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Xiaomi on Thursday unveiled the 17 Ultra, its latest premium smartphone model that features improved night photography and mobile imaging capabilities on the back of the firm’s enhanced partnership with German camera maker Leica.“We work together to build future-proof optical technology … and completely reshape the mobile photography experience,” Xiaomi president Lu Weibing said at the handset’s launch.In a side-by-side comparison of dimly lit photos taken in Hong Kong with Xiaomi’s 17 Ultra and Apple’s high-end iPhone 17 Pro Max, Lu claimed that the set of Xiaomi images was noticeably sharper, while the iPhone photos appeared blurred.“By bringing our optical…
Researchers at China’s National University of Defence Technology have successfully accelerated a tonne-class vehicle to a record speed of 700 km/h (435mph) within just two seconds on a 400 metre (1,310-foot) magnetic levitation test line, and brought it safely to a stop.The test speed has set a new global benchmark, making it the world’s fastest superconducting electric maglev to date.This same force that flung a sledge down a short track could fling a rocket into the sky. It could even revolutionise hyperloop travel – with vacuum-sealed tubes linking cities in minutes. 01:13China unveils maglev marvel, redefining the future of high-speed…
A court in Russia on Thursday convicted a pro-war activist and critic of President Vladimir Putin of justifying terrorism and sentenced him to six years in prison. Sergei Udaltsov, the leader of the Left Front movement that opposes Putin and is affiliated with the Communist Party, was arrested last year. According to Russian independent news site Mediazona, the charges against him stem from an article Udaltsov posted online in support of another group of Russian activists accused of forming a terrorist organization. Those activists were convicted earlier this month and handed sentences ranging from 16 to 22 years in prison.…
Mercedes-Benz on Thursday said it completed the acquisition of a 3 per cent stake, worth 1.34 billion yuan (US$191 million), in motorcycle maker-turned-autonomous driving systems developer Chongqing Qianli Technology, three months after the deal was first announced.The transaction involved Mercedes-Benz Digital Technology, the German carmaker’s tech unit, and Shanghai-listed Lifan Holdings, which transferred 135.6 million shares of Qianli at 9.87 yuan per share.Before the transaction, Lifan Holdings – once China’s top motorcycle maker – held more than 5 per cent of Qianli’s shares. After closing the deal, Mercedes-Benz became Qianli’s fifth largest stakeholder.According to the terms of the deal, the…
Chinese humanoid robot maker UBTech Robotics is moving to lock down key manufacturing capacity, agreeing to pay nearly 1.7 billion yuan (US$237 million) in cash to take control of Shenzhen-listed mechanical component maker Zhejiang Fenglong as it pushes to scale up humanoid robot production.The two-stage deal will begin with UBTech acquiring a 29.99 per cent stake in Fenglong from existing shareholders for 1.16 billion yuan, followed by a voluntary partial offer to buy a further 13.02 per cent for about 504 million yuan, according to a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange on Wednesday.The offer prices Fenglong’s shares at…
More than six centuries ago, roughly 80 years ahead of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, Chinese admiral Zheng He reached the eastern coast of Africa with a massive fleet and a crew of more than 20,000 under his command.The Ming dynasty ships braved formidable waves and traversed vast distances on seven epic maritime expeditions to reach the shores of Southeast Asia, South Asia, West Asia and finally the eastern coast of Africa.Despite his achievements, Zheng He remains largely absent from Kenya’s history curriculum. In an effort to raise awareness of these ancient links with China, Beijing is increasing funding for…
Malaysia’s High Court is poised on Friday to deliver its verdict in the final criminal trial of jailed former prime minister Najib Razak, bringing to a close one of Southeast Asia’s most far-reaching corruption sagas.The case centres on allegations that the disgraced 72-year-old misappropriated 2.3 billion ringgit (US$490 million) from the scandal-ridden Malaysian sovereign wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). Najib is currently in Kajang Prison, over halfway through a sentence reduced to six years for a conviction in a separate case linked to a former 1MDB subsidiary.Prosecutors allege the money was siphoned off through a complex network of banks,…
China is taking steps to reshape the direction of its foreign investment, unveiling a revised catalogue of encouraged industries that steers overseas capital towards the advanced and technologically complex sectors Beijing’s policymakers view as future growth drivers.The revised catalogue, which takes effect in February 2026, covers 1,679 industries – 205 more than the current version, which was released in 2022.In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry of Commerce said the changes are aimed at “strengthening China’s appeal to foreign investors, improving support services for foreign-funded firms and creating a more transparent, stable and predictable business environment”.The revised catalogue widens the…
Chinese state media outlets have ramped up criticism of what they characterise as Japan’s growing “neo-militarism”, warning that Beijing has sufficient policy tools in reserve to respond should Tokyo endanger China’s core interests.People’s Daily, a mouthpiece for China’s ruling Communist Party, said that “neo-militarism” – the resurgence of Japanese militarism after the end of the second world war – had dealt a serious blow to bilateral relations and undermined regional peace and stability.“Post-war Japan has failed to carry out a thorough reckoning with militarism … This ‘neo-militarism’, cloaked in the guise of a ‘peaceful nation’, is gradually becoming a real…
Hong Kong will broaden its crypto rule book next year, with regulators preparing new licensing regimes for virtual asset dealers and custodians, as the city pushes to deepen its digital asset market even as Beijing tightens its scrutiny on crypto activities on the mainland.Regulators said on Wednesday they would finalise legislative proposals for two new licensing frameworks – one for providers of virtual asset dealing services, previously referred to as over-the-counter (OTC) trading services, and another for custodian services – with the aim of introducing a bill into the Legislative Council in 2026.Since announcing its ambition in late 2022 to…