South Korean budget carrier sparks controversy over crew taking photos on aircraft wing

Eastar Jet, a South Korean budget airline, is facing criticism after its crew members were photographed posing on the wing of a delayed aircraft at Cheongju International Airport. The incident occurred Wednesday while Flight 703, scheduled for Jeju Island, was delayed due to heavy snow. Crew members opened an overwing emergency exit and climbed onto the wing to take pictures.

The controversy stems from the fact that Cheongju Airport is a military facility protection zone, where photography is strictly prohibited without authorization. Violators of the Protection of Military Bases and Installation Act could face up to three years in prison or a fine of 30 million won (US$20,800). The incident is under investigation.

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Controversy over popular mainland Chinese ID cards in Taiwan prompts crackdown

台湾正在加大力度打击申请中国大陆身份证的台湾居民,以应对北京日益增长的影响力。台湾大陆事务委员会(MAC)誓言将对违反当地法律者采取严厉行动,该法律禁止持有两岸的有效身份证件。

除了重申法律后果外,包括剥夺违法者的投票权和其他公民权利,台湾正在发起一项广泛的调查来解决这个问题。此前有视频爆料称,北京方面一直在引诱台湾居民申请大陆身份证,以此作为影响台湾舆论的更广泛战略的一部分。据称已有数万台湾居民持有大陆身份证,引发了岛内广泛关注。

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Sexual assault lawsuit against Jay-Z, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs dropped by accuser

一名匿名女性撤销了对肖恩“Jay-Z”卡特和肖恩“Diddy”库姆斯在2000年对其进行性侵犯的民事诉讼。该女性当时年仅13岁。根据曼哈顿联邦法院的文件显示,原告简·多伊自愿撤销了此案,且具有“不得再审”的效力,这意味着她不能再次提起诉讼。

该女性的律师托尼·布兹比拒绝置评。值得注意的是,库姆斯目前身陷多起性侵指控,并面临敲诈勒索和性交易的刑事指控,他被关押在布鲁克林监狱,等待5月5日开始的审判。尽管库姆斯对刑事指控拒不认罪,并在所有案件中都坚称自己是无辜的,但他仍面临数十起其他男女提起的民事诉讼,其中许多案件由布兹比的律师事务所代理。

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Japan’s embassy, Hungary’s police slammed for not protecting murdered Japanese woman

Hungarian police have apologized for their inadequate response to a Japanese woman's pleas for help against her abusive Irish husband, after she was found dead in a burned-out apartment in Budapest on January 29th. The initial investigation ruled the fire accidental, but an autopsy revealed signs of abuse, prompting further scrutiny of the husband, who had reported the fire.

The victim, identified as Megumi, had sought police protection since 2022. Following an internal investigation, five officers were disciplined for failing to adequately respond to her complaints. The husband, who has not been named, was caught on security cameras near the apartment disguised with a balaclava, despite claiming he hadn't returned after picking up their two children earlier that day.

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Asia must act to avoid eating pangolins out of existence

The recent discovery of the Indo-Burmese pangolin species has sparked concerns that legal loopholes could increase the risk of poaching and illegal trade for these already vulnerable mammals. Pangolins are among the most trafficked mammals globally, driven by high demand in Asia, where they are used in traditional medicine and consumed as a delicacy.

Despite efforts by China to protect its native pangolin species, a newly established quota for pangolin scales for medical use, coupled with the continued inclusion of scales in patented traditional medicine formulas, creates uncertainty about the country's commitment to eliminating the trade. Historically, pangolin exploitation is rooted in Asian cultural practices, but sustainable local consumption has transformed into a large-scale slaughter to meet relentless demand.

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The Hong Kong party rooms where no surveillance is the selling point

香港出现一种新型派对房,专为寻求隐私的年轻情侣设计,房间内提供床铺、淋浴,并承诺没有闭路电视监控。这种新兴服务在住房紧张的香港受到关注,但同时也引发了社会工作者和律师的担忧。

这些派对房通常位于商业或工业大厦内,原本是为大型社交聚会提供场所,配备卡拉OK设备和游戏空间。然而,一些商家开始专门针对情侣的需求进行改造,提供更私密的空间。律师指出,如果这些场所没有宾馆牌照,可能涉嫌违规经营,而社会工作者则提醒消费者,商家对隐私的承诺可能无法完全兑现。

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‘Naughty’ China boy calls police claiming robbery after dad keeps Lunar New Year lucky money

一名中国西北地区的男孩报警称自己被“坏人”抢走了过年收到的压岁钱,而“坏人”竟然是他的父亲。这一事件引发了社交媒体的广泛关注和讨论。在中国,农历新年期间长辈给晚辈压岁钱是一种传统习俗,寓意着对孩子们的祝福。

据报道,这起事件发生在甘肃兰州,但媒体并未透露该男孩的具体年龄。在许多中国家庭,孩子收到的压岁钱通常由父母保管。这起“报案”事件也引发了人们对于压岁钱归属问题的讨论。

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Hitmen mow down cartel-busting colonel in violence-torn Ecuador

厄瓜多尔负责反毒行动的陆军上校Porfirio Cedeno在瓜亚基尔市遭枪击身亡。事发当时,Cedeno正前往参加一个军事仪式,他乘坐的皮卡车遭到袭击,身中多枪,司机腿部也受伤。警方在现场发现了超过20个弹壳,初步判断枪手乘坐汽车作案。

Cedeno此前负责领导一个特别行动队,主要负责打击瓜亚基尔邻近城市杜兰的毒品走私、雇佣杀人和敲诈勒索等犯罪活动。瓜亚基尔和杜兰都深受毒品犯罪的影响, rival 毒品团伙之间的争斗导致厄瓜多尔的凶杀率急剧上升,这个曾经和平的南美国家正深陷暴力泥潭。

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Toxic tides: life in Indonesia’s most polluted village

Tanjung Uma, a coastal village in Batam, Indonesia, is facing a severe pollution crisis due to unchecked development and environmental neglect, leading to frequent flooding with toxic waste. During recent storms, residents like Dewi Puspalani and her family had to salvage their belongings as sewage, garbage, and industrial waste flooded their home, a scene that has become tragically routine for the 9,000 households in the area.

The village, once a tranquil fishing community, has suffered greatly from Batam's rapid population growth, which surged from 47,000 in 1980 to over 1.2 million today, driven by the oil and shipbuilding industries. This growth has resulted in devastating environmental consequences, with long-time residents like Mayuteh recalling a time when the sea was blue and the storms less severe.

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OpenAI board rejects Elon Musk’s US$97.4 billion offer

OpenAI has rejected a US$97.4 billion acquisition offer from a consortium led by Elon Musk. The company stated it is not for sale and dismissed any future bids as insincere, emphasizing its commitment to its non-profit mission.

This unsolicited bid represents Musk's latest effort to prevent OpenAI, which he co-founded but later departed, from transitioning into a for-profit entity. Musk's consortium, including his AI startup xAI, had proposed withdrawing the bid if OpenAI abandoned its for-profit plans. OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman had previously rejected the offer, leading to public exchanges between him and Musk.

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Quiet clash over Afghanistan may presage more US-China tensions at the United Nations

中美两国正在联合国就阿富汗政策和援助问题展开较量,结果可能会为两国在联合国这个全球机构的关系定下基调。 这场争端的核心在于谁应该主导联合国安理会关于阿富汗问题的决议草案,这不仅影响联合国如何与喀布尔的塔利班接触,也关系到中国如何定位自己在安理会中的领导地位。

紧张局势已经酝酿数月,并在特朗普政府上任后升级。 问题的关键在于谁应该发起和指导联合国的决议和授权,进而影响安理会如何处理和平行动或制裁制度。 中国对阿富汗有重要利益,不仅因为阿富汗位于中国南部边境,而且还拥有丰富的矿产资源,估计价值1万亿美元,包括铜、铁、金、锂和稀土元素。

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Why China’s loss could be South Korea’s gain as Southeast Asia seeks new weapons suppliers

Geopolitical tensions are causing Southeast Asian countries to diversify their arms suppliers, presenting an opportunity for South Korea to expand its defense industry presence in the region. China has historically been a major arms supplier, but territorial disputes in the South China Sea are pushing countries like the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei to seek alternatives.

South Korea is emerging as a strong competitor to China, offering high-quality and affordable weapons systems. The Philippines, frequently involved in disputes with China over South China Sea claims, is a rapidly growing market for South Korean arms, with plans to purchase 12 new FA-50 Fighting Eagle Block 20 supersonic combat aircraft, effectively doubling their existing fleet. This trend reflects a broader desire among Southeast Asian nations to modernize their militaries and reduce reliance on Chinese equipment in the face of perceived threats from Beijing.

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Brazil’s Lula chides Beijing, EU, US for practices that gave China its tech edge

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has criticized China's rapid technological advancement, attributing it to the country "copying everything" from foreign companies and exploiting "slave labor." He also blamed American and European companies for enabling this by moving operations to China.

Lula's comments come as Brazil prepares to host the BRICS summit and increases coordination with China amidst trade tensions initiated by the US. He suggested that China's success stems from reverse engineering Western products and leveraging a harsh political regime for cheap labor, contrasting this with Brazil's respect for patent laws. These remarks follow the rise of Chinese AI firms like DeepSeek, highlighting the country's growing technological prowess.

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Trump says car tariffs coming around April 2

美国总统特朗普表示,他将于4月2日左右宣布对汽车征收新的关税。 这是他为重塑全球贸易关系、并向企业施压以将生产转移到美国而采取的最新举措,进一步扩大了他 sweeping 的进口关税范围。

此举正值特朗普兑现竞选承诺,对美国盟友和竞争对手都实行 sweeping 关税之际,贸易战迅速扩大。就在前一天,特朗普还宣布了一项更广泛的措施,指示政府考虑对多个贸易伙伴征收对等关税,以解决他所说的对美国不利的贸易体系问题。这些针对对美国商品征收进口税的国家的对等关税最早可能在4月份实施,并且与特朗普承诺的针对汽车行业以及威胁要针对能源、半导体和制药等其他行业的关税不同。本周早些时候,他还宣布计划对钢铁和铝进口征收 25% 的关税。

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‘No point negotiating’ with Putin, Navalny’s widow warns amid Ukraine talks

Alexei Navalny的遗孀Yulia Navalnaya周五警告称,与俄罗斯总统普京“谈判毫无意义”,此时正值乌克兰战争的谈判之际。她在慕尼黑安全会议上表示,即使决定与普京谈判,也要记住他会撒谎,他会背叛,他会在最后一刻改变规则,强迫你玩他的游戏。

Navalnaya强调,与普京的任何协议只有两种可能的结果:如果他继续掌权,他会找到办法破坏协议;如果他失去权力,协议将变得毫无意义。去年Navalny的去世恰逢2月16日2024年慕尼黑安全会议的开幕。

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Zelensky says he doesn’t want to be leader who handed Ukraine land to Putin

乌克兰总统泽连斯基表示,他不想成为历史上将乌克兰土地交给俄罗斯的总统。他表示,愿意参与美国总统特朗普结束乌克兰战争的倡议,但在与普京会面之前,希望与盟友达成一致的方案。

在慕尼黑安全会议上,泽连斯基表示,不希望成为帮助普京占领乌克兰的人。此前,美国官员表示,期望乌克兰重新夺回被俄罗斯占领的领土是不现实的。同时,特朗普建议泽连斯基需要通过选举来更新授权,这一观点与克里姆林宫的论调相似。美国副总统 Vance 在与泽连斯基会面时表示,华盛顿寻求确保“持久”和平,避免东欧在几年后再次陷入冲突。

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DR Congo troops pull back as M23 rebels take airport near Bukavu

在卢旺达支持下,M23 反叛组织似乎正在逼近刚果民主共和国东部第二大城市布卡武。他们已经控制了附近的卡武穆机场,促使刚果军队在一些地区撤退。自上月底占领刚果东部最大城市戈马以来,反政府武装一直试图向南推进至布卡武。

占领南基伍省首府布卡武,将代表自 2022 年最新叛乱开始以来,M23 控制区域前所未有的扩张,并进一步打击金沙萨在东部的权威。刚果军队发言人西尔万·埃肯格证实,反政府武装已经控制了布卡武以北的战略卡武穆机场,刚果军队已经撤退,但没有说明撤退到哪里。据当地居民和联合国消息来源称,人们看到刚果和布隆迪军队离开了布卡武的主要军事营地 Saio。

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Wang Yi tells security forum China will respond ‘resolutely’ to any ‘bullying’ by US

中国外交部长王毅周五表示,对中美关系的前景抱有信心,但他也誓言,如果北京方面面临来自华盛顿的任何“单边霸凌行径”,将做出坚决回应。王毅在德国慕尼黑安全会议上表示,中国希望与美国建立“稳定、良好和可持续”的关系。

王毅补充说,当然希望美国与中国朝着同一方向努力。但是,如果美国不愿意,如果执意打压和遏制中国,那么中国别无选择,只能奉陪到底,并将坚决回应美国的单边霸凌行径。他还表示,世界无法承受华盛顿和北京之间的冲突,正确的做法是“相互尊重”,任何试图颠覆中国政治制度的企图都是“不现实的”。

在谈到台湾问题时,王毅表示,国际社会应该支持中国大陆与台湾实现统一。他的讲话反映了中国在寻求稳定中美关系的同时,也坚决捍卫自身利益和主权的立场。

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Scammers may be sending SMS messages with ‘#’ sign, Hong Kong agency warns

香港通讯事务管理局警告称,诈骗分子可能正在使用非法无线电干扰器发送带有井号 (#) 前缀的短信,该符号仅供注册公司使用。该警告是在一些市民报告收到带有“#”符号的可疑短信后发出的,该符号用于2023年实施的“短信发件人注册计划”,旨在打击网络钓鱼诈骗。

根据该计划,来自SmarTone、3HK和1010等主要电信供应商的消息会在其发件人ID中包含井号。只有注册方才能使用该符号。通讯事务管理局表示,已立即与相关人员和电信供应商联系,并敦促公众在处理短信中的超链接时保持警惕,因为诈骗分子可能正在使用非法无线电干扰器绕过安全措施。

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Mainland firms urged to help with Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis plan

北京驻港最高官员郑雁雄呼吁中国大陆企业继续增加在香港的投资,并积极参与北部都会区大型项目建设。他表示,这些企业应该承担更大的责任,为公众福利和创新改革做出更大的贡献,以支持香港更好地融入国家发展大局,巩固其作为金融、航运和贸易中心的地位,并建设国际创新科技中心。

郑雁雄是在香港中资企业协会的春茗活动上发表上述讲话的,他指出2025年是国家“十四五”规划的收官之年,也是香港加速从管治走向繁荣的关键一年。他希望中资企业能够充分利用香港背靠大陆、紧密连接世界的独特优势,加大在港投资,为香港发展注入新动能。

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