Pope Francis had two episodes of ‘acute respiratory insufficiency’, Vatican says

教廷表示,正在医院与双重肺炎作斗争的教皇方济各周一经历了两次“急性呼吸功能不全”,需要使用无创机械通气。 方济各已经在罗马杰梅利医院住院超过两周。他于 2 月 14 日因严重的呼吸道感染入院,该感染引发了其他并发症。

梵蒂冈在一份最新声明中表示,这些症状是由肺部“大量”粘液积聚和支气管痉挛引起的。 梵蒂冈表示:“进行了两次支气管镜检查,需要抽取大量分泌物。” 据悉,教皇仍然保持警觉,定向良好,并配合医务人员。但目前的预后仍然不稳定。

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From Trump to Putin, Germany’s Carnival puts politics on parade

Germany's Carnival parades, a beloved tradition, proceeded on Shrove Monday with hundreds of thousands of costumed attendees, but festivities were overshadowed by heightened security concerns and a deadly incident in Mannheim. The largest parade took place in Cologne, featuring satirical floats and the traditional throwing of confectionery, while police maintained a strong presence to ensure safety amidst recent attacks in Germany.

Despite reassurances from Cologne police and parade organizers about security measures and resilience against potential threats, a car ramming into a crowd in Mannheim resulted in at least two fatalities and several injuries. Authorities are currently investigating whether the incident was an intentional attack or an accident, casting a shadow over the Carnival celebrations.

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Rare Banksy painting, owned by blink-182’s Mark Hoppus, up for auction for US$6.35 million

一幅由神秘街头艺术家班克斯(Banksy)手绘的罕见作品,由美国音乐家马克·霍普斯(Mark Hoppus)收藏,将于周二拍卖,估价高达635万美元。这幅名为《原油(维特里亚诺)》的作品是班克斯对苏格兰艺术家杰克·维特里亚诺1992年的画作《歌唱的管家》的重新诠释,而维特里亚诺的去世于周一宣布。

画作描绘了维特里亚诺的管家在海滩上为一对跳舞的夫妇演奏小夜曲,班克斯在背景中添加了一艘正在下沉的油轮和两个穿着危险品防护服的人移动一桶有毒废物。这幅画由流行朋克乐队Blink-182的联合创始人霍普斯和他的妻子斯凯于2011年购买,将在伦敦苏富比“现代及当代艺术晚间拍卖”上拍卖,估价为300万至500万英镑(381万美元至635万美元)。

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‘Two sessions’ 2025: Hong Kong delegates told to be ‘active players’ in city

北京方面负责香港事务的官员夏宝龙呼吁香港的中国人民政治协商会议(CPPCC)委员们,在支持香港发展方面,不仅仅要做“观察者”,更要做“积极参与者”,包括即将到来的立法会选举。他同时强调,要对“一国两制”保持信心并善加利用,北京将始终坚持这一原则,不必过分担心政府赤字问题。

夏宝龙是在周一与香港和澳门的中国人民政治协商会议委员们会面时发表上述讲话的。他鼓励委员们勤勉积极地履行政治协商职责,准确贯彻“一国两制”原则,全力支持香港特区政府的管治。此外,他还希望委员们为香港的长期繁荣稳定做出贡献,为国家发展和民族复兴贡献力量。

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French ex-surgeon says ‘ready to admit’ to some rapes at mass abuse trial

Former French surgeon Joel Le Scouarnec, on trial for allegedly sexually abusing nearly 300 patients, mostly children, declared in court that he was "done with lying" and prepared to admit to some acts of rape. This announcement came after testimony revealed the doctor kept detailed records of the abuse.

During the investigation, Le Scouarnec had previously admitted to raping boys under the guise of rectal examinations and sexually assaulting girls. However, he had dismissed his written accounts of raping young female patients as "exaggeration" or "fantasy." The 74-year-old is currently on trial in Vannes, France, in what is considered one of the country's largest child sex abuse cases.

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With Gaza ceasefire in limbo, Israel eyes alternative plan with Hamas

以色列本周推出一项新的美国停火计划,试图迫使哈马斯接受,为此以方正在对加沙地带实施围困。该计划与以色列一月份同意的方案不同,以总理内塔尼亚胡称其为“Witkoff 提案”,并表示来自美国总统特朗普的中东特使 Steve Witkoff。但白宫尚未证实这一点,仅表示支持以色列采取的任何行动。

这项新计划要求哈马斯释放剩余一半的被扣押人员,以此换取停火协议的延长以及就持久休战进行谈判的承诺。作为对比,以色列没有提及释放更多巴勒斯坦囚犯,而这原本是第一阶段的关键内容。哈马斯指责以色列试图破坏现有协议,该协议要求双方谈判归还剩余人质,以换取更多巴勒斯坦囚犯、以色列从加沙全面撤军以及持久停火。然而,至今尚未举行实质性谈判。

在周日,以色列停止向加沙约 200 万人口提供所有食品、燃料、药品和其他物资,并誓言如果哈马斯不接受新提案,将采取“额外措施”。这一举动无疑加剧了该地区的紧张局势,并引发了对人道主义危机的担忧。

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Why China could capitalise on Trump-Zelensky showdown as rift emerges in the West

Analysts believe China views the recent heated talks between the US and Ukraine as a sign of a “systemic reordering” of geopolitics, potentially revealing a rift within the West. This perspective arises from President Trump's confrontation with President Zelensky, signaling a possible shift in US policy regarding the Ukraine war and straining the transatlantic alliance.

European leaders have been actively seeking American support for Ukraine, especially amidst a potential rapprochement between the US and Russia. However, these efforts appear to be undermined by Trump's verbal attacks on Zelensky after failing to secure access to Ukraine's critical minerals in exchange for security guarantees. This situation positions China to potentially capitalize on what some analysts see as a "rapid disintegration of the West," allowing them to engage in Ukraine talks as a strategic player rather than a neutral mediator.

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Philippine ambassador warns defence treaty with US may not be ironclad

The Philippines' ambassador to the US, Jose Manuel Romualdez, has warned that the country must be prepared for the possibility that its security alliances, particularly with the US, may not hold firm during a crisis. This warning comes in the wake of a heated exchange between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky, raising concerns about Washington's commitment to its partners.

The incident involving Trump and Zelensky, where the Ukrainian leader left a meeting without signing a proposed minerals deal, has sparked global debate about the reliability of US security alliances. Romualdez emphasized that the Ferdinand Marcos Jnr administration needs to be ready for any scenario, highlighting the need for the Philippines to strengthen its own defense and economic security in anticipation of potential shifts in US foreign policy under future administrations.

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Western countries would envy Hong Kong’s financial position, experts say

经济学家表示,香港的财政状况依然稳健,与其他发达经济体相比,香港的赤字水平和储备金状况更令西方发达国家的财政部长们羡慕。他们强调,香港在债券发行方面仍有很大空间,财政实力雄厚。

在《南华早报》组织的“重新定义香港系列2025:预算版”论坛上,专家们指出,香港的财政储备足以应对未来的公共项目融资需求。财政司司长陈茂波表示,未来五年将发行1500亿至1950亿港元的债券,用于资助北部都会区等公共项目。

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Chinese travellers skipping the West, why Trump may bring calm: SCMP daily highlights

中国游客越来越多地选择前往中东和东南亚地区,而减少了对西方目的地的访问。这一趋势在Travelex的数据中有所体现,表明中国游客的旅游偏好正在发生变化。

与此同时,中国全国政协发言人表示,过去一年来,中国对专业技术和创新的重视已成为经济增长的强大动力,并且在全球局势发生深刻变革的情况下,这种趋势预计将继续保持。此外,一位新闻学教授兼前《南华早报》编辑指出,中国必须言行一致,以重塑私营部门的信心,并从DeepSeek和Ne Zha等案例中吸取经验教训。

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Beijing sees red over Marco Rubio’s comments on Taiwan and tariffs

中国外交部已就美国国务卿马可·卢比奥对中国大陆发起的“冷战”攻击向华盛顿提出抗议,并警告美国停止在台湾问题上越界。中国外交部发言人林剑表示,卢比奥的言论充斥着冷战思维,散布谎言和虚假信息,中方对此强烈不满和坚决反对,已向美方提出严正交涉。

林剑所指的是卢比奥在2月20日接受独立新闻网站Catherine Herridge Reports采访以及2月26日在福克斯新闻节目中发表的言论。卢比奥在采访中被问及如果北京攻击台湾,美国是否会保卫台湾时表示,美国不希望看到冲突,但通过多年的政策,包括“六项保证”和“台湾关系法”,美国已经明确反对以武力、威胁或胁迫的方式改变台湾的现状,这一政策保持不变。他还表示,阻止北京可能发起的攻击的最好方法是美国拥有“军事能力”。

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1 killed after car rams into crowd in German city of Mannheim

在德国曼海姆,一辆汽车冲撞人群,造成一人死亡,多人受伤。警方发言人表示,一名嫌疑人已被逮捕,但尚不清楚是否还有其他涉案人员。警方呼吁公众留在家中。

事件发生时,德国莱茵兰等地区的城市正聚集人群参加狂欢节游行。一辆黑色SUV高速冲向人群,从市中心的Paradeplatz广场驶向城市地标水塔。近期德国安全问题备受关注,此前马格德堡和慕尼黑曾发生致命的汽车冲撞事件,曼海姆也在2024年5月发生过一起持刀伤人事件。警方对今年的狂欢节游行保持高度警惕,此前与伊斯兰国有关联的社交媒体账户呼吁袭击科隆和纽伦堡的活动。

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Chinese state science fund calls for more algorithm research after studying DeepSeek models

China's National Natural Science Foundation (NSFC) has concluded that AI development should prioritize improving intelligence rather than simply competing on computing power. This conclusion was reached after a discussion with experts regarding the impact of DeepSeek's AI models, which have gained significant attention for their performance achieved through system optimization rather than massive computing resources.

Lu Jianhua, deputy head of NSFC, stated that DeepSeek represents an advanced level of AI development and that China should focus on core technology breakthroughs in large models, hardware-software synergy, and industry applications. The success of DeepSeek's open-source models has spurred AI adoption in China, and the NSFC believes this approach will help the country build an autonomous and controllable AI ecosystem, reducing reliance on US technology.

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Zelensky-Trump clash sparks jitters in Asean nations over reliability of US commitments

Donald Trump's recent clash with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sparked concerns about the reliability of US alliances, prompting close observation from Southeast Asian nations. This incident has amplified existing worries that Washington's dedication to its global partners may be uncertain, particularly for countries navigating the complex geopolitical landscape of the Indo-Pacific region.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), whose ten members engage with both China and the United States, is striving to maintain a delicate balance between the US Indo-Pacific strategy and China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea. While ASEAN's long-standing policy of neutrality and non-alignment is expected to be tested under pressure from Trump, analysts suggest that its neutral tradition may endure, with diplomatic actions largely remaining bilateral, potentially posing varying challenges to individual member states like the Philippines.

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Thai police launch manhunt for delivery rider who robbed gold store

泰国警方正在搜捕一名嫌疑人,该嫌疑人装扮成送货员,抢劫了泰国西北部城市湄索的一家金店。据当地媒体报道,这名嫌疑人是一名三十多岁的瘦男子,身高约1.7米,周日晚上从店里抢走了价值470万泰铢(137,600美元)的金项链,重约1.5公斤。

在泰国社交媒体上流传的监控录像片段中,嫌疑人走近商店,用手枪威胁顾客和工作人员。录像显示,该男子身穿送货员制服,戴着全罩头盔和一双黑色手套。当其他人尖叫着逃离时,他跳过柜台,抓住展示的金项链放入背包。他在大约一分钟内完成了抢劫,随后另一段视频显示他骑着一辆白色摩托车离开了金店所在的莲花购物中心。

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The US is about to hit China with yet more tariffs. How will Beijing respond?

Goldman Sachs predicts China will likely impose retaliatory tariffs on the US if Washington increases duties on Chinese imports by another 10%. In addition to tariffs, Beijing is expected to implement broader economic measures to shield its exporters from the latest US tariffs, scheduled to take effect on Tuesday.

This development follows US President Trump's announcement of a 10% tariff hike on all Chinese imports, citing China's failure to prevent fentanyl ingredients from reaching the US. To mitigate the impact, China may expand its economic stimulus policies and selectively increase tariffs on US imports, potentially raising the 2025 fiscal deficit to 4% during the upcoming "two sessions."

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Trump-Zelensky clash gives Europe a chance to shape Ukraine endgame

The diplomatic fallout from the recent White House meeting between Presidents Trump and Zelensky may have inadvertently opened a window for greater European involvement in resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This stems from a Franco-British initiative gaining momentum, potentially shifting away from a purely bilateral US-Russia approach previously favored by the Trump administration.

The new initiative, hailed by some European leaders as a sign of Europe "waking up," was a key topic at a summit in London, attended by numerous European leaders, as well as representatives from Canada, NATO, the European Commission, the European Council, and Turkey. Discussions centered on strengthening Ukraine's position in advance of any eventual settlement, with further details to be ironed out at upcoming meetings, including the EU emergency summit. However, the White House's receptiveness to this Franco-British-led effort remains uncertain, despite assurances Trump reportedly gave to Starmer and Macron.

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‘Two sessions 2025’: talent and tech tipped to drive China’s growth, top advisory body says

China's focus on expertise and innovation will continue to drive growth, despite global changes. Liu Jieyi, spokesman for the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), emphasized the country's vast market potential and well-established industrial system as key advantages.

While acknowledging challenges such as low consumer demand and risks in certain areas, Liu stated that China's economic fundamentals are stable and resilient. The CPPCC gathering, one of China's annual "two sessions," brings together the political elite to outline economic priorities for the year, alongside the meeting of the National People's Congress.

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Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park probes claim touts helped fans into opening

香港启德体育园正在与执法机构合作,调查有票贩子收取约1000港元费用,帮助游客进入主体育场参加周六星光熠熠的开幕式一事。这座香港最大的体育场馆表示,对该事件“深感关切”,并将严肃处理。

据报道,票贩子提出护送游客从启德体育场后门进入观看周六晚上的表演,并收取费用,进入者据称还可以携带一些违禁物品。开幕式有超过33000名观众参加,此前有8500张门票以每张10港元的价格向公众发售。体育园发言人表示,他们正与相关执法机构保持密切沟通,如发现任何可疑非法活动,将采取严厉行动,并将案件移交警方或廉政公署跟进。同时,体育园正积极与场馆的保安公司联络,调查及跟进此事。发言人强调,所有参加活动的人士必须持有有效门票,并遵守包括通过安检在内的入场规定。

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Future of Made-in-China: UBTech Robotics deploys first humanoid ‘team’ in car factory

UBTech Robotics, a Shenzhen-based company, has announced the deployment of "dozens of robots" at a Zeekr electric vehicle (EV) factory in Ningbo, China, marking a significant step in integrating AI and robotics into manufacturing. These Walker S1 humanoid robots are designed to perform complex, collaborative tasks, signaling advancements in China's "Made-in-China" technology initiative.

The robots work as a team on "multitask" and "multi site" operations, including lifting heavy boxes and handling delicate materials. This successful deployment highlights China's efforts to upgrade its manufacturing capabilities through autonomous interaction and coordination between smart robots. While Elon Musk aims to deploy 10,000 Optimus robots in Tesla factories, UBTech's deployment demonstrates tangible progress in the field, with an estimated 20 S1 robots currently in operation at the Zeekr factory, an EV brand owned by Geely Auto.

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