25 m. ago DeepSeek technique to improve AI’s ability to ‘read’ long texts questioned by new research

A group of researchers from China and Japan has challenged a method unveiled several months ago by Chinese artificial intelligence start-up DeepSeek that was designed to improve AI’s ability to handle long blocks of text, marking a rare case of the company’s research being publicly questioned. The DeepSeek-OCR (optical character recognition) method, designed to compress text by using visual representations, potentially revolutionising how AI models handle long texts, was flawed due to...

Science

91 m. ago As U.S. orders fade, Chinese salespeople face tough grind in new markets

As U.S. orders fade, Chinese salespeople face tough grind in new markets  Reuters

Economics

1 hour ago Record snow in Russia’s far east blocks building entrances, buries cars

The biggest snowfall in 60 years on Russia’s Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula created vast drifts several metres tall that blocked building entrances and buried cars, according to Reuters visuals and weather monitoring stations. In some areas more than 2 metres (6.5 feet) of snow has fallen in the first half of January after 3.7 metres in December, according to weather monitoring stations. Heavy snow is not uncommon in Kamchatka - a peninsula which stretches down towards Japan. Reuters...

Politics

1 hour ago Operation Santa Claus: Hong Kong charity to help minority youth become sports coaches

A charity founded in 1979 to support Vietnamese war refugee children in Hong Kong will this year launch a programme to train ethnic minority youth as sports coaches for mainstream youngsters. Treats’ “EM-SPARK” project will train 30 ethnic minority youngsters aged 15 to 18 to coach 3,504 mainstream primary school students and community members in kin-ball, a team game where players work together to keep a giant ball in the air, and taspony, a tennis-like sport played with a larger softball and...

Sport

2 h. ago Singapore’s retail ownership data sparks debate about foreign chains’ influence

When Singapore’s trade minister Gan Kim Yong revealed that locals owned nearly 90 per cent of registered retail businesses in the city state while Chinese nationals came in second at a distant 3 per cent, the figures drew mixed reactions from the public and analysts. The discourse online centred on what the statistics implied – critics felt that though the proportion of foreign-owned entities, especially from China, might be minuscule, most could actually be big brands with multiple outlets,...

Politics

2 h. ago 2 Chinese nationals in Malaysia face US$392,000 tax bills after employer fraud

Two Chinese nationals working in Malaysia are facing income tax bills amounting to 748,073.84 ringgit (US$184,595) and 842,118.84 ringgit, respectively, after their employer allegedly used their identities to submit false salary information to the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN). Li Juan, 42, discovered the issue when she tried to extend her work permit, while the other victim, Chen Bi Ling, 40, who was married to a Malaysian, found out about it when she was extending her spouse’s visa. Speaking at...

Economics

4 h. ago Japan’s Tsushima Maru sinking: will recovery of artefacts end silence on WWII tragedy?

More than 80 years after her mother narrowly survived the sinking of the steamer Tsushima Maru, Tsugiko Taira says the wreck still carries profound meaning and believes artefacts recovered from the seabed could give new voice to one of the worst civilian maritime tragedies of World War II. Her comments come as the Japanese government weighs whether to retrieve items from the deep-sea site for possible public display, following a recent seabed survey and remarks by Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru...

Events

4 h. ago Chinese automotive suppliers speed up localisation to increase global market share

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) supply chain vendors are adding another dimension to their go-global drive: designing batteries and lidar sensors for models by international marques that cater to overseas drivers. As leading players like BYD secure mega deals with major carmakers like Ford, Chinese automotive suppliers that once trailed their global peers are now stamping their authority on the EV sector. Chinese vendors were enjoying an overwhelming advantage over their international rivals in...

Politics

4 h. ago Chinese automotive suppliers speed up localisation to boost global market share

Chinese automotive suppliers speed up localisation to boost global market share  South China Morning Post

Politics

6 h. ago Ford bemoans Chinese EV deal, says he still hasn't spoken to Carney

Ford bemoans Chinese EV deal, says he still hasn't spoken to Carney  CBC

Politics

6 h. ago Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney cuts tariffs on Chinese EVs in deal with China

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney cuts tariffs on Chinese EVs in deal with China  Fox Business

Politics

9 h. ago Valentino, fashion designer to the stars, dies aged 93 in Rome

Valentino Garavani, the jet-set Italian designer whose high-glamour gowns – often in his trademark shade of “Valentino red” – were fashion show staples for nearly half a century, has died at home in Rome, his foundation announced on Monday. He was 93. “Valentino Garavani was not only a constant guide and inspiration for all of us, but a true source of light, creativity and vision,” the foundation said in a statement posted on social media. His body will repose at the foundation’s headquarters in...

Events

9 h. ago Valentino, fashion designer to the jet set, stars and royalty, dead at 93

Valentino Garavani, the jet-set Italian designer whose high-glamour gowns – often in his trademark shade of “Valentino red” – were fashion show staples for nearly half a century, has died at home in Rome, his foundation announced on Monday. He was 93. “Valentino Garavani was not only a constant guide and inspiration for all of us, but a true source of light, creativity and vision,” the foundation said in a statement posted on social media. His body will repose at the foundation’s headquarters in...

Events

11 h. ago Explosion at Chinese restaurant in Kabul kills 7, injures a dozen more

An explosion at a Chinese restaurant in central Kabul on Monday killed at least seven people and wounded more than a dozen others, emergency services said. An Agence France-Presse journalist saw police cars and an ambulance at the scene following the blast on a street known for its flower sellers in the Shahr-e-Naw area. Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran said the explosion happened at the Chinese Noodle restaurant, which he said mainly served Chinese Muslims. “A Chinese Muslim ... and six...

Events

11 h. ago Explosion at Chinese restaurant in Afghan capital Kabul kills 7

A blast at a Chinese restaurant in central Kabul on Monday killed at least seven people and wounded more than a dozen others, emergency services said. An Agence France-Presse journalist saw police vehicles and an ambulance at the scene following the explosion on a street known for its flower sellers in the Shahr-e-Naw area. Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran said the explosion occurred at the Chinese Noodle restaurant, which he said mainly served Chinese Muslims. “A Chinese Muslim, Ayub, and...

Events

11 h. ago 'Absolutely Rolled': U.S. Officials Blast Canada's Cheap Chinese EV Deal

'Absolutely Rolled': U.S. Officials Blast Canada's Cheap Chinese EV Deal  InsideEVs

Politics

12 h. ago Understanding the trends of various neurological disorders in the Chinese population

Understanding the trends of various neurological disorders in the Chinese population  News-Medical

Politics

15 h. ago Chinese premier chairs symposium to solicit opinions on draft gov't work report, five

Chinese premier chairs symposium to solicit opinions on draft gov't work report, five-year plan  Xinhua

Politics

15 h. ago Nio Wins Two More Defamation Cases Against Content Creators in China

Nio Wins Two More Defamation Cases Against Content Creators in China  eletric-vehicles.com

Politics

16 h. ago Exclusive: Chinese importer buys Canadian canola, denting Australian export hopes

Exclusive: Chinese importer buys Canadian canola, denting Australian export hopes  Reuters

Politics