Yemen’s Houthis say ‘any Israeli vessel’ in nearby waterways again a target

Yemen's Houthi rebels have declared that "any Israeli vessel" traveling through nearby Middle Eastern waters is now a target, citing Israel's continued blockage of aid to the Gaza Strip. This action threatens to disrupt a critical maritime route between Asia and Europe, potentially impacting revenue from the Suez Canal and hindering aid shipments to conflict zones.

The Houthi's warning, issued through their Humanitarian Operations Coordination Centre, follows a four-day ultimatum for Israel to resume aid deliveries. The rebels claim their actions are driven by "religious, humanitarian and moral responsibility" towards Palestinians, aiming to pressure Israel to reopen Gaza's crossings for essential supplies. The declared operational area for this ban includes the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Arabian Sea, raising concerns about potential misidentification of vessels and broader disruptions to maritime traffic.

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Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific posts 1% rise in net profit to HK$9.88 billion

国泰航空2023年净利润增长1%至98.8亿港元,连续第二年实现强劲业绩。这主要得益于货运和客运需求的强劲增长、燃油价格的下降以及成本效益的提高。公司建议派发第二次中期股息,每股49港仙,全年派息总额达到69港仙。

国泰航空主席贺以礼表示,公司已完成为期两年的重建之旅,预计到2025年1月将恢复到疫情前100%的航班运力。此外,国泰航空及其旗下香港快运计划今年将航线扩展至100个目的地,这将是集团发展的一个重要里程碑,有助于提升香港作为世界领先国际航空枢纽的地位。

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Anger and relief in Philippines over Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest: ‘my prayers answered’

Supporters of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte are protesting his arrest across the country's south, despite legal experts suggesting his chances of success at The Hague are slim. The 79-year-old was apprehended under an International Criminal Court warrant related to his controversial anti-drug campaign during his presidency.

Protests erupted in Davao City, a known Duterte stronghold, shortly after his arrest at Manila airport upon returning from Hong Kong. He was subsequently transported to The Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity. His supporters have also taken to social media, urging continued resistance and expressing outrage over his detention, with some claiming the arrest is baseless and calling for unity.

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China’s ‘two sessions’ 2025: everything you need to know

请提供新闻内容,我将根据您的要求进行提炼和总结。我需要新闻的具体文本才能完成任务。

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Europe’s Trump dilemma: must it de-risk from both the US and China at once?

Europe is grappling with a growing debate on whether to reduce its reliance on both the United States and China. This discussion is fueled by concerns over the reliability of the transatlantic alliance, particularly in light of the US's actions regarding aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.

While some believe strained US-Europe relations could strengthen ties with China, the EU is simultaneously pursuing policies to decrease its dependence on Chinese supplies. This raises the complex question of whether Europe needs to strategically de-risk from both of the world's leading economic powers.

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As Trump dashes its hopes for tariff relief, Australia rejects retaliation

澳大利亚总理安东尼·阿尔巴尼斯周三表示,澳大利亚不会对美国实施对等关税,此前美国总统唐纳德·特朗普排除了所有国家在钢铁和铝关税方面的豁免或例外。阿尔巴尼斯认为,对美国实施对等关税只会推高澳大利亚消费者的价格,并刺激通货膨胀。

特朗普此前曾表示,鉴于美国与澳大利亚的年度贸易顺差,将“认真考虑”豁免澳大利亚的关税。然而,白宫宣布,此前计划对所有国家进口到美国的所有钢铁和铝产品征收25%的关税将于周三生效。阿尔巴尼斯表示,特朗普政府的这一决定“完全没有道理,违背了两国持久友谊的精神,并且从根本上与我们经济伙伴关系的好处背道而驰”。

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Portugal’s government collapses after losing confidence vote

葡萄牙总理路易斯·蒙特内罗的中间偏右少数派政府在周二的信任投票中倒台,该国可能将在三年多一点的时间里迎来第三次提前选举。 此次政府倒台主要由于总理未能消除与其家族公司相关的潜在利益冲突猜测,导致执政根基不稳。

蒙特内罗总理上周主动要求进行信任投票,希望明确其政府是否具备“所有条件”来执行其计划。然而,最大的两个反对党社会党和极右翼政党Chega均投了反对票,这两个政治力量合计拥有议会过半数的议员。总统预计将在周三与各党派举行会谈,之后才能正式安排选举,可能的选举日期为5月11日或18日。蒙特内罗表示,他曾尽一切努力避免提前选举,并对国家因此陷入更加不利的境地表示遗憾。

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Ha Chun Chau, Hong Kong renowned actor and ‘Father of Mark Six’, dies at 93

香港资深演员及首位六合彩主持人吴锦泉(艺名夏春秋)去世,享年93岁。其女演员吴君如周一晚在社交媒体上发布黑白照片宣布了这一消息,引来众多演员和网友的悼念。

吴锦泉生于1931年,50年代进入影视行业,主要出演配角。他曾在亚洲电视(ATV)服务约半个世纪,代表作包括1995年的《包青天》。他还参演过成龙主演的电影《醉拳II》等作品。

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Indonesia rescues lost baby elephant missing its mother

印尼当局救助了一头与母亲失散的极度濒危苏门答腊幼象。这头两个月大的雄性小象在廖内省的一个油棕种植园被发现,当地居民向当局发出了警报。目前小象健康状况良好,已被送往保护机构的大象训练中心。

据世界自然基金会(WWF)的数据,苏门答腊象正濒临灭绝,全球仅存约2400至2800头。当地保护机构官员表示,他们怀疑这头小象是被象群或其母亲遗弃的,被发现时独自一象。

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It’s last orders at Deliveroo Hong Kong. What about the rest of the industry?

Deliveroo将于4月7日退出香港市场,原因是竞争激烈和财务亏损。这家总部位于伦敦的公司表示,过去一年在香港的未计利息、税项、折旧及摊销前的收益(EBITDA)为负值。四年前,Uber Eats也因增长低于预期而退出香港市场。

Deliveroo在香港面临来自美团旗下Keeta的激烈竞争,后者于2023年5月进入香港,迅速占据了相当大的市场份额。Deliveroo的退出表明,香港的食品配送平台市场远未稳定,其退出将影响当地企业和消费者。

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China’s red-eye AI just killed human pilots’ last hope to win in air combat: researchers

Chinese researchers have developed a new AI system that can predict a pilot's maneuvers in a dogfight by analyzing subtle movements of the aircraft's control surfaces, potentially eliminating the human pilot's advantage of unpredictable actions. This breakthrough combines advanced infrared imaging with AI-driven predictive modeling to anticipate an opponent’s moves by detecting subtle wing-tail movements.

The study, published in the Journal of Gun Launch & Control, details how the AI system uses a modified YOLOv8 neural network to analyze infrared imagery and detect minute deformations in an opponent's control surfaces, such as the rudder or elevator. This allows the AI to overcome the limitations of existing systems that rely on trajectory-based predictions, which struggle with sudden, non-linear maneuvers.

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Trump labels Tesla attacks domestic terrorism, vows to punish perpetrators

President Trump has vowed to crack down on violence against Tesla dealerships, labeling it domestic terrorism. This announcement came as a show of support for Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and a close ally of the president, following recent protests targeting the electric car company.

The protests, dubbed "Tesla Takedown," are a response to Musk's role in federal workforce cuts and the cancellation of humanitarian program contracts under the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency, which Musk leads. Trump's strong stance aims to protect what he considers a "great American company" and deter future acts of violence against businesses.

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What can South Korea do about the strategic threats in Trump era?

President Trump's recent address to Congress signals a continuation of his "America First" foreign policy, characterized by transactional diplomacy and a re-evaluation of existing alliances. He criticized South Korea's trade practices, despite evidence suggesting otherwise, highlighting his focus on prioritizing US economic interests. This approach extends beyond economics, impacting security commitments and straining relationships with allies.

Trump's actions, including imposing tariffs on various countries and questioning security assurances, mark a departure from the collaborative approach of the previous administration. South Korea faces concerns regarding potential economic impacts from policies like the possible scrapping of the Chips and Science Act, as well as anxieties over US security commitments and Trump's willingness to engage directly with North Korea, potentially sidelining Seoul.

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Duterte is set to enter ICC detention. Here’s what awaits the Philippine ex-president

Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte is expected to arrive in the Netherlands on Wednesday to face charges of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC) related to his crackdown on drugs. Upon arrival, he will be processed at the ICC's detention unit in The Hague, a facility within a Dutch prison.

The ICC detention unit, located in Scheveningen, has a history of housing high-profile individuals accused of international crimes. It previously held detainees for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), including figures like Slobodan Milosevic, Radovan Karadzic, and Ratko Mladic. Duterte will undergo an initial appearance before the ICC judges after being processed.

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China manager creates 22 fake employees with perfect attendance, embezzles US$2.2 million

一名中国人力资源经理通过创建22名虚假员工,从公司侵吞了超过1600万元人民币(约合220万美元)的工资和遣散费。 这名姓杨的男子在上海一家劳务公司工作,负责管理派往一家科技公司员工的工资发放。

杨某发现自己对员工安置拥有完全的控制权,且劳务公司对工资支付没有审核流程。于是,他创建了一个姓孙的员工的雇佣记录,并以孙某的名义申请工资支付,然后将工资转移到他控制的银行卡上,但该银行卡并非以他的名义开设。当劳务公司注意到工资没有存入孙某的账户时,杨某声称是科技公司延迟付款。

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‘How much more are you willing to pay?’ – Hong Kong reviews HK$15 prescriptions

香港公立医院和诊所的患者可能需要支付更高的处方费用。目前,医管局正在审查现行对16周药物供应收取15港元(1.92美元)的 heavily subsidised 费用。医管局集群服务主管邓耀铿医生表示,调整费用的目的不是为了削减成本,而是为了增加癌症和罕见病患者的资源,以满足他们对昂贵专利药物的需求。

邓耀铿医生表示,如果每位患者在支付药物费用时能多支付一点,医管局的“蛋糕”就会变大。这将对医管局的运作非常有益,因为医管局将有更多资源将临床有效但昂贵的药物引入药物处方。目前,政府承担了医管局92%的药物成本,而患者在专科门诊部只需支付15港元即可获得16周的药物供应。

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Global banks see upside in Chinese stock rally as international capital ‘rotates’ in

Chinese stocks are poised to continue their strong rally, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) technology, which are expected to boost earnings and valuations. Global investment banks anticipate that this growth, while potentially slower, will be supported by increasing foreign investment in Chinese equities.

Foreign investors have been steadily increasing their holdings of Chinese stocks, signaling a potential shift of funds from other regional markets. CICC Research notes that some Asia-Pacific investors have already adopted equal-weight or overweight positions in Chinese equities, suggesting that any re-rating of Chinese stocks could lead to substantial capital inflows. Despite short-term fluctuations, analysts believe the market may continue to rise with new catalysts.

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In Indonesia vs Apple, is victory a double-edged sword?

Indonesia's strict local content regulations have secured a US$300 million investment from Apple, paving the way for iPhone 16 sales in the country. This agreement follows a ban on the iPhone 16 last October due to Apple's initial failure to meet local content requirements, which mandate a certain percentage of components or production processes to originate within Indonesia.

The investment plan includes establishing a software research-and-development center near Jakarta and factories to produce components for Apple products like AirPods. While the industry ministry has resumed issuing local-content certificates for Apple, a specific date for the iPhone 16's release in Indonesia is yet to be announced. Analysts caution that while this deal benefits Indonesia, the stringent regulations may deter other tech companies wary of navigating complex regulatory hurdles.

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Iran president to Trump: I will not negotiate, ‘do whatever the hell you want’

Iranian presidential candidate Masoud Pezeshkian has stated that Iran will not negotiate with the United States under threats, responding to Donald Trump's pressure tactics by saying, "Do whatever the hell you want." This firm stance reflects Iran's unwillingness to engage in talks while facing external coercion.

Pezeshkian's remarks follow Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's assertion that Iran will not be bullied into negotiations. Trump has expressed openness to a deal but has also reinstated a "maximum pressure" campaign aimed at isolating Iran economically and curbing its oil exports, suggesting that the alternative to a deal is military action to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

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China’s push for higher home quality risks further stressing developers, analysts say

China is introducing new measures to improve the quality and livability of residential properties in an effort to stimulate sales and stabilize the struggling property market. These measures, which include raising the minimum ceiling height to 3 meters and incorporating new technologies for sound insulation and odour control, aim to create "quality homes" that meet diverse needs and promote higher construction standards.

The push for "quality homes" reflects a shift in housing demand towards homebuyers seeking upgrades, potentially supporting higher average selling prices for new, higher-quality properties. However, analysts caution that these enhanced standards could put additional financial strain on developers already facing cash flow challenges, as they navigate the implementation of these new requirements while striving to boost sales in a competitive market.

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