Beijing slams US over Taiwan warning
China has issued a formal protest against the United States over recent remarks by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing Washington of “vilifying” Beijing and promoting confrontation in the Indo-Pacific.
China has launched a planetary defense team to address the potential threat of asteroid 2024 YR4, which has a 2.2% chance of impact in 2032. Led by SASTIND, the initiative focuses on asteroid tracking and impact prevention, marking China's growing role in global space defense efforts.
China has announced the creation of a planetary defense team as concerns rise over the potential threat posed by asteroid 2024 YR4. The move comes after the European Space Agency (ESA) identified the asteroid as the highest risk near-Earth object, with a 2.2% chance of impact in 2032.
The initiative is being led by China’s State Administration of Science, Technology, and Industry for National Defense (SASTIND), which has begun recruiting researchers to specialize in asteroid tracking, early warning systems, and impact prevention strategies. The decision marks a significant step in China’s growing involvement in global planetary defense efforts.
Asteroid 2024 YR4, discovered in December 2024 by the University of Hawaii’s Institute of Astronomy, is estimated to be 40 to 90 meters (130 to 300 feet) wide. If it were to strike Earth, it could cause severe regional damage, prompting space agencies worldwide to closely monitor its trajectory.
While scientists emphasize that the probability of impact remains low, the asteroid’s presence has renewed discussions about the need for global cooperation in space defense.
China has been increasing its investments in space exploration and security, with missions to the Moon, Mars, and asteroid mining projects already underway. The formation of a planetary defense team follows international efforts such as NASA’s DART mission, which successfully altered an asteroid’s path in 2022.
As China strengthens its planetary defense capabilities, experts highlight the need for international collaboration in tracking and mitigating asteroid threats. The establishment of China’s defense team signals its intention to play a key role in protecting Earth from future cosmic hazards.
On May 28, the inauguration ceremony of Lachin International Airport was held.
A car drove into crowds of Liverpool fans celebrating the club’s Premier League title in the city centre on Monday evening, injuring dozens including 4 children. A 53-year-old man believed to be the driver was arrested at the scene.
Taxi drivers across France are protesting government plans to cut payments for driving patients to medical appointments. These cuts are part of a broader effort by Prime Minister François Bayrou to save €40 billion in the 2026 budget and reduce the country’s large deficit.
EU ministers have greenlit a massive €150 billion defense investment fund—dubbed the Security Action for Europe (SAFE)—as the bloc ramps up its military readiness in response to Russia’s aggression and growing uncertainty over U.S. security guarantees.
Brazil’s economy is expected to have regained momentum in the first quarter of 2025, driven by a surge in household spending and private investment, according to a Reuters poll of economists conducted from May 21–26.
China has issued a formal protest against the United States over recent remarks by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing Washington of “vilifying” Beijing and promoting confrontation in the Indo-Pacific.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 1st, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Türkiye’s first floating natural gas production platform, Osman Gazi, reached Filyos Port in Zonguldak on May 31.
Authorities in Whatcom County, Washington, issued a warning Friday after a truck carrying honey bee hives overturned near the Canadian border, initially prompting fears that millions of bees had been released.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will travel to Washington next week to meet U.S. President Donald Trump.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment