Kai Tak Sports Park ‘ready to open’, Hong Kong officials say after last big test

Hong Kong's Kai Tak Sports Park is set to officially open on March 1st, following extensive testing and preparations. Authorities have conducted nearly 20 test runs over the past four months, culminating in a final large-scale stress test involving over 50,000 participants across the park's three venues.

The HK$30 billion park is poised to become a significant driver for Hong Kong's mega-event economy, hosting performances by international stars like Coldplay and Jay Chou later this year. The final test included a performance at the main 50,000-seat stadium, with participants also utilizing the arena and youth sports ground. To improve spectator dispersal, a "Leave Easy" webpage was launched, providing real-time information on crowd conditions and estimated travel times to transportation hubs.

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China unveils world’s first oil production ship with carbon capture facilities

中国宣布建成世界首个具备二氧化碳捕获功能的海洋石油生产和储存船,朝着实现碳排放目标迈出重要一步。这艘长330米的浮式生产储卸油船(FPSO)由中国国有企业中远海运重工开发,计划在本月底交付,日产量可达12万桶原油。

该装置的独特之处在于,它不仅能捕获自身排放的二氧化碳,还能利用废气余热发电,从而同时实现环境保护和节能的双重目标。国际能源署的数据显示,2022年全球油气开采、运输和加工产生了51亿吨温室气体,约占全球能源相关排放总量的15%。该技术的应用是中国在海洋碳捕获领域的重要进展,有助于缓解油气生产带来的环境问题。

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UK’s Starmer prepares to raise defence spending

英国首相基尔·斯塔默准备推翻财政大臣瑞秋·里夫斯的意见,增加国防开支,此前美国要求欧洲为自身安全支付更多费用。斯塔默预计下周将前往华盛顿与美国总统唐纳德·特朗普会谈,最早可能在周一宣布这一决定。此举旨在回应美国要求欧洲国家增加国防投入的呼吁,并可能对英国的财政计划产生重大影响。

斯塔默领导的工党政府已承诺将国防开支从目前的约占经济产出的2.3%提高到2.5%,但尚未确定具体时间表。财政大臣里夫斯正在准备一项重要的支出审查,她面临着在不违反财政规则的情况下,兑现改善公共服务和提高经济增长的承诺的挑战。最终,关于国家安全的决策权在于首相,国防和安全审查将继续推进。

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Amid threats to free trade, China and France must rise above differences

Amidst global power shifts and rising trade tensions, particularly following the US imposition of tariffs on steel and aluminum, France has emerged as a crucial link between China and the West. Some analysts fear a leaderless "G-zero" world, while others anticipate China assuming global leadership. France's leadership role in Europe and its diplomatic approach make its relationship with China vital for shaping the future international landscape.

France holds a unique position in China's relationship with the West, rooted in a long history of pragmatism and strategic vision. This independent approach dates back to Charles de Gaulle, who in 1964 made France the first major Western power to recognize the People's Republic of China. This decision, driven by a desire for independence from US-Soviet dominance, foreshadowed China's entry into the UN in 1971 and subsequent integration into the global community.

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Buyers quick off mark as Hong Kong car plates ‘S’ and ‘88’ go for millions

香港两块车牌在农历新年拍卖会上以超过1100万港元(140万美元)的价格成交,超出市场预期。其中,单字母“S”车牌拍出1420万港元,号码“88”车牌拍出1140万港元。此次拍卖由运输署举办,共有49块车牌参与竞拍。

单字母车牌在香港被认为是身份的象征,而“S”与超人标志紧密相连,因此备受追捧。“88”车牌的竞标持续了约13分钟,由于数字8在中文中与“发财”谐音,也颇受欢迎。保险经纪公司Automate Wealth Management (AWM) 预计“S”车牌的成交价至少为1000万港元。

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Chinese scientists make rare, ultra-hard, pure ‘super diamond’ in the lab

中国科学家成功在实验室合成了硬度远超天然钻石的“超钻石”。这种新型钻石具有六方晶体结构,与常见的立方结构钻石不同,可能在切割和抛光工具等工业领域有重要应用。

此前,这种超硬钻石,又称朗斯代尔石,仅在陨石坑中发现,非常稀有且体积小。中国科研团队通过独特的技术,利用石墨合成了“结晶良好、近乎纯净”的六方晶体结构的钻石,为超硬材料的制备开辟了新途径。

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Navalny supporters risk reprisals with memorial events

在俄罗斯反对派领导人阿列克谢·纳瓦尔尼逝世一周年之际,他的支持者举行了纪念活动。数百人冒着风险前往莫斯科的墓地悼念,与此同时,包括德国总理奥拉夫·朔尔茨在内的世界各国领导人,纷纷表达对纳瓦尔尼的敬意,并谴责俄罗斯总统普京的专制统治。

由于前所未有的镇压,俄罗斯反对派运动被迫流亡,并且在失去领袖人物后,内斗不断,力量遭到严重削弱。流亡在各国的反对派主要成员,正试图重振对抗普京长期统治的斗争,包括在俄罗斯境内,尽管在那里批评政府会受到严厉惩罚。纳瓦尔尼被俄罗斯当局宣布为“极端分子”,尽管他已于 2024 年 2 月 16 日在北极流放地去世,但该裁决仍然有效。

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Rwanda-backed rebels reach major east DR Congo city

Rwanda支持的M23反政府武装已经进入刚果民主共和国东部第二大城市布卡武的中心,并控制了南基伍省的行政办公室。政府军几乎没有抵抗,许多人在反政府武装推进时逃离。

在经过数日行军,从该地区的主要城市戈马(位于101公里外)抵达后,M23反政府武装于周日上午在布卡武市中心游行,当地居民纷纷欢呼雀跃。据联合国称,M23反政府武装是刚果(金)东部100多个争夺矿产资源控制权的武装组织中最突出的一个,并得到邻国卢旺达约4000名士兵的支持。此次反政府武装在布卡武市中心的出现,是他们在与刚果(金)军队多年战斗中前所未有的扩张。与2012年他们仅占领戈马不同,分析人士表示,这次反政府武装的目标是政治权力。

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Will China fill gap left by the US at G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in South Africa?

Marco Rubio计划缺席在约翰内斯堡举行的G20外长会议,这可能为中国在G20中发挥领导作用创造了机会。由于美国与南非之间存在争议,美国国务卿的缺席引发了对美国在G20中地位的担忧。

中国外交部长王毅已确认将出席会议,而Rubio指责比勒陀利亚持有“反美”议程。此外,特朗普总统曾指责南非“没收土地”并“恶劣对待某些阶层的人”,并取消了对南非的援助,原因是南非的《征用法案》允许政府为了公共利益征用私人土地,只要提供公平的补偿。这些事件都加剧了美国与南非之间的紧张关系,并可能影响美国在G20中的参与度。

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China twin sisters and brothers hold joint engagement ceremony, captivate millions online

两对双胞胎姐妹和双胞胎兄弟在中国同一天举行订婚仪式,吸引了数百万中国社交媒体用户的关注。这段视频在抖音上获得了超过四百万的观看量,视频展示了这两对长相相似、穿着相配的情侣在2月5日于中国中部湖南省举行的订婚仪式。

据了解,这两对情侣由一位姓刘的媒人撮合,她是22岁的双胞胎兄弟的表嫂,同时也是18岁双胞胎姐妹的教母。刘女士透露,她在去年二月介绍了他们认识。姐姐很快与哥哥开始约会,妹妹之后也与弟弟发展成了恋爱关系。这对姐妹住在湖南老家,她们还去浙江探望在那里工作的兄弟俩。

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4 from Jamaica arrested in Hong Kong with 1kg of cocaine in their bodies

四名来自牙买加的旅客,包括一对父子,因涉嫌体内藏毒在香港机场被捕。 他们被查出体内藏有近一公斤的可卡因,市值约73万港元(93,589美元)。

事件发生在香港国际机场,海关人员在例行检查中对这四名年龄在21岁至51岁之间的旅客产生怀疑。他们从牙买加蒙特哥贝出发,途经德国法兰克福和迪拜,最终抵达香港。经医院扫描确认他们体内藏有异物后,四人被立即逮捕,截至周日下午1点,他们已排出68个含有约900克疑似可卡因的药丸。

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Hezbollah demands Lebanon reverse ban on Iranian planes

黎巴嫩真主党周日敦促黎巴嫩政府撤销禁止伊朗航班在贝鲁特降落的决定。此前,美国曾发出警告,这促使真主党发表声明,要求政府阻止以色列“敌人”发号施令。

据黎巴嫩消息人士称,在美国警告以色列可能袭击机场后,黎巴嫩本周已两次拒绝伊朗航班降落的许可。消息人士称,以色列通过美国告知黎巴嫩,如果伊朗飞机在黎巴嫩降落,将袭击机场。在与总理和总统协商后,黎巴嫩公共工程和交通部拒绝了该航班的许可。

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Hong Kong to install door sensors for elderly in pilot scheme targeting safety

香港将在两个公共屋邨试点安装门传感器,以监测独居老人的活动情况,并在可能出现紧急情况时向家属发出警报。该计划旨在帮助识别需要帮助的老年居民,起因是近期发生了一起悲剧,一位78岁老人在家中去世,与其同住的44岁残疾儿子无人照料。

房屋局局长何永贤表示,传感器将记录住户开门的次数,如果在设定的时间内没有检测到开门活动,系统将向家属发出警报。她强调,该设备不会侵犯隐私,因为不会记录屋内情况,也不会安装摄像头。目前,观塘的云汉邨和九龙城的常乐邨各有约20至30户家庭自愿参与该计划,警报将直接发送给家属,而非物业管理部门。

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White South Africans echo Trump’s claims of racism

南非部分白人于周六在美国驻比勒陀利亚大使馆外集会,表达对美国总统特朗普的支持,并声称他们是南非政府种族主义的受害者。数百名抗议者手持标语,上面写着“感谢上帝赐予特朗普总统”,并展示其他信息,批评他们认为南非政府制定的歧视白人少数群体的种族主义法律。

这些抗议者主要来自阿非利卡人社区,此前特朗普发布行政命令,削减了对南非政府的援助,并声称南非的阿非利卡人(主要是荷兰殖民者的后裔)正受到一项允许政府征用私人土地的新法律的威胁。南非政府否认这项新法律与种族有关,并表示特朗普对该国和该法律的说法充满了虚假信息和歪曲。特朗普还宣布了一项计划,向阿非利卡人提供在美国的难民身份,但他们只是南非白人少数群体的一部分。

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As USAID freeze leaves South Asia reeling, can India rise to the challenge?

The US decision to freeze US$44 billion in aid has created a significant void in South Asia's development sector, particularly impacting smaller aid-reliant nations like Bangladesh and Nepal. These countries depend heavily on USAID for essential programs, including food security, healthcare, education, and agricultural development. The sudden halt in funding threatens humanitarian projects and has left many development workers facing potential job losses.

While India receives less direct aid from the US compared to Bangladesh and Nepal, it is still affected by the ripple effects of the funding freeze. Projects supporting maternal and child healthcare, climate change adaptation, and access to low-cost HIV drugs are now at risk. This situation raises the question of whether India, with its growing economy, can step in to fill the gap left by the US and support these critical initiatives in the region.

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China signals willingness to boost Israel ties after Gaza conflict strained relations

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has stated China's continued willingness to collaborate with Israel to improve bilateral relations, despite recent strains. This announcement followed a meeting with Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar at the Munich Security Conference, marking the highest-level direct engagement since the onset of the Gaza war in October 2023.

The Gaza war, triggered by the Hamas attack on Israel, has complicated relations, with Beijing criticizing Tel Aviv's actions and reaffirming its support for a two-state solution, a concept rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Despite these political differences, China has maintained strong economic ties with Israel, including its participation in the Belt and Road Initiative. Wang Yi emphasized the historical friendship between the Chinese and Jewish people, highlighting mutual assistance during World War II, and reiterated China's commitment to advancing the China-Israel innovative comprehensive partnership established in 2017.

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Southeast Asia’s rice crisis is a ticking time bomb

Southeast Asia is facing a growing rice crisis that threatens the food security of nearly 700 million people. Climate change, economic pressures, and inefficient agricultural practices are jeopardizing rice production in the region, leading to rising prices and fears of widespread food shortages. The Philippines, a major rice producer and the world's largest importer, has already declared a food security emergency in response to soaring domestic rice prices.

The Philippines' reliance on imports, which covered over a fifth of its domestic needs in 2023, highlights the severity of the issue. Last year, rice imports surged to a record 4.68 million tonnes, with 75% coming from Vietnam. This crisis reflects broader challenges across Southeast Asia, where rice accounts for roughly 50% of calorie intake and agricultural production contributes significantly to the region's economy. The global rice shortage, which surpassed 8.5 million tonnes in 2023, is exacerbating the problem, raising concerns about poverty, hunger, and malnutrition.

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Hong Kong woman dreams of creating city’s first elderly LGBTQ co-living space

香港一位女同性恋保险经纪人计划建立首个LGBTQ老年人共享居住空间。该项目旨在为老年群体提供一个支持性的社区环境,服务包括财务规划,以帮助同性伴侣进行具有法律效力的资产安排。该计划希望填补香港LGBTQ支持网络的空白,特别是关注那些可能与原生家庭关系不佳的老年群体。

Jeanne Cheung Jing-lam计划通过众筹筹集2000万港元,将佐敦广场购物中心改造成一个五层楼的共享居住空间。该空间将包括公共区域,如小酒馆、健身房、花园、休息室和活动空间,用于举办讲座和放映活动。预计可容纳约30人,每月费用不超过4万港元。项目的第一步是启动一个试点项目,为年轻的LGBTQ群体运营一个共享居住空间,并开发一个应用程序来帮助他们寻找室友。

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Tencent testing DeepSeek to add China’s hottest AI technology to its Weixin super app

Tencent is testing the integration of DeepSeek's AI service into Weixin, its popular super app, to enhance its range of services. This move allows users to access DeepSeek's capabilities through an "AI Search" option within Weixin's search bar, alongside Tencent's own Hunyuan foundational model.

The integration provides Weixin's 1.3 billion monthly active users with access to DeepSeek-R1, an open-source reasoning model known for its performance comparable to advanced models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google, but with lower training costs. This beta test aims to offer users a more diverse search experience within the app, which they use for various activities like chatting, payments, and shopping.

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Woman arrested over bringing ‘space oil’ into Hong Kong after drug relisting

香港海关逮捕了一名涉嫌持有“太空油”的女子,这是自该新兴毒品的主要成分被正式列为危险药物以来的首例案件。该女子从澳门抵达香港,被海关人员查出携带疑似含有太空油的电子烟。

香港海关表示,被捕女子28岁,报称无业,已获准保释候查。此前,香港已将太空油的主要成分,包括依托咪酯等,列入《危险药物条例》的第一附表,与可卡因同属一类。海关强调将继续加强执法,打击“太空油”的贩运活动。

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