Phuket Authorities Crack Down on Jet Ski Operators in Major Tourism Sweep

BEIJING: China has developed a new generation of hypersonic weapons that could potentially threaten high-value military aircraft thousands of kilometres away, according to a Bloomberg report, highlighting the rapidly changing nature of long-range warfare and the growing strategic competition between Beijing and Washington. The reported development involves hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs) capable of carrying air-to-air weapons. Such systems could potentially target aircraft that normally operate far behind the frontline, including aerial tankers, airborne command-and-control platforms and other support aircraft that provide fuel, communications and battlefield information to fighter jets. The report, citing a person with direct knowledge of the matter, said China has also added air-to-air capabilities to some hypersonic cruise missiles and anti-ship capabilities to several other missile systems. The reported changes reflect Beijing’s broader effort to make its large missile arsenal capable of carrying out a wider range of missions. A New Threat Beyond the Front Line The significance of the reported technology lies in the type of targets it could threaten. Modern air forces rely heavily on support aircraft. Tankers allow fighter jets to remain airborne for longer periods, while airborne early-warning and command aircraft help monitor enemy activity, coordinate operations and share information with aircraft and ground forces. If these platforms could be attacked from much greater distances, commanders could be forced to move them farther away from contested areas. That could reduce their effectiveness and complicate air operations. A hypersonic glide vehicle released from a DF-17 missile is reported to have a range of around 2,414 kilometres, a distance slightly shorter than the separation between mainland China and the US territory of Guam, a major American military hub in the western Pacific. China’s more advanced DF-27 is estimated to have a range of about 8,000 kilometres, potentially putting much of the western and central Pacific within reach. However, details about the system remain limited, and several of its reported capabilities are based on intelligence assessments rather than publicly released Chinese specifications. Why Hypersonic Weapons Are Difficult to Counter HGVs differ from conventional ballistic missile warheads because they can manoeuvre while travelling through the atmosphere. Their ability to alter their flight path can complicate efforts to predict where they will go and how they can be intercepted. China’s DF-17 has already been publicly displayed and is considered one of the world’s operational hypersonic glide weapon systems. Recent Chinese state media footage showed multiple DF-17 launch vehicles, suggesting the system has been deployed on a significant scale. But the reported ability to use such technology against distant aircraft also presents major operational challenges. A missile travelling thousands of kilometres would require highly accurate and continuously updated information about a moving target. Analysts note that the longer the flight, the greater the opportunity for an opponent to disrupt the intelligence and targeting chain. There is also a potential escalation risk. A ballistic missile launch could be difficult to identify immediately, creating uncertainty over whether the weapon is carrying a conventional or nuclear payload. Washington Responds With Longer-Range Weapons The development comes as the United States is also expanding its long-range air-to-air capabilities. The US Navy has begun testing the AIM-424 MALICE, a new long-range air-to-air missile reportedly designed to engage targets at distances exceeding 463 kilometres. Washington is also pursuing other extended-range weapons, including the AIM-260 and AIM-174B. The emerging competition reflects a broader shift in military planning. Future air battles may not be decided solely by which side has more fighter jets, but by which side can protect its own support aircraft while threatening those that keep an opponent’s air force operating. For China and the United States, that could make long-range missiles and hypersonic systems an increasingly important part of the military balance across the Indo-Pacific. Still, some details of China’s reported new capabilities remain classified or independently unverified. The claims therefore offer an indication of Beijing’s evolving military ambitions rather than a complete picture of its operational capabilities. Even so, the reported progress adds another layer to the increasingly sophisticated missile competition between the world’s two major military powers.

BUDAPEST: Hungary has taken the unprecedented step of shutting down its only nuclear power plant after severe drought pushed the Danube River to critically low levels, threatening the facility’s ability to safely cool its reactors and raising fears of an energy crisis during an intense summer heatwave. The closure of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant marks the first complete shutdown in the facility’s 44-year history. The plant, which typically supplies between one-third and 40 percent of Hungary’s electricity, has been forced offline as water levels in the Danube continue to fall amid one of Central Europe’s worst droughts in recent decades. Prime Minister Peter Magyar warned that the country now faces its “most critical five days,” with temperatures expected to climb to around 40 degrees Celsius just as electricity demand peaks. In a video message shared on social media, Magyar said the shutdown would place enormous pressure on Hungary’s electricity grid, public services and essential infrastructure. “Tomorrow, the Paks power plant will not be generating, while the hottest days are still ahead,” he said, urging citizens and businesses to reduce electricity consumption during evening peak hours between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. The 2-gigawatt facility operates four Russian-built reactors that rely on water from the Danube for cooling. With river levels dropping to record lows, authorities determined that continuing operations could compromise reactor safety. Officials have also warned that the plant could remain offline for several weeks if weather conditions fail to improve. The drought has affected more than just power generation. Falling water levels have disrupted river transport, slowed tourism and prompted water-use restrictions in over 100 cities and villages, including areas surrounding Budapest. To maintain electricity supplies, Hungary has begun importing emergency power from neighboring countries while considering additional measures to stabilize the grid. The government is also weighing mandatory electricity restrictions for large industrial consumers if conditions worsen. Officials estimate the crisis could cost the country between 100 billion and 200 billion forints (approximately $315 million to $630 million) because of soaring electricity import prices. Climate experts say the situation highlights the growing vulnerability of Europe’s energy infrastructure to extreme weather events linked to climate change. Nuclear power plants across the continent depend on rivers and lakes for cooling, making prolonged droughts an increasingly serious operational challenge. For now, authorities remain focused on conserving electricity and closely monitoring the Danube’s water levels. With scorching temperatures forecast to continue, Hungary faces a difficult balancing act between ensuring public safety, maintaining energy security and managing one of the country’s most severe climate-related emergencies in decades.