Why isn’t Hong Kong a test bed for China’s green energy innovations?

Japan is investing US$1.5 billion in perovskite solar cells, a technology with the potential to revolutionize renewable energy. These ultra-thin, light, and flexible solar cells offer a compelling alternative to traditional silicon-based panels, which are rigid, heavy, and require large land areas.

Perovskite solar cells are generating excitement due to their versatility and potential applications. They can be applied to various surfaces, including buildings, stadiums, and even wearable devices, making electricity generation more accessible. Furthermore, their resilience to radiation makes them particularly attractive for use in space, potentially opening new avenues for solar power generation.

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Hong Kong health authorities dismiss concerns over hospital clusters revamp

香港卫生部门驳斥了重组香港岛公共医疗服务的计划会增加患者就医距离的担忧。卫生局局长卢宠茂在立法会会议上表示,合并港岛东西联网的计划不会导致任何医院关闭,该计划是由于人口分布变化而推动的。他强调,常规医疗服务将得到维持,患者无需长途跋涉。

医院管理局将香港的公立医院划分为七个地理“联网”,港岛有两个。政府预计到2031年,港岛人口将减少12万,大致相当于一个联网服务的人口规模。卢宠茂补充说,只有专业服务、手术和治疗可能会进行调整,以集中资源提高质量,但这些服务无论重组与否,都将集中在特定地点,例如玛丽医院的胸痛中心,这不仅能确保更好的服务,还能在医护人员短缺的情况下,帮助医生进行专业培训。

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China backs ‘all efforts aimed at peace’ in Ukraine, ready for constructive role

中国外交部长王毅表示,北京支持一切旨在和平的努力,包括美国总统特朗普最新提出的与俄罗斯达成协议以结束乌克兰战争的提议。王毅强调,对话优于对抗,和平谈判优于战争,中国愿在政治解决危机中发挥建设性作用。

王毅在G20外长会议上发表讲话时指出,各方立场并不统一,复杂问题的简单解决方案难以找到。他还表示,希望找到一种可持续且持久的解决方案,有效考虑所有相关方的关切。美国国务卿 Marco Rubio 缺席了本次在南非举行的会议,以抗议南非国内的土地政策。

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Fading fortunes of India’s Bollywood in streaming era spark political debate

Bollywood is at the center of a heated debate regarding the Indian government's financial support, or lack thereof, for the film industry. Jaya Bachchan, actress and politician, criticized Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for neglecting Bollywood in the recent federal budget, especially as the industry faces challenges from declining cinema attendance due to the rise of streaming services.

Bachchan highlighted the closure of single-screen theaters and the high cost of moviegoing, suggesting the government's policies may be detrimental to the industry, which she believes uniquely connects India to the world. Sitharaman responded by pointing out that the federal government doesn't impose entertainment tax and also accused previous Congress-led governments of mistreating Bollywood figures.

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What did China’s tech entrepreneurs tell Xi Jinping at the symposium?

Leading Chinese technology entrepreneurs, including Huawei's Ren Zhengfei and Xiaomi's Lei Jun, expressed strong confidence in China's development prospects during a symposium chaired by President Xi Jinping. Ren Zhengfei indicated that concerns regarding China's reliance on foreign chips and operating systems have diminished, highlighting the country's growing technological self-sufficiency.

Lei Jun of Xiaomi echoed this sentiment, stating that China can overcome challenges despite international pressures, likely referring to the ongoing Sino-US tech rivalry. He also noted Xiaomi's revenue growth of over 30% after a period of decline. The symposium, held amidst US export restrictions, underscores China's determination to achieve technological advancements, with breakthroughs like DeepSeek's AI models being seen as crucial to navigating the tech war.

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South China Sea: Chinese military says 3 Philippine aircraft expelled from Spratly Islands

China's military announced it expelled three Philippine aircraft from airspace near the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theatre Command stated that two Philippine C-208 aircraft and one N-22 aircraft illegally entered the airspace on Thursday, prompting warnings and expulsion. This incident is the latest in a series of aerial encounters amid rising tensions between China and the Philippines over territorial claims in the region.

The PLA released a recording of the warning issued to the Philippine aircraft, highlighting concerns about endangering the security of Chinese reefs. The C-208 aircraft are equipped for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, while the N-22 is a light utility aircraft. China accused the Philippines of disregarding facts and discrediting China's actions to safeguard its rights, referencing a prior incident involving a Philippine aircraft over the Scarborough Shoal.

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AI start-up DeepSeek to open-source 5 code repositories next week for ‘full transparency’

DeepSeek, a Chinese AI start-up, is doubling down on its commitment to open-source technology by making five of its code repositories public. This move aims to foster collaboration and transparency in the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI).

The company, known for its open-source V3 and R1 models, believes that sharing code contributes to collective progress. By opening its repositories, DeepSeek hopes to encourage community-driven innovation and accelerate the development of AGI. This decision comes amid intense US-China competition in the field of artificial intelligence, highlighting the importance of open-source collaboration.

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Australia warns airlines over Chinese navy live-fire drills in Tasman Sea

澳大利亚已警告往返于澳大利亚和新西兰之间的国际航空公司,注意中国海军军舰在塔斯曼海进行实弹演习。 澳大利亚外交部长黄英贤证实,澳大利亚航空服务局已警告商业飞行员,由于三艘中国军舰在澳大利亚东海岸附近进行演习,两国之间的空域存在潜在危险。

作为预防措施,澳大利亚已建议在该区域有飞行计划的航空公司注意安全。澳洲航空及其低成本子公司捷星航空正在监控空域,并已临时调整了一些往返于澳大利亚和新西兰之间的跨塔斯曼海航班。黄英贤表示,当特遣部队进行演习时,向该区域的船只和飞机发出警告是正常做法,澳大利亚航空服务局正在做它应该做的事情,即提供该建议。

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Burglar gets life sentence in Hong Kong for murdering guard during break-in

香港一名窃贼因在一家餐厅盗窃时谋杀保安而被判处终身监禁。被告人黄顺林(33岁)于本月早些时候在高等法院接受审判,罪名是于五年多前在观塘龙皇酒家故意杀害陈振泰,他曾在这家餐厅当厨师。

庭审得知,失业且育有三个孩子的黄顺林,盯上了位于仁承大厦的这家餐厅,希望能够获得足够的现金来偿还他从高利贷那里借来的4万港元(5100美元)。他先是在2019年12月10日晚从收银台的抽屉里偷了1000港元,但在触发警报后被迫离开。第二天凌晨,被告人欺骗了正在看守大楼停车场入口的陈振泰,谎称餐厅遭到袭击,诱骗他进入,随后从背后袭击了正要告诉同事情况的陈振泰。

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Hong Kong tram operator needs stronger ties with tourism sector: lawmakers

香港立法会议员普遍支持香港电车公司提出的票价上涨方案,但同时建议电车公司加强与旅游业的合作,以确保其长期财务可持续性。电车公司此前向政府提交申请,计划将成人票价从3港元上调至3.3港元,儿童和老年人票价也有相应上调。

电车公司表示,此次票价上涨是为了保障这一标志性交通工具的长期运营和发展。面对议员们提出的开设电车博物馆的建议,电车公司总经理表示暂不考虑,但强调公司已在升级旅游服务方面做出努力,例如计划提供阿拉伯语语音导览。议员们认为,票价上涨幅度“温和”且“合理”,但与旅游业的更紧密合作将有助于电车公司实现更稳定的发展。

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What is ‘Hong Kong Super March’ and how can you take part?

香港特首李家超将三月称为“香港超级三月”,届时将举办一系列重大活动,推动香港成为全球艺术、体育和娱乐的焦点。这些活动包括城市最新多用途场馆的启用、大型体育赛事和艺术展览。与去年同期政府宣传的“艺术三月”相比,今年的活动规模更大,涵盖年度活动以及首次在本地举办的活动。

李家超表示,之所以使用“香港超级三月”这个名称,是因为三月份文化、艺术和体育活动“一个接一个”地举行,极具吸引力。政府希望通过这些活动,进一步提升香港的国际形象,吸引更多游客和投资。

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China retail chain awards influencer US$70 for underwear complaint after 53-page inquiry report

中国知名连锁超市胖东来表示,尽管已向一位批评其产品的网红支付了赔偿金,但仍保留要求其赔偿高达100万元人民币(约合14万美元)的法律权利。 这起事件源于一位在社交媒体上拥有5万粉丝的网红,她在2月4日发布视频,抱怨在河南一家胖东来门店购买的红色内衣质量低劣,洗后严重褪色,导致她过敏。

这位网名为@lianggexiaoduan的消费者还批评胖东来的员工在处理她的投诉和陪同她去医院时不够周到。 由于胖东来以其细致周到的服务而闻名全国,该视频迅速走红。事发后,胖东来立即将该产品下架,并在10天后发布了一份长达53页的报告,详细说明了该产品的问题和处理方式。

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People can spread bird flu to their cats, US study suggests

美国疾病控制与预防中心 (CDC) 的一项研究表明,人们可能会将禽流感传染给家猫,导致致命后果。该研究发布于周四,主要基于 2024 年 5 月密歇根州的两个家庭案例,当时人们越来越担心该病毒可能发生变异并引发人类大流行。

研究显示,受感染的猫也可能是因为食用了受病毒污染的宠物食品,并且病毒可以在收容所的“大型猫科动物”之间传播。这两个案例中的宠物主人都在受禽流感影响的奶牛场工作或居住在附近,最终都导致了受感染猫科动物的死亡。

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Starbucks Malaysia keeps losing money as anti-Israel boycotts persist

马来西亚Berjaya Food Bhd.因旗下数百家星巴克门店的业绩不佳,连续第五个季度出现亏损。 这主要由于美国快餐品牌因美国支持以色列在加沙的军事行动而受到抵制,导致星巴克在马来西亚的业务受到严重影响。

截至2023年12月的六个月内,该公司净亏损7030万林吉特。尽管面临挑战,Berjaya Food表示将致力于通过扩大品牌组合和利用国内外机会来实现增长和多元化,并期望通过战略举措和计划来提升星巴克的业绩。

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China facing more challenges than rest of Asia in reaching Trump tariff deal, analysts say

Morgan Stanley分析师表示,由于中美之间存在诸多问题,中国可能比其他亚洲经济体更难与美国达成关税协议。 报告指出,解决美国对华贸易逆差的措施可能产生积极成果,但要克服的挑战依然很多。

报告分析,中国可能在六周内考虑多种应对方案,包括重新谈判特朗普执政期间达成的贸易协议、规范电商出口、出售TikTok,以及建立芬太尼联合工作组。尽管中美在2020年初达成第一阶段贸易协议,但中国仅完成了约59%的采购承诺,而美国正在审查该协议的履行情况,预计将在4月1日前发布报告。分析师认为,美国可扩大出口的能源等领域面临供应限制,这使得中国增加自美进口面临挑战。

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Standard Chartered profit rises 19% with record gains in wealth management

渣打银行公布财报,受益于财富管理业务的强劲增长,去年盈利增长了19%。净利润达到42.8亿美元,高于分析师的普遍预期。同时,渣打银行提议派发28美分的末期股息,使得2024年的总股息达到37美分。此外,该银行还计划在未来一年回购15亿美元的股份,高于去年的10亿美元。

尽管财报数据亮眼,但渣打银行的股价在香港股市午盘交易中下跌了2%,至108.90港元,与恒生指数2.9%的涨幅形成对比。这家总部位于伦敦的银行,其大部分收入来自亚洲,其2024年法定税前利润增长了18%,达到60亿美元,但略低于市场预期的62亿美元。

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Chinese team develops strain of rice that may help cut the risk of heart disease

中国科学家成功研发出一种新型水稻,该水稻能够产生辅酶Q10,这是一种可能有助于降低心脏病风险的分子。辅酶Q10是一种人体自然产生的抗氧化剂,随着年龄增长其含量会降低,它在细胞产生能量的过程中发挥作用。

研究人员通过基因编辑技术,改造了水稻和小麦,使其主要产生辅酶Q10,而非通常的辅酶Q9。此项研究基于对67个植物科的134个植物样本的分析,旨在通过农作物生产辅酶Q10,从而有益于人类健康。辅酶Q10常见于鱼、肉和坚果等食物中,研究表明补充辅酶Q10可以改善心脏病症状,而传统农作物如水稻、小麦和燕麦主要产生的是辅酶Q9,不具备相同的益处。

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Costa Rica and Honduras join Panama as stopovers for deportees from US

Costa Rica has agreed to detain deportees from the U.S. on behalf of the Trump administration, becoming the latest Latin American nation to assist in increased deportations. A flight carrying 135 individuals, including many children from countries like Uzbekistan, China, and Afghanistan, arrived in Costa Rica, where they will be held in detention facilities while the U.S. arranges their return to their home countries.

This agreement, similar to one Panama has in place, involves Costa Rica housing the deportees for up to six weeks in a rural facility near the Panama border, with the U.S. covering all associated costs. The deal was finalized during a visit from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, reflecting the Trump administration's broader strategy of pressuring countries in the region to cooperate with deportation efforts, sometimes under the threat of economic repercussions.

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South Korean teacher accused of stabbing 7-year-old reportedly laughed in hospital

A South Korean teacher, identified as Myeong, allegedly stabbed a seven-year-old pupil to death and then laughed while receiving hospital treatment for self-inflicted wounds. The incident occurred at an elementary school in Daejeon, and the teacher reportedly admitted to the crime, stating she intended to kill herself and the last child to leave. The motive for the stabbing remains unclear as police have been unable to interrogate Myeong due to her health condition.

The death of Kim Ha-neul is being treated as a national tragedy. Acting President Choi Sang-mok attended the funeral to console the family, and suspended President Yoon Suk-yeol sent his condolences. According to the Korean-language daily Hankook Ilbo, Myeong's laughter in the hospital caused confusion among medical staff who were unaware of the stabbing at the time.

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China gives Mideast buyers a glimpse of latest J-35 jet as stealth market takes off

China is actively promoting its J-35 carrier-based stealth fighter jet at the International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi, showcasing the aircraft to potential buyers in the Middle East. This marks the first close-up look at the J-35 since its official unveiling at the Zhuhai air show in November, signaling China's intent to compete in the region's aircraft market.

A CATIC official noted that the J-35 is drawing attention for its similarities to the American F-35. In addition to the J-35, CATIC is also promoting the J-10CE, a multirole combat aircraft already in use by the Pakistan Air Force, with a potential deal to sell them to Egypt. This push comes as the Middle East increasingly looks beyond US weapons for its defense needs.

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