Latest news with #Song
The Star
3 hours ago
- General
- The Star
Rare close-ups signal China's J-35 stealth jets ready for Fujian carrier
Rare close-up images of two PLA Navy J-35 stealth fighters flying in close formation have surfaced online, giving the clearest view yet of China's next-generation carrier-based aircraft. A military observer said the markings and flight characteristics offered the strongest evidence yet that the J-35 had entered production and was approaching operational readiness for deployment aboard China's latest aircraft carrier. Unlike previously circulated ground-based photos, the latest images appear to be air-to-air studies in tight formation. Their clearly visible identification marks suggest the fifth-generation fighter jets have entered initial production, according to former People's Liberation Army instructor Song Zhongping. The images, which first began circulating on China's X-like Weibo at the weekend, show the jets bearing clear 'Chinese navy' markings on their fuselages and 'Flying Shark' insignia on their tails – the strongest visual indication yet of formal naval integration. These markings, along with the official serial numbers '0011' and '0012', suggested the fighters were part of a low-rate initial production run, Song said. 'The Flying Shark insignia confirms the J-35 has joined the navy's carrier aviation force,' he said. 'It indicates the aircraft may have been in active service and is building combat and logistical support capabilities.' Though the latest photos provide the clearest view, the J-35 itself is not an unfamiliar aircraft. Earlier prototypes have been spotted flying alongside J-15 carrier-based and J-20 stealth fighters, as well as early-warning aircraft, during rehearsals for a September 3 military parade in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Earlier this month, a programme by state broadcaster CCTV featuring the J-15T at its production facility clearly showed at least two 'green-primed' J-35 airframes in the background. The green primer layer is a coating used during the aircraft manufacturing process, before final painting and outfitting. The airframes were not blurred – in a departure from a technique frequently used by the PLA to prevent inadvertent exposure of advanced military technologies. Earlier state media reports have also implied that the J-35 is operating in tandem with the J-15T fighter in a high-low capability pairing, moving towards a balanced carrier-based combat system. The J-35 is expected to undergo extensive land-based training as well before being fully deployed aboard China's newest and most advanced carrier. There are widespread expectations that the J-35 will become the main fighter jet aboard the Fujian, China's first carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapults designed to launch heavier aircraft with higher payloads. The warship has undergone eight sea trials and is expected to enter service before the end of the year. Military observers commenting on the latest J-35 photos on social media noted that neither aircraft featured traditional nose-mounted airspeed probes or 'pitot tubes'. This typically indicated that the model had successfully completed its prototype and testing phases, and had entered formal production. However, Song said that was not always a definitive indicator. 'Modern airspeed systems no longer require traditional external pitot tubes [for testing]. Sensors can now be embedded internally, improving the fighter's stealth capabilities and aerodynamic efficiency.' He also downplayed online speculation about the significance of the two J-35s flying side by side, saying: 'Flying two aircraft – a lead and a wingman – is the most basic tactical formation. It's standard procedure.' The emergence of the high-definition images of fully painted operational J-35 models marks a significant step forward for the PLA's naval fighter programme. It places China alongside the United States as the only countries operating two distinct fifth-generation stealth fighters, with at least one variant capable of carrier-based operations. For China they are the J-20 land-based and J-35 carrier-capable jets, while the US has the land-based F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Lightning II multirole fighters including the carrier-capable F-35C. The carrier-based J-35 and the land-based J-35A for the PLA Air Force both stem from the earlier FC-31 demonstrator but have evolved into specialised platforms that significantly enhance China's military aviation capabilities. - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
Tatler Asia
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
‘Materialists' is Celine Song's tactful deconstruction of modern love
In the Materialists universe, Dating is less about connection than optimisation. It is self-improvement turned into a corporate strategy. Song doesn't condemn it outright; instead, she lays it bare, letting the implications speak for themselves. It makes the audience realise that maybe, the marriage plot of Jane Austen or Thomas Hardy—a handful of prized cows and a generous dowry—never totally left in the advent of sexual freedom. Instead, replaced with something sterile yet, in a way, indirect. The film's tension builds toward a disturbing turn, one that underscores Song's assertion that the objectification baked into modern dating doesn't come without consequences. Beneath the polished surface, Materialists reveals something rough and familiar: the pressure to become the most valuable version of oneself. 'You're not an asset—you're a person,' the film suggests. But in a world where value is quantified in income, height or charm, that idea is harder to internalise than it should be. Despite moments of wit and warmth, this is no feel-good romance. It's a film about performance and the personas we put on to survive dating in an age of metrics. Still, it avoids total cynicism. Johnson brings a steely charisma to Lucy, allowing vulnerability to surface, especially in her scenes with John. In those moments, all the spreadsheets and scorecards fall away. What's left is messy, unresolved and human.
Business Insider
9 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Why China's export machine keeps humming, despite the US's tariff squeeze
China's exports to the US have slumped due to heavy tariffs under President Donald Trump' s administration. But the manufacturing giant may not be feeling the pinch as much as expected. "Fortunately for Chinese exporters, external demand from other economies has helped offset much of the drag from the US," wrote Lynn Song, ING's chief economist for Greater China, in a Wednesday note. In May, China's shipments to the US plunged nearly 35% from a year ago following Trump's "Liberation Day" tariff announcements. But China's export machine still grew about 5% in the same month because its fast-growing trade started to flow elsewhere. Shipments fell 16% in June despite a trade truce between the two economic giants. Over the first half of the year, China's exports to the world grew 5.9% from a year earlier, defying expectations of a broad slowdown. Growth came from trade with Southeast Asia, the EU, Latin America, and India, according to a recent analysis from ING. ING isn't the only one seeing the trend. In a Monday note, analysts at Goldman Sachs wrote that China's exports have been "resilient," in part thanks to trade rerouting. The Goldman Sachs analysts wrote that part of China's export resilience stems from "the fluidity of goods trade and Chinese exporters' ability to reroute trade flows." For the first half of the year, China's exports to the US declined by $25.7 billion — but this was more than fully offset by increased exports to other countries, resulting in growth of 5.9% from a year ago, according to ING's analysis. High-tech goods are driving China's exports The shift is particularly striking in high-tech and capital-intensive sectors. Exports of semiconductors, lithium batteries, electric vehicles, and machine parts posted double-digit percentage point growth in the first half of the year and are increasingly going to non-US buyers. "Amid China's Great Transition, China's move up the value added ladder has resulted in many Chinese champions producing very competitive products, and even in the case of US tariffs or restrictions, these products will continue to do well in other economies," wrote Song. China's automobile exports grew by 8.1% year over year in the first half of the year. Last year, just 2.1% of China's total auto exports went to the US, while 14.6% went to the European Union. Due to high EU tariffs, auto exports to the trade bloc fell by just 5.2% in the first half of the year, with declines led by Belgium and Germany. However, auto exports to Italy and Spain accelerated. This diversification is helping to offset steep declines in traditional, low-end categories like toys, furniture, and footwear, which have been hit hard by tariffs and are more easily replaced by alternative suppliers, Song added. Analysts expect China's growth to moderate in the second half of the year, particularly as the effects of front-loading to transshipment countries fade. However, exports will still be a key growth contributor, potentially helping the country reach its growth target of around 5% this year. "So long as global growth is steady and end-demand is healthy, Chinese exports are likely to continue to rise given their extreme competitiveness and the difficulties for bilateral tariffs to reduce overall trade flows," wrote Goldman Sachs's analysts.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Divya Deshmukh defeats Harika Dronavalli in all-Indian clash to make her way to FIDE Women's World Cup semifinals
Divya Deshmukh on Monday knocked out her compatriot GM Harika Dronavalli 2-0 in the Rapid tiebreaks of the quarterfinals and moved to the semifinals of FIDE Women's World Cup. The 19-year-old will be up against China GM Tan Zhongyi in the last 4. On Sunday, the match between two had ended in a draw which necessitated the tie-break games where Divya came up trumps on Monday. Much like Saturday's 31-move encounter, both players avoided significant risks on Sunday, though their 60-move duel lasted nearly twice as long before ending in an agreed draw, clearly conserving energy for the decisive tiebreaks. On Sunday, Koneru Humpy played out a fine counterattacking game to hold International Master Yuxin Song of China and march into the semifinals. Having won the first game with white pieces, Humpy was only a draw away from reaching the last four stage, and she achieved it after a keenly contested second game against the Chinese. With fourth place assured, Humpy will get two chances to reach the top three which will also guarantee her a place at next Women's Candidates' tournament for which the top three from here qualify. Grandmaster R Vaishali ran out of luck as she lost from slightly better prospects against former world women's champion Zhongyi Tan of China. Vaishali who had drawn the first game lost by the same score as Song. Apart from Tan, top seed Tingjie Lei of China also made it to the semifinals at the expense of Nana Dzagnidze of Georgia. Yuxin Song had to win to stay in the hunt against Humpy and her preferred choice was the Jobava's London, an opening that is fancied these days by many strong Grandmasters. Humpy equalised without much ado but then sacrificed two pawns in tandem to give white some hopes. However, Song's pawn structure was really broken with three pawns standing on a sole file and Humpy found her counter play in the centre. Recovering the pawns Humpy was happy to lead the game to a level rook and pawns endgame. Song tried in vain for 53 moves before splitting the point. (With agency inputs)
Time of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
FIDE Women's World Cup: Koneru Humpy on song, enters semifinals
Koneru Humpy (FIDE | X) Nagpur: Experienced Grandmaster and world No. 5 Koneru Humpy made China's 19-year-old Yuxin Song dance to her tunes to enter the semifinals of the FIDE Women's Chess World Cup in Batumi, Georgia, on Sunday. Humpy split the point with young Song in 53 moves in the second game to clinch the quarterfinal contest 1.5-0.5 and set her semifinal date with an experienced Chinese GM and top seed, Lei Tingjie. The world No.3, Tingjie, ended the campaign of Georgia's Nana Dzagnidze with a 2-0 triumph. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Tingjie utilised her opening advantage with the white pieces to register a hard-fought 72-move victory and entered the semifinal in style by winning both her games in the classical format. The battle between Divya Deshmukh and D Harika, ended in an entertaining 60-move draw. The quarterfinal will now be decided in the tiebreaks to be played in the rapid and blitz formats with different time controls. Another India-China clash saw a marathon game where China's world No.8 Tan Zhongyi ended Vaishali Rameshbabu's campaign. In a marathon 88-move Semi-Slav defense, Vaishali failed to defend with her black pieces, losing the second game and bowing out of the quarterfinals 0.5-1.5. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 most beautiful women in the world Undo The contest between an experienced Indian GM and China's young International Master (IM) saw a Queen's Pawn Opening game of Chigorin Variation, with Humpy defending an unusual position where Song lined up her pawns by the 19th move. Aiming to come out of that unusual position, Humpy brought her rook into the field and made a dubious move on the 32nd turn. The position protecting Song's citadel remained the same until the 35th turn when Humpy checked her Chinese opponent, and both exchanged their queens. Humpy then utilised the services of her attacking pawn while bringing her rook into a better position. With Humpy all set to become two pawns up, both players repeated their moves, and the game ended in a draw. Humpy said, 'It feels happy to qualify for the semifinal without playing tiebreaks. I could have played better, but in time trouble, I slipped. I will utilise the rest day in preparing as my semifinal is going to be very tough. Being a top seed, she is one of the strongest opponents.' In the battle of compatriots, defending with her black pieces against an experienced Harika was always a tough task for Divya. The 19-year-old came under severe time trouble, and despite an advancing pawn in an equal position with both having a rook and three pawns at the 42nd turn, Divya had to take more time to bail herself out. She did that by bringing her king to the centre, and both were left with a rook and two pawns in the endgame. Though Divya became a pawn up on the 52nd turn, she was severely low on time, and Harika had placed her king in a better position. Within the next eight moves, both Divya and Harika signed the peace treaty to head into the tiebreaks for a place in the semifinals. India No. 3 and 15th ranked Vaishali suffered a heartbreaking defeat against China No. 4, Tan. For the second successive day, Vaishali and Tan played out a lengthy game and were the last to finish their contest. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
