24/7 News Coverage
September 22, 2025
DRAGON SPACE
Constellations of Power: Smart Dragon-3 and the Geopolitics of China's Space Strategy



Budapest, Hungary (SPX) Sep 17, 2025
On 9 September 2025, a Smart Dragon-3 rocket roared to life off the coast of Rizhao City, in eastern China's Shandong Province, carrying 11 Geely-05 satellites into orbit. Conducted from a maritime platform by the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre, the mission marked the seventh successful flight of the Smart Dragon-3 and another step forward in China's quest to fuse commercial innovation with national space ambitions. Behind the technical achievement lies a deeper story: the growing convergence of China' ... read more

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Previous Issues Sep 19 Sep 18 Sep 17 Sep 16 Sep 15
SPACEMART
Shandong expands satellite launch capacity with record 115 spacecraft deployed
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Sep 17, 2025
Shandong province has advanced its role in China's commercial space industry with the Sept 9 launch of the Smart Dragon-3 Y7 from an offshore platform, its second mission in just one month. The prov ... more
SPACEMART
Two Chinese Rockets Deliver 12 Advanced Satellites into Orbit
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Sep 17, 2025
China successfully carried out two separate rocket launches on Tuesday, deploying a total of 12 satellites into orbit. At 3:48 am, a Smart Dragon 3 rocket lifted off from a sea-based platform ... more
STELLAR CHEMISTRY
JUNO begins decade-long mission to probe neutrino mysteries
Paris, France (SPX) Sep 17, 2025
JUNO, the massive Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory in China, has officially started recording data, launching a ten-year program to investigate one of the most elusive particles in physics. ... more
MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS
Taiwan running out of time for satellite communications, space chief tells AFP
Hsinchu, Taiwan (AFP) Sept 19, 2025
Taiwan's space chief Wu Jong-shinn says the "clock is ticking" for the democratic island to launch its own satellites to secure internet and phone services during a potential conflict with China. ... more
SUPERPOWERS
China defence minister slams 'hegemonic logic' at Beijing forum
Beijing (AFP) Sept 18, 2025
Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun denounced "hegemonic logic and acts of bullying" during remarks Thursday at a Beijing forum that were full of thinly veiled references to the United States. ... more
UAV NEWS
Anti-drone firms line up to sell battle-tested tech in Taiwan
Taipei (AFP) Sept 18, 2025
Anti-drone technology battle-tested in Ukraine is on display at a Taiwanese defence expo that opened Thursday, as arms makers seek to cash in on the island's efforts to protect itself against a potential Chinese attack. ... more
TAIWAN NEWS
In first, Taiwan, US firm to make missile, underwater drone
Taipei (AFP) Sept 18, 2025
Taiwan will jointly manufacture a missile and an underwater drone with a US company for the first time, officials said Thursday, as Taipei seeks to boost domestic weapons and ammunition production. ... more
WATER WORLD
China warns Papua New Guinea over Australian defence deal
Sydney (AFP) Sept 19, 2025
China cautioned Papua New Guinea against "undermining" its interests and sovereignty in signing a mutual defence pact with Australia widely seen as a counter to Beijing's growing influence in the Pacific. ... more

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FLOATING STEEL
1 injured in China Coast Guard water cannon attack; Rubio backs Philippines against 'coercive' ocean reserve
Manila (AFP) Sept 16, 2025
The Philippines said one person was injured Tuesday when a water cannon attack by a China Coast Guard vessel shattered a window on the bridge of a fisheries bureau ship near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea. ... more
MISSILE NEWS
China urges US, Japan to withdraw Typhon missile system
Beijing (AFP) Sept 16, 2025
China urged Tokyo and Washington on Tuesday to withdraw the US-developed Typhon missile system, after it was unveiled in Japan for the first time during joint military exercises. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Beijing company sets new thrust record in rocket engine test
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Sep 17, 2025
Space Pioneer, a Beijing-based private launch firm, has completed a major ignition test of its TL 3 carrier rocket, establishing a national record for thrust produced by any Chinese privately develo ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
China deploys Yaogan 45 satellite on Long March 7A rocket
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Sep 17, 2025
China has successfully launched the Yaogan 45 remote-sensing satellite into orbit aboard a Long March 7A carrier rocket, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. reported. The rocket lifted ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Kinetica 2 rocket on track for inaugural mission in 2025
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Sep 17, 2025
CAS Space, a subsidiary of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is completing development of its new Kinetica 2 rocket and aims to launch it before the end of 2025. The company confirmed that the first ... more
DRAGON SPACE
China advances lunar program with Long March 10 ignition test
Beijing, China (SPX) Sep 12, 2025
China has conducted the second ignition trial of its new heavy-lift Long March 10 rocket, marking a significant step toward future crewed lunar missions. The test took place Friday at 3 pm at ... more
TECHNOLOGY NEWS


UAV NEWS
Maxar and AIDC advance Taiwan UAV sector with GPS-jamming resilience software
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Sep 22, 2025
Maxar Intelligence has partnered with Taiwan's Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) to integrate its Raptor vision-based navigation software across the country's unmanned aerial vehic ... more
TAIWAN NEWS
China condemns US, British warships sailing through Taiwan Strait
Beijing (AFP) Sept 13, 2025
China has condemned the passage of US and British warships through the Taiwan Strait, shortly after announcing its new aircraft carrier had transited through the sensitive waterway. ... more
WATER WORLD
Pacific leaders agree new summit rules after China, Taiwan bans
Honiara (AFP) Sept 12, 2025
Pacific Island leaders agreed on Friday to a new framework that would allow nations to join a key regional forum as strategic partners, after accusations that China was influencing regional decision-making. ... more
TAIWAN NEWS
Taiwan defence ministry to seek up to $33 bn to harden security, lawmaker tells AFP
Taipei (AFP) Sept 12, 2025
Taiwan's defence ministry plans to seek up to a record $33 billion in special funding to upgrade the island's defences against a potential Chinese attack, a senior lawmaker told AFP. ... more
FLOATING STEEL
China says newest aircraft carrier sailed through Taiwan Strait
Beijing (AFP) Sept 12, 2025
China said on Friday that its third and newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, recently sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait to carry out "scientific research trials and training missions" in the South China Sea. ... more
CYBER WARS
German far-right MP denies China bribery claims as offices searched
Berlin (AFP) Sept 11, 2025
German investigators searched the offices of far-right MP Maximilian Krah on Thursday after parliament lifted his immunity as part of an investigation into suspected bribe-taking from Chinese sources. ... more
ABOUT US
Oldest practice of smoke-dried mummification traced to Asia Pacific hunter gatherers
Canberra, Australia (SPX) Sep 17, 2025
Archaeologists from The Australian National University (ANU) have uncovered the earliest confirmed evidence of mummification, with findings showing smoke-dried preservation of bodies in Southeast As ... more
DEMOCRACY
Macau's first 'patriots' election sees low turnout
Macau (AFP) Sept 14, 2025
Macau's first "patriots only" legislative polls on Sunday saw one of the worst turnout rates in recent years, preliminary results showed, after authorities disqualified a dozen candidates and arrested a former opposition lawmaker. ... more
SPACEWAR
Google to obey South Korean order to blur satellite images on maps
Seoul (AFP) Sept 9, 2025
Google said on Tuesday that it would comply with the South Korean government's demand to blur sensitive satellite images on its mapping services, paving the way for the US tech giant to compete better with local navigation platforms. ... more
SINO DAILY
Hong Kong LGBTQ rights setback takes emotional toll
Hong Kong (AFP) Sept 11, 2025
At a tiny, cluttered flat in Hong Kong, four people sat around a large rainbow flag and quietly started to embroider. ... more
AFRICA NEWS
S.Africa court jails 7 Chinese nationals for human trafficking
Johannesburg (AFP) Sept 10, 2025
A South African court sentenced seven Chinese nationals to 20 years in prison Wednesday for forcing more than 90 Malawians, some as young as 14, to work in a Johannesburg sweatshop. ... more
CLIMATE SCIENCE
What to look for in China and Europe's climate plans
Paris Sept 19, 2025
Dozens of countries are expected to announce new climate targets before the UN COP30 summit in November, but none will be as closely scrutinised as the pledges made by China and the EU. ... more
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AFRICA NEWS
Chinese firms pay price of jihadist strikes against Mali junta
Abidjan (AFP) Sept 19, 2025
Jihadists allied to Al-Qaeda have launched a blitz of raids on Malian industrial sites run by foreign firms, especially Chinese, as a tactic to undermine the ruling junta. ... more
TRADE WARS
Markets mixed as traders take stock after Fed-fuelled rally
Hong Kong (AFP) Sept 22, 2025
Stock markets fluctuated Monday as investors took a step back after last week's rally fuelled by the Federal Reserve's interest rate cut. ... more
TRADE WARS
Tariff uncertainty delays World Cup orders for China's merch makers
Yiwu, China (AFP) Sept 19, 2025
Tariff fears are hurting World Cup merchandise orders at Shang Yabing's Chinese knitwear factory, where racks of scarves bear the logos of national teams from Ireland to Tanzania. ... more
TECH SPACE
EU business lobby head says China rare earths snag persists
Beijing (AFP) Sept 17, 2025
European firms still face challenges in securing access to crucial rare earths from China, a business lobby warned Wednesday, despite a July deal to speed up exports. ... more
AFRICA NEWS
Zambian farmers sue Chinese mining firms over toxic spill
Lusaka (AFP) Sept 17, 2025
Almost 200 people affected by a major toxic spill at a northern Zambian mine have filed an $80-billion lawsuit against the Chinese firm that owns the mine, according to legal documents seen by AFP Wednesday. ... more
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