China directs pension, insurance funds into nation’s A shares to anchor stock market
By Cao Li
China’s financial regulators are channelling pension and insurance funds into the nation’s equities to establish medium and long-term holdings and stabilise Asia’s largest capital market.
Starting this year, 30 per cent of the annual insurance premium earned from new coverage policies will be put into yuan-denominated A shares, said Wu Qing, the chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, during a press conference in Beijing.
Investments of A shares by pension funds must increase by 10 per cent every year over the next three years, he said.
The directives will deliver a much-needed jolt to the capital market, which had been beset with malaise over a lackluster economy, a prolonged property slump and tepid corporate earnings.
The CSI 300 index, which tracks the 300 largest stocks on the Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges, jumped 1.1 per cent in early trading after Wu’s announcement.
Accompanying Wu at the press conference are several financial regulators, including Deputy Finance Minister Liao Min and PBOC official Zou Lan.
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By Cao Li
China’s financial regulators are channelling pension and insurance funds into the nation’s equities to establish medium and long-term holdings and stabilise Asia’s largest capital market.
Starting this year, 30 per cent of the annual insurance premium earned from new coverage policies will be put into yuan-denominated A shares, said Wu Qing, the chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, during a press conference in Beijing.
Investments of A shares by pension funds must increase by 10 per cent every year over the next three years, he said.
The directives will deliver a much-needed jolt to the capital market, which had been beset with malaise over a lackluster economy, a prolonged property slump and tepid corporate earnings.
The CSI 300 index, which tracks the 300 largest stocks on the Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges, jumped 1.1 per cent in early trading after Wu’s announcement.
Accompanying Wu at the press conference are several financial regulators, including Deputy Finance Minister Liao Min and PBOC official Zou Lan.
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Hong Kong not to extend border operating hours during Lunar New Year holiday
香港在农历新年期间的边境检查站将不会延长工作时间。当局呼吁游客提前规划行程，并建议在城内过夜。政府预计在此期间，游客人数将显著增加，为此，行政长官陈国基承诺将确保访客的顺畅体验。
预计在1月28日至2月4日的“黄金周”期间，约867万人，包括香港居民和游客，将通过海陆空控制点入境。其中，约730万人将通过陆路口岸进入香港。政府预计农历新年第三天和第五天的出入境客流量将达到高峰，分别有约567,000和640,000名乘客通行，且在这八天内将有约2,000个境外旅游团访问香港。尽管游客人数激增，但政府表示今年的边境检查站不会有特殊的工作时间安排。
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香港在农历新年期间的边境检查站将不会延长工作时间。当局呼吁游客提前规划行程，并建议在城内过夜。政府预计在此期间，游客人数将显著增加，为此，行政长官陈国基承诺将确保访客的顺畅体验。
预计在1月28日至2月4日的“黄金周”期间，约867万人，包括香港居民和游客，将通过海陆空控制点入境。其中，约730万人将通过陆路口岸进入香港。政府预计农历新年第三天和第五天的出入境客流量将达到高峰，分别有约567,000和640,000名乘客通行，且在这八天内将有约2,000个境外旅游团访问香港。尽管游客人数激增，但政府表示今年的边境检查站不会有特殊的工作时间安排。
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Japan mum hopes Trump will get Kim to release her daughter after 48 years in North Korea
日本一名在1977年被北朝鲜特工绑架的少女的家人呼吁美国总统特朗普介入，促请平壤释放她和其他被绑架者。88岁的横田早纪在特朗普宣誓就职后发表声明，希望他能利用与北朝鲜领导人金正恩的关系，安排她女儿梅古美的回归。
横田早纪表示：“我希望特朗普总统能敦促金正恩实现绑架受害者的救援和归还。”她的弟弟横田拓也也呼吁日本政府与新任美国政府合作，向平壤施加压力。尽管特朗普曾与金正恩会面并表示支持他们的运动，但分析人士指出，全球地缘政治形势的变化使得获释的可能性变得渺茫。
特朗普在2017年和2019年访问东京时曾与横田家人会面，并承诺会向金正恩提出此事。然而，自2019年河内峰会失败后，美朝关系恶化，涉及导弹试验和对乌克兰战争的支持等多重问题，使得任何进展的机会都变得更加复杂。
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日本一名在1977年被北朝鲜特工绑架的少女的家人呼吁美国总统特朗普介入，促请平壤释放她和其他被绑架者。88岁的横田早纪在特朗普宣誓就职后发表声明，希望他能利用与北朝鲜领导人金正恩的关系，安排她女儿梅古美的回归。
横田早纪表示：“我希望特朗普总统能敦促金正恩实现绑架受害者的救援和归还。”她的弟弟横田拓也也呼吁日本政府与新任美国政府合作，向平壤施加压力。尽管特朗普曾与金正恩会面并表示支持他们的运动，但分析人士指出，全球地缘政治形势的变化使得获释的可能性变得渺茫。
特朗普在2017年和2019年访问东京时曾与横田家人会面，并承诺会向金正恩提出此事。然而，自2019年河内峰会失败后，美朝关系恶化，涉及导弹试验和对乌克兰战争的支持等多重问题，使得任何进展的机会都变得更加复杂。
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Rising US-China tensions top concerns of American firms in China, US trade group finds
By Carol Yang
Among American companies operating in China, US President Donald Trump’s return to the White House has coincided with growing concerns about a further deterioration in relations between the world’s two largest economies, according to findings outlined in the annual survey report of a US business lobby.
And respondents increasingly identified the escalation of US-China tensions as their top challenge over the past five years.
In all, 51 per cent of 368 member companies concurred on the issue – the highest percentage in five years, according to the report from the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in China, which was based on a survey conducted from October 21 to November 15, spanning a four-week period that overlapped with Trump’s November 5 election.
“US-China relations remain the most consequential bilateral dynamic in the world today, and understanding the perspectives of our members has never been more important,” AmCham China chair Alvin Liu said. “A stable and constructive relationship, grounded in economic and trade ties, is critical not only for the prosperity of our two nations but also for global economic stability.”
The escalating bilateral tensions have intensified the reluctance of US companies to invest in China. While 48 per cent of respondents viewed China as one of the top-three global investment priorities, the proportion of companies that no longer considered China a preferred investment destination has sharply increased – from 10 per cent before the pandemic to 21 per cent in the latest poll.
Meanwhile, the percentage of companies relocating production or procurement operations away from China has increased to 17 per cent of surveyed participants, up from 11 per cent a year prior
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By Carol Yang
Among American companies operating in China, US President Donald Trump’s return to the White House has coincided with growing concerns about a further deterioration in relations between the world’s two largest economies, according to findings outlined in the annual survey report of a US business lobby.
And respondents increasingly identified the escalation of US-China tensions as their top challenge over the past five years.
In all, 51 per cent of 368 member companies concurred on the issue – the highest percentage in five years, according to the report from the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in China, which was based on a survey conducted from October 21 to November 15, spanning a four-week period that overlapped with Trump’s November 5 election.
“US-China relations remain the most consequential bilateral dynamic in the world today, and understanding the perspectives of our members has never been more important,” AmCham China chair Alvin Liu said. “A stable and constructive relationship, grounded in economic and trade ties, is critical not only for the prosperity of our two nations but also for global economic stability.”
The escalating bilateral tensions have intensified the reluctance of US companies to invest in China. While 48 per cent of respondents viewed China as one of the top-three global investment priorities, the proportion of companies that no longer considered China a preferred investment destination has sharply increased – from 10 per cent before the pandemic to 21 per cent in the latest poll.
Meanwhile, the percentage of companies relocating production or procurement operations away from China has increased to 17 per cent of surveyed participants, up from 11 per cent a year prior
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How Hong Kong can ride the ‘China travel’ wave to boost tourism
香港旅游业正经历强劲复苏，2023年接待游客近4500万，较前一年增长31%。这一增长主要得益于来自中国大陆的游客，同时非大陆游客数量也显著上升，达到1050万，增长了44%。长途游客的到访增加超过50%，菲律宾游客数量更是创下120万的纪录。
根据Euromonitor的统计，香港在国际游客中排名第四，2023年国际游客人数达2050万，较前一年增加19%。尽管这些数据反映出香港旅游业向好发展的趋势，但要持续并最大化这一复苏仍面临挑战。此外，随着中国大陆国际旅游的复苏，去年外国人进出中国的旅行次数接近6500万，较去年增长83%，其中约2000万人享受了免签待遇。
香港似乎可以借鉴上海的经验，后者吸引了大量韩国游客，形成了“迷你首尔”的氛围。这为香港提供了一个潜在的盈利机会。此外，香港的美食文化也在不断吸引游客，79家餐厅被列入2024年米其林指南，其中包括七家三颗星的餐厅。政府计划推出18个区的美食指南，并举办大型美食节，以吸引全球的美食爱好者。
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香港旅游业正经历强劲复苏，2023年接待游客近4500万，较前一年增长31%。这一增长主要得益于来自中国大陆的游客，同时非大陆游客数量也显著上升，达到1050万，增长了44%。长途游客的到访增加超过50%，菲律宾游客数量更是创下120万的纪录。
根据Euromonitor的统计，香港在国际游客中排名第四，2023年国际游客人数达2050万，较前一年增加19%。尽管这些数据反映出香港旅游业向好发展的趋势，但要持续并最大化这一复苏仍面临挑战。此外，随着中国大陆国际旅游的复苏，去年外国人进出中国的旅行次数接近6500万，较去年增长83%，其中约2000万人享受了免签待遇。
香港似乎可以借鉴上海的经验，后者吸引了大量韩国游客，形成了“迷你首尔”的氛围。这为香港提供了一个潜在的盈利机会。此外，香港的美食文化也在不断吸引游客，79家餐厅被列入2024年米其林指南，其中包括七家三颗星的餐厅。政府计划推出18个区的美食指南，并举办大型美食节，以吸引全球的美食爱好者。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Overseas RedNote users impress by cooking ‘new world-famous’ Chinese steamed eggs
By Fran Lu
Ask a user of the social media app RedNote what the new “world-famous” Chinese dish is, they will almost without exception say Chinese steamed eggs.
This is thanks to a trend of cooking steamed eggs, which some people mistakenly call “egg custard”, among domestic and international users on the app recently.
The trend began after a RedNote Chinese cooking influencer with 100,000 followers, @qunzidefan, posted a video recipe of the dish on January 18.
She added boiled water into whisked eggs, before putting the bowl of mix on the steamer rack for 15 minutes, achieving a perfectly silky, bubble-free steamed egg.
Her video seemed to spark the curiosity and competitiveness of other users, including the millions of new international netizens that flowed to the platform due to a potential ban on the Tiktok social media platform.
The outlawing of the platform has subsequently been put on hold by US President Donald Trump.
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By Fran Lu
Ask a user of the social media app RedNote what the new “world-famous” Chinese dish is, they will almost without exception say Chinese steamed eggs.
This is thanks to a trend of cooking steamed eggs, which some people mistakenly call “egg custard”, among domestic and international users on the app recently.
The trend began after a RedNote Chinese cooking influencer with 100,000 followers, @qunzidefan, posted a video recipe of the dish on January 18.
She added boiled water into whisked eggs, before putting the bowl of mix on the steamer rack for 15 minutes, achieving a perfectly silky, bubble-free steamed egg.
Her video seemed to spark the curiosity and competitiveness of other users, including the millions of new international netizens that flowed to the platform due to a potential ban on the Tiktok social media platform.
The outlawing of the platform has subsequently been put on hold by US President Donald Trump.
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Shady, violent operations of Southeast Asian scam farms back in spotlight
By Jess Ma
University graduate Ariyan* is still haunted by his trip to Thailand last summer.
The 25-year-old could not have imagined his visit to the country to start a new job would include a terrifying journey to an unknown location in cars loaded with guns and armed guards.
Soon after landing in Bangkok, he and a few friends were whisked away to a compound deep in the mountains of Myanmar’s Kayin state, just across the border from Thailand.
Their ordeal started with the offer of a supposedly lucrative data entry job for a Chinese construction company in Thailand. But the job offer was a scam.
Like thousands of others, including Hongkongers, they had been lured to Southeast Asia for forced labour, where their job was to swindle people across the globe in so-called scam farms, offering everything from get-rich-quick schemes to fake romance online.
“When we said we didn’t want to work here, we wanted to go back, at this moment, the Chinese [man] was very angry. He took out an electric shock machine and touched our bodies for an electric shock for like 10 seconds,” recalled Ariyan, a Bangladeshi.
The plight of victims such as Ariyan – and the shady and often violent operations of scam farms run by criminal syndicates in lawless areas of countries such as Myanmar and Cambodia – has again been thrust into the spotlight by the recent high-profile rescue of mainland Chinese actor Wang Xing.
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By Jess Ma
University graduate Ariyan* is still haunted by his trip to Thailand last summer.
The 25-year-old could not have imagined his visit to the country to start a new job would include a terrifying journey to an unknown location in cars loaded with guns and armed guards.
Soon after landing in Bangkok, he and a few friends were whisked away to a compound deep in the mountains of Myanmar’s Kayin state, just across the border from Thailand.
Their ordeal started with the offer of a supposedly lucrative data entry job for a Chinese construction company in Thailand. But the job offer was a scam.
Like thousands of others, including Hongkongers, they had been lured to Southeast Asia for forced labour, where their job was to swindle people across the globe in so-called scam farms, offering everything from get-rich-quick schemes to fake romance online.
“When we said we didn’t want to work here, we wanted to go back, at this moment, the Chinese [man] was very angry. He took out an electric shock machine and touched our bodies for an electric shock for like 10 seconds,” recalled Ariyan, a Bangladeshi.
The plight of victims such as Ariyan – and the shady and often violent operations of scam farms run by criminal syndicates in lawless areas of countries such as Myanmar and Cambodia – has again been thrust into the spotlight by the recent high-profile rescue of mainland Chinese actor Wang Xing.
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Worst snowstorm in 130 years plunges US South into frigid chaos
美国南部正经历130年来最糟糕的雪暴，数百万居民被迫涌向取暖中心。从佛罗里达到德克萨斯州，异常低温和创纪录的降雪正在对当地交通和日常生活造成严重影响。新奥尔良 recorded up to 25cm的降雪，打破了1963年的纪录，同时气温骤降至26华氏度（-3摄氏度）。
此次雪暴使得超过1800架航班取消，多地机场陷入混乱。休斯顿的乔治·布ush洲际机场有420架航班被取消，造成37%的出境航班受到影响。南方的机场通常缺乏足够的设备应对除冰和清理跑道的需求。此外，在亚特兰大，尽管降雪不足一英寸，冰冻的道路导致许多通勤者发生事故，交通十分危险。
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美国南部正经历130年来最糟糕的雪暴，数百万居民被迫涌向取暖中心。从佛罗里达到德克萨斯州，异常低温和创纪录的降雪正在对当地交通和日常生活造成严重影响。新奥尔良 recorded up to 25cm的降雪，打破了1963年的纪录，同时气温骤降至26华氏度（-3摄氏度）。
此次雪暴使得超过1800架航班取消，多地机场陷入混乱。休斯顿的乔治·布ush洲际机场有420架航班被取消，造成37%的出境航班受到影响。南方的机场通常缺乏足够的设备应对除冰和清理跑道的需求。此外，在亚特兰大，尽管降雪不足一英寸，冰冻的道路导致许多通勤者发生事故，交通十分危险。
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China’s super app WeChat bolsters e-commerce credentials via gift-giving feature
WeChat's new gift-giving feature is significantly boosting e-commerce sales, with reports indicating that over 80% of transactions for platforms like East Buy are now made through this function. The feature, recently adopted by East Buy, allows users to purchase gifts via the app, leading to sales exceeding 1 million yuan (approximately US$136,586) for the firm.
This innovative shopping feature enables users to search for products using keywords, with a unique process where recipients must accept the gift and provide a shipping address within 24 hours to complete the transaction. The feature, launched in December, has gained traction as consumers gear up for the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday, a peak shopping season in China. With nearly 1.4 billion monthly active users, WeChat's e-commerce capabilities are poised for further growth.
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WeChat's new gift-giving feature is significantly boosting e-commerce sales, with reports indicating that over 80% of transactions for platforms like East Buy are now made through this function. The feature, recently adopted by East Buy, allows users to purchase gifts via the app, leading to sales exceeding 1 million yuan (approximately US$136,586) for the firm.
This innovative shopping feature enables users to search for products using keywords, with a unique process where recipients must accept the gift and provide a shipping address within 24 hours to complete the transaction. The feature, launched in December, has gained traction as consumers gear up for the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday, a peak shopping season in China. With nearly 1.4 billion monthly active users, WeChat's e-commerce capabilities are poised for further growth.
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China vows to protect overseas interests as hurdles and uncertainties mount
By Carol Yang
Beijing has vowed to better protect its overseas interests, as the world’s second-largest outbound investor navigates a landscape marked by escalating geopolitical tensions and trade disputes.
And experts have warned that supply chains that relocated to avoid US tariffs during President Donald Trump’s first term may encounter new difficulties.
In 2024, China’s non-financial outbound director investment reached US$143.85 billion, up by 10.5 per cent, year on year, the Ministry of Commerce said on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the value of its new contracts for overseas projects hit a record high of US$267.3 billion, and the number of labour personnel dispatched abroad increased by 17.9 per cent, year by year, to around 409,000.
In addition to enhancing the quality and return of overseas investments, the ministry also mandated at its meeting on Tuesday that commerce departments at all levels must bolster risk controls and safeguard overseas interests.
When negotiating bilateral deals and country-level cooperation agreements, such as free-trade deals, the protection of China’s interests, including those of enterprises and individuals, should be taken into consideration, said Chen Fengying, former director of the Institute of World Economic Studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.
State-owned enterprises are better equipped to protect their employees’ safety and interests in overseas projects, benefiting from support from the Chinese government, Chen said. And she noted that, in contrast, private companies pursuing overseas development are confronted with greater challenges and are less prepared for uncertainties, such as those arising from local unrest and corruption.
Additionally, she pointed out that, in countries and regions in turmoil or with weak governance, collaborative enforcement with China could serve as a practical solution for both sides to uphold laws and regulations.
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By Carol Yang
Beijing has vowed to better protect its overseas interests, as the world’s second-largest outbound investor navigates a landscape marked by escalating geopolitical tensions and trade disputes.
And experts have warned that supply chains that relocated to avoid US tariffs during President Donald Trump’s first term may encounter new difficulties.
In 2024, China’s non-financial outbound director investment reached US$143.85 billion, up by 10.5 per cent, year on year, the Ministry of Commerce said on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the value of its new contracts for overseas projects hit a record high of US$267.3 billion, and the number of labour personnel dispatched abroad increased by 17.9 per cent, year by year, to around 409,000.
In addition to enhancing the quality and return of overseas investments, the ministry also mandated at its meeting on Tuesday that commerce departments at all levels must bolster risk controls and safeguard overseas interests.
When negotiating bilateral deals and country-level cooperation agreements, such as free-trade deals, the protection of China’s interests, including those of enterprises and individuals, should be taken into consideration, said Chen Fengying, former director of the Institute of World Economic Studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.
State-owned enterprises are better equipped to protect their employees’ safety and interests in overseas projects, benefiting from support from the Chinese government, Chen said. And she noted that, in contrast, private companies pursuing overseas development are confronted with greater challenges and are less prepared for uncertainties, such as those arising from local unrest and corruption.
Additionally, she pointed out that, in countries and regions in turmoil or with weak governance, collaborative enforcement with China could serve as a practical solution for both sides to uphold laws and regulations.
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US military prepares to send additional 1,500 troops to Mexico border
美国军方计划向墨西哥边境增派约1,500名现役军人。这一决定于周三公布，恰逢特朗普总统签署移民行政命令的两天后。此举将会使驻守边境的现役军人数量增加到约3,700人，此外还有数千名国民警卫队成员在场。
这次增兵是特朗普政府在其任期内对边境安全的持续重视，早在他上任时便已下令派遣5,200名军人协助边境安全工作。虽然现任总统拜登也曾部署现役军人到边境，但此轮增兵被认为可能是首次派遣的开端，后续人数有可能会增加。官方还提到，军用飞机可能会被用来驱逐移民，但尚未获得批准。这一系列措施反映出美国政府对非法移民问题的紧迫感与政策的严格性。
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美国军方计划向墨西哥边境增派约1,500名现役军人。这一决定于周三公布，恰逢特朗普总统签署移民行政命令的两天后。此举将会使驻守边境的现役军人数量增加到约3,700人，此外还有数千名国民警卫队成员在场。
这次增兵是特朗普政府在其任期内对边境安全的持续重视，早在他上任时便已下令派遣5,200名军人协助边境安全工作。虽然现任总统拜登也曾部署现役军人到边境，但此轮增兵被认为可能是首次派遣的开端，后续人数有可能会增加。官方还提到，军用飞机可能会被用来驱逐移民，但尚未获得批准。这一系列措施反映出美国政府对非法移民问题的紧迫感与政策的严格性。
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US and China should follow lead of their youth bonding on RedNote
随着唐纳德·特朗普重返白宫，TikTok在美国用户中重新上线。在这一背景下，数十万美国用户已迁移至名为RedNote的中文社交媒体应用，这一现象引发了对美中关系的新思考。
这些年轻的美国用户自称为“TikTok难民”，他们与中国大陆用户的首次直接互动揭示了许多关于当今世界的重要事实。技术的进步使全球联系更加紧密，尤其是过去30年间，互联网和生成式人工智能的迅速发展，让跨语言交流变得几乎即时和可靠。
这种新兴的社交媒体连接是否意味着全球沟通的无缝化即将到来？尽管早期的技术乌托邦主义者曾承诺一个统一的世界，但这一愿景尚未实现。如今，RedNote用户对中国低生活成本的惊叹，以及对中国人普遍感受的重新审视，正在逐步打破美国媒体和智库中长期存在的关于中国的叙事。
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随着唐纳德·特朗普重返白宫，TikTok在美国用户中重新上线。在这一背景下，数十万美国用户已迁移至名为RedNote的中文社交媒体应用，这一现象引发了对美中关系的新思考。
这些年轻的美国用户自称为“TikTok难民”，他们与中国大陆用户的首次直接互动揭示了许多关于当今世界的重要事实。技术的进步使全球联系更加紧密，尤其是过去30年间，互联网和生成式人工智能的迅速发展，让跨语言交流变得几乎即时和可靠。
这种新兴的社交媒体连接是否意味着全球沟通的无缝化即将到来？尽管早期的技术乌托邦主义者曾承诺一个统一的世界，但这一愿景尚未实现。如今，RedNote用户对中国低生活成本的惊叹，以及对中国人普遍感受的重新审视，正在逐步打破美国媒体和智库中长期存在的关于中国的叙事。
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US teen kills female student then shoots himself at Nashville high school
By Associated Press
A female student was killed and another student was wounded on Wednesday in shooting in a Nashville high school cafeteria, police said.
The 17-year-old shooter, who was also a student at Antioch High School, later shot and killed himself, Metro Nashville Police spokesman Don Aaron said during a news conference.
The student who was wounded in the shooting suffered a graze, Aaron said.
A spokesperson for Vanderbilt University Medical Centre told television station News 2 that another student was taken to Vanderbilt Pediatrics for treatment of an eye injury that happened after the shooting.
Aaron said there were two school resource officers in the building when the shooting happened.
They were not near the cafeteria where the shooting took place, and by the time they got down there, the shooting had stopped and the shooter had used a handgun to kill himself, Aaron said.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Associated Press
A female student was killed and another student was wounded on Wednesday in shooting in a Nashville high school cafeteria, police said.
The 17-year-old shooter, who was also a student at Antioch High School, later shot and killed himself, Metro Nashville Police spokesman Don Aaron said during a news conference.
The student who was wounded in the shooting suffered a graze, Aaron said.
A spokesperson for Vanderbilt University Medical Centre told television station News 2 that another student was taken to Vanderbilt Pediatrics for treatment of an eye injury that happened after the shooting.
Aaron said there were two school resource officers in the building when the shooting happened.
They were not near the cafeteria where the shooting took place, and by the time they got down there, the shooting had stopped and the shooter had used a handgun to kill himself, Aaron said.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Pentagon appointments suggest Trump’s scepticism about Ukraine and its impact on Taiwan
在等待参议院确认新任首席官的同时，五角大楼已作出新任命，这些人选可能会影响美国在中国和乌克兰战争上的战略。特朗普总统的最新任命显示，负责印太事务的高级官员对援助乌克兰持怀疑态度，并且反对将乌克兰的防御与遏制中国对台湾的潜在侵略联系起来的观点。
本周，五角大楼宣布了几项重要人事任命，包括海军陆战队退伍军人奥斯丁·达默担任战略副助理国防部长，以及前中国特别委员会顾问约翰·诺担任东亚助理国防部长。此外，前保守派传统基金会的高级政策顾问亚历山大·维莱斯-格林被任命为国防政策副部长埃尔布里奇·科尔比的高级顾问。达默和维莱斯-格林被视为科尔比的门徒，他在特朗普首任期间帮助制定了将中国视为美国全球力量主要威胁的国家防御战略。
诺的职责是为五角大楼高级官员提供有关东亚的防御战略和安全关系的建议，这一地区是美国与中国争夺军事霸权的关键区域。随着新任命的官员们入职，五角大楼的政策方向可能会更加强调对中国的关注，而非乌克兰问题。
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在等待参议院确认新任首席官的同时，五角大楼已作出新任命，这些人选可能会影响美国在中国和乌克兰战争上的战略。特朗普总统的最新任命显示，负责印太事务的高级官员对援助乌克兰持怀疑态度，并且反对将乌克兰的防御与遏制中国对台湾的潜在侵略联系起来的观点。
本周，五角大楼宣布了几项重要人事任命，包括海军陆战队退伍军人奥斯丁·达默担任战略副助理国防部长，以及前中国特别委员会顾问约翰·诺担任东亚助理国防部长。此外，前保守派传统基金会的高级政策顾问亚历山大·维莱斯-格林被任命为国防政策副部长埃尔布里奇·科尔比的高级顾问。达默和维莱斯-格林被视为科尔比的门徒，他在特朗普首任期间帮助制定了将中国视为美国全球力量主要威胁的国家防御战略。
诺的职责是为五角大楼高级官员提供有关东亚的防御战略和安全关系的建议，这一地区是美国与中国争夺军事霸权的关键区域。随着新任命的官员们入职，五角大楼的政策方向可能会更加强调对中国的关注，而非乌克兰问题。
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US man says he set fire to congressman’s office over TikTok ban
一名威斯康星州男子因试图纵火焚烧一名国会议员办公室而面临多项指控，包括纵火罪。19岁的Caiden Stachowicz在接受警方询问时表示，他因对联邦禁用TikTok感到不满而采取了这一极端行为。检察官指控他涉嫌重罪纵火、进行恐怖威胁、企图入室偷窃及财产损坏，若全部罪名成立，他可能面临超过50年的监禁。
根据指控文件，警方在周日凌晨1点接到报告，前往共和党国会议员Glenn Grothman位于Fond du Lac的办公室查看火情。抵达现场时，警察发现Stachowicz站在附近并且承认自己点燃了火焰，他明确表示是因为不喜欢Grothman。此事件引发对年轻人行为动机的关注，说明了部分民众在面对政治和社会问题时的极端反应。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
一名威斯康星州男子因试图纵火焚烧一名国会议员办公室而面临多项指控，包括纵火罪。19岁的Caiden Stachowicz在接受警方询问时表示，他因对联邦禁用TikTok感到不满而采取了这一极端行为。检察官指控他涉嫌重罪纵火、进行恐怖威胁、企图入室偷窃及财产损坏，若全部罪名成立，他可能面临超过50年的监禁。
根据指控文件，警方在周日凌晨1点接到报告，前往共和党国会议员Glenn Grothman位于Fond du Lac的办公室查看火情。抵达现场时，警察发现Stachowicz站在附近并且承认自己点燃了火焰，他明确表示是因为不喜欢Grothman。此事件引发对年轻人行为动机的关注，说明了部分民众在面对政治和社会问题时的极端反应。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Musk slams Trump-backed AI megaproject in rare split with US president
By Agence France-Presse
Tech titan Elon Musk cast doubt on Wednesday on a US$500 billion AI project announced by US President Donald Trump, saying the money promised for the investment actually was not there.
The comments marked a rare instance of a split between the world’s richest man and Trump, with Musk playing a key role in the newly installed administration after spending US$270 million on the election campaign.
In his first full day in the White House, Trump on Tuesday announced a major investment to build infrastructure for artificial intelligence led by Japanese giant SoftBank and ChatGPT-maker OpenAI.
Trump said the venture, called Stargate, “will invest US$500 billion, at least, in AI infrastructure in the United States”.
But in a post on social media, Musk said the main investors “don’t actually have the money”.
“SoftBank has well under $10B secured. I have that on good authority,” Musk added in a subsequent post.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Agence France-Presse
Tech titan Elon Musk cast doubt on Wednesday on a US$500 billion AI project announced by US President Donald Trump, saying the money promised for the investment actually was not there.
The comments marked a rare instance of a split between the world’s richest man and Trump, with Musk playing a key role in the newly installed administration after spending US$270 million on the election campaign.
In his first full day in the White House, Trump on Tuesday announced a major investment to build infrastructure for artificial intelligence led by Japanese giant SoftBank and ChatGPT-maker OpenAI.
Trump said the venture, called Stargate, “will invest US$500 billion, at least, in AI infrastructure in the United States”.
But in a post on social media, Musk said the main investors “don’t actually have the money”.
“SoftBank has well under $10B secured. I have that on good authority,” Musk added in a subsequent post.
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Chinese mine worker killed in Isis-claimed attack in Afghanistan
By Agence France-Presse
Police said Wednesday a Chinese mine worker was killed in an attack in Afghanistan which the Islamic State group later claimed responsibility for, as the Taliban government attempts to project an image of security to encourage investment from Beijing.
The Chinese citizen was travelling on Tuesday evening in northern Takhar province bordering Tajikistan when he was killed by “unknown armed men”, provincial police spokesman Mohammad Akbar Haqqani said.
He said the man was travelling “for an unknown reason” and without notifying security officials, who typically accompany Chinese nationals on trips in the country.
A translator travelling with the man was unharmed, Haqqani added.
The Islamic State (Isis) group’s regional chapter claimed responsibility for the attack later on Wednesday, according to jihadist monitor SITE.
“[Islamic State] issued a communique … reporting that fighters fired at a vehicle carrying a ‘communist Chinese’ in Takhar, a province in which the group was last active in 2022,” the monitor said.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Agence France-Presse
Police said Wednesday a Chinese mine worker was killed in an attack in Afghanistan which the Islamic State group later claimed responsibility for, as the Taliban government attempts to project an image of security to encourage investment from Beijing.
The Chinese citizen was travelling on Tuesday evening in northern Takhar province bordering Tajikistan when he was killed by “unknown armed men”, provincial police spokesman Mohammad Akbar Haqqani said.
He said the man was travelling “for an unknown reason” and without notifying security officials, who typically accompany Chinese nationals on trips in the country.
A translator travelling with the man was unharmed, Haqqani added.
The Islamic State (Isis) group’s regional chapter claimed responsibility for the attack later on Wednesday, according to jihadist monitor SITE.
“[Islamic State] issued a communique … reporting that fighters fired at a vehicle carrying a ‘communist Chinese’ in Takhar, a province in which the group was last active in 2022,” the monitor said.
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Thailand assures Hongkongers over safety amid forced labour scams
By Danny Mok
Authorities in Thailand have assured Hongkongers that the country remains a safe destination following a spate of human-trafficking cases linked to notorious scam farms along its border with Myanmar.
The Thai consulate in Hong Kong on Wednesday also pledged to cooperate with the Hong Kong government and private bodies to address concerns and coordinate with agencies in the country to follow up on any requests.
In a statement on Wednesday, the consulate expressed its deep regret that many people had fallen victim to scam centres.
“The Royal Thai Consulate-General understands that the incident has raised concern about the safety among Hong Kong travellers as trafficking and scamming operations use Thailand as a transit point to carry out illegal activities across its border with neighbouring countries,” it wrote.
“However, I would like to assure that Thailand remains a safe destination for all international visitors since none of the victims are tourists.”
The consulate said it had taken significant steps to enhance measures to tackle transnational crime and human trafficking to help reassure international tourists about their safety.
It said the Thai government had launched a multilingual “Tourist Police” mobile application and strengthened border controls by deploying both military and police along the eastern and western borders across 14 provinces, among other measures.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Danny Mok
Authorities in Thailand have assured Hongkongers that the country remains a safe destination following a spate of human-trafficking cases linked to notorious scam farms along its border with Myanmar.
The Thai consulate in Hong Kong on Wednesday also pledged to cooperate with the Hong Kong government and private bodies to address concerns and coordinate with agencies in the country to follow up on any requests.
In a statement on Wednesday, the consulate expressed its deep regret that many people had fallen victim to scam centres.
“The Royal Thai Consulate-General understands that the incident has raised concern about the safety among Hong Kong travellers as trafficking and scamming operations use Thailand as a transit point to carry out illegal activities across its border with neighbouring countries,” it wrote.
“However, I would like to assure that Thailand remains a safe destination for all international visitors since none of the victims are tourists.”
The consulate said it had taken significant steps to enhance measures to tackle transnational crime and human trafficking to help reassure international tourists about their safety.
It said the Thai government had launched a multilingual “Tourist Police” mobile application and strengthened border controls by deploying both military and police along the eastern and western borders across 14 provinces, among other measures.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
3 people stabbed near central Japan station, 1 dead
在日本长野市的JR长野站附近，周三晚上发生了一起持刀袭击事件，导致三人受伤，其中一名40多岁的男子不幸遇难。袭击发生在一个繁忙的公交车站附近，嫌疑人随后逃离现场，警方正在全力追捕。
事件发生在晚上8点左右，警方接到报警后迅速赶到现场。至少一名受害者表示，他们与袭击者并不相识。另一名30多岁的男子在背部被刺，伤势严重，而一名女性在被攻击后摔倒也受了伤。目击者描述嫌疑人为一名身材瘦削、身高在165至175厘米之间的男子，年龄大约在40岁左右。
袭击发生在车站前的公交车终点站和餐馆附近，目击者称嫌疑人持有锐器并向南逃离。警方正在调查事件的动机，并呼吁公众提供任何相关信息，以便尽快抓捕嫌疑人。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
在日本长野市的JR长野站附近，周三晚上发生了一起持刀袭击事件，导致三人受伤，其中一名40多岁的男子不幸遇难。袭击发生在一个繁忙的公交车站附近，嫌疑人随后逃离现场，警方正在全力追捕。
事件发生在晚上8点左右，警方接到报警后迅速赶到现场。至少一名受害者表示，他们与袭击者并不相识。另一名30多岁的男子在背部被刺，伤势严重，而一名女性在被攻击后摔倒也受了伤。目击者描述嫌疑人为一名身材瘦削、身高在165至175厘米之间的男子，年龄大约在40岁左右。
袭击发生在车站前的公交车终点站和餐馆附近，目击者称嫌疑人持有锐器并向南逃离。警方正在调查事件的动机，并呼吁公众提供任何相关信息，以便尽快抓捕嫌疑人。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
