‘Never forget’: Philippine documentary rekindles memories of terror during World War II

A new documentary, "Children of the War," highlights the horrific experiences of Filipino children during the Battle of Manila in World War II, a period marked by immense civilian casualties at the hands of Japanese forces. The film features survivors like Fernando Vasquez-Prada, who recounts the trauma of being forced to learn the Japanese folk song "Sakura" while witnessing atrocities, forever associating the tune with the terror of the occupation.

The documentary's release coincides with a sensitive time, as it arrives when Manila prepares for the return of Japanese soldiers under the Japan-Philippines Reciprocal Access Agreement, now as military allies. The film aims to shed light on the often-overlooked suffering endured by Filipino civilians during the war, particularly the brutal actions of Rear Admiral Sanji Iwabuchi, who allegedly ordered his men to engage in widespread violence, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 100,000 civilians during the month-long siege of Manila in 1945.

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OpenAI’s Sam Altman sues sister for defamation over sex abuse claims

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is suing his sister, Ann Altman, for defamation, denying her claims of sexual abuse that she alleges occurred over a decade. Altman's legal team asserts that Ann's "false statements" have damaged his reputation and caused him emotional distress. They further claim that her lawsuit is an attempt to pressure him into providing unrestricted financial support.

Ann Altman publicly accused her brother in January of abusing and manipulating her during their childhood in Missouri, starting when she was three years old and continuing until she was a minor and he was an adult. Sam Altman, along with his mother and brothers, has vehemently denied these allegations as "utterly untrue." Ann Altman's lawyer has responded to the countersuit, calling it "predictable" and "unfortunate."

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Hong Kong actor Daniel Wu launches US$55 oral English course with interactive sessions

美籍香港演员吴彦祖因推出英语课程而在中国社交媒体上引起广泛关注,该课程旨在教授他的粉丝地道的英语口语。吴彦祖在社交媒体上开设了名为“吴彦祖教英语”的账号,迅速吸引了超过20万粉丝,并在视频中宣布推出在线英语口语课程。

该课程由吴彦祖与中国领先的科技教育公司高途合作精心开发,可通过高途App访问。吴彦祖出生并成长于加利福尼亚,以其出众的外貌而闻名,被认为是华语电影界英语口语最流利的明星之一。他曾出演过60多部电影,包括与成龙合作的广受好评的《新警察故事》,并因此获得了2004年金马奖最佳男配角奖。

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Influential AI expert Tingwen Huang returns to China after decades abroad

中国人工智能专家黄廷文在海外工作二十多年后,已全职回到中国任教。他于2024年末加入深圳大学高等研究院,担任计算机科学与控制工程学院的讲席教授。

黄廷文此前在德州农工大学卡塔尔分校任教和研究超过20年,是一位在计算机科学和工程领域被广泛引用和极具影响力的研究者。他主要研究方向为智能控制、优化和复杂系统动力学,通过将理论控制数学与实际应用相结合,使自动驾驶汽车、卫星和供应链等自主系统在不确定的环境中保持安全、稳定和强大。

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Singapore jails Australian man who stole cash from moneylender at knifepoint

An Australian man, Jose Manuel Pacheco, was sentenced to 16 months in jail in Singapore for stealing cash from a moneylender while armed with a knife. Pacheco pleaded guilty to theft, criminal intimidation, and criminal breach of trust after initially being charged with armed robbery.

On June 3, 2024, Pacheco entered Accredit's Tampines outlet wearing a mask and cap, and carrying a knife. He threatened a female employee, demanding she fill his bag with money. The employee, who was alone in the shop, complied with his demands.

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Workers stage protest at Hong Kong airport over HK$6 million in unpaid wages

香港机场管理局已责令其第二航站楼建筑项目的主要承包商 Gammon Construction 解决工资拖欠问题,此前工人们举行了抗议活动。此次抗议活动由劳资纠纷引起,导致机场南互换交汇处附近的交通一度中断。

机场管理局表示已立即部署人员到现场并报警,同时通知巴士公司并安排交通改道。目前相关道路交通已恢复正常。管理局强调高度关注此事,并要求 Gammon Construction 迅速妥善解决问题,确保所有工人都能按时足额拿到工资。

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Hong Kong to press on with selling residential plots amid warnings of oversupply

香港发展局局长表示,尽管有评级机构警告供应过剩正在损害房地产市场,香港仍将继续出售住宅用地。 林郑月娥表示,当局不会放弃在离岛水域建造人工岛,作为确保未来土地供应计划的一部分。她强调,政府有科学依据表明需要住宅用地,并已考虑到全市重建工作带来的社会需求,对未来10年的土地需求进行了估算。

林郑月娥补充说,住宅用地的销售将根据当时实际的市场情况,每个季度推出。 面对一些反对声音,她强调政府应满足居民对经济适用房的需求。此举表明香港政府在增加土地供应、解决住房问题上的决心。

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Trial run to offer services to ageing Hong Kong residential buildings in 4 districts

香港四个旧区的单栋住宅楼宇预计将在今年年中开始获得物业管理服务,这是一项旨在解决长期存在的城市衰败问题的试点计划。该计划将通过联合物业管理模式,为这些老旧楼宇提供更经济实惠的基础服务。

民政及青年事务局局长麦美娟表示,油尖旺区是首个就该计划咨询的地区,深水埗、九龙城和荃湾将在本月稍后跟进。该计划是去年施政报告中提出的建议的一部分,旨在通过聘请同一家物业管理公司为多栋老化楼宇提供联合管理服务,帮助“三无”大厦和旧楼以可负担的价格获得基本的物业管理服务。

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South China Sea: Philippines deploys ‘Angels’ to ease tensions with words not weapons

菲律宾海岸警卫队部署了一支由81名女性组成的“海上天使”队伍,旨在缓和南海争议地区的紧张局势。这些女性接受过专门训练,负责在海上对峙中与中国海警船进行无线电喊话,坚定地宣示菲律宾的权利。

其中一位名叫Stephane Villalon的无线电操作员,在最近一次事件中,向一艘体型远大于菲律宾海岸警卫队船只的中国海警船发出了警告,告知其已进入菲律宾专属经济区,并要求立即离开。这一行动正是菲律宾海岸警卫队四年前启动“天使计划”的初衷,旨在通过女性的柔性外交,在南海争端中发挥作用。由于中国对南海大部分地区的主权声索与国际法庭的裁决相悖,中菲海警船只的冲突不断,引发了对武装冲突的担忧,“海上天使”的出现,或能为紧张局势带来一丝缓和。

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Why Nepal’s China-built airport is ‘cautiously optimistic’ over first international flight

Nepal's China-built Pokhara International Airport is set to receive its first scheduled international flight on March 31, operated by Himalaya Airlines to Lhasa. This marks a significant moment for the airport, which has been aiming to attract more international carriers since its inauguration two years ago, with hopes of boosting tourism and connectivity between Nepal and China.

While tourism entrepreneurs in Pokhara have welcomed the announcement as "long overdue," they also express concerns about the route's long-term viability. Some suggest that connecting Pokhara to other Chinese cities or labor-intensive markets in the Gulf might have been more sustainable. The airport, envisioned since the 1970s, only began to materialize in 2016 when Nepal and China signed a loan agreement for its construction.

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Art therapy helps Hong Kong women address ‘hidden’ family caregiving stressors

照顾患有认知障碍的年迈父母让林女士倍感压力,她甚至一度考虑将父母送往养老院。作为一名上班族,林女士需要承担照料 88 岁的父亲和 80 岁的母亲的主要责任,她的父母都患有认知障碍,这让她身心俱疲。

林女士回忆说,有一次她无意中提到了养老院的想法,父亲变得激动起来,冲出家门爬上栏杆,好像要跳楼。这件事以及母亲无缘无故的责骂,都让她感到难以承受。虽然她还有一个姐姐住在一起,但当姐姐和家政人员发生争吵时,两人都会打电话到她工作的地方抱怨,这让她更加感到压力巨大。

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‘Shameful’: Ukrainians in China react to Trump spat with Zelensky, want Beijing to do more

Ukrainians in China expressed outrage over Donald Trump's criticism of Volodymyr Zelensky during their recent meeting, particularly his comments about Zelensky's attire and perceived lack of gratitude for US support. This sentiment reflects a deep concern among Ukrainians abroad regarding the portrayal of their country's struggle against Russia and the perceived disrespect shown by the former US president.

The criticism from Trump's team, specifically targeting Zelensky's choice of battle fatigues and questioning Ukraine's gratitude, struck a nerve with Ukrainians like Julia, who viewed it as shameful behavior. This incident has also reignited discussions about the historical context of US-Ukraine relations, including the 1994 agreement where Ukraine relinquished its nuclear weapons based on assurances of territorial sovereignty, leading some to question the premise of Ukraine owing gratitude to the US.

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China puts tariffs on Canadian food products, months after Ottawa targeted EVs and steel

China will impose tariffs on Canadian agricultural and food products starting March 20 in retaliation for Canada's tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel, and aluminum. The tariffs include a 100% duty on Canadian rapeseed oil, oil cakes, and peas, and a 25% duty on Canadian aquatic products and pork, according to the Chinese commerce ministry.

China argues that Canada's tariffs, implemented in October, violate World Trade Organization rules and are protectionist measures that harm China's interests. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau previously stated that these tariffs were aimed at addressing China's overcapacity, mirroring similar actions taken by the United States and the European Union against Chinese EV imports, escalating trade tensions between the countries.

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5 Hong Kong youngsters held over assault on teen girl allegedly slapped 15 times

香港警方逮捕了五名年轻人,他们涉嫌在去年于旺角一家购物中心多次掌掴一名14岁少女,起因是一段视频在网上疯传。警方于周六表示,前一天收到报案,称去年8月在旺角一家购物中心的后楼梯发生了一起因“琐事”引起的争执,导致该少女被多次掌掴。

在社交媒体上广泛传播的视频显示,一名女孩被一群年轻人包围,他们至少掌掴她15次,其中一些人还怂恿其他人“用力打”。据消息人士称,袭击发生在先达广场,至少有八人参与,其中一些是她的同学。目前,四名涉嫌袭击的男性和一名女性嫌疑人已被逮捕,他们年龄在15至22岁之间,罪名是袭击造成实际身体伤害,他们正在被拘留以作进一步调查。

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Trump keeps pressure on Ukraine as Russia’s Putin weighs ceasefire with conditions

唐纳德·特朗普持续向乌克兰施压,要求推进和平协议,与此同时,有迹象表明克里姆林宫可能愿意在特定条件下接受临时停火。特朗普寻求结束俄乌战争的协议,并转变了美国多年来对基辅的支持,转而拉拢莫斯科。

特朗普的顾问正在规划如何放松因战争对俄罗斯实施的制裁,包括对其石油销售的价格上限。与此同时,美国和乌克兰官员计划在沙特阿拉伯会面,试图改善关系,并恢复对基辅的武器和情报支持,此前特朗普在与乌克兰总统泽连斯基发生冲突后暂停了这些支持。特朗普对俄罗斯的示好引发了乌克兰及其欧洲盟友的担忧,他们担心特朗普会试图迫使基辅接受对克里姆林宫有利的协议。

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3 steps Hong Kong workplaces can take to end sexual harassment

A recent survey in Hong Kong revealed that 34% of female respondents experienced workplace sexual harassment in the past three years, but over 60% of victims did not report the incidents. The Democratic Alliance of Betterment and Progress (DAB) and several civil society organizations conducted the survey, highlighting a significant issue of unreported sexual harassment in Hong Kong workplaces.

The survey indicated that only a small percentage of those harassed informed superiors, filed formal complaints, or pursued legal action, with some viewing harassment as a normal occurrence. The DAB proposed measures like workplace training and improved complaint channels, but the difficulty of evidence collection and social barriers prevent victims from reporting incidents, perpetuating a cycle of silence and resignation.

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DeepSeek’s rise helps push China’s ‘little giants’ into spotlight at ‘two sessions’

China is prioritizing support for its "little giant" manufacturers, innovative SMEs specializing in niche technologies, as part of its strategy to win the tech war with the US and advance in AI. Premier Li Qiang emphasized nurturing these champions during the National People's Congress, highlighting their importance in the global supply chain.

The focus on "little giants," potential unicorns (start-ups valued over $1 billion), and gazelles (fast-growing start-ups) aims to move China's manufacturing sector up the value chain and stimulate private sector growth. These companies typically excel in areas like advanced materials, biotechnology, automation, robotics, and AI, all deemed crucial for modernizing traditional industries.

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Last of 6 Hongkongers recently freed from scam farm in Myanmar returns home

最后一名从缅甸诈骗园区获救的香港居民已返回香港,至此,此前被困的六名港人全部安全回港。香港保安局表示,将尽快营救剩余三名在案人员。这名获救者此前留在泰国协助警方调查人口贩卖至缅甸从事诈骗活动的案件。

据悉,自2024年以来,香港执法机构已记录了28起港人疑似在东南亚国家被拘留并与诈骗活动相关的案件。包括最近回港的六人在内,已有25人安全返回香港。此前,另有五名获救者已于周五抵达香港。

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Beauty beyond borders: the rise and rise of South Korea’s plastic surgery empire

South Korea's plastic surgery industry is booming, fueled by platforms like Gangnam Unni and increasing openness from celebrities about cosmetic procedures. Gangnam Unni, a beauty and medical information platform connecting millions of users with clinics, is becoming a potential unicorn startup, expanding into Japan and Thailand, and offering cross-border services to patients worldwide. The willingness of celebrities to endorse or openly discuss their experiences with plastic surgery has significantly elevated the industry's image in South Korea.

The concentration of plastic surgery clinics in Seoul's Gangnam district, coupled with the cultural emphasis on physical appearance as a competitive advantage, has driven the industry's growth. The popularity of celebrities who openly discuss their procedures, like Lee Si-an from Netflix's *Singles Inferno*, further normalizes and promotes plastic surgery, signaling a shift in societal attitudes and contributing to the industry's continued success.

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China’s Seven Titans vs Wall Street’s Magnificent Seven: DeepSeek sparks stocks re-rating

DeepSeek, a Chinese AI start-up, has sparked a global reassessment of technology stock valuations with its low-cost large language model (LLM). The company's namesake app, released on January 20, quickly surpassed OpenAI's ChatGPT as the most downloaded freeware app on the iOS app store in the US, leading to a surge of investment in Chinese stocks.

The release of DeepSeek's LLM has raised questions about the valuation of US technology stocks, particularly Nvidia, whose stock value significantly dropped after investors realized that LLMs could be developed at a lower cost. Bonnie Chan, CEO of Hong Kong Stock Exchanges and Clearing, highlighted this shift at a conference, suggesting that investors may need to reconsider the attractiveness of stocks in other regions, including Asia.

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