Hong Kong customs uncovers gold bars worth HK$46 million in Japan-bound shipment

By Danny Mok

Hong Kong customs have uncovered the largest gold bullion-smuggling case ever recorded by the department, after officers found HK$46 million (US$5.9 million) worth of the precious metal in an air cargo shipment bound for Japan.

Officers from the Customs and Excise Department’s air cargo division made the discovery when they acted on a risk assessment and intelligence analysis last Wednesday and searched a shipment intended for Japan.

Inspector Daniel Chan Wing-yin of the division said on Tuesday that the consignment was declared to contain toys, hats, among other items, with the shipment consisting of 124 packages.

“During an analysis of the X-ray images, officers noticed that four packages displayed unusually high densities, inconsistent with the declared contents,” he said.

Officers also found that each of the suspicious packages weighed 17kg (37.5lbs), exceeding their declared individual weights of 1.1kg.

Further inspection of the packages showed they each contained large cardboard boxes and two small ones.

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China’s answer to ‘drill, baby, drill’, top scientist dies: SCMP daily highlights

赵乐际,中国共产党第三号人物,同时也是全国人民代表大会常务委员会委员长,缺席了周二的闭幕会议。此外,中国正通过进口多元化战略来巩固能源安全。有专家指出,特朗普政府对化石燃料生产的支持,可能降低全球能源价格,这对中国这个最大的原油和天然气进口国来说是潜在的利好消息。

尽管中国官方媒体宣称中国已成为科学研究领域的新兴强国,但有观点认为,中国在科研方面仍存在差距和不足,需要进一步改进和提升。

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ByteDance says new AI technology boosts model training efficiency by 1.7 times

ByteDance宣布其大型语言模型(LLM)训练效率提升了1.71倍。这一突破由其Doubao开发团队实现,通过优化后的专家混合(MoE)系统COMET,显著提高了LLM的训练速度,并已应用于超过10,000个GPU的集群生产环境中,节省了数百万GPU小时。

MoE是一种机器学习技术,通过多个专家网络将问题空间划分为同质部分,已被广泛应用于扩展参数超过万亿的LLM,同时保持固定的计算成本。此次ByteDance的效率提升,可能会降低对英伟达高端GPU的需求,并已被Grok和DeepSeek等领先AI模型采用。

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Malaysians debate privilege after 3 killed by 18-year-old driver without licence

The sister of an 18-year-old driver involved in a fatal accident in Malaysia, which resulted in the deaths of three teenage motorcyclists, has issued a tearful apology. This follows widespread public anger directed at the family for seemingly prioritizing their own plight over the suffering of the victims' families after the sister initially asked the public not to blame her brother and instead pray for his recovery.

The accident occurred last Thursday night in the Senawang district, where the unlicensed driver allegedly ran a red light, colliding with two motorcycles and killing two students aged 15 and 16 instantly. A third 17-year-old motorcyclist died later in the hospital. The driver, who is now under investigation for reckless or dangerous driving and faces up to 15 years in jail if convicted, is also hospitalized.

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Hong Kong’s MTR Corp, KMB considering allowing commuters to bring pets on board

香港地铁公司和九龙巴士公司正在考虑允许乘客携带小型宠物乘坐公共交通工具。此举旨在满足宠物主人的需求,预计地铁公司将在今年上半年做出决定。两家公司可能会限制允许携带的宠物尺寸,以确保安全和其他乘客的舒适。

据内部人士透露,地铁公司计划在周末进行试运行,以评估公众的接受程度,之后可能会将服务扩展到工作日的非高峰时段。地铁公司需要平衡公众的接受程度和宠物主人的出行需求,并可能指定每列火车上的一个车厢专门供宠物乘坐。

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How the Global South can rise above the fray as the West fractures

Donald Trump's disruptive approach is creating divisions within the Global North, presenting an opportunity for the Global South to advocate for a fairer global system and maintain its focus on peaceful development. This shift comes as China's technological advancements, spurred by initiatives like "Made in China 2025," are empowering the Global South.

While China's technological progress, exemplified by the Digital Silk Road and companies like DeepSeek, is facilitating the Fourth Industrial Revolution in regions like Africa, Trump's policies are facing criticism. His strained relationship with Ukraine, highlighted by a recent Oval Office dispute, signals a weakening of the transatlantic alliance and a decline in US leadership, potentially leading to a world order defined by conflict rather than cooperation.

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Jakarta’s annual floods worsen, displacing thousands as extreme weather, poor planning collide

Severe flooding in Jakarta and surrounding areas has displaced 120,000 residents and resulted in at least one death, highlighting the city's vulnerability to extreme weather. Experts attribute the disaster to a combination of unusually heavy rainfall and Jakarta's existing problems with urban planning and land subsidence.

The Indonesian Meteorological Agency (BMKG) reported "extreme rainfall" in Bogor, located upstream along the Ciliwung River, as the primary cause. The city's drainage system, designed to handle a maximum of 150mm of rain per day, was overwhelmed by daily rainfall reaching up to 208mm. Rainfall is expected to continue throughout March, raising concerns about further flooding in the region, which is home to 30 million people.

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US judge orders Musk’s Doge to release records: ‘unusual secrecy’

美国法官下令埃隆·马斯克领导的政府效率部门(Doge)公开其内部文件,理由是该机构在削减政府规模方面的工作带有“异乎寻常的保密性”。自一月份重返白宫以来,美国总统特朗普发起了一场旨在削减公共支出和减少联邦政府作用的广泛攻势。

为此,特朗普任命了顶级竞选捐助者转为高级顾问的马斯克领导Doge。Doge已经裁减了数千个政府职位并颠覆了多个机构,从而引发了大量诉讼。法官表示,Doge在整个联邦政府行使的权力以及在没有国会参与的情况下进行的“大幅削减”似乎是前所未有的,并补充说Doge行动的“快速步伐”需要迅速发布有关其结构和活动的信息,尤其是考虑到Doge的运作方式的保密性。

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Former Hong Kong opposition lawmakers jailed for causing council meeting ruckus

香港前立法会议员朱凯廸和陈志全因扰乱立法会会议秩序,分别被判处14天和16天监禁。 他们参与了2019年的一次事件,当时立法会议员试图阻止一个审查有争议的引渡法案的委员会的程序,该法案后来在全城抗议中被政府取消。

朱凯廸承认四项在议会范围内袭击、阻碍或骚扰议员的罪名,而陈志全承认两项相同的罪名。 裁判官郑念慈表示,两名被告的行为阻碍了他人,并补充说,虽然没有人受重伤,但会议不得不停止。前泛民议员林卓廷也因该事件出庭受审,但他不认罪,他的案件已安排在九月于裁判法院审理。

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Smog and silence: does halt to global air quality monitoring signal end of US engagement?

&LTp>&LTstrong>美国国务院因预算限制,停止了一项在全球80多个美国大使馆和领事馆运行了十多年的空气污染监测项目。&LT/strong>该项目主要在空气质量数据稀缺或不可靠的地区提供关键的空气质量读数,此举令人失望,尤其考虑到该项目最初于2008年在中国启动。&LT/p> &LTp>2009年,美国驻北京大使馆开始在网上发布自己的空气质量数据,与中国官方发布的数据形成鲜明对比,揭示了北京在治理雾霾方面所取得成就的真相。这一举动对中国治理污染的努力产生了重大影响。&LT/p>

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12 dead, dozens hurt as bus overturns on South Africa highway

At least 12 people were killed and 45 injured when a bus overturned on a highway in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Tuesday morning. Emergency services are working to recover any remaining victims potentially trapped under the bus.

The crash occurred near the O.R. Tambo International Airport, with the bus reportedly transporting passengers from the township of Katlehong. First responders found victims lying across the road, a scene described as a "disaster" by a local city councillor, highlighting the devastating impact on the community and the families awaiting the return of their loved ones.

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China’s new energy sector faces ‘elimination contest’ amid price war crackdown

中国新能源行业正面临一场残酷的“三年淘汰赛”,业内人士预测,超过四分之三的企业可能无法生存。 这场淘汰赛的背景是,中国电动汽车市场正在迅速整合,曾经一度有超过400家汽车制造商,如今已锐减至约40家,并且还在持续减少。

小鹏汽车创始人兼CEO何小鹏表示,目前大约每两个月就有一家企业倒闭,并购重组的速度非常快。过去两年,威马汽车和高合汽车等知名电动汽车品牌已经申请破产,而像百度支持的集度汽车等其他品牌也被迫缩减运营规模。何小鹏认为,未来几年内,倒闭潮可能会持续,最终可能只有不到7家品牌能够存活下来。

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Tariffs and ‘tough’ on China: what to expect from Canada’s next PM Carney

Analysts predict continued confrontation and tariff battles between Beijing and Ottawa under Mark Carney, Canada's next prime minister. Carney, who overwhelmingly won the Liberal Party leadership race, is expected to maintain a firm stance against both China and the United States, following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Justin Trudeau.

Carney's victory comes amid escalating trade tensions. The US recently imposed tariffs on Canadian goods, prompting retaliation from Ottawa. Simultaneously, China has announced tariffs on Canadian food products following an investigation into Ottawa's tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. This complex situation suggests a challenging path ahead for Canada's international trade relations.

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‘I can grant you a piece of land’: Hong Kong’s Paul Chan eyes AI, tech firms

香港政府将向人工智能、生命科学等高科技和创造就业机会潜力大的公司提供土地。财政司司长陈茂波表示,此举旨在加速北部都会区和其他计划的发展,同时帮助香港在全球地缘政治紧张和人工智能重塑全球经济的背景下抓住机遇。

陈茂波指出,政府正在为这一举措做“一些不同”的准备,与以往措施有所区别,希望借此推进靠近中国大陆边境的北部都会区大型项目。他举例说,一些欧美制药公司希望在中国大陆销售产品,但无法在那里进行临床试验,他们可能会选择在落马洲河套地区设立机构。

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Elderly Singaporean man jailed for 11 years over Hong Kong robberies

一名75岁的新加坡老翁因在香港逾期居留十余年并耗尽积蓄后,试图用水瓶抢劫零售连锁店,并用玩具枪从银行抢走1.4万港元(1802美元),被判入狱11年。高等法院周二以抢劫和企图抢劫罪判处梁孝成(音译)有罪,此前这名75岁的老翁已于前一天认罪。

法庭获悉,梁自2007年抵达香港后一直失业,并与妻子失去联系。他告诉法庭,自那时起他便逾期居留在香港,并耗尽了数十万港元的积蓄。他说,他在经济上依赖于在香港认识的女友,但在2019年反政府抗议活动和随之而来的疫情之后,两人遇到了经济困难。2020年7月1日,这名七旬老人带着一瓶水和一张纸条,上面写着:“如果想活命,快点,否则会被汽油烧死”,走近位于太子的一家万宁分店。他向一名售货员展示了书面威胁,但售货员并不为所动,将他赶出了商店,然后报警。调查人员已将此案作为未决犯罪结案,并处理了罪犯留下的纸张,因为未能提取到任何指纹。

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Further tweaks expected to China’s draft private sector promotion law

北京正在准备为《民营经济促进法》草案增加更详细的措施。此前,上个月立法机关对该法案草案进行了第二次审议,引发了关于市场准入和执法问题的广泛讨论。分析人士表示,这些更详细的措施旨在回应这些讨论。

该法律的起草工作始于去年,当时中国政府将重振国内活力作为优先事项。由于这项新法律旨在加强法律保护,其性质复杂,因此未在年度全国人民代表大会(NPC)会议上审议或通过。不过,专家认为这并不代表延误,可能只是需要根据反馈和实施细节进行调整,预计将在四月或六月的全国人大常委会会议上获得通过。该法案是中国政府为重振低迷的私营部门而做出的努力的一部分,旨在应对地缘政治和贸易裂痕加剧带来的外部挑战,解决市场准入限制和对国有企业存在偏袒等长期问题,尽管私营部门占中国国内生产总值的60%。

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Chinese zoo slammed for dyeing dogs’ fur in ‘tiger stripes’

中国东部一家动物园因将松狮犬染成老虎的样子以吸引直播观众而受到批评。此举引发了公众对动物福利的担忧,许多人认为这种做法不道德且对动物有害。

动物园方面尚未对此事作出回应,但有评论指出,这并非个例,一些商家为了商业利益,常常忽视动物的权益。 这种行为不仅可能对动物的健康造成影响,也反映出部分社会群体对动物保护意识的淡薄。

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Hong Kong NPC deputies propose scheme to help mainland talent buy flats more easily

香港的全国人民代表大会代表提议设立一个住房基金,允许中国大陆居民通过直接汇款在香港购买房产。此举旨在便利大陆人才在港置业,类似于沪港通机制,有望促进香港作为国际人才中心的发展。

目前中国大陆居民受到外汇管制,每人每年只有5万美元的换汇额度用于包括海外置业在内的交易。该提议建议允许大陆居民直接将购房款汇至香港,但需注册资金来源并提供交易证明,以支持香港吸引大陆人才,并符合北京对香港的期望。

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Woman fatally stabbed in Tokyo, possibly while live streaming

一名20多岁的女性在东京市中心街道上被刺身亡,一名男子在现场被捕,他持有两把刀。 警方称,案件发生在新宿区高田马场,当时该女性独自走在街上。调查人员透露,有信息显示她当时可能正在进行直播。

嫌疑人是一名40多岁的男子,他最初因涉嫌谋杀未遂被捕,但随着女性的死亡,他可能会被指控谋杀。据警方称,该男子告诉调查人员,他并非有意杀害她。据悉,两人彼此认识,并且都曾在该国其他地区的警察局就他们之间的财务纠纷进行咨询。受害者据信被一把13厘米的生存刀多次刺中颈部和胸部,送往医院后被宣告死亡。警方逮捕该男子时,一把带血的刀在他脚边,另一把刀在他的背包里。一名当时在附近办公室的50多岁男子表示,他听到了尖叫声,包括持续约15秒的求救声,随后他看到一名女子躺在街上。

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Webinar | ‘Two sessions’ 2025 key takeaways: insights into China’s economic strategy

SCMP 将于 2025 年 3 月 13 日举办网络研讨会,解读中国“两会”的关键内容及其对经济、政治和国际关系的影响。此次会议旨在帮助读者更好地理解中国领导人如何应对国内经济不确定性和国际地缘政治紧张局势带来的挑战。

SCMP 将与亚洲协会政策研究所中国分析中心合作,邀请中国政治研究员 Neil Thomas 和中国经济研究员 Lizzi Lee 参与讨论。他们将与 SCMP 执行编辑周松仁一道,深入探讨“两会”的重要方面和成果,尤其关注对中美关系的影响。

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