Japanese fortune-teller charged with extortion linked to mysterious drowning deaths

日本一名自称算命师的女子Yoshie Hamada被指控敲诈勒索一名男子,并涉嫌在五年前怂恿两名男子自杀。大阪警方周二宣布逮捕了这位自称“创造者”的62岁女子,她与2020年两名男子的死亡有关。

2020年,公司职员Kohei Teramoto(时年66岁)和兼职工人Ichiro Yoneda(时年51岁)的尸体在和歌山县广川町的海滩上被发现,该地距离大阪约1.5小时车程。据《朝日新闻》援引调查消息人士称,他们的手腕被麦克风线绑在一起。当时调查人员没有发现任何谋杀的证据,因此将死因列为自杀并结案。然而,去年五月,一名大阪男子向警方报案,声称Hamada在算命后要求他交出全部积蓄约8000万日元(约合54万美元),案件因此出现了新的转机。

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Construction workers protest over unpaid wages at Hong Kong side of mega bridge

Dozens of construction workers protested near the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, alleging that Jardine Engineering Corporation, a subsidiary of Jardine Matheson, owes them HK$7.6 million (US$978,000) in unpaid wages. The workers, numbering around 100, claim they haven't been paid for three to four months and have labeled Jardine an "unscrupulous boss" during their demonstration at the construction site of a smart car parking space.

Jardine Matheson stated that the project is a joint venture involving Paul Y Engineering Group, China International Marine Containers, and Jardine Engineering Corporation. This protest follows a similar incident last month at Hong Kong airport, where workers protested over HK$6 million in unpaid wages. The financial difficulties of Paul Y, which applied for provisional liquidation for five subsidiaries due to debt issues, may be a contributing factor to these wage disputes.

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Hong Kong correctional officer charged for loan fraud totalling more than HK$1.5 million

By Harvey Kong

A 49-year-old correctional officer in Hong Kong has been charged for allegedly deceiving a credit union and three financial institutions into granting him 17 loans totalling more than HK$1.5 million (US$193,052).

Jivcons Man Wai-kit, an assistant officer of the Correction Services Department (CSD), faces 17 counts of fraud and was released on bail on Thursday. He is expected to appear before the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts on Friday.

According to the city’s anti-corruption agency on Thursday, Man, who was posted to Tung Tau Correctional Institution from 2020 to 2023, applied for 17 loans from the CSD Credit Union and the three financial institutions.

An investigation was launched after the CSD referred a corruption complaint to the ICAC. Inquiries revealed that the defendant had not disclosed his outstanding loans when making the 17 applications.

He was accused of falsely stating that he had disclosed all of his liabilities and provided information that was “true, accurate and complete” on the applications.

“Had he made full disclosure of his outstanding liabilities, the CSD Credit Union and the three financial institutions would not have granted him the loans concerned,” the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) said.

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Chinese tourists are drawn to nuclear disaster-hit Fukushima despite radiation fears

Despite lingering radiation concerns from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, tourists, primarily from China, are visiting Futaba, the town housing the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. This comes as Japan marked the 14th anniversary of the disaster on Tuesday.

Over 80% of Futaba remains uninhabitable due to radiation contamination, yet the allure of experiencing a restricted area draws visitors. A memorial museum dedicated to the nuclear crisis, opened in 2020, has attracted around 4,000 foreign visitors last year. Chinese tourists represent a significant portion of the museum's international visitors, with messages expressing hope for Fukushima's recovery left at the entrance.

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Vietnam targets toys featuring South China Sea map used by Beijing

Vietnam is intensifying inspections of children's toys due to concerns that some models feature imagery resembling China's "nine-dash line" map, which is used to assert its territorial claims in the South China Sea. This action follows reports in local media about the widespread sale of Baby Three toys, many of which are made in China, displaying a design similar to the disputed map.

Vietnam closely monitors any references to the nine-dash line, viewing its propagation as a violation of Vietnamese regulations. This has led to previous actions like banning the movie "Barbie" and requesting Snapchat to remove images of the disputed map. China claims over 80% of the South China Sea using the nine-dash line map, a claim contested by Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Taiwan, all of whom have overlapping claims in the region.

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Praised by Homer in ancient Greece, can the world’s oldest recorded wine make a comeback?

Cyprus’ Commandaria, the world’s oldest recorded and named wine, is making a comeback thanks to micro-wineries reviving traditional winemaking techniques. Despite its rich heritage, praised by ancient Greek literary giants and enjoyed by royalty throughout history, this sweet wine has struggled to find its place in the global market.

Commandaria, known as *nama* in antiquity, was renamed by the Knights Hospitaller during the Third Crusade. Legends surround the ruby red wine, including tales of winning the world’s first wine competition and being served at royal weddings and feasts. Makers are hoping to capitalize on these stories to boost the wine's popularity.

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Macau toddler with severe head injury dies, taking toll from Taiwan blast to 5

一名两岁的澳门女孩因在台湾中部发生的疑似瓦斯爆炸中头部严重受伤,不幸去世,使得上个月爆炸事件的死亡人数升至五人。 这名唐姓女孩在受伤后一直处于昏迷状态,并在澳门的公共医院接受治疗,最终于上周五去世。

据悉,这起爆炸事件还导致女孩的祖父和祖母当场死亡,她的父母、曾祖母和叔叔也受了不同程度的伤。澳门卫生局表示,已获得家属同意,正式宣布了这一不幸消息,并对女孩的去世表示哀悼,同时向悲痛的家属提供了心理支持和辅导。

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Chinese bonds’ biggest bull run in a decade stumbles as re-rated stocks take the spotlight

China's decade-long bond market bull run has stalled due to the central bank's cautious approach to monetary easing and a shift in investor sentiment towards the stock market. This has led to a sell-off in debt, pushing the yield on the benchmark 10-year government bond to a three-month high of 1.83 per cent, a significant increase of 15.4 basis points this year. The uncertainty surrounding the implementation of monetary policy and the stabilization of economic fundamentals has further dampened investor confidence.

Analysts at Huatai Securities and Great Wall Securities predict the turmoil in the fixed-income market will continue, with the yield on 10-year bonds potentially reaching 1.9 per cent or even 2 per cent. The People’s Bank of China's Governor Pan Gongsheng signaled a more discretionary approach to interest rate and reserve requirement ratio (RRR) cuts, deviating from previous assurances, which has been interpreted as a potential delay in easing monetary policy and contributed to the shattered expectations of a sustained bull market.

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Hong Kong deploys AI in CCTV systems to detect objects thrown from buildings

香港房屋部门已在公共屋邨的监控系统中部署人工智能(AI),以检测和阻止居民高空抛物。这是智慧屋邨管理计划的一部分,旨在提高管理效率和安全性。

房屋局局长何永贤表示,过去需要花费大量时间人工审查监控录像才能发现高空抛物事件,效率低下。现在,AI系统能够自动分析监控录像,识别异常移动并追踪物体轨迹,大大提高了工作效率,能够更快速地识别违规住户并采取相应措施,例如发出警告信和扣分。但她未透露具体案例数量和地点。

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South Korean medical schools face expulsion amid ongoing strike over government quotas

韩国多所医学院正在敦促罢课学生返校,否则将面临开除。尽管政府已提议冻结引发罢工的招生名额,但校方仍强硬要求学生在3月27日前提交复学申请,否则将按校规处理。

首尔大学医学院院长金正恩在周二的信中警告称,不按时提交申请的学生可能面临无法挽回的开除或除名。高丽大学也宣布将罢课学生的重新注册截止日期延长至3月21日,逾期将不再受理申请。校方还表示,将对扰乱课堂秩序、欺凌和骚扰他人的行为采取严厉的纪律处分。这一系列举措表明,在长达13个月的争端后,韩国医学院正试图结束学生罢课的局面。

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China vows to take ‘all necessary measures’ after imposition of latest US tariffs

中国表示将采取“一切必要措施”来保护自身利益,以回应美国对全球钢铁和铝进口征收25%的新关税。 此举无疑加剧了中美之间的贸易紧张关系,中国认为美国的行为严重违反了世界贸易组织(WTO)的规则。

中国外交部发言人毛宁在新闻发布会上表达了上述立场。美国前总统特朗普的最新关税政策于3月12日生效,经济学家预测这将推高各种商品的消费者价格,对全球贸易格局产生广泛影响。

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Mark Carney to be sworn in as Canada’s prime minister as trade war with US intensifies

Mark Carney将于周五宣誓就任加拿大总理,结束贾斯汀·特鲁多九年多的执政。总督玛丽·西蒙将主持卡尼及其内阁部长的就职仪式。卡尼此前以超过85%的选票赢得自由党领袖竞选,并在周一会见了特鲁多和自由党议员,任命了幕僚长,周三与安大略省省长道格·福特会面。

卡尼接任之际,加拿大正值动荡时期,正与长期盟友美国在唐纳德·特朗普总统领导下进行贸易战,并且必须尽快举行大选。特朗普此前发表了加拿大应成为美国第51个州的言论,这在加拿大引起了极大愤怒。卡尼表示,如果加拿大主权得到尊重,他愿意与特朗普对话。

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China invites the world on its mission to Mars while Nasa reels from Trump cuts

China's Tianwen-3 Mars mission is on track for a 2028 launch and is inviting international science projects to participate, increasing its chances of being the first to retrieve samples from Mars. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) issued the official invitation, offering free rides for up to 20kg of instruments that align with the mission's objectives, such as searching for past life on Mars. Selected projects must demonstrate strong innovation in science and engineering and be ready by 2027.

This announcement contrasts with challenges faced by NASA, including budget cuts and uncertainties surrounding its own Mars mission. The Tianwen-3 selection process will follow an accelerated timeline, with decisions expected in October. Planetary scientist Qian Yuqi noted that the announcement confirms Tianwen-3 is on schedule, highlighting the difference with the situation at NASA.

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‘Race against time’ sees Premier Li put all Chinese officials on notice amid uncertainties

Premier Li Qiang has urged Chinese officials to aggressively pursue the economic goals set during the recent "two sessions" meetings, particularly maintaining an economic growth rate of around 5 per cent. He emphasized the need for swift action and proactive measures from all government agencies to overcome economic headwinds and achieve desired outcomes.

Li's call to action follows the conclusion of China's annual legislative and consultative gatherings, where leaders acknowledged existing challenges such as weak domestic demand and trade tensions with the US, while expressing confidence in the nation's economic future. He stressed the importance of closely monitoring the evolving situation and ensuring timely policy implementation to achieve rapid results, reinforcing the leadership's commitment to meeting difficulties head-on and delivering on its objectives.

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Chinese actor expresses concern over AI scams impersonating him, seeks tougher laws

Chinese actor Jin Dong, a member of the CPPCC, called for stronger AI legislation during China's Two Sessions meeting to combat deepfake technology, particularly face-swapping, that has victimized many of his fans. Jin, a highly popular actor among middle-aged Chinese women, highlighted the need for better regulations to prevent further exploitation.

This call to action stems from past incidents where women were deceived by AI-generated fake Jin Dong personas on social media. In one notable case, a woman almost ended her marriage after believing false promises made by a deepfake video, illustrating the potential harm and the urgent need for protective measures against AI-related scams.

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Samsung’s US hub, South Korea headquarters hit with racism allegations

A former senior engineer is accusing Samsung of wrongful dismissal after he reported an alleged racist remark. The legal dispute, which is expected to involve Samsung Electronics' US unit and its headquarters in South Korea, centers around claims of unlawful prejudice against dark-skinned employees.

Andrew Mo, formerly an engineering leader at Google AI, alleges his employment with Samsung Research America (SRA) was wrongfully terminated in January 2022. He has filed a motion to amend his complaint, seeking to add Samsung Electronics America and Samsung Electronics as defendants, citing testimonies that discriminatory practices originated from the headquarters, favoring Korean and Caucasian men for high-level positions. Samsung's headquarters declined to comment on the ongoing legal proceedings.

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Former Malaysian PM Ismail Sabri finally meets anti-corruption officials

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob met with anti-graft officials on Thursday amid a multimillion-dollar corruption investigation. This investigation, involving alleged money laundering and the seizure of assets linked to his aides, has sparked public outrage in Malaysia, a country weary of corruption allegations against senior politicians.

Ismail Sabri, who served as prime minister for 15 months, is the latest high-profile figure to be investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) since Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim took office in 2022. The investigation gained momentum after the arrest of four of Ismail Sabri's aides and the seizure of 170 million ringgit (US$38.6 million) worth of cash, gold bars, and luxury goods from safe houses allegedly connected to them. The former prime minister had previously delayed reporting to the MACC, citing health concerns.

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4 lesser-known factors shaping China’s destiny

China faces a unique set of challenges beyond the commonly discussed geopolitical rivalries and economic issues, primarily revolving around energy and food security, and its reliance on the US dollar. As the world's largest importer of energy and food, China's dependence on the US dollar for trade makes it vulnerable to sanctions and fluctuations in import prices, impacting its overall security.

To address these vulnerabilities, China is pursuing a multi-pronged strategy that includes transitioning to clean energy, diversifying its sources of food and energy imports, and actively pursuing de-dollarization. While de-dollarization directly tackles the root of the problem, it presents significant challenges due to both external and internal factors, making it the most difficult pathway to navigate.

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Hong Kong police arrest 74, seize HK$1.6 million of drugs including ‘space oil’

香港警方在一次反黑行动中逮捕了74人,并查获了价值160万港元的毒品,其中包括一种名为“太空油”的新型毒品,这种毒品在年轻人中迅速流行。此次行动旨在打击黑社会活动的经济来源,被捕的41名男性和33名女性年龄在19岁至70岁之间,他们被指控经营赌博场所、贩运毒品和伤人等罪行,其中一些人据信与黑社会有关联。

警方在3月3日至12日期间展开行动,突击搜查了五个妓院和六个非法赌博场所,并查获了大量赌博工具和超过25万港元的现金。缴获的毒品包括36粒太空油、327克霹雳可卡因、40克可卡因和2.3公斤大麻。警方特别关注“太空油”的流行趋势,这表明毒品滥用正在年轻人中蔓延。

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Cold weekend ahead in Hong Kong, with temperatures down to 15 degrees Celsius

香港预计本周末将迎来寒潮,下周一最低气温将降至14摄氏度。香港天文台周四表示,市区气温已升至约27摄氏度,新界地区更高。但预计一股冷锋将于周六晚间过境,带来降雨,内陆地区可能出现雷暴。

受东北季风的持续影响,沿海地区周日将转凉,气温逐渐下降。预计下周初早晨的最低气温将降至14摄氏度左右。市民需注意保暖,预防感冒。

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