Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman, wife and pet dog found dead at home

美国著名演员吉恩·哈克曼(Gene Hackman)及其妻子贝齐·阿拉卡瓦(Betsy Arakawa)被发现死于他们在New Mexico的家中。圣达菲县警长表示,两人和他们的狗一同去世,目前没有发现任何犯罪迹象。

哈克曼是一位杰出的性格演员,曾凭借1971年的《法国贩毒网》和1992年的《不可饶恕》获得奥斯卡奖。这位前海军陆战队员在其漫长的职业生涯中出演了80多部电影,以及电视剧和舞台剧。哈克曼结过两次婚,有三个孩子,1991年与63岁的钢琴家阿拉卡瓦结婚。

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Hong Kong to reduce dependence on land sales as major income source: Paul Chan

香港财政司司长陈茂波表示,香港将不再过度依赖土地销售作为政府的主要收入来源。此番言论是在立法会议员呼吁政府增加土地拍卖对开发商的吸引力后做出的回应。此前,陈茂波宣布未来财政年度将不出售商业用地。

陈茂波强调,政府应减少对土地收入的依赖,优先确保充足的土地供应,并为居民提供可负担和高质量的住房。他指出,过去过度依赖土地收入导致土地供应不足和房价飙升,给民生带来巨大压力。政府未来的重点将放在发展经济,增加利得税和薪俸税收入。

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Would a Ukraine-US deal on rare earths provide a workaround to China’s curbs?

The United States may gain new sources of key minerals from Russia and Ukraine, potentially weakening China's rare earth export controls. A deal with Ukraine, Moscow’s wartime rival, could be signed as early as Friday. Warmer relations with Russia could also lead to increased mineral shipments to American manufacturers.

Ukraine possesses significant reserves of lithium, graphite, neodymium, and other metals essential for high-tech manufacturing. These resources could provide an alternative to China's near-monopoly on rare earth minerals, which Beijing has used as leverage in its trade war with the US. Representatives from Washington and Moscow have agreed to work towards ending the Ukraine war, potentially paving the way for increased cooperation on mineral extraction and trade.

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Hong Kong to launch two AI forums aimed at bridging China and the world amid US tech war

The Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC) is launching an International Young Scientist Forum on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing in the field. This initiative, supported by the Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence, aims to connect technology companies with local students and promote AI technology research and development, particularly in open-source technology like the RISC-V chip architecture.

The forum is part of Hong Kong's broader strategy to position itself as a bridge between China and the world in the face of increasing Sino-US technology competition. It also aligns with China's push to reduce reliance on foreign technologies by focusing on RISC-V. In addition to the forum, HKIC plans to host an International Conference on Embodied AI Robot to showcase research and applications, further solidifying Hong Kong's role in the AI landscape.

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‘Sleepwalking into cold war’: ex-diplomat urges China-Canada dialogue amid outside forces

Former Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird warned that Western nations, including the United States, are "sleepwalking into a cold war" with China, a situation he deems dangerous and counterproductive. He stressed the importance of active engagement and diplomacy with Beijing to bridge differences, especially given the current strained relations between Washington and Ottawa.

Baird, who served as foreign minister from 2011 to 2015, believes that dialogue is crucial even with those with whom disagreements exist. His remarks come at a time when Ottawa faces unprecedented challenges in its relationship with the United States, highlighting the need for Canada to navigate its international relations carefully and proactively.

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Influencer Andrew Tate, facing charges in Romania, has left for the US

网红兄弟安德鲁·泰特和特里斯坦·泰特在解除旅行禁令后已离开罗马尼亚前往美国。他们被指控犯有人口贩运罪,并组织犯罪团伙对女性进行性剥削。目前尚不清楚泰特兄弟在何种条件下被允许离开罗马尼亚。

由于未被授权讨论此案,一位不愿透露姓名的内政部官员表示,该决定由检察官酌情决定。安德鲁·泰特和特里斯坦·泰特于2022年末在罗马尼亚首都附近与两名罗马尼亚女子一同被捕。罗马尼亚检察官去年正式起诉了四人。布加勒斯特法庭于四月裁定可以开始审判,但未确定日期。四人均否认所有指控。

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From Ne Zha to TikTok, it’s a Chinese story of triumph over adversity

Ne Zha 2 has become the highest-grossing animated film worldwide, marking the first time a non-American, non-English-language animation has achieved this milestone. With a budget of US$80 million, significantly less than Inside Out 2's US$200 million, this achievement highlights China's growing cultural and technological influence.

This success follows a series of breakthroughs in China, including the upcoming release of the AAA video game Black Myth: Wukong and the widespread adoption of DeepSeek's AI models. Combined with China's dominance in industries like electric vehicles, solar energy, and robotics, the success of Ne Zha 2 demonstrates the country's shift from imitation to innovation in its creative sector. The film's cost-efficiency and stunning visual effects are attributed to advances in cloud computing, particularly Rayvision's Renderbus platform, which drastically reduced rendering times.

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Indonesian province publicly canes 2 men for same-sex relationship

两名在印度尼西亚亚齐省被判犯有同性性行为罪的年轻男子周四被公开鞭刑。 这一事件再次引发了国际特赦组织等机构的呼吁,要求印尼政府废除这种刑罚。两名年龄分别为18岁和24岁的大学生,因被证实存在同性性关系而受到惩罚。

尽管在穆斯林占多数的印度尼西亚,同性恋行为并不被认可,LGBTQ群体也面临着法律挑战,但亚齐省是唯一一个通过伊斯兰教法将其定为犯罪并实施公开鞭刑的省份。这两名男子在地区政府大厅被蒙面的伊斯兰宗教警察鞭打,包括他们的家人在内的数十人目睹了这一过程。其中一人被鞭打了77下,另一人被鞭打了82下,罪名是为他们的性活动提供了场所。亚齐省伊斯兰教法执法部门负责人表示,当地居民将这两名男子交给了警方。

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Philippines’ Teodoro issues ‘wake-up call’ for Asean unity to ‘resist coercion’

Philippine Defence Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jnr has urged Asean members to strengthen unity, warning that division weakens the bloc's ability to address growing regional security challenges. Teodoro emphasized the need for collective resistance against coercion and greater security cooperation, cautioning against external attempts to split the association.

Analysts interpret Teodoro's speech as a "wake-up call," highlighting that internal divisions within Asean, coupled with China's increasing influence and uncertainty surrounding US policies, risk undermining the bloc's capacity to address Beijing's assertive actions, particularly in the South China Sea. This comes as Beijing has been accused of aggressive tactics against Philippine ships asserting its territorial claims in the disputed waters.

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Japan’s births fall to lowest level since 1899 as fertility crisis worsens

日本新生儿数量再创新低,凸显了该国在老龄化社会中,如何用不断萎缩的纳税人群体来承担不断膨胀的社会保障成本这一日益严峻的挑战。2024年新生儿数量同比下降5%至720,988人,连续第九年下降,创下自1899年有记录以来的最低水平。

与此同时,日本的死亡人数上升1.8%至创纪录的162万人,导致总人口出现有史以来最大的年度降幅。人口持续下降给已经背负发达国家中最重债务负担的日本政府带来了更大的压力,国际货币基金组织报告显示,日本公共债务将达到今年GDP的232.7%。

日本的困境也是全球趋势的一部分。包括韩国、法国和中国在内的其他国家也面临着生育率下降和人口减少的问题,这将进一步加剧劳动力短缺,并对政府财政收入造成长期影响。

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Hong Kong bourse’s 2024 profit rises 10% to a record on surging stock transactions, IPOs

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) reported a record annual profit for 2024, reaching HK$13 billion (US$1.7 billion), a 10% increase from the previous year. This surge in profit, surpassing market expectations, was driven by higher market turnover and a surge in new listings, particularly following a market rally that began in September.

The strong performance in the final quarter of 2024, with a 46% jump in profit, was attributed to falling interest rates and China's stimulus measures aimed at supporting the economy. CEO Bonnie Chan highlighted the strategic progress made in 2024, including initiatives to enhance market microstructure and the listing franchise, which reinforced Hong Kong's position as a leading international financial center. HKEX has proposed a second interim dividend of HK$4.90 per share, bringing the total dividend for the year to HK$9.26, maintaining a payout ratio of 90% of earnings.

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New Zealand FM meets China’s Wang Yi in Beijing, raises PLA live-fire drills

中国外长王毅周三在北京会见新西兰外长Winston Peters时表示,中新两国应成为互信的伙伴,并通过建设性对话解决一些具体分歧。王毅强调,双方应保持对彼此的正确理解,进一步发展友好合作,成为互相信任和支持彼此成就的伙伴。

据新西兰方面发布的声明,双方讨论包括中国最近在塔斯曼海的军事部署。Peters在会后告诉记者,他直接向王毅提出了惠灵顿方面的担忧,即中方事先通知时间太短,并希望中方能考虑这些担忧。他表示,北京方面没有充分提前通知这次实弹海军演习,他认为这是中新两国特殊关系中的一次失败,两国之间的特殊关系始于2008年签署的自由贸易协定。

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Freed Myanmar scam workers desperate to go home: ‘I can finally escape this hell’

大约7000名来自二十多个国家的受害者,他们从缅甸诈骗园区被解救后,目前滞留在缅甸边境城镇苗瓦迪的一个临时拘留中心,等待遣返回国。 拘留中心条件恶劣,过度拥挤,这些年轻人白天忍受着热带高温,夜晚则遭受蚊虫叮咬,生活困苦。

据一名18岁的马来西亚男子描述,拘留中心的厕所和淋浴设施非常脏,根本无法使用。一名中国籍受害者王先生表示,他对于能够离开这里感到非常高兴。这些获救者迫切希望能够尽快与家人联系并返回家园。

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What to expect at China’s ‘two sessions’ and why this year is a bit different

China's upcoming "two sessions" will be crucial in setting the nation's policy agenda, focusing on economic growth, navigating trade tensions, and the tech race with the US. The annual meetings, involving the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and the National People’s Congress, will involve key political figures deliberating on and approving policy plans for the economy, military, trade, and other strategic areas.

This year's sessions are expected to prioritize domestic issues such as restoring confidence and addressing economic pressures, while also managing external challenges posed by evolving US policies. The meetings will also address private sector confidence, fiscal strategies, long-term reforms, and bilateral relations, as well as marking the final year of the "Made in China 2025" plan.

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‘So extreme’: China home appliance queen demands eatery replace air con with her brand

Dong Mingzhu, a prominent Chinese businesswoman and chairwoman of Gree Electric, has stirred controversy after admitting she pressured a restaurant owner to replace a non-Gree air conditioner. During a recent interview, Dong recounted her experience at a restaurant where she noticed the air conditioner in her private room was not a Gree product. She questioned the owner and insisted on its immediate replacement, threatening to never return if her demand wasn't met.

Dong's actions have sparked debate about the ethics of using one's influence to promote their own business interests. While she is known for her strong leadership and dedication to Gree Electric, turning it into a global leader in air conditioner manufacturing, critics argue that her behavior was inappropriate and demonstrated a lack of consideration for the restaurant owner's business decisions. The incident highlights the power dynamics at play when influential figures exert pressure on smaller businesses.

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Investing in megaprojects crucial for Hong Kong’s growth despite deficits: Paul Chan

香港财政司司长陈茂波表示,香港必须投资北部都会区等大型项目以推动经济增长,即使这些项目导致财政赤字。他同时呼吁中产阶级理解政府的财政策略,尽管预算案中给中产阶级的优惠措施不多。陈茂波强调,将支出控制在收入范围内应是管理政府运营账户的基础。

陈茂波进一步解释说,虽然政府的目标是在运营账户中实现盈余,但资本账户出现赤字应该被用于未来的投资,包括基础设施项目和扩大经济容量。他认为,在香港发展的关键时刻,抓住机遇投资未来,为未来创造机会是至关重要的,即使这意味着短期内出现赤字,但只要有支持发展的计划并逐步减少赤字,最终恢复平衡,就没有问题。未来五年,香港的资本账户预计将出现赤字,公共项目的平均年度支出将从去年的900亿港元增加到1200亿港元。

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Scam kingpin holds China, Turkey passports, bought 8 condos in Malaysia: police

马来西亚警方逮捕了一名中国籍男子,该男子被指控领导一个国际诈骗集团,并且拥有双重国籍。 这名34岁的男子出生于中国河南省,同时也是土耳其公民,警方正在调查其在其他国家的犯罪活动。

据武吉阿曼商业犯罪调查部主任Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf透露,该嫌疑人使用一名女性团伙成员的名字,以现金购买了价值1600万令吉(约合360万美元)的八套豪华公寓。警方认为他们寻求换汇服务以方便付款,并将联系参与交易的房地产公司和中介。

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Love after accident, marriage deadline plan, Maserati ring toss game: 5 trending stories

This week's trending stories in China include a serendipitous love story sparked by a car accident and a controversial company policy threatening to fire single or divorced employees. A couple's meeting after a car accident in December 2023 has captivated Chinese social media, while a company in Shandong province faced backlash for attempting to boost its marriage rate by threatening unmarried employees.

The Shuntian Chemical Group, employing over 1,200 people, announced in January that single and divorced employees could face termination if they remained unmarried by the end of September, prompting criticism from officials. Another trending topic involves a mother who sparked online debate after disciplining her son with a stick in public after he had a tantrum.

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Will Putin help Trump challenge China’s stranglehold on rare earths?

Donald Trump's plan to secure rare earth minerals from Greenland and Ukraine to challenge China's dominance may not align with global reserve realities, but a potential deal with Russia could offer a solution. Russia's offer to grant the US access to these critical resources, essential for high-tech applications, could circumvent China's tightening export controls on these minerals.

Rare earth minerals, a group of 17 elements vital for electronics, defense systems, and green technology, are unevenly distributed globally. While Greenland holds the eighth-largest reserves, Ukraine isn't listed among countries with significant deposits. Russia, possessing double the reserves of the US, ranks fifth worldwide, making it a potentially crucial partner in the US effort to diversify its supply chain and reduce reliance on China, which holds the world's largest reserves.

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Why urban renewal in Malaysia has stoked racial tensions

马来西亚城市更新法案引发争议,反对派指责政府借此驱逐贫困马来居民。该法案旨在加速破旧城市中心的重建,但反对派穆斯林马来政党担心,这实际上是政府以士绅化为幌子,将弱势群体赶出城市。

快速城市化导致马来西亚部分城市中心出现不安全、不卫生的贫民窟。政府计划通过城市更新法案来解决这个问题,该法案将为重建破旧的住宅楼提供法律依据。然而,反对派议员认为,该法案是政府偏袒开发商(通常是华人),剥夺贫困马来居民的家园的工具,伊斯兰党甚至呼吁举行街头集会反对该法案,称其为“现代殖民主义”。

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