TOPIC

Drones

Drones
The latest news, analysis and opinion on drones, especially Chinese drone makers and drone usage.
Footage released by the SBU allegedly shows an explosion at the bridge connecting Crimea with Russia on Tuesday. Photo: Ukrainian Security Service via AFP
Ukraine war

Ukraine says it attacked Crimean Bridge, as Russia halts traffic

Kyiv’s agents detonated mines on underwater supports, targeting a key transport link between the annexed peninsula and the Russian mainland.

Ukraine war

Russia contends with drone damage to strategic arsenal as Ukraine’s reach grows

Hong Kong society

Editorial | Drone use by police in Hong Kong welcome as long as safeguards in place

Ukraine war

Ukraine strikes Russian airbases in long-range drone assault on eve of talks

Ukraine said it damaged US$7 billion worth of Russian aircraft parked at four airbases in ‘operation Spider’s Web’.

11
In this image taken from video released June 1, 2025, by a source in the Ukrainian Security Service shows a Ukrainian drone striking Russian planes deep in Russia’s territory. Photo: SBU via AP
Artificial intelligence

China’s smart cities are streets ahead, but same challenges apply the world over

Data handling concerns and a lack of community engagement are addressed in different ways, with Beijing district a model, analysts said.

videocam
Middle East

Israel hits Houthi targets including last plane at Yemen’s Sanaa airport

The airport, Yemen’s largest, was mainly being used by UN aircraft and the plane destroyed in the latest Israeli strikes.

videocam
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Science

China’s next-gen turbine blade promises supercharged jet power

Thermotolerant jet engine blade is designed for more thrust and fuel efficiency, strengthening China’s aviation self-reliance.

videocam
5
The WS-10 Taihang engine, which is used by Chinese fighter jets, is displayed at the Zhuhai air show in 2018. A patent for advanced turbine blade manufacturing was issued in late April. Photo: SCMP / Dickson Lee
Ukraine war

Trump says Putin ‘playing with fire’ as he weighs sanctions over Ukraine war

The US president says ‘really bad things’ would already have happened to Russia if not for him, as he shows frustration with stalled talks.

videocam
11
Ukraine war

Russia planning new Ukraine offensive after record drone strikes, Zelensky says

Russia fired 355 drones including decoys between Sunday night and early Monday, in the largest drone attack of the invasion.

Ukraine war

Russia, Ukraine complete prisoner swap after Moscow launches aerial assault

Russia’s Defence Ministry said each side exchanged 303 soldiers. Hours earlier, at least 12 people were killed in Russian attacks on Ukraine.

Ukrainian prisoner of war Viktor embraces his daughter Milana and wife Iryna as he returns after a prisoner swap in an undisclosed location in Ukraine on Sunday. Photo: Reuters
Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese hydrogen-powered drone maker HiTS eyes Hong Kong as new hub

Company also aiming for a Hong Kong listing in one to two years, chief financial officer says.

A HiTS drone powered by a hydrogen fuel cell cleans dust off roof-top solar panels. Photo: Handout
China technology

Chinese drone maker EHang sees regular flying taxi services by 2030

EHang, which is conducting trials in Guangzhou and Hefei, will offer services in restricted corridors in these two cities by year-end.

videocam
Crime in Hong Kong

Drones set to take to Hong Kong skies to fight crime from Friday

Superintendent says drones will fly 60 metres above buildings to monitor potential criminal activities.

25
US-China relations

US military faces ‘readiness crisis’ to modernise as China advances: Pentagon

Top brass eye speeding up integration of manned and unstaffed systems to overcome shortfalls in shipbuilding, other areas.

videocam
56
US President Donald Trump stands in front of an MQ-9 Reaper drone before addressing military personnel at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on Thursday. Photo: AP
India

Opinion | Rapid escalation of India-Pakistan clashes a warning of new tech dangers

Drones, long-range missiles and related technologies spare soldiers from live combat but also allow conflicts to be escalated in almost no time.

videocam
People inspect a market damaged in cross-border shelling before the India-Pakistan ceasefire came into effect, in Jura village, Neelum Valley, in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, on May 12. Photo: EPA-EFE
China's military weapons

7,000km range, 6 tonnes ammunition: the Chinese UAV dubbed ‘high sky’

Super-high altitude UAV with 7,000km range and ability to release up to 100 units of small drones will take off on first mission by June-end.

videocam
15
China’s Communist Party

China uses carrots and sticks to boost military ranks and discourage dodgers

A 20-year-old who sought to escape armed police force after signing up is hit with suite of punishments and restrictions.

videocam
4
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Science

Chinese student Xu Yang breaks ‘impossible’ microdrone world speed record

With help from other drone speedsters, Xu comes up with his own 3D-printed propellers for his superfast small quadcopter.

videocam
Xu Yang’s Prowess microdrone weighed less than 250 grams and reached a speed of 340.78km/h on March 23 in Huizhou, Guangdong province. Photo: Handout
Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese carmakers race to develop flying cars after rivalry in EV market

The government forecasts the low-altitude mobility economy will increase more than fivefold to US$486 billion by 2035 from last year.

videocam
Germany

3 Germans go on trial over hi-tech spying for China

Prosecutors say they collected information on boat engines, sonar, propulsion systems for armoured vehicles and military-grade drones.

Ukraine war

Putin’s 3-day ceasefire begins as Ukraine reports violations

Temporary truce coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the World War II defeat of Nazi Germany.

A Russian serviceman patrols with an anti-drone gun on Wednesday ahead of the general rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade in Moscow. Photo: AFP
Hong Kong economy

Opinion | Drones can take the Hong Kong hiking experience to new heights

Drones – for delivery, as guides and even passenger shuttles – can make hiking safer and more engaging and environmentally friendly.

videocam
9
A couple take a photo while hiking the Dragon’s Back trail in Shek O on February 13, 2021. Photo: Dickson Lee
Ukraine war

Putin says West tried to provoke him into using nuclear weapons

The Russian president and his leadership have repeatedly threatened to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine and its allies.

China's military weapons

Sixth-gen fighter could block airspace 1,000km from China’s shore, article says

In a Taiwan conflict, J-36 could counter advantages of American B-21 stealth bomber, says magazine affiliated with state shipbuilder.

videocam
42
Ukraine war

A world first? Ukraine says it destroys enemy fighter jet with sea drone

A Russian military blogger said the plane was shot down and said the pilots ejected and were picked up – ‘both are alive, and to hell with the plane’.

videocam
A Russian Su-27 aircraft dumps fuel over the Black Sea in 2023. Ukraine said on Saturday that it has shot down such an aircraft using a maritime drone. Photo: Handout via Reuters
Israel-Gaza war

Activists say Israeli drones hit aid boat heading for Gaza

Vessel came under ‘direct attack in international waters’ off Malta overnight, group says.

A tug vessel puts out a fire on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla vessel Conscience. Photo: Government of Malta via Reuters
China's military weapons

China’s military expands use of low-cost AI-powered drones in ‘phased leap’

Multiple state media reports have highlighted the PLA’s modern warfare technology, from micro drones to those guided by fibre-optic cables.

videocam
Ukraine war

Russia launches drone attack on Ukraine; Trump officials push peace deal

Attacks came hours after Russia claimed to have regained control over remaining parts of the Kursk region that Ukraine had seized in August.

videocam
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement