In 1957, the Soviet Union kicked off the Cold War’s space race, shocking the world by sending Sputnik, the world’s first artificial satellite, into orbit. Four years later, it did the same to cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, making him the first human in space. In 1969, the US provided another image that defined the era: Neil Armstrong leaving the Eagle lunar lander and planting the American flag on the moon, declaring it “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” For the t

China is aiming to boost its “hunt-and-kill” capabilities with a new submarine that boasts futuristic features, according to Chinese analysts. A submarine that appeared to lack a traditional fin was being built at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai, France-based Naval News reported on Wednesday, citing Vantor satellite images dated June 1. A submarine’s fin is a tower on its topside, usually used for observation and communications. Analysts said a finless design could boost th

Dreame Technology, the Chinese smart cleaning appliance maker, has opened a direct Pre-IPO funding round with a pre-money valuation of approximately 70 billion yuan ($9.6 billion), according to sources familiar with the matter. The fundraising window, expected to close by early July, requires a minimum investment of 350 million yuan per investor. The company plans to release 5% to 10% of its equity, translating to a fundraising target of 35 to 70 billion yuan. The round inclu

Drone swarms and stealth submarines are playing a growing role in modern warfare, yet aircraft carriers remain a symbol of military might. That can be seen in China’s investment in the warships, as well as other countries including France, Turkey, India and Japan. China’s naval fleet has been expanding at a rapid pace, with its fourth aircraft carrier fast taking shape, according to the latest satellite images of the shipyard in Dalian in the country’s northeast, where it is

A liquidity drain caused by SpaceX’s gargantuan US share sale is unlikely to ripple into regional markets, including Hong Kong, thanks to global investors’ push to diversify and their growing interest in future profit stars, according to JPMorgan. Hong Kong could still aim for the runner-up position in fundraising this year despite potentially giving up the global initial public offering (IPO) crown to New York, said Paul Uren, the US bank’s Asia-Pacific investment banking he

The group leading the charge in the search for extraterrestrial life has given the all-clear: an interstellar comet looks to be completely natural and free of any alien tech. The SETI Institute said Wednesday that extensive radio scans by its telescope in Northern California found no signs of otherworldly technology from our solar system’s latest interstellar visitor. The object labelled 3I/ATLAS was discovered last summer sweeping through our neck of the cosmic woods. Scient

The excitement around SpaceX, fuelled by the targeted US$1.8 trillion valuation for its initial public offering and its promising Starship rocket development, has revived a familiar claim: that SpaceX is on course to dominate the space market. Commercially, that view is understandable. SpaceX conducts more space launches than anyone and at very competitive costs, its Starlink satellite internet company provides strong in-house demand, and it has a scale advantage unmatched by

Huawei Unveils Mate 90 Series with Revolutionary Kirin 9050 'Logic Folding' Chip Huawei has announced its highly anticipated Mate 90 series, slated for a September 2026 launch, positioning the flagship lineup to go head-to-head with Apple's iPhone 18 Pro. The centerpiece of the new devices is the Kirin 9050 processor, codenamed "Kirin 2026," which debuts an industry-first technology called "Logic Folding" — a 3D stacked transistor design that breaks away from traditional sing

Chinese smartphone makers are bracing for their most challenging year since the Covid-19 pandemic, as skyrocketing memory chip prices force brands to make a difficult choice: absorb the higher costs, raise retail prices or downgrade storage configurations, analysts say. In a report published on Monday, market research firm Counterpoint projected that global smartphone shipments would plunge nearly 14 per cent this year to about 1.08 billion units – marking the industry’s lowe

A Chinese scientist behind China’s BeiDou Navigation Satellite System rejects the “goddess” label, asserting that research transcends gender. Xu Ying, 43, hails from Sichuan province in southwestern China, born to a maths teacher mother and an agricultural technician father. As a gifted child with a passion for physics and mathematics, Xu began primary school at the age of four, entered university at 16 to pursue communications engineering, and consistently ranked at the top

Chinese researchers have developed an environmentally friendly method to extract caesium from brine, a process they say could boost China’s supply of the strategic resource. Caesium, a rare metal, is a critical strategic resource used in satellite atomic clocks, missile thermal imaging sensors and advanced speciality glass. China and the United States are the top consumers of caesium, yet both rely heavily on imports. It is primarily found in the Earth’s crustal ores as well

During BEYOND Expo 2026, the Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development (KISED) introduced South Korea’s startup ecosystem and government-backed support programs to international entrepreneurs and investors, highlighting how the country attracts global startups through innovation, industrial resources, and policy support. A KISED representative stated during the presentation that, unlike traditional companies focused on selling products, KISED aims to promote S

China’s claim it had used “electronic interference” during a confrontation with a Dutch warship in the disputed waters of the South China Sea might signal growing confidence in its capabilities in this area, analysts said. The PLA’s Southern Theatre Command, which oversees the South China Sea, accused the frigate De Ruyter of “illegally entering” waters near the Paracel Islands on Wednesday and repeatedly sending a helicopter into Chinese airspace. Chinese air and naval force

Organisers of South Korea’s renowned Yeoju Ceramic Festival have apologised after Chinese-made ceramic products were distributed as giveaway prizes at an event intended to promote the country’s pottery heritage, sparking public backlash and online criticism. The controversy emerged after a social media user said on Tuesday that a miniature moon jar received through a festival promotional event carried a “Made in China” sticker. “I honestly doubted my eyes when I opened the pa

Insta360, best known for its action cameras and 360-degree imaging products, has unveiled the Insta360 Mic Pro, a wireless lavalier microphone system that marks the company's entry into the audio accessories space. The release comes ahead of the much-anticipated Insta360 Luna handheld gimbal camera, positioning the Mic Pro as a strategic addition to the company's content creation ecosystem. The Insta360 Mic Pro's standout feature is a color e-ink display on each transmitter u

China launched Algeria's first communication satellite, Alcomsat-1, into a preset orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan early Monday.

Five people have died and two others were injured in a fire at a factory operated by South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace in the city of Daejeon, authorities said on Monday. The two survivors, including one who was badly burned, had escaped from the facility themselves, a fire official told a briefing. “Authorities have yet to identify the victims ‌because their bodies were severely damaged,” a health official told the same briefing. A fire official said that an explosion had trigg

For decades, Asia’s ambitions in outer space were closely associated with scientific discovery, technological prestige and national symbolism. Space programmes were designed to demonstrate engineering capability, economic modernisation and geopolitical influence. Today, outer space is undergoing a deeper transformation. It is no longer viewed merely as a frontier for exploration; increasingly, it is seen as a strategic domain tied to sovereignty, economic security and geopoli

Five people have died and two others were injured in a fire at a factory operated by South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace in the city of Daejeon, authorities said on Monday. The two survivors, including one who was badly burned, had escaped from the facility themselves, a fire official told a briefing. “Authorities have yet to identify the victims ‌because their bodies were severely damaged,” a health official told the same briefing. A fire official said that an explosion had trigg