UBTech partners with furniture chain to bring 10,000 robots to Chinese homes

UBTech Robotics is partnering with Easyhome New Retail Group to sell a total of 10,500 robots, including models designed for elderly care, signaling UBTech's push into the consumer market. The initial phase involves UBTech selling 500 humanoid robots to Easyhome for enhancing the shopping experience in furniture stores.

Easyhome plans to sell 10,000 UBTech robots to its customers, focusing on promoting intelligent elderly care robots for home service. The collaboration also includes developing "renovation robots" to improve efficiency and reduce costs in home remodeling. This partnership arrives amid rising public interest and production levels of humanoid robots in China, with service robot production increasing nearly 36% year-over-year from January to February.

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China sends delegation to Panama after ports deal, belt and road exit

China has dispatched a high-level delegation to Panama amid rising tensions surrounding the Panama Canal. The visit, led by Ma Hui, a vice-minister of the Communist Party’s International Department, is seen as an effort to understand and potentially address recent developments that have strained relations between the two countries.

The delegation's visit follows Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing’s CK Hutchison Holdings' decision to sell its port operations near the Panama Canal to a group led by American investment firm BlackRock, a move criticized by China as a "betrayal." This sale, coupled with Panama's recent withdrawal from China's Belt and Road Initiative under pressure from the US, suggests a potential shift in Panama's alignment, prompting China to seek clarity on Panama's strategic direction and the implications for its trade and shipping routes.

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Trump challenges Biden’s pardons, claiming autopen use renders them ‘void’

特朗普声称,拜登总统使用自动签名笔签署的对调查1月6日国会山骚乱议员的赦免令“无效、空缺且不具任何效力”。 此举暗示特朗普政府可能试图推翻一个多世纪以来关于总统赦免的法律和惯例。

特朗普的这一声明源于保守派传统基金会提出的类似论点,他们认为拜登使用了自动签名笔,理由是多个拜登文件上的签名看起来完全相同。虽然特朗普承认法院应最终裁决赦免的有效性,但他的言论为司法部起诉拜登的一些主要政治对手打开了可能性,其中包括前国会议员利兹·切尼、退役将领马克·米利和传染病专家安东尼·福奇,他们在拜登总统任期的最后一天获得了赦免,此前特朗普曾在竞选活动中威胁要起诉他们。

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Separate fees for Hong Kong’s public medical services ‘could lead to abuse’

香港公立医院计划对非紧急医疗需求的香港居民的实验室检测和扫描收取额外费用,这可能导致滥用急诊服务的情况增加。前卫生官员和患者权益组织警告称,为了获得免费医疗帮助,一些人可能会转向急诊服务。

香港医院管理局前行政总裁陆志聪医生表示,他基本同意政府实施新收费机制以缓解公共系统压力的提议。然而,倡导团体香港病人互助组织表示,额外的费用可能会迫使弱势居民推迟诊断或完全放弃寻求医疗帮助。卫生局局长卢宠茂上周表示,政府计划对公立医院门诊病人 ранее包含在标准就诊费用中的某些服务实行逐项收费,包括CT扫描和MRI等服务,以解决日益增长的需求和漫长的等待时间问题。2023-24年度,非紧急患者在公共医疗系统中进行CT扫描的平均等待时间为69周,MRI为92周,而大多数紧急病例的两种扫描仍需等待约三周。

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Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog offers stark warning against educational courses

香港消费者委员会呼吁市民在报名教育课程时保持警惕。今年头两个月已收到94起相关投诉,其中一起案例中,一名消费者因被拒绝“100%保证”退款而损失了34,800港元(约4,477美元)。投诉涉及社交媒体营销、生活指导和个人理财管理等课程。

其中一起投诉案例显示,一名女士报名参加了一家未公开公司提供的社交媒体营销课程,价格为87,000港元。在与课程顾问的免费咨询中,她被告知学费可以按月支付,每月8,700港元,外加520港元用于相关社交平台上的广告。课程顾问还声称,如果她立即注册,可以获得“100%退款保证”,但四个月后,该女士发现她每月还需要额外支付1,400港元用于各种数字工具。

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British woman trapped in toilet dies in Thai dive boat fire

A 26-year-old British woman, Alexandra Clarke, died in a fire on a dive boat near Koh Tao, Thailand, on Sunday. The fire broke out on the Davy Jones Locker as it was en route to a popular dive site, the Southwest Pinnacle, with 22 people on board, including tourists, scuba instructors, and crew.

Witnesses reported that Clarke had surfaced from her dive to use the bathroom and was believed to be inside when the fire started. Initial investigations suggest that a crew member from Myanmar was filling diving tanks when the equipment malfunctioned, triggering the blaze. A distress signal was sent at 9:25 am local time.

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Vietnamese woman gives birth in South Korean ambulance as medical crisis persists

A Vietnamese woman was forced to give birth in a South Korean ambulance after multiple hospitals refused to treat her, highlighting the severe strain on emergency services due to the ongoing doctors' strike. The incident underscores the escalating crisis in South Korea's healthcare system, leaving vulnerable individuals like Ms. A struggling to access timely medical care.

Ms. A, who collapsed at Incheon International Airport near Seoul, was initially taken to Inha University Hospital, but was turned away due to a lack of available gynecological and obstetric staff. Paramedics faced further rejections from other nearby hospitals, prompting them to seek assistance from the emergency management center. The doctors' strike, protesting government plans to increase medical school admissions, has significantly reduced hospital capacity, leaving emergency services overwhelmed and patients at risk.

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Deadly nightclub inferno shocks North Macedonia: ‘children burnt beyond recognition’

North Macedonia is mourning after a devastating nightclub fire in Kocani claimed the lives of 59 people, including teenagers, and injured 155. The tragedy, the deadliest in the nation's recent history, has prompted widespread shock and grief, with President Gordana Davkova Siljanovska expressing her condolences and calling for accountability.

The fire ripped through the overcrowded nightclub early Sunday, leading to a chaotic scene as people desperately tried to escape through the building's only exit. A seven-day mourning period has been declared as the country grapples with the immense loss and demands justice for the victims and their families, with a focus on preventing similar incidents in the future.

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Australian woman admits trying to sell human toes she found in dog vomit

An Australian woman, Joanna Kinman, has pleaded guilty to offensive conduct after attempting to sell human toes recovered from dog vomit on the black market. Kinman, a ranger at an animal shelter in Victoria, retrieved the toes after two dogs surrendered to the shelter regurgitated them along with other human remains.

The dogs' owner had died of natural causes, and the animals subsequently consumed parts of his body. Kinman, upon finding the toes, preserved them in formaldehyde and discussed selling them online with her daughter, believing they could fetch up to A$400 (US$252). Police investigations revealed Kinman was a member of the "Bone Buddies Australia" Facebook group, a platform commonly used for buying and selling specimens online.

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Mainland China names 4 Taiwanese in cyberattack, fake news accusations online

中国国家安全部指控台湾国防部信息、通信和电子部队指挥部(ICEFCOM)的四名成员,自2023年以来对中国大陆进行网络攻击并制造虚假新闻。这是国安部首次公布如此详细的台湾个人信息,包括姓名、照片、出生日期、台湾身份证号码和具体职位。

国安部在社交媒体上发布的帖子称,ICEFCOM充当“台湾独立分裂势力”的傀儡,实施网络攻击并渗透中国大陆。他们雇佣黑客和网络安全公司“窃取国家机密和破坏”,目标包括水、电、气、暖、通信和网络摄像头等关键基础设施。此外,台湾的网络部队还向中国大陆党政军企的关键部门发送钓鱼邮件和反宣传信息。

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This 39-year-old grandma shocks China social media in viral video feeding infant grandson

一位来自中国东部的39岁女子因其年轻的外貌和当上奶奶而走红网络。 这位居住在安徽省宿州市的女子在一段走红的视频中被拍到用奶瓶喂养婴儿,而婴儿的母亲则躺在床上休息。据悉,这个大约一个月的婴儿是这位女士的第一个孙子。

视频由一位据信是亲戚的女子拍摄,她在视频中惊叹这位奶奶的年轻,并表示不知情的人可能会误认为她是婴儿的母亲。这位年轻的奶奶留着长长的马尾辫,化着淡妆,面对镜头显得有些害羞。该视频于3月8日在社交媒体上发布后,迅速引发关注。

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20 out of 37 face primers tested in Hong Kong may disrupt hormones

香港消费者委员会的调查显示,近95%的妆前乳含有可能扰乱内分泌系统、引起过敏或造成环境污染的物质。在测试的37个品牌中,只有2个品牌未发现令人担忧的成分,因此消委会敦促消费者在选择妆前乳时要格外谨慎。特别提醒备孕、怀孕或哺乳期的女性应避免使用含有潜在内分泌干扰物的化妆品。

本次调查涵盖了市面上37款妆前乳,价格从108港元到995港元不等。消委会通过查阅产品标签上的成分列表发现,其中20款产品含有可能扰乱内分泌的成分。消委会建议消费者选择成分简单的产品,并建议青少年避免过早养成化妆习惯。

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Anger in Malaysia over Anwar’s ‘bailout’ of Sapura Energy mounts amid corruption probe

马来西亚反腐机构已对陷入困境的油气公司沙布拉能源公司展开调查。此前政府提议拨款11亿林吉特(约合2.3亿美元)救助该公司,以解决其拖欠2000家供应商款项的问题,此举引发了公众强烈反对。

批评人士认为,用于救助的纳税人资金应该用于加强该国紧张的公共卫生部门。还有人指责总理安瓦尔·易卜拉欣虚伪,指出他过去在反对派以及在前总理马哈蒂尔·穆罕默德政府担任财政部长时,都曾反对救助。安瓦尔坚称,沙布拉能源公司的案例与典型的企业救助不同,因为这些资金专门用于偿还该公司对供应商的债务,并防止该国油气行业中断。马来西亚反腐委员会(MACC)宣布,已对沙布拉能源公司涉嫌滥用资金的指控展开调查。据国家新闻社Bernama援引MACC负责人Azam Baki周六的讲话称,两份已开启的调查文件侧重于2018年左右,该公司名为Sapura Kencana Petroleum Berhad时的洗钱活动和挪用公款行为。

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Buying a mattress in Hong Kong? Read the latest findings here first

香港消费者委员会建议市民在购买床垫前进行充分测试,因为调查发现,只有约三分之一的床垫适合侧睡者。消委会强调,合适的床垫不仅能提高睡眠质量,还能促进脊椎健康。虽然大多数床垫对仰卧者有良好的支撑,但对侧卧者的支撑效果差异较大,较差的型号可能无法提供足够的身体支撑。

本次调查测试了来自宜家、无印良品、Skyler和席梦思等品牌的14款产品,价格从2299港元到9328港元不等。消委会发现床垫的价格与其整体性能并不直接相关,例如,一款售价2499港元的宜家床垫和一款售价8260港元的席梦思床垫均获得了四星(满分五星)的评级,而宜家床垫的性能甚至优于一款售价9328港元的Sealy床垫,后者仅获得3.5星的评级。

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Houthis claim attacks on aircraft carrier group after US strikes in Yemen

也门胡塞武装宣称在24小时内两次袭击了美国航空母舰战斗群,以此报复美国发动的致命袭击。胡塞武装最初表示,他们向红海上的“哈里·杜鲁门号航空母舰及其护航战舰”发射了18枚导弹和一架无人机,几小时后又宣称进行了第二轮袭击。目前美国方面尚未对此事发表评论。

胡塞武装发言人在Telegram上发布的声明中称,袭击航母战斗群是为了“报复美国持续侵略我们的国家”。此前,华盛顿誓言将继续打击也门,直到胡塞武装停止袭击红海航运。美国总统特朗普警告称,他将使用“压倒性的致命武力”。

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Serbia denies using sonic weapon at massive Belgrade protest

Serbian officials are denying claims that security forces used a military-grade sonic weapon to disperse anti-government protesters in Belgrade during a mass rally on Saturday. Opposition officials and rights groups allege the use of the banned acoustic weapon, which emits a targeted beam to temporarily incapacitate people, and plan to file charges with the European Court of Human Rights and domestic courts.

The rally, which drew at least 100,000 people, represents the culmination of months-long protests against President Aleksandar Vucic and his government, sparked by a deadly railway station collapse in November that killed 15 people. Demonstrators blame the tragedy on government corruption and negligence, demanding accountability and shaking Vucic's decade-long grip on power. While Serbia hasn't confirmed using the device, they also haven't denied possessing the acoustic weapon.

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After Vietnam, only China and Mexico have larger US trade deficits – and the US is peeved

The United States is pressuring Vietnam to reduce its trade surplus and further open its markets to American companies. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer conveyed this message to Vietnam's Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien during a meeting in Washington, citing the significant trade deficit the US has with Vietnam.

In response, Minister Dien stated that Vietnam is considering removing trade barriers for US companies and will crack down on export fraud. Following the meeting, Vietnam announced deals between Vietnamese and US companies valued at $4.15 billion. The US trade deficit with Vietnam reached $123.5 billion in 2024, raising concerns amid President Trump's "America First" agenda, which prioritizes tariffs to address perceived unfair trade practices.

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China’s Congolese cobalt edge, Labubu’s Hong Kong origins: 5 weekend reads you missed

本篇报道汇总了上周末亚洲及其他地区的重要新闻,旨在帮助读者了解最新动态。 其中包括刚果(金)的矿产资源开采情况,以及中国生物科技公司科济药业的最新发展。

详细报道包括对刚果(金)铜钴矿的关注,以及对科济药业创始人兼首席执行官Michelle Xia的介绍。此外,还有其他新闻事件的插图,旨在更生动地呈现新闻内容。

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China’s home prices drop for 21st straight month as property recovery remains elusive

中国的新房价格在2月份连续第21个月下跌,房地产市场持续低迷,这表明需要采取更有力的措施来稳定市场。根据国家统计局的数据,2月份70个主要城市的新房价格环比下降0.1%,与1月份的降幅相同。新房价格同比下降5.2%,略好于1月份5.4%的同比降幅。

二手房方面,2月份70个城市二手房价格环比下跌0.3%,与1月份的跌幅持平。同比来看,二手房价格下跌7.5%,跌幅较1月份的7.8%略有收窄。尽管整体数据不容乐观,但上海易居房地产研究院副院长严跃进认为,由于2月份是传统淡季,这样的降幅属于正常现象,并预测今年上半年房价跌幅将持续收窄,部分城市或将率先迎来价格上涨。

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Got a boyfriend? What colour is your underwear? Questions Japan’s female job hunters face

在日本,年轻女性在求职面试中面临着不当提问甚至性骚扰的情况。一些面试官会询问求职者是否有男友、结婚计划,甚至更私密的问题,例如男友是否经常留宿或内衣颜色。这些经历让年轻女性感到不适和困扰。

许多求职者还反映,面试官会邀请她们共进晚餐或饮酒,她们担心拒绝会影响求职结果。尽管一些女性在国际公司求职时没有遇到类似情况,但社交媒体上充斥着年轻女性分享的令人不安的面试经历,这表明职场性别歧视问题在日本依然存在。

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