China follows up fast on Xi’s pledge for private sector support

China is rolling out new measures to support its private sector, signaling a strong commitment from Beijing to prioritize the stable growth of privately owned firms. This move follows a high-profile symposium hosted by President Xi Jinping, where he explicitly backed the private sector, and coincides with the upcoming second review of legislation aimed at promoting the private economy.

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) announced that the government will expedite updates to the country's "negative list," which outlines sectors restricted to foreign and private investment. Deputy head of the NDRC, Zheng Bei, emphasized the favorable political, economic, and social environments for the private economy. The government also plans to encourage private companies to participate in trade-in programs and large-scale projects, ensuring fair competition between private and public firms for infrastructure contracts.

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Ukraine peace talks, China’s durable bamboo: SCMP daily highlights

China has expressed support for upcoming peace talks initiated by the US to resolve the Russia-Ukraine war, emphasizing the need for participation from all involved parties. This stance reflects China's ongoing interest in playing a role in international conflict resolution.

Meanwhile, Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, despite facing Western scrutiny, is seen as holding significant promise for the Global South. Additionally, Chinese scientists are developing advanced bamboo-based materials for large-scale infrastructure, potentially solidifying China's leadership in eco-friendly industries by leveraging bamboo's rapid growth and strength.

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China’s Xinhua seeks cooperation with Japan’s Kyodo News amid push to boost views on ties

中国官方通讯社新华社表示,将深化与日本共同社的合作,旨在为中日关系创造“有利的舆论环境”。新华社社长傅华在东京会见了共同社社长水谷亨,表达了北京加强两家通讯社之间交流与合作的意愿,尤其是在新媒体和技术领域。

傅华表示,作为中日两国的重要媒体机构,双方见证并参与了两国关系的发展。他希望双方共同努力,促进人文交流,增进互信,为中日关系的稳定和长期发展做出贡献。共同社的水谷亨也赞扬了两家媒体机构之间的友好交流历史,并表示希望加强合作,继续改善交流,促进双边合作,以取得更丰硕的成果。值得一提的是,截至周二下午,共同社尚未以英文或中文报道此次会面。

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If AI, geopolitics shift the ground beneath you, you’re in the right place

The Munich Security Conference highlighted growing rifts in transatlantic relations, particularly regarding the Ukraine crisis and differing views on democracy and immigration. US Vice-President J.D. Vance's speech, which criticized European countries for departing from democratic principles and allowing an influx of immigrants, underscored the divide between the Trump administration's priorities and those of its traditional allies in Europe.

The conference, traditionally a platform for US-Europe-NATO security discussions, saw the US seemingly sidelining Europe and Ukraine in peace talks with Russia. China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi advocated for inclusive peace talks involving all stakeholders, including the EU, positioning Beijing as a proponent of broader engagement in resolving the conflict.

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China could be the steady counterweight to Trump’s Pax Americana

Donald Trump is aiming to fundamentally reshape the US and global order, pushing boundaries and norms in ways unseen during his first term. He's empowering figures like Elon Musk to challenge the federal bureaucracy and openly considering redrawing international boundaries, including acquiring Greenland and potentially annexing Canada.

This approach involves disregarding established rules and diplomatic protocols, with limited opposition from within the US government. Congress seems resigned, public servants are hesitant to speak out, leaving the judiciary as the primary check on his power. This behavior, coupled with the weaponization of tariffs and technology to assert US dominance, has led some to warn of a potential shift towards American authoritarianism and a resurgence of US expansionism.

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Hong Kong father accused of killing daughter had history of violence, court hears

一名香港男子被指控摇晃死三岁的女儿,被控犯有过失杀人罪。法庭获悉,他有家庭暴力史,并曾因女儿没有学会足够的英语词汇而罚她跪下。

死者梁雅诗的母亲梁女士在高等法院作证时说,被告刘启平(42岁)在教育女儿时很严厉。梁女士说,刘启平会让她女儿学习更多的英语词汇或强迫她唱更多的英文歌曲。如果女儿拒绝,刘启平会责骂她,让她面壁罚站,甚至让她跪在神坛前。在女儿两岁半左右的时候,他们一家三口和刘启平的父母住了一个月,期间,这对夫妇经常因为刘启平的管教方式而争吵。

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Chinese scientists make brain-computer co-evolution possible for the first time

Chinese researchers have developed the world's first two-way adaptive brain-computer interface (BCI), significantly improving efficiency and bringing the technology closer to practical applications. This innovative system allows the brain and the device to learn from each other, leading to stable performance over time, a major advancement over traditional one-directional BCIs.

The new BCI, detailed in a Nature Electronics study, integrates brain signals with a device capable of providing feedback, enabling the brain to adjust and improve control. This "brain-computer co-evolution" marks a step towards mutual adaptation between biological and machine intelligence. Unlike existing BCIs that primarily decode brain signals, this two-way system could be integrated into portable and wearable devices for consumer and medical use, overcoming the limitations of performance decline seen in extended use of current BCI technology.

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Huawei launches Mate XT in Malaysia to kick off trifold smartphone’s overseas roll-out

Huawei launched its Mate XT trifold smartphone in Malaysia, marking the international debut of the 5G device and a significant step in rebuilding its overseas handset business after US sanctions. The launch event in Kuala Lumpur, attended by nearly 1,000 participants from Southeast Asia, the Middle East, South Korea, and Japan, showcased Huawei's confidence in its innovative design.

The Mate XT, initially released in mainland China, is touted as the thinnest foldable smartphone with the largest foldable display. This overseas rollout is one of Huawei's largest consumer product launches outside of China since the imposition of US trade sanctions, which significantly impacted its smartphone business. Other products, including the MatePad Pro series tablet, Huawei Band 10, and FreeArc earphones, were also introduced at the event.

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Hong Kong Hospital Authority to cap medical supply for patients to 24 weeks

香港公立医院和诊所将从下月起实行新政策,限制每次就诊的药物供应量,最多为24周。此举旨在减少药物浪费,提高患者用药安全,并改善治疗效果。新政策将于3月24日生效,适用于普通科和专科门诊病人以及出院病人。

医院管理局首席药剂师徐俊明表示,对于处方超过24周的药物,患者需要定期复诊以获取后续药物。对于行动不便或取药困难的患者,将个案处理。目前24周的供应量是目标,部分医院和诊所可能需要更多时间来准备人力、存储和设施。

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Trump White House says Musk not a DOGE employee, has ‘no formal authority to make decisions’

埃隆·马斯克并非美国政府效率部 (DOGE) 的正式雇员,且“没有做出政府决策的正式权力”。 这份由白宫提交的法庭文件明确了马斯克在政府部门中的角色定位。

尽管此前有报道称,由前总统特朗普创建的DOGE旨在大幅削减政府开支,包括裁减数千个工作岗位,而马斯克被广泛认为是该部门的实际负责人。但根据行政办公室主任Joshua Fisher的说法,马斯克仅是白宫的“非职业特别政府雇员”和“总统高级顾问”,与其他高级顾问一样,他只能为总统提供建议,并传达总统的指示,而不能直接做出政府决策。

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Chinese aircraft and Philippine plane in close encounter over Scarborough Shoal

The Chinese military claims it expelled a Philippine plane from airspace over Scarborough Shoal on Tuesday, while the Philippine coastguard has condemned the action as reckless. According to the People's Liberation Army (PLA), the Philippine C-208 light utility plane "illegally invaded the airspace" above the shoal, prompting a response involving tracking, monitoring, and warnings for the aircraft to leave.

The Philippine coastguard reported that Chinese naval forces engaged in dangerous maneuvers, flying close to a government aircraft patrolling the shoal, creating a serious risk to the safety of those on board. The Philippine aircraft was conducting a maritime domain awareness flight. The incident reflects ongoing tensions in the region surrounding disputed territories in the South China Sea.

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Young Israelis rile up Thailand’s Pai town with their bad behaviour

泰国北部小镇拜县正面临大量涌入的以色列游客带来的挑战,当地居民因一系列逮捕事件、冲突和盗窃报告而感到不安,并在社交媒体上引发强烈反对。 拜县以其轻松的河畔氛围而闻名,长期以来吸引着寻求精神放松和山间派对的游客。然而,最近以色列游客数量激增,其中许多人刚离开以色列军队,这给这个热带天堂带来了麻烦。

2月6日,四名20多岁的以色列人在拜县被捕,原因是他们与一家诊所的医务人员发生冲突,当时他们的朋友在一次摩托车事故后正在接受治疗。此后,关于以色列人在镇上制造麻烦的投诉如潮水般涌来,包括摩托车事故、在公共场所小便以及盗窃等,这些事件的报告也已送至当地警察局。警察局长表示,当地商家受到的影响最大,因为当以色列游客大量涌入时,其他游客会选择去其他地方。

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US and Russia meet in Saudi Arabia for talks on Ukraine war without Kyiv

美国和俄罗斯的高级外交官在沙特阿拉伯举行了会谈,讨论如何重启两国间已经破裂的关系,这是自俄罗斯入侵乌克兰以来的首次此类会谈。尽管双方都降低了对此次会谈取得突破的期望,但这是自美国总统上任以来两国间的首次高级别会晤。

此次会晤的举行,正值美国近期向克里姆林宫示好之际,这引发了乌克兰和欧洲的担忧。在利雅得的迪里耶宫,会谈在没有握手和发表声明的情况下开始。美国国务卿和俄罗斯外交部长等官员出席了会议。

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China pledges to protect private businesses from illegal investigations, economic crime

China's top prosecutors have pledged to increase legal protections for private sector businesses, vowing to crack down on illegal investigations targeting them. This commitment follows a meeting between President Xi Jinping and prominent entrepreneurs, aimed at reassuring the private sector amid growing economic challenges both domestically and internationally.

Du Xueyi, head of economic crime prosecution, stated that Beijing would actively address illegal law enforcement driven by profit, including improper case filings, intervention in economic disputes, cross-regional arrests, and unlawful asset seizures. Prosecutors also plan to leverage technology and improve coordination to resolve outstanding criminal cases involving companies. In 2024, over 2,390 such cases were cleared after review. These measures come as China's private sector grapples with weakened business and consumer confidence amid a slow economic recovery and heightened geopolitical tensions.

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Jimmy Lai denies inciting violence among ‘valiant’ Hong Kong protesters in 2019

前香港媒体大亨黎智英否认煽动暴力,称其敦促激进抗议者成立领导团队,是为了让他们为自己的行为制定基本原则,而非鼓励暴力。黎智英为其在已停刊的《苹果日报》上发表的评论文章辩护,他在文章中呼吁“勇武”抗议者团体建立领导结构,以便过滤掉热衷于在2019年社会动荡中追求暴力的渗透者。

检察官周天行表示,黎智英的文章不仅没有谴责暴力,反而提出了一种有助于抗议活动继续的安排。黎智英辩称,检察官误解了这篇文章,他表示,建立领导团队意味着为“勇武”行为设定原则或底线,从根本上是为了阻止暴力。黎智英目前正在就与外国势力勾结的两项共谋罪指控,以及印刷和散布煽动刊物的共谋罪指控进行抗辩。

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Hong Kong’s Ngong Ping 360 reports record revenue driven by overseas visitors

香港昂坪360缆车公布去年收入达4.13亿港元(约5300万美元),创历史新高。这主要得益于来自中国内地以外的长途和短途游客的显著增长,推动了整体业绩的提升。与2023年相比,收入增长了30%,与疫情前的2019年相比,也增长了约32%。

昂坪360的董事总经理董沛铨表示,海外游客的增长是主要因素,航班运力的恢复对香港的竞争力至关重要,尤其是在去年第四季度,航班数量的恢复情况令人满意。数据显示,来自中国内地的游客日均增长6%,短途游客市场增长34%,长途游客同比增长高达84%。2024年,昂坪360共接待游客156万人次,较2023年增长13%,日均游客量为4843人次,与疫情前相比增长近10%。

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Germany, India and beyond: is the Philippines building a post-US defence network?

The Philippines is actively expanding its defense partnerships globally, driven by concerns over the increasing unpredictability of U.S. foreign policy. This strategic move aims to safeguard the nation against potential uncertainties stemming from what many perceive as a decline in Washington's reliability as a security guarantor.

Recently, the Philippine and German military chiefs convened at the Munich Security Conference, agreeing to enhance cooperation in areas like cyber warfare, military training, and maritime operations. This meeting underscores Manila's broader strategy to diversify its security alliances, especially when contrasted with the U.S.'s shifting commitments and internal debates regarding its role in global conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine, raising questions about its long-term dedication to allies like the Philippines.

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Chinese smartphone brands see rapid growth in Middle East, Southeast Asia

中国智能手机制造商在中东和东南亚市场份额不断扩大。Canalys的最新数据显示,由于国内市场竞争激烈,这些品牌正在加紧在新兴市场的扩张。其中,传音、小米和荣耀等品牌在2024年均实现了快速增长,在中东地区(不包括土耳其)分别占据第二、第三和第五的位置。

传音在中东地区的出货量增长了9%,达到830万部,市场份额为17%。小米的出货量增长了33%,达到810万部,市场份额与传音相近。荣耀的增长最为显著,出货量增长了67%,达到320万部。荣耀的快速增长得益于其积极的产品发布和区域扩张策略,包括在阿联酋开设七家新体验店以及进入阿曼和卡塔尔市场。虽然三星仍以1410万部的出货量和30%的市场份额保持领先地位,但其市场份额较2023年的34%有所下降,出货量基本持平。中东智能手机市场整体增长了14%,是全球出货量增速的两倍。

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Baidu fourth-quarter revenue slips 2% amid weak ad spending, but AI remains bright spot

Baidu experienced a 2% revenue decrease in the fourth quarter, primarily due to China's sluggish economic growth impacting advertising spending. Despite this, the company's net income saw a significant increase, and artificial intelligence remains a promising area for growth, although facing increasing competition.

The overall revenue for the quarter reached 34.1 billion yuan (US$4.7 billion), while the full-year revenue declined by 1% to 133 billion yuan. However, net income for both the quarter and the full year showed substantial growth, driven in part by the AI cloud business, which saw a 26% increase. Baidu's CEO, Robin Li Yanhong, emphasized the company's ongoing transformation towards an AI-first business and anticipates more significant results from AI investments in 2025, despite a decline in core online marketing revenue.

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Trade and Ukraine top Irish agenda as China steps up engagement with Europe

爱尔兰外交部长呼吁北京确保公平的经济竞争环境,并利用其对莫斯科的影响力来帮助结束乌克兰战争。在与中国外交部长王毅于都柏林举行的会谈中,爱尔兰外长西蒙·哈里斯提出了上述要求。

哈里斯表示,他与王毅进行了近两小时的会谈,期间提出了“一些对爱尔兰重要的贸易问题”。爱尔兰政府声明援引他的话说,他强调了爱尔兰有兴趣在透明、公平和双方同意的参数以及公平的竞争环境的基础上,维护和加强与中国的经济关系。同时,哈里斯还强调乌克兰需要参与任何关于俄罗斯入侵的和平谈判。

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