The founder of Evergrande Group, the property giant at the centre of China's housing market slump, has been sentenced to life in prison and all of his personal property has been confiscated. Five other senior executives of Evergrande Group were also sentenced Thursday to prison terms ranging from six to 18 years for crimes including fraud. A total of 56 people were given jail sentences -- including Xu's two sons -- with the shortest term one year and 10 months, China's state news agency Xinhua reported.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/trump-says-chinese-president-signalled-jimmy-lai-s-release-unlikely-who-is-the-jailed-hong-kong-media-mogul-1778851727550">Trump says Chinese President signalled Jimmy Lai’s release unlikely — who is the jailed Hong Kong media mogul?</a>&nbsp;Evergrande Group, was once the face of Chinese real estate but its access to credit dramatically narrowed when the government introduced curbs on excessive borrowing. The company defaulted in 2021 after struggling to repay creditors. On Thursday (Aug 20), a court in southern China fined the firm and its real estate arm a total of 15.82 billion yuan ($2.4 billion) and issued a life sentence against founder Xu Jiayin, also known as Hui Ka Yan in Cantonese, for crimes including "large-scale financial fraud", the Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court in Guangdong province said in a post on its WeChat account.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-s-secret-prisons-mass-sterilisation-organ-extractions-gang-rape-1751708924420">China's secret prisons: Mass sterilisation, organ extractions</a><h2>What the Court said?</h2>The court said that between 2016 and 2021, Evergrande and Xu “violated national laws by engaging in continuous, large-scale financial fraud and other means to inflate assets and conceal liabilities.” It added that the parties "gained control of financial institutions" through bribery, without naming the institutions.Xu pleaded guilty in April to charges that also included embezzlement and bribery, the court said at the time. Xu was once China's richest billionaires and a member of the Communist Party's top political advisory body. Xu and Evergrande's actions "seriously disrupted the socialist market economic order... and undermined the integrity of official conduct by state personnel", the court said. "The circumstances were particularly egregious, causing particularly serious economic losses and causing particularly serious social harm," it added.

Evergrande founder Xu Jiayin has been sentenced to life in prison after a Chinese court found him guilty of large-scale financial fraud, bribery and embezzlement. The property tycoon was also stripped of his personal assets, while Evergrande was fined 15.82 billion yuan.

The founder of Evergrande Group, the property giant at the centre of China's housing market slump, has been sentenced to life in prison and all of his personal property has been confiscated. Five other senior executives of Evergrande Group were also sentenced Thursday to prison terms ranging from six to 18 years for crimes including fraud. A total of 56 people were given jail sentences -- including Xu's two sons -- with the shortest term one year and 10 months, China's state news agency Xinhua reported. Also Read: Trump says Chinese President signalled Jimmy Lai’s release unlikely — who is the jailed Hong Kong media mogul? Evergrande Group, was once the face of Chinese real estate but its access to credit dramatically narrowed when the government introduced curbs on excessive borrowing. The company defaulted in 2021 after struggling to repay creditors. On Thursday (Aug 20), a court in southern China fined the firm and its real estate arm a total of 15.82 billion yuan ($2.4 billion) and issued a life sentence against founder Xu Jiayin, also known as Hui Ka Yan in Cantonese, for crimes including "large-scale financial fraud", the Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court in Guangdong province said in a post on its WeChat account. Also Read: China's secret prisons: Mass sterilisation, organ extractions What the Court said? The court said that between 2016 and 2021, Evergrande and Xu “violated national laws by engaging in continuous, large-scale financial fraud and other means to inflate assets and conceal liabilities.” It added that the parties "gained control of financial institutions" through bribery, without naming the institutions. Xu pleaded guilty in April to charges that also included embezzlement and bribery, the court said at the time. Xu was once China's richest billionaires and a member of the Communist Party's top political advisory body. Xu and Evergrande's actions "seriously disrupted the socialist market economic order... and undermined the integrity of official conduct by state personnel", the court said. "The circumstances were particularly egregious, causing particularly serious economic losses and causing particularly serious social harm," it added.

Evergrande founder Xu Jiayin has been sentenced to life in prison after a Chinese court found him guilty of large-scale financial fraud, bribery and embezzlement. The property tycoon was also stripped of his personal assets, while Evergrande was fined 15.82 billion yuan.

Once Asia’s richest man, Evergrande founder gets life sentence in China: Who is he?

&nbsp;China’s humanoid robot race has produced another striking machine. Unitree Robotics has unveiled a new robot called “Superman”, which the company says can jump 2 metres from a standing position and reach a top speed of 12.66 metres per second. The reveal comes at a crucial moment for Unitree. The Hangzhou-based company is preparing to begin trading on Shanghai’s STAR Market after raising 6.1 billion yuan ($905 million) in an IPO that attracted extraordinary retail demand. Its retail offering was reportedly more than 8,000 times oversubscribed.&nbsp;<h2>Unitree’s ‘Superman’ can jump 2 metres</h2>Unitree says it developed the new robot in just over three months. Its headline performance figures are unusual even for the rapidly advancing humanoid sector. The robot can reportedly perform a 2-metre standing jump and reach 12.66 m/s, or about 45.6 km/h. For comparison, Usain Bolt's recorded top speed during his 100-metre world-record run was around 12.4 m/s. However, the comparison should be treated carefully: a robot's brief peak speed is not the same as a human athlete's performance over a race. Unitree has also stressed that “Superman” is still a work in progress and could be improved in the coming months.&nbsp;<h2>Why Unitree is attracting so much attention</h2>The robot reveal arrives just before Unitree's Shanghai debut, adding another dose of excitement around one of China's most closely watched robotics companies. Unitree has said it had produced and delivered about 18,000 bipedal humanoid robots across its models by July, highlighting its focus on manufacturing as well as demonstrations. The company has become particularly visible because its robots have been shown running, dancing and performing martial-arts movements. Its official history also records large-scale humanoid demonstrations, including performances involving dozens of robots. Unitree is backed by major Chinese technology companies, including Tencent, Alibaba and DeepSeek, further increasing its profile among investors.&nbsp;<h2>The IPO adds another layer to the robot race</h2>Unitree's IPO is being closely watched because it offers investors one of the clearest public-market tests yet for China's humanoid-robot industry. The company priced its shares at 150.80 yuan each, raising about 6.1 billion yuan and implying a valuation of roughly $9 billion. That enthusiasm also comes with a warning. Humanoid robots remain an emerging market, and strong demonstrations do not automatically translate into mass commercial deployment. For Unitree, the next test is therefore bigger than how fast “Superman” can run. Investors will want to know whether China’s humanoid-robot frenzy can turn impressive machines into a sustainable business.

China’s Unitree has unveiled “Superman”, a new humanoid robot that it says can jump 2 metres and reach 12.66 m/s. The reveal comes days before Unitree’s Shanghai IPO, which raised $905 million and attracted record retail investor demand.

China’s humanoid robot race has produced another striking machine. Unitree Robotics has unveiled a new robot called “Superman”, which the company says can jump 2 metres from a standing position and reach a top speed of 12.66 metres per second. The reveal comes at a crucial moment for Unitree. The Hangzhou-based company is preparing to begin trading on Shanghai’s STAR Market after raising 6.1 billion yuan ($905 million) in an IPO that attracted extraordinary retail demand. Its retail offering was reportedly more than 8,000 times oversubscribed. Unitree’s ‘Superman’ can jump 2 metres Unitree says it developed the new robot in just over three months. Its headline performance figures are unusual even for the rapidly advancing humanoid sector. The robot can reportedly perform a 2-metre standing jump and reach 12.66 m/s, or about 45.6 km/h. For comparison, Usain Bolt's recorded top speed during his 100-metre world-record run was around 12.4 m/s. However, the comparison should be treated carefully: a robot's brief peak speed is not the same as a human athlete's performance over a race. Unitree has also stressed that “Superman” is still a work in progress and could be improved in the coming months. Why Unitree is attracting so much attention The robot reveal arrives just before Unitree's Shanghai debut, adding another dose of excitement around one of China's most closely watched robotics companies. Unitree has said it had produced and delivered about 18,000 bipedal humanoid robots across its models by July, highlighting its focus on manufacturing as well as demonstrations. The company has become particularly visible because its robots have been shown running, dancing and performing martial-arts movements. Its official history also records large-scale humanoid demonstrations, including performances involving dozens of robots. Unitree is backed by major Chinese technology companies, including Tencent, Alibaba and DeepSeek, further increasing its profile among investors. The IPO adds another layer to the robot race Unitree's IPO is being closely watched because it offers investors one of the clearest public-market tests yet for China's humanoid-robot industry. The company priced its shares at 150.80 yuan each, raising about 6.1 billion yuan and implying a valuation of roughly $9 billion. That enthusiasm also comes with a warning. Humanoid robots remain an emerging market, and strong demonstrations do not automatically translate into mass commercial deployment. For Unitree, the next test is therefore bigger than how fast “Superman” can run. Investors will want to know whether China’s humanoid-robot frenzy can turn impressive machines into a sustainable business.

China’s Unitree has unveiled “Superman”, a new humanoid robot that it says can jump 2 metres and reach 12.66 m/s. The reveal comes days before Unitree’s Shanghai IPO, which raised $905 million and attracted record retail investor demand.

Newly launched Unitree robot can run faster than Usain Bolt: Here’s what makes it different

Beijing is bracing for an extraordinary spell of rainfall, with Typhoon Dolphin expected to bring more than one-third of the capital’s average annual precipitation in just 24 hours as the powerful storm moves deeper inland. From Tuesday evening through Thursday, most parts of Beijing are forecast to receive heavy rainfall, with cumulative precipitation expected to exceed 150mm within a 24-hour period. Beijing receives an average of about 528mm of rainfall annually, with most of it typically recorded between June and September.&nbsp;The intense weather has prompted authorities to step up emergency preparations, close tourist attractions and suspend high-risk construction activities. Four districts on the outskirts of Beijing have activated the highest, level-one emergency flood response. In mountainous Mentougou district in western Beijing, authorities issued the highest flood emergency alert on Tuesday and urged residents to remain indoors unless necessary. People have also been advised to avoid travelling to mountainous areas and locations near rivers because of the heightened risk of flooding and landslides.<h2>Typhoon Dolphin brings widespread disruption across China</h2>Typhoon Dolphin, described as the strongest typhoon to hit China this year, has proved unusually resilient as it travels inland. The storm travelled nearly 6,000km (3,728 miles) before making landfall over the weekend, affecting China's eastern coast before pushing inland with a vast cloud field and large amounts of moisture. More than one million people were moved to safer locations across eastern China over the weekend as authorities prepared for torrential rainfall, flooding and landslides.&nbsp;In Wenzhou, a coastal city in Zhejiang province, more than 900,000 people were relocated and over 1,500 emergency shelters were opened. In neighbouring Fujian province, around 98,900 people were moved to safety. Shanghai authorities also relocated 215,600 people from areas considered vulnerable to the storm by Sunday evening. The storm has caused widespread disruption, with flooding reported in several areas and tourist attractions and infrastructure projects being temporarily shut.<h2>Hubei faces heavy rain and flood risk</h2>By early Tuesday, Dolphin had moved over Hubei province in central China, a major hub for automobile and high-tech electronics manufacturing with a population of more than 58 million. China’s National Meteorological Center renewed an orange alert for heavy rain on Tuesday, the country's second-highest warning level. Northwestern Hubei was expected to receive as much as 250mm of rainfall within 24 hours, increasing the risk of flash floods and landslides.&nbsp;Authorities issued yellow warnings for cities including Xiangyang, Huanggang and Suizhou. The extreme weather has also affected tourism and infrastructure. Several scenic areas across Hubei announced temporary closures, including the popular Three Gorges Dam tourist area in Yichang. Of 107 major highway and waterway construction projects underway across the province, 26 high-risk projects have been suspended as a precaution. In Xiangyang, 57 of 59 tourist sites were reportedly closed as heavy rainfall caused flooding and disrupted transport. Authorities have also relocated thousands of residents as rivers and reservoirs came under increasing pressure.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-pakistani-killed-in-houthi-attack-in-test-for-iran-war-mediator-1786445563468">Two Pakistani killed in Houthi attack in test for Iran war mediator</a><h2>Henan also on alert</h2>Neighbouring Henan province is also facing an increased threat from the storm as Dolphin channels moisture further north. Authorities have issued flash-flood warnings, with heavy rainfall raising concerns about flooding, landslides and disruption to transport and daily life. The continued movement of Dolphin's moisture plume means areas far from the storm's original landfall zone could experience dangerous rainfall.<h2>Why is Beijing at such high risk?</h2>Beijing's location and surrounding mountainous terrain make the city particularly vulnerable to flash flooding and landslides during periods of intense rainfall. The expected rainfall is especially significant because more than 150mm could fall within just 24 hours, a substantial share of the capital's typical annual precipitation. Authorities have therefore focused on keeping residents away from vulnerable mountain and river areas while preparing drainage and flood-control systems. The latest warnings come after Beijing was already hit by heavy rainfall earlier in August, raising concerns about saturated ground and the potential for additional flooding and landslides.<h2>Japan prepares for Typhoon Chan-hom</h2>China is not the only country facing severe weather. Japan is also preparing for heavy rain, strong winds, flooding and landslides as Typhoon Chan-hom approaches the country. The Japan Meteorological Agency has warned that the storm could move across Japan's mainland, raising the risk of further disruption. Chan-hom was tracking towards Japan on Tuesday, with forecasts indicating that the system could bring dangerous weather conditions as it moves closer to the country's populated areas.

Typhoon Dolphin threatens Beijing with more than 150mm of rain in 24 hours. See China flood alerts, evacuations, closures and Japan's storm threat

Beijing is bracing for an extraordinary spell of rainfall, with Typhoon Dolphin expected to bring more than one-third of the capital’s average annual precipitation in just 24 hours as the powerful storm moves deeper inland. From Tuesday evening through Thursday, most parts of Beijing are forecast to receive heavy rainfall, with cumulative precipitation expected to exceed 150mm within a 24-hour period. Beijing receives an average of about 528mm of rainfall annually, with most of it typically recorded between June and September. The intense weather has prompted authorities to step up emergency preparations, close tourist attractions and suspend high-risk construction activities. Four districts on the outskirts of Beijing have activated the highest, level-one emergency flood response. In mountainous Mentougou district in western Beijing, authorities issued the highest flood emergency alert on Tuesday and urged residents to remain indoors unless necessary. People have also been advised to avoid travelling to mountainous areas and locations near rivers because of the heightened risk of flooding and landslides. Typhoon Dolphin brings widespread disruption across China Typhoon Dolphin, described as the strongest typhoon to hit China this year, has proved unusually resilient as it travels inland. The storm travelled nearly 6,000km (3,728 miles) before making landfall over the weekend, affecting China's eastern coast before pushing inland with a vast cloud field and large amounts of moisture. More than one million people were moved to safer locations across eastern China over the weekend as authorities prepared for torrential rainfall, flooding and landslides. In Wenzhou, a coastal city in Zhejiang province, more than 900,000 people were relocated and over 1,500 emergency shelters were opened. In neighbouring Fujian province, around 98,900 people were moved to safety. Shanghai authorities also relocated 215,600 people from areas considered vulnerable to the storm by Sunday evening. The storm has caused widespread disruption, with flooding reported in several areas and tourist attractions and infrastructure projects being temporarily shut. Hubei faces heavy rain and flood risk By early Tuesday, Dolphin had moved over Hubei province in central China, a major hub for automobile and high-tech electronics manufacturing with a population of more than 58 million. China’s National Meteorological Center renewed an orange alert for heavy rain on Tuesday, the country's second-highest warning level. Northwestern Hubei was expected to receive as much as 250mm of rainfall within 24 hours, increasing the risk of flash floods and landslides. Authorities issued yellow warnings for cities including Xiangyang, Huanggang and Suizhou. The extreme weather has also affected tourism and infrastructure. Several scenic areas across Hubei announced temporary closures, including the popular Three Gorges Dam tourist area in Yichang. Of 107 major highway and waterway construction projects underway across the province, 26 high-risk projects have been suspended as a precaution. In Xiangyang, 57 of 59 tourist sites were reportedly closed as heavy rainfall caused flooding and disrupted transport. Authorities have also relocated thousands of residents as rivers and reservoirs came under increasing pressure. Also Read: Two Pakistani killed in Houthi attack in test for Iran war mediator Henan also on alert Neighbouring Henan province is also facing an increased threat from the storm as Dolphin channels moisture further north. Authorities have issued flash-flood warnings, with heavy rainfall raising concerns about flooding, landslides and disruption to transport and daily life. The continued movement of Dolphin's moisture plume means areas far from the storm's original landfall zone could experience dangerous rainfall. Why is Beijing at such high risk? Beijing's location and surrounding mountainous terrain make the city particularly vulnerable to flash flooding and landslides during periods of intense rainfall. The expected rainfall is especially significant because more than 150mm could fall within just 24 hours, a substantial share of the capital's typical annual precipitation. Authorities have therefore focused on keeping residents away from vulnerable mountain and river areas while preparing drainage and flood-control systems. The latest warnings come after Beijing was already hit by heavy rainfall earlier in August, raising concerns about saturated ground and the potential for additional flooding and landslides. Japan prepares for Typhoon Chan-hom China is not the only country facing severe weather. Japan is also preparing for heavy rain, strong winds, flooding and landslides as Typhoon Chan-hom approaches the country. The Japan Meteorological Agency has warned that the storm could move across Japan's mainland, raising the risk of further disruption. Chan-hom was tracking towards Japan on Tuesday, with forecasts indicating that the system could bring dangerous weather conditions as it moves closer to the country's populated areas.

Typhoon Dolphin threatens Beijing with more than one-third of its annual rainfall in 24 hours as China faces floods, landslides and major disruption

Typhoon Dolphin: Beijing braces for record rainfall; high risk of floods and landslides

China's Long March 7A rocket exploded less than 90 seconds into flight, footage on social media shows, causing it to lose an unknown payload. Video shows the rocket bursting into a fireball in the sky. The Long March 7A lifted off at around 5:30 pm IST on Monday (August 10) in Wenchang, Hainan island. Airspace closure notices had been issued in advance. The footage circulating on social media was captured by an amateur. It shows the launch near the coastal spaceport and an explosion around 85 seconds into the flight. &nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">China&#39;s Long March 7A has exploded during first stage flight.<a href="https://t.co/8Ije1oeWe7">https://t.co/8Ije1oeWe7</a> <a href="https://t.co/qNa1nIYH6T">pic.twitter.com/qNa1nIYH6T</a>&mdash; NSF - NASASpaceflight.com (@NASASpaceflight) <a href="https://x.com/NASASpaceflight/status/2086790576402256321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;China has officially yet to confirm the failure, with the cause also yet to be ascertained. A report about the launch was carried by State broadcaster China National Radio (CNR) that identified the payload as Zhongxing-4B. These satellites are believed to be for military communications. It is also not clear whether the failure will affect any future missions.&nbsp;According to Space News, the satellite series targets a geosynchronous orbit using the Long March 7A. The rocket is increasingly replacing the older, hypergolic Long March 3B for these missions. It debuted in March 2020, which also ended in an explosion. However, since then, the launcher has sent a series of successful rockets into orbit. The Tianlian-3 (01) satellite was its latest exploit that was sent towards GEO in late July.<h2>China's fourth failed rocket in 2026</h2>The standard Long March 7 for low Earth orbit sends cargo to the Tiangong space station once every eight months. China has another rocket, Zhuque-3, scheduled for launch on August 10. The failed rocket was China’s 56th orbital launch attempt in 2026, and the fourth one to have failed. &nbsp;These include Long March 3B, the first flight of the Ceres-2 solid rocket in January, and the Tianlong-3 rocket in early April, which was also taking its debut flight. &nbsp;

China lost a Long March 7A rocket 85 seconds into flight on Monday, August 10. The rocket was reportedly carrying a payload named Zhongxing-4B. Official confirmation is awaited.

China's Long March 7A rocket exploded less than 90 seconds into flight, footage on social media shows, causing it to lose an unknown payload. Video shows the rocket bursting into a fireball in the sky. The Long March 7A lifted off at around 5:30 pm IST on Monday (August 10) in Wenchang, Hainan island. Airspace closure notices had been issued in advance. The footage circulating on social media was captured by an amateur. It shows the launch near the coastal spaceport and an explosion around 85 seconds into the flight.

China lost a Long March 7A rocket 85 seconds into flight on Monday, August 10. The rocket was reportedly carrying a payload named Zhongxing-4B. Official confirmation is awaited.

Watch: Chinese rocket explodes into a fireball 85 seconds after lift-off

A major scare occurred at the Shenzhen airport over the weekend when a China Southern Airlines flight was struck by lightning. Inspections showed 20 strike marks on the underbelly of the plane. The Airbus A321 aircraft was taxiing when the incident occurred. News portal The First Scene reported that Flight CZ3209 was set to take off for Wuxi in China’s eastern Jiangsu province on Saturday afternoon when a massive thunderstorm enveloped the region. It was waiting for clearance when "a massive thunderclap erupted directly beside it", according to a passenger.&nbsp;On Sunday, a person who was on the plane recalled the scary experience. He wrote, “[I think] I was struck by lightning while on a plane. My flight … was taxiing and queuing for take-off when a sudden thunderstorm broke out, with strong winds and heavy rain, causing the plane to shake." He added that he then "felt a huge bolt of lightning strike right next to us. It felt like we were struck by lightning.”Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/typhoon-dolphin-landfall-china-evacuation-flights-cancelled-1786291306578">Typhoon Dolphin makes landfall in China, triggers mass evacuation and flight cancellations</a> &nbsp;China Southern Airlines staff told the outlet that ground maintenance staff checked the plane and found strike marks on it from the lightning. Nearly 20 marks were found on the underside and elevators, the flight control surfaces on the aircraft’s tail. An airline representative told The First Scene that considering passenger safety and experience, they switched the plane with another aircraft to avoid delays.<h2>Lightning strikes do not damage plane or affect passengers, airline says</h2>Later, maintenance was done on the plane, with the aircraft’s electrical circuits also inspected. The strike marks on the aircraft were also repaired, and the plane returned to service by Sunday. The team also said that the A321’s exterior is made of a conductive aluminium alloy, which pushes the electrical current to flow to the ground. This keeps passengers inside the cabin safe.&nbsp;Data from flight tracking app Umetrip showed that the 4.40 pm departure from Shenzhen Baoan International Airport was delayed by four hours. The second aircraft left at 8:40 pm and reached Wuxi at 10:49 pm. &nbsp;

A China Southern Airlines flight was struck by lightning during a thunderstorm in Shenzhen on Saturday. A passenger said he felt the lightning hit the plane, and the plane shook from the strong winds. The airline later found 20 strike marks on the aircraft.   

A major scare occurred at the Shenzhen airport over the weekend when a China Southern Airlines flight was struck by lightning. Inspections showed 20 strike marks on the underbelly of the plane. The Airbus A321 aircraft was taxiing when the incident occurred. News portal The First Scene reported that Flight CZ3209 was set to take off for Wuxi in China’s eastern Jiangsu province on Saturday afternoon when a massive thunderstorm enveloped the region. It was waiting for clearance when "a massive thunderclap erupted directly beside it", according to a passenger. On Sunday, a person who was on the plane recalled the scary experience. He wrote, “[I think] I was struck by lightning while on a plane. My flight … was taxiing and queuing for take-off when a sudden thunderstorm broke out, with strong winds and heavy rain, causing the plane to shake." He added that he then "felt a huge bolt of lightning strike right next to us. It felt like we were struck by lightning.” Also Read: Typhoon Dolphin makes landfall in China, triggers mass evacuation and flight cancellations China Southern Airlines staff told the outlet that ground maintenance staff checked the plane and found strike marks on it from the lightning. Nearly 20 marks were found on the underside and elevators, the flight control surfaces on the aircraft’s tail. An airline representative told The First Scene that considering passenger safety and experience, they switched the plane with another aircraft to avoid delays. Lightning strikes do not damage plane or affect passengers, airline says Later, maintenance was done on the plane, with the aircraft’s electrical circuits also inspected. The strike marks on the aircraft were also repaired, and the plane returned to service by Sunday. The team also said that the A321’s exterior is made of a conductive aluminium alloy, which pushes the electrical current to flow to the ground. This keeps passengers inside the cabin safe. Data from flight tracking app Umetrip showed that the 4.40 pm departure from Shenzhen Baoan International Airport was delayed by four hours. The second aircraft left at 8:40 pm and reached Wuxi at 10:49 pm.

A China Southern Airlines flight was struck by lightning during a thunderstorm in Shenzhen on Saturday. A passenger said he felt the lightning hit the plane, and the plane shook from the strong winds. The airline later found 20 strike marks on the aircraft. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Lightning strikes plane in China leaving 20 marks, passenger says he 'felt a huge bolt' hit him

Trade through the Nathu-La resumed on August 1 after being suspended in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The route will operate seasonally from May to November, with trading from Monday to Thursday under the existing list of approved commodities.

 Nathu-La Border Trade Resumes After Six Years | Wion News 

Trade tensions between the United States and China have intensified as Beijing announced a fresh round of sanctions targeting multiple U.S.-linked entities while tightening export controls on its globally dominant drone industry.

The new measures could affect international buyers and disrupt global supply chains for commercial and industrial drones used in logistics, agriculture, surveillance, and defense. Analysts say the tighter export controls may impact pricing, availability, and innovation across global markets.

Meanwhile, Chinese consumers have reacted strongly to recent U.S. actions against certain Chinese food brands, highlighting how geopolitical disputes are increasingly influencing consumer behavior and business decisions.

China Hits U.S. With Fresh Sanctions, Tightens Drone Export Controls Amid Trade Tensions

China has announced a fresh round of sanctions targeting multiple U.S.-linked entities while tightening export controls on its globally dominant drone industry, adding another chapter to the ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions.

Beijing's stricter oversight of drone exports could affect international buyers and disrupt global supply chains across sectors including logistics, agriculture, surveillance, and defense. The move is expected to have implications for pricing, availability, and innovation in commercial drone markets.

Meanwhile, public sentiment in China has intensified following U.S. actions against certain Chinese food brands over alleged forced labor concerns. According to reports, many Chinese consumers have criticized the U.S. measures, highlighting how geopolitical disputes are increasingly influencing consumer behavior.

US-China Trade War Escalates | Beijing Targets American Entities and Drone Exports

Pakistan's ex-Federal Board of Revenue Chairman Shabbar Zaidi blamed China for his country's economic crisis. This comes amid reports that only 38 out of 90 projects envisaged under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor have been completed so far. China remains Pakistan's biggest creditor.

Ex-Top Pak Official Blames Economic Woes on China: Here's How CPEC Has Been a Failure

China’s ambitions in space are increasingly becoming a military concern for the United States.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to a Wall Street Journal report, US officials say Beijing is rapidly narrowing America’s long-standing advantage in orbit by building one of the world's largest surveillance satellite networks.&nbsp;According to the US Space Force, China’s military now has access to more than 510 intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance satellites giving it an unprecedented ability to monitor military activity across the Indo-Pacific.&nbsp;The Pentagon says these expanding satellite constellations have significantly strengthened China's ability to track US and allied forces and support long-range precision strikes.&nbsp;Analysts say Beijing has also upgraded its navigation system and remote-sensing technology allowing satellites to capture high-resolution imagery day and night, even through cloud cover.&nbsp;Experts say artificial intelligence can quickly analyse this imagery, helping China's military identify and track targets with greater speed and accuracy.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission says China's expanding space capabilities have improved its ability to coordinate military operations while maintaining persistent surveillance of U.S. forces. A 2024 CSIS-led report ranked Chinese commercial remote-sensing systems among the world's top performers in five of eleven technology categories. The Pentagon also says Beijing is building large constellations of low-earth orbit communication satellites to make its military networks more resilient in the event of a conflict. The U.S. Space Force has gone a step further warning that China is developing counterspace capabilities that could disable or disrupt enemy satellites. While the U.S. defence intelligence agency assesses that Beijing is pursuing anti-satellite weapons capable of striking targets as far as nearly 36,000 kilometres above earth. The U.S. State Department has also accused Chinese companies of supplying satellite imagery that could support Iranian military operations in West Asia. As China rapidly expands its military presence in space, Washington faces growing pressure to protect its technological edge in what many experts now see as the next decisive area of strategic competition.

The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission says China's space capabilities have improved its ability to coordinate military operations while maintaining persistent surveillance of US forces. A CSIS-led report ranked Chinese commercial remote-sensing systems among the top ones.

China’s ambitions in space are increasingly becoming a military concern for the United States. According to a Wall Street Journal report, US officials say Beijing is rapidly narrowing America’s long-standing advantage in orbit by building one of the world's largest surveillance satellite networks. According to the US Space Force, China’s military now has access to more than 510 intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance satellites giving it an unprecedented ability to monitor military activity across the Indo-Pacific. The Pentagon says these expanding satellite constellations have significantly strengthened China's ability to track US and allied forces and support long-range precision strikes. Analysts say Beijing has also upgraded its navigation system and remote-sensing technology allowing satellites to capture high-resolution imagery day and night, even through cloud cover. Experts say artificial intelligence can quickly analyse this imagery, helping China's military identify and track targets with greater speed and accuracy.

The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission says China's space capabilities have improved its ability to coordinate military operations while maintaining persistent surveillance of US forces. A CSIS-led report ranked Chinese commercial remote-sensing systems among the top ones.

China builds 500+ spy satellites as US space lead shrinks | Gravitas

China's economy is increasingly becoming a tale of two contrasting realities. While provinces driven by artificial intelligence, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, and exports are experiencing rapid economic growth, regions dependent on tourism, real estate, and traditional industries are struggling to keep pace.

The latest provincial economic data highlights a widening K-shaped economic divide, with technology hubs such as Zhejiang, home to Alibaba, DeepSeek, and Unitree Robotics, outperforming the national average. Other manufacturing powerhouses including Shanghai, Anhui, and Shandong have also recorded strong growth, fueled by rising global demand for high-tech products.

China's K-Shaped Economy Deepens as AI Boom Widens Regional Gap

For most of the last three years, the story of the US-China AI race was about whether Chinese labs could catch up to the American frontier. In mid-July 2026, the leaderboards suggest that story has quietly ended.&nbsp;The Numbers&nbsp;At one point in mid-July, six of the top 10 AI models on independent performance leaderboards — and all five of the top five — came from Chinese companies: DeepSeek, Moonshot, Z.ai, Tencent, Xiaomi, and MiniMax. As of this year, China's top tier of models spans DeepSeek, Alibaba's Qwen, Moonshot's Kimi, ByteDance's Doubao, Zhipu's GLM, and Baidu's ERNIE — a crowded field competing directly across reasoning, coding, and multimodal benchmarks rather than trailing a single leader.&nbsp;It Isn't Just About Rank Anymore&nbsp;What has changed the calculus, according to reporting from Fortune published July 26, isn't only that Chinese models are scoring competitively — it's that they're doing it markedly cheaper than their American counterparts, undercutting US labs on cost at a moment when the US frontier labs are simultaneously raising prices and locking in enormous compute contracts to fund the next generation of models.&nbsp;Real Companies Are Already Switching&nbsp;The shift isn't confined to leaderboard rankings. Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky has said his company uses Alibaba's Qwen for customer service. Cursor, the AI coding startup behind the widely used Composer 2 model, has said Moonshot AI's Kimi provided its foundation. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said in June that the crypto exchange halved its AI spending by shifting more employee usage to Kimi and Z.ai's GLM models.&nbsp;These aren't fringe adopters experimenting at the edges — they're US companies making direct cost-driven decisions to route production workloads through Chinese models instead of the American labs that have dominated the narrative since ChatGPT's launch.&nbsp;The Context That Complicates It&nbsp;The shift is landing amid active US scrutiny of exactly this dynamic. The White House has already accused one of these labs, Moonshot, of covertly distilling an Anthropic model to build its Kimi K3 system, with Treasury threatening sanctions. Whether Washington's response is aimed at slowing this specific competitive shift, or is a separate concern about intellectual property, the leaderboard numbers and the enterprise adoption figures both point the same direction regardless of the politics: for a growing number of real-world buyers, the calculation of where to run AI workloads no longer defaults to a US lab by assumption.

At one point in mid-July 2026, six of the world's top 10 AI models — and all of the top five — came from Chinese labs. Fortune reports they're now beating US rivals on cost, not just catching up on capability, with real companies like Airbnb, Cursor, and Coinbase already switching.

For most of the last three years, the story of the US-China AI race was about whether Chinese labs could catch up to the American frontier. In mid-July 2026, the leaderboards suggest that story has quietly ended. The Numbers At one point in mid-July, six of the top 10 AI models on independent performance leaderboards — and all five of the top five — came from Chinese companies: DeepSeek, Moonshot, Z.ai, Tencent, Xiaomi, and MiniMax. As of this year, China's top tier of models spans DeepSeek, Alibaba's Qwen, Moonshot's Kimi, ByteDance's Doubao, Zhipu's GLM, and Baidu's ERNIE — a crowded field competing directly across reasoning, coding, and multimodal benchmarks rather than trailing a single leader. It Isn't Just About Rank Anymore What has changed the calculus, according to reporting from Fortune published July 26, isn't only that Chinese models are scoring competitively — it's that they're doing it markedly cheaper than their American counterparts, undercutting US labs on cost at a moment when the US frontier labs are simultaneously raising prices and locking in enormous compute contracts to fund the next generation of models. Real Companies Are Already Switching The shift isn't confined to leaderboard rankings. Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky has said his company uses Alibaba's Qwen for customer service. Cursor, the AI coding startup behind the widely used Composer 2 model, has said Moonshot AI's Kimi provided its foundation. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said in June that the crypto exchange halved its AI spending by shifting more employee usage to Kimi and Z.ai's GLM models. These aren't fringe adopters experimenting at the edges — they're US companies making direct cost-driven decisions to route production workloads through Chinese models instead of the American labs that have dominated the narrative since ChatGPT's launch. The Context That Complicates It The shift is landing amid active US scrutiny of exactly this dynamic. The White House has already accused one of these labs, Moonshot, of covertly distilling an Anthropic model to build its Kimi K3 system, with Treasury threatening sanctions. Whether Washington's response is aimed at slowing this specific competitive shift, or is a separate concern about intellectual property, the leaderboard numbers and the enterprise adoption figures both point the same direction regardless of the politics: for a growing number of real-world buyers, the calculation of where to run AI workloads no longer defaults to a US lab by assumption.

At one point in mid-July 2026, six of the top 10 AI models on independent leaderboards — and all of the top five — came from Chinese labs including DeepSeek, Moonshot, Z.ai, Tencent, Xiaomi, and MiniMax. The shift is no longer just about catching up on capability; Chinese labs are now undercutting US rivals on cost as well.

Six of the world's top 10 AI models are now Chinese and they're winning on price, not just rank

The largest open-weight AI model ever built goes fully public tonight — and it arrives already at the centre of a US-China technology dispute.&nbsp;The Release&nbsp;Moonshot AI's Kimi K3 releases its complete model weights at 00:00 UTC on July 27, which lands in the evening of July 26 across US time zones. The model has 2.8 trillion parameters, and the full weights come in at roughly 1.4 terabytes using MXFP4 quantization — a compression format that reduces file size while preserving most of the model's performance. By total parameter count and release size, it is the largest open-weight model ever made publicly available.&nbsp;Unlike a closed, API-only release, open-weighting a model of this scale means any developer, company, or government with sufficient hardware can download, run, modify, and build on Kimi K3 directly — no permission from Moonshot required, and no ongoing dependency on Moonshot's own servers.&nbsp;Landing In The Middle Of A Distillation Dispute&nbsp;The timing is not incidental to the controversy already surrounding the model. On July 22, White House science and technology policy director Michael Kratsios publicly accused Moonshot of covertly distilling Anthropic's Fable model to build Kimi K3 — the first time a senior US official has named a specific Chinese lab for allegedly copying a specific American model. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent followed with a warning that sanctions and Entity List designations were ‘on the table.’&nbsp;Tonight's full weight release cuts against the timeline of that accusation in one respect: independent AI researchers have already noted that Anthropic's Fable model only became publicly available on July 1, making it difficult for an industrial-scale distillation effort to have been the primary driver of a model this large, this fast. Whether or not the distillation claim holds up, the release itself gives outside researchers their first real opportunity to examine Kimi K3's architecture directly rather than relying on API behaviour alone.&nbsp;Why The Scale Matters Beyond The Politics&nbsp;Kimi K3 lands in the middle of what's already the steepest AI price collapse the industry has seen — OpenAI's GPT-5.6 starting at $1 per million tokens, Meta's Muse Spark 1.1 at $1.25/$4.25, and Kimi K3 itself running as low as $0.30 per million tokens on cached input even before tonight's open-weight release removes the API paywall for anyone able to self-host it.&nbsp;A 2.8-trillion-parameter model of this capability, available for free download rather than gated behind a metered API, changes the competitive calculus for every lab currently charging for access to comparable capability — including the labs, like Anthropic and OpenAI, that Kimi K3 is now accused of having learned from.

Moonshot AI's Kimi K3 releases its full weights at 00:00 UTC July 27 — a 2.8-trillion-parameter, 1.4-terabyte model, the largest open-weight AI release ever. It arrives days after the White House accused Moonshot of distilling Anthropic's Fable to build it.

The largest open-weight AI model ever built goes fully public tonight — and it arrives already at the centre of a US-China technology dispute. The Release Moonshot AI's Kimi K3 releases its complete model weights at 00:00 UTC on July 27, which lands in the evening of July 26 across US time zones. The model has 2.8 trillion parameters, and the full weights come in at roughly 1.4 terabytes using MXFP4 quantization — a compression format that reduces file size while preserving most of the model's performance. By total parameter count and release size, it is the largest open-weight model ever made publicly available. Unlike a closed, API-only release, open-weighting a model of this scale means any developer, company, or government with sufficient hardware can download, run, modify, and build on Kimi K3 directly — no permission from Moonshot required, and no ongoing dependency on Moonshot's own servers. Landing In The Middle Of A Distillation Dispute The timing is not incidental to the controversy already surrounding the model. On July 22, White House science and technology policy director Michael Kratsios publicly accused Moonshot of covertly distilling Anthropic's Fable model to build Kimi K3 — the first time a senior US official has named a specific Chinese lab for allegedly copying a specific American model. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent followed with a warning that sanctions and Entity List designations were ‘on the table.’ Tonight's full weight release cuts against the timeline of that accusation in one respect: independent AI researchers have already noted that Anthropic's Fable model only became publicly available on July 1, making it difficult for an industrial-scale distillation effort to have been the primary driver of a model this large, this fast. Whether or not the distillation claim holds up, the release itself gives outside researchers their first real opportunity to examine Kimi K3's architecture directly rather than relying on API behaviour alone. Why The Scale Matters Beyond The Politics Kimi K3 lands in the middle of what's already the steepest AI price collapse the industry has seen — OpenAI's GPT-5.6 starting at $1 per million tokens, Meta's Muse Spark 1.1 at $1.25/$4.25, and Kimi K3 itself running as low as $0.30 per million tokens on cached input even before tonight's open-weight release removes the API paywall for anyone able to self-host it. A 2.8-trillion-parameter model of this capability, available for free download rather than gated behind a metered API, changes the competitive calculus for every lab currently charging for access to comparable capability — including the labs, like Anthropic and OpenAI, that Kimi K3 is now accused of having learned from.

Moonshot AI's Kimi K3 releases its full model weights at 00:00 UTC on July 27 — a 2.8-trillion-parameter model, roughly 1.4 terabytes using MXFP4 quantization, making it the largest open-weight AI release in history. The release comes days after the White House publicly accused Moonshot of distilling Anthropic's Fable model to build it.

Meet China's Kimi K3! The largest open-weight AI model in history drops tonight

The crackdown on immigrants in the United States has forced China to train its students to handle uncalled-for situations in the country. Beijing is holding summer camps to prepare students on how to cope with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, SCMP reported. They initially started as a preparatory place where they could learn to tackle hate crimes, kidnappings, phone and internet scams, and bullying. However, the risk of an ICE action against them is the latest addition.&nbsp;The advertisement for one such camp in Beijing reads, “This training simulates ICE enforcement tactics and procedures, preparing participants to respond calmly and effectively to sudden raids in various everyday settings – including their homes, schools and public spaces."&nbsp;ICE has in the past weeks detained and deported several noncitizens living in the United States. ICE officers execute administrative warrants by visiting specific residential addresses early in the morning or late at night. Operations are conducted near agricultural plants, construction sites, and service businesses. Some individuals who reported for mandatory, scheduled check-ins at local ICE field offices are sometimes detained directly on site.&nbsp;This has created a fear amongst international students going to the US for higher education. Several Chinese students also prefer international education and go to the US like several other students from across the world. However, apart from the changes in rules that previously put schools and colleges out of bounds for immigration enforcement, there is no basis to believe that kidnappings by strangers are common in the country. However, hate crimes and bullying are still prevalent.<h2>Chinese parents still choosing US for studies despite fears</h2>Experts say that there has been a fall in overall confidence among parents sending their kids to the US for education. They are less certain about their future, but are still choosing to send their wards since many of them have already invested a lot of time and money. A mother told SCMP that they knew they would receive fewer university offers, but still sent their son to the US. “But if it’s hard to stay in the US after graduation, maybe we’ll decide to work in Hong Kong then,” the mother said.&nbsp;Yingyi Ma, a professor at Syracuse University, said, despite the wish to study in the US, there is "a stronger willingness among some Chinese students to return to China, and an overall decline in the number of Chinese students going to the US,” she said.&nbsp;Open Doors Report, an annual survey on international students in the US, shows the number of Chinese students has been dropping for five years. In 2019, the United Kingdom replaced the US as the most desired destination for Chinese students. However, the quality of academic programmes gave the US a certain edge.&nbsp; &nbsp;

ICE raids against international students in the US have created fear among Chinese parents sending their children to the country for higher studies. Camps in the country are training students to handle any such eventuality.

The crackdown on immigrants in the United States has forced China to train its students to handle uncalled-for situations in the country. Beijing is holding summer camps to prepare students on how to cope with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, SCMP reported. They initially started as a preparatory place where they could learn to tackle hate crimes, kidnappings, phone and internet scams, and bullying. However, the risk of an ICE action against them is the latest addition. The advertisement for one such camp in Beijing reads, “This training simulates ICE enforcement tactics and procedures, preparing participants to respond calmly and effectively to sudden raids in various everyday settings – including their homes, schools and public spaces." ICE has in the past weeks detained and deported several noncitizens living in the United States. ICE officers execute administrative warrants by visiting specific residential addresses early in the morning or late at night. Operations are conducted near agricultural plants, construction sites, and service businesses. Some individuals who reported for mandatory, scheduled check-ins at local ICE field offices are sometimes detained directly on site. This has created a fear amongst international students going to the US for higher education. Several Chinese students also prefer international education and go to the US like several other students from across the world. However, apart from the changes in rules that previously put schools and colleges out of bounds for immigration enforcement, there is no basis to believe that kidnappings by strangers are common in the country. However, hate crimes and bullying are still prevalent. Chinese parents still choosing US for studies despite fears Experts say that there has been a fall in overall confidence among parents sending their kids to the US for education. They are less certain about their future, but are still choosing to send their wards since many of them have already invested a lot of time and money. A mother told SCMP that they knew they would receive fewer university offers, but still sent their son to the US. “But if it’s hard to stay in the US after graduation, maybe we’ll decide to work in Hong Kong then,” the mother said. Yingyi Ma, a professor at Syracuse University, said, despite the wish to study in the US, there is "a stronger willingness among some Chinese students to return to China, and an overall decline in the number of Chinese students going to the US,” she said. Open Doors Report, an annual survey on international students in the US, shows the number of Chinese students has been dropping for five years. In 2019, the United Kingdom replaced the US as the most desired destination for Chinese students. However, the quality of academic programmes gave the US a certain edge.

ICE raids against international students in the US have created fear among Chinese parents sending their children to the country for higher studies. Camps in the country are training students to handle any such eventuality.

Camps in China are training students on how to handle an ICE raid in the US

The United States is preparing a fresh wave of tariffs on dozens of trading partners, as President Donald Trump doubles down on using trade penalties as a negotiating tool. The new duties could affect countries including China, India, Japan, Canada, Mexico, the European Union and others, with Washington accusing some nations of failing to address forced labour concerns.

Donald Trump expands global Trade Tariff Push | World Business Watch | Wion 

Asia's property market is sending mixed signals. While countries like India and Japan continue to post record demand and rising investments,markets such as Hong Kong and Mainland China are still grappling with weaker fundamentals. But beneath those headline numbers lies a deeper story -one of widening gaps between cities, sectors and even buildings. Here's a closer look.

Asia's property boom hides a growing divide | World Business Watch | Wion News 

 China has just posted its highest-ever oil and gas production. But even as Beijing celebrates record output, it is warning that the country's energy future is becoming far more difficult. Depleting oilfields, rising extraction costs and growing geopolitical risks are forcing China to rethink how it secures its energy supplies.

China's Energy Warning After Record Output | World Business Watch | Wion News 

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul added a musical touch to diplomacy during his official visit to Beijing by performing a classic song for Chinese Premier Li Qiang at a formal state lunch. The performance, accompanied by piano, received warm applause from guests and highlighted the Thai leader’s unique approach to cultural diplomacy. The moment follows several of his musical appearances during official visits across Asia, where he has combined music with international engagement.


Thai Prime Minister sings classic song for Chinese Premier Li Qiang during Beijing state lunch

China is planning a huge asteroid strike mission where it will crash a spacecraft into a small space rock at 26 times the speed of light. The mission aims to deflect the asteroid from its trajectory and even break it apart entirely, SCMP reported. The planetary defence mission goes way beyond what NASA did with DART in many ways. The American space agency altered the orbit of the asteroid moonlet around the main rock, and later analysis showed that its shape had changed. But China wants to see if it can shatter its composition.&nbsp;The mission is being led by Li Mingtao, chief scientist of planetary defence at the China National Space Administration (CNSA). The target is Asteroid 2015 XF261, which has not been studied much. Compared to asteroid moonlet Dimorphos, which was a 525-foot rubble-pile space rock, asteroid 2015 XF261 measures only about 98 feet and is believed to be a stronger, more solid body. The intercept will happen when it comes roughly 7 million kilometres near Earth around 2029 or 2030.&nbsp;The plan is to strike the asteroid at an astonishing speed of 9 kilometres per second, equivalent to Mach 26 at sea level. In comparison, NASA's DART impact had a velocity of 6.1 km/s. The higher speed would deliver a more powerful impact because kinetic energy increases exponentially with velocity. Scientists think that this could cause the asteroid to completely come apart.<h2>China will launch the observing spacecraft on the same rocket</h2>China also plans to observe the affected asteroid differently from NASA. The same rocket will carry two spacecraft - the impactor and the observer. Once launched, both of them will go their separate ways. One will go towards the asteroid, and a second spacecraft will observe the asteroid before, during and after the collision. It will see how its orbit, shape and surface change after the impact. This spacecraft will use Venus gravity assist to observe the effects. In contrast, the European Space Agency launched the Hera mission separately to observe the changes in Dimorphos&nbsp;The mission overall has four targets - an accurate hit, successfully changing its orbit, precisely measuring the impact results, and confirming that Earth remains safe after the test. &nbsp;

China could soon outrival NASA in planetary defence and asteroid strike. Its new mission aims to slam an asteroid at a speed of Mach 26, much higher than the DART mission, and even break apart a small asteroid completely.  

China is planning a huge asteroid strike mission where it will crash a spacecraft into a small space rock at 26 times the speed of light. The mission aims to deflect the asteroid from its trajectory and even break it apart entirely, SCMP reported. The planetary defence mission goes way beyond what NASA did with DART in many ways. The American space agency altered the orbit of the asteroid moonlet around the main rock, and later analysis showed that its shape had changed. But China wants to see if it can shatter its composition. The mission is being led by Li Mingtao, chief scientist of planetary defence at the China National Space Administration (CNSA). The target is Asteroid 2015 XF261, which has not been studied much. Compared to asteroid moonlet Dimorphos, which was a 525-foot rubble-pile space rock, asteroid 2015 XF261 measures only about 98 feet and is believed to be a stronger, more solid body. The intercept will happen when it comes roughly 7 million kilometres near Earth around 2029 or 2030. The plan is to strike the asteroid at an astonishing speed of 9 kilometres per second, equivalent to Mach 26 at sea level. In comparison, NASA's DART impact had a velocity of 6.1 km/s. The higher speed would deliver a more powerful impact because kinetic energy increases exponentially with velocity. Scientists think that this could cause the asteroid to completely come apart. China will launch the observing spacecraft on the same rocket China also plans to observe the affected asteroid differently from NASA. The same rocket will carry two spacecraft - the impactor and the observer. Once launched, both of them will go their separate ways. One will go towards the asteroid, and a second spacecraft will observe the asteroid before, during and after the collision. It will see how its orbit, shape and surface change after the impact. This spacecraft will use Venus gravity assist to observe the effects. In contrast, the European Space Agency launched the Hera mission separately to observe the changes in Dimorphos The mission overall has four targets - an accurate hit, successfully changing its orbit, precisely measuring the impact results, and confirming that Earth remains safe after the test.

China could soon outrival NASA in planetary defence and asteroid strike. Its new mission aims to slam an asteroid at a speed of Mach 26, much higher than the DART mission, and even break apart a small asteroid completely. &nbsp;

China to whack asteroid at 26 times the speed of sound. Here's how the mission outrivals NASA's DART

China's proposed export restrictions on rare earth minerals could put $6.5 trillion worth of global downstream production at risk if fully implemented. This is according to the International Energy Agency's latest global critical minerals outlook.

IEA warns: China's export controls put $6.5 trillion at risk | World Business Watch  

Donald Trump claimed that newly declassified intelligence reveals China compromised millions of U.S. voter records and exposed vulnerabilities in America's election infrastructure. The announcement comes as the U.S. launches a sixth consecutive night of strikes on Iranian military targets, while tensions continue to rise across West Asia. CENTCOM also intensified maritime operations near Iran as Ukraine reported deadly Russian missile strikes on Odesa. Meanwhile, North Korea pledged stronger ties with China, SpaceX aborted its latest Starship launch seconds before liftoff, and Japan's stock market plunged amid growing concerns over the AI sector.

Stay tuned for the latest international developments, geopolitical updates, defence news, breaking headlines, and global affairs.

Trump claims China hacked U.S. election data | U.S. strikes Iran again | Starship launch aborted 

China has built a full-scale replica of a US Navy destroyer in the middle of the Taklamakan Desert to test a kill chain - whether surveillance, tracking, and strike systems can operate together to attack a US naval platform equipped with advanced sensors and defensive capabilities. Satellite images shared by US company Vantor show a model resembling an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer in Xinjiang. Joseph Wu, co-founder of the Taiwan Defense Studies Initiative, was the first to identify the replica, according to a Bloomberg report from June 2026.&nbsp;The replica has the exact dimensions as the actual warship. Such mock-ups of naval vessels have been created previously as well, but were limited to just the outline. But they have moved further, adding radar-related features and launch-position markings. Chinese analysts argue that this is important since modern vessels have advanced sensors, electronic warfare capabilities, and layered defences. Compared to the larger aircraft carrier replicas China made before, a destroyer is challenging since it is smaller in size and has different mobility, along with advanced defensive systems.<h2>Features of US warship replica</h2>The track system allows China to simulate a vessel on the move at sea and see how they fare against it. It goes beyond just movement, with some reports suggesting that it also has radar-reflective and electromagnetic features to replicate the exact conditions at sea, allowing for a near-real environment to test missile seekers and targeting systems.&nbsp;Choosing an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer shows the extent of tests China is undertaking. The vessel is a particularly tough target because it provides air and missile defence as well as anti-submarine warfare capabilities, making it a crucial part of the US Navy’s carrier strike groups. The aim is not to destroy the warship, but to reduce its ability by disabling the SPY radar, vertical launch systems, or fire-control capabilities. The replica provides an opportunity to practise reconnaissance and tracking.

In the middle of the Taklamakan Desert in China, lies a replica of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer. Beijing is using it to test its surveillance, detection and strike systems. 

China has built a full-scale replica of a US Navy destroyer in the middle of the Taklamakan Desert to test a kill chain - whether surveillance, tracking, and strike systems can operate together to attack a US naval platform equipped with advanced sensors and defensive capabilities. Satellite images shared by US company Vantor show a model resembling an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer in Xinjiang. Joseph Wu, co-founder of the Taiwan Defense Studies Initiative, was the first to identify the replica, according to a Bloomberg report from June 2026. The replica has the exact dimensions as the actual warship. Such mock-ups of naval vessels have been created previously as well, but were limited to just the outline. But they have moved further, adding radar-related features and launch-position markings. Chinese analysts argue that this is important since modern vessels have advanced sensors, electronic warfare capabilities, and layered defences. Compared to the larger aircraft carrier replicas China made before, a destroyer is challenging since it is smaller in size and has different mobility, along with advanced defensive systems. Features of US warship replica The track system allows China to simulate a vessel on the move at sea and see how they fare against it. It goes beyond just movement, with some reports suggesting that it also has radar-reflective and electromagnetic features to replicate the exact conditions at sea, allowing for a near-real environment to test missile seekers and targeting systems. Choosing an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer shows the extent of tests China is undertaking. The vessel is a particularly tough target because it provides air and missile defence as well as anti-submarine warfare capabilities, making it a crucial part of the US Navy’s carrier strike groups. The aim is not to destroy the warship, but to reduce its ability by disabling the SPY radar, vertical launch systems, or fire-control capabilities. The replica provides an opportunity to practise reconnaissance and tracking.

In the middle of the Taklamakan Desert in China, lies a replica of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer. Beijing is using it to test its surveillance, detection and strike systems.&nbsp;

Why has China made an exact replica of US warship in the middle of Taklamakan desert?

china-news

China News, News on China News, stories on China News, articles on China News, China News stories at Wion, China News news, China News latest news

china news

Once Asia’s richest man, Evergrande founder gets life sentence in China: Who is he?

Unitree’s ‘Superman’ robot can jump 2 metres and run faster than Usain Bolt

Typhoon Dolphin hits China: Beijing faces torrential rain, floods and landslides

Watch: Chinese rocket explodes into a fireball 85 seconds after lift-off

Lightning strikes plane in China leaving 20 marks, man says he 'felt a bolt'

Nathu-La Border Trade Resumes After Six Years | Wion News

China Hits U.S. With Fresh Sanctions, Tightens Drone Export Controls Amid Trade Tensions

US-China Trade War Escalates | Beijing Targets American Entities and Drone Exports

Ex-Top Pak Official Blames Economic Woes on China: Here's How CPEC Has Been a Failure

China builds 500+ spy satellites as US space lead shrinks | Gravitas

China's K-Shaped Economy Deepens as AI Boom Widens Regional Gap

Six of the world's top 10 AI models are now Chinese and they're winning on price

Meet China's Kimi K3! The largest open-weight AI model in history drops tonight

Camps in China are training students on how to handle an ICE raid in the US

Donald Trump expands global Trade Tariff Push | World Business Watch | Wion

Donald Trump expands global Trade Tariff Push | World Business Watch | Wion

Asia's property boom hides a growing divide | World Business Watch | Wion News

China's Energy Warning After Record Output | World Business Watch | Wion News

Thai Prime Minister sings classic song for Chinese Premier Li Qiang during Beijing state lunch

China to strike asteroid at 26 times the speed of sound. How it outrivals DART

IEA warns: China's export controls put $6.5 trillion at risk | World Business Watch

IEA warns: China's export controls put $6.5 trillion at risk | World Business Watch

Trump claims China hacked U.S. election data | U.S. strikes Iran again | Starship launch aborted

Why has China made a replica of US warship in the middle of Taklamakan desert?