German far-right party wants to limit Chinese firms’ role in ports and digital networks
德国极右翼政党“德国选择党”（AfD）呼吁限制中国公司在德国港口和数字基础设施中的参与。在萨克森州东部小镇里萨举行的全国党代会上，AfD通过了将这些要求纳入党选举纲领的提案。
代表们一致通过的动议指出：“一般来说，港口是关键基础设施的一部分，必须保持在德国控制之下。”此外，另一项动议也获得通过，明确表示：“我们拒绝中国公司参与德国数字基础设施的扩展，因为这些公司实际上受中国共产党控制。”然而，反对者认为不应对中国公司进行广泛谴责，并指出德国的移动网络在没有中国技术的情况下将难以运作。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
德国极右翼政党“德国选择党”（AfD）呼吁限制中国公司在德国港口和数字基础设施中的参与。在萨克森州东部小镇里萨举行的全国党代会上，AfD通过了将这些要求纳入党选举纲领的提案。
代表们一致通过的动议指出：“一般来说，港口是关键基础设施的一部分，必须保持在德国控制之下。”此外，另一项动议也获得通过，明确表示：“我们拒绝中国公司参与德国数字基础设施的扩展，因为这些公司实际上受中国共产党控制。”然而，反对者认为不应对中国公司进行广泛谴责，并指出德国的移动网络在没有中国技术的情况下将难以运作。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Daughter of French rapist Dominique Pelicot thinks he drugged and abused her too
Dominique Pelicot, a Frenchman convicted of drugging his ex-wife to facilitate her rape by numerous men, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. His daughter, Caroline Darian, expressed her belief that he should "die in prison" during a recent television interview, labeling him a "dangerous man" and a "sexual pervert."
This case has shocked France, with Pelicot being found guilty of orchestrating the abuse of Gisele Pelicot over a decade. The trial, which took place in Avignon, resulted in convictions for around 50 co-defendants, who received sentences ranging from three to 15 years. Gisele Pelicot, who bravely chose an open trial, has been commended for her courage in confronting the harrowing events publicly.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Dominique Pelicot, a Frenchman convicted of drugging his ex-wife to facilitate her rape by numerous men, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. His daughter, Caroline Darian, expressed her belief that he should "die in prison" during a recent television interview, labeling him a "dangerous man" and a "sexual pervert."
This case has shocked France, with Pelicot being found guilty of orchestrating the abuse of Gisele Pelicot over a decade. The trial, which took place in Avignon, resulted in convictions for around 50 co-defendants, who received sentences ranging from three to 15 years. Gisele Pelicot, who bravely chose an open trial, has been commended for her courage in confronting the harrowing events publicly.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Hong Kong woman back home after suspected abduction in Southeast Asia
一名24岁的香港女性在东南亚被怀疑遭到绑架后已安全返回香港。香港保安局表示，针对这一事件的关注与警告，特别是关于海外工作诈骗的风险，已在其官方网站上发布。
该局的声明是在网上论坛上广泛传播有关该女子在上个月抵达泰国后被带到缅甸并被拘留的消息后发布的。移民署通过中国驻港外交部及驻外使馆对此事进行了跟进，并表示已根据家属的意愿提供了适当的建议和措施。
保安局网站的出境旅行警示部分提到，近期有香港人被怀疑被诱骗至包括柬埔寨、泰国、缅甸和老挝在内的东南亚国家，并被拘留从事非法工作。这一情况引发了对海外工作诈骗的广泛关注，提醒公众提高警惕。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
一名24岁的香港女性在东南亚被怀疑遭到绑架后已安全返回香港。香港保安局表示，针对这一事件的关注与警告，特别是关于海外工作诈骗的风险，已在其官方网站上发布。
该局的声明是在网上论坛上广泛传播有关该女子在上个月抵达泰国后被带到缅甸并被拘留的消息后发布的。移民署通过中国驻港外交部及驻外使馆对此事进行了跟进，并表示已根据家属的意愿提供了适当的建议和措施。
保安局网站的出境旅行警示部分提到，近期有香港人被怀疑被诱骗至包括柬埔寨、泰国、缅甸和老挝在内的东南亚国家，并被拘留从事非法工作。这一情况引发了对海外工作诈骗的广泛关注，提醒公众提高警惕。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Luggage woes for HK Express passengers after fault at Hong Kong airport
香港国际机场的行李处理系统在周六发生技术故障，导致部分乘客在抵达目的地时未能取到行李。这一事件影响了约300件行李，需在后续航班中运送。
故障发生在周六早晨，机场管理局表示，八个行李分拣机中的一个出现了故障，影响了行李处理的速度。管理局迅速派遣人员进行修复，并将受影响的行李转移到其他分拣机，同时增加人手以处理这些行李。到上午11:30，系统已恢复正常。
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香港国际机场的行李处理系统在周六发生技术故障，导致部分乘客在抵达目的地时未能取到行李。这一事件影响了约300件行李，需在后续航班中运送。
故障发生在周六早晨，机场管理局表示，八个行李分拣机中的一个出现了故障，影响了行李处理的速度。管理局迅速派遣人员进行修复，并将受影响的行李转移到其他分拣机，同时增加人手以处理这些行李。到上午11:30，系统已恢复正常。
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Germany races to save a Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tanker to prevent an oil spill
德国正在全力以赴救援一艘因引擎故障而搁浅的油轮，以避免可能的石油泄漏。这艘名为Eventin的274米长油轮，载有近10万吨石油，从俄罗斯驶往埃及。德国的海事应急指挥中心表示，油轮在周五凌晨失去动力后，开始在北海沿岸漂流。
在这起事件中，德国外长安娜莉娜·贝尔博克批评了俄罗斯利用“破旧油轮”规避制裁的做法，称其对欧洲安全构成威胁。为了将Eventin拖离海岸，三艘拖船正在努力将其引导至更安全的水域。尽管目前整个船队以每小时约2.5公里的速度向东移动，但该地区的风力达到6到7级，预计将继续出现强风和2.5米高的波浪，这使得救援工作面临挑战。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
德国正在全力以赴救援一艘因引擎故障而搁浅的油轮，以避免可能的石油泄漏。这艘名为Eventin的274米长油轮，载有近10万吨石油，从俄罗斯驶往埃及。德国的海事应急指挥中心表示，油轮在周五凌晨失去动力后，开始在北海沿岸漂流。
在这起事件中，德国外长安娜莉娜·贝尔博克批评了俄罗斯利用“破旧油轮”规避制裁的做法，称其对欧洲安全构成威胁。为了将Eventin拖离海岸，三艘拖船正在努力将其引导至更安全的水域。尽管目前整个船队以每小时约2.5公里的速度向东移动，但该地区的风力达到6到7级，预计将继续出现强风和2.5米高的波浪，这使得救援工作面临挑战。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
China calls for closer financial ties with Britain as both sides seek reset
中国副总理何立峰呼吁与英国在金融服务、生物医学和人工智能等领域加强合作，以修复双方在长期紧张关系后的联系。在北京举行的第11届中英经济金融对话上，何立峰表示，互利的经济关系可以作为两国关系的“稳定锚”。
此次对话机制在近六年后恢复，何立峰与英国财政大臣瑞秋·里夫斯共同主持了这一活动。里夫斯于周六抵达北京，进行为期两天的访问，这是自去年10月英国外交大臣大卫·拉米首次访问中国以来，英国政府高级官员的再次访问。
在经历了安全和人权等问题的摩擦后，随着去年英国工党政府的上台，双方关系开始改善。两国都在努力推动各自经济增长，并在唐纳德·特朗普再次担任美国总统的背景下，面临更多不确定性。自2008年启动的年度经济金融对话自2019年以来因新冠疫情和香港问题而暂停。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
中国副总理何立峰呼吁与英国在金融服务、生物医学和人工智能等领域加强合作，以修复双方在长期紧张关系后的联系。在北京举行的第11届中英经济金融对话上，何立峰表示，互利的经济关系可以作为两国关系的“稳定锚”。
此次对话机制在近六年后恢复，何立峰与英国财政大臣瑞秋·里夫斯共同主持了这一活动。里夫斯于周六抵达北京，进行为期两天的访问，这是自去年10月英国外交大臣大卫·拉米首次访问中国以来，英国政府高级官员的再次访问。
在经历了安全和人权等问题的摩擦后，随着去年英国工党政府的上台，双方关系开始改善。两国都在努力推动各自经济增长，并在唐纳德·特朗普再次担任美国总统的背景下，面临更多不确定性。自2008年启动的年度经济金融对话自2019年以来因新冠疫情和香港问题而暂停。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
2 hikers rescued from hill fire raging over 4 hours in Hong Kong’s Yuen Long
在香港元朗，紧急救援人员成功救出两名被山火困住的徒步旅行者。这场火灾持续了超过四个小时，发源于林村郊野公园的凯公岭。警方在周六下午5时30分接到火灾报警，约一个小时后接到关于两名徒步者被困的报告。
这对男女徒步旅行者于下午3时开始登山，因火灾和强风被迫滞留在山顶。最终，他们由政府飞行服务队的成员成功救出，所幸两人均没有受伤。根据消防处的资料，火灾现场的火线在晚上已扩展至80米（262英尺），并且到晚上10时仍在燃烧。
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在香港元朗，紧急救援人员成功救出两名被山火困住的徒步旅行者。这场火灾持续了超过四个小时，发源于林村郊野公园的凯公岭。警方在周六下午5时30分接到火灾报警，约一个小时后接到关于两名徒步者被困的报告。
这对男女徒步旅行者于下午3时开始登山，因火灾和强风被迫滞留在山顶。最终，他们由政府飞行服务队的成员成功救出，所幸两人均没有受伤。根据消防处的资料，火灾现场的火线在晚上已扩展至80米（262英尺），并且到晚上10时仍在燃烧。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Ukraine’s captured North Korean soldiers reveal DPRK’s role in Russia’s war
乌克兰表示，调查人员正在审问两名在俄罗斯库尔斯克地区被捕的北朝鲜士兵，并提供了“无可争辩的证据”证明北朝鲜士兵为莫斯科作战。这并不是基辅首次声称在库尔斯克行动中捕获北朝鲜士兵，但此前并未报告能够进行审问。
乌克兰总统弗拉基米尔·泽连斯基在社交媒体上表示：“我们的士兵在库尔斯克地区捕获了北朝鲜士兵。这两名士兵虽然受了伤，但幸存下来并被带到基辅，正在与SBU调查人员交谈。”SBU安全局提供了一些关于这两名士兵审问的细节，称他们自称是经验丰富的士兵，其中一人表示他是被派往俄罗斯接受训练，而不是去战斗。
然而，乌克兰并未提供任何证据证明这两名士兵确实是北朝鲜人。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
乌克兰表示，调查人员正在审问两名在俄罗斯库尔斯克地区被捕的北朝鲜士兵，并提供了“无可争辩的证据”证明北朝鲜士兵为莫斯科作战。这并不是基辅首次声称在库尔斯克行动中捕获北朝鲜士兵，但此前并未报告能够进行审问。
乌克兰总统弗拉基米尔·泽连斯基在社交媒体上表示：“我们的士兵在库尔斯克地区捕获了北朝鲜士兵。这两名士兵虽然受了伤，但幸存下来并被带到基辅，正在与SBU调查人员交谈。”SBU安全局提供了一些关于这两名士兵审问的细节，称他们自称是经验丰富的士兵，其中一人表示他是被派往俄罗斯接受训练，而不是去战斗。
然而，乌克兰并未提供任何证据证明这两名士兵确实是北朝鲜人。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Hongkongers can expect frost on high ground, New Territories on Sunday
香港天气预报警告，周日高地和新界北部可能出现霜冻。香港天文台在周六早晨和下午发出霜冻警告，提醒公众和农民为这些地区的地面霜冻做好准备。周六的最低气温为11.5摄氏度（52.7华氏度），创下了冬季以来的最低记录。
预计周日的最低气温在城市地区约为11摄氏度，而新界和高地的气温将更低，最高气温为18摄氏度。天文台表示，“强烈的冬季季风将继续影响中国南部沿海地区”，这也导致了气温的骤降。市民们需要注意保暖，以应对即将到来的寒冷天气。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
香港天气预报警告，周日高地和新界北部可能出现霜冻。香港天文台在周六早晨和下午发出霜冻警告，提醒公众和农民为这些地区的地面霜冻做好准备。周六的最低气温为11.5摄氏度（52.7华氏度），创下了冬季以来的最低记录。
预计周日的最低气温在城市地区约为11摄氏度，而新界和高地的气温将更低，最高气温为18摄氏度。天文台表示，“强烈的冬季季风将继续影响中国南部沿海地区”，这也导致了气温的骤降。市民们需要注意保暖，以应对即将到来的寒冷天气。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
US ‘risks electronic warfare’ with China after unveiling anti-satellite jammer network
美国太空部队计划在印太地区部署干扰器以破坏卫星信号，这一举动引发了对与中国可能发生“电子战斗”的警告。这些干扰器旨在破坏被称为“杀链”的军事行动流程，主要目标是中国日益扩张的卫星监视网络，尤其是其遥感卫星系列Yaogan。
Yaogan卫星能够从太空追踪小至汽车的物体，并能对印太司令部进行持续监视，显示出其高效的侦察能力。在最近举行的太空力量会议上，多位美国军方高层强调了该地区太空作战的日益重要性，特别是太空司令部的指挥官Anthony Mastalir将军指出，中国的卫星网络使其能够追踪美国及其盟国的部队，进而可能利用这些信息来寻找战略弱点。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
美国太空部队计划在印太地区部署干扰器以破坏卫星信号，这一举动引发了对与中国可能发生“电子战斗”的警告。这些干扰器旨在破坏被称为“杀链”的军事行动流程，主要目标是中国日益扩张的卫星监视网络，尤其是其遥感卫星系列Yaogan。
Yaogan卫星能够从太空追踪小至汽车的物体，并能对印太司令部进行持续监视，显示出其高效的侦察能力。在最近举行的太空力量会议上，多位美国军方高层强调了该地区太空作战的日益重要性，特别是太空司令部的指挥官Anthony Mastalir将军指出，中国的卫星网络使其能够追踪美国及其盟国的部队，进而可能利用这些信息来寻找战略弱点。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Somalia’s president to visit Ethiopia over Red Sea access, mounting tensions
By Agence France-Presse
Somalia’s president will visit Ethiopia on Saturday, his office said, as the two countries look to build on a recent peace deal that aims to defuse mounting tensions in the Horn of Africa.
Land-locked Ethiopia’s desire for access to the sea has deepened long-standing grievances with its neighbours in the volatile region.
Somalia was outraged when Ethiopia signed a deal one year ago with its breakaway region of Somaliland, reportedly to recognise its independence in exchange for a port and military base on the Red Sea.
The diplomatic furore was defused by a peace deal signed last month by Somalian President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, which was mediated by Turkey.
Mohamud’s office said he would visit the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Saturday at Abiy’s request.
“This visit builds on the recent agreement reached in Ankara. This renewed cooperation underscores a new era of collaboration between Somalia and Ethiopia,” it said.
But many questions remain unresolved.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Agence France-Presse
Somalia’s president will visit Ethiopia on Saturday, his office said, as the two countries look to build on a recent peace deal that aims to defuse mounting tensions in the Horn of Africa.
Land-locked Ethiopia’s desire for access to the sea has deepened long-standing grievances with its neighbours in the volatile region.
Somalia was outraged when Ethiopia signed a deal one year ago with its breakaway region of Somaliland, reportedly to recognise its independence in exchange for a port and military base on the Red Sea.
The diplomatic furore was defused by a peace deal signed last month by Somalian President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, which was mediated by Turkey.
Mohamud’s office said he would visit the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Saturday at Abiy’s request.
“This visit builds on the recent agreement reached in Ankara. This renewed cooperation underscores a new era of collaboration between Somalia and Ethiopia,” it said.
But many questions remain unresolved.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Will TikTok verdict by US top court set the tone for China ties under Trump 2.0?
By Holly Chik
The US Supreme Court’s coming verdict on TikTok would influence Chinese firms’ willingness to engage in the US market and also be the first glimpse into the future of US-China ties with Donald Trump back in the White House, observers said.
The US Supreme Court on Friday heard oral arguments that are likely to determine whether the hugely popular short-video app can continue operating in the United States without severing ties to its Chinese parent, tech company ByteDance.
President Joe Biden signed a law in April to ban the app within a year unless it was divested from ByteDance. TikTok and its millions of US users are seeking to block the ban, citing the right to freedom of speech under the First Amendment.
While the timeline for a ruling remains uncertain, TikTok would shut down for its 170 million American users from January 19 if the verdict went against it.
That would be a day before president-elect Trump is sworn into office for a second term. Two weeks ago, he urged the top court to postpone its ruling until then.
Meanwhile, questions posed by Supreme Court justices on Friday appeared to highlight national security concerns rather than the free-speech arguments put forward by TikTok and its content creators.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Holly Chik
The US Supreme Court’s coming verdict on TikTok would influence Chinese firms’ willingness to engage in the US market and also be the first glimpse into the future of US-China ties with Donald Trump back in the White House, observers said.
The US Supreme Court on Friday heard oral arguments that are likely to determine whether the hugely popular short-video app can continue operating in the United States without severing ties to its Chinese parent, tech company ByteDance.
President Joe Biden signed a law in April to ban the app within a year unless it was divested from ByteDance. TikTok and its millions of US users are seeking to block the ban, citing the right to freedom of speech under the First Amendment.
While the timeline for a ruling remains uncertain, TikTok would shut down for its 170 million American users from January 19 if the verdict went against it.
That would be a day before president-elect Trump is sworn into office for a second term. Two weeks ago, he urged the top court to postpone its ruling until then.
Meanwhile, questions posed by Supreme Court justices on Friday appeared to highlight national security concerns rather than the free-speech arguments put forward by TikTok and its content creators.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
China gets major Nigeria rail project back on track by granting key loan
By Carol Yang
Chinese state lenders have approved a loan for a key segment of a new cross-country rail project in Nigeria, in a deal that appears to reflect China’s increasingly pragmatic approach to development financing in Africa.
China Development Bank, a major policy bank, announced on Tuesday that it would grant an initial €245 million (US$253.7 million) tranche of funding for the Kaduna-Kano rail project, which is part of a larger rail corridor linking Nigeria from north to south.
The deal was announced during Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to four African nations this week, which has seen China make renewed pledges to up its investment in the region.
“China has become an important driving force for global connectivity,” foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a media briefing on Wednesday, citing a variety of cross-border rail projects China helped build.
But the financing agreement also signals China’s growing caution toward large-scale infrastructure construction in the developing world, as Beijing shifts its lending strategy toward “small yet smart” projects.
The Kaduna-Kano railway – a 203km (126-mile) line connecting Nigeria’s northern state of Kaduna with its second-largest city, Kano – has an estimated total cost of US$1.2 billion, with China providing 85 per cent of the financing and the Nigerian government committing the rest.
According to a local source with knowledge of the project, the new line is designed to connect two previous Chinese-backed rail projects in Nigeria: one linking the capital city, Abuja, with Kaduna, and another running between the country’s largest city, Lagos, and its third-largest city, Ibadan.
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By Carol Yang
Chinese state lenders have approved a loan for a key segment of a new cross-country rail project in Nigeria, in a deal that appears to reflect China’s increasingly pragmatic approach to development financing in Africa.
China Development Bank, a major policy bank, announced on Tuesday that it would grant an initial €245 million (US$253.7 million) tranche of funding for the Kaduna-Kano rail project, which is part of a larger rail corridor linking Nigeria from north to south.
The deal was announced during Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to four African nations this week, which has seen China make renewed pledges to up its investment in the region.
“China has become an important driving force for global connectivity,” foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a media briefing on Wednesday, citing a variety of cross-border rail projects China helped build.
But the financing agreement also signals China’s growing caution toward large-scale infrastructure construction in the developing world, as Beijing shifts its lending strategy toward “small yet smart” projects.
The Kaduna-Kano railway – a 203km (126-mile) line connecting Nigeria’s northern state of Kaduna with its second-largest city, Kano – has an estimated total cost of US$1.2 billion, with China providing 85 per cent of the financing and the Nigerian government committing the rest.
According to a local source with knowledge of the project, the new line is designed to connect two previous Chinese-backed rail projects in Nigeria: one linking the capital city, Abuja, with Kaduna, and another running between the country’s largest city, Lagos, and its third-largest city, Ibadan.
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Hong Kong police officer hurts hand after gun fired accidentally in station
By Fiona Sun
A Hong Kong police officer injured her hand and was sent to hospital on Saturday after her gun was accidentally discharged in a station, the Post learned.
The officer was unloading her service pistol at Happy Valley Police Station when it accidentally fired one round at 3pm, a source said.
She injured her fingers and was sent to Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai for treatment, the insider said, adding that no one else was hurt.
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By Fiona Sun
A Hong Kong police officer injured her hand and was sent to hospital on Saturday after her gun was accidentally discharged in a station, the Post learned.
The officer was unloading her service pistol at Happy Valley Police Station when it accidentally fired one round at 3pm, a source said.
She injured her fingers and was sent to Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai for treatment, the insider said, adding that no one else was hurt.
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Syrians sing songs of victory, revolution a month after Assad’s overthrow
By Associated Press
A packed concert hall in Damascus came alive this week with cheers as Wasfi Maasarani, a renowned singer and symbol of the Syrian uprising, performed in celebration of “Syria’s victory.”
The concert on Wednesday marked Maasarani’s return to Syria after 13 years of exile. While living in Los Angeles, Maasarani had continued to support Syria’s uprising through his music, touring the US and Europe.
The concert organised by the Molham Volunteering Team, a humanitarian organisation founded by Syrian students, also marked a month since a lightning insurgency toppled former President Bashar al-Assad.
Revolutionary songs like those by Maasarani and Abdelbasset Sarout – a Syrian singer and activist who died in 2019 – played a key role in rallying Syrians during the nearly 14-year uprising-turned civil war starting in 2011.
Many opponents of Assad’s rule, like Maasarani, had fled the country and were unsure if they would ever be able to come back.
In the dimly lit concert hall, the crowd’s phone lights flickered like stars, swaying in unison with the music as the audience sang along, some wiping away tears. The crowd cheered and whistled and many waved the new Syrian flag, the revolutionary flag marked by three stars. A banner held up in the hall read, “It is Syria the Great, not Syria the Assad.”
One of Maasarani’s best known songs is “Jabeenak ’Ali w Ma Bintal,” which he first sang in 2012, addressing the Free Syrian Army. It was a coalition of defected Syrian military personnel and civilian fighters formed in 2011 to oppose Assad during the civil war.
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By Associated Press
A packed concert hall in Damascus came alive this week with cheers as Wasfi Maasarani, a renowned singer and symbol of the Syrian uprising, performed in celebration of “Syria’s victory.”
The concert on Wednesday marked Maasarani’s return to Syria after 13 years of exile. While living in Los Angeles, Maasarani had continued to support Syria’s uprising through his music, touring the US and Europe.
The concert organised by the Molham Volunteering Team, a humanitarian organisation founded by Syrian students, also marked a month since a lightning insurgency toppled former President Bashar al-Assad.
Revolutionary songs like those by Maasarani and Abdelbasset Sarout – a Syrian singer and activist who died in 2019 – played a key role in rallying Syrians during the nearly 14-year uprising-turned civil war starting in 2011.
Many opponents of Assad’s rule, like Maasarani, had fled the country and were unsure if they would ever be able to come back.
In the dimly lit concert hall, the crowd’s phone lights flickered like stars, swaying in unison with the music as the audience sang along, some wiping away tears. The crowd cheered and whistled and many waved the new Syrian flag, the revolutionary flag marked by three stars. A banner held up in the hall read, “It is Syria the Great, not Syria the Assad.”
One of Maasarani’s best known songs is “Jabeenak ’Ali w Ma Bintal,” which he first sang in 2012, addressing the Free Syrian Army. It was a coalition of defected Syrian military personnel and civilian fighters formed in 2011 to oppose Assad during the civil war.
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Chinese and Indonesian coastguards pledge deeper cooperation after first high-level talks
By Wendy Wu
The Chinese and Indonesian coastguards held their first senior-level talks this week on boosting maritime security cooperation.
The two sides discussed topics such as setting up regular meetings at all levels, port calls and capability build-up, the China Coast Guard said on Saturday.
“Both sides believe that it is necessary to further deepen pragmatic maritime cooperation, jointly maintain the order of maritime security and properly deal with maritime emergencies,” its statement said.
The talks took place in Beijing during a visit by Vice-Admiral Irvansyah, chief of the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency, that began on Tuesday and ended on Saturday and took place at China’s invitation.
“The meeting is not only a symbol of the close relations between both institutions but also a joint commitment to create a safe, peaceful and prosperous maritime region,” he said, according to the Indonesian coastguard.
The delegation also visited the headquarters of a coastguard unit in the southern city of Guangzhou and inspected operational facilities and a patrol vessel.
China has in recent years stepped up its efforts to engage with Indonesia on the economic and security front amid its growing strategic rivalry with the United States and rising tensions with the Philippines in the South China Sea.
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By Wendy Wu
The Chinese and Indonesian coastguards held their first senior-level talks this week on boosting maritime security cooperation.
The two sides discussed topics such as setting up regular meetings at all levels, port calls and capability build-up, the China Coast Guard said on Saturday.
“Both sides believe that it is necessary to further deepen pragmatic maritime cooperation, jointly maintain the order of maritime security and properly deal with maritime emergencies,” its statement said.
The talks took place in Beijing during a visit by Vice-Admiral Irvansyah, chief of the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency, that began on Tuesday and ended on Saturday and took place at China’s invitation.
“The meeting is not only a symbol of the close relations between both institutions but also a joint commitment to create a safe, peaceful and prosperous maritime region,” he said, according to the Indonesian coastguard.
The delegation also visited the headquarters of a coastguard unit in the southern city of Guangzhou and inspected operational facilities and a patrol vessel.
China has in recent years stepped up its efforts to engage with Indonesia on the economic and security front amid its growing strategic rivalry with the United States and rising tensions with the Philippines in the South China Sea.
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Suspected hitman extradited to Thailand over shooting of Cambodian lawmaker
By Reuters
A suspected hitman accused of killing a Cambodian former opposition lawmaker in a brazen attack in Bangkok was handed over to Thai authorities on Saturday from Cambodia, where he had been arrested after crossing the border.
Thai national Ekkalak Paenoi, 41, faces charges including premeditated murder in the Tuesday shooting death of Lim Kimya, 74, in the Thai capital.
“The suspect confessed to the crime and to being the person in the arrest warrant,” Somprasong Yentuam, assistant national police chief, told reporters. “He looked stressed.”
Ekkalak, a motorcycle taxi driver who police officers told journalists was a former marine, was taken to Bangkok after Thai police coordinated with Cambodian authorities. A Thai court issued the warrant and he was arrested on Wednesday.
Lim Kimya, a Cambodian and French citizen, was killed by a gunman firing three shots, hours after arriving from Cambodia with his wife and brother and travelling to Bangkok by bus, police have said.
He was a member of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, a popular opposition group that was dissolved by a court over an alleged treason plot ahead of a 2018 election. The party dismissed the alleged plot as a fabrication.
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By Reuters
A suspected hitman accused of killing a Cambodian former opposition lawmaker in a brazen attack in Bangkok was handed over to Thai authorities on Saturday from Cambodia, where he had been arrested after crossing the border.
Thai national Ekkalak Paenoi, 41, faces charges including premeditated murder in the Tuesday shooting death of Lim Kimya, 74, in the Thai capital.
“The suspect confessed to the crime and to being the person in the arrest warrant,” Somprasong Yentuam, assistant national police chief, told reporters. “He looked stressed.”
Ekkalak, a motorcycle taxi driver who police officers told journalists was a former marine, was taken to Bangkok after Thai police coordinated with Cambodian authorities. A Thai court issued the warrant and he was arrested on Wednesday.
Lim Kimya, a Cambodian and French citizen, was killed by a gunman firing three shots, hours after arriving from Cambodia with his wife and brother and travelling to Bangkok by bus, police have said.
He was a member of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, a popular opposition group that was dissolved by a court over an alleged treason plot ahead of a 2018 election. The party dismissed the alleged plot as a fabrication.
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Why China’s young jobseekers are being held back by an overseas education
By Dannie Peng
Despite holding degrees from some of the world’s most prestigious universities, many returning Chinese graduates are struggling to find good jobs, and the reason may not just be a spike in competition.
Intensifying geopolitical tensions and national security concerns are also coming into play, according to observers.
Chinese graduates with foreign degrees are being excluded by many provinces in the xuandiaosheng, or “selected and assigned graduates” system, a recruitment programme for the civil service designed to select and train future elite cadres for the ruling Communist Party and government.
In the southern province of Guangdong, for example, graduates from institutions outside mainland China are not eligible to apply for the 2025 round, according to an official notice published in December.
This applies to all US Ivy League schools and other renowned institutions like the University of Cambridge and the National University of Singapore.
Similarly, in the eastern province of Shandong, the latest recruitment policy for assigned graduates, published in October, said 2025 applicants would only be selected from domestic colleges and universities.
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By Dannie Peng
Despite holding degrees from some of the world’s most prestigious universities, many returning Chinese graduates are struggling to find good jobs, and the reason may not just be a spike in competition.
Intensifying geopolitical tensions and national security concerns are also coming into play, according to observers.
Chinese graduates with foreign degrees are being excluded by many provinces in the xuandiaosheng, or “selected and assigned graduates” system, a recruitment programme for the civil service designed to select and train future elite cadres for the ruling Communist Party and government.
In the southern province of Guangdong, for example, graduates from institutions outside mainland China are not eligible to apply for the 2025 round, according to an official notice published in December.
This applies to all US Ivy League schools and other renowned institutions like the University of Cambridge and the National University of Singapore.
Similarly, in the eastern province of Shandong, the latest recruitment policy for assigned graduates, published in October, said 2025 applicants would only be selected from domestic colleges and universities.
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China subway scalper detained over 70 US cents seat-saving scheme during rush hours
By Alice Yan
A man in Shanghai has caused controversy by appraently offering a service that charges people five yuan (7 US cents) for a seat on the city’s subway during rush hours.
The man, surnamed Zhou, who lives and works in the Lingang New Zone in the southeastern part of the city, posted on social media on December 19 that he could offer his seat on subway Line 16 during the morning and evening rush hours.
The apparent scalper has since been placed under administrative detention, but claims he only spread details of the scheme as a rumour to gain online attention, according to the mainland media outlet The Paper.
He earlier said service costs five yuan which covers the underground fee for his single journey, the Shanghai Morning Post reported.
Line 16 is crowded with work commuters in the early hours every day as it connects the suburban Lingang area with downtown.
Zhou said he gets on the train at a terminal station, ensuring him a seat. He said he starts his trip at 7:30am and gets off the train at Huinan Station or Xinchang Station near his office.
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By Alice Yan
A man in Shanghai has caused controversy by appraently offering a service that charges people five yuan (7 US cents) for a seat on the city’s subway during rush hours.
The man, surnamed Zhou, who lives and works in the Lingang New Zone in the southeastern part of the city, posted on social media on December 19 that he could offer his seat on subway Line 16 during the morning and evening rush hours.
The apparent scalper has since been placed under administrative detention, but claims he only spread details of the scheme as a rumour to gain online attention, according to the mainland media outlet The Paper.
He earlier said service costs five yuan which covers the underground fee for his single journey, the Shanghai Morning Post reported.
Line 16 is crowded with work commuters in the early hours every day as it connects the suburban Lingang area with downtown.
Zhou said he gets on the train at a terminal station, ensuring him a seat. He said he starts his trip at 7:30am and gets off the train at Huinan Station or Xinchang Station near his office.
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Hong Kong police launch appeal to find missing man, 72, on Lantau Island
By Edith Lin
Hong Kong police are seeking the public’s assistance in finding a 72-year-old man who has gone missing on Lantau Island.
Ronald Taylor, 72, was last seen on Thursday afternoon leaving his home at 12 Waterfront Road in Tung Chung. He was dressed in a black jacket, blue trousers, brown shoes with a pair of glasses and a black shoulder bag.
His family reported his case to the police on Friday.
The missing man has a height of about 1.8m (5.9 feet) and a weight of 95kg (209lbs), with short grey and white hair as well as a round face and white complexion, according to the force.
Police have urged members of the public with information of Taylor’s whereabouts to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of New Territories South at 3661 1176 or 9415 4495 or email [email protected], or contact any police station.
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By Edith Lin
Hong Kong police are seeking the public’s assistance in finding a 72-year-old man who has gone missing on Lantau Island.
Ronald Taylor, 72, was last seen on Thursday afternoon leaving his home at 12 Waterfront Road in Tung Chung. He was dressed in a black jacket, blue trousers, brown shoes with a pair of glasses and a black shoulder bag.
His family reported his case to the police on Friday.
The missing man has a height of about 1.8m (5.9 feet) and a weight of 95kg (209lbs), with short grey and white hair as well as a round face and white complexion, according to the force.
Police have urged members of the public with information of Taylor’s whereabouts to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of New Territories South at 3661 1176 or 9415 4495 or email [email protected], or contact any police station.
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