An asteroid burned up over Germany on Jan. 21. The rock was only three feet in size and posed no risk to people on the ground. But astronomers used planetary defense software to detect the asteroid and pinpoint where it would enter the atmosphere. Meteorite hunters found pieces of it days later in Poland. Michael Aye, via Storyful NYT
China is in a position where the United States could overtake it as Germany’s top trading partner, owing to changing geopolitical situations and a slow recovery in the world’s second-largest economy, according to a German government report. The report pointed out that the economies of the US and China are currently “developing in practically opposite directions” because there is “no recovery in the Middle Kingdom” but the US is “developing better than expected”. “If these trends continue in 2024, the US will replace China at the top of the ranking…
Chinese vice-premier He Lifeng has called for improvements in the performance and profitability of listed firms, a signal that Beijing wants to see more support for China’s ailing stock market and a boost in confidence along with it. He made the remarks during a nationwide teleconference attended by cadres from all regions on Monday, during which he said confidence, capital market stability and economic development must be promoted. He called the country’s listed firms a critical “microeconomic bedrock”, stressing the high-quality development of the economy. He told cadres to “sink…
Hong Kong filmmaker Stephen Chow Sing-chi, a popular actor in mainland China known as the king of comedy, has inked a deal with Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, to make an exclusive series, as A-list talent and Big Tech join hands to take advantage of a mini-drama frenzy. The project – code-named “9527” in a reference to the 61-year-old comedian’s 1993 film Flirting Scholar – will feature content from Chow as well as other “outstanding young creators”, Douyin said in a statement posted to its official WeChat account. The…
Four years after China imposed a strict national security law on Hong Kong, the territory’s leader says the time has come for the city to pass its own version. Chief Executive John Lee told reporters Tuesday the legislature will begin a consultative period to create a set of laws as required by Article 23 of Hong Kong’s Basic Law, the mini-constitution that has been in effect since Britain handed the city back to China in 1997. Lee said the new laws will cover treason, insurrection, espionage, theft of state secrets,…
Stay informed with free updates Simply sign up to the Japanese business & finance myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox. Toyota chair Akio Toyoda has said he takes full responsibility for a spate of scandals at some of the group’s closest affiliates and will “take action” as the world’s largest carmaker by sales tries to regain the trust of customers and regulators. Toyoda on Tuesday apologised and said he “wanted to be the person that takes full responsibility” following recent disclosures of widespread problems with testing data at…
After seven postponements, the Hong Kong High Court has finally issued a liquidation order against Chinese property giant Evergrande Group this week as China, the world’s second-largest economy, struggles to fix its worst real estate crisis amid shrinking growth. Some analysts believe the liquidation marks the bursting of China’s real estate bubble and the end to any government rescue for indebted property developers. Judge Linda Chan in her ruling on Monday stated that Evergrande’s debt restructuring plan lacked progress and the company was insolvent, so she officially ordered the company…
“Our work transitions camouflage technologies from the constrained scenario to ever-changing terrains and constitutes a big advance towards new-generation reconfigurable electromagnetics [that can] change circuit topologies,” they said. The study builds on rapid recent advancements in metamaterials – synthetics with the unique ability to manipulate electromagnetic waves – that have been increasingly applied to stealth technologies. The Chimera’s metasurface mimics the distinct attributes of three reptiles to achieve invisibility across multiple terrains. Image: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Through precise control of their surface structures, metamaterials can reflect…
Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. Hong Kong has unveiled details of a proposed new national security law targeting acts of espionage, treason and foreign political influence, which analysts warned would further curb civil freedoms in the city and damage its status as an international financial hub. John Lee, Hong Kong’s chief executive, said the legislation would ensure stability in the Chinese territory and safeguard against geopolitical tensions. “The threat to national security is real,” Lee…
This article is an on-site version of our Unhedged newsletter. Sign up here to get the newsletter sent straight to your inbox every weekday Good morning. Armstrong here, back after a week in California. I can report that Los Angeles in January is a lot more pleasant than New York in January, and that the best song to blast out of your rental car window on Rodeo Drive is the Decemberists’ “Los Angeles, I’m Yours”. I’m not sure of the market relevance of either point, but there you go. Email…