Day: May 3, 2025

With the impact of US President Donald Trump’s so-called reciprocal tariffs haunting American retailers of festive products – nearly 90 per cent of which are imported from China – US consumers may find themselves having to spend more on lower quality Halloween and Christmas novelties this year, industry insiders and analysts warn. Advertisement The “reciprocal tariffs” were introduced in early April, as American retailers were preparing to stock their shelves for festival celebrations later in the year. Buyers are now working day and night to try to minimise their impact.…

The artificial intelligence platform DeepSeek is being used to help with research and development for China’s most advanced warplanes, according to a leading aerospace engineer. Advertisement Wang Yongqing, the lead designer at the Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute, told state-owned Chinanews.com that his team had started using the technology to develop new technology for warplanes. They had also conducted in-depth research on the potential uses of large language models – the technology behind AI models such as ChatGPT and DeepSeek – in analysing and resolving complicated problems based on practical needs,…

A sightseeing helicopter crashed in a newly opened scenic area in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou, killing one person on the ground and injuring four on board. Advertisement Friday afternoon’s accident happened as the helicopter was coming into land and dropped from a height of about 10 metres (33ft), according to the local emergency services. Officials said the four injured passengers had been taken to hospital and that none was in a critical condition. The person killed was identified as a bystander on the ground, but no further details…

Researchers at one of China’s top defence electronics institutes say they can track advanced US stealth radars to the centimetre using modified commercial detection gear, a development that would have the potential to change the dynamics of electronic warfare. Advertisement The research came from the 38th Research Institute of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation, a developer of advanced radar systems for the Chinese military, according to a peer-reviewed paper published in the Chinese journal Computer Measurement & Control on April 21. Senior engineers Niu Qin and Xia Shaojun showed during…

Despite a recent deal with Washington, it will take years before Ukraine can rival China as a top source of critical minerals for US production of hi-tech gear, green energy and aerospace hardware – which analysts said will still leave American companies scrambling to source the materials as Beijing restricts its supply amid trade disputes. Advertisement Most of Ukraine’s sought-after mineral stores are in parts of the country occupied by Russia after more than three years of war, the experts said, with the rest taking years to extract thanks to…

The National Palace Museum in Taipei, home to crown jewels and royal antiques evacuated from mainland China following last century’s civil war, is the latest victim of souring ties between Taiwan and Beijing as it faces a significant drop in visitors. Advertisement The museum’s director Hsiao Tsung-huang told media in December that for the museum’s centenary year in 2025 he had a goal of 3.5 million visitors for both the northern branch in Taipei and the southern branch in Chiayi county “whether or not cross-strait travel opens up”. During a…