Pay freezes won’t fix Hong Kong’s chronic fiscal problems

Hong Kong's latest budget, unveiled by Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po, focuses on balancing fiscal responsibility with economic recovery through revenue increases and controlled spending, but it underscores the city's ongoing struggle with long-term fiscal issues. Key measures include a pay freeze for civil servants, alongside plans to reduce 10,000 government positions through natural attrition over the next two years, and an extension of the productivity enhancement program to cut recurrent expenditures by 7% by the 2027-2028 financial year.

These cost-cutting efforts are in response to an anticipated HK$87.2 billion deficit for the current financial year; however, despite these measures, the civil service bureau's staff-related spending has increased significantly, comprising nearly 26% of the government's operating expenditure. While the government hopes to alleviate fiscal pressures, some believe these measures are temporary fixes that do not fully address the underlying structural inefficiencies in public finances.

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Malaysia’s corruption carousel: here we go again, with Ismail Sabri third ex-PM implicated

前马来西亚总理伊斯梅尔·萨布里因涉嫌腐败正在接受调查,这在马来西亚引发了强烈反响。 这次调查与在他高级助手运营的安全屋内查获的价值 3860 万美元的现金、黄金和其他物品有关。这一消息之所以令人震惊,不仅因为伊斯梅尔·萨布里成为嫌疑人,更因为查获的现金、16 根金条和豪华宇舶手表的数量巨大。

马来西亚反腐败委员会 (MACC) 的这一宣布使伊斯梅尔·萨布里成为马来西亚第三位面临腐败调查的前总理,此前他的前任穆希丁·亚辛和目前在狱中的纳吉布·拉扎克也面临类似指控。穆希丁两年前被指控滥用职权和洗钱,涉及据称在他 2020 年 3 月至 2021 年 8 月担任总理期间收受的 5280 万美元贿赂。纳吉布则因与从丑闻缠身的 1MDB 前子公司 SRC International 挪用的 950 万美元资金相关的类似罪行,正在服刑六年。

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China influencer Luo Fuxing, known for dramatic animal hairstyles, shifts focus to theatre

中国南方一位以创作引人注目的动物和艺术发型而闻名的网红,已将重心转向时尚和戏剧。这位来自广东的发型师罗福兴是中国最早的一批网红之一,他独特发型在小镇青年中引发了一种亚文化,让他们有机会表达自己的身份并获得认可。

30岁的罗福兴留着飘逸的长发,洗完后用发胶定型,展示出类似飞机、鸟类和房屋的独特轮廓。他声称,每月只花两天时间在他的发型设计上,并在网上分享他的作品,就能让他赚取3万到5万元人民币(4000到6800美元)。他的灵感来自热门电影和生活经历,例如,去年一月,他设计了一个非凡的水龙头形状的发型,甚至可以滴水,模仿了真实的水龙头,并获得了24万个赞。

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Ex-Facebook director pens ‘explosive’ memoir about the ‘careless’ people running Meta

A tell-all memoir titled "Careless People," written by Meta's former director of global public policy Sarah Wynn-Williams, is set to be released on March 11, promising an "explosive dispatch" about her seven years at Facebook/Meta. The book will reportedly expose the inner workings of Meta, including details about the behaviors and priorities of top executives like Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg.

According to the publisher, Flatiron Books, Wynn-Williams' memoir will delve into Zuckerberg's attempts to expand Meta's reach into China, as well as her own initiatives to push the company to more actively monitor and address hate speech and misinformation on its platforms. The book aims to paint a picture of Meta's leadership as "profoundly flawed, self-interested, and careless," suggesting a critical perspective on the company's impact and internal dynamics.

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‘Innovative aircraft processing plant planned for Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis’

A leading French aeronautic services company plans to establish an aircraft parts processing and trading center in Hong Kong's Northern Metropolis, a first for Asia, potentially creating thousands of jobs and opening up a valuable new industry. Financial Secretary Paul Chan is expected to announce details of the project and the partnership with the French firm next week.

This initiative aligns with Beijing's call for Hong Kong to enhance international collaboration and contribute to China's further opening up, particularly amidst US-China tensions. The plan to develop Hong Kong as a regional hub for aircraft parts was initially outlined in Chan's recent budget address, where he mentioned a memorandum of understanding between the Airport Authority and an overseas aeronautic services company to explore services like aircraft dismantling, parts recycling, and training. Chan later confirmed the partner was a prominent French aerospace company.

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SpaceX loses contact with Starship spacecraft in test flight

SpaceX's Starship, the world's largest rocket, experienced another setback on Thursday as contact was lost minutes into its test flight, causing the spacecraft to tumble uncontrollably. This occurred nearly two months after a previous explosion sent debris raining down on Turks and Caicos.

The 123-meter rocket launched from Texas, with the first-stage booster successfully returning to the launch pad. However, the spacecraft's engines began shutting down during its eastward trajectory, intended for a controlled entry over the Indian Ocean. The mission, which aimed to reach an altitude of 150km and last an hour, ultimately failed to release mock satellites and its final resting place remains unclear. Despite the setback, SpaceX remains committed to using Starship for future NASA lunar landings and Elon Musk's ambitions for Mars exploration.

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Hong Kong police install 11 CCTV camera sets in Kwun Tong under new traffic plan

香港警方在观塘安装了监控摄像头,作为新的实时交通管理系统的一部分。该系统是香港首个人工智能(AI)系统,它结合了交通模拟部署和交通信号灯调整建议,同时整合了运输署的数据。警方强调,该系统仅用于交通管理,不具备面部识别功能。

这个名为“智能交通管理系统”的试点项目获得了创新及科技局的资助,金额达680万港元(约合874,900美元),预计将于今年第三季度启动。目前,已在观塘商业区的九条主要街道,包括成业街和开源道,安装了11个摄像头。警方表示,系统侧重于交通数据,而非捕捉居民信息,并且收集到的数据将在28天内删除。

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Hong Kong home sales poised for best month in a year as Hava, Yoho West Parkside sell out

Hong Kong's property market is experiencing a surge in activity, with developers on track for their best sales month in a year, potentially reaching 2,500 new flats sold in March. This boost is attributed to a recent stock market rally and a reduction in stamp duties, incentivizing homebuyers and driving transaction volumes.

Several developers have reported strong sales figures, including Kerry Properties, Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP), and Henderson Land Development. Kerry Properties' Hava project in Yuen Long has seen significant interest, while SHKP sold all 119 flats at Yoho West Parkside. The positive momentum follows Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po's decision to cut stamp duties on smaller flats, further stimulating the market and leading to the best weekend for new home sales in four months. Property agencies predict that March's sales volume will surpass November's figures, signaling a notable recovery in Hong Kong's property sector.

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Europe rallies behind Zelensky as US announces new talks with Ukraine

欧盟领导人在一次危机峰会上团结支持乌克兰,并同意加强欧盟的防御力量,与此同时,华盛顿方面表示,与基辅的会谈已重回正轨,以确保与俄罗斯达成停火协议。 乌克兰总统泽连斯基前往布鲁塞尔,此前一周,他与美国总统特朗普在白宫的争吵导致华盛顿切断了对基辅的军事援助和情报共享。

泽连斯基此后努力修复关系,美国负责俄罗斯-乌克兰冲突的特使宣布计划举行新的谈判。美国特使史蒂夫·维特科夫表示,他对泽连斯基的“道歉”感到满意,并计划前往沙特阿拉伯与乌克兰谈判代表讨论与俄罗斯的“初步停火”以及更长协议的“框架”。基辅一位高级官员表示,预计乌克兰和美国代表团将于周二在利雅得会面。泽连斯基告诉欧盟领导人,乌克兰和美国的谈判代表已经“恢复工作”,并表示“我们希望下周能举行一次有意义的会议”。

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As Trump looks to reshape global order, these are the faces to watch in US-China relations

随着特朗普可能再次入主白宫,中美在贸易、技术和地缘政治领域的竞争预计将加剧。 这引发了一个关键问题:除了两位领导人之外,还有哪些关键决策者在引导着这两个超级大国,尤其是在世界秩序面临十字路口之际?

特朗普为他的第二个任期做出了许多令人惊讶的人事选择,从内阁职位到关键顾问角色,他启用了非正统的人物,包括政治新手和未经考验的局外人,来担任华盛顿的关键职位,包括那些负责美国贸易政策、国家安全和监管技术的职位。 其中一些人对于国际社会来说是新面孔,并且几乎没有或根本没有与中国相关事务的经验。 然而,特朗普政府中也有其他一些高级官员,他们要么有与北京打交道的记录,要么是长期的对华鹰派。

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As China aims for a new growth cycle, can its stock market ride the bull?

中国政府的支持性经济政策和乐观前景提振了新一轮牛市,香港和中国大陆股市大幅上涨。 这一势头源于1月份DeepSeek发布的人工智能模型,该模型将全球注意力转移到中国资产。

分析师观察到海外投资者乐观情绪高涨,一些专家预计随着中国政府决心实现今年5%的经济增长目标,并利用稳定工具来应对美国总统特朗普可能带来的不确定性,将有更多资金流入。周四下午,中国高层经济官员阐述了2025年的工作重点,香港股市在最后交易时段扩大涨幅,收盘上涨3.3%,创下自2022年2月17日以来的最高水平,较上年同期上涨50%,超过了主要的国际市场。恒生科技指数飙升5.4%,收于2021年12月以来的最高水平,沪深300指数上涨1.4%,上证综合指数上涨1.2%。

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Trump open to again extending TikTok deadline if necessary

美国总统特朗普表示,如果到4月5日仍未达成交易,他“可能”会延长中国拥有的社交视频应用TikTok的出售期限。 特朗普周四在白宫回答有关该应用状态的问题时表示,他对TikTok“非常感兴趣”,并且“目前我们至少还有一个月的期限,所以我们不需要延期”。

与此同时,特朗普表示,如有必要,他愿意延长最后期限。他补充说:“如果我需要延期,我可能会得到延期。”他还表示,中国将在交易中发挥作用,并希望中国批准该交易,但他没有具体说明感兴趣的买家。此前,一项两党法案设定了1月19日为中国母公司字节跳动出售该应用程序的最后期限,该服务在美国的运营一度暂时停止。

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Trump’s policies are accelerating the financial pivot to China

A recent public disagreement between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky revealed Trump's limitations in understanding international relations and his unsuitability for geopolitical mediation. Zelensky's directness exposed the contrast between a wartime leader and Trump's lack of military experience, highlighting Trump's transactional approach to diplomacy as fundamentally flawed.

Trump's negotiation style, characterized by prioritizing the seemingly stronger side and seeking to dominate deals, clashes with the principles of effective mediation, which require impartiality and fostering common ground. His history of unilateral actions, such as imposing tariffs, further undermines his credibility as a mediator, especially when he abruptly reverses course, demonstrating a lack of consistent strategy and understanding of complex geopolitical dynamics.

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Mexico to review its tariffs with China, amid US pressure

墨西哥总统克劳迪娅·辛鲍姆表示,墨西哥政府将重新审视与中国的关税,回应美国对其阻止中国商品借道进入美国的压力。辛鲍姆指出,墨西哥从中国进口的“大量产品”已经对本国产业造成冲击,政府将采取措施应对这一问题。

辛鲍姆认为,墨西哥纺织和制鞋业的衰落是导致瓜纳华托州犯罪暴力浪潮的原因之一。今年一月,她曾提出一项计划,旨在用国内生产的商品取代中国进口商品。虽然美国财政部长表示墨西哥已提议与美国对中国商品加征关税的做法保持一致,但辛鲍姆并未证实这一点,而是强调墨西哥将优先发展与已签署自由贸易协定的国家(如美国)的贸易关系。

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UK crossbow killer raped ex-girlfriend before murdering her and her mother and sister

Kyle Clifford被判在2024年7月于伦敦北部住所谋杀三名女性并强奸其中一人的罪名成立。剑桥皇家法庭陪审团在经过约45分钟的审议后,判定Clifford在袭击中强奸了他的前女友Louise Hunt,此前他已承认使用十字弓和刀具杀害了Louise Hunt,她的姐姐Hannah Hunt以及她们的母亲Carol Hunt。

Clifford在今年1月承认了三项谋杀罪、一项非法监禁罪和两项持有攻击性武器罪,但他否认强奸了Louise。受害者是BBC赛马评论员John Hunt的妻子和两个女儿。Clifford拒绝离开位于伦敦东南部的贝尔马什监狱的牢房,没有出庭。他将于下周二被判刑。

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European Parliament removes curbs on lawmaker meetings with China

欧洲议会解除了议员会见部分中国官员的限制,这表明欧盟与中国的关系可能正在解冻。 此前,由于中欧双方在新疆人权问题上相互制裁,欧洲议会于2023年4月出台相关限制措施,旨在收紧与受制裁的中国官员的联系。

这些非约束性指导方针曾规定,在制裁持续期间,不得邀请中国议员访问欧洲议会,也不得派遣官方代表团前往中国,除非代表团中至少有一名成员受到制裁。此外,与中国官员的双边接触应仅限于在职官员,且需通知议会服务部门。但随着欧洲议会议长Roberta Metsola提议撤销这些措施,这一强硬姿态开始出现松动,不过,与俄罗斯和白俄罗斯官员的会面限制仍然有效。

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US firm Intuitive Machines’ spacecraft lands on moon, but status unclear

Intuitive Machines的雅典娜号着陆器已成功登陆月球表面。 然而,着陆器的具体状态和健康状况尚不明确,公司正在进行进一步的评估。此次任务是该公司第二次尝试登月,目标着陆点位于月球南极附近,携带了11个有效载荷和科学仪器。

着陆过程中出现了一些不确定性,着陆器引擎在预计着陆时间后仍在运行,似乎在月球表面盘旋。在工程师发出指令关闭引擎后,公司确认着陆器已在月球表面,但具体姿态不明。受此消息影响,Intuitive Machines的股价在盘后交易中下跌超过20%。该公司是NASA支持的众多旨在重返月球的私营公司之一,这种模式被认为成本较低,但风险较高。

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Europe’s Ariane 6 rocket blasts off on first commercial mission

Europe's Ariane 6 rocket successfully launched on its first commercial mission, carrying a French military satellite and bolstering the continent's independent access to space. The launch from French Guiana occurred after several delays, including a last-minute postponement, marking a significant step for Europe in strengthening its security capabilities.

The mission is particularly crucial as Europe seeks to reduce its reliance on the United States for security partnerships, especially given the uncertainties surrounding future US foreign policy. The launch proceeded as planned, with the main stage separating successfully, and the rocket is expected to reach orbit just over an hour after launch. A previous attempt was aborted due to a malfunctioning valve, highlighting the complexities involved in such missions.

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Trump plans to revoke legal status of Ukrainians who fled to US, insiders say

特朗普政府计划取消约24万因俄乌冲突逃离的乌克兰人的临时合法身份,这可能会使他们面临被快速驱逐的风险。这一举动预计最早可能在四月份发生,与拜登政府此前对乌克兰人的欢迎态度形成鲜明对比。

据消息人士透露,取消对乌克兰人保护的计划在特朗普与乌克兰总统泽连斯基公开不和之前就已经在进行中。这是特朗普政府更广泛行动的一部分,旨在剥夺超过180万移民的合法身份,这些人是在拜登政府推出的临时人道主义假释计划下进入美国的。

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UK exempts Hong Kong BN(O) passport holders from needing ETA ahead of travel

香港英国国民(海外)护照(BN(O))持有人前往英国将不再需要申请电子旅行授权(ETA)。英国政府扩大了此前仅适用于BN(O)签证持有者的豁免范围。这一变化源于英国移民和公民事务部长Seema Malhotra的一封信,信中提到政府在“听取证据”后做出了这一决定。

Malhotra在致英国上议院议员David Alton的信中表示,此决定的基础是BN(O)群体与英国的紧密联系,以及英国对他们的历史承诺。更重要的是,英国政府签发了BN(O)护照,就像英国公民的护照一样,因此英国对持照人的身份有“更高程度的确定性”。她补充说,内政部将“尽早”修改移民规则,并持续审查该豁免,以防出现滥用情况。

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