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Today — 1 May 2025News

Trump tells business chiefs he needs 'little bit of time' as US economy shrinks

1 May 2025 at 09:44
Watch: Donald Trump on the US economy: ‘Give us a little bit of time’

President Donald Trump has asked for more time on the US economy as it contracted for the first time in three years, stoking recession fears.

He said the figure was misleading because companies had stockpiled imports ahead of his imposition of tariffs.

Trump, however, said $8tn (£6tn) of inward investment had been promised, which he argued would restore American manufacturing prowess.

The US economy contracted at an annual rate of 0.3%, the US commerce department said, a sharp downturn after growth of 2.4% in the previous quarter. It comes as Trump marks 100 days in office, with opinion polls indicating public discontent over his economic stewardship.

Speaking on Wednesday afternoon at a White House event attended by business leaders, Trump blamed his Democratic predecessor, President Joe Biden, for the disappointing gross domestic product data.

"This is Biden's economy because we took over on January 20th," Trump said. "I think you have to give us a little bit of time to get moving."

It comes in the aftermath of the Republican president's import taxes, which have disrupted global trade and markets.

Trump's finger pointing at Biden drew scorn from Democrats.

Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, minority leader of the US House of Representatives, said: "This is not Joe Biden's economy, Donald, it is your economy.

"It is the Trump economy, it is a failed economy and the American people know it."

At Wednesday's White House event, Trump touted planned investments in technology, healthcare and infrastructure.

He introduced CEOs of major companies, including Hyundai's Jose Munoz, Toyota's Ted Ogawa, and Johnson & Johnson's Joaquin Duato.

Trump also urged Congress to pass his tax bill, which includes trillions of dollars in tax and spending cuts, but faces opposition from Democrats and some Republicans.

Watch: Trump says he doesn’t want China to ‘suffer’ because of tariffs

At a television appearance earlier in the day with cabinet members, Trump played down fears of shortages of items such as toys, as trade between the US and China falls sharply.

"Well, maybe the children will have to have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, you know?" he said. "And maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally."

Trump has enacted 10% levies on almost all countries importing to the US, after announcing a 90-day pause on higher tariffs. The amount paid by these countries could change after the period expires in July.

Another 25% tariff has been imposed on Mexico and Canada. The levies on China, however, have led to an all-out trade war with the world's second largest economy.

Trump imposed import taxes of up to 145% on Chinese goods coming into the US and China hit back with a 125% tax on American products.

His administration said when the new tariffs were added on to existing ones, the levies on some Chinese goods could reach 245%.

Russian launches deadly drone attack on Odesa, governor says

1 May 2025 at 11:46
Reuters Emergency services work at a site damaged during a Russian drone attack in Odesa, Ukraine, in this screengrab from a video released by mayor Hennadii Trukhanov on Telegram.Reuters
Residential buildings were damaged in the attack, the governor said

Russian drones have killed at least two people and injured another five in a sustained attack on the Ukrainian city of Odesa, the governor of the region has said.

Residential high-rise buildings, a supermarket and school were damaged, Oleh Kiper posted on Telegram.

Elsewhere in Ukraine, the mayor of Kharkiv said a drone had struck a petrol station in the city centre, and explosions were also heard in the city of Sumy.

Russia has not yet commented on the attacks.

"The enemy is attacking Odesa with strike drones. There is considerable damage to civilian infrastructure, particularly dwellings," Kiper posted, before later confirming the casualties.

"Two people died and five others were injured as a result of the strike. Medics are providing all necessary assistance to the victims," he said.

The city's Mayor Gennady Trukhanov said: "The enemy has launched another massive attack on the city. Residential buildings and civilian infrastructure have been damaged in various areas of Odessa."

Videos and images uploaded to social media, which the BBC has not yet verified, show explosions and damaged buildings.

Odesa, a strategically important port city on the Black Sea, has a population of around a million people. It has come under repeated attack since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The latest attack comes as the US signed a deal with Ukraine on the joint exploitation of its energy and mineral resources.

The long-anticipated deal shows much more solidarity with Ukraine than is usual for US President Donald Trump's administration.

The two countries agreed to establish a reconstruction investment fund to spur Ukraine's economic recovery from its war with Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin this week announced a temporary ceasefire for the war in Ukraine.

The Kremlin said the ceasefire would run from the morning of 8 May until 11 May - which coincides with victory celebrations to mark the end of World War Two.

In response, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called for an immediate ceasefire lasting "at least 30 days".

Mushroom trial: Rare for alleged killer to host lunch, ex-husband says

1 May 2025 at 12:15
Paul Tyquin Artist's sketch of Erin PattersonPaul Tyquin
Erin Patterson has pleaded not guilty to the charges

The estranged husband of a woman who served a poisonous mushroom lunch to her family says it was "very rare" for her to hold social gatherings at home.

Simon Patterson was invited to the fatal meal prepared by Erin Patterson - but decided not to attend the day before.

Mr Patterson is the first witness in the trial of Ms Patterson - who is charged with the murder of three relatives and the attempted murder of another, with the case centring on a beef wellington lunch at her house in July 2023.

Ms Patterson, 50, has pleaded not guilty and her defence team says she "panicked" after unintentionally serving poison to family members she loved.

Three people died in hospital in the days after the meal, including Ms Patterson's former in-laws, Don Patterson, 70, and Gail Patterson, 70, as well as Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, 66. Local pastor Ian Wilkinson survived after weeks of treatment in hospital.

The jury has been shown text messages exchanged between Simon and Erin Patterson the day before the deadly mushroom lunch.

Mr Patterson said he felt "too uncomfortable" about attending the lunch.

Erin Patterson responded: "That's really disappointing. I've spent many hours this week preparing lunch for tomorrow... It's important to me that you're all there tomorrow and that I can have the conversations that I need to have."

The prosecution alleges Ms Patterson invited the group to lunch "on the pretence she'd been diagnosed with cancer".

The court in Morwell, regional Victoria, heard that between the couple's marriage in 2007 and separation in 2015, there were a number of periods of separation and reconciliation - including Erin Patterson leaving her husband and their baby son in the middle of a road trip across Australia in 2009.

Mr Patterson had to drive from Townsville to Perth - a distance of about 5,000 km (3,100 miles) - alone with the child, he told the court.

The couple met in 2002, while both working at Monash City Council, where Mr Patterson was a civil engineer.

Asked about his wife, Mr Patterson said: "Erin is very intelligent.

"Some of the things that attracted me to her in the first place is definitely her intelligence. She's quite witty and can be quite funny."

Asked about how his wife got on with his parents, Don and Gail Patterson, Mr Patterson said: "She especially got on with dad. They shared a love of knowledge and learning in the world."

With his voice faltering, Mr Patterson added: "I think she loves his gentle nature."

He said Ms Patterson held a university degree in business and accounting, and was also qualified as an air traffic controller having worked at Melbourne's Tullemarine airport.

Mr Patterson painted a picture of a relationship peppered with periods of separation - the first within the first two years of marriage - at one point becoming emotional and asking for tissues.

After the final separation there was a lot of communication by text message he said, including "banter" and talk about politics, he said.

But there was a change in the relationship in 2022 when Ms Patterson was "upset" when her husband listed himself as separated on his tax return.

The "chatty nature" of their relationship "pretty much stopped" after this, Mr Patterson said - with communication now only about the "practical management" of their family life.

Wearing a navy suit, white shirt and purple tie, he told that Ms Patterson received a "substantial inheritance" from her grandmother which Mr Patterson estimated at A$2m ($1.3m; £964,000) - though it was not paid in a lump sum and was "dribbled out" by the executors of the estate.

The jury has heard that there is no dispute that the lunch of beef wellington, mashed potatoes and green beans contained death cap mushrooms and caused the guests' illnesses.

Whether Ms Patterson intended to kill or cause very serious injury is the main issue in the case, the judge has told the jury.

The court heard the couple had married in 2007 and had two children together - though separated permanently in 2015 .

They had remained "amicable" including sharing family holidays, though there was a falling out over child support payments in 2022, the jury was told.

During the prosecution's opening statement on Wednesday, lead defence barrister Nanette Rogers said the jury would hear evidence that Ms Patterson had travelled to a location, near her home in Leongatha, where death cap mushroom sightings had been logged on a naturalist website.

And in the days after the lunch, she took a number of steps to "conceal" what she had done, the prosecution alleged.

There'd be evidence that she lied to investigators about the source of the mushrooms in the dish - saying some had come from Asian grocery in Melbourne and she'd never foraged wild ones. And she made a trip to a local dump to dispose of a food dehydrator prosecutors say she used to prepare the toxic meal.

Ms Patterson's barrister has said she did not deliberately serve poisoned food to her guests.

"The defence case is that she panicked because she was overwhelmed by the fact that these four people had become so ill because of the food she had served them."

US releases Mohsen Mahdawi, detained Columbia student activist

1 May 2025 at 08:57
Watch: Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi released in Vermont

A Columbia University student and Palestinian activist arrested by US immigration authorities has been released from custody, US media reports.

Mohsen Mahdawi, who has permanent US residency or "green card" status, was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) when he turned up at an American citizenship interview in Vermont in mid-April.

Mr Mahdawi's legal team petitioned for his release alleging unlawful incarceration.

The US government says he was undermining US foreign policy. Luna Droubi, one of his lawyers, argued that the arrest was "in direct retaliation for his advocacy on behalf of Palestinians and because of his identity as a Palestinian".

Vermont District Judge Geoffrey Crawford ordered the release of Mohsen Mahdawi from prison on bail on Wednesday, pending the court's ruling on the habeas petition challenging his detention, according to a statement by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which is part of his legal representation.

The judge denied a request from government lawyers to delay his release by seven days.

In the statement, Ms Droubi said the claims against him are "baseless" and a "disgrace to the US Constitution". She said she was "relieved" that Mr Mahdawi had been released, and vowed to "keep fighting until Mohsen is free for good".

Tricia McLaughlin, an assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, responded after his release, saying "no judge, not this one or another, is going to stop the Trump Administration from restoring the rule of law to our immigration system".

Mr Mahdawi thanked supporters outside the courtroom, saying, "We are pro-peace and anti-war".

"To my people in Palestine: I feel your pain, I see your suffering; and I see freedom and it is very very soon."

One day before his arrest, Mr Mahdawi had told CBS News, the BBC's US partner, that he believed the citizenship interview could be a setup.

"It's the first feeling of like, I've been waiting for this for more than a year," Mr Mahdawi said. "And the other feeling is like, wait a minute. Is this a honey trap?"

Several prominent politicians, including independent Senator Bernie Sanders who represents Vermont, have spoken out in support of Mr Mahdawi and called for his release.

US authorities have detained multiple students and graduates involved in the protest movement against the war, including Columbia University's Mahmoud Khalil and Tufts University's Rumeysa Ozturk.

Getty Images Mohsen Mahdawi with a megaphone raises a finger above his head with a keffiyeh around his neckGetty Images
Mohsen Mahdawi, who participated in protests against Israel's war on Gaza, was detained in mid-April

标价7.96元实收8元,永辉超市回应门店“反向抹零”

1 May 2025 at 12:04

南方都市报

今早(5月1日),永辉官方信息发布平台微信号“永辉同道”发布关于部分门店现金结算分币抹零问题的整改说明表示,重庆、河北、北京、天津、东北地区的部分非调改门店存在现金支付分币“反向抹零”结算规则,重庆金源时代店现金结算“反向抹零”情况属实

此前报道,近日,有消费者在永辉超市(重庆江北区-金源时代店)购买标价7.96元的商品,结账时发现被收取8元,遭到超市反向抹零。这种现象并非个例,另一位市民发帖称自己于4月20日在永辉超市(重庆渝北区-红叶路店)购买标价11.55元的开心果,小票显示实收11.6元。媒体注意到,两张小票的下方标注“分币凭小票当月内到服务台积零换整”。

4月29日,永辉超市(重庆渝北区-红叶路店)回应称,因为现在分币比较少,电子支付并不会出现这样的情况,如果是现金的话,可凭小票到客服这边积零换整

公开资料显示,永辉超市成立于2001年,并于2010年在A股上市,目前已在全国发展超千家连锁超市,业务覆盖29个省份,近600个城市,经营面积超过800万平方米。

自2021年起,永辉超市的业绩便呈现下滑趋势。财报显示,2021年,永辉超市净利润亏损高达39亿元,营业收入也出现下滑。此后两年,尽管公司采取了多种措施试图扭转颓势,包括关闭亏损门店、调整商品结构、优化供应链等,但业绩依然未能显著回暖。

南都此前报道,2024年9月,名创优品宣布了一项重大战略投资,以62.7亿元收购永辉超市29.4%的股权,交易完成后,名创优品成为永辉超市的第一大股东

尽管目前永辉超市的业绩承压,但名创优品十分看好其未来的发展前景。名创优品CEO叶国富在电话会议上表示,与山姆、Costco、Trader Joe’s在内的全球零售企业相比,胖东来拥有更优秀的零售模式。在他看来,“胖东来模式是中国超市唯一的出路。”

值得一提的是,永辉超市在郑州的两家门店经过胖东来的调改后,日销售额实现了10倍以上的爆发式增长。叶国富表示,强烈建议大家参观改造后的永辉超市,以更好地理解名创优品此次投资的初衷。

此次关于“反向抹零”的整改,也提及对胖东来模式的学习。整改说明中,永辉超市提到:“在学习胖东来的过程中,我们深知,调改不仅是学习先进理念,更是将好的文化理念深度落实到经营细节中;真正的整改也不只是及时止损,而是追本溯源,杜绝类似问题再次发生。”

针对“反向抹零”问题,永辉超市表示内部排查后第一时间做出整改:

1.全国门店统一执行“舍分”标准:2025年4月29日起,全国所有永辉超市门店全面执行新规,即现金支付分币零头全舍,商品分位金额无论尾数为1分或9分,一律“舍去不计”,确保顾客实付金额不高于标价

2.启动服务补偿:即日起,所有消费存在分位差额的顾客可通过门店服务台或线上通道获得补偿。

乌克兰公布美乌矿产协议详情,一文详解

1 May 2025 at 12:00

央视新闻

乌克兰当地时间5月1日,乌克兰第一副总理兼经济部长斯维里坚科在社交媒体上透露,根据乌克兰总统弗拉基米尔·泽连斯基与美国总统唐纳德·特朗普达成的协议,她与美国财政部长斯科特·贝森特共同签署了《美乌重建投资基金成立协议》,即此前各界所称的“美乌矿产协议”。

依据乌方5月1日公布的协议内容,美乌共同创建乌克兰重建投资基金,旨在吸引全球投资注入乌克兰。

该协议的主要条款如下:

①所有权与控制权:全部所有权和控制权依旧归属于乌克兰。乌克兰领土和领海内的所有资源均为乌克兰所有,乌克兰政府有权自主决定资源开采地点,协议明确规定地下矿产归乌克兰所有。

②平等伙伴关系:基金设立比例为 50:50,乌克兰与美国将共同管理该基金,双方均无主导投票权,充分体现了两国间的平等伙伴关系。

③国家财产保护:协议未涉及私有化进程或国有企业管理的变动,国有企业将继续归乌克兰所有,例如乌克兰石油和乌克兰能源等公司仍保持国有性质。

④无债务负担:协议未提及乌克兰对美国的债务义务,其实施将通过平等合作与投资提升两国经济潜力。

⑤符合宪法与欧洲一体化进程:该文件符合国家立法,不违反乌克兰任何国际义务。尤为重要的是,此协议将向其他全球参与者释放信号,表明与乌克兰开展长期(数十年)合作具有可靠性。

⑥基金资金来源:基金将完全由新许可证收入填充,涵盖关键材料以及石油天然气领域项目新许可证资金的 50%,这些资金将在基金成立后纳入预算。已在进行的项目收入或预算收入不包含在该基金内。

⑦立法变动适度:基金运作仅需对预算法进行修改,协议本身需得到乌克兰最高拉达的批准。

⑧美国助力吸引投资与技术:基金由美国政府通过美国国际开发金融公司(DFC)提供支持,将助力吸引来自美国、欧盟以及其他支持乌克兰对抗俄罗斯的国家的基金和公司的投资与技术。技术转让和开发是协议的重要组成部分,因为乌克兰不仅需要投资,更需要创新。

⑨税收保障:基金的收入和捐款在美国和乌克兰均不征税,以确保投资获得最大收益。美国向该基金提供了捐款,除直接资金外,还可能提供新的援助,如为乌克兰提供防空系统。乌克兰则通过新地块的新许可证新租金贡献50%的国家预算收入,若有必要,还可在此基础数额之外额外捐款。

乌方称,该基金随后将投资于采矿、石油天然气项目以及相关基础设施或加工项目,乌克兰和美国将共同确定资金投向的具体投资项目,且该基金可专门投资于乌克兰。预计在最初的10年里,基金的利润和收入不会进行分配,而是全部投资于乌克兰的新项目或用于重建,具体条件将进一步商讨。

乌方说明,该协议的达成对两国而言均有利好。美国在协议中表明愿意为乌克兰实现长期和平贡献力量,并认可乌克兰通过放弃核武库对全球安全所做的贡献,彰显了其对乌克兰安全、恢复和重建的坚定承诺。

印巴争锋克什米尔

尽管印度人口是巴基斯坦的六倍,经济规模是八倍,军队规模则是三倍,但俄军事专家沙尔科夫斯基形容,“数量型”的印军很难迅速完胜“质量型”的巴军。“因为势均力敌,印巴不会铤而走险,战争游戏只会停留在边境冲突层面,不会升级为全面战争。”

南方周末特约撰稿 吴佩

责任编辑:姚忆江

当地时间2025年4月28日,巴基斯坦国防部长阿西夫表示,印度的对巴基斯坦的“军事入侵”迫在眉睫,但两国局势不至于发展到爆发核战争的程度。

数日前,印控克什米尔地区发生一起重大恐怖袭击,武装分子在草地上向游客开枪,造成至少26名游客死亡。此次事件是自2008年孟买袭击以来,印度领土上最致命的恐怖袭击。

当地时间2025年4月24日,印控克什米尔斯利那加,民众在达尔湖游船上举行抗议,谴责针对游客的恐怖袭击。图/视觉中国

事发后,印度和巴基斯坦的紧张局势迅速升级。印度在印控克什米尔地区发动镇压式搜捕行动,印度安全部队共计逮捕超过1500人,并强行拆除武装分子嫌疑人的房屋。

印巴两国的冲突关系由来已久,而此次恐怖袭击的所在地克什米尔,曾因其主权归属问题,在历史上诱发过数次印巴战争(正式宣战三次,非正式宣战一次)。

这块夹于印度、巴基斯坦、中国和阿富汗之间的争议地区,是世界上海拔最高、军事化程度最高的地区。1998年,由于印巴均变成“事实拥核国”,加之两国都在此地部署数十万大军,每一次风吹草动,都会牵扯大国的战略神经。

“血与水无法共流”

众所周知,1947年英国殖民势力离开南亚后,新独立的印度与巴基斯坦围绕克什米尔归属多次兵戎相见,瓜分的结果是印控区叫查谟-克什米尔(刚分离出拉达克中央直辖区),面积和人口都占三分之二,而巴控部分包括吉尔吉特-伯尔蒂斯坦和自由克什米尔,与

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校对:星歌

欢迎分享、点赞与留言。本作品的版权为南方周末或相关著作权人所有,任何第三方未经授权,不得转载,否则即为侵权。

白血病女子控疫苗致病 上访遭重判 狱中绝望放弃上诉

山西一名白血病患者赵雅静坚持上访,要求为自己疑似因疫苗接种导致的重病讨回公道。她近期被当局以寻衅滋事罪判刑两年九个月,赵雅静倍感绝望,说不会上诉,“要死在监狱里。”而赵雅静的丈夫此前也因上访国家卫健委,被以寻衅滋事罪判刑六个月。

赵雅静的丈夫王宏艺拿到山西省晋中市祁县法院判决书后告诉自由亚洲电台,他重病的妻子听到法官判决后,未提出上诉,那是因为:“她之前跟我说不想活了,要死在监狱里边,因为她说看不到希望了,这几年维权经历使得她心力交瘁,病情也随着维权在一步步恶化,心里边有种抑郁的状态。判决书已经下达十多天了,我今天才拿到判决书。”

今年31岁的赵雅静,原本有一份稳定的工作和正常的生活。2020年新冠疫情爆发,她在婚后不久接种了中国科兴生物公司生产的新冠疫苗,数周后出现严重不适症状,最终被确诊为急性髓系白血病。赵雅静及其家人怀疑病情与疫苗存在关联,随即展开申诉,希望得到一个合理解释和赔偿。

然而,地方政府及国家疾控部门调查后认定赵雅静属于“偶合症”,即病发与疫苗接种时间重叠但无直接因果关系。官方为她办理了低保和临时救助,但拒绝进一步追责。赵雅静和丈夫王宏艺对这一结论不服,多次向国家卫健委、国务院信访局等部门反映情况,并尝试通过邮寄材料、网络发声等方式寻求帮助。

病情持续恶化 看守所内得不到有效治疗

赵雅静因此数次被祁县东观派出所警告、传唤。今年4月,山西省祁县人民法院以赵雅静在微信群发布信息、向全国人大代表寄送控告材料、以及在国家卫健委门前举牌喊冤等行为为由,认定其“扰乱公共秩序”,以寻衅滋事罪判处有期徒刑两年九个月。

据知情人士透露,赵雅静在开庭时情绪极度低落,当庭表示:“我不想上诉了,就这样吧,我会死在监狱里。”法院记录中也提到,赵雅静患有严重疾病,目前病情持续恶化,但判决认为其行为“情节恶劣,社会影响严重”,必须依法惩处。王宏艺说,妻子的身体日趋衰弱:“现在她的身体状况是白血病基因突变,多项化验治标显示阳性,都说急性髓系白血病,应该在复发阶段。”

赵雅静的丈夫王宏艺还说,赵雅静病情已出现基因突变,原本需要紧急化疗,但在看守所内得不到有效治疗。医生曾出具住院治疗的医学证明,但法院并未批准保外就医申请。他说:“她已经没有生存的希望了……精神完全崩溃了。我们2020年8月份才结婚的,当时婚前体检”一切都正常,她打完疫苗后就出现乏力,就没有想过得这么严重的病。”

丈夫曾因上访被判刑 家庭深陷债务泥潭

王宏艺还透露,两人在长期治疗过程中已经负债累累,赵雅静甚至在看守所里请求退回此前缴纳的医疗检查费用,以便留作家中生活费用。仅治疗相关支出就高达60万元人民币,而地方政府的救助金额远远不足以覆盖。

为追讨政府赔偿,王宏艺和赵雅静不停的到北京上访维权。2022年12月1日,王宏艺被法院以“寻衅滋事罪”判刑六个月,翌年6月刑满获释。他说:“当时政府答应救助我13万元,但是我左等又等等不到消息,然后我就跟钱大龙(疫苗受害者维权者)去了北京到国家卫健委,回来(家乡)以后,我们地方也是没有给任何救助,还判了我半年刑期。”

法院判决书显示,2025年1月7日15时许,被告人赵雅静取保候审期间,在北京市国家卫健委,与刘燕玲、宋允儿、张卫朵、徐迎侠、翟智慧六人长时间聚集,其他人喊“我们要见领导”的口号时赵雅静与他们聚集在一起,同时被告人赵雅静等六人长时间围堵国家卫健委大门,造成恶劣社会影响,“事实清楚,证据确凿”等。

卫健委大门前示威喊口号遭处罚

北京的新冠疫苗维权人士钱大龙告诉本台,当初到国家卫健委门前抗议的人,事后均受到不同程度的处罚。他说:“这是非常罕见的,他们政府解决不了问题就先把人‘解决’了。我们那天去(卫健委大门外)示威喊口号,就把我们抓起来了,王宏艺被(寻衅滋事罪)判刑半年,我被警察‘取保候审’一年,梁小强被判缓刑,伍松也被判缓刑。”

赵雅静案判决后,引发网络上的强烈反响。众多网民质疑,当局为何要用刑事手段对待一名身患重病、只想着争取公正对待的普通人。

责编:许书婷

© 志愿者提供/记者乾朗/RFA制图

被判刑两年九个月的赵雅静(左),入狱前患有急性髓系白血病。赵雅静和丈夫于2020年结婚(右),婚前检查身体健康。

Harris Returns to Political Life, Warning of a Constitutional Crisis

1 May 2025 at 13:08
Kamala Harris has rarely spoken out after leaving Washington in January. In her first major address since then, she acknowledged Democratic fears and praised leaders who were speaking out.

© Cheriss May for The New York Times

“Everybody’s asking me, ‘Well, what’ve you been thinking about these days?’” Kamala Harris, pictured in 2024, said in a speech in San Francisco on Wednesday.

Senate Rejects Bipartisan Measure to Undo Trump’s Tariffs

1 May 2025 at 08:20
Only three Republicans joined Democrats in voting to end the national emergency President Trump declared to impose tariffs on most U.S. trading partners, leaving the measure short of the support needed to pass.

© Tierney L. Cross for The New York Times

Senator Ron Wyden, left, Democrat of Oregon, and Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the minority leader, at the Capitol earlier this month. “The United States Senate cannot be an idle spectator in the tariff madness,” said Mr. Wyden, one of the measure’s co-sponsors.

Ugandan opposition accuses president of using military courts to quash dissent

1 May 2025 at 12:00
Kizza Besigye Obeid Lutale stand in a steel dock during court proceedings

Ugandan opposition politicians have accused the president, Yoweri Museveni, of attempting to quash dissent by prosecuting opponents on politically motivated charges in military courts in the run-up to presidential and legislative elections next year.

The government is pushing to introduce a law to allow military tribunals to try civilians despite a supreme court ban on the practice.

In November, the opposition politician Kizza Besigye was detained in Nairobi, Kenya, alongside his aide Obeid Lutale and taken to Kampala where they were charged before a military tribunal with offences including illegal possession of firearms, threatening national security, and later treachery, which carries the death penalty. His lawyers say the charges are politically motivated.

Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate and longtime opponent of Museveni, is one of more than 1,000 civilians, including activists and other politicians, who have been charged in military courts since 2002.

In January, Uganda’s supreme court ruled that trying civilians in military courts was unconstitutional and ordered the transfer of trials involving civilians to ordinary courts. Museveni rejected the ruling as the “wrong decision” and vowed to continue using military courts.

After a 10-day hunger strike by Besigye in February, authorities moved his trial to a civilian court. But the Uganda Law Society says the government has not transferred other people’s cases.

In the latest twist, the government is planning to introduce a law to allow military tribunals to try civilians for some offences. Norbert Mao, the minister for justice and constitutional affairs, told parliament on 17 April that the draft legislation was awaiting cabinet approval before introduction in parliament.

Paul Mwiru, a politician with Bobi Wine’s National Unity Platform party, said Museveni’s administration was using state institutions to instil fear and had “made the judicial system to be inclined” in its favour.

Mwiru, a former MP, was charged in a civilian court with treason in 2018 alongside Wine and 31 other people for allegedly throwing stones at Museveni’s motorcade during chaos at a byelection campaign. Mwiru said people who went through botched court processes “come back weakened”. Their case was adjourned indefinitely after about two years.

He said amending the law to allow military prosecution of civilians would allow the government “to charge you and arraign you in the court if they have a disagreement with you”.

Uganda will go to the polls in January 2026 in what will be a seventh election featuring Museveni.

The events of the past few months have turned the spotlight on what critics deem intolerance and authoritarianism by Museveni’s administration and ignited fears of an election that may not be free and fair. “Sooner rather than later, they’ll be able to arrest any of us. If they want to deny you the opportunity to participate in the electoral process, they can do that,” said Mwiru, who plans to contest for a parliamentary seat again next year.

November was not the first time Besigye, a former army colonel, had been tried in a military court. In 2005, four years after retiring from the military and running for the first time as a presidential candidate, he was charged with terrorism and possession of firearms.

Other civilians who have been prosecuted in military courts include Wine, the musician-turned-politician who has said he will stand again next year, former opposition MP Michael Kabaziguruka and Besigye’s lawyer Eron Kiiza. The list also includes opposition supporters, as well as other political opponents and government critics.

Critics say repression extends to civilian courts too, with dissidents and government critics charged there being subjected to lengthy trials, denial of bail and detentions without trial. Besigye and Lutale were this month denied bail for their case. They remain in custody.

Government and military spokespeople have been approached for comment. Museveni has repeatedly defended using military courts for civilians, saying it was necessary for the east African country’s peace and stability. He claims civilian courts were failing to convict those accused of violent crimes.

Trials of civilians in military court go back to 2002 when Museveni created an autonomous, ad-hoc law enforcement unit to combat armed crime in reaction to the alleged failure of the civilian judicial system to prosecute and punish crimes. Later, in 2005, the state amended legislation regulating the military to create a legal framework to allow the military to court martial civilians.

Human rights activists say the practice is unjust and unlawful and frequently violates the right of accused people to a fair trial.

In many instances over the years, Ugandan courts have ruled against the practice, but the process has continued. The latest ruling by the supreme court, arising from Kabaziguruka’s challenge of his trial in military court in 2016, is a litmus test.

The government is fighting back with the planned introduction of the draft law that Mao, the justice minister, told lawmakers would define “exceptional circumstances under which a civilian may be subject to military law”.

Museveni became president in 1986 after leading rebels in a six-year guerilla war to remove President Milton Obote. He led the country to economic growth and democratic change after years of political decay.

But critics say judicial independence has eroded in the country over the years. They have also condemned his long stay in office using what they say are strongman tactics to extend it indefinitely, including by amending the constitution twice to remain in power.

The Museveni administration’s military roots influence the government’s operations, said Gerald Walulya, a senior lecturer at Makerere University in Kampala and a political analyst. “Because of their background as a government that came to power through a military kind of route, they tend to approach every aspect in a military manner,” he said.

Mwambutsya Ndebesa, a historian, said Uganda was experiencing “the curse of liberation”, which he said made leaders feel entitled to power. “Those who have liberated people from repressive regimes in Africa have taken it upon themselves that they are entitled to rule,” he said.

Ndebesa said the administration was “weaponising the justice system for political ends” to suppress political dissent, and that suppression had a “chilling effect” of creating fear in the political space.

“The purpose is not only to suppress that very individual, but also to send a message to the political sphere.” he added.

Paul Mwiru gestures as he speaks while seated at a table People hold on to Bobi Wine (centre) to help him walk down steps outside the court

加拿大新任總理卡尼會讓中加關係更升溫?

1 May 2025 at 12:47

2025-05-01T04:24:31.594Z
加拿大自由黨黨魁卡尼在舉選中獲勝,成為新任總理

(德國之聲中文網)英國央行前行長、加拿大自由黨黨魁卡尼(Mark Carney)週二(4月29日)正式當選為加拿大新一任領導人,成為該國史上第一位從未擔任過民選公職的政治素人總理。

川普週三(30日)在白宮受訪時表示,他已經祝賀卡尼勝選,並稱接到卡尼致電,「他昨天打電話給我,他說讓我們達成協議吧。」川普說,卡尼將在一週內訪美。

儘管川普看似對加拿大新政府釋出善意,但《南華早報》近日在報導中引述學者分析,稱川普同時對加拿大和中國施加關稅壓力,可能會讓加拿大重新審視與中國的商業關係。

美國總統川普宣稱卡尼將在下週到訪白宮

加拿大不列顛哥倫比亞大學名譽教授埃文斯(Paul Evans)認為:「幾乎肯定會發生的是,渥太華將『再次強調與中國商業關係的重要性』,並與北京談判以消除貿易壁壘。」

據彭博社報導,由於美中貿易緊張局勢不斷升級,中國煉油商大幅削減了約90%的美國石油採購量,並改為從加拿大進口大量原油。

石油及天然氣追蹤分析機構Vortexa3月統計數據顯示,中國從溫哥華附近油管進口的原油數量飆升至前所未有的730萬桶,4月的數量更預期會進一步增加。同時,中國每月進口的美國石油量已從6月的高峰2900萬桶驟降至300萬桶。

卡尼稱中國為「最大威脅」

鑑於加拿大與中國在過去幾個月以來,因為一系列議題引發爭端,加拿大對中國仍存有疑慮,中國態度似乎也有所保留。

中國今年3月宣布對價值超過26億美元的加拿大農產品和食品徵收關稅,報復渥太華去年對中國電動車、鋼鐵和鋁產品加徵的關稅。

對於加拿大是否會因美國關稅、轉而與中國深化貿易關係,卡尼曾回應,稱加拿大有機會與美國和中國兩大經濟體以外的國家接觸,「歐洲、東協、南方共同市場以及世界其他地區都存在巨大的機遇」,加拿大可以在這些區域進一步深化合作。

週二,卡尼勝選後,中國外交部發言人郭嘉昆在例行記者會上並未祝賀卡尼勝選,僅表示中方「願在相互尊重、平等互利基礎上發展中加關係」,重申「中國對中加關係的立場是一貫且明確的。」

今年3月,加拿大外長趙美蘭(Mélanie Joly)指控,中國在數週內處決了4名加拿大公民,無視加國政府請求寬大處理的呼籲。北京則堅稱是「依法行事」。

此次大選期間,加拿大也多次指控北京干涉選舉。卡尼在選舉辯論會中更公開稱中國為加拿大當前最大的安全威脅,批評中國在俄烏戰爭中與俄羅斯合作,並主張這對整個亞洲地區、尤其是台灣構成威脅。

相关图集:牵动中美加三国的孟晚舟

不一样的掌上明珠:孟晚舟是华为创始人任正非的长女,后因父母离异随了母姓。不同的消息来源显示,九十年代初,刚满20岁的孟晚舟既已加入华为。她从秘书一路做起,到2018年底在加拿大被捕前,她已经官至华为副董事长兼首席财务官。
加国被捕:2018年12月1日,华为首席财务官孟晚舟在温哥华机场转机时,加拿大警方应美国政府的司法互助请求逮捕了这位时年46岁的企业高管。就此,她被推上了一场中美加三国外交纠纷的风口浪尖。
中方要求立即放人:2018年12月8日,中国外交部副部长乐玉成(上图)紧急召见加拿大驻华大使麦家廉,就加方拘押华为公司负责人提出严正交涉和强烈抗议。两天之后,两名在华加拿大人遭秘密逮捕。由于时间如此巧合,外界普遍猜测,这两名加国公民成了中方向加美施压的人质。
美国要求引渡孟晚舟:2019年1月28日,美国代理总检察长惠特克、商务部长罗斯、国土安全部部长尼尔森以及联邦调查局局长瑞伊在美国司法部举行联合新闻发布会,宣布正式要求引渡孟晚舟,并以23项罪名起诉华为。
“人质外交”:两名在中国被捕的加拿大公民分别是前外交官加拿大前外交官康明凯(Michael Kovrig)和加拿大商人斯帕弗(Michael Spavor)。在消失半年之后,中方才正式承认上述两人已因间谍罪被逮捕。这被加拿大、美国方面指责是“人质外交”。
假释状态下的华为公主:同为接受审理,孟晚舟的境遇显然要比在中国遭关押的两名加拿大公民强了很多。孟晚舟在被拘押数天之后,她的假释申请既获法庭批准。带着电子脚镣的孟晚舟可以在规定范围内自由行动。图为2020年年底,孟晚舟离开其位于温哥华的别墅前往法庭参加引渡审理。
华人群体声援:孟晚舟被捕期间,得到了很多海外华人声援。在温哥华法院聆讯期间,一再有当地华人在法院外举牌,要求还孟晚舟自由。图为2018年庭审刚刚启动时孟晚舟支持者在温哥华法庭前要求立即放人。在2021年9月下旬获释后,孟晚舟说,“我永远不会忘记所有收到的祝福,我想感谢我的祖国,还有我祖国的人民,对我的支持和帮助,这是我走到今天最大的支柱”。
孟晚舟获释离开加拿大 :2021年9月24日,美国司法部与孟晚舟方面达成协议暂缓起诉,加拿大法院也终止了引渡聆讯。孟晚舟对多项银行欺诈指控表示不认罪。不过,作为协议的一部分,她承认曾就华为在伊朗业务误导银行。这位华为高管随后登上了中国政府的包机。与此同时也传来消息,两名在中国被扣押的加拿大公民康明凯及迈克尔‧斯帕弗也已获释、9月25日返回加拿大。

卡尼在當上加拿大總理之前,從無政治經驗,沒有擔任過任何民選官職,也不是內閣一員。但在經濟方面有著亮眼履歷,曾在高盛集團(Goldman Sachs)任職超過10年,並於2008年全球金融危機期間接任加拿大央行行長,果斷作為讓加拿大避免更嚴重的經濟衰退。

2013年,卡尼接受時任英國首相卡梅倫(David Cameron)任命,擔任英格蘭銀行(英國央行)行長,期間經歷英國脫歐公投,2020年卸任。

今年初,自由黨前領袖杜魯多因為民調低迷請辭後,卡尼以壓倒性的勝利贏得黨內選舉,但外界一度認為在野的保守黨有「變天」希望。不過川普威脅對加拿大施加關稅,並宣稱要把加拿大納為美國一部分的強硬發言,在加拿大境內掀起一波反川普情緒,最終讓對川普立場相對強硬的自由黨再度贏得選舉。

(路透社、彭博社、《南華早報》)

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US and Ukraine sign long-awaited natural resources deal

1 May 2025 at 10:40
Getty Images Earth and minerals are loaded onto a truck at an open-pit mine in Donetsk region in February.Getty Images
Ukraine has a vast mining industry and large reserves of rare minerals

Both the US and Ukraine have said they are broadly ready to sign a deal which would give American firms access to Ukraine's minerals.

"We are ready to sign this afternoon if they are," US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Wednesday, adding that Ukraine "decided to make last minute changes" to the agreement.

Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko was flying to Washington on Wednesday after an apparent breakthrough in negotiations.

Earlier, BBC News saw a draft copy of the deal, which provides for the creation of a joint Ukrainian-US investment fund to search for minerals in Ukraine, and set outs how revenues would be split.

On Wednesday afternoon a US source familiar with the talks criticised Ukraine for seeking to re-open some terms that had already been agreed upon over the weekend.

Both US and Ukrainian teams worked through the night on Friday into Saturday to finalise the documents, as well as into the early morning on Wednesday, the source told the BBC.

They added that the sticking points include governance of the fund, the transparency mechanism, and steps to ensure that all funds are fully traceable.

Despite these last minute negotiations, the signing could still happen by the end of Wednesday if the US side believes that Ukraine is complying with already agreed upon terms, the source said.

"Nothing's been removed," Bessent said when asked about any changes to the deal. "It's the same agreement that we agreed to on the weekend. No changes on our side."

Technical documents were signed last week by representatives of both countries.

In Kyiv, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that Ukraine expected the deal to be signed within "the next 24 hours".

"This is truly a good, equal and beneficial international agreement on joint investments in the development and recovery of Ukraine," Shmyhal said.

EPA Donald Trump and Zelensky sitting talking face to face at the Vatican.EPA
Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky spoke face-to-face while they were in Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis at the weekend

Since returning to the White House, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly pushed for an agreement as a prerequisite to offering any future security guarantees to Kyiv, as Ukraine continues to fight against invading Russian forces.

Ukraine is believed to have vast reserves of critical rare minerals like graphite, titanium and lithium beneath its soil. They are highly sought after because of their use in renewable energy, military applications and industrial infrastructure.

The Trump administration's push for access to another country's mineral wealth comes amid a growing trade war with China, where 90% of the world's current stocks are sourced from.

The draft deal also appears to give the US sweeping access to Ukrainian industries beyond minerals.

While it does not specify security support that Washington is willing to provide in return, it states that the deal is "a tangible demonstration of the United States of America's support for Ukraine's security".

The agreement comes days after Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a face-to-face meeting on the sidelines of Pope Francis' funeral, and as talks between Moscow and Washington over a possible ceasefire in Ukraine continue.

The latest Trump-Zelensky talks appeared to be far more amicable than their meeting at the White House in February, and have led to a softening in tone from the US president towards his Ukrainian counterpart in the days that followed, as well as an increased level of criticism of Russia's attacks.

Speaking on Wednesday, Trump said: "As you know, we're looking for rare earth [minerals] all the time.

"They have a lot, and we made a deal, so we can start digging and doing what we have to do. It's also good for them."

The initial agreement was due to be signed in February, but fell apart following the heated exchange between the two leaders, when Trump accused Zelensky of "gambling with World War Three".

Trump tells business chiefs he needs 'little bit of time' as US economy shrinks

1 May 2025 at 09:44
Watch: Donald Trump on the US economy: ‘Give us a little bit of time’

President Donald Trump has asked for more time on the US economy as it contracted for the first time in three years, stoking recession fears.

He said the figure was misleading because companies had stockpiled imports ahead of his imposition of tariffs.

Trump, however, said $8tn (£6tn) of inward investment had been promised, which he argued would restore American manufacturing prowess.

The US economy contracted at an annual rate of 0.3%, the US commerce department said, a sharp downturn after growth of 2.4% in the previous quarter. It comes as Trump marks 100 days in office, with opinion polls indicating public discontent over his economic stewardship.

Speaking on Wednesday afternoon at a White House event attended by business leaders, Trump blamed his Democratic predecessor, President Joe Biden, for the disappointing gross domestic product data.

"This is Biden's economy because we took over on January 20th," Trump said. "I think you have to give us a little bit of time to get moving."

It comes in the aftermath of the Republican president's import taxes, which have disrupted global trade and markets.

Trump's finger pointing at Biden drew scorn from Democrats.

Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, minority leader of the US House of Representatives, said: "This is not Joe Biden's economy, Donald, it is your economy.

"It is the Trump economy, it is a failed economy and the American people know it."

At Wednesday's White House event, Trump touted planned investments in technology, healthcare and infrastructure.

He introduced CEOs of major companies, including Hyundai's Jose Munoz, Toyota's Ted Ogawa, and Johnson & Johnson's Joaquin Duato.

Trump also urged Congress to pass his tax bill, which includes trillions of dollars in tax and spending cuts, but faces opposition from Democrats and some Republicans.

Watch: Trump says he doesn’t want China to ‘suffer’ because of tariffs

At a television appearance earlier in the day with cabinet members, Trump played down fears of shortages of items such as toys, as trade between the US and China falls sharply.

"Well, maybe the children will have to have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, you know?" he said. "And maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally."

Trump has enacted 10% levies on almost all countries importing to the US, after announcing a 90-day pause on higher tariffs. The amount paid by these countries could change after the period expires in July.

Another 25% tariff has been imposed on Mexico and Canada. The levies on China, however, have led to an all-out trade war with the world's second largest economy.

Trump imposed import taxes of up to 145% on Chinese goods coming into the US and China hit back with a 125% tax on American products.

His administration said when the new tariffs were added on to existing ones, the levies on some Chinese goods could reach 245%.

North Korea: First road bridge to Russia 'significant' development

1 May 2025 at 07:54
Reuters Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin claps his hands at a ceremony. The blue of a Russian flag falls behind his left shoulder.Reuters
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin attends ceremony marking the start of construction of the first road bridge between Russia and North Korea

North Korea has said the development of its first road bridge to Russia is a "significant" milestone in relations between the two countries, according to the country's state media KCNA.

Construction of the bridge - set to span the Tumen river in the country's northeast - began on Wednesday. It will be situated near the only other land connection between Russia and North Korea - a Soviet era rail bridge called the 'Friendship Bridge'.

The bridge is set for completion by mid-2026, according to Russia's Kommersant newspaper.

It comes shortly after North Korea confirmed for the first time that it had sent troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine.

The new bridge is the latest sign of deepening ties between the two heavily-sanctioned countries, which have drawn closer since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Plans for the new bridge were decided during Russian president Vladimir Putin's visit to Pyongyang last year, where he signed an agreement on "comprehensive strategic partnership" with North Korea - the highest level of bilateral ties for Moscow.

At a ceremony marking the start of the bridge's construction, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said the bridge was "far beyond just an engineering task".

"It symbolises our common desire to strengthen friendly, good-neighbourly relations and increase inter-regional cooperation," he added.

Construction of the bridge began on the same day South Korean lawmakers said more than 600 North Korean troops had been killed fighting for Russia in its war against Ukraine, citing their intelligence officials.

In return for military support, Moscow appeared to have provided Pyongyang with technical assistance on spy satellites, drones and anti-air missiles, they added.

Earlier this week, North Korea said its soldiers had helped "completely liberate" Russia's Kursk border region, eight months after Ukraine's surprise incursion.

Ukraine says some of its forces are still in the Russian region.

Apple referred for possible criminal contempt investigation

1 May 2025 at 09:54
Reuters The Apple logo is visible on the exterior of an Apple store in Paris

FILE PHOTO: View of an Apple logo at an Apple store in Paris, France, April 23, 2025. REUTERS/Abdul Saboor/File PhotoReuters

A US district judge has found Apple wilfully violated her injunction in a case brought by Epic Games — and that a top Apple executive "outright lied" under oath.

The injunction was supposed to block Apple from anticompetitive conduct and pricing, opening the App Store up to outside payment options.

Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers said she was referring the matter to the US Attorney for Northern District of California to investigate whether a criminal contempt proceeding is appropriate.

Apple responded to the ruling late Wednesday.

"We strongly disagree with the decision. We will comply with the court's order and we will appeal," an Apple spokesperson said.

Wednesday's judgement refers to a 2021 case brought by Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite, one of the world's most popular games, which argued that third-party payment options should be available to customers.

It challenged the up-to-30% cut Apple takes from purchases - and argued that the App Store was monopolistic.

In her 2021 judgement, Judge Gonzalez Rogers stated that Apple could no longer prohibit developers linking to their own purchasing mechanisms.

As well as game purchasing, another example of how this would work is a movie-streaming service being able to tell customers to subscribe via its own website, without using Apple's in-app purchasing mechanism.

In a contempt order issued Wednesday, Judge Gonzalez Rogers found that Apple nevertheless continued to interfere with competition with attempts that the court stated "will not be tolerated".

Judge Gonzalez Rogers added that internal company documents she reviewed showed Apple deliberately violated the injunction.

The documents reveal "that Apple knew exactly what it was doing and at every turn chose the most anticompetitive option," she wrote.

She said CEO Tim Cook ignored executive Phillip Schiller's urging to have Apple comply with the injunction and allowed CFO Luca Maestri to convince him not to.

"Cook chose poorly," she wrote.

She also said Apple's vice president of finance Alex Roman "outright lied under oath".

The judge wrote that one example of Apple's attempts to evade the injunction included a decision to charge a 27% commission on off-app purchases. where it had previously charged nothing.

The company also imposed new barriers and requirements to discourage customers from using competing purchasing platforms, she said.

In a post on X, Epic Games founder and CEO Tim Sweeney said Epic Games would return Fortnite to the US iOS App Store next week and offered an olive branch to his long-time rival.

"Epic puts forth a peace proposal: If Apple extends the court's friction-free, Apple-tax-free framework worldwide, we'll return 'Fortnite' to the App Store worldwide and drop current and future litigation on the topic," Sweeney wrote.

In another post, he wrote: "NO FEES on web transactions. Game over for the Apple Tax. Apple's 15-30% junk fees are now just as dead here in the United States of America as they are in Europe under the Digital Markets Act. Unlawful here, unlawful there."

50 Years After the U.S. Left Vietnam, Another Retreat Is Shaking Asia

1 May 2025 at 12:01
Even among former enemies, the new American withdrawal from aid and democratic ideals is stirring deep feelings and confusion.

© Linh Pham for The New York Times

Chinese soldiers taking part in a parade in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday to mark the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War.

Trump’s Tariffs Lead Japan to Slash Its Economic Growth Forecast

1 May 2025 at 12:18
The Bank of Japan predicted growth of just 0.5 percent, cutting its previous forecast in half, and decided against another hike in interest rates.

© Yuichi Yamazaki/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

A Uniqlo store in Tokyo. The retailer’s Japanese operator cut its profit forecast last month, expecting tariffs to hurt its U.S. businesses.

US and Ukraine sign long-awaited natural resources deal

1 May 2025 at 10:40
Getty Images Earth and minerals are loaded onto a truck at an open-pit mine in Donetsk region in February.Getty Images
Ukraine has a vast mining industry and large reserves of rare minerals

Both the US and Ukraine have said they are broadly ready to sign a deal which would give American firms access to Ukraine's minerals.

"We are ready to sign this afternoon if they are," US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Wednesday, adding that Ukraine "decided to make last minute changes" to the agreement.

Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko was flying to Washington on Wednesday after an apparent breakthrough in negotiations.

Earlier, BBC News saw a draft copy of the deal, which provides for the creation of a joint Ukrainian-US investment fund to search for minerals in Ukraine, and set outs how revenues would be split.

On Wednesday afternoon a US source familiar with the talks criticised Ukraine for seeking to re-open some terms that had already been agreed upon over the weekend.

Both US and Ukrainian teams worked through the night on Friday into Saturday to finalise the documents, as well as into the early morning on Wednesday, the source told the BBC.

They added that the sticking points include governance of the fund, the transparency mechanism, and steps to ensure that all funds are fully traceable.

Despite these last minute negotiations, the signing could still happen by the end of Wednesday if the US side believes that Ukraine is complying with already agreed upon terms, the source said.

"Nothing's been removed," Bessent said when asked about any changes to the deal. "It's the same agreement that we agreed to on the weekend. No changes on our side."

Technical documents were signed last week by representatives of both countries.

In Kyiv, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that Ukraine expected the deal to be signed within "the next 24 hours".

"This is truly a good, equal and beneficial international agreement on joint investments in the development and recovery of Ukraine," Shmyhal said.

EPA Donald Trump and Zelensky sitting talking face to face at the Vatican.EPA
Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky spoke face-to-face while they were in Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis at the weekend

Since returning to the White House, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly pushed for an agreement as a prerequisite to offering any future security guarantees to Kyiv, as Ukraine continues to fight against invading Russian forces.

Ukraine is believed to have vast reserves of critical rare minerals like graphite, titanium and lithium beneath its soil. They are highly sought after because of their use in renewable energy, military applications and industrial infrastructure.

The Trump administration's push for access to another country's mineral wealth comes amid a growing trade war with China, where 90% of the world's current stocks are sourced from.

The draft deal also appears to give the US sweeping access to Ukrainian industries beyond minerals.

While it does not specify security support that Washington is willing to provide in return, it states that the deal is "a tangible demonstration of the United States of America's support for Ukraine's security".

The agreement comes days after Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a face-to-face meeting on the sidelines of Pope Francis' funeral, and as talks between Moscow and Washington over a possible ceasefire in Ukraine continue.

The latest Trump-Zelensky talks appeared to be far more amicable than their meeting at the White House in February, and have led to a softening in tone from the US president towards his Ukrainian counterpart in the days that followed, as well as an increased level of criticism of Russia's attacks.

Speaking on Wednesday, Trump said: "As you know, we're looking for rare earth [minerals] all the time.

"They have a lot, and we made a deal, so we can start digging and doing what we have to do. It's also good for them."

The initial agreement was due to be signed in February, but fell apart following the heated exchange between the two leaders, when Trump accused Zelensky of "gambling with World War Three".

US judge refers Apple for possible criminal contempt

1 May 2025 at 09:54
Reuters The Apple logo is visible on the exterior of an Apple store in Paris

FILE PHOTO: View of an Apple logo at an Apple store in Paris, France, April 23, 2025. REUTERS/Abdul Saboor/File PhotoReuters

A US district judge has found Apple wilfully violated her injunction in a case brought by Epic Games — and that a top Apple executive "outright lied" under oath.

The injunction was supposed to block Apple from anticompetitive conduct and pricing, opening the App Store up to outside payment options.

Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers said she was referring the matter to the US Attorney for Northern District of California to investigate whether a criminal contempt proceeding is appropriate.

Apple responded to the ruling late Wednesday.

"We strongly disagree with the decision. We will comply with the court's order and we will appeal," an Apple spokesperson said.

Wednesday's judgement refers to a 2021 case brought by Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite, one of the world's most popular games, which argued that third-party payment options should be available to customers.

It challenged the up-to-30% cut Apple takes from purchases - and argued that the App Store was monopolistic.

In her 2021 judgement, Judge Gonzalez Rogers stated that Apple could no longer prohibit developers linking to their own purchasing mechanisms.

As well as game purchasing, another example of how this would work is a movie-streaming service being able to tell customers to subscribe via its own website, without using Apple's in-app purchasing mechanism.

In a contempt order issued Wednesday, Judge Gonzalez Rogers found that Apple nevertheless continued to interfere with competition with attempts that the court stated "will not be tolerated".

Judge Gonzalez Rogers added that internal company documents she reviewed showed Apple deliberately violated the injunction.

The documents reveal "that Apple knew exactly what it was doing and at every turn chose the most anticompetitive option," she wrote.

She said CEO Tim Cook ignored executive Phillip Schiller's urging to have Apple comply with the injunction and allowed CFO Luca Maestri to convince him not to.

"Cook chose poorly," she wrote.

She also said Apple's vice president of finance Alex Roman "outright lied under oath".

The judge wrote that one example of Apple's attempts to evade the injunction included a decision to charge a 27% commission on off-app purchases. where it had previously charged nothing.

The company also imposed new barriers and requirements to discourage customers from using competing purchasing platforms, she said.

In a post on X, Epic Games founder and CEO Tim Sweeney said Epic Games would return Fortnite to the US iOS App Store next week and offered an olive branch to his long-time rival.

"Epic puts forth a peace proposal: If Apple extends the court's friction-free, Apple-tax-free framework worldwide, we'll return 'Fortnite' to the App Store worldwide and drop current and future litigation on the topic," Sweeney wrote.

In another post, he wrote: "NO FEES on web transactions. Game over for the Apple Tax. Apple's 15-30% junk fees are now just as dead here in the United States of America as they are in Europe under the Digital Markets Act. Unlawful here, unlawful there."

What minerals does Ukraine have and what are they used for?

1 May 2025 at 10:39
Getty Images Vehicles at a Ukrainian iron ore mineGetty Images
Ukraine has substantial supplies of key minerals, but some are now in Russian-occupied territory

A natural resources deal between the United States and Ukraine has finally been agreed after months of twists and turns.

The deal will see the two countries collaborate to ensure that "mutual assets, talents, and capabilities" can accelerate Ukraine's recovery, according to the US Treasury Department.

The US said the agreement "signals to Russia" that the Trump administration is "committed to a peace process centred on a free, sovereign, and prosperous" Ukraine.

It comes after months of uncertainty over the fate of an agreement, following Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky clash with US President Donald Trump on a visit to the White House in February.

But the prospect of resurrecting the deal increased after the two leaders had a far more amicable conversation at the funeral of Pope Francis last week, and negotiators finally managed to get the deal over the line.

What minerals does Ukraine have?

Kyiv estimates that about 5% of the world's "critical raw materials" are in Ukraine.

This includes some 19m tonnes of proven reserves of graphite, which the Ukrainian Geological Survey state agency says makes the nation "one of the top five leading countries" for the supply of the mineral. Graphite is used to make batteries for electric vehicles.

Ukraine has 7% of Europe's supplies of titanium, a lightweight metal used in the construction of everything from aeroplanes to power stations.

It is also home to a third of all European lithium deposits, the key component in current batteries.

Other elements found in Ukraine include beryllium and uranium, which are both crucial for nuclear weapons and reactors.

Deposits of copper, lead, zinc, silver, nickel, cobalt and manganese are also significant.

Further, Ukraine has significant deposits of rare earth metals. These are a group of 17 elements that are used to produce weapons, wind turbines, electronics and other products vital in the modern world.

map showing Ukraine's mineral deposits

Some of the mineral deposits, however, have been seized by Russia. According to Svyrydenko, resources worth $350bn (£277bn) remain in occupied territories today.

In 2022, SecDev, a geopolitical risk consultancy based in Canada, conducted an evaluation, which established that Russia had occupied 63% of Ukrainian coal mines, as well as half of its manganese, caesium, tantalum and rare earth deposits.

Dr Robert Muggah, principal of SecDev, says that such minerals add a "strategic and economic dimension" in Russia's continued aggression. By seizing them, he says, Moscow denies access to revenue for Ukraine, expands its own resource base and influences global supply chains.

Why does the US want Ukraine's minerals?

Critical minerals "are the foundation of the 21st Century economy", Dr Muggah explained. They are key to renewable energy, military applications and industrial infrastructure and play "a growing strategic role in geopolitics and geoeconomics", he said.

Additionally, the US has been keen on a deal for Ukraine's mineral resources because it wants to reduce dependency on China, which controls 75% of rare earth deposits in the world, according to the Geological Investment Group.

In December, China banned the export of some rare earth minerals to the US, having previously limited mineral exports to the US the previous year.

Beijing then imposed more export controls on rare earth minerals as part of an escalating trade war with the US, sparked by Trump's announcement of sweeping tariffs in April.

Ros Atkins on... the fight for Ukraine's critical minerals

How will a deal help Kyiv exploit its minerals?

The draft of the deal appeared to give the US sweeping access to Ukrainian industries beyond minerals.

Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said that the fund created by the agreement would "attract global investment into our country".

Some commentators described the initial US offer as "colonial", but Kyiv is interested in joint exploration of its resources.

According to the World Economic Forum, Ukraine has about 20,000 mineral deposits covering 116 types, but only about 15% of sites were being actively exploited at the time of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.

For instance, the country's sizeable lithium deposits are still largely untapped. Likewise, rare earth deposits are known to exist, but none of them have yet been mined, because of a lack of investment.

Developing these mineral resources is extremely difficult and expensive, according to Iryna Suprun, chief executive of the Geological Investment Group, a mining advisory firm based in Ukraine.

She argues that if Ukraine can attract US investors to help develop its natural resources, it will be highly beneficial for the country's economy.

"We will get technologies that our mining industry lacks so much," Ms Suprun explained. "We will get capital. That means more jobs, tax payments. We'll receive revenue from the development of mineral deposits."

Trump has previously suggested the presence of US contractors in Ukraine would act as a security guarantee to deter Russian aggression in the future, but Ukraine and European leaders have insisted that would not be enough.

国家卫健委对近日肖某引发舆情问题开展调查

By: 新华社
1 May 2025 at 08:30

新华社

国家卫生健康委新闻发言人表示,近日,我委关注到中日友好医院胸外科肖某被举报所引发的相关舆情。我委已成立调查组,坚持实事求是、客观公正原则,联合有关方面对事件涉及的肖某、董某及有关机构等进行认真调查核查,对发现的违法违规问题将依法依纪严肃处理。

1个动作重复上百万次:机器人如何成“人”

训练场很安静,每人每天的工作是将一个动作重复500次以上。一个场景的数据量,需要单个采集师如此工作约200天。

“人形机器人到底能在哪些方面、为我们做什么事情,还没有找到明确的答案。”

南方周末记者 梁婷

责任编辑:张玥

位于北京的人形机器人数据训练中心,操作员正在收集数据。南方周末记者 梁婷/摄

位于北京的人形机器人数据训练中心,操作员正在收集数据。南方周末记者 梁婷/摄

人形机器人的故事在2025年初的几个月里被反复讲述。

层出不穷的“首个”:首个通用“大脑”、首个能在雪地奔跑的、首个完成侧空翻的……以及4月19日开跑的全球首个人形机器人半程马拉松。

这场比赛与2025年北京亦庄半程马拉松同期进行,但最终,20多支参赛队伍中,只有6支完赛。这也让人形机器人引起了更多的争论。

人形机器人不是新鲜事。五十年前,全球首个人形机器人诞生在日本。进入2025年,人工智能的飞跃让人形机器人迎来了属于它的新时代。

如果关注全国各地人形机器人的最新动态,你会发现,信息检索的速度赶不上更新的速度。每周都有新消息。

据南方周末记者统计,目前,包括北京、上海、重庆3个直辖市在内,共15个省份发布了与人形机器人相关的行动方案或计划。超过20个城市正在围绕人形机器人布局,这个数字还在随时增长。

有中介甚至增加了机器人企业的收费考察项目:参观明星公司,单人报价2000元、3000元不等。

热闹不足以代表它的全部。接受南方周末记者采访的七家人形机器人公司表现得非常克制。

有人形容还处在“验证期”;有人担心,热潮之下会造成它已经很先进的错觉,影响未来更实在的产业布局。他们的共识是,把人形机器人变成一个稳定可靠的产品,还需要时间。

一句看似矛盾的答案,更能说明人形机器人的发展现状——“它没有想象中那么快,可能又远比想象中要快”。

每天重复500次

落成一个多月,位于北京首钢园的人形机器人数据训练中心很繁忙。

4月2日下午四点,参观、考察、采访的人群进进出出。一个小时里,至少来过五拨人。前一天,训练中心还接待了几所高校的学生,学校想把学生送来学习,但实在容纳不了。

训练中心由石景山区政府和睿擎(北京)机器人有限公司合作共建,前者提供场地、资金、应用场景,后者提供设备、人力、运营团队,是北京首个人形机器人训练场地。

一个多月前,这里还是毛坯房,现在已经聚集了100个机器人。其中80个正通过水瓶、积木等物品,练习着抓、取、放等通用技能。在真实生活场景试验场中,另外20个机器人正在进行叠毛巾、浇花、理疗、清理沙发等行为的数据采集。

“我想试一下”,参观者按捺不住地从操作员手里接过可以“控制”机器人的穿戴设备,尝试着让它拿起毛巾,再叠放整齐……并不断提醒同伴帮自己拍下这一刻。

体验过后,他们发现,“叠真的很费劲”,毛巾不时从机器人的指缝中掉落,“灵巧手”并没有那么灵巧。工作人员解释,这与教幼儿园小朋友学写字,要靠老师手把手教类似,机器人也需要人的贴身指导,进行数据学习。“它对数据的需求至少是百万级的,而且越多越好,目前这个量还远远不够”。

1260公里外的上海,有目前全国唯一的异构人形机器人训练场。

国家地方共建人形机器人创新中心位于浦东张江,他们的具身智能训练场启用比北京早三个月,同样的,建成半年前,这里还只是一片工地,导航都很难找到。

这里有一百多个机器人,来自十余个不同的品牌,高矮胖瘦各不相同。每一个身边几乎都有一位年轻的操作员,不断重复着同一个动作。

这个训练场很安静,很少有谈话声,每人每天的工作是将一个动作重

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欢迎分享、点赞与留言。本作品的版权为南方周末或相关著作权人所有,任何第三方未经授权,不得转载,否则即为侵权。

Investigating Shrimp Fraud Is an Urgent Matter on the Gulf Coast

1 May 2025 at 02:33
With a flood of imported seafood driving the U.S. shrimp industry to the edge of ruin, a consulting company out of Houston is testing truth in menu labeling.

© Bryan Tarnowski for The New York Times

Shrimp on display at Porgy’s, a seafood market and restaurant in New Orleans specializing in Gulf seafood. Local seafood, and especially shrimp, can be frustratingly difficult to find in the U.S., even on the coasts.

星球商业评论|董小姐掀开了天宫一角

1 May 2025 at 09:30
CDT 档案卡
标题:董小姐掀开了天宫一角
作者:杨乃悟
发表日期:2025.4.30
来源:微信公众号“星球商业评论”
主题归类:特权阶层
主题归类:董袭莹
CDS收藏:话语馆
版权说明:该作品版权归原作者所有。中国数字时代仅对原作进行存档,以对抗中国的网络审查。详细版权说明

中国医学史上,注定会有董小姐的名字了。

这两天肖飞医生和董袭莹医生的瓜,已经远远超越了裤裆那点事儿。《人民的名义》唯一一个死的,是农民的儿子祁同伟。现在,唯一被处理的,也是寒窗苦读的肖医生。

和他一起的董医生迟迟没了下文。

董袭莹,北京协和医学院医学博士,中国科学院肿瘤医院执业医师,中日友好医院规培医生。本科就读于哥伦比亚大学巴纳德学院经济学专业。2019年,董医生通过协和4+4试点班开始跨专业攻读医学。

这个4+4项目从2018年到2024年,一共就收过3个经济学专业的学生,比新媒体、园艺、艺术专业不知高到哪里去了。

董医生的履历很神奇,被4+4项目录取时的专业是内科。在校就读期间,董医生就能连续和多位院士共同发表论文,内容覆盖骨科、胸外科再到脑外科。更神奇的是,虽然是实习生,董医生不仅能登上手术台,参与复杂手术,还能被国社报道。

然后被内科专业录取的她在毕业时凭借妇科影像学的论文变成了外科医生。然后又去了中国科学院肿瘤医院从事泌尿科工作。

很快,初出茅庐的董医生就成为了《膀胱癌诊疗手册指南》的第一作者,开始指导起新同学来了。你们这些医学牛马,不要总在帽子上写“我不是4+4”了,对照董医生,然后问问自己:

这么多年了工资涨没涨,有没有认真工作?

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协和4+4的目的是培养交叉学科人才,据我看董医生交叉得非常好。内科、外科、肿瘤科、妇科、影像科……一直交叉到肖飞医生的胸外科。

看到董医生如此年轻又如此优秀,很多网友酸酸地说她是凭祖荫举孝廉。

乃悟问了中日友好医院和北京科技大学的朋友,他们都说董小姐的爹是中冶建筑研究院的总经理,娘是北京科技大学的教授和院长,外公是知名外籍院士,力学专家米耀荣,还是米芾的后人。

这些不恰恰能证明董医生的优秀?

要知道4+4项目宣传说自己是优中选优。比如当年北大光华管理学院的毕业生陈如月,为了上协和4+4选修了大量医学高难度课程,结果面试没成功。最后只能重新参加高考,考了上海交大医学八年制。

这难道不足以证明4+4项目的公平?

4+4是一种学习自美国的医学生培养模式。也就是从非医学专业的本科生中筛选一部分来学习医学。美国人采取这种方式,是因为他们没有医学本科,所以理论上所有医学生都属于跨专业。

这种模式很早之前就有高校在开展。比如浙江大学、上海交大。早在2002年,上海交大就开始实施4+4模式,但只限理工科。直到2018年,才开始招收文科生,但可能是太难了,当年居然无一名文科生报名。

协和医学院也在2018年启动了首批4+4的试点班。和美国有全国统一的考试不同,协和招收4+4的学生,一是要求出身名校,二是要求两名副教授以上职称推荐,三是要求修够相关学科的学分,而考核方法是:

面试。

据说这种多站式面试引进自加拿大,能全方位考察考生。有记者采访了当时的考生。考生说他们有5种考核方法,除了面试和英语考试外,其他三种:

保密。

2020年协和的4+4招生开始出现笔试要求。但同样的,面试的考官是谁?笔试的习题是哪些?谁来阅卷?谁来监督公正?面试的评分标准是什么,一概不知。

现在就连招生简章都是保密的了,网页已经无法打开。按照协和的说法,4+4能够筛选出:

精英中的精英,真正热爱医学的学生。

比如2025级冬季班招收的盛玺澄同学。根据网上公开信息,盛玺澄同学初中时就读于上海市青浦区实验中学,并加入上海市学生表演艺术团工艺表演一团。中考时,因为是优秀团员,又是艺体特长生,享受降20分录取的政策。

高中时,盛同学当选为最美中学生,又是参加数学竞赛,又是参加英语竞赛,又是参加电视台节目,还被选为优秀毕业生。

2018年,盛同学同时在北京大学、上海外国语大学自主招生入围。只要她高考考到相应成绩(比如一本线),就会被录取。乃悟查了一下,盛同学在上海外国语入选的专业是:

捷克语。

最终盛同学选择了复旦管理学院。复旦经管学院曾刊登了一则来自盛同学的中秋感言。盛同学深情回顾了自己唯一一次不在父母身边过中秋,是去瑞士巴塞尔参加演出庆祝两城缔结友好城市十周年。

2022年,盛同学本科毕业。中间可能是工作,也可能是读硕士,直到这次被协和医学院录取。

一个舞蹈特长生,擅长捷克语,经管系毕业的优秀人才,就要来给大家看病啦!

2024年,一位叫做邱靖涵的小姑娘被录取了。而后,一位叫做邱靖婷的小姑娘又将在2026年春季入学。他们这个姓,算了,我还是不能乱猜,因为不是孤例。

2024年入学的还有个男同学,医学院还没上已经是医学辅助治疗系统的发明人之一了,第一发明人竟然和他一个姓。

更别提其他什么15岁跳级,23岁拿下协和博士一年后就搞肿瘤科研,地质生12页论文就入职协和了。

当然,也不是所有人都觉得4+4选出来的都是精英。比如今年4月,一篇刊登于《基础医学与临床》上的论文就指出,通过对协和4+4的学生们进行回顾,发现他们无论是论文产出数量、评分、临床能力,都和传统5+3培养出来的学生有差距:

核心胜任力差异性比较大。

这种暴论,完全都是对精英们的污蔑。

患者们无非是冒了点生命危险,董小姐失去的可是镀金路上的垫脚石啊。

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【重温】歪脑|作为思想犯的王建兵与黄雪琴:在互助与连结中获得滋养的灵魂

1 May 2025 at 08:45

CDT编辑注:自由亚洲旗下的新媒体平台“歪脑”日前因特朗普行政令而暂停运营。成立于2017年的歪脑主要面向华语世界青年群体传播自由主义价值。本文发表于2024年8月21日。CDT近期将持续回顾歪脑的报道。

CDT 档案卡
标题:作为思想犯的王建兵与黄雪琴:在互助与连结中获得滋养的灵魂
作者:张泰格
发表日期:2024.8.21
来源:歪脑
主题归类:雪饼案
CDS收藏:公民馆
版权说明:该作品版权归原作者所有。中国数字时代仅对原作进行存档,以对抗中国的网络审查。详细版权说明

2021年初,处于国保严密监控下的卢昱宇正过着东奔西顾的生活,“年关难过”对于他来说有着另一番味道。他每到一处,当地的国保必然会闻风而至跟踪、骚扰,他就只能再搬一个地方。卢昱宇曾两次去过广州,两次都被当地国保强行驱赶,“广州不欢迎你!”——国保只是说。当他老家贵州的警察仍然无休止的骚扰时,他决定再去广州。

那个经朋友介绍可以收留他的人叫“煎饼”,望文生义,于是他初初在脑子里给王建兵构建的形象是个圆鼓鼓的大胖子。王建兵去火车站接他,卢昱宇看到的却是“一副硬核摇滚形象,还留着小山羊胡的西北大汉。”让他这个南方人有了一些压力。所幸,短暂的交流后,“他就露馅了”。——和外表相反,煎饼语调柔和,从不高谈阔论。自言性格孤僻的卢昱宇,却很快和王建兵成了朋友。

在王建兵家暂居的三四天中,王建兵对卢的照顾无微不至,“吃饭什么的都是他做,我觉得一定要去帮忙刷碗,他也说‘不用我自己来就好了’。”卢昱宇暂住的地方,就是广州海珠区新港西路149号202房——这里也是后来被官方列为组织聚会用以“煽动颠覆国家政权”的地点。王建兵也顺理成章在之后邀请了因收集记录中国各地群体性事件而系狱4年的卢昱宇来做分享会。

卢昱宇是维权信息平台“非新闻”的创办人,在2016年中被捕后,最初以“煽动颠覆国家政权罪”起诉,后因证据不足,改以“寻衅滋事罪”定罪四年,最终的定罪依据,仅仅是他发布的8条微博。4年的刑期,卢昱宇光在看守所就度过了1年4个月,在监狱度过了2年8个月。——卢的这一切经历与当下黄雪琴王建兵二人所经历的,又是何其相似。当然,这已经是后话了。

公民社会风浪中的“夜航船”

2024年6月14日,广州中级人民法院以“煽动颠覆国家政权罪”判处黄雪琴有期徒刑五年,王建兵有期徒刑三年六个月。两人曾分别以独立记者、公益人士的身份投身于多个社会公共议题的倡导。黄雪琴曾参与多起#MeToo案件的报道和为性侵害性骚扰受害人提供帮助和支持;而王建兵则长期在中国公益领域工作,从事过农村教育发展、残障社群赋能和尘肺病工人权益工作。

而他们被当局抓捕并判刑的核心原因,则是在广州组织的见面和聚会活动,这令黄雪琴和王建兵成为了政府眼中“煽动他人颠覆国家政权”的罪犯。“雪饼案”的刑事判决书有27页,由广东省广州市中级人民法院2024年6月13日发出,上面盖上了法院的大红图章,案件号“(2022)粤01刑初298号”提示着全案不寻常的处理时间——黄雪琴和王建兵于2021年被捕,在上庭前经历了长达两年的拘留。而2023年9月的庭审却仅用了一天时间。而最终的判决结果也延宕了九个月之久,这早已超过了刑诉法规定的最长等待判决时间。

判决书显示,两人在境外平台及社交网络的言论表达被视为攻击政府、诋毁政权的煽动行为;此外两人还参与和协助“非暴力运动”课程,更重要的是,他们共同组织的“夜航船”每周聚会,被视为重大的煽动颠覆国家政权的行为。雪饼案关注组认为,正是“雪饼组织的每周聚会,深耕催化行动者社群,并试图重建多年来被打压的公民社会网络。该聚会所凝聚的社群网络及其衍生的社会批判,令当局将其视为危害国家安全的不稳定因素。”

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雪饼案判决结果

黄雪琴和王建兵的共同朋友祥子忆述,每周四“夜航船”的聚会,从2020年11月开始,一直举办到两人被捕的2021年9月。公安机关则更详细地为聚会统计了次数:“202分享会’总共办了20至30场左右,其中大约20次是有主题的”(见判决书第20页)。”祥子说,聚会的主题包括安全空间的互相支持:朋友间分享困惑、人生挑战,其他朋友互助提供建议等。也有一些针对社会事件的建设性、批判性讨论。也包括一些知识分享,例如邀请相关领域的学者、专业人士,分享经历和感受,学习新知识。另外也有一些关于社群的能力建设培训和讨论,比如处理性骚扰危机,工人维权等。当然还有打麻将、桌游等娱乐活动和身心关怀。

“曾经有一个具体主题,比如安全空间的支持,提到有些伙伴被喝茶,会提供建议,按照判决书,这些都被警方视为‘鼓励与警察做斗争’”。祥子说。最终,这些原本正常的活动,都被法庭约化成为了“煽动他人颠覆我国国家政权 、推翻社会主义制度”的“犯罪构成要件(见判决书第25页)”。

“夜航船”的名字是王建兵起的,劳工行动者祥子在接受公民媒体WOMEN我们访问的时候曾提到,“名字很像在夜里摸黑航行的感觉,即使没有方向,大家也还是要抱在一起向前走。”——为此,王建兵还设计了一个小logo。那是三个人挤在一艘小小的木帆船上,海面波浪汹涌,上面的人却似乎仍然安然的坐定对谈着。然而这些意象和期待在公安机关的侦查中,则是:“王建兵、黄雪琴等组织“夜航船““艄水”群组中, 借讨论社会话题之机,煽动参加人员对我国政权的不满,传授反侦查方法,交流如何开展煽动颠覆我国政权活动等(内容见判决书第15页)”。

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“夜航船”的logo。曾经热络的聚会群组,在“雪饼”被捕之后变成“0 members”。

王建兵力所能及的“小事情”

近期,王建兵的亲友向记者转述了他本人对于聚会活动的初衷和看法,他说2019年后言论环境越来越差,再加上疫情的影响,大家已经习惯了网上的交流。他觉得“人始终要有些活生生的互动”,期望大家不要因此隔离,“不要就这样散了,所以就做了这个挺小的事情。”王建兵说,这是他力所能及的小事情,“特别大的我也做不了,就只能做这种小事情。”

狱中的他,也仍然在记挂着一些未完成的“小事情”。他曾经在2021年探访过十多个湖南株洲攸县的尘肺病人,他了解到两个月之间便有两名病友去世,当时他就期望能够给他们做一些筹款工作,但是因为被捕最终没有进行下去。他还有些懊悔,觉得这个事情没有做好,也不知道剩下的人怎么样了。因为共同打工的关系,尘肺病往往会让一整个村的男性都成为患者,这个不可逆的病患会让他们妻离子散、家破人亡;而这些患者需要长期吸氧,因为躺着呼吸不畅,只能趴在桌子上睡觉。因此,这些病友更需要社群的陪伴和心理支援,这也是当时王建兵的主要工作。而他每月花2600人民币租下的202房,本就是为了能够请广东省职业病防治院里的工人多来聊天而准备的。还因为尘肺病工人们大多呼吸不畅,无法爬楼,他选择的也是价格更高的二楼。

王建兵惦记的,还有那桩社群内没有解决的性骚扰事件。他的朋友王欣、木斓曾经在社群内遭遇过性骚扰事件,而施暴者当时是王建兵多年的好朋友。“王建兵当时的态度就是和这个人割席绝交。他的这种反应对我的帮助非常大,是很重要的鼓励。”王欣说他会主动关心几位受害者,并约她们一起谈诉求和解决方法。因此事件搬离广州的木斓,也常常会收到来自王建兵的问候。

无论是对#MeToo当事人的支援还是聚会的筹备,王建兵的工作总是不显山不露水。参加活动的大家都觉得王建兵的角色并不显眼“因为建兵很少去主动去发表观点,他更多是做组织,他就是把大家拉到一起去调去约不同的人,就是去动员然后去设定主题,去给大家准备各种水果、食物、茶,收尾的打扫卫生也是他来做。整个讨论过程当中,他都是协作的角色,鼓励大家去发表自己的意见。

王建兵的家乡

王建兵的家乡是甘肃天水,到了天水市还要再转车半小时才能到他家的村子。王家以务农为生,天水出名的是樱桃和苹果,近年也开始种一些金桃。父亲王治学在王建兵被捕后,曾经拍摄视频,用很朴素的话语呼吁执法机关让家属和律师会见王建兵:“我的娃娃不是个坏娃娃,当初读书以后,他在社会上搞这个公益事业。我觉得是一点坏事都没做过,这一次出了这么大的事情,也不知道是啥事情。”

“从他父亲的语气和表达里能感受到,他不觉得自己儿子被抓坐牢是一个很耻辱的事情,反而他心里面觉得自己的儿子是一个很正义、很善良的人。”木斓在王建兵被捕后,去过王家,王建兵母亲长期患有哮喘,儿子的被捕让她多了不少牵挂和担忧。王建兵是他们村子少有的大学生,毕业于西北师范大学的幼师专业。家人曾经的期望和他本人的选择多多少少有着不同,不过他们说自己在农村,很多东西他们不明白,“但是孩子有自己的人生,既然父母没办法给到更好的,那就让儿子自己去做好了。”

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王建兵的父亲王治学

曾经和王建兵共事过的朋友小五,记得他这样讲述自己的家乡:小时候只有土豆可以吃,家里贫穷得连裤子都买不起,几个人分享一条裤子,让要出门的人穿,其余时间就躲在被窝里,或者光着屁股走。

当时小五和王建兵共同在一个残障人士赋能工作的团队中,王建兵是负责人,在一年多的时间内他们要密集的给残障人士进行赋能培训。小五在和他的合作中真切的感受到王建兵的热诚:“他对于边缘群体的关注有一种真挚的情怀,这些可能都源自他本人的家庭背景。”

王建兵幼师毕业之后,最早在西部阳光基金会做过农村地区的教育工作,2014年在恭明社会组织发展中心负责残障社群赋能项目。2018年后关注劳工和职业病议题,尤其是对尘肺病工人的权益倡导。NGO的工作薪资很低,小五当时曾经问过王建兵要不要回去当老师,“他就很意味深长的笑着朝我摇摇头,那意思是不再可能了。”

小五和朋友们喜欢管生活简朴的王建兵叫做王大爷,“因为他和你聊天的时候,总会捋着他的山羊胡,笑眯眯地故作沉思状。”他爱喝茶,爱古诗词——很多朋友都收到过他做的古体诗,又往往因为看不懂而不久就遗失了,他会把仅有的工资用来买成堆成堆线装书。

因为关注尘肺病工人,他也对“矿工诗人”陈年喜的诗歌钟爱有加。王建兵曾经一次性买了陈年喜很多本诗歌集《炸裂志》,一方面是为了支持陈年喜创作,一方面也是为了把这些作品送给朋友,让他们更多了解工人。

王建兵对朋友也不吝惜,木斓在休养的时候学做茶叶,王建兵便会转给她1000块钱提前买茶,除了自己喝,他也会在探望朋友的时候给他们送去分享。一直到他被捕,这笔茶钱还没有花完;不像卢昱宇的老家遵义,广州的冬天温暖,看到卢只穿了一双厚厚的防寒鞋,王建兵就操心起来,一定要给他买一双适合在广州穿的鞋,于是就塞给卢300块钱让他自己去买。其实很多朋友都知道,王建兵当时的生活已然非常拮据。

从王建兵家出来后,卢昱宇在广州过了年,其后在郊区长洲岛租下了一个有开放大阳台的老房子。虽然很脏很破旧,但是一番改造后,也成了黄雪琴、王建兵等一众朋友经常见面、喝茶、饮酒、打麻将的地方。

这里门口有一个枇杷树,王建兵就把这个地方命名为“枇杷居”,更作诗一首赠与卢昱宇。辗转动荡之下,这首诗已经找不到了,但卢昱宇还很记得里面描写了他当时的生活状况。

得知卢昱宇提到了枇杷居,祥子特意给记者找出了王建兵作于2021年3月5日的那首《賀友人新卜“枇杷居”》

浪子天涯一處家,卜居尤喜近枇杷;

門迎曲巷市聲遠,簾隔風塵舊夢賒;

長夜消愁宜對酒,小樓聽雨好煎茶;

鳴禽芳草漫招引,欲踏春光到落花。

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阳光、美景、好友相伴,那大概是卢昱宇离开中国前相对比较开心的日子了。——只是还没等到春光尽、落花散,就在王建兵赠诗的4天后,他还是被国保爬阳台入室驱赶,再次被迫离开了广州。那时的枇杷也才刚刚成熟。因为不舍得这个“枇杷居”,王建兵便提议把这个地方继续承租下去,每月500多人民币的租金还是一人出一百块这样续下去的。

朋友知道他内心中有个自洽自足的丰富小世界,这让他并不急于表达自己,但也忽略了他已经内化的情绪,既来自外部,也来自自身。

得悉卢昱宇流离到了郑州,为了见他,准备返回老家天水的王建兵特意在郑州短暂停留。郑州火车站广场人来人往。改革开放以来,这里就成为了中国最繁忙的火车站之一,每天有数万甚至十多万来自中西部的农民工经此,或是北上北京、或是南下广东。王建兵作为从甘肃走出来的大学生,也行径这里去过北京、落脚广州。

一个工人集体行动记录者、一个职业病倡导者,就这样在偌大郑州火车站广场有一句没一句的聊了一个小时,王建兵说,我们这样的人没有未来也看不到希望,没房没车也不敢恋爱结婚,怕连累人家姑娘……卢昱宇说:“直到那时,我才知道,这个在生活中总是关心着别人的人,内心是如此绝望。只是他一直都把这种绝望埋在了心底。”

这是卢昱宇最后一次见到他,不久后王建兵就被捕了,连同“枇杷居”也一起被警察抄家。

对于长期投身公益圈的王建兵来说,卢昱宇这样背景的客人也许对他来说已经成为常态:从2015年开始,中国公益圈和公民社会持续震荡:“女权五姐妹”被捕、NGO“益仁平”成员郭彬、杨占青被捕,其后是“709大抓捕”以及针对劳工组织的大抓捕。广州作为这些事件的中心之一,威胁和逮捕就在身边不断发生着,2017年黎学文和十多位中国公民曾在广东新会的海边祭奠刘晓波,旋即被警方逮捕并被长时间关押。——这些都给了当时王建兵不小的冲击,再加上2016年《境外NGO 管理法》出台,中国的公民社会直接被置于国家安全的管控框架之中,他本人所在的NGO同样在动荡中面对抉择,小五回忆:“当时很多机构都面对转型,很多项目都无法再做下去,敏感一点的方向都要放弃。无论是从机构还是他个人都要考虑何去何从的问题。”

从恭明中心的工作岗位离开后,他颓丧的在家宅了很久,总是离群索居的一个人在打游戏,他的情绪问题也是从那个时候开始的。当时广东地区的很多年轻人也因此再次归于沉寂,“王建兵作为公民社会兴旺时期过来的人,除了感到悲哀,他也觉得很有必要去重新把大家聚在一起创造一个安全空间。”祥子说。在王建兵眼中,在经历了过去十多年公民社会的低沉和挫败后,在这些艰难时期重新凝结社群、促进青年行动者的网络和互助是至关重要的。他希望通过定期聚会的方式重新建立连结、探索新的公民社群行动方式。

与人的连结让他们获得滋养

小针和黄雪琴相识在2018年,那时黄正在进行#MeToo的报道,二人成了私交甚好的朋友。2019年,黄因为参加香港反修例运动游行并发表文章,于10月被警方以“寻衅滋事罪”拘留,直到翌年1月方才被保释。

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黄雪琴

在小针的忆述中,黄雪琴是那种充满了热情和想象力的“社牛”。“有一次我们在一个很小的咖啡馆里聊天,她就突然问我‘你觉得上一年年有没有什么好事?’我说好像没有什么好事,她说的是2018年。”接着黄雪琴便自顾自的说,“那一年最好的事情是#MeToo发生了。”后来她就开始问咖啡馆的所有人你觉得今年最好的好事是什么?

小针觉得黄雪琴是那种好奇心,同时有能够把好奇心变成一个真正问题的能力。“她其实是一个与他人在连接当中感受到滋养的一个人。”因为做#MeToo的报导,黄雪琴认识很多当事人,她几乎跟给所有的当事人,都提供那种小针自己都觉得承受不来的情感支援。“她会跟当事人聊完天后,带着当事人去参加活动、去读书会。她是真诚的希望对方能够从她和她的朋友那里能够感受到更多情感上互动。她是一个很真实的人,哪怕是在当事人面前也都是无保留的。”

回忆涌上来就收不住,小针又迫不及待的讲述了黄雪琴的另一个故事。小针当年因为被警察找上门,导致自己非常抑郁,而那时黄雪琴也已经被捕。“就说我要看一个电影,一个对这个体制可能还有些希望的电影。我就看了德国的《窃听风暴》。”那时一部描述东德时期秘密警察窃听艺术家,并出于人性将其拯救的故事。

“当时对那个电影我毫无感觉,因为我知道我遇到的警察都不是这种人。”但是中间有一个桥段却令她不期然想起了黄雪琴。“那个秘密警察说,他们对待艺术家或者思想犯的方式,就是把他们关起来然后不给他们看报纸、不跟他们说任何话,然后他们就慢慢的枯萎掉了。——因为这些思想犯的灵魂,就是非常渴望和他人保持联系,并从中得到滋养吧。当时我看这段的时候我就哭,因为我就想到了黄雪琴不就是这样的人吗。”

她回忆自己在黄雪琴第一次被释放的时候去找她,本以为只是吃饭,结果她马上问小针还记不记得李翘楚?说要给李翘楚写点东西。“她感觉好像从来没有(因为坐牢)受过什么伤一样,我以为她出来之后至少会休息,或者说我不想再做这样的事了。怎料她出来的第一想念就是还是要去创作,还是要去做对别人有用的事。”

小针很担心她在狱中受到的对待,但又不敢直问,“感觉你还是以前那个样子……”,黄雪琴却开玩笑的问:“你觉得我在里面被打了吗?”小针不敢答,生怕触碰到黄雪琴的伤疤。黄却很大方的告诉她自己没有被打,警察对待思想犯的方式就是不停的审讯轰炸。她特意向小针分享自己在狱中的观察,自己在被监视居住的过程中是没有隐私的,往往要当着警察的面换衣服,对于女性来说是非常屈辱的事情。

黄雪琴知道自己需要社群、需要朋友的滋养,她也用这种方式去滋养他人。

在判刑之前,两人已被囚超过1000天,而早前据雪饼案关注组称,因为长期的关押审讯和半夜突发提讯,二人身体和心灵都备受煎熬。黄雪琴除了体重骤减,更出现“继发性闭经”等问题;王建兵早前则被单独关押长达五个多月。”而近期王建兵的亲友向记者表示,他还出现了心脏和肠胃方面的问题,而他在狱中更曾经因为感染新冠连续高烧数日而没有获得药物治疗的情况

“坐牢最辛苦的地方就是,它会把你和外界的所有东西都切断。然后每一天每一秒,它会让你被驯服、被淹没。”作为曾经的政治犯,卢昱宇一早已经体验过了封闭的牢狱生活,这也是他最担心黄雪琴王建兵的地方。“每一个很小的规则你都要去反抗的话,是需要付出很大的代价。”卢昱宇觉得每天吃饭前警察都会要求所有犯人蹲下,“我觉得这是非常侮辱人格的。你不蹲,警察就会动手,我也会还手。打到后面,他们觉得你这人没救了,也就不和你打了。王建兵是那种书生气的人,以前做尘肺病工作,他说话就很温和,在监狱里面可能很吃亏。”

从他的亲友了解,王建兵在狱中并没有听说受到什么欺负,他的精神状态向好,但是心脏和肠胃问题仍然值得关注。狱中的王建兵迫切的渴望阅读,他近期开出的书目包括汉娜·阿伦特的《人的境况》以及查尔斯·泰勒的 《本真性的原理》,此外还希望可以读到上野千鹤子的 《厌女》,他说这本书之前读到一半没有读完,至今念念不忘。

来自世界各地的声援

在黄雪琴王建兵被判刑两天后,他们的朋友小针和十余名伙伴,在夕阳下的威斯敏斯特桥展开了一副“超级超级大”的横幅,“这其实是向声援巴勒斯坦活动学的,他们之前便在桥上挂了一个特别震撼的banner”,这是一场女权主义者的快速的跨国联动。“我都不知道是什么时候开始的,我就感觉是大家想为黄雪琴做一点什么事,然后就拉了一个群把彼此认识的各地方不同的人,也是一些比较活跃的各地小组的组织者拉进来 。”

口号很快敲定:“只要黄雪琴不自由,我们都不自由。”英文版本则是“WE ARE NOT FREE UNTIL XUEQIN IS FREE”。同一天,相似的横幅出现在了温哥华唐人街、旧金山金门大桥,华盛顿方尖碑前,以及纽约时代广场、东京涉谷路口和东京铁塔下……

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图顺序:纽约、三藩、DC。

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图顺序:伦敦、东京、波士顿。

小针在黄雪琴第一次被捕的时候,就为她撰写过声援文章。“当时我想这些书写对我自己很重要,因为我也不知道能做什么,也不知道对黄雪琴有什么用。”再见到被释放的黄雪琴,黄告诉小针,她给自己写的文章她都看过了,很感动。“其实我到现在还保留着我跟她出来之后的聊天记录,就是她跟我说,她在里面的时候就知道我们会在外面支持她的。所以她想着我们就会很有力气和信心吧。”

“用这种很drama的方式想要去记住她,我觉得这对她来说是很重要的。我不想让她的那种意志只是一种虚幻的意志,我希望她出来之后能看到,这些信念是真实的。”小针说。

这种真实也是画条幅的辛苦和抬条幅的重量,她们去印巴人的布料店花150英镑买了3*25米的白布料,前一晚用投影把字投在布上描出边缘,再请朋友把字涂上。“这个Banner非常非常的重,它可能要十个人拿,而且在桥上(展示)其实也是拿不住的。”从制作到展示,前前后后有20多个朋友帮忙。

小针认为,这次活动最重要的一件事情,是让很多支持关心黄雪琴的人能够具体亲身地参与。“不管怎么样,我们身体力行站在桥上拿着横幅的时候,那种感觉跟网上转发是完全不一样的。我们在海外的人是很需要这种感觉的,也算是一种复健吧。其实画横幅和展示本身并不难做,难的是要有一个作为组织者的commitment(承诺)。其实海外年轻人同样需要有这样的行动机会,但更需要有意愿做组织的人。”

她期望未来能够尽可能多的在公民社会中做组织工作,而非一个参与者。“我以前对组织者的想象必须是非常聪明、非常有能力、愿意冒风险的;但是我想,哪怕是和大家在家中做钩织、一起做快闪这样的小事情,也值得来组织。”某种意义上,这就是黄雪琴王建兵所留下影响。

王建兵、黄雪琴不过三四十人的小小社群,滋养出来的能量其实并不容小觑。祥子提到,在广州,这种社群的陪伴和支持,在不断受压抑的公民社会里,成了给了年轻人喘息的空间和发展更多想像力的地方。实际上,2022年的白纸运动中,被捕的年轻人往往本身也有着很强的社群网络连结。

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民众头戴黄雪琴与王建兵的照片表达声援。

当然,寒蝉效应下,二人被捕导致广州的公民社会社群四散,几位受访者也都逐渐远离了自己公民社会的圈子。祥子坦言,“经历挚友被捕、判刑其实本身也是一个非常受挫的过程,因为很多朋友对这段经历都有阴影,甚至出现PTSD。虽然不断有新的朋友加入支持,但是这个创伤的救援环境,仍然有很多人会慢慢离开……”

其实朋友眼中的王建兵从来就不是一个勇敢而冒进的人,甚至有人说如果知道后果是这么严重,他大概都不会去做这样的聚会,但他就是有自己择善固执的地方。

在一审最后陈述中,王建兵表示:“我的本意不是去推翻政府,而是希望通过自己的努力,让一些人更加自由,社会更加平等和美好。”而黄雪琴表示:“作为一名记者,我做不到保持沉默。我也知道自己不安全,迟早有一天会面对这样的状况,但需要承担的后果,我愿意承担”。一审判决时,黄雪琴趁宣判间隙,当庭表示不服判决,将上诉。而在明年3月就要刑满的王建兵在考虑之后则仅就部分判决上诉。

木斓最关心就是黄雪琴和王建兵能够早日回家。她既感动于黄雪琴不认罪义无反顾的坚定;也理解王建兵仅就部分判决上诉的选择。她希望他能尽快获得自由。“毕竟这个圈子塑造了太多‘铮铮铁骨’的男性形象,却太缺少人性关怀。”

小五梦见过王建兵很多次,梦里的他成了一个庸俗忙碌的小老板,他事业有成,放下执念,做回了一个庸俗的人。

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