Why do Singaporeans like Trump? Survey findings hint at their pragmatism

大多数新加坡人欢迎唐纳德·特朗普重返白宫。根据一项季度调查,分析师认为这一结果反映了受访者的务实态度和保守价值观。调查显示,近70%的受访者认为特朗普的第二个任期将对新加坡产生积极影响,尤其是50至59岁年龄段的支持率高达近80%。

此次调查由Blackbox Research进行,共有1500名新加坡人参与。尽管调查结果未具体揭示受访者的价值观,市场研究公司创始人大卫·布莱克指出,受访者对特朗普的“行动领导者”特质表示认同。许多传统的新加坡人尤其在50到60岁之间,对特朗普反对近期社会趋势的态度感到共鸣。

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Year of the Snake: Hongkongers’ MPF investments to face volatility, analysts say

By Enoch Yiu

The Year of the Snake promises to bring more volatility to investments owned by the 4.7 million members of Hong Kong’s Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF), as they cherish the outstanding returns they saw in the concluding Year of the Dragon.

Beijing’s efforts this week to support the nation’s stock market and economy preceded the Year of the Snake, which begins on January 29. The actions set the tone for what investors can expect to face in the new zodiac year, as US President Donald Trump unveiled measures likely to roil markets and heighten geopolitical tensions.

“In the Chinese zodiac, the snake symbolises wisdom, strategic thinking and the ability to maintain composure in challenging and volatile situations,” said Philip Tso, head of institutional business in Asia-Pacific at Allianz Global Investors. “We anticipate that volatility and geopolitical tensions will take centre stage, particularly under Trump’s ‘America first’ agenda and his proposed tariffs.”

The Year of the Snake is the sixth in the Chinese lunar calendar’s cycle of 12 zodiac-based years, each represented by an animal and its reputed attributes.

As of January 21, the 379 MPF investment funds gained 12.3 per cent in the Year of the Dragon, which kicked off on February 10 last year, according to MPF ratings, an independent pension research firm. That is on course for the sixth best lunar-year return since the city’s retirement scheme was launched in December 2000.

In the two preceding years, MPF members lost 4.5 per cent in the Year of the Rabbit and 7.8 per cent in the Year of the Tiger, according to MPF Ratings.

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Hong Kong must beware of fallout in fixing public housing ills

香港的公共住房系统面临严重滥用问题,影响低收入居民的住房保障。作为全球人口最稠密和最昂贵的城市之一,香港的公共住房对低收入居民至关重要。然而,政府在应对有限的可负担住房供应与日益增长的需求之间的挑战时,还必须解决公共住房系统的滥用问题,以确保对最脆弱居民的公平支持。

近期,媒体和在线平台揭示了公共住房部门面临的挑战,滥用现象和政府干预措施引发了公众广泛讨论。这些滥用行为已经持续了数十年,整个社区对此问题心知肚明。部分租户在搬出后仍保留公共住房单位,甚至将其用于商业用途,如美容院或健身房,或将其空置,导致对财务资格标准的担忧。

滥用公共住房系统的行为不仅是欺诈和不道德的,而且是完全不可接受的。目前,公共住房申请者的平均等待时间为5.5年,部分单身人士的等待时间甚至长达16年。公共租住房的资格标准已广为人知,当前财政年度四人家庭的月收入上限为HK$30,950(约US$3,975),而个人的月收入上限为HK$12,940。

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‘Super fierce bridesmaids’ join muscle-bound China bride at wedding, spark guest excitement

一场有着“超强肌肉”伴娘的婚礼在中国社交媒体上引发热议。这场婚礼于1月9日在湖北省武汉市举行,新娘施凡是去年在立陶宛举行的IFBB全球健身模特锦标赛中获得总冠军的第一位中国选手,同时也是湖北大学的体育教师。

在一段病毒式传播的视频中,施凡和四位伴娘穿着正式礼服,展示出她们令人印象深刻的手臂和背部肌肉,十分引人注目。施凡在视频中微笑着表示:“我们是冠军。”此外,至少有两位伴娘在国际健美比赛中获得过金牌,尽管报道未透露她们的具体姓名。这场别具一格的婚礼不仅展现了个人的体育成就,还受到社会的关注和赞誉。

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Fewer crossings last Lunar New Year prompted Hong Kong’s border decision

香港当局决定在农历新年期间不延长边境检查站的营业时间。这一决定是基于去年观察到的深夜通行量较少,尽管预计今年游客数量将显著增加。立法者呼吁政府仍需准备应急计划,以应对可能的突发情况。

政府在周三宣布,尽管对游客数量的预期上升,边境检查站在节日期间将不会超出正常工作时间运营。政府消息人士表示,去年农历新年期间的延长营业时间是为了避免2024年新年前夕发生的混乱情况,当时大量旅客在某些检查站滞留。此外,安全局还审查了去年的数据,发现“并没有很多”游客在延长时间内过境。

旅游业界人士也表示,边境安排不会影响来自中国大陆游客的计划,也不会促使他们选择过夜。官方指出,庆祝活动通常在早期结束,游客有足够的时间在正常营业时间内前往边境。

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As Prabowo’s approval hits 80%, will the ‘honeymoon’ last for Indonesia’s president?

By Resty Woro Yuniar

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s populist programmes have helped him earn an approval rating of over 80 per cent in his first 100 days of office, according to one pollster, but rights activists and analysts say a surge in militarisation and cabinet discord threaten to put an end to his “honeymoon period”.

Their misgivings come as a recent Litbang Kompas survey of 1,000 respondents, conducted from January 4 to 10, indicated that just 19.1 per cent of Indonesians were dissatisfied with Prabowo and Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

The pollster noted that their rating eclipses former president Joko Widodo’s 65.1 per cent approval after his first 100 days in office. Widodo, who is Gibran’s father, ended his second term last year with 75.6 per cent approval before transferring the presidency to Prabowo on October 20.

Prabowo said the high rating made him and his cabinet “proud” during a speech in West Java on Monday in which he listed his administration’s early achievements.

“During New Year’s Eve, all ministers were working. Fuel is under control. Food prices are under control. Airfares have dropped for the first time in the history of the republic,” the president said.

Widodo told reporters on Monday that he “was not surprised” to see his successor’s favourable rating as his visits with “grass roots” voters over the past three months showed that “the community’s appreciation is very high … for the performance of President Prabowo”.

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What ideology means to Trump and his team in the US’ competition with China

By Xinlu Liang

From race to gender to religion, the second administration of US President Donald Trump is certain to reverse the ideological direction on a wide range of issues set by his predecessor, Joe Biden. But there is one thing the two teams share – a deepening disregard for China’s political ideology.

Trump is not known to have strong ideological positions, but experts say his team is expected to use ideology as a tool in its strategies with China – priorities could lead to new sources of friction with Beijing.

While Biden’s cabinet focused attention on the LGBTQ community, women’s rights and the political values it shared with allies, Trump’s administration is expected to use a more unilateral approach to refocus on religious freedoms in China, and the legitimacy the country’s ruling Communist Party, they say.

Fei-Ling Wang, a professor at the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at the Georgia Institute of Technology, said he expected the ideological conflict between the United States and China to “persist” during Trump 2.0. But it would also shift.

“Compared to the Biden administration and Trump’s first administration, we may see more inflammatory rhetoric and highly symbolic gestures, but less talk about human rights in places such as Xinjiang and Hong Kong,” he said.

“The new Trump administration may be more focused on policies targeting the Communist Party’s power and legitimacy at home and abroad, in a Cold War-like, anti-communism fashion.”

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Will new Harry Potter park spell success for Shanghai as it tries to enchant tourists?

上海正在加强旅游竞争力,计划引入哈利·波特主题区以吸引更多游客。该城市的现有主题公园将进行改造,预计在两年内重新开放,为哈利·波特粉丝提供沉浸式的“魔法世界”体验。地方政府与华纳兄弟公司正在就此进行谈判,若成功,改造后的公园可能会更名为《哈利·波特的制作》。

此次改造计划涉及上海闵行区的锦江乐园,该园区已运营40年。当地文化和旅游管理局的副局长张琦在地方立法会议期间确认了相关谈判。地方政府希望新景点每年吸引超过200万游客,并创造超过1.5亿美元的年收入,这表明他们对与华纳兄弟的联合运营持乐观态度。

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Texas got so cold in US winter blast that alligators froze in solid ice

极端的低温导致德克萨斯州的鳄鱼陷入困境。当地鳄鱼救援中心的负责人Gary Saurage表示,鳄鱼在极端低温下会减缓心率,仅每分钟三次跳动,并且在冰上呼吸他们通常的一分钟一次。该中心一段视频显示,一些鳄鱼在贝蒙特的水中被冰盖,除了他们的鼻子,其他部分完全被冰水淹没。

贝蒙特是休斯顿以东约130公里的一个城市,周三早晨降至零下11摄氏度,这是该市120年来最低的温度。该城市受到了强烈的寒潮影响,这使得鳄鱼的生存变得更加困难。

当地人表示,他们对应付洪水和飓风有经验,但这次寒潮让人感到头疼。鳄鱼在冬季如何应对极端低温是一个值得关注的问题,因为这样的天气情况可能会更加频繁地发生。

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Hong Kong developer New World claims ‘business as usual’ amid default rumours

新世界发展(NWD)近日表示,将继续将房地产开发作为核心业务,尽管市场流言称该公司面临违约风险。公司计划在今年继续启动项目,并在香港市场和中国大陆的多样化项目中进行销售。

香港的住宅销售正在改善,NWD在声明中强调其管理层将保持谨慎务实的政策,增强市场导向,并提高项目回报率。公司在截至12月的六个月内,已实现超过70%的年度销售目标,尤其是在中国大陆市场。同时,NWD重申将在香港交易所继续正常运营,并与债权人保持沟通,表明其应对市场不确定性的积极态度。

然而,根据彭博社的报道,NWD在与债权人讨论时可能触发某些破产条款,这使得市场对其财务稳健性产生疑虑。因此,尽管公司展现出了一定的市场信心,但仍需要密切关注其资金状况及与债权人的谈判进展。

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Beyond quick stimulus, China needs deeper, more fundamental reforms

中国经济在去年达到了5%的增长目标,得益于第四季度5.4%的扩张,超出许多分析师的预期。为了保持这一势头,政府出台了一项大胆的财政刺激计划,旨在通过加强货币政策来增加经济中的资金流动,鼓励借贷与投资。

面对经济规模庞大且复杂的形势,以及日益增加的挑战,这项计划需要全面实施,以实现政府追求的长期可持续增长。为此,政府需要改善收入分配,增强社会保障体系,同时向以消费驱动的经济模式转型。当前,房地产行业的急剧下滑以及工业产能过剩使得整体需求疲软,这可能会加重由贸易和技术限制引发的通货紧缩压力。

为了应对这些不利趋势,中国正考虑将预算赤字提高至国内生产总值的4%,并预计将增加特别地方政府债券和专项国债的年度配额。同时,人民银行计划实施“适度宽松”的货币政策,可能会在适当时机降低利率和银行的准备金率,以此增强流动性,促进贷款。这一系列措施表明了北京方面改善经济活力的决心。

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Italy’s top court upholds Amanda Knox slander conviction

意大利最高法院周四维持了美国人阿曼达·诺克斯在与她2007年英国室友谋杀案相关的诽谤罪判决,这一法律戏剧经历了近二十年。佛罗伦萨的上诉法院去年判处诺克斯三年监禁,因为她错误地指控刚果酒吧老板帕特里克·卢穆巴杀害梅雷迪思·凯尔彻。

诺克斯在被判定与凯尔彻的谋杀案有关后曾在监狱中服刑四年,但她的定罪在2015年被宣布无效。尽管这项判决已不再对她产生实质性影响,因为已被她在狱中度过的时间覆盖,诺克斯仍试图在罗马的卡西纳法院为自己洗清冤屈。卢穆巴对判决表示欢迎,并认为这个结果将伴随诺克斯一生。

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US judge temporarily blocks Trump bid to restrict birthright citizenship

By Agence France-Presse

A federal judge on Thursday put a temporary block on US President Donald Trump’s attempt to restrict birthright citizenship.

The ruling imposes a 14-day halt on the enforcement of one of the most controversial executive orders Trump signed in the hours after he was sworn into office for a second term.

“This is a blatantly unconstitutional order,” US District Judge John Coughenour was reported as saying during the hearing in Washington state.

“I’ve been on the bench for over four decades, I can’t remember another case where the question presented is as clear as this one is,” said Coughenour, who was appointed by a Republican president, Ronald Reagan.

Birthright citizenship is fundamental to America’s national identity, with the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution decreeing that anyone born on US soil is a citizen.

It says, in part: “All persons born or naturalised in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”

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Donald Trump tells Davos he is hopeful about US-China ties as he warns on tariffs

在其第二任期首次出席的世界经济论坛上,美国总统唐纳德·特朗普对中美关系表示乐观,同时警告称将对不在美国本土制造的公司征收关税。他通过视频在瑞士达沃斯的年会上发言,提到与中国国家主席习近平的“非常好”关系,并指出两国需将贸易关系调整为“公平”,而非“卓越”。

特朗普批评了美国与中国之间的“巨大”贸易赤字,并指责前总统乔·拜登让这一局面“失控”。他强调当前的中美贸易关系“不公平”,并表示希望能够“做得很好,与中国相处融洽”。根据美国政府的数据,自特朗普第一任期最后一年2020年以来,美国与中国的贸易赤字已从3080亿美元降至2023年的2790亿美元,这一趋势反映出他在贸易政策上的目标。

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US lawmakers bring back bill to revoke China’s trade status

美国国会的共和党人在周四提出立法,计划撤销中国超过二十年的贸易优惠地位,这一法案首次得到了民主党的共同支持。该法案旨在废除中国的永久正常贸易关系(PNTR)地位,并设定对中国进口商品的最低35%关税和100%的战略商品关税,同时允许总统在五年内逐步实施这些变动。

自2000年起,中国的PNTR地位是美国对外自由贸易的一项法律认定,作为与中国市场开放和贸易规范化的交换。然而,新的《恢复贸易公平法案》将不再允许国会每年对PNTR地位进行审查,这可能会对美国的农业和制造业产生积极影响,补偿因中方可能的报复措施而受到冲击的行业。支持这一法案的众议员约翰·穆伦纳尔认为,此举有助于保护美国制造业和就业机会,结束长期以来的贸易不平等。

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Sacklers and Purdue agree to pay US$7.4 billion in US opioid crisis settlement

Purdue Pharma和其Sackler家族达成了一项新的74亿美元和解协议,以解决数千起诉讼,这些诉讼指控止痛药OxyContin导致美国广泛的阿片类药物成瘾危机。此次和解是在美国最高法院推翻该公司之前的一项破产和解尝试近七个月后达成的,该尝试曾提议以高达60亿美元的支付换取Sacklers对阿片类药物诉讼的广泛民事豁免。

根据新的和解协议,Sacklers将支付65亿美元,普渡制药还将资金900万美元,但这并不完全阻止各州、地方政府或阿片危机的个人受害者提起诉讼。那些不想加入和解的人可以自由继续对Sacklers提起诉讼,后者表示他们会在法庭上强烈辩护。康涅狄格州检察长William Tong表示,这项和解将有助于为阿片危机的受害者提供一个结束。

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France’s iconic Louvre museum, in dire state, cries for help

巴黎的卢浮宫请求法国政府紧急援助,以修复和翻新其老化的展览厅,并更好地保护无数艺术作品。卢浮宫馆长劳伦斯·德·卡尔斯在致文化部长拉希达·达蒂的信中指出,这座历史悠久的建筑状况堪忧,存在漏水和温度波动等问题,严重危害艺术品的保存。

卢浮宫建于12世纪后期,曾是法国国王的官方住所,1793年转变为皇家艺术收藏的博物馆。去年,卢浮宫接待了870万游客,然而由于设计不足,参观体验变得“像是一场身体上的考验”,访客在寻找艺术品时面临标识不足、休息空间不足以及餐饮和卫生设施不够的问题。尽管该博物馆每年设计接待400万游客,2018年却创下1020万的参观纪录,馆长为避免拥挤已限制每天接待访客人数为3万。

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Hong Kong construction firms’ confidence in short-term survival takes beating

香港建筑公司在近期生存信心的调查中显示,近一半公司不相信能够持续当前项目数量,这一信心已降至疫情以来的最低点。根据建筑协会和恒生大学进行的年度建筑行业商业指数调查,只有41%的受访者认为其项目和利润能够支持公司的短期生存。

该调查于11月至12月间进行,共有237家会员公司参与,反映出短期内(1到2年)的平均信心评分为5,medium-term(2到5年)为5.7。调查显示,28%的参与者认为自己无法生存,这比2023年的调查增加了10个百分点。尽管短期信心下降,调查仍显示行业在长期(五年以上)的前景上有轻微上升的信心,平均评分为6.5,表现出谨慎乐观的态度。

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