In ‘fixing’ a trumped-up crisis, Trump may end up creating one

Donald Trump's claim that the US economy is in crisis is not supported by current economic indicators. Despite his campaign rhetoric promising to fix a perceived economic disaster and usher in a "golden age," the reality is that key metrics like the "misery index" (the sum of unemployment and inflation rates) are significantly better than historical averages and comparable to his first term, which he often lauded as the "greatest economy in the history of the world."

The danger lies in Trump acting on this false premise, potentially triggering the very crisis he envisions through aggressive policies. Specifically, his proposed "reciprocal tariff plan," intended to force other nations to conform to the American economic model, could spark inflation and disrupt global trade. This approach extends beyond trade to encompass industrial policies, taxes, currency manipulation, and other perceived barriers to foreign market access, raising concerns about potential economic instability.

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Unmasking ‘Captain America’ man who tried to raid Chinese embassy in Seoul

一名42岁的韩国男子Ahn因试图闯入中国大使馆和首尔警察局而被捕,他当时装扮成漫威角色“美国队长”。警方调查发现,他伪造了自己的身份,并声称自己是CIA特工和前美国军事预备役人员,但实际情况并非如此。

据与Ahn同住多年的友人透露,Ahn长期穿着美国军装,甚至携带复制步枪,表现出强烈的引人注意的欲望。警方调查显示,Ahn曾是一名陆军中士,没有任何美国入境记录,他因涉嫌企图闯入、侮辱和伪造文件等罪名被移送检察机关,并被发现持有伪造的美国军方身份证。

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Hong Kong health authorities investigating imported case of measles

香港卫生部门正在调查一起与一名38岁男子有关的麻疹境外移入病例,该男子从越南返回后曾于上月到访香港体育学院。该男子2月22日出现腹泻,三天后出现皮疹,于周三在伊利沙伯医院就医并入院治疗,其临床样本对麻疹病毒核酸检测呈阳性。

卫生防护中心表示,该患者目前仍在住院,情况稳定,其家庭接触者没有出现症状。调查显示,该患者在2月3日至8日的潜伏期内曾到访越南,中心已立即展开流行病学调查。

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Hong Kong singer Khalil Fong leaves note for fans to ‘hold fast’ to their dreams

香港创作歌手方大同上月因病去世,享年41岁,他留下遗言鼓励人们拥抱生活中的挑战,坚持自己的梦想。 这段话出现在方大同的私人追悼会上分发给来宾的卡片上,由荔枝新闻报道。

方大同在卡片中写道,时间不等人,随着年龄增长,人们会更深刻地理解时间的双重性——它的现实和它的幻觉。他表示,即使面对疾病和生活的诸多考验,他仍然充满创造性的视野和无限的梦想,并希望人们在未来的日子里,继续坚持自己的梦想,在人生的每个阶段不断成长,充分发挥自己的潜力。方大同的音乐公司表示,他于2月21日“平静地离开了这个世界”,此前他以积极的态度与疾病抗争了五年。

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Wetlands built for Hong Kong’s bird species yields positive results: green group

香港观鸟会与渔民在新界西北部合作,将两个废弃鱼塘改造为野生鸭栖息地,四年内竟记录到120种鸟类,占香港鸟类总数的20%。该项目在流浮山深湾设计并建造了三个人工湿地,旨在为野鸭提供冬季休息和梳理羽毛的场所,成果远超预期。

该项目于2021年3月启动,由政府资助。观鸟会采取了一系列栖息地管理措施,包括调整水位和水质、植被管理以及放置鸭子模型等。通过与当地渔民合作,定期清理杂草、保留芦苇,维持开放的栖息地,为远离城市喧嚣的鸟类提供庇护,藻类养殖也为野鸭提供了食物来源。观鸟会希望能够再次获得资助,以扩大该项目。

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Scientists find genetic link between Attila’s Huns and Xiongnu empire that fought Han China

科学家们发现了匈奴与匈奴之间存在基因联系,匈奴是西罗马帝国后期蹂躏欧洲的匈奴,匈奴联盟生活在蒙古草原上,早在中国汉朝击败他们之前的几百年。这项发现为长期以来关于匈奴起源的猜测提供了新的证据,他们的领导人阿提拉被称为“上帝之鞭”,他们在公元四世纪末突然出现在欧洲,取代了包括哥特人在内的许多日耳曼部落。

由于缺乏证据,学界一直未就匈奴的起源达成共识,但长期以来一直有人猜测匈奴与匈奴之间可能存在联系,一些学者推测这两个名字在语言上存在关联。现在,一个国际科学家团队利用古代 DNA 的基因组分析,证实了匈奴帝国中存在匈奴帝国精英的直系后裔,尽管他们发现大多数人口仍然主要是欧洲血统。该研究发表在 2 月 24 日的同行评审期刊 PNAS 上。

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Philippines’ exemption from US foreign aid freeze reaffirms ‘first-in-line’ status: analysts

The Philippines has been exempted from a global freeze on US foreign security aid, signaling its priority status in Washington's Indo-Pacific strategy. The country is set to receive US$5.3 billion from the US, designated for security and anti-narcotics initiatives, with a portion allocated to modernizing the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard.

This exemption follows a 90-day pause on foreign aid ordered by the Trump administration to review alignment with the "America First" agenda. Philippine officials have confirmed the waiver and reaffirmed the commitment of both nations to their treaty alliance, emphasizing strengthened defense cooperation and interoperability. The US$336 million for modernizing the Philippine military and coast guard, along with US$870 million for programs in Taiwan, highlights the strategic importance of the region to the US.

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Trump likes ‘theatrics’, so Canada injects fentanyl crackdown with drama, boldness

加拿大正采取强硬姿态,试图向美国总统特朗普证明其加强边境管控的决心,以避免可能面临的关税制裁。一改往日克制的姿态,加拿大政府正通过发布警察、边境人员和直升机的照片和视频,以及使用“打击力量”、“暴雪行动”和“芬太尼沙皇”等强硬措辞,对外展示其边境管控的力度。

加拿大总理特鲁多也加大了对毒品走私的谴责力度,并强调必须彻底清除芬太尼这一祸害。此前,特朗普签署行政命令,计划对大多数加拿大产品征收25%的关税,理由是加拿大未能有效阻止芬太尼流入美国。尽管加拿大官员指出,美国政府数据显示,从北部边境查获的芬太尼数量极少,但加拿大政府仍在积极公开展示其执法努力,仅过去一周,加拿大政府各部门就发布了至少五次有关打击毒品的新闻稿。

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Mainland Chinese brands to lead retail leasing in troubled Hong Kong market

Mainland Chinese and emerging brands are predicted to be the most active players in Hong Kong's retail property leasing market in the coming months. This comes as most retailers remain cautious despite an increase in tourist arrivals, and the retail sector continues to struggle with declining sales.

Hong Kong's retail sales have fallen for ten consecutive months, with a 7.3% decline for the full year. This market restructuring is expected to lead to some brand eliminations and high vacancy rates, but also presents opportunities for new businesses. Mainland Chinese brands, particularly in the food and beverage sector like Luckin Coffee and Little Sheep, have already been expanding in Hong Kong, taking advantage of discounted rents.

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Trump-Zelensky blow-up sparks Republican divide, threatening US aid to Ukraine

A heated exchange between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump has fractured Republican support for further aid to Ukraine. The clash, witnessed by the media, saw Trump and Vice-President J.D. Vance criticize Zelensky, leading to accusations of disrespect and raising serious doubts about the future of US-Ukraine relations.

Senator Lisa Murkowski expressed concern about the White House potentially ending all US support for Ukraine, accusing the administration of "walking away from our allies and embracing Putin." Senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch Trump ally, went further, suggesting Zelensky should either resign or change his approach to maintain a working relationship with the US, highlighting the severity of the rift caused by the White House confrontation.

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DeepSeek AI mania takes over China – from prescriptions to parenting and government work

DeepSeek,一款中国本土的聊天机器人,正迅速渗透到医疗领域,越来越多的中国人开始使用它进行疾病诊断。这一趋势引发了人们对于人工智能参与医疗决策的复杂情绪。

起因是一位医生在抖音上分享了自己的经历:一位病人使用DeepSeek质疑了他的治疗方案,他起初很生气,但查阅医学指南后发现是自己错了。随着中国大力发展人工智能,公众越来越多地接触到人工智能在各个领域的应用,包括医疗辅助等。

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Bubble tea giant Mixue’s IPO powered by prowess in procuring, production, prices: analysts

蜜雪冰城在香港的首次公开募股(IPO)获得了巨大成功,零售部分认购额超过1.6万亿港元(约合2059亿美元),打破了此前蚂蚁集团和快手科技创下的纪录。投资者对蜜雪冰城的信心主要源于其强大的供应链和超低价格策略,该公司计划于下周一开始交易。

蜜雪冰城的主要收入来自向其全球超过45000家加盟店销售原料和设备,其商业模式依赖于一个“端到端”的综合供应链,涵盖采购、生产、物流、研发和质量控制等环节。在中国大陆奶茶行业竞争日益激烈的背景下,蜜雪冰城凭借其供应链优势获得了投资者的青睐。

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Japan weighs steep travel tax increase to fight overtourism. Will it work?

日本正在考虑大幅提高离境旅客的旅游税,以解决国内部分地区过度旅游的问题。目前每人1000日元的税费可能会增加到5000日元,执政的自民党委员会正在讨论此事以及如何使用这笔额外收入。

政府此举的部分原因是受到埃及和澳大利亚等国的启发,这些国家分别向出境旅客收取约3750日元和7000日元的费用。《读卖新闻》报道称,日本旅游业承认应优先解决过度旅游问题,但对将2019年1月推出的税收增加五倍表示担忧,并寻求一项全面的计划,以阻止游客涌入热门度假胜地。京都Cerca Travel Co.的董事Kei Tamura表示:“我不认为这是最合适的做法。”

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Head of Hong Kong arts hub optimistic over East-West partnerships despite Trump

尽管中美关系紧张,纽约和华盛顿的顶级艺术机构仍热衷于与亚洲同行寻求商机。香港艺术中心CEO冯程淑仪表示,艺术和文化超越政治,双方都具有商业头脑,任何合作都将互惠互利。

冯程淑仪近期访问纽约和华盛顿后表示,她对艺术和文化团体能够经受住当前的动荡并继续合作持乐观态度。她强调,不应停止与美国同行的联系,艺术和文化构成了连接世界的叙事。她访问了纽约的林肯表演艺术中心、现代艺术博物馆(MoMA)、古根海姆博物馆、The Shed和纽约大都会艺术博物馆,以及华盛顿的国家美术馆和史密森尼国家亚洲艺术博物馆。

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Reinventing careers: How 4 laid-off Alibaba workers started a popular bun restaurant

Four former Alibaba employees in Hangzhou have gained social media attention for opening a unique steamed bun restaurant after being laid off. The restaurant, named Ummy Mummy, distinguishes itself with unconventional bun fillings and a beer bar, offering a stark contrast to traditional eateries. This venture represents a significant career shift for the founders, who sought a new direction in their 30s after years in the tech industry.

The founders' decision to leave the tech world highlights a growing trend among Chinese tech employees seeking to escape the intense competition known as "neijuan." Co-founder Xie Chenxi emphasized that their story demonstrates possibilities beyond working for large corporations, turning a perceived setback into an opportunity for a fresh start. The restaurant's renovation celebration underscores their success and the encouragement they've received from others.

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Little Chinese girl asks mum to treat her well in public, highlights value of face-saving

一段中国网络视频显示,一位三岁女童要求她的母亲在公共场合对她好一点,以维护她的自尊心,这一举动赢得了中国网民的赞扬。 这段视频由这位母亲,一位拥有75000粉丝的网红发布,记录了一年前她与女儿米宝的对话。米宝在视频中明确表示,不希望妈妈在别人面前斥责她,而是希望得到支持,因为她不想被别人嘲笑。

这位来自中国内蒙古的母亲王女士表示,她被这段旧视频深深触动,因此决定分享出来。在视频中,王女士温柔地与女儿交流,并立即承认了自己的错误,承诺未来会保护女儿的自尊心。米宝的懂事和直率引发了网友的广泛共鸣,许多人称赞她小小年纪就懂得维护自己的尊严。

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Japanese descendants of former Iwo Jima residents yearn to live on WWII island

后代们正加强呼吁,希望能获准重返硫磺岛居住。二战期间,硫磺岛战役爆发前夕,岛上的渔民和农民被迫撤离。由120人组成的“硫磺岛回归促进委员会”已向东京的土地管理部门提交了新的申请。委员会主席表示,他对政府之前拒绝该委员会请求的理由“并不信服”。

该委员会自1969年成立以来,一直在游说政府允许他们返回该岛,但这个问题并没有引起日本媒体的太多关注,也没有得到太多的支持。过去,政府给出了几个不允许永久返回该岛的原因,包括火山活动和其他地壳运动,为定居者发展产业以谋生的困难,以及继续寻找1945年战斗中阵亡士兵遗骸的需要,以及岛上仍然存在的大量未爆炸弹药。但委员会主席认为这些理由并不充分,并指出早在1900年左右,他们的祖先开始在那里定居时,该岛就是一座活火山,而且自1957年以来,岛上169米的折钵山就没有发生过大规模火山爆发。

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Israel agrees to US plan for temporary Gaza truce over Ramadan and Passover

以色列已同意美国总统特使史蒂夫·维特科夫提出的在斋月和逾越节期间暂时停火的提议。根据以色列总理办公室的消息,此举是在先前达成的停火协议的第一阶段即将到期后做出的。该提议旨在为永久停火谈判争取更多时间。

维特科夫的提议包括,在停火的第一天释放被扣押在加沙地带的一半人质,无论生死。以色列总理办公室表示,如果哈马斯同意维特科夫的计划,以色列将立即就该计划展开谈判。在达成永久停火协议后,剩余的人质也将被释放。此前,哈马斯发言人表示拒绝以色列提出的延长第一阶段停火的“方案”。

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‘Two sessions’ 2025: China can look back on 5 years of gains at expense of US

中国在过去五年里在科技领域取得了显著进步,尽管面临美国的持续关注和限制。 美国对中国实施了前所未有的制裁和限制,尤其是在科技领域,这表明美国对中国科技进步的重视和担忧。

早在五年前中国推出国家发展战略之前,就有分析文章警告美国决策者,中国自2015年启动“中国制造2025”计划以来,一直在努力实现技术自给自足和进步。尽管美国在许多领域仍保持优势,但对中国科技发展的关注始终未减,两届政府都试图阻止北京的技术进步。

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‘People are sold every day’: first-hand account of life inside a Myanmar scam centre

中国零工徐博纯表示,2023年他被一份虚假工作机会诱骗到缅甸,最终被卖到位于果敢自治区首府老街的诈骗中心。徐博纯向《南华早报》详细讲述了他作为人口贩运受害者的经历,包括他如何被迫在一个网络诈骗中心工作了三个月后才得以逃脱。

在采访中,徐博纯详细描述了他在诈骗中心的生活,揭露了其中的运作模式和残酷现实。他的经历反映了近年来东南亚地区日益猖獗的网络诈骗和人口贩运问题,许多中国公民成为受害者。

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