A Hong Kong AI model proves more accurate than doctors in diagnosing eye conditions
By Xinmei Shen
Researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) said they have developed a foundational artificial intelligence (AI) model that could help address ophthalmic clinical tasks including disease screening and diagnosis, as generative AI plays a greater role in medical research.
VisionFM is a new foundational model that is effective in diagnosing and predicting multiple ophthalmic diseases, which could lead to the adoption of more clinical applications with additional data, they said in a study published last month in the NEJM AI journal.
The model demonstrated performance that is comparable to or better than intermediate-level ophthalmologists in diagnosing 12 ocular diseases, according to the paper. It also outperformed the ophthalmic field’s first foundational model, RETFound, in predicting glaucoma progression, the researchers added.
The development of VisionFM comes as more medical researchers and professionals explore how generative AI can aid the healthcare industry.
The Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR), a Hong Kong-based research centre under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the country’s national research institute, earlier this year launched an AI model named CARES Copilot, with the aim of helping surgeons in tasks including surgical planning and generating diagnostic reports.
CAIR’s model was based on Meta Platforms’ Llama 2 open source large language model, and it has been used by hospitals including the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou and the Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong, the centre said last month.
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By Xinmei Shen
Researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) said they have developed a foundational artificial intelligence (AI) model that could help address ophthalmic clinical tasks including disease screening and diagnosis, as generative AI plays a greater role in medical research.
VisionFM is a new foundational model that is effective in diagnosing and predicting multiple ophthalmic diseases, which could lead to the adoption of more clinical applications with additional data, they said in a study published last month in the NEJM AI journal.
The model demonstrated performance that is comparable to or better than intermediate-level ophthalmologists in diagnosing 12 ocular diseases, according to the paper. It also outperformed the ophthalmic field’s first foundational model, RETFound, in predicting glaucoma progression, the researchers added.
The development of VisionFM comes as more medical researchers and professionals explore how generative AI can aid the healthcare industry.
The Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR), a Hong Kong-based research centre under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the country’s national research institute, earlier this year launched an AI model named CARES Copilot, with the aim of helping surgeons in tasks including surgical planning and generating diagnostic reports.
CAIR’s model was based on Meta Platforms’ Llama 2 open source large language model, and it has been used by hospitals including the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou and the Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong, the centre said last month.
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Fossil findings set Hong Kong abuzz, but talk of ‘dinosaur tourism’ leaves experts cold
By Vivian Au
Hongkongers have been enthralled in recent weeks by the news that dinosaur fossils have been found on a remote island.
First came the belated announcement, in October, that a set of fossils discovered on Port Island in 2013 had been confirmed to be from dinosaurs.
Then, expert investigators who headed for the island off the northeastern part of Hong Kong found about 30 more rocks with fossils.
The island is in one of several protected zones off Sai Kung, in the Unesco Global Geopark, a showcase of dramatic ancient rock formations that tell the story of Hong Kong’s rich and varied geological past.
Experts believe the fossils found there could date to the Cretaceous period, about 145 million to 66 million years ago.
The recent online buzz over fossils and dinosaurs had more than 100 people saying they were keen to join a group tour to the site.
“Wow, Hong Kong really has its own dinosaur fossils! We are so happy and excited!” gushed one social media user.
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By Vivian Au
Hongkongers have been enthralled in recent weeks by the news that dinosaur fossils have been found on a remote island.
First came the belated announcement, in October, that a set of fossils discovered on Port Island in 2013 had been confirmed to be from dinosaurs.
Then, expert investigators who headed for the island off the northeastern part of Hong Kong found about 30 more rocks with fossils.
The island is in one of several protected zones off Sai Kung, in the Unesco Global Geopark, a showcase of dramatic ancient rock formations that tell the story of Hong Kong’s rich and varied geological past.
Experts believe the fossils found there could date to the Cretaceous period, about 145 million to 66 million years ago.
The recent online buzz over fossils and dinosaurs had more than 100 people saying they were keen to join a group tour to the site.
“Wow, Hong Kong really has its own dinosaur fossils! We are so happy and excited!” gushed one social media user.
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By Zoey Zhang
Diners at Cantonese tea restaurant in China can enjoy dim sum while watching live professional wrestling, a unique form of entertainment that has sparked much attention on mainland social media.
Unlike the genuine sport, professional wrestling, which is widely known as pro wrestling, is a choreographed stage combat performance. The wrestlers are both athletes and actors.
Pro wrestling evolved from the common practice of match-fixing among wrestlers in the United States in the 19th century, who later sought to make bouts shorter, more entertaining, and less physically taxing.
The most famous pro wrestling event in the world is World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in the US.
In China, pro wrestling is often confused with martial arts performances and sports, and its popularity remains low.The “food fights” take place in a busy dim sum restaurant in southern China. Photo: Baidu
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You’re hired! Trump taps Apprentice producer Mark Burnett as special envoy to UK
By Associated Press
Mark Burnett, the power producer who helped reintroduce Donald Trump to a national television audience with The Apprentice, is being tapped by the US president-elect as special envoy to the United Kingdom in his coming administration.
“With a distinguished career in television production and business, Mark brings a unique blend of diplomatic acumen and international recognition to this important role,” Trump announced on Saturday.
Burnett, who was born in London, helped produce hits like Survivor and The Voice, but is perhaps best known for teaming up with Trump for The Apprentice, which first aired on NBC in 2004.
Trump had been well-known in real estate and pop culture circles for decades. But the show helped again make him a household name – though Trump severed ties with NBC in 2015, the same year he launched his first White House run.
The selection of Burnett continues Trump’s trend of filling out his incoming administration with people who have high-profile backgrounds in television or politics, or both – including his choice to be defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, a former co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend, and ex-television doctor and unsuccessful Senate candidate in Pennsylvania, Mehmet Oz.
Trump’s first campaign in 2016 was rocked by allegations about his conduct on The Apprentice and other appearances during his association with NBC, notably in footage in which he said he could sexually assault women and get away with it because he was a “star”.
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By Associated Press
Mark Burnett, the power producer who helped reintroduce Donald Trump to a national television audience with The Apprentice, is being tapped by the US president-elect as special envoy to the United Kingdom in his coming administration.
“With a distinguished career in television production and business, Mark brings a unique blend of diplomatic acumen and international recognition to this important role,” Trump announced on Saturday.
Burnett, who was born in London, helped produce hits like Survivor and The Voice, but is perhaps best known for teaming up with Trump for The Apprentice, which first aired on NBC in 2004.
Trump had been well-known in real estate and pop culture circles for decades. But the show helped again make him a household name – though Trump severed ties with NBC in 2015, the same year he launched his first White House run.
The selection of Burnett continues Trump’s trend of filling out his incoming administration with people who have high-profile backgrounds in television or politics, or both – including his choice to be defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, a former co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend, and ex-television doctor and unsuccessful Senate candidate in Pennsylvania, Mehmet Oz.
Trump’s first campaign in 2016 was rocked by allegations about his conduct on The Apprentice and other appearances during his association with NBC, notably in footage in which he said he could sexually assault women and get away with it because he was a “star”.
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To maintain calm in the South China Sea, Beijing just reaches for the bilateral playbook
By Alyssa Chen
Despite their ongoing rivalry over the South China Sea, Malaysia and China continue to keep close ties.
Back in 2019, the two Asian powers agreed to set up a bilateral consultation mechanism (BCM) specifically for dealing with maritime issues. In October this year, it was finally set into motion.
Details of the consultation were scant – both sides said only that they would improve practical cooperation.
But this bilateral method appears to be Beijing’s go-to approach to handling South China Sea disputes. And although the strategy has had both wins and fails, maritime experts say the very existence of mechanism plays a crucial part in preventive diplomacy that both manages tensions and fosters consensus.
One of the main reasons Beijing uses this approach is to stop interference from other countries that could complicate or escalate issues, according to Luo Liang, an assistant research fellow at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies.
He said that while China and Malaysia had strong ties, unresolved maritime disputes in the South China Sea persisted, underscoring the need for preventive measures to manage potential conflicts.
“When relations between China and Malaysia are strong, both countries can push forward with pragmatic cooperation and enhance their communications,” Luo said.
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By Alyssa Chen
Despite their ongoing rivalry over the South China Sea, Malaysia and China continue to keep close ties.
Back in 2019, the two Asian powers agreed to set up a bilateral consultation mechanism (BCM) specifically for dealing with maritime issues. In October this year, it was finally set into motion.
Details of the consultation were scant – both sides said only that they would improve practical cooperation.
But this bilateral method appears to be Beijing’s go-to approach to handling South China Sea disputes. And although the strategy has had both wins and fails, maritime experts say the very existence of mechanism plays a crucial part in preventive diplomacy that both manages tensions and fosters consensus.
One of the main reasons Beijing uses this approach is to stop interference from other countries that could complicate or escalate issues, according to Luo Liang, an assistant research fellow at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies.
He said that while China and Malaysia had strong ties, unresolved maritime disputes in the South China Sea persisted, underscoring the need for preventive measures to manage potential conflicts.
“When relations between China and Malaysia are strong, both countries can push forward with pragmatic cooperation and enhance their communications,” Luo said.
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Saudi suspect in deadly Christmas market car attack railed against Islam and Germany
By Agence France-Presse
The Saudi suspect in Germany’s deadly car-ramming attack on a Christmas market held strongly anti-Islam views and was angry with Germany’s migrant policy, official said Saturday.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the “terrible, insane” attack that killed five people and shocked the nation, days before Christmas and eight years after a jihadist drove a truck into a Christmas market in Berlin.
Police were puzzling over the motive of Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, the top suspect after an SUV ploughed at high speed through a dense crowd Friday, also injuring 205 people in the eastern city of Magdeburg.
The mass carnage sparked sorrow and revulsion, with a nine-year-old child among the dead and casualties being treated in 15 regional hospitals.
Germany has been hit by multiple deadly jihadist attacks, but evidence gathered by investigators and his past online posts painted a different picture of Abdulmohsen, a 50-year-old doctor of psychiatry.
A self-described “Saudi atheist” who as an activist who helped women flee the oil-rich kingdom, he has railed against Islam but also against what he saw as Germany’s permissive attitude towards refugees from other mainly Muslim countries.
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By Agence France-Presse
The Saudi suspect in Germany’s deadly car-ramming attack on a Christmas market held strongly anti-Islam views and was angry with Germany’s migrant policy, official said Saturday.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the “terrible, insane” attack that killed five people and shocked the nation, days before Christmas and eight years after a jihadist drove a truck into a Christmas market in Berlin.
Police were puzzling over the motive of Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, the top suspect after an SUV ploughed at high speed through a dense crowd Friday, also injuring 205 people in the eastern city of Magdeburg.
The mass carnage sparked sorrow and revulsion, with a nine-year-old child among the dead and casualties being treated in 15 regional hospitals.
Germany has been hit by multiple deadly jihadist attacks, but evidence gathered by investigators and his past online posts painted a different picture of Abdulmohsen, a 50-year-old doctor of psychiatry.
A self-described “Saudi atheist” who as an activist who helped women flee the oil-rich kingdom, he has railed against Islam but also against what he saw as Germany’s permissive attitude towards refugees from other mainly Muslim countries.
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Hamas, 2 other Palestinian groups say Gaza ceasefire deal ‘closer than ever’
By Agence France-Presse
Hamas and two other Palestinian militant groups said on Saturday that a Gaza ceasefire deal with Israel is “closer than ever”, provided Israel does not impose new conditions.
Last week, indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States were held in Doha, rekindling hope of an agreement.
“The possibility of reaching an agreement [for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal] is closer than ever, provided the enemy stops imposing new conditions,” Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine said in a rare joint statement issued after talks in Cairo on Friday.
A Hamas leader told AFP on Saturday that talks had made “significant and important progress” in recent days.
“Most points related to the ceasefire and prisoner exchange issues have been agreed upon,” he said on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak publicly on the issue.
“Some unresolved points remain, but they do not hinder the process. The agreement could be finalised before the end of this year, provided it is not disrupted by [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s new conditions.”
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By Agence France-Presse
Hamas and two other Palestinian militant groups said on Saturday that a Gaza ceasefire deal with Israel is “closer than ever”, provided Israel does not impose new conditions.
Last week, indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States were held in Doha, rekindling hope of an agreement.
“The possibility of reaching an agreement [for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal] is closer than ever, provided the enemy stops imposing new conditions,” Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine said in a rare joint statement issued after talks in Cairo on Friday.
A Hamas leader told AFP on Saturday that talks had made “significant and important progress” in recent days.
“Most points related to the ceasefire and prisoner exchange issues have been agreed upon,” he said on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak publicly on the issue.
“Some unresolved points remain, but they do not hinder the process. The agreement could be finalised before the end of this year, provided it is not disrupted by [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s new conditions.”
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Pakistan’s reported J-35 deal shows Chinese stealth fighter is ready for global market: analysts
By Enoch Wong
Pakistan’s reported procurement of J-35 jets from China signals that the stealth fighter is ready to enter the international market, potentially helping to finance development of more advanced weaponry for the People’s Liberation Army, analysts say.
The sale would mark Beijing’s first export of fifth-generation jets to a foreign ally and is expected to recalibrate regional dynamics, particularly in relation to Pakistan’s rival, India.
Pakistani broadcaster 24 News HD reported last week that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had approved the purchase of 40 of the aircraft, which are expected to be delivered within two years to replace the country’s ageing fleet of American F-16s and French Mirage fighters.
Another national television network, BOL News, reported in July that PAF pilots had officially begun training for the J-31 stealth fighter jet in China. The J-31 is called the J-35.
These developments came months after Pakistani Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu said in January that “the foundation for acquiring the J-31 stealth fighter aircraft has already been laid”.
The stealth fighters will join the PAF’s growing arsenal, which includes several dozen Chinese-made J-10CE medium multi-role combat aircraft delivered two years ago.
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By Enoch Wong
Pakistan’s reported procurement of J-35 jets from China signals that the stealth fighter is ready to enter the international market, potentially helping to finance development of more advanced weaponry for the People’s Liberation Army, analysts say.
The sale would mark Beijing’s first export of fifth-generation jets to a foreign ally and is expected to recalibrate regional dynamics, particularly in relation to Pakistan’s rival, India.
Pakistani broadcaster 24 News HD reported last week that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had approved the purchase of 40 of the aircraft, which are expected to be delivered within two years to replace the country’s ageing fleet of American F-16s and French Mirage fighters.
Another national television network, BOL News, reported in July that PAF pilots had officially begun training for the J-31 stealth fighter jet in China. The J-31 is called the J-35.
These developments came months after Pakistani Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu said in January that “the foundation for acquiring the J-31 stealth fighter aircraft has already been laid”.
The stealth fighters will join the PAF’s growing arsenal, which includes several dozen Chinese-made J-10CE medium multi-role combat aircraft delivered two years ago.
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China ‘not dreading’ Trump 2.0, but reforms will decide who wins big power game
By Orange Wang
China is “not dreading” Donald Trump’s return to the White House and might actually benefit in several ways despite fears of “rockier” times ahead, a noted Chinese political scientist has said.
How the rivalry turns out will depend on reforms at home and whether China can “do a better job” of it, according to Yan Xuetong, dean of the institute of international relations at Tsinghua University.
This would also determine whether China could narrow the “power gap” with the United States, Yan wrote in an article for Foreign Affairs on Friday.
The relationship was going to “get rockier” over the next four years, Yan warned, with the US president-elect’s rhetoric and cabinet choices showing a resolve to double down on the hardline approach towards China seen during his first term in office.
Still, China had “learned a great deal” from his first stint, giving it the confidence to face any tensions during the second Trump administration, Yan argued, while all but ruling out the likelihood of a military clash.
“[Trump] will soon arrive in the White House with the intention of containing China, but Chinese leaders are not dreading his return,” he wrote.
With less than a month to go for Trump’s inauguration on January 20, China-US relations are widely expected to enter a new period of uncertainty. Much of the rest of the world is also bracing for the return of Trump and his “America first” agenda to the Oval Office.
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By Orange Wang
China is “not dreading” Donald Trump’s return to the White House and might actually benefit in several ways despite fears of “rockier” times ahead, a noted Chinese political scientist has said.
How the rivalry turns out will depend on reforms at home and whether China can “do a better job” of it, according to Yan Xuetong, dean of the institute of international relations at Tsinghua University.
This would also determine whether China could narrow the “power gap” with the United States, Yan wrote in an article for Foreign Affairs on Friday.
The relationship was going to “get rockier” over the next four years, Yan warned, with the US president-elect’s rhetoric and cabinet choices showing a resolve to double down on the hardline approach towards China seen during his first term in office.
Still, China had “learned a great deal” from his first stint, giving it the confidence to face any tensions during the second Trump administration, Yan argued, while all but ruling out the likelihood of a military clash.
“[Trump] will soon arrive in the White House with the intention of containing China, but Chinese leaders are not dreading his return,” he wrote.
With less than a month to go for Trump’s inauguration on January 20, China-US relations are widely expected to enter a new period of uncertainty. Much of the rest of the world is also bracing for the return of Trump and his “America first” agenda to the Oval Office.
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Cigarette smuggling activities in Hong Kong surpass pre-pandemic levels: customs
By Jiang Chuqin
Cigarette smuggling activities in Hong Kong have surpassed pre-pandemic levels, with the value of seizures reaching HK$2.24 billion (US$288 million) in the first 11 months of this year, 15 times the record before the Covid-19 outbreak five years ago.
Customs attributed the surge in seizures to ramped up enforcement efforts following increases in tobacco duty, as well as the move to hunt down warehouses where gangs hid the cigarettes.
With regular travel over the border back to normal following the end of the pandemic, smugglers had switched to a strategy of hiding illegal cigarettes in smaller batches, according to customs.
“We believe that the smugglers switched back to ‘ants moving home’ strategies that they adopted before the pandemic, meaning that they brought illicit cigarettes into Hong Kong in smaller batches,” said Samuel Hui, senior inspector at the revenue crimes investigation bureau at the Customs and Excise Department.
Between January and November, authorities cracked 19,459 cases involving black market cigarettes, representing a 65 per cent increase over the total for all of last year. By comparison, customs solved 17,368 cases in 2019, 3,159 in 2020, 4,009 in 2021 and 3,438 in 2022.
In the first 11 months of this year, 18,780 people were arrested for smuggling, storing, distributing or peddling illicit cigarettes, a 71 per cent increase over the 10,995 arrests made during all of 2023.
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By Jiang Chuqin
Cigarette smuggling activities in Hong Kong have surpassed pre-pandemic levels, with the value of seizures reaching HK$2.24 billion (US$288 million) in the first 11 months of this year, 15 times the record before the Covid-19 outbreak five years ago.
Customs attributed the surge in seizures to ramped up enforcement efforts following increases in tobacco duty, as well as the move to hunt down warehouses where gangs hid the cigarettes.
With regular travel over the border back to normal following the end of the pandemic, smugglers had switched to a strategy of hiding illegal cigarettes in smaller batches, according to customs.
“We believe that the smugglers switched back to ‘ants moving home’ strategies that they adopted before the pandemic, meaning that they brought illicit cigarettes into Hong Kong in smaller batches,” said Samuel Hui, senior inspector at the revenue crimes investigation bureau at the Customs and Excise Department.
Between January and November, authorities cracked 19,459 cases involving black market cigarettes, representing a 65 per cent increase over the total for all of last year. By comparison, customs solved 17,368 cases in 2019, 3,159 in 2020, 4,009 in 2021 and 3,438 in 2022.
In the first 11 months of this year, 18,780 people were arrested for smuggling, storing, distributing or peddling illicit cigarettes, a 71 per cent increase over the 10,995 arrests made during all of 2023.
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France’s most powerful nuclear reactor comes on stream after 12-year delay
By Agence France-Presse
France on Saturday connected its most powerful nuclear power reactor to the national electricity grid in what leaders hailed as a landmark moment despite years of delays and technical setbacks.
The Flamanville 3 European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) in Normandy started providing electricity to French homes at 11.48am on Saturday, the EDF power company’s CEO Luc Remont said in a statement.
“Great moment for the country,” President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement on X, calling it “one of the world’s most powerful nuclear reactors”.
“Re-industrialising to produce low-carbon energy is ecology French style,” he added.
The EPR, a new generation pressurised water reactor, is the fourth to be finished anywhere in the world.
Remont of EDF called the event “historic”.
“The last time a reactor started up in France was 25 years ago at Civaux 2,” he said, referring to the Civaux power plant in southwestern France.
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By Agence France-Presse
France on Saturday connected its most powerful nuclear power reactor to the national electricity grid in what leaders hailed as a landmark moment despite years of delays and technical setbacks.
The Flamanville 3 European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) in Normandy started providing electricity to French homes at 11.48am on Saturday, the EDF power company’s CEO Luc Remont said in a statement.
“Great moment for the country,” President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement on X, calling it “one of the world’s most powerful nuclear reactors”.
“Re-industrialising to produce low-carbon energy is ecology French style,” he added.
The EPR, a new generation pressurised water reactor, is the fourth to be finished anywhere in the world.
Remont of EDF called the event “historic”.
“The last time a reactor started up in France was 25 years ago at Civaux 2,” he said, referring to the Civaux power plant in southwestern France.
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Chinese Premier Li Qiang makes new overtures to foreign firms, pledging more access and services
By Jane Cai
China is doubling down on efforts to appeal to foreign investors, with Premier Li Qiang promising offshore players wider access to the country’s markets and better services.
Addressing company executives in the eastern economic powerhouse of Zhejiang, Li said China put high value on the development of foreign-invested firms and would “steadily expand” their access to more sectors.
The commitments were part of a three-day trip that took in the cities of Hangzhou, Shaoxing and Jiaxing, and ended on Friday.
The visit followed the annual central economic work conference last week, when leaders pledged to stabilise foreign capital and foreign trade, and better support the private economy amid a deepening in “the negative influence from changes in the external environment”.
Those changes include a widely expected push by the incoming US administration of Donald Trump to decouple the United States from China.
Trump said on the campaign trail that he would impose tariff increases of 60 per cent or more on goods imported from China. Last month, he said he would impose an extra 10 per cent tariff on made-in-China products.
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By Jane Cai
China is doubling down on efforts to appeal to foreign investors, with Premier Li Qiang promising offshore players wider access to the country’s markets and better services.
Addressing company executives in the eastern economic powerhouse of Zhejiang, Li said China put high value on the development of foreign-invested firms and would “steadily expand” their access to more sectors.
The commitments were part of a three-day trip that took in the cities of Hangzhou, Shaoxing and Jiaxing, and ended on Friday.
The visit followed the annual central economic work conference last week, when leaders pledged to stabilise foreign capital and foreign trade, and better support the private economy amid a deepening in “the negative influence from changes in the external environment”.
Those changes include a widely expected push by the incoming US administration of Donald Trump to decouple the United States from China.
Trump said on the campaign trail that he would impose tariff increases of 60 per cent or more on goods imported from China. Last month, he said he would impose an extra 10 per cent tariff on made-in-China products.
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