have published annual reports detailing their financial status but only HKUST has disclosed its reserve numbers.
Lawmaker Chow Man-kong, the chairman of the Legislative Council’s education panel, said on Wednesday universities should make use of their healthy financial positions to weather potential funding cuts.
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By William Yiu
The University of Hong Kong (HKU) recorded the largest financial reserves among the city’s eight public higher education institutions at HK$41.5 billion (US$5.3 billion) in the last academic year, a 12 per cent increase compared with 2022-23.
Authorities provided the Post with the figures for each institution on Wednesday, with increases ranging from 6 to 14 per cent.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) ranked second and third, respectively, for their reserves.
The Post reported the day before that the combined reserves for the eight universities rose to nearly HK$140 billion. But the institutions only told the Post to refer to their annual reports upon inquiry and declined to directly reveal their individual amounts.
All eight public universities have published annual reports detailing their financial status but only HKUST has disclosed its reserve numbers.
Lawmaker Chow Man-kong, the chairman of the Legislative Council’s education panel, said on Wednesday universities should make use of their healthy financial positions to weather potential funding cuts.
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India boosts aid to Maldives in bid to ‘outdo’ China’s influence in region
By Junaid Kathju
India has significantly increased its financial aid to the Maldives in its latest budget, with analysts calling it an effort to “outdo and outwait” China’s influence in the region.
In the country’s 2025 national budget released on Saturday, the Maldives received an allocation of 6 billion rupees (US$69 million), up from 4.7 billion rupees last year, marking the biggest increase among South Asian beneficiaries.
India initially earmarked 6 billion rupees for the Maldives in its budget last year, but that sum was later cut to 4.7 billion rupees amid a diplomatic chill triggered by derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Maldivian officials.
Bilateral ties reached a low point in November 2023 when Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, who campaigned on an “India Out” platform, ordered New Delhi to withdraw 89 troops operating and maintaining two Indian-gifted helicopters and one fixed-wing aircraft, citing concerns over national sovereignty.
Nilanthi Samaranayake, an adjunct fellow at the East-West Centre in Washington, said India and the Maldives had been able to mend ties in recent months, in large part by reaching a compromise on the aircraft issue.
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By Junaid Kathju
India has significantly increased its financial aid to the Maldives in its latest budget, with analysts calling it an effort to “outdo and outwait” China’s influence in the region.
In the country’s 2025 national budget released on Saturday, the Maldives received an allocation of 6 billion rupees (US$69 million), up from 4.7 billion rupees last year, marking the biggest increase among South Asian beneficiaries.
India initially earmarked 6 billion rupees for the Maldives in its budget last year, but that sum was later cut to 4.7 billion rupees amid a diplomatic chill triggered by derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Maldivian officials.
Bilateral ties reached a low point in November 2023 when Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, who campaigned on an “India Out” platform, ordered New Delhi to withdraw 89 troops operating and maintaining two Indian-gifted helicopters and one fixed-wing aircraft, citing concerns over national sovereignty.
Nilanthi Samaranayake, an adjunct fellow at the East-West Centre in Washington, said India and the Maldives had been able to mend ties in recent months, in large part by reaching a compromise on the aircraft issue.
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DeepSeek attracts China’s young jobseekers as AI firm ramps up recruitment
By Iris DengAnn Cao
DeepSeek, China’s hottest tech start-up, has become one of the most coveted destinations for young jobseekers across the country, as the company ramps up recruitment of artificial intelligence (AI) talent.
Spots for dozens of jobs related to research and development in artificial general intelligence (AGI) have been opened by DeepSeek at its home base in Hangzhou, capital of eastern Zhejiang province, and in Beijing, according to the website of parent firm High-Flyer Quant and various Chinese recruitment sites.
AGI is software with humanlike intelligence and the ability to self-teach, performing tasks that it was not necessarily trained for.
The first working day after the Lunar New Year break already saw a few young jobseekers venture to DeepSeek’s headquarters, in the hope of getting employed or striking up potential partnerships.
“If I can meet with them, I want to ask if they have any idea to develop AI agents,” said Hangzhou resident Liu Yuanjie, a fresh graduate who studied automation.
Another jobseeker, surnamed Shen, said he drove for four days – from southwestern Sichuan province to Hangzhou – to apply for a job at DeepSeek, which he referred to as “the nation’s pride” because of its AI achievements. Shen said he would take any job at the firm, “whether as a cleaner or a driver”.
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By Iris DengAnn Cao
DeepSeek, China’s hottest tech start-up, has become one of the most coveted destinations for young jobseekers across the country, as the company ramps up recruitment of artificial intelligence (AI) talent.
Spots for dozens of jobs related to research and development in artificial general intelligence (AGI) have been opened by DeepSeek at its home base in Hangzhou, capital of eastern Zhejiang province, and in Beijing, according to the website of parent firm High-Flyer Quant and various Chinese recruitment sites.
AGI is software with humanlike intelligence and the ability to self-teach, performing tasks that it was not necessarily trained for.
The first working day after the Lunar New Year break already saw a few young jobseekers venture to DeepSeek’s headquarters, in the hope of getting employed or striking up potential partnerships.
“If I can meet with them, I want to ask if they have any idea to develop AI agents,” said Hangzhou resident Liu Yuanjie, a fresh graduate who studied automation.
Another jobseeker, surnamed Shen, said he drove for four days – from southwestern Sichuan province to Hangzhou – to apply for a job at DeepSeek, which he referred to as “the nation’s pride” because of its AI achievements. Shen said he would take any job at the firm, “whether as a cleaner or a driver”.
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US set to unveil Trump plan to end Ukraine war
By Bloomberg
US President Donald Trump’s administration is expected to present a long-awaited plan to end Russia’s war on Ukraine at the Munich Security Conference in Germany next week, according to people familiar with the matter.
The blueprint would be presented to allies by Trump’s special representative for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, the people said on condition of anonymity. They declined to say how detailed they expected the discussions to be or what format they would take.
The proposal would be delivered at the February 14-16 conference in the Bavarian city a week before Russia’s war hits the three-year mark. Kellogg and others have dropped hints in recent weeks of what Trump allies have referred to as “peace through strength”.
Elements include potentially freezing the conflict and leaving territory occupied by Russian forces in limbo while providing Ukraine with security guarantees to ensure that Moscow cannot attack again.
Later this month, Kellogg is expected to make his first trip to Kyiv and elsewhere in the European Union, according to people familiar with the matter. In Ukraine, he is expected to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian leader is planning to travel to several countries in the Gulf region after the Munich conference, the people said.
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By Bloomberg
US President Donald Trump’s administration is expected to present a long-awaited plan to end Russia’s war on Ukraine at the Munich Security Conference in Germany next week, according to people familiar with the matter.
The blueprint would be presented to allies by Trump’s special representative for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, the people said on condition of anonymity. They declined to say how detailed they expected the discussions to be or what format they would take.
The proposal would be delivered at the February 14-16 conference in the Bavarian city a week before Russia’s war hits the three-year mark. Kellogg and others have dropped hints in recent weeks of what Trump allies have referred to as “peace through strength”.
Elements include potentially freezing the conflict and leaving territory occupied by Russian forces in limbo while providing Ukraine with security guarantees to ensure that Moscow cannot attack again.
Later this month, Kellogg is expected to make his first trip to Kyiv and elsewhere in the European Union, according to people familiar with the matter. In Ukraine, he is expected to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian leader is planning to travel to several countries in the Gulf region after the Munich conference, the people said.
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Trump signs order seeking to ban transgender athletes from women’s sports
By Reuters
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday attempting to exclude transgender girls and women from female sports, a directive that supporters say will restore fairness but critics say infringes on the rights of a tiny minority of athletes.
The order directs the US Department of Justice to ban transgender girls and women from taking part in female school sports under Trump’s interpretation of Title IX, a law against sex discrimination in education.
“The war on women’s sports is over,” Trump said at a signing ceremony with dozens of women and girls aligned behind him.
“My administration will not stand by and watch men beat and batter female athletes.”
The order, which is likely to face legal challenges, calls for “immediate enforcement” nationwide. It threatens to cut off federal funding for any school that allows transgender women or girls to compete in female-designated sporting competitions.
The order would affect only a small number of athletes. The president of the National Collegiate Athletics Association told a Senate panel in December he was aware of fewer than 10 transgender athletes among the 520,000 competing at 1,100 member schools.
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By Reuters
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday attempting to exclude transgender girls and women from female sports, a directive that supporters say will restore fairness but critics say infringes on the rights of a tiny minority of athletes.
The order directs the US Department of Justice to ban transgender girls and women from taking part in female school sports under Trump’s interpretation of Title IX, a law against sex discrimination in education.
“The war on women’s sports is over,” Trump said at a signing ceremony with dozens of women and girls aligned behind him.
“My administration will not stand by and watch men beat and batter female athletes.”
The order, which is likely to face legal challenges, calls for “immediate enforcement” nationwide. It threatens to cut off federal funding for any school that allows transgender women or girls to compete in female-designated sporting competitions.
The order would affect only a small number of athletes. The president of the National Collegiate Athletics Association told a Senate panel in December he was aware of fewer than 10 transgender athletes among the 520,000 competing at 1,100 member schools.
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How China’s government is supercharging the rise of humanoid robots
By Luna Sun
This is the final story in a three-part series examining the future of China’s humanoid robots; competition between the US and China; and Beijing’s efforts to gain an advantage in this emerging arena. In this piece, we look at how local and national government policies and innovation centres are fuelling dreams of global technological supremacy.
When 102 humanoid robots from 10 different companies converged last month at a sprawling 4,000-square-metre facility on the outskirts of Shanghai, trained in essential tasks – walking, making beds, washing dishes, screwing bolts and even welding – it showed how China is on the fast track to a future where humans and humanoid robots seamlessly coexist.
This unprecedented “robot school”, jointly built by national and local-level authorities, is not just about teaching robots mundane chores – it is a microcosm of China’s grander ambitions.
“Humanoid robots are expected to become the next groundbreaking innovation, following computers, smartphones and new-energy vehicles, profoundly transforming human production and lifestyles while reshaping the global industrial landscape,” according to long-term guidelines rolled out by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).
The government’s aggressive push into humanoid robotics signals a strategic move to dominate emerging technologies and outpace the United States in the race for innovation supremacy amid a high-stakes battle for global technological dominance.
And with the country’s population on the decline, robotic advancements could also help future-proof its economy against demographic and labour challenges.
Shanghai’s pioneering venue – the result of a collaborative effort between local governments, scientific enterprises and companies that could eventually employ these humanoid robots – aims to accelerate the training and development of such robots while gathering data and promoting their commercialisation.
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By Luna Sun
This is the final story in a three-part series examining the future of China’s humanoid robots; competition between the US and China; and Beijing’s efforts to gain an advantage in this emerging arena. In this piece, we look at how local and national government policies and innovation centres are fuelling dreams of global technological supremacy.
When 102 humanoid robots from 10 different companies converged last month at a sprawling 4,000-square-metre facility on the outskirts of Shanghai, trained in essential tasks – walking, making beds, washing dishes, screwing bolts and even welding – it showed how China is on the fast track to a future where humans and humanoid robots seamlessly coexist.
This unprecedented “robot school”, jointly built by national and local-level authorities, is not just about teaching robots mundane chores – it is a microcosm of China’s grander ambitions.
“Humanoid robots are expected to become the next groundbreaking innovation, following computers, smartphones and new-energy vehicles, profoundly transforming human production and lifestyles while reshaping the global industrial landscape,” according to long-term guidelines rolled out by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).
The government’s aggressive push into humanoid robotics signals a strategic move to dominate emerging technologies and outpace the United States in the race for innovation supremacy amid a high-stakes battle for global technological dominance.
And with the country’s population on the decline, robotic advancements could also help future-proof its economy against demographic and labour challenges.
Shanghai’s pioneering venue – the result of a collaborative effort between local governments, scientific enterprises and companies that could eventually employ these humanoid robots – aims to accelerate the training and development of such robots while gathering data and promoting their commercialisation.
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Taxiing Japan Airlines plane hits parked Delta aircraft at Seattle airport
By Associated Press
A Japan Airlines plane that was taxiing on the tarmac of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport apparently struck the tail of a parked Delta aircraft on Wednesday morning, airport authorities said.
Authorities responded to the incident around 10.17am, the airport said on social media. There were no injuries, and airport authorities were working to get the passengers off the aeroplane and bring them back to the terminal.
Delta spokeswoman Samantha Moore Facteau said in an email that its Boeing 737 was waiting to have ice removed from its exterior when the wing tip of another aircraft reportedly made contact with its tail. De-icing, as it is known, can occur before a flight begins to taxi to the runway, she said.
There were 142 passengers on board Delta flight 1921 to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and they were being transferred to a new aircraft, she said. There were no reports of injuries for crew or passengers.
Japan Airlines did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
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By Associated Press
A Japan Airlines plane that was taxiing on the tarmac of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport apparently struck the tail of a parked Delta aircraft on Wednesday morning, airport authorities said.
Authorities responded to the incident around 10.17am, the airport said on social media. There were no injuries, and airport authorities were working to get the passengers off the aeroplane and bring them back to the terminal.
Delta spokeswoman Samantha Moore Facteau said in an email that its Boeing 737 was waiting to have ice removed from its exterior when the wing tip of another aircraft reportedly made contact with its tail. De-icing, as it is known, can occur before a flight begins to taxi to the runway, she said.
There were 142 passengers on board Delta flight 1921 to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and they were being transferred to a new aircraft, she said. There were no reports of injuries for crew or passengers.
Japan Airlines did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
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White House appears to walk back Trump’s shock Gaza plan
By Agence France-Presse
The White House on Wednesday appeared to walk back elements of US President Donald Trump’s shock plan to remove Palestinians from Gaza and launch a US takeover of the devastated territory.
A day after Trump said “the US will take over” and “own” Gaza and that Palestinians would “go to other countries”, the administration sought to downplay expectations.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Republican leader wanted Palestinians to be only “temporarily relocated” out of Gaza instead of permanently resettled in Arab-majority states like Egypt.
She also said the rebuilding of Gaza would not be paid for by the United States and that US troops were not likely to be sent.
“It’s been made very clear to the president that the United States needs to be involved in this rebuilding effort to ensure stability in the region for all people,” she said.
However, “that does not mean boots on the ground in Gaza, it does not mean American taxpayers will be funding this effort”.
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By Agence France-Presse
The White House on Wednesday appeared to walk back elements of US President Donald Trump’s shock plan to remove Palestinians from Gaza and launch a US takeover of the devastated territory.
A day after Trump said “the US will take over” and “own” Gaza and that Palestinians would “go to other countries”, the administration sought to downplay expectations.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Republican leader wanted Palestinians to be only “temporarily relocated” out of Gaza instead of permanently resettled in Arab-majority states like Egypt.
She also said the rebuilding of Gaza would not be paid for by the United States and that US troops were not likely to be sent.
“It’s been made very clear to the president that the United States needs to be involved in this rebuilding effort to ensure stability in the region for all people,” she said.
However, “that does not mean boots on the ground in Gaza, it does not mean American taxpayers will be funding this effort”.
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