Trump administration ends Iraq’s waiver to buy Iranian electricity

美国特朗普政府取消了对伊拉克的一项豁免,该豁免允许伊拉克向伊朗支付电力费用。 此举是特朗普政府对伊朗“极限施压”行动的一部分,旨在进一步孤立伊朗经济,并阻止其发展核武器及支持恐怖组织。

美国国务院发言人表示,此举是为了确保不给予伊朗任何程度的经济或金融缓解。伊拉克方面表示,豁免的取消带来暂时的运营挑战,但政府正在积极寻找替代方案以维持电力供应,并将加强能源安全作为国家优先事项。

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Roots and religion: a Fujian city’s mission to forge cultural bonds with Taiwan

Fujian province is leveraging shared religious and ancestral ties with Taiwan to foster cross-strait cultural connections, according to Zhangzhou's Communist Party Secretary Wang Jinzu. Wang emphasized that over 83% of Taiwanese people have ancestry in Fujian, creating a "unique linkage" and a "natural factor for integrated development" between the regions.

Wang's comments, made at a National People's Congress panel discussion, echo Beijing's broader efforts to promote cultural connections, despite rejection from Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party. Zhangzhou has implemented cultural initiatives to bridge "emotional gaps," capitalizing on shared language, music, customs, and cuisine. These efforts come amid heightened cross-strait tensions, particularly since the inauguration of Taiwan's leader William Lai Ching-te.

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Indonesia’s electric dream? A race to EV supremacy

Indonesia aims to become a global electric vehicle (EV) powerhouse by leveraging its nickel reserves and implementing a downstreaming strategy to create a comprehensive domestic EV and battery supply chain. The government has set an ambitious goal of having 2 million electric cars and 12 million electric two-wheelers on the roads by 2030, supported by incentives like value-added tax discounts on EV purchases and zero import duties for foreign automakers who establish local manufacturing facilities and meet local content requirements. Several companies, including BYD, GAC Acton, and Citroen, have already committed to building factories in Indonesia.

Despite government support and increasing sales, Indonesia's EV ambitions face challenges. High costs, insufficient charging infrastructure, and the rapid evolution of battery technology could hinder progress. While EV sales have grown significantly, from 125 in 2020 to over 43,000 units last year, these obstacles need to be addressed to achieve the country's ambitious EV adoption targets.

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Malaysian housewives cook up digital gold – with love, labour and live-streams

Malaysian housewives are transforming their home cooking into lucrative social media careers, earning five-figure monthly incomes through platforms like TikTok and Instagram. These women are sharing traditional family recipes for dishes like nasi lemak and chicken rendang, attracting millions of views and securing brand deals.

This trend sees housewives juggling multiple roles, from chef and videographer to editor and accountant, all while managing household duties. Fatihah Hanapi, a mother of two with over half a million followers, exemplifies this shift, showcasing Malaysian cuisine with modern production techniques and a packed daily schedule.

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Putin ‘went through a phoney witch hunt’: why Trump fawns over Russian president

在与乌克兰总统泽连斯基的激烈冲突中,特朗普表示普京和他一同经历了“一场虚假的政治迫害”,暗示两人之间存在某种程度的亲近感。特朗普的这番言论,尽管当时并未引起广泛关注,但反映了他认为自己与俄罗斯总统普京关系密切。

特朗普的言论背景是,他此前曾多次表示相信普京会“信守承诺”,并声称自己与普京相识已久。有分析认为,特朗普将普京视为一个“理想化的形象”,这可能源于两人都曾面临类似的指控和调查。

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Xpeng chairman sees Hong Kong as launch pad for self-driving EVs

Xpeng Motors aims to launch its autonomous driving technology in Hong Kong, potentially making it the first market outside mainland China to experience Xpeng's self-driving capabilities. This ambition hinges on Hong Kong's willingness to adopt a more progressive regulatory stance towards emerging technologies like autonomous driving and low-altitude aviation.

He Xiaopeng, Xpeng's chairman and CEO, expressed his hope that Hong Kong would either match or surpass mainland China in creating a supportive regulatory environment for innovative technologies. The company views Hong Kong as a crucial testing ground for its Xpeng Navigation Guided Pilot (X NGP) system, with plans to promote the technology globally by 2026, using Hong Kong as a springboard to enter the international EV market.

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Hong Kong must deepen understanding of ‘one country, two systems’: delegate

A Hong Kong delegate to China's top advisory body, Tu Haiming, stated that Hong Kong society lacks a proper understanding of the "one country, two systems" principle. He believes it's often viewed as merely a solution for historical issues or as unrelated to national development, rather than a guiding principle for the city's future.

Tu, speaking at the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing, emphasized the need for enhanced public education and greater national awareness in Hong Kong. His comments align with recent calls from other officials, such as Zheng Yanxiong, for Hong Kong to better capitalize on the opportunities presented by the "one country, two systems" framework by understanding its nuances and relationship with the mainland.

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LIV Golf: Hong Kong working on deal to bring event back ‘year after year’, Law says

香港正致力于与LIV高尔夫达成长期协议,以确保这项“精彩的赛事年复一年地回归”。香港文化体育及旅游局局长杨润雄周日表示,双方都有强烈的意愿达成协议,目前正在敲定细节。

杨润雄与LIV高尔夫首席执行官Scott O'Neil一同参观了球场,观看了菲尔·米克尔森最后一轮的部分比赛,并体验了热闹的球迷村后,对粉岭的“有趣氛围”表示赞赏。她认为这种轻松愉快的氛围正是旅游和娱乐应该呈现的样子,并表示双方已非常接近达成协议。

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Indonesian man accused of flashing crew member on Singapore flight

一名印尼男子因涉嫌在飞往新加坡的航班上向一名女性空乘人员暴露身体,将于3月12日被指控性暴露罪。警方称,该男子在座位上解开裤子拉链并暴露生殖器,随后被空乘人员发现并报警。

调查显示,这名23岁的嫌疑人当时用毯子遮盖身体,并用手机录像,在空姐送餐时暴露自己。空姐迅速离开并报告了主管。飞机抵达新加坡樟宜机场后,机场警察逮捕了该男子,并没收了他的手机以作进一步调查。如果罪名成立,他将面临最高一年的监禁、罚款或两者兼施。

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Chinese parents planning on US-born babies face limbo in wake of Trump order

Donald Trump's executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship for children born in the US to non-citizen, non-resident parents after February 19th has created uncertainty for expectant mothers like Rainnie, a Chinese woman in California. Rainnie, along with other Chinese women, traveled to the US specifically to give birth, hoping their children would gain American citizenship and its associated opportunities. The order has led to legal challenges and left the future of birthright citizenship in question.

Trump's order directs agencies to deny citizenship recognition if neither parent is a US citizen or lawful permanent resident. Over 20 states have filed lawsuits, and federal judges have blocked the order, potentially leading to a Supreme Court decision. While the exact number of "birth tourism" babies is unknown, estimates range from thousands to over 20,000 per year, highlighting the scale of the issue and the anxieties of those hoping to secure US citizenship for their children.

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Styrofoam no match for Hong Kong robot that collects marine rubbish

香港清水湾乡村俱乐部长期面临海滩垃圾清理难题,现在由香港理工大学工程师开发的机器人清洁工Galatea有效解决了这一问题。该机器人专门清理细小的塑料垃圾,特别是难以收集的泡沫塑料碎片,大大减轻了人工清洁的负担。

该俱乐部主席黄伟光表示,引入机器人后,节省了约两名工人的垃圾清理工作量。为了解决海滩垃圾问题,俱乐部向香港理工大学工业及系统工程学系的陈伦洲教授寻求帮助,历时两年研发出这款机器人,并于去年底在该俱乐部进行测试,今年一月正式投入使用,总成本超过100万港元(约128,700美元)。

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China temple ‘high-5 cat’ raises paw to greet visitors, draws crowds seeking luck

一只生活在中国寺庙里的家猫因其独特的问候方式被称为“击掌猫”,吸引了大量游客前来祈求好运。这只猫咪通常会佩戴一条金链,它通过抬起爪子与游客的手掌相击来表示欢迎。

这座寺庙是位于中国东部苏州的西园寺,以其迷人的花园和传统的汉传佛教建筑而闻名,其历史可以追溯到元朝(1271-1368年)。寺庙内有许多流浪猫,游客们称这里为“猫咪的天堂”。最近,一段关于这只猫咪的视频在社交媒体上走红,视频中,这只黑灰相间的猫咪坐在石柱上,与每一位路过的游客击掌,场面十分有趣。

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Hong Kong’s active ‘seenagers’ are redefining retirement. Can authorities keep up?

82岁的香港居民Shirley Chang通过积极的生活方式享受退休生活。她定期打匹克球,每周学习中国水墨画,并在家教朋友们打桥牌,以此保持健康和活力,并不断探索新的体验。

Chang去年夏天开始打匹克球,现在每周和朋友们打三次。她还在家教朋友们打桥牌,此前她曾是香港桥牌队的成员,参加过多次比赛,至今已教会约170人。此外,她去年开始学习中国水墨画,是班上年龄最大的学生。除了运动和艺术,Chang还经常与朋友聚餐或短途旅行,也会探望居住在海外的子女和孙辈。

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Israeli tourist and homestay owner gang-raped, man drowns in India attack

印度警方逮捕了两名男子,他们涉嫌在卡纳塔克邦科帕尔镇对一名以色列妇女和一名当地妇女实施轮奸。 案发时,受害者与几名男性游客在星空下,遭遇三名骑摩托车的男子索要钱财,随后事态升级。

初步调查显示,嫌疑人将男性游客推入附近的水渠,并对两名女性实施性侵。不幸的是,一名印度游客溺水身亡,另外两名男子设法逃脱。警方已成立特别调查组,正在对两名嫌疑人进行谋杀未遂、轮奸和抢劫等罪名的调查。案件仍在进一步调查中。

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Hong Kong family behind Vitasoy donates HK$100 million to CUHK art museum

香港中文大学(CUHK)的艺术博物馆将获得1亿港元(1290万美元)的捐款,用于扩建,以巩固香港作为文化交流中心的地位。 这笔捐款来自罗桂祥基金会,该基金会由维他奶创始人罗桂祥创立,他的后代又创立了大家乐和大快活等快餐连锁店。

新增的1770平方米的罗桂祥展览馆将于下个月开放,旨在成为香港艺术生态系统的一部分,并促进香港作为东西方国际文化交流中心的发展。该展览馆内设有Harold and Christina Lee Gallery,该画廊由利园购物中心背后的家族捐赠5000万港元促成。

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Ethereum co-founder Gavin Wood says Web3 is on track as finance firms move in

Gavin Wood, Ethereum的联合创始人,在以太坊区块链推出十年后,仍然致力于实现超越加密货币的Web3愿景,并希望通过Polkadot创建一个真正去中心化的互联网。他近期在全球举行的Polkadot Jam Tour中与开发者会面,阐述了他对协议更新的愿景。

在香港举行的Polkadot Jam Tour活动中,Wood详细介绍了Polkadot区块链网络的技术升级,旨在提高可扩展性和吞吐量。他认为,传统金融用例并非Web3的核心,Web3更具潜力的应用在于与现有金融系统的整合,以及探索稳定币之外更有趣的使用场景。他相信,随着Web3被银行和监管机构更广泛地接受,它将与金融系统实现更深度的融合。

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Former Philippine leader Duterte in Hong Kong for event amid ICC probe

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is attending a thanksgiving event in Hong Kong aimed at overseas Filipino workers. The event, titled “Pasasalamat kay PRRD with OFWS (Overseas Filipino Workers)”, is being held at Wan Chai’s Southorn Stadium. Hundreds of people queued up early in the morning to see the former president, and his daughter, the current Vice-President of the Philippines Sara Duterte, was also seen at the venue.

Duterte's appearance in Hong Kong comes as the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigates his controversial anti-drug campaign. The event is scheduled to run for most of the day, with promotional materials heavily featuring Duterte. Those without tickets were initially directed to a nearby football pitch, but were later asked to leave by police.

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City for sale? Residents in Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur fear the squeeze of development

Kuala Lumpur is undergoing a major redevelopment push by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's administration, aiming to reshape the city by reviving industrial zones, boosting transit areas, and increasing green spaces. The plan, costing hundreds of billions of ringgit, focuses on redeveloping older sections and building new districts to expand the city, while also addressing issues like vice, dirty restaurants, and traffic congestion.

This redevelopment has already impacted communities like Kampung Baru, where infrastructure projects and commercial development have disrupted traditional ways of life. The city's transformation includes efforts to spruce up its image with more greenery and a "strike force" to tackle various urban issues, alongside the potential implementation of a congestion charge to alleviate traffic.

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China’s January-February CPI falls 0.1% days after annual inflation control target lowered

中国2月份的消费者价格指数(CPI)同比下降0.7%,表明中国经济仍面临通缩压力。这一数据是在中国将年度消费者通胀控制目标从3%左右下调至2%左右后几天发布的,此前两年的实际通胀率一直低迷在0.2%。

国家统计局表示,今年前两个月的通胀指标(包括可变动的农历新年假期)与去年同期相比下降了0.1%。食品价格同比下降3.3%,服务价格下降0.4%。剔除波动较大的食品和能源价格后的核心通胀率上月同比下降0.1%,1-2月同比上升0.3%。此外,追踪工厂商品成本的生产者价格指数(PPI)下降了2.2%,连续第29个月出现收缩。

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US rejects G7 plan to tackle Russia’s shadow oil tanker fleet, prioritising China focus

美国拒绝了加拿大提出的成立特别工作组以打击俄罗斯“影子舰队”的提议。这一举动正值特朗普政府重新评估其在多边组织中的立场之际。加拿大目前担任G7轮值主席国,下周将在魁北克省夏洛瓦举办外长峰会,美国在拟定一份关于海上问题的联合声明时,试图强化有关中国的措辞,同时淡化有关俄罗斯的措辞。

“影子舰队”指的是用于规避西方因俄乌战争对莫斯科实施制裁的老旧油轮。美国不仅否决了加拿大成立特别工作组以监控违反制裁行为的提议,还试图从G7声明草案中删除“制裁”一词,并将提及俄罗斯“维持战争能力”的措辞替换为“赚取收入”。在海上安全保障方面,美国力主直接点名中国,包括提及中国“执行非法海上主张”及其空中行动对“生命和生计”造成的风险,特别是南中国海问题。

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