Rupert Murdoch’s UK news group apologises to Prince Harry
By Associated Press
Rupert Murdoch’s UK tabloids made a rare apology to Prince Harry in settling his privacy invasion lawsuit and will pay him a substantial sum, his lawyer said on Wednesday.
News Group Newspapers offered a “full and unequivocal apology to the Duke of Sussex for the serious intrusion by The Sun between 1996 and 2011 into his private life, including incidents of unlawful activities carried out by private investigators working for The Sun”, lawyer David Sherborne read from settlement statement in court.
It was the first time News Group Newspapers has acknowledged wrongdoing at The Sun, a paper once known for featuring topless women on page three.
The statement itself was remarkable in breadth, acknowledging “phone hacking, surveillance and misuse of private information by journalists and private investigators” aimed at Harry, allegations NGN had strongly denied before trial.
The statement even went beyond the scope of the lawsuit to acknowledge intruding on the life of his mother, the late Princess Diana.
“We acknowledge and apologise for the distress caused to the duke, and the damage inflicted on relationships, friendships and family, and have agreed to pay him substantial damages,” the settlement statement said.
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By Associated Press
Rupert Murdoch’s UK tabloids made a rare apology to Prince Harry in settling his privacy invasion lawsuit and will pay him a substantial sum, his lawyer said on Wednesday.
News Group Newspapers offered a “full and unequivocal apology to the Duke of Sussex for the serious intrusion by The Sun between 1996 and 2011 into his private life, including incidents of unlawful activities carried out by private investigators working for The Sun”, lawyer David Sherborne read from settlement statement in court.
It was the first time News Group Newspapers has acknowledged wrongdoing at The Sun, a paper once known for featuring topless women on page three.
The statement itself was remarkable in breadth, acknowledging “phone hacking, surveillance and misuse of private information by journalists and private investigators” aimed at Harry, allegations NGN had strongly denied before trial.
The statement even went beyond the scope of the lawsuit to acknowledge intruding on the life of his mother, the late Princess Diana.
“We acknowledge and apologise for the distress caused to the duke, and the damage inflicted on relationships, friendships and family, and have agreed to pay him substantial damages,” the settlement statement said.
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Tencent ramps up global AI efforts with roll-out of advanced Hunyuan 3D-generation system
Tencent Holdings推出了基于其人工智能基础模型Hunyuan的更新版3D生成系统，预计将显著提高视频游戏开发者制作三维内容的效率，从几天缩短至几分钟。这一开源平台Hunyuan3D 2.0能够生成高分辨率、纹理丰富的3D资产，旨在为开发者提供更便捷的工具。
该系统包含两个基础组件：形状生成模型Hunyuan3D-DiT和纹理合成模型Hunyuan3D-Paint。此外，腾讯还推出了Hunyuan3D Studio，称其为“行业首个一站式平台”，简化了使用AI重建3D内容的过程，适用于专业和业余用户，方便他们对创作进行修改或动画处理。
腾讯Hunyuan3D团队负责人郭春超表示，这些更新的3D生成模型和AI生产平台将“有效降低爱好者、开发者和创作者的入门门槛”。他补充道，除了提高效率外，这些产品还将“帮助实现3D AI模型在各个行业的价值”。
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Tencent Holdings推出了基于其人工智能基础模型Hunyuan的更新版3D生成系统，预计将显著提高视频游戏开发者制作三维内容的效率，从几天缩短至几分钟。这一开源平台Hunyuan3D 2.0能够生成高分辨率、纹理丰富的3D资产，旨在为开发者提供更便捷的工具。
该系统包含两个基础组件：形状生成模型Hunyuan3D-DiT和纹理合成模型Hunyuan3D-Paint。此外，腾讯还推出了Hunyuan3D Studio，称其为“行业首个一站式平台”，简化了使用AI重建3D内容的过程，适用于专业和业余用户，方便他们对创作进行修改或动画处理。
腾讯Hunyuan3D团队负责人郭春超表示，这些更新的3D生成模型和AI生产平台将“有效降低爱好者、开发者和创作者的入门门槛”。他补充道，除了提高效率外，这些产品还将“帮助实现3D AI模型在各个行业的价值”。
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South Korea’s Yoon in spotlight again over soldiers praising him at birthday event
南韩被弹劾总统尹锡悦在2023年生日庆祝活动中受到新一轮审查。在此次活动中，士兵们被迫唱歌、跳舞并赞美尹总统。事件引发了公众对军队与政治之间关系的广泛关注。
据媒体报道，前国防部长金勇贤指示数十名军事人员参与原本是为纪念总统警卫服务60周年的娱乐节目，但该活动在尹锡悦的生日当天举行。军事人员在活动中用改编歌词为尹总统献唱，甚至进行了敬礼的表演。参与活动的警察也被命令出席这一庆祝活动，而总统警卫服务处则未对此事件给予确认，称该机构的活动属于机密。
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南韩被弹劾总统尹锡悦在2023年生日庆祝活动中受到新一轮审查。在此次活动中，士兵们被迫唱歌、跳舞并赞美尹总统。事件引发了公众对军队与政治之间关系的广泛关注。
据媒体报道，前国防部长金勇贤指示数十名军事人员参与原本是为纪念总统警卫服务60周年的娱乐节目，但该活动在尹锡悦的生日当天举行。军事人员在活动中用改编歌词为尹总统献唱，甚至进行了敬礼的表演。参与活动的警察也被命令出席这一庆祝活动，而总统警卫服务处则未对此事件给予确认，称该机构的活动属于机密。
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Indian hotel chain’s married couples-only room policy sparks personal freedom debate
By Amy Sood
A new policy by a hospitality chain in India requiring couples to prove their marriage to check into its hotels in the northwestern city of Meerut has sparked a fierce debate over conservative values encroaching on personal freedoms in the world’s largest democracy.
The OYO Hotels chain, which runs a budget hotel booking platform, announced earlier this month “new check-in directives” allowing partner hotels in Meerut to deny bookings from unmarried couples. Under this policy, hotels have the discretion to turn away couples who cannot provide proof of marriage.
The policy is currently only in place in Meerut, which is about an hour’s drive from the capital New Delhi, but could be extended to other places based on the response, the hospitality chain said.
OYO also said its move was a response to “feedback” it had received in the past from civil society groups in the Meerut area.
In a statement to the media, Pawas Sharma, who serves as OYO’s regional head for North India said: “OYO is committed to upholding safe and responsible hospitality practices.
“While we respect individual freedoms and personal liberty, we also recognise our responsibility to listen to and work with the law enforcement and civil society groups in the micro markets we operate in.”
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By Amy Sood
A new policy by a hospitality chain in India requiring couples to prove their marriage to check into its hotels in the northwestern city of Meerut has sparked a fierce debate over conservative values encroaching on personal freedoms in the world’s largest democracy.
The OYO Hotels chain, which runs a budget hotel booking platform, announced earlier this month “new check-in directives” allowing partner hotels in Meerut to deny bookings from unmarried couples. Under this policy, hotels have the discretion to turn away couples who cannot provide proof of marriage.
The policy is currently only in place in Meerut, which is about an hour’s drive from the capital New Delhi, but could be extended to other places based on the response, the hospitality chain said.
OYO also said its move was a response to “feedback” it had received in the past from civil society groups in the Meerut area.
In a statement to the media, Pawas Sharma, who serves as OYO’s regional head for North India said: “OYO is committed to upholding safe and responsible hospitality practices.
“While we respect individual freedoms and personal liberty, we also recognise our responsibility to listen to and work with the law enforcement and civil society groups in the micro markets we operate in.”
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Hong Kong’s ombudsman urges more legal action over public housing abuse
香港监察专员呼吁加强对公共住房滥用行为的法律追责，去年该市的检控率仅为4.2%。尽管政府提议提高处罚力度，但对于12,407起公共房屋滥用案件中仅有518起被起诉的现状，监察专员表示不满。
监察专员Jack Chan Jick-chi指出，经过对香港房屋署的检控工作审查发现，尽管有些案件握有足够证据，但在检控期后并未得到跟进。过去七年间，公众住房滥用案件的年检控率在1.7%至4.2%之间波动。Chan还提出了31条改善建议，其中包括与中国大陆和澳门建立渠道，以核实租户在这些地区是否拥有房地产。
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香港监察专员呼吁加强对公共住房滥用行为的法律追责，去年该市的检控率仅为4.2%。尽管政府提议提高处罚力度，但对于12,407起公共房屋滥用案件中仅有518起被起诉的现状，监察专员表示不满。
监察专员Jack Chan Jick-chi指出，经过对香港房屋署的检控工作审查发现，尽管有些案件握有足够证据，但在检控期后并未得到跟进。过去七年间，公众住房滥用案件的年检控率在1.7%至4.2%之间波动。Chan还提出了31条改善建议，其中包括与中国大陆和澳门建立渠道，以核实租户在这些地区是否拥有房地产。
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China’s most popular AI app gets facelift with ByteDance’s Doubao 1.5
ByteDance has launched an updated version of its popular AI app Doubao, despite facing US export restrictions on advanced chips. The new Doubao 1.5 Pro emphasizes a resource-efficient training approach, allowing for high performance without excessive costs. This move highlights the company's commitment to advancing AI technology in a challenging environment.
The introduction of Doubao 1.5 Pro represents ByteDance's strategy to balance performance with cost-efficiency through an integrated train-inference design. By creating a server cluster that supports low-end chips, the company aims to lower AI training expenses. As China's Big Tech firms continue to innovate amidst budget constraints and limited access to advanced technology, they are refining their AI models to remain competitive against their US counterparts.
Initial benchmark tests indicate that Doubao 1.5 Pro outperforms in half of the evaluated categories, including language understanding and reasoning abilities. This success could further solidify Doubao's position as a leading AI application for Chinese consumers, showcasing the potential for domestic innovation in the AI sector.
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ByteDance has launched an updated version of its popular AI app Doubao, despite facing US export restrictions on advanced chips. The new Doubao 1.5 Pro emphasizes a resource-efficient training approach, allowing for high performance without excessive costs. This move highlights the company's commitment to advancing AI technology in a challenging environment.
The introduction of Doubao 1.5 Pro represents ByteDance's strategy to balance performance with cost-efficiency through an integrated train-inference design. By creating a server cluster that supports low-end chips, the company aims to lower AI training expenses. As China's Big Tech firms continue to innovate amidst budget constraints and limited access to advanced technology, they are refining their AI models to remain competitive against their US counterparts.
Initial benchmark tests indicate that Doubao 1.5 Pro outperforms in half of the evaluated categories, including language understanding and reasoning abilities. This success could further solidify Doubao's position as a leading AI application for Chinese consumers, showcasing the potential for domestic innovation in the AI sector.
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Does Indonesia have ‘bargaining chips’ to navigate Trump’s tariff threat?
印尼正在寻求与美国签署新的贸易协议，以应对特朗普总统的高额关税威胁，但专家认为，若不明确具备谈判优势的行业，将面临困难。尽管印尼在面对更高关税的前景时“相对免疫”，但官员们仍希望通过与美国达成双边自由贸易协议（FTA）来加强双边关系，促使华盛顿“降低对印尼产品的关税”。
印尼是东南亚最大的经济体，去年与美国的贸易额达到168亿美元，创造了与任何单一伙伴的最高贸易顺差。尽管目前与美国没有双边自由贸易协议，印尼贸易部长布迪·桑托索表示，这一举措有助于印尼出口商“进入美国市场”，并强调提升竞争力的重要性，以便在全球市场中与其他国家竞争。
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印尼正在寻求与美国签署新的贸易协议，以应对特朗普总统的高额关税威胁，但专家认为，若不明确具备谈判优势的行业，将面临困难。尽管印尼在面对更高关税的前景时“相对免疫”，但官员们仍希望通过与美国达成双边自由贸易协议（FTA）来加强双边关系，促使华盛顿“降低对印尼产品的关税”。
印尼是东南亚最大的经济体，去年与美国的贸易额达到168亿美元，创造了与任何单一伙伴的最高贸易顺差。尽管目前与美国没有双边自由贸易协议，印尼贸易部长布迪·桑托索表示，这一举措有助于印尼出口商“进入美国市场”，并强调提升竞争力的重要性，以便在全球市场中与其他国家竞争。
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China keen to engage as Gaza war halts, but will US-Israel ties hinder efforts?
By Zhao Ziwen
A top Chinese envoy has visited Israel and Palestine, signalling Beijing’s willingness to engage in regional affairs following the Gaza ceasefire, though observers cautioned that the results might be limited results given the close ties between the US and Israel.
Zhai Jun, China’s special envoy for Middle East affairs, visited Israel and the West Bank last week, meeting top officials including Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas and Eden Bar-Tal, the Israeli foreign ministry’s director general.
It was Zhai’s first visit to Israel and Palestine since the Gaza war erupted in October 2023. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has not visited the area since the beginning of the conflict.
During his meeting with Bar-Tal, Zhai said Beijing welcomed the ceasefire. He also emphasised the importance of the hostage release agreements. Zhai encouraged Israel and China to cooperate more following the ceasefire, particularly in the field of innovation.
“China welcomes the agreement for a ceasefire in Gaza and the exchange of hostages … and hopes that the agreement will be earnestly implemented, leading to the safe release of hostages and a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire in Gaza,” he said.
The ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas went into effect on Sunday.
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By Zhao Ziwen
A top Chinese envoy has visited Israel and Palestine, signalling Beijing’s willingness to engage in regional affairs following the Gaza ceasefire, though observers cautioned that the results might be limited results given the close ties between the US and Israel.
Zhai Jun, China’s special envoy for Middle East affairs, visited Israel and the West Bank last week, meeting top officials including Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas and Eden Bar-Tal, the Israeli foreign ministry’s director general.
It was Zhai’s first visit to Israel and Palestine since the Gaza war erupted in October 2023. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has not visited the area since the beginning of the conflict.
During his meeting with Bar-Tal, Zhai said Beijing welcomed the ceasefire. He also emphasised the importance of the hostage release agreements. Zhai encouraged Israel and China to cooperate more following the ceasefire, particularly in the field of innovation.
“China welcomes the agreement for a ceasefire in Gaza and the exchange of hostages … and hopes that the agreement will be earnestly implemented, leading to the safe release of hostages and a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire in Gaza,” he said.
The ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas went into effect on Sunday.
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China netizens help US RedNote user find long-lost Chinese classmate in 22 hours
在美国，TikTok用户纷纷转向中国社交平台RedNote，一名21岁的“TikTok难民”成功找到了她失联七年的中国同学Simon。这位名叫Katharina Celia的年轻女孩在RedNote上发出请求后，仅用22小时便得到了中国网友的帮助，令人惊讶。
Katharina在1月15日发布了一段感人的视频，向中国社区寻求帮助以寻找Simon。她回忆起2017年至2018年她在爱荷华州的私立天主教学校就读时，Simon作为交换学生加入了她的班级，俩人成为至交好友，但他回国后两人失去了联系。她在视频中表示：“我需要所有网友的帮助找到他，Simon我想你，我想念我们的友谊。”
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在美国，TikTok用户纷纷转向中国社交平台RedNote，一名21岁的“TikTok难民”成功找到了她失联七年的中国同学Simon。这位名叫Katharina Celia的年轻女孩在RedNote上发出请求后，仅用22小时便得到了中国网友的帮助，令人惊讶。
Katharina在1月15日发布了一段感人的视频，向中国社区寻求帮助以寻找Simon。她回忆起2017年至2018年她在爱荷华州的私立天主教学校就读时，Simon作为交换学生加入了她的班级，俩人成为至交好友，但他回国后两人失去了联系。她在视频中表示：“我需要所有网友的帮助找到他，Simon我想你，我想念我们的友谊。”
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What’s next for Hong Kong vehicle licence plates after ‘ZZ’ series end?
香港即将开始分配“ZZ”车牌，这标志着传统车牌注册标记的供应即将耗尽。尽管如此，运输部门表示，他们计划在未来20年内推出新系列，以创造300万个新的组合。当前的系统使用“AA”到“ZZ”的前缀来分配车牌，而数字则由计算机随机生成。
运输部门目前正在分配前缀为“ZV”的车牌，并将在2月或3月开始分配“ZZ”系列。这一系列的分配将遵循字母升序的原则。一旦“ZZ”系列用尽，部门将开始以逆字母顺序引入“WA”到“WZ”的车牌，随后依次是“VA”到“VZ”等系列。运输部门的发言人表示，至今还有约300万个传统车牌尚未重新分配，预计这些车牌足以满足未来20年的需求。
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香港即将开始分配“ZZ”车牌，这标志着传统车牌注册标记的供应即将耗尽。尽管如此，运输部门表示，他们计划在未来20年内推出新系列，以创造300万个新的组合。当前的系统使用“AA”到“ZZ”的前缀来分配车牌，而数字则由计算机随机生成。
运输部门目前正在分配前缀为“ZV”的车牌，并将在2月或3月开始分配“ZZ”系列。这一系列的分配将遵循字母升序的原则。一旦“ZZ”系列用尽，部门将开始以逆字母顺序引入“WA”到“WZ”的车牌，随后依次是“VA”到“VZ”等系列。运输部门的发言人表示，至今还有约300万个传统车牌尚未重新分配，预计这些车牌足以满足未来20年的需求。
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Hong Kong bus technician remanded over seditious posts, photos on social media
By Fiona Chow
A Hong Kong bus technician has been remanded in custody over allegedly publishing seditious texts and photos on social media, becoming the fifth person to be charged with the offence under the city’s domestic national security law.
Li Chun-kit, 36, appeared at West Kowloon Court for the first time on Wednesday to face a count of “knowingly publishing publications that had a seditious intention” under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.
He has been accused of publishing seditious material on social media between March 29, 2024, and January 21 of this year, with the intention of instigating “hatred, contempt or disaffection” against the constitutional order and the city government’s executive, legislative or judicial branches.
The Post learned that the prosecution had alleged that Li made more than 100 seditious posts involving texts, photos and links to news media using a social media account.
The exact wording used in the materials has yet to be fully disclosed.
But authorities said some content involved “calling for sanctions against government officials as well as inciting violence”.
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By Fiona Chow
A Hong Kong bus technician has been remanded in custody over allegedly publishing seditious texts and photos on social media, becoming the fifth person to be charged with the offence under the city’s domestic national security law.
Li Chun-kit, 36, appeared at West Kowloon Court for the first time on Wednesday to face a count of “knowingly publishing publications that had a seditious intention” under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.
He has been accused of publishing seditious material on social media between March 29, 2024, and January 21 of this year, with the intention of instigating “hatred, contempt or disaffection” against the constitutional order and the city government’s executive, legislative or judicial branches.
The Post learned that the prosecution had alleged that Li made more than 100 seditious posts involving texts, photos and links to news media using a social media account.
The exact wording used in the materials has yet to be fully disclosed.
But authorities said some content involved “calling for sanctions against government officials as well as inciting violence”.
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Big drop in internal investigations into China’s corruption busters in 2024
尽管全国范围内的反腐调查数量增加，去年中国反腐机构内部的调查数量却减少了一半。中央纪律检查委员会报告称，2024年有3,900名官员被调查，而2023年这一数字为7,817人。同时，接受审判的官员人数也从474人降至374人。
反腐运动在抓捕高级官员方面取得了显著成果，58名副部长级及以上的官员被卷入调查，其中包括中央组织部的高级检查员李刚。李刚因“涉嫌严重违反纪律和法律”被拘留，这一表述通常指代腐败问题。此外，国有企业中国南方电网的纪律负责人龙飞也因类似指控被调查并于8月被开除党籍。这些事件显示了中国反腐斗争的持续性与复杂性。
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尽管全国范围内的反腐调查数量增加，去年中国反腐机构内部的调查数量却减少了一半。中央纪律检查委员会报告称，2024年有3,900名官员被调查，而2023年这一数字为7,817人。同时，接受审判的官员人数也从474人降至374人。
反腐运动在抓捕高级官员方面取得了显著成果，58名副部长级及以上的官员被卷入调查，其中包括中央组织部的高级检查员李刚。李刚因“涉嫌严重违反纪律和法律”被拘留，这一表述通常指代腐败问题。此外，国有企业中国南方电网的纪律负责人龙飞也因类似指控被调查并于8月被开除党籍。这些事件显示了中国反腐斗争的持续性与复杂性。
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In the global marathon for tech supremacy, Brics’ size matters
By Oleg Yanovsky
Whether in the fourth industrial revolution semantics of Klaus Schwab or Beijing’s concept of “new productive forces”, major powers agree on one thing: competition in the 21st century to gain a geopolitical advantage is about commanding enough capital and scientific potential to win the tech race for new economic domains.
The emerging domains include the Arctic, cyberspace, outer space, the oceans and renewed competition for Africa. In this sense, US President Donald Trump’s threats to annex Greenland elicit chuckles but are an important geopolitical signal.
Likewise, the US’ massive investment in SpaceX – in the form of substantive government contracts – shows the importance of the new domains. Meanwhile, Russia and China are working together towards a base on the Moon. It’s worth it – new domains promise critical economic benefits and powerful capabilities to pressure competitors.
Solutions that supply the upper hand share a characteristic – everything is dual-use. Online marketplaces, like Amazon or Taobao, are benign. But in Russia, they are also a military innovation: in a state-backed move, an online marketplace for drone parts has been created. In the United States, data analytics company Palantir proudly revealed in 2023 that it has been helping Ukraine improve the accuracy of its strikes through crunching big data using artificial intelligence (AI).
Integrating AI into physical infrastructure provides a productivity gain akin to the breakthrough of the steam engine. It’s no surprise that Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called AI an engine for new productive forces, while Russian President Vladimir Putin sees having independent AI technology as a prerequisite for sovereignty.
Russian drones are increasingly using AI targeting on the war front and the government is rolling out regional investment programmes focused on AI integration in productive industry.
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By Oleg Yanovsky
Whether in the fourth industrial revolution semantics of Klaus Schwab or Beijing’s concept of “new productive forces”, major powers agree on one thing: competition in the 21st century to gain a geopolitical advantage is about commanding enough capital and scientific potential to win the tech race for new economic domains.
The emerging domains include the Arctic, cyberspace, outer space, the oceans and renewed competition for Africa. In this sense, US President Donald Trump’s threats to annex Greenland elicit chuckles but are an important geopolitical signal.
Likewise, the US’ massive investment in SpaceX – in the form of substantive government contracts – shows the importance of the new domains. Meanwhile, Russia and China are working together towards a base on the Moon. It’s worth it – new domains promise critical economic benefits and powerful capabilities to pressure competitors.
Solutions that supply the upper hand share a characteristic – everything is dual-use. Online marketplaces, like Amazon or Taobao, are benign. But in Russia, they are also a military innovation: in a state-backed move, an online marketplace for drone parts has been created. In the United States, data analytics company Palantir proudly revealed in 2023 that it has been helping Ukraine improve the accuracy of its strikes through crunching big data using artificial intelligence (AI).
Integrating AI into physical infrastructure provides a productivity gain akin to the breakthrough of the steam engine. It’s no surprise that Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called AI an engine for new productive forces, while Russian President Vladimir Putin sees having independent AI technology as a prerequisite for sovereignty.
Russian drones are increasingly using AI targeting on the war front and the government is rolling out regional investment programmes focused on AI integration in productive industry.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Hong Kong public secondary schools can offer foreign languages from next academic year
香港的公立中学将从下学年开始为初中生提供外语课程，每所学校可获得25万港元的政府补贴，支持为期两年的运营。这项计划旨在提升学生的学习兴趣和能力，丰富他们的学习体验，并增强全球竞争力。
根据教育局的通知，符合补贴条件的语言包括阿拉伯语、俄语、日语、韩语、法语、德语、西班牙语和乌尔都语。学校必须在试点计划下为学生提供免费的额外语言课程，申请截止日期为4月30日。获得批准的学校可以利用这笔资金雇佣外部机构提供面对面或在线课程，并购买学习和教学材料。
这一为期两年的试点计划得到了优质教育基金的支持，旨在鼓励所有公立中学为低年级学生提供学习其他语言的机会。教育局建议学校在选择语言课程时，优先考虑那些在高年级作为选修科目提供的语言，如法语、德语、日语、韩语、西班牙语和乌尔都语。
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香港的公立中学将从下学年开始为初中生提供外语课程，每所学校可获得25万港元的政府补贴，支持为期两年的运营。这项计划旨在提升学生的学习兴趣和能力，丰富他们的学习体验，并增强全球竞争力。
根据教育局的通知，符合补贴条件的语言包括阿拉伯语、俄语、日语、韩语、法语、德语、西班牙语和乌尔都语。学校必须在试点计划下为学生提供免费的额外语言课程，申请截止日期为4月30日。获得批准的学校可以利用这笔资金雇佣外部机构提供面对面或在线课程，并购买学习和教学材料。
这一为期两年的试点计划得到了优质教育基金的支持，旨在鼓励所有公立中学为低年级学生提供学习其他语言的机会。教育局建议学校在选择语言课程时，优先考虑那些在高年级作为选修科目提供的语言，如法语、德语、日语、韩语、西班牙语和乌尔都语。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Singapore takes first step towards general election, analysts predict midyear polls
首相律政在11月前必须在5月或6月宣布大选。这次选举对于首相律政来说是一个重大试镜，他将在下次选举中首次带领执政党民众行动党(PAP)。他上任后不久，前首相李显龙宣布下台，结束了40多年的执政。
政府在周三宣布成立负责划定选区的委员会，标志着大选的首步。这一委员会的组成是大选的常见信号，过去四次选举，委员会组成后和选举日期之间的间隔时间大致在4个月至11个月之间。由于今年8月庆祝新加坡独立60周年，因此选举必须在11月前召开。
分析师认为，这次大选将集中讨论生活必需品的议题。新加坡政府通常在委员会成立后不久宣布下次大选的举行时间。律政首相将面临挑战，因为他在执政党内的地位尚未得到完全确立。他还需要证明自己能够领导执政党取得胜利。
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首相律政在11月前必须在5月或6月宣布大选。这次选举对于首相律政来说是一个重大试镜，他将在下次选举中首次带领执政党民众行动党(PAP)。他上任后不久，前首相李显龙宣布下台，结束了40多年的执政。
政府在周三宣布成立负责划定选区的委员会，标志着大选的首步。这一委员会的组成是大选的常见信号，过去四次选举，委员会组成后和选举日期之间的间隔时间大致在4个月至11个月之间。由于今年8月庆祝新加坡独立60周年，因此选举必须在11月前召开。
分析师认为，这次大选将集中讨论生活必需品的议题。新加坡政府通常在委员会成立后不久宣布下次大选的举行时间。律政首相将面临挑战，因为他在执政党内的地位尚未得到完全确立。他还需要证明自己能够领导执政党取得胜利。
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UN warns Thailand Uygurs face torture if deported to China
联合国人权专家呼吁泰国不要将48名维吾尔人遣返中国，警告称他们面临酷刑、虐待和“不可逆转的伤害”风险。这些维吾尔人已在移民拘留中超过十年，近期人权组织和一些泰国立法者对他们被转移回中国的情况表示关注。尽管如此，泰国政府表示没有此类计划。
维吾尔族是中国新疆地区的一个主要穆斯林少数民族，约有1000万人。人权组织指责北京在该地区广泛存在侵犯人权的行为，包括监控和强迫劳动。联合国特别报告员在声明中指出，这48名维吾尔人应获得庇护程序和其他人道主义援助，因为其中一半人有严重健康问题。泰国副总理也确认，政府并没有立即遣返他们的计划。
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联合国人权专家呼吁泰国不要将48名维吾尔人遣返中国，警告称他们面临酷刑、虐待和“不可逆转的伤害”风险。这些维吾尔人已在移民拘留中超过十年，近期人权组织和一些泰国立法者对他们被转移回中国的情况表示关注。尽管如此，泰国政府表示没有此类计划。
维吾尔族是中国新疆地区的一个主要穆斯林少数民族，约有1000万人。人权组织指责北京在该地区广泛存在侵犯人权的行为，包括监控和强迫劳动。联合国特别报告员在声明中指出，这48名维吾尔人应获得庇护程序和其他人道主义援助，因为其中一半人有严重健康问题。泰国副总理也确认，政府并没有立即遣返他们的计划。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Hong Kong’s Kai Tak to host biggest capacity test yet on Friday
香港的启德体育园将于周五进行最大规模的演习，预计将有约63,000名参与者测试三个场馆的最大容纳能力。此次演习旨在评估体育园及周边设施在举办大型活动时的运作情况，包括公共交通和中央广场的使用情况。
为确保演习的顺利进行，相关部门将审查进出安排和交通状况，并模拟多种场景，包括紧急情况。警务处副处长周逸铭表示，演习将帮助识别潜在风险点，以提高安全水平，并制定不同的应急预案。这一过程将借鉴以往的经验，确保在面对人流和交通压力时能够有效应对。
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香港的启德体育园将于周五进行最大规模的演习，预计将有约63,000名参与者测试三个场馆的最大容纳能力。此次演习旨在评估体育园及周边设施在举办大型活动时的运作情况，包括公共交通和中央广场的使用情况。
为确保演习的顺利进行，相关部门将审查进出安排和交通状况，并模拟多种场景，包括紧急情况。警务处副处长周逸铭表示，演习将帮助识别潜在风险点，以提高安全水平，并制定不同的应急预案。这一过程将借鉴以往的经验，确保在面对人流和交通压力时能够有效应对。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
