Woman drugged, robbed elderly men in deadly ‘romance scam on steroids’, FBI says
一名女子利用在线约会应用引诱至少四名老年男性见面，然后用镇静剂麻醉他们，并窃取了数十万美元。联邦调查局官员称这是一起“邪恶”的爱情骗局。其中三名受害者已经死亡，该女子被指控与其中一人的死亡有关。
这名女子名叫奥罗拉·菲尔普斯，现年43岁，目前被拘留在墨西哥。她面临21项指控，包括电信欺诈、身份盗窃和一项导致死亡的绑架罪。据称，菲尔普斯在2021年和2022年期间针对这些受害者，其中一名受害者在昏迷后醒来，原因是菲尔普斯在一周内给他服用了处方镇静剂。在其中一起案件中，菲尔普斯被指控绑架了一名受害者，她给受害者注射了大量镇静剂，然后用轮椅将他带到美国-墨西哥边境，最后带到墨西哥城的一家酒店房间，受害者后来在那里被发现死亡。
联邦调查局官员表示，在使受害者失去能力后，菲尔普斯偷走了他们的汽车，从他们的银行账户中取款，使用他们的信用卡购买奢侈品和黄金，甚至试图获取他们的社会保障和退休账户。当局称，这起案件是“类固醇上的爱情骗局”。
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一名女子利用在线约会应用引诱至少四名老年男性见面，然后用镇静剂麻醉他们，并窃取了数十万美元。联邦调查局官员称这是一起“邪恶”的爱情骗局。其中三名受害者已经死亡，该女子被指控与其中一人的死亡有关。
这名女子名叫奥罗拉·菲尔普斯，现年43岁，目前被拘留在墨西哥。她面临21项指控，包括电信欺诈、身份盗窃和一项导致死亡的绑架罪。据称，菲尔普斯在2021年和2022年期间针对这些受害者，其中一名受害者在昏迷后醒来，原因是菲尔普斯在一周内给他服用了处方镇静剂。在其中一起案件中，菲尔普斯被指控绑架了一名受害者，她给受害者注射了大量镇静剂，然后用轮椅将他带到美国-墨西哥边境，最后带到墨西哥城的一家酒店房间，受害者后来在那里被发现死亡。
联邦调查局官员表示，在使受害者失去能力后，菲尔普斯偷走了他们的汽车，从他们的银行账户中取款，使用他们的信用卡购买奢侈品和黄金，甚至试图获取他们的社会保障和退休账户。当局称，这起案件是“类固醇上的爱情骗局”。
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China ready to take control as US and UK back out of AI Action Summit statement
Analysts suggest China could step into a leadership role in AI governance after the US and UK declined to sign a global declaration on "inclusive and sustainable" AI at a recent Paris summit. This declaration, signed by over 60 countries including China, aims to establish safeguards ensuring AI is open, inclusive, transparent, ethical, safe, secure, and trustworthy.
The UK cited "national security and global governance concerns" for not signing, while the US, through Vice-President J.D. Vance, expressed concerns that excessive regulations could stifle the AI industry. Some experts believe the UK prioritized its alliance with the US in this decision. The absence of the US and UK leaves an opening for China to shape the global AI landscape, while countries in the Global South are unlikely to take sides in any AI rivalry between China and the US.
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Analysts suggest China could step into a leadership role in AI governance after the US and UK declined to sign a global declaration on "inclusive and sustainable" AI at a recent Paris summit. This declaration, signed by over 60 countries including China, aims to establish safeguards ensuring AI is open, inclusive, transparent, ethical, safe, secure, and trustworthy.
The UK cited "national security and global governance concerns" for not signing, while the US, through Vice-President J.D. Vance, expressed concerns that excessive regulations could stifle the AI industry. Some experts believe the UK prioritized its alliance with the US in this decision. The absence of the US and UK leaves an opening for China to shape the global AI landscape, while countries in the Global South are unlikely to take sides in any AI rivalry between China and the US.
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Hong Kong temperatures to dip to 13 degrees on Monday next week
香港天文台预测，下周一香港气温将降至摄氏13度（华氏55.4度）。 周六天气仍然较凉，气温介于15至17度。预计下周中期气温将略有回升。
受东北季候风影响，香港气温将逐渐下降，并在周一早晨变得相当寒冷。下周中期，季候风将逐渐缓和，广东沿海地区的气温将略有上升，并可能出现零星降雨。
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香港天文台预测，下周一香港气温将降至摄氏13度（华氏55.4度）。 周六天气仍然较凉，气温介于15至17度。预计下周中期气温将略有回升。
受东北季候风影响，香港气温将逐渐下降，并在周一早晨变得相当寒冷。下周中期，季候风将逐渐缓和，广东沿海地区的气温将略有上升，并可能出现零星降雨。
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Show me the money: unveiling Hong Kong’s 10 biggest spenders in government
香港财政司司长陈茂波呼吁各政府部门勒紧裤腰带，以应对预计近1000亿港元的财政赤字。此举引发部分人士担忧，认为预算削减可能导致弱势群体生活成本上升，这或将与其他政府政策相悖，并损害香港的长期发展。
在各政府部门中，社会福利署支出最高，达到1086.2亿港元，约占公共支出的18%，主要用于社会保障，包括为弱势群体提供支持。卫生局位居第二，支出为967.7亿港元，约占总支出的16%，其中超过96%的资金流向医院管理局，该机构负责管理43家公立医院和机构。教育局排名第三，支出为796.9亿港元，占总支出的13%，其中约40%用于中学教育，31%用于小学教育。
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香港财政司司长陈茂波呼吁各政府部门勒紧裤腰带，以应对预计近1000亿港元的财政赤字。此举引发部分人士担忧，认为预算削减可能导致弱势群体生活成本上升，这或将与其他政府政策相悖，并损害香港的长期发展。
在各政府部门中，社会福利署支出最高，达到1086.2亿港元，约占公共支出的18%，主要用于社会保障，包括为弱势群体提供支持。卫生局位居第二，支出为967.7亿港元，约占总支出的16%，其中超过96%的资金流向医院管理局，该机构负责管理43家公立医院和机构。教育局排名第三，支出为796.9亿港元，占总支出的13%，其中约40%用于中学教育，31%用于小学教育。
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Trump says Russia attacked Ukraine in U-turn, predicts deal on minerals soon
By Reuters
President Donald Trump reversed course on Friday and said Russia did in fact invade Ukraine, and that Kyiv would soon sign a minerals agreement with the United States as part of efforts to end the Ukraine war.
Trump had said on Tuesday that Ukraine “should have never started” the war three years ago, prompting a wave of criticism both domestically and internationally.
Pressed on the subject in an interview with Fox News Radio on Friday, he acknowledged Russia had invaded Ukraine on the order of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Russia attacked, but they shouldn’t have let him attack,” Trump said, adding that Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and then US president Joe Biden should have taken steps to avert the invasion.
Later, Trump predicted a minerals agreement would be reached soon.
“We’re signing an agreement, hopefully in the next fairly short period of time,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked about a possible deal for Ukraine’s minerals.
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By Reuters
President Donald Trump reversed course on Friday and said Russia did in fact invade Ukraine, and that Kyiv would soon sign a minerals agreement with the United States as part of efforts to end the Ukraine war.
Trump had said on Tuesday that Ukraine “should have never started” the war three years ago, prompting a wave of criticism both domestically and internationally.
Pressed on the subject in an interview with Fox News Radio on Friday, he acknowledged Russia had invaded Ukraine on the order of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Russia attacked, but they shouldn’t have let him attack,” Trump said, adding that Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and then US president Joe Biden should have taken steps to avert the invasion.
Later, Trump predicted a minerals agreement would be reached soon.
“We’re signing an agreement, hopefully in the next fairly short period of time,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked about a possible deal for Ukraine’s minerals.
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PLA steps up Taiwan military patrols over Lunar New Year holiday
During the Lunar New Year holiday, China's military significantly increased its activity near Taiwan, signaling a continued pressure campaign. Taiwan's defense ministry reported a rise in PLA aircraft and naval vessels operating in the area compared to the previous year, with a notable increase in aircraft crossing the median line.
This escalation aligns with a trend observed since William Lai Ching-te, from the DPP, assumed office in Taiwan. Analysts interpret Beijing's actions as a normalization of its military presence, reinforcing its claim over Taiwan and its willingness to use force if necessary to assert control.
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During the Lunar New Year holiday, China's military significantly increased its activity near Taiwan, signaling a continued pressure campaign. Taiwan's defense ministry reported a rise in PLA aircraft and naval vessels operating in the area compared to the previous year, with a notable increase in aircraft crossing the median line.
This escalation aligns with a trend observed since William Lai Ching-te, from the DPP, assumed office in Taiwan. Analysts interpret Beijing's actions as a normalization of its military presence, reinforcing its claim over Taiwan and its willingness to use force if necessary to assert control.
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Ex-Miss HK winner and other pet owners bewildered by spate of poisonings
By Sammy Heung
Within 30 seconds of eating meat left on a street in Lam Tsuen, two dogs belonging to former Hong Kong beauty queen Lisa-Marie Tse Ga-ye, Peachy and Summer, began foaming at the mouth and dropped to the ground, overcome by seizures.
“[Peachy] was kind of jumping back, she was very scared … There was like this white horrible, horrible foam just coming out like every second,” the Miss Hong Kong 2020 winner recalled.
“When I turned round back from Peachy, then Summer started to have seizures as well.”
Her two dogs ate what appeared to be a mixture of roasted pork and chicken covered in white powder. Peachy died during the ride to the veterinarian, while Summer was alive when she arrived at the clinic only for her heart to stop 15 minutes later.
Tse adopted Summer, a dachshund, at 12 weeks old in Scotland in 2017, and met Peachy, a mixed-breed, who was 12 weeks old, at a charity event in 2021.
“I’ve been emotionally traumatised,” she said. “That’s like two months of absolute horribleness and both my dogs are dead now.”
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By Sammy Heung
Within 30 seconds of eating meat left on a street in Lam Tsuen, two dogs belonging to former Hong Kong beauty queen Lisa-Marie Tse Ga-ye, Peachy and Summer, began foaming at the mouth and dropped to the ground, overcome by seizures.
“[Peachy] was kind of jumping back, she was very scared … There was like this white horrible, horrible foam just coming out like every second,” the Miss Hong Kong 2020 winner recalled.
“When I turned round back from Peachy, then Summer started to have seizures as well.”
Her two dogs ate what appeared to be a mixture of roasted pork and chicken covered in white powder. Peachy died during the ride to the veterinarian, while Summer was alive when she arrived at the clinic only for her heart to stop 15 minutes later.
Tse adopted Summer, a dachshund, at 12 weeks old in Scotland in 2017, and met Peachy, a mixed-breed, who was 12 weeks old, at a charity event in 2021.
“I’ve been emotionally traumatised,” she said. “That’s like two months of absolute horribleness and both my dogs are dead now.”
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Malaysia rages at Trump’s Gaza ‘Riviera’ gambit – but what can it do?
By Hadi Azmi
Donald Trump’s brazen proposal to expel more than 2 million Palestinians from Gaza and morph the war-torn territory into the “Riviera of the Middle East” has ignited a firestorm of outrage in Malaysia, Asia’s most vocal advocate for the Palestinian cause.
First to condemn the plan was the Malaysian chapter of the influential Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions Movement against Israel, calling Trump’s idea “shockingly ill-conceived” and one that “belongs in the dustbin”.
Since the outbreak of war in Gaza more than 500 days ago, the movement has spearheaded a boycott campaign that resonated deeply with the Malaysian public, dealing a major blow to Western brands perceived as having ties to Israel including Starbucks, McDonald’s and KFC.
For many in the Muslim-majority nation that has long supported the Palestinian cause, Trump’s announcement completely undercut the fragile ceasefire deal with Hamas that he had loudly claimed credit for.
Malaysian accountant Nor Aida Yassin expressed disbelief, saying the Gaza plan “tops the list” of the bizarre and contentious things the US president has said in his first weeks back in office.
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By Hadi Azmi
Donald Trump’s brazen proposal to expel more than 2 million Palestinians from Gaza and morph the war-torn territory into the “Riviera of the Middle East” has ignited a firestorm of outrage in Malaysia, Asia’s most vocal advocate for the Palestinian cause.
First to condemn the plan was the Malaysian chapter of the influential Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions Movement against Israel, calling Trump’s idea “shockingly ill-conceived” and one that “belongs in the dustbin”.
Since the outbreak of war in Gaza more than 500 days ago, the movement has spearheaded a boycott campaign that resonated deeply with the Malaysian public, dealing a major blow to Western brands perceived as having ties to Israel including Starbucks, McDonald’s and KFC.
For many in the Muslim-majority nation that has long supported the Palestinian cause, Trump’s announcement completely undercut the fragile ceasefire deal with Hamas that he had loudly claimed credit for.
Malaysian accountant Nor Aida Yassin expressed disbelief, saying the Gaza plan “tops the list” of the bizarre and contentious things the US president has said in his first weeks back in office.
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I look Chinese but don’t speak the language. Is that so bad?
By Christina Pantin
Tôi không phải là người Việt Nam, tôi là người Mỹ gốc Malaysia. (“I’m not Vietnamese; I’m an American originally from Malaysia.”)
This was the first phrase I asked my Vietnamese language instructor to teach me as I took up the bureau chief position for Reuters in Hanoi. I found it necessary to recite this often to establish my background at the outset, because to many Vietnamese, I looked Vietnamese.
It occurred to me as I moved back to Hong Kong in 2019 that I might need to memorise something similar in Cantonese. I am ethnically Chinese, and I think I look Chinese (or at least Asian; I’ve been mistaken for a Thai in Bangkok, and a Filipina in Manila). I did eventually settle on a phrase, sik teng mm sik gong, which covers a multitude of my linguistic sins – “I understand, but can’t speak.”
My Chinese vocabulary has been frozen in time since primary school, when conversations were simple in our hometown, Petaling Jaya, a satellite city of Kuala Lumpur. My siblings and I spoke Chinese to our live-in amah, our paternal grandmother, taxi drivers, market vendors and in restaurants.
My parents are to blame. While neither had higher education, both became native-level English speakers, reading voraciously and passing down the reading bug to their five children. We devoured all manner of English-language material, written, spoken and on celluloid. Working for an American oil company, my father brought home Time and Newsweek magazines, and the Western influence was further transmitted via music: Frank Sinatra and Perry Como, Mozart and Bach, Fiddler on the Roof and My Fair Lady, and later, Police and Earth, Wind and Fire. (And, OK, don’t hate me, but even Abba.)
The exception was when our parents took us to every Bruce Lee film screened in Kuala Lumpur, as well as any “historical” Chinese movie, like one about the Boxer Rebellion. I guess it was their way of giving us a touchstone for being Chinese, or in the case of Lee, letting us connect with a rare global Chinese icon.
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By Christina Pantin
Tôi không phải là người Việt Nam, tôi là người Mỹ gốc Malaysia. (“I’m not Vietnamese; I’m an American originally from Malaysia.”)
This was the first phrase I asked my Vietnamese language instructor to teach me as I took up the bureau chief position for Reuters in Hanoi. I found it necessary to recite this often to establish my background at the outset, because to many Vietnamese, I looked Vietnamese.
It occurred to me as I moved back to Hong Kong in 2019 that I might need to memorise something similar in Cantonese. I am ethnically Chinese, and I think I look Chinese (or at least Asian; I’ve been mistaken for a Thai in Bangkok, and a Filipina in Manila). I did eventually settle on a phrase, sik teng mm sik gong, which covers a multitude of my linguistic sins – “I understand, but can’t speak.”
My Chinese vocabulary has been frozen in time since primary school, when conversations were simple in our hometown, Petaling Jaya, a satellite city of Kuala Lumpur. My siblings and I spoke Chinese to our live-in amah, our paternal grandmother, taxi drivers, market vendors and in restaurants.
My parents are to blame. While neither had higher education, both became native-level English speakers, reading voraciously and passing down the reading bug to their five children. We devoured all manner of English-language material, written, spoken and on celluloid. Working for an American oil company, my father brought home Time and Newsweek magazines, and the Western influence was further transmitted via music: Frank Sinatra and Perry Como, Mozart and Bach, Fiddler on the Roof and My Fair Lady, and later, Police and Earth, Wind and Fire. (And, OK, don’t hate me, but even Abba.)
The exception was when our parents took us to every Bruce Lee film screened in Kuala Lumpur, as well as any “historical” Chinese movie, like one about the Boxer Rebellion. I guess it was their way of giving us a touchstone for being Chinese, or in the case of Lee, letting us connect with a rare global Chinese icon.
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Donald Trump abruptly sacks top US military general CQ Brown
By Associated Press
US President Donald Trump abruptly fired Air Force General CQ Brown as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Friday, sidelining a history-making fighter pilot and respected officer as part of a campaign to rid the military of leaders who support diversity and equity in the ranks.
The ouster of Brown, only the second black general to serve as chairman, is sure to send shock waves through the Pentagon. His 16 months in the job had been consumed with the war in Ukraine and the expanded conflict in the Middle East.
“I want to thank General Charles ‘CQ’ Brown for his over 40 years of service to our country, including as our current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is a fine gentleman and an outstanding leader, and I wish a great future for him and his family,” Trump posted on social media.
Trump said he was nominating Air Force Lieutenant General Dan “Razin” Caine to be the next chairman. Caine is a career F-16 pilot who served on active duty and in the National Guard, and had most recently served as the associate director for military affairs at the CIA, according to his official military biography.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, in a statement praising both Caine and Brown, announced the firings of two additional senior officers: Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti and Vice-Chief of Staff of the Air Force General Jim Slife.
Brown had spent the day at the US-Mexico border, assessing the military’s rapid build-up of forces to meet Trump’s executive order on countering illegal immigration.
Trump acted despite support for Brown among key members of Congress and a seemingly friendly meeting with him in mid-December, when the two were seated next to each other for a time at the army-navy football game. Brown had been meeting regularly with Hegseth, who took over the top Pentagon job just four weeks ago.
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By Associated Press
US President Donald Trump abruptly fired Air Force General CQ Brown as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Friday, sidelining a history-making fighter pilot and respected officer as part of a campaign to rid the military of leaders who support diversity and equity in the ranks.
The ouster of Brown, only the second black general to serve as chairman, is sure to send shock waves through the Pentagon. His 16 months in the job had been consumed with the war in Ukraine and the expanded conflict in the Middle East.
“I want to thank General Charles ‘CQ’ Brown for his over 40 years of service to our country, including as our current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is a fine gentleman and an outstanding leader, and I wish a great future for him and his family,” Trump posted on social media.
Trump said he was nominating Air Force Lieutenant General Dan “Razin” Caine to be the next chairman. Caine is a career F-16 pilot who served on active duty and in the National Guard, and had most recently served as the associate director for military affairs at the CIA, according to his official military biography.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, in a statement praising both Caine and Brown, announced the firings of two additional senior officers: Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti and Vice-Chief of Staff of the Air Force General Jim Slife.
Brown had spent the day at the US-Mexico border, assessing the military’s rapid build-up of forces to meet Trump’s executive order on countering illegal immigration.
Trump acted despite support for Brown among key members of Congress and a seemingly friendly meeting with him in mid-December, when the two were seated next to each other for a time at the army-navy football game. Brown had been meeting regularly with Hegseth, who took over the top Pentagon job just four weeks ago.
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Deadline diplomacy: Trump’s Gaza ‘Riviera’ scheme mobilises the Arab world
Donald Trump's proposal to relocate Gaza's 2.2 million residents and transform the area into a Mediterranean resort has sparked widespread condemnation and diplomatic efforts to defuse potential chaos in the Middle East. The plan, viewed as a colonialist fantasy and a blueprint for ethnic cleansing, has been embraced by Israel's far-right government but faces strong international backlash.
Experts warn that forced relocation would likely be met with fierce Palestinian resistance, potentially triggering further violence and instability. Egypt and Jordan, suggested by Trump as potential destinations for displaced Palestinians, have rejected the idea of hosting millions of Gazan refugees, highlighting the impracticality and potential regional consequences of the proposal.
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Donald Trump's proposal to relocate Gaza's 2.2 million residents and transform the area into a Mediterranean resort has sparked widespread condemnation and diplomatic efforts to defuse potential chaos in the Middle East. The plan, viewed as a colonialist fantasy and a blueprint for ethnic cleansing, has been embraced by Israel's far-right government but faces strong international backlash.
Experts warn that forced relocation would likely be met with fierce Palestinian resistance, potentially triggering further violence and instability. Egypt and Jordan, suggested by Trump as potential destinations for displaced Palestinians, have rejected the idea of hosting millions of Gazan refugees, highlighting the impracticality and potential regional consequences of the proposal.
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Dennis Lo bets on blood to bare all, with tests that saved 10 million mums from the needle
Professor Dennis Lo Yuk-ming's pioneering work in 1995, which discovered fetal DNA in maternal plasma, has revolutionized prenatal testing, sparing millions of expecting mothers from invasive amniocentesis. His groundbreaking discovery led to the development of the T21 blood test for Down syndrome and other genetic diseases, now available in 90 countries. Lo envisions future blood tests capable of revealing much more about a person's health, including neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's and age-related diseases.
Inspired by observing instant noodles, Lo's initial discovery involved finding DNA fragments in the blood plasma of pregnant women. The T21 test, priced between HK$4,500 and HK$8,000 in Hong Kong, has been widely adopted since 2011. Lo's ongoing research focuses on utilizing circular nucleic acids for diagnosing neurodegenerative diseases and exploring epigenetics as a "clock of the DNA" to understand aging. This work underscores his continued progress in pathology, as highlighted just before he assumed the presidency of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).
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Professor Dennis Lo Yuk-ming's pioneering work in 1995, which discovered fetal DNA in maternal plasma, has revolutionized prenatal testing, sparing millions of expecting mothers from invasive amniocentesis. His groundbreaking discovery led to the development of the T21 blood test for Down syndrome and other genetic diseases, now available in 90 countries. Lo envisions future blood tests capable of revealing much more about a person's health, including neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's and age-related diseases.
Inspired by observing instant noodles, Lo's initial discovery involved finding DNA fragments in the blood plasma of pregnant women. The T21 test, priced between HK$4,500 and HK$8,000 in Hong Kong, has been widely adopted since 2011. Lo's ongoing research focuses on utilizing circular nucleic acids for diagnosing neurodegenerative diseases and exploring epigenetics as a "clock of the DNA" to understand aging. This work underscores his continued progress in pathology, as highlighted just before he assumed the presidency of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).
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Trump orders new curbs on Chinese investments in strategic areas
美国总统特朗普签署了一份备忘录，指示美国外国投资委员会限制中国在战略领域的投资。此举旨在保护美国国家安全利益，防范来自中国等外国对手的威胁，同时促进外国投资。
备忘录指出，中国正在“利用美国的资本和智慧来资助其军事、情报和安全行动的现代化，对美国安全构成直接威胁”。美国将制定新规，限制中国等外国对手利用美国的资本、技术和知识，确保只有符合美国利益的投资才能被允许。此外，特朗普政府还将考虑对美国在半导体、人工智能、量子技术、生物技术、航空航天等敏感技术领域对华投资实施新的或更严格的限制，此举可能会加剧与中国的经济紧张关系。
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美国总统特朗普签署了一份备忘录，指示美国外国投资委员会限制中国在战略领域的投资。此举旨在保护美国国家安全利益，防范来自中国等外国对手的威胁，同时促进外国投资。
备忘录指出，中国正在“利用美国的资本和智慧来资助其军事、情报和安全行动的现代化，对美国安全构成直接威胁”。美国将制定新规，限制中国等外国对手利用美国的资本、技术和知识，确保只有符合美国利益的投资才能被允许。此外，特朗普政府还将考虑对美国在半导体、人工智能、量子技术、生物技术、航空航天等敏感技术领域对华投资实施新的或更严格的限制，此举可能会加剧与中国的经济紧张关系。
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Hong Kong Bar Association chair urges global unity against planned US sanctions on judges
香港大律师公会新任主席呼吁全球法律协会联合起来，反对美国可能对香港法官和检察官采取的惩罚性措施。 他强调，任何对司法程序的干预都将损害司法公正。
主席Jose-Antonio Maurellet表示，计划在今年晚些时候重启大律师公会的公益计划，并与更多非营利组织合作，以帮助那些无力承担法律服务费用的人。此前，美国两党议员提出了旨在制裁涉及国安法案件的香港法官和检察官的法案，引发了对香港法律界潜在影响的担忧。
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香港大律师公会新任主席呼吁全球法律协会联合起来，反对美国可能对香港法官和检察官采取的惩罚性措施。 他强调，任何对司法程序的干预都将损害司法公正。
主席Jose-Antonio Maurellet表示，计划在今年晚些时候重启大律师公会的公益计划，并与更多非营利组织合作，以帮助那些无力承担法律服务费用的人。此前，美国两党议员提出了旨在制裁涉及国安法案件的香港法官和检察官的法案，引发了对香港法律界潜在影响的担忧。
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As Trump’s US draws Russia closer, should China worry?
Analysts in China believe that a potential US-Russia rapprochement poses little threat to China's strategic partnership with Russia. Despite recent talks between US and Russian officials about normalizing ties, the deep-rooted strategic alignment between China and Russia, driven by their shared goal of countering Western influence and strong economic ties, makes their partnership resilient.
Russia has been quick to reassure China amid these developments, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussing Russia-US relations with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. This reassurance, coupled with the fact that analysts see no indication of US-Russia relations being rebuilt to the point where Moscow would turn away from Beijing, suggests that the China-Russia partnership remains solid, despite the changing dynamics between the US and Russia.
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Analysts in China believe that a potential US-Russia rapprochement poses little threat to China's strategic partnership with Russia. Despite recent talks between US and Russian officials about normalizing ties, the deep-rooted strategic alignment between China and Russia, driven by their shared goal of countering Western influence and strong economic ties, makes their partnership resilient.
Russia has been quick to reassure China amid these developments, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussing Russia-US relations with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. This reassurance, coupled with the fact that analysts see no indication of US-Russia relations being rebuilt to the point where Moscow would turn away from Beijing, suggests that the China-Russia partnership remains solid, despite the changing dynamics between the US and Russia.
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Hamas releases new body it says is Shiri Bibas, as Gaza ceasefire hangs in the balance
哈马斯周五释放了一具尸体，声称是以色列人质 Shiri Bibas 的遗骸。此前，本周的移交过程中，对 Shiri Bibas 身份的错误辨认险些破坏了脆弱的加沙停火协议。以色列医疗部门表示，法医团队正在准备检查这具由哈马斯通过红十字会移交的尸体，以确认其身份。
根据停火协议，哈马斯原本同意在周四移交 Shiri Bibas 和她的两个年幼儿子 Kfir 和 Ariel 的遗体，以及第四名人质的遗骸。然而，虽然 Bibas 的两个儿子和另一名人质 Oded Lifshitz 的身份得到了确认，但以色列专家表示，第四具尸体是一名身份不明的女性，并非 Shiri Bibas。哈马斯政治局成员 Basem Naim 表示，可能会出现“不幸的错误”，特别是因为以色列的轰炸将以色列人质和巴勒斯坦人的尸体混在了一起，而仍有数千人被埋在废墟中。
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哈马斯周五释放了一具尸体，声称是以色列人质 Shiri Bibas 的遗骸。此前，本周的移交过程中，对 Shiri Bibas 身份的错误辨认险些破坏了脆弱的加沙停火协议。以色列医疗部门表示，法医团队正在准备检查这具由哈马斯通过红十字会移交的尸体，以确认其身份。
根据停火协议，哈马斯原本同意在周四移交 Shiri Bibas 和她的两个年幼儿子 Kfir 和 Ariel 的遗体，以及第四名人质的遗骸。然而，虽然 Bibas 的两个儿子和另一名人质 Oded Lifshitz 的身份得到了确认，但以色列专家表示，第四具尸体是一名身份不明的女性，并非 Shiri Bibas。哈马斯政治局成员 Basem Naim 表示，可能会出现“不幸的错误”，特别是因为以色列的轰炸将以色列人质和巴勒斯坦人的尸体混在了一起，而仍有数千人被埋在废墟中。
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We need a new system that reflects the world’s complexity
The United States is seemingly retreating from its long-standing European alliances and reducing its support for international organizations like the UN and WTO, signaling a shift away from the established world order. This coincides with a decline in trust in internationalism and a rise in ethno-nationalism, contributing to populist protectionism and geopolitical tensions.
These global shifts necessitate a new approach to international relations, termed "sustainable internationalism," which emphasizes building trust and cooperation in a multipolar world. This approach acknowledges the importance of international collaboration in addressing shared challenges like technological advancements and climate change, while also recognizing the reality of competition between nations.
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The United States is seemingly retreating from its long-standing European alliances and reducing its support for international organizations like the UN and WTO, signaling a shift away from the established world order. This coincides with a decline in trust in internationalism and a rise in ethno-nationalism, contributing to populist protectionism and geopolitical tensions.
These global shifts necessitate a new approach to international relations, termed "sustainable internationalism," which emphasizes building trust and cooperation in a multipolar world. This approach acknowledges the importance of international collaboration in addressing shared challenges like technological advancements and climate change, while also recognizing the reality of competition between nations.
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LA mayor sacks fire chief over handling of worst wildfire in city history
By Associated Press
Six weeks after the most destructive wildfire in city history, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass ousted the city’s fire chief on Friday amid a public rift over preparations for a potential fire and finger-pointing between the chief and City Hall over responsibility for the devastation.
Bass said she is removing Chief Kristin Crowley immediately. “Bringing new leadership to the Fire Department is what our city needs,” the mayor said in a statement.
At a news conference on Friday afternoon, Bass said that Crowley had refused to do an after-action report on the wildfires.
“We know that 1,000 firefighters that could have been on duty on the morning the fires broke out were instead sent home on Chief Crowley’s watch,” Bass said.
Bass said Crowley has previously called her in advance of weather that raises fire risk, but that she did not do that in early January.
“She has my cellphone, she knows she can call me 24/7,” Bass said.
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By Associated Press
Six weeks after the most destructive wildfire in city history, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass ousted the city’s fire chief on Friday amid a public rift over preparations for a potential fire and finger-pointing between the chief and City Hall over responsibility for the devastation.
Bass said she is removing Chief Kristin Crowley immediately. “Bringing new leadership to the Fire Department is what our city needs,” the mayor said in a statement.
At a news conference on Friday afternoon, Bass said that Crowley had refused to do an after-action report on the wildfires.
“We know that 1,000 firefighters that could have been on duty on the morning the fires broke out were instead sent home on Chief Crowley’s watch,” Bass said.
Bass said Crowley has previously called her in advance of weather that raises fire risk, but that she did not do that in early January.
“She has my cellphone, she knows she can call me 24/7,” Bass said.
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