Contractors could face fines of up to HK$400,000 (US$51,068) for failing to prevent smoking at construction sites in Hong Kong under a government proposal to improve safety following the deadly Tai Po fire last November. The proposals, outlined in a paper prepared by the Labour Bureau, aim to tighten existing workplace safety laws and impose a strict blanket smoking ban on all construction sites. ...
Contractors could face fines of up to HK$400,000 (US$51,068) for failing to prevent smoking at construction sites in Hong Kong under a government proposal to improve safety following the deadly Tai Po fire last November. The proposals, outlined in a paper prepared by the Labour Bureau, aim to tighten existing workplace safety laws and impose a strict blanket smoking ban on all construction sites. Construction workers could face a HK$3,000 fine for smoking on-site, while contractors would also be held responsible for failing to prevent smoking and could be fined up to HK$400,000. Advertisement The government will also consider invoking the general duty provisions of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance to prosecute proprietors or employees involved in serious cases, according to the paper. In such cases presenting a catastrophic fire risk – for example, a worker smoking near highly flammable materials – the worker would be liable to a HK$150,000 fine and six months’ imprisonment, while the proprietor could face a HK$3 million fine and the same jail term. Advertisement The paper, which will be presented at the Legislative Council’s manpower panel meeting next Monday, states that the smoking ban will apply to all areas of construction sites, whether outdoors or indoors.
Even the prospect of talks was enough to send the US stock market surging and global oil prices dropping, however. What had been shaping up as a day of heartbreak for major world economies now had a glimmer of hope for investors eager to see an off-ramp to this conflict.
Even the prospect of talks was enough to send the US stock market surging and global oil prices dropping, however. What had been shaping up as a day of heartbreak for major world economies now had a glimmer of hope for investors eager to see an off-ramp to this conflict.
BofA's Winnie Wu says investors are starting to price in prolonged inflationary pressure. She tells Bloomberg Television that the current environment highlights the importance of diversifying positions. (Source: Bloomberg)
BofA's Winnie Wu says investors are starting to price in prolonged inflationary pressure. She tells Bloomberg Television that the current environment highlights the importance of diversifying positions. (Source: Bloomberg)
技术是否向善，根本在于是否促进经济发展、社会进步和民众幸福，也就是能否增进人类福祉 何为善：社会科学的视角 长期以来，关于AI向善的讨论已经很多，理念上的共识度相当高。例如，从2016年联合国教科文组织发布《机器人伦理报告（Preliminary Draft Report of COMEST on Robotics Ethics）》到2025年的巴黎AI行动峰会，人们对AI治理的理念有高度共识。诸...
技术是否向善，根本在于是否促进经济发展、社会进步和民众幸福，也就是能否增进人类福祉 何为善：社会科学的视角 长期以来，关于AI向善的讨论已经很多，理念上的共识度相当高。例如，从2016年联合国教科文组织发布《机器人伦理报告（Preliminary Draft Report of COMEST on Robotics Ethics）》到2025年的巴黎AI行动峰会，人们对AI治理的理念有高度共识。诸如安全性、透明性、非歧视、可解释、可追溯、公平公正、包容开放、尊重隐私、共享利益、以人为本、人类控制等理念不断被重复讨论，但对于如何实现、谁来执行这些“善”落地的讨论较为不足，主要由当事企业和相关技术团体在“对齐”这个框架中进行讨论，片面且多变，缺少一般性稳定性。我感觉需要将这个问题放到社会科学知识体系内进行讨论分析，广义的“善”正是诸多社会科学研究的立意和主题。技术是否向善，根本在于是否促进经济发展、社会进步和民众幸福，也就是能否增进人类福祉。社会科学不仅能提出理念上的向善之道，在普适的知识体系中提出评价标准、实现路径和行为主体等方面，更有学术积淀和理论能力。
Wheat farmers in Australia — one of the world’s biggest agricultural exporters — are paring back plantings as concerns over fertilizer supplies mount, the latest sign of how the war in Iran is disrupting operations on farms around the world. Wheat is a nitrogen-intensive crop, with fertilizer use among the key factors for yields. With exports through the Strait of Hormuz largely stalled, crop nutr...
Wheat farmers in Australia — one of the world’s biggest agricultural exporters — are paring back plantings as concerns over fertilizer supplies mount, the latest sign of how the war in Iran is disrupting operations on farms around the world. Wheat is a nitrogen-intensive crop, with fertilizer use among the key factors for yields. With exports through the Strait of Hormuz largely stalled, crop nutrients worldwide are quickly becoming pricier and harder to find . That comes on top of weak wheat prices and ample global supply, which were frustrating farmers before the conflict began. Australia’s winter plantings are set to begin within weeks, and farmers are weighing sowing less of the grain and more oilseeds and pulses in hopes of better returns. “Basically they will just cut wheat and replace for everything else,” including lentils, canola and barley, said Vitor Pistoia , a senior grains and oilseeds analyst at Rabobank. That includes Arthur Gearon, who farms in the eastern state of Queensland. He said he usually would split the fields he devotes to winter crops evenly between wheat and chickpeas. This year, with fertilizer scarce and expensive, he plans to avoid using urea and reduce wheat to just 20% of his overall plantings. “Wheat prices are terrible as there is a global glut,” Gearon said. “Other crops have greater upside.” Australia exports wheat primarily to Southeast Asia, the Middle East and China. The country posted its third-largest wheat crop last season, aggravating concerns over excess supply . But farmers have grown increasingly concerned over access to diesel fuel and fertilizer following the US-Israeli attacks on Iran, with Australia heavily reliant on trade through the Strait of Hormuz for both commodities. The difficulties have sparked a government review into the country’s food security, with Agriculture Minister Julie Collins announcing a national supply chain assessment on Monday. On a recent tour of South Australia, Pistoia said there was a gro...