https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/507544/feed Democratic politician Joe Biden became the 46th president of the United States of America on January 20, 2021, beating out then-president Donald Trump. He attempted to fend off a Trump challenge in the 2024 election, but stepped down after a disastrous debate performance that left many questioning his mental acuity. He was succeeded in the fight by his VP, Kamala Harris, who lost to Trump. Biden had previously served as the 47th vice-president of the United States under Barack Obama from 2009 to... en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk Paper straws, widely promoted as an eco-friendly alternative to plastic, may actually have a greater environmental impact than conventional plastic straws, according to a South Korean government-commissioned study that has renewed debate over whether switching materials truly reduces waste. The Comprehensive Study on Single-Use Straws, commissioned by South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, was disclosed on Wednesday by opposition People Power Party lawmaker Kim Wi-sang, The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3371936/paper-straws-worse-environment-plastic-south-korea-study-finds https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3371936/paper-straws-worse-environment-plastic-south-korea-study-finds Fri, 23 Oct 2026 09:49:10 +0000 Reuters Reuters Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil on Monday asked the US Supreme Court to overturn a ruling that opened the door for US President Donald Trump’s administration to rearrest and deport the Palestinian activist. Khalil’s lawyers asked the justices to take up his case after the Philadelphia-based 3rd US Circuit ‌Court of Appeals ruled that federal immigration law barred a lower-court judge from ordering his release from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. Khalil was among... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3371429/palestinian-activist-mahmoud-khalil-asks-us-supreme-court-review-deportation-case https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3371429/palestinian-activist-mahmoud-khalil-asks-us-supreme-court-review-deportation-case Mon, 19 Oct 2026 20:52:34 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The US Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal by accused September 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two alleged accomplices that sought to revive plea deals which were later revoked. Mohammed and two others charged with involvement in the 2001 September 11 attacks – Walid bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi – struck pre-trial agreements to avoid the death penalty in 2024, during the administration of president Joe Biden. After criticism by some victims’ families, Biden’s defence... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3371419/us-supreme-court-denies-bid-accused-9/11-mastermind-revive-plea-deal https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3371419/us-supreme-court-denies-bid-accused-9/11-mastermind-revive-plea-deal Mon, 19 Oct 2026 16:48:40 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou Middle powers should become “indispensable” chokepoints to safeguard strategic autonomy and survive the power rivalry between the US and China, former leaders and top diplomats said at a forum in India on Wednesday. The assessment comes as smaller and middle-tier countries seek to protect themselves from mounting geopolitical uncertainties arising from the tariff war launched by US President Donald Trump. The trade conflict has hit America’s allies and foes alike and grown complicated amid... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370902/us-china-rivalry-middle-powers-urged-be-indispensable-chokepoints https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370902/us-china-rivalry-middle-powers-urged-be-indispensable-chokepoints Wed, 14 Oct 2026 13:00:13 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham In September, the Jaecoo 7 – a budget SUV from China’s Chery Automobile – made headlines when it shifted more than 10,000 units to become Britain’s bestselling car. Christened the “Temu Range Rover” online, a nod to the cheap goods available on the Chinese online marketplace and the luxury 4X4 made by Jaguar Land Rover that it resembles, its success showed British drivers’ new-found taste for cut-price Chinese cars. Overall, 23 per cent of new cars bought in Britain last month were Chinese... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370482/eus-china-dilemma-how-counter-beijing-without-alienating-friends https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370482/eus-china-dilemma-how-counter-beijing-without-alienating-friends Sun, 11 Oct 2026 11:00:14 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan Five days after Chinese President Xi Jinping left Washington, the US State Department marked the 77th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China with a greeting short enough to fit on a calling card. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s congratulatory statement landed on Wednesday, a few hours before dawn on National Day in Beijing. It made no mention of Xi’s visit, the trade understandings reached during the trip or the meetings the two leaders have scheduled for later this year. Washington... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369459/days-after-xi-trump-summit-us-marks-chinas-national-day-pared-down-note https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369459/days-after-xi-trump-summit-us-marks-chinas-national-day-pared-down-note Thu, 01 Oct 2026 10:02:13 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan A decades-long effort by Beijing and Washington to recover the remains of US servicemen missing in China since World War II has resurfaced in the wake of the summit between the nations’ leaders. The commitment was included in an eight-point list of outcomes from Chinese President Xi Jinping’s three-day state visit last week, alongside other agreements covering issues including artificial intelligence and trade. According to a statement issued by China’s foreign ministry after the summit, the two... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369361/why-did-trump-and-xi-seal-deal-world-war-ii-soldiers-missing-remains https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369361/why-did-trump-and-xi-seal-deal-world-war-ii-soldiers-missing-remains Wed, 30 Sep 2026 15:00:06 +0000 Reuters Reuters US forces are set ⁠to pull out from their last bases in Iraq by Wednesday, a departure celebrated as a victory by Iran and its allies who now have deep influence in the country where 4,500 Americans died during more than two decades of war. Iraqi security experts say the withdrawal – agreed in 2024 under President Joe Biden and carried out by Donald Trump’s administration even as it wages war against Iran – could give Tehran and its powerful allies free rein, while also allowing other US enemies... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3369168/us-forces-set-complete-withdrawal-iraq-after-2-decades https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3369168/us-forces-set-complete-withdrawal-iraq-after-2-decades Tue, 29 Sep 2026 07:03:10 +0000 Reuters Reuters A US judge blocked the Trump administration on Monday from conditioning counterterrorism funds to state and local ‌governments on changes to election administration. The decision by Washington-based US District Judge Amir Ali marks the latest defeat for US President Donald Trump in his bid to increase the federal government’s authority over elections ahead of the November 3 midterms, when his Republicans are fighting to retain majorities in both houses of Congress. Earlier this year, the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3369120/judge-blocks-trump-tying-anti-terrorism-grants-election-changes https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3369120/judge-blocks-trump-tying-anti-terrorism-grants-election-changes Mon, 28 Sep 2026 23:20:38 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press US President Donald Trump on Monday announced a new US$15 billion steel plant being built in Iowa, highlighting an economic victory in a key battleground state where Republicans face competitive midterm races. Trump announced the new plant at an Oval Office event alongside steel executives and Iowa Republicans, including two running for office. The event highlighted Iowa’s elevated status for Republicans and for Trump, who on Monday pledged to campaign there in coming weeks. “We’re going to do a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3369110/trump-announcing-new-iowa-steel-plant-white-house-says-will-be-biggest-us https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3369110/trump-announcing-new-iowa-steel-plant-white-house-says-will-be-biggest-us Mon, 28 Sep 2026 18:02:58 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan Chinese President Xi Jinping broke into rare laughter as his US counterpart Donald Trump showed him a framed “autopen” displayed in place of the former American leader Joe Biden’s portrait during a White House tour. The viral moment stood out against the Chinese leader’s otherwise restrained demeanour during his first state visit to the United States in more than a decade. A video released by the White House on social media showed Trump taking Xi along the White House colonnade on Thursday... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368744/chinas-xi-shares-rare-laugh-white-house-tour-trumps-biden-autopen-joke https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368744/chinas-xi-shares-rare-laugh-white-house-tour-trumps-biden-autopen-joke Fri, 25 Sep 2026 03:13:32 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin Arm touches, laughs, and firm handshakes were on display as Chinese President Xi Jinping and his American counterpart Donald Trump began their high-stakes summit in Washington, which has so far featured a rare airport welcome, military pageantry and closed-door bilateral talks. While the outcomes of the pair’s discussions are being closely watched, so are the exchanges between the leaders of the world’s two largest economies. A body language expert who reviewed the interactions said Trump’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3368725/pat-back-xi-and-trumps-body-language-speaks-volumes https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3368725/pat-back-xi-and-trumps-body-language-speaks-volumes Thu, 24 Sep 2026 22:47:50 +0000 Han Li Han Li Melania Trump and China’s first lady Peng Liyuan toured Chinese artworks and a room shaped by Asian design at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art in Washington on Thursday, as their husbands held talks at the White House. The museum’s director, Chase Robinson, said the two women spent about 45 minutes there and were “full of questions”. Much of the visit centred on the Peacock Room, whose displays of Chinese porcelain made it a fitting setting for the occasion, he said. “What better... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368724/inside-melania-trump-and-peng-liyuans-visit-smithsonians-peacock-room https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368724/inside-melania-trump-and-peng-liyuans-visit-smithsonians-peacock-room Thu, 24 Sep 2026 22:46:33 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the US is his first to the country since 2023 and his eighth face-to-face meeting with Donald Trump. From informal walk-and-talks to a state dinner, Xi’s meetings across four American administrations show how personal rapport and official diplomacy reflect the growing complexity of US-China relations. Xi’s first US visit as president: a shirtsleeves summit In June 2013, just months after assuming the presidency, Xi travelled to the United States following... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368664/summits-all-diplomatic-seasons-how-us-has-set-stage-xi-jinping https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368664/summits-all-diplomatic-seasons-how-us-has-set-stage-xi-jinping Thu, 24 Sep 2026 09:52:15 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen US President Donald Trump has made no secret of how little he agrees with his predecessor, Joe Biden, on many things. So, as Chinese President Xi Jinping is about to arrive in Washington on Wednesday, local time, there is one object that may offer a small moment of entertaining comparison between the two American leaders: Xi’s car. Xi is expected to bring his own ride – a custom-built Hongqi N701, the Chinese state limousine that has accompanied him on overseas trips since 2022. In a brief... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368511/xi-trump-summit-chinas-state-car-has-already-proved-match-us-beast https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368511/xi-trump-summit-chinas-state-car-has-already-proved-match-us-beast Wed, 23 Sep 2026 13:00:10 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan Hours before President Xi Jinping’s aircraft lands at Joint Base Andrews, Washington is preparing for a scene that seemed unthinkable in recent years: his American counterpart waiting on the tarmac for the leader of a country that much of the US national security establishment regards as its foremost strategic adversary. While the Donald Trump administration is betting on warmth, deals and stability with Beijing, recent public surveys show that American anxiety over China has eased from its 2024... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368501/china-hawks-grumble-over-trumps-lavish-welcome-planned-xi-state-visit https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368501/china-hawks-grumble-over-trumps-lavish-welcome-planned-xi-state-visit Wed, 23 Sep 2026 11:00:08 +0000 Nayan Seth,Dewey Sim,William Zheng,Khushboo Razdan Nayan Seth,Dewey Sim,William Zheng,Khushboo Razdan China and the United States are discussing possible announcements to strengthen military-to-military ties during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington next week, multiple sources familiar with the discussions told the South China Morning Post. Another item that is being discussed, and a possible deliverable, is restarting the arms-control talks that were suspended in 2024 over US weapons sales to Taiwan, with the dialogue potentially including military personnel. In a phone... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367849/china-us-may-unveil-measures-boost-military-ties-when-xi-visits-washington https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367849/china-us-may-unveil-measures-boost-military-ties-when-xi-visits-washington Thu, 17 Sep 2026 14:00:10 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang US President Donald Trump has urged Beijing to take “more aggressive action” to curb the export of drug precursor chemicals, noting to the US Congress that he had raised the issue “directly” with his Chinese counterpart. Trump’s call comes just days ahead of a planned summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and just a week after security agencies from the two countries praised progress in cooperation on counternarcotics law enforcement. The call was noted in an annual list sent to the US... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367840/donald-trump-presses-xi-jinping-fentanyl-precursors-ahead-washington-summit https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367840/donald-trump-presses-xi-jinping-fentanyl-precursors-ahead-washington-summit Thu, 17 Sep 2026 08:02:28 +0000 Nayan Seth Nayan Seth When Chinese President Xi Jinping met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi last week on the sidelines of the Brics summit, another country loomed large in the background, even in its absence: the United States. After the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to maintain peace at the disputed border and strengthen economic ties. Beijing’s readout, however, offered a pointed reminder of the US factor in India-China ties. The official Chinese statement claimed that Modi... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367644/will-transactional-america-assist-india-future-border-crisis-china https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367644/will-transactional-america-assist-india-future-border-crisis-china Tue, 15 Sep 2026 21:34:26 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven of the most interesting and important news stories covering US-China relations from the past few weeks. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Another Chinese national dies in US immigration custody, raising profiling fears The Chinese-American community expressed anger and concern on September 3 over the death of a Chinese national in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody on US territory. Read the full story here. 2. US... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367373/ice-death-strikes-china-proposed-over-ai-huawei-trial-7-us-china-relations-reads https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367373/ice-death-strikes-china-proposed-over-ai-huawei-trial-7-us-china-relations-reads Tue, 15 Sep 2026 14:00:07 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who is widely considered a contender for the 2028 presidential election, will not enter the race if former US vice-president Kamala Harris runs again, he told CNN in a clip shared on Monday. Newsom made the comment in an interview with CNN anchor Jake Tapper, during which the two men are standing knee-deep in a body of water while fishing. “I wouldn’t run if she ran,” Newsom said. He explained that both campaigning would split Democratic votes, which... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3367560/newsom-wont-run-us-president-2028-if-harris-does https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3367560/newsom-wont-run-us-president-2028-if-harris-does Tue, 15 Sep 2026 07:08:34 +0000 SCMP SCMP This article was first published on September 12, 2001. America’s nightmare by Greg Torode in Washington President George W. Bush this morning (September 12, 2001) told the United States that thousands had lost their lives after two hijacked airliners destroyed New York’s World Trade Centre and another smashed into the Pentagon in the most brutal terrorist attacks in the nation’s history. Mr Bush, in a televised address to the nation, condemned the “despicable” attacks, saying: “These acts... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3367002/25-years-ago-america-faces-darkest-hour-9/11-terror-attacks-unfold-scmp-archive https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3367002/25-years-ago-america-faces-darkest-hour-9/11-terror-attacks-unfold-scmp-archive Fri, 11 Sep 2026 02:30:06 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies went on trial on Tuesday in Brooklyn, New York, on criminal charges after eight years of legal wrangling with the US government. The Shenzhen-based company has pleaded not guilty to all 14 counts, including bank fraud, wire fraud, trade secret theft, and racketeering, with the alleged criminal activity dating back to 1999. Jury selection began on Tuesday, local time, with US District Judge Ann M. Donnelly of the Eastern District of New York instructing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366831/huawei-goes-trial-us-racketeering-after-nearly-decade-litigation https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366831/huawei-goes-trial-us-racketeering-after-nearly-decade-litigation Tue, 08 Sep 2026 18:57:10 +0000 Chong Ming Lee Chong Ming Lee Chinese technology companies seeking public listings are increasingly concentrated in areas where Beijing is trying to break its reliance on foreign technology, as years of US export controls reshape the country’s pipeline of stock market hopefuls. About 20 per cent of companies that have launched initial public offerings on Shanghai’s Star Market so far this year are engaged in tackling key technological “chokepoints” facing China, compared with just 8.1 per cent in 2022, according to a Morgan... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3366164/us-export-curbs-have-reshaped-chinas-tech-scene-around-chokepoints-report https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3366164/us-export-curbs-have-reshaped-chinas-tech-scene-around-chokepoints-report Thu, 03 Sep 2026 01:29:43 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse US President Donald Trump on Sunday threatened a prominent NBC broadcast journalist with possible punishment by US media regulators as the Republican expressed disappointment with coverage of his candidate endorsements ahead of November’s midterm elections. Trump took to his Truth Social platform to attack Kristen Welker as the “unpopular ‘hostess’ of the once great Meet the Press” talk show. He objected to her having said the president had had “mixed results” on his endorsement of political... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3365780/trump-calls-punishment-nbc-reporter-us-media-regulators https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3365780/trump-calls-punishment-nbc-reporter-us-media-regulators Sun, 30 Aug 2026 19:37:37 +0000 Reuters Reuters A US federal judge on Thursday blocked the US Postal Service from implementing core parts of a new rule it adopted at President Donald Trump’s direction that would tighten mail-in voting requirements ahead of the November congressional elections. US District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston issued a temporary restraining order ‌at the behest of Democratic-led states and voting rights groups after the US Supreme Court on Monday issued a ruling that led to the lifting of earlier injunctions blocking... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3365520/us-judge-blocks-rule-implementing-trump-plan-curb-mail-ballots https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3365520/us-judge-blocks-rule-implementing-trump-plan-curb-mail-ballots Fri, 28 Aug 2026 02:51:40 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The US Supreme Court gave President Donald Trump a temporary victory on Monday, lifting a lower court block on his executive order curbing the use of mail-in ballots. The Republican president signed an order in March seeking to restrict mail-in voting ahead of the November midterm elections but it was immediately met with multiple legal challenges. Democratic-led states sued the administration on grounds that under the US Constitution, states – and not the federal government – retain broad... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3365116/us-supreme-court-clears-way-trump-mail-voting-order-advance-midterms https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3365116/us-supreme-court-clears-way-trump-mail-voting-order-advance-midterms Mon, 24 Aug 2026 21:30:47 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Britain’s BBC asked a US court for help in getting documents and testimony from members of US President Donald Trump’s family in connection with his US$10-billion defamation lawsuit against the British broadcaster, a court document showed. Lawyers for the BBC argued that Ivanka Trump, her husband Jared Kushner and Donald Trump Jnr have “personal knowledge” and are likely to have records relevant to elements of Trump’s claims against the broadcaster, according to a filing on Friday in federal... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3364214/bbc-asks-us-court-help-testimony-trump-family-defamation-suit https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3364214/bbc-asks-us-court-help-testimony-trump-family-defamation-suit Sun, 16 Aug 2026 16:45:18 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press US President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer, Todd Blanche, was sworn in on Monday as attorney general after a bruising confirmation fight that exposed bipartisan concerns about the Justice Department’s direction under the Republican president. Another former Trump lawyer – Emil Bove, now a federal appeal court judge – administered the oath of office to Blanche at the White House following early Saturday’s Senate confirmation vote by the narrowest of margins. Soon after, the newly sworn-in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3363582/todd-blanche-sworn-attorney-general-after-bruising-confirmation-fight https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3363582/todd-blanche-sworn-attorney-general-after-bruising-confirmation-fight Mon, 10 Aug 2026 21:18:42 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Former US president Joe Biden’s prostate cancer has spread to other parts of his body and is causing him pain, even as he continues to speak out on public issues, his son Hunter said in an interview. In a wide-ranging interview with the BBC broadcast late on Friday, Hunter Biden grew emotional as he discussed his father’s condition, describing it as very sad to watch. “The cancer has spread, metastasised into his bones and further,” he said. “It’s very painful and it’s very debilitating in many... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3363417/joe-bidens-prostate-cancer-spreading-and-causing-him-pain-son-hunter-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3363417/joe-bidens-prostate-cancer-spreading-and-causing-him-pain-son-hunter-says Sat, 08 Aug 2026 22:04:13 +0000 Reuters Reuters A US Senate committee voted on Thursday to ⁠hold Dr. Anthony Fauci ⁠in contempt of Congress after the former ⁠top US infectious disease official refused to answer questions about his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved a referral pushed by its Republican Chair Rand Paul of Kentucky, a long-time Fauci antagonist, on a party-line vote of 8-7. The vote followed a hearing ‌last week where Fauci, who is 85 and retired in 2022, invoked... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3363210/us-senate-panel-votes-hold-fauci-contempt-congress https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3363210/us-senate-panel-votes-hold-fauci-contempt-congress Thu, 06 Aug 2026 13:43:50 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Pacific Steel Group is building California’s first new steel mill in 50 years to satisfy a backlog of orders in a hungry construction industry that has relied on imports and out-of-state shipments. The 400-employee mill in the desert town of Mojave about 547km (340 miles) southeast of San Francisco is just one beam in a nationwide trend. US steel production has risen about 7 per cent year to date compared with the same period of 2025, according to a BNP Paribas calculation in late July. Crude... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3362934/us-steel-production-rises-trump-tariffs-erode-reliance-imports https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3362934/us-steel-production-rises-trump-tariffs-erode-reliance-imports Tue, 04 Aug 2026 13:30:05 +0000 Dulue Mbachu Dulue Mbachu On the South Atlantic coastline, Angola stands out as rare ground on which the United States has been willing to vie with China for influence in Africa. It was the only country on the continent visited by former US president Joe Biden, albeit in the twilight of his term in December 2024. During the trip – the first by a sitting US president – Biden made the case for investment in the strategic Lobito Atlantic Railway. The administration of Biden’s successor, Donald Trump, also threw its weight... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3361675/how-chinas-us900-million-port-deal-angola-shows-its-dominance-over-us-interests https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3361675/how-chinas-us900-million-port-deal-angola-shows-its-dominance-over-us-interests Tue, 04 Aug 2026 07:09:31 +0000 Reuters Reuters The US State Department has notified Congress that it plans to close five foreign missions in a rare downsizing of America’s global diplomatic footprint, according to people familiar with the notice. In the notice sent to some congressional committees late last week, the State Department said it ‌planned to close its posts in St George’s, Grenada; Nagoya, Japan; Medan, Indonesia; Douala, Cameroon; and Winnipeg, Canada. The people familiar with the notice spoke on condition of anonymity because... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3362853/us-state-department-close-consulates-canada-japan-and-indonesia-sources-say https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3362853/us-state-department-close-consulates-canada-japan-and-indonesia-sources-say Mon, 03 Aug 2026 23:21:50 +0000 Reuters Reuters Jay ⁠Clayton was sworn in on Monday as ⁠the US director of national intelligence after a contentious Senate confirmation hearing in which he refused to directly acknowledge that President Donald Trump lost the 2020 presidential election. He takes on ‌a role that was vacated in June when Tulsi Gabbard stepped down after a tenure marked by clashes with congressional Democrats, who accused her of advancing Trump’s political agenda and promoting debunked election claims. “The safety and security of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3362842/jay-clayton-sworn-us-spy-chief-after-contentious-senate-confirmation-hearing https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3362842/jay-clayton-sworn-us-spy-chief-after-contentious-senate-confirmation-hearing Mon, 03 Aug 2026 17:13:59 +0000 Han Li Han Li Anthony Fauci repeatedly invoked his constitutional right against self-incrimination at a contentious US Senate hearing on Wednesday, refusing to answer questions about American funding for coronavirus research in China and allegations that he misled Congress about the origins of Covid-19. The extraordinary appearance reopened one of Washington’s most politically divisive disputes: whether the pandemic began through natural transmission from animals or a laboratory-related incident in Wuhan, and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3362306/fauci-refuses-answer-questions-heated-senate-hearing-covid-19-origins https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3362306/fauci-refuses-answer-questions-heated-senate-hearing-covid-19-origins Wed, 29 Jul 2026 15:08:40 +0000 Nayan Seth,Han Li Nayan Seth,Han Li A senior Pentagon official on Tuesday said US-China military communication was “stronger than it has been in years”, marking a rare bright spot in the broader strategic rivalry between the world’s two most powerful countries. “Under the leadership of Secretary [Pete] Hegseth, we are actively repairing a once broken military-to-military channel and making clear, steady progress,” said Alvaro Smith, deputy assistant defence secretary for China, Taiwan and Mongolia. He made the remarks during a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3362210/pentagon-official-hails-stronger-military-ties-pla-anniversary-event https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3362210/pentagon-official-hails-stronger-military-ties-pla-anniversary-event Wed, 29 Jul 2026 04:30:12 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The US Senate confirmed Jay Clayton as Donald Trump’s top intelligence official on Tuesday, putting a permanent chief in charge of the country’s spy agencies as the president revives unsupported election fraud claims ahead of the midterms. Senators voted 51-47 to confirm Clayton’s appointment, with all Democrats in the upper chamber voting against it. “Jay is outstanding in every way, and will do a spectacular job as Director!” Trump said in a post on Truth Social shortly after the vote. The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3362197/us-senate-confirms-clayton-trumps-new-spy-chief https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3362197/us-senate-confirms-clayton-trumps-new-spy-chief Wed, 29 Jul 2026 03:05:47 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on Monday to clear the way for an executive order from US President Donald Trump that could dramatically change mail-in voting ahead of November’s midterm elections. The Justice Department asked the justices to halt for now lower court decisions blocking the sweeping changes in nearly half the country. The request comes soon after Trump delivered an address elevating his years-long push to raise doubts about the legitimacy of elections and could... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3362052/trump-administration-urges-supreme-court-allow-order-targeting-mail-voting https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3362052/trump-administration-urges-supreme-court-allow-order-targeting-mail-voting Mon, 27 Jul 2026 23:14:39 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Honduran ex-president Juan Orlando Hernandez – who was serving a 45-year prison sentence in the United States for drug trafficking until President Donald Trump pardoned him last year – returned to his home country on Sunday. After touching down in a private plane near the capital, Tegucigalpa, he travelled to a rally in the town of Comayagua. Speaking at a farm in front of hundreds of supporters, Hernandez thanked Trump for the pardon. “The most well-informed president in the world said: ‘I... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/americas/article/3361915/former-honduras-president-hernandez-returns-home-after-trump-pardon https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/americas/article/3361915/former-honduras-president-hernandez-returns-home-after-trump-pardon Sun, 26 Jul 2026 16:31:37 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Friction from time to time between rival superpowers is only to be expected. Even so, US President Donald Trump’s claim of Chinese interference in the 2020 presidential election was a very serious accusation. Yet a few days later, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his American counterpart, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, met on the sidelines of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) meeting in Manila to advance preparations for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s much-anticipated... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3361610/wang-rubio-meeting-after-trump-remarks-shows-guard-rail-and-working https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3361610/wang-rubio-meeting-after-trump-remarks-shows-guard-rail-and-working Thu, 23 Jul 2026 23:15:11 +0000 Fan Chen,Khushboo Razdan,Alyssa Chen Fan Chen,Khushboo Razdan,Alyssa Chen China and the United States’ agreement to pursue stability appeared to be holding, analysts said, even as President Donald Trump seemed determined to rock the boat ahead of the leaders’ second summit of the year in September. The assessment came as Beijing issued a measured response to his allegations of Chinese interference in the 2020 US elections. That restraint and recent tangible gestures – including Washington lifting sanctions on Hong Kong and the expected trip to the US this week by a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3361597/why-trumps-claim-beijing-meddled-us-election-hasnt-put-ties-ice https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3361597/why-trumps-claim-beijing-meddled-us-election-hasnt-put-ties-ice Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:00:06 +0000 Nayan Seth Nayan Seth After Donald Trump’s high-stakes summit with Xi Jinping in May, the idea of US-China “strategic stability” appeared in readouts from both sides. While the White House framed this vision as a “constructive relationship of strategic stability on the basis of fairness and reciprocity”, Beijing said only that it was a “constructive bilateral relationship of strategic stability”. China watchers zoomed in on the phrase – especially the Chinese version – debating what it could reveal or conceal about... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3361463/what-beijing-thinking-why-washington-struggling-understand-its-rival https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3361463/what-beijing-thinking-why-washington-struggling-understand-its-rival Wed, 22 Jul 2026 22:00:28 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press US President Donald Trump has approved an agreement with Saudi Arabia that could potentially provide the kingdom with uranium enrichment capability for its civilian nuclear programme, according to two people familiar with the matter. The people, who were not authorised to comment publicly about the yet to be formally announced decision, said the agreement was expected to be announced publicly as early as Wednesday. The deal was expected to last 30 years and was also expected to involve US firms... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3361403/trump-approves-saudi-nuclear-deal-could-allow-uranium-enrichment-ap-sources-say https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3361403/trump-approves-saudi-nuclear-deal-could-allow-uranium-enrichment-ap-sources-say Wed, 22 Jul 2026 02:28:45 +0000 Teresa Elena Frontado,Han Li Teresa Elena Frontado,Han Li Newly declassified US intelligence records show Chinese actors collected or acquired voter information covering millions of Americans and that Beijing developed capabilities that could be used to influence political opinion, but the documents do not substantiate US President Donald Trump’s claims that China stole the records of 220 million voters or manipulated the 2020 election. In a nationally televised address on Thursday, Trump accused China of carrying out a sweeping campaign to interfere... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3361018/many-allegations-little-evidence-unpacking-china-election-interference-records https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3361018/many-allegations-little-evidence-unpacking-china-election-interference-records Fri, 17 Jul 2026 19:31:27 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen Beijing has sharply dismissed President Donald Trump’s allegations of Chinese interference in US elections, mirroring its strong reaction to similar accusations he has made over the years. The allegations were “entirely fabricated, maliciously slanderous and have long been proven completely groundless”, foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Friday. It followed a prime-time national address by Trump on Thursday, when he accused Beijing of carrying out the “largest compromise of election... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3360958/china-rejects-trumps-election-meddling-claims-fabricated-and-slanderous https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3360958/china-rejects-trumps-election-meddling-claims-fabricated-and-slanderous Fri, 17 Jul 2026 09:33:28 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin The United States’ nominee for director of national intelligence told lawmakers on Wednesday he could be “extremely helpful” in shaping economic strategy with China during a confirmation hearing that framed Beijing as a leading economic and geopolitical challenge. Jay Clayton, the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, appeared before the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on his nomination, where he was questioned on several key intelligence issues. When pressed on the top three threats... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3360726/trump-intelligence-pick-play-helpful-role-agreeing-economic-strategy-china https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3360726/trump-intelligence-pick-play-helpful-role-agreeing-economic-strategy-china Wed, 15 Jul 2026 20:14:57 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow A new round of US-China dialogue on the risks of artificial intelligence, even just for the sake of dialogue, will be important for furthering US national security, according to former senior US officials responsible for China affairs. The assessment comes after the world’s two leading AI superpowers agreed to a new round of intergovernmental talks on AI safety following the Trump-Xi summit in Beijing in May, though few details about the dialogue have been announced. Jeannette Chu, one of the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3360192/renewed-us-china-ai-dialogue-serves-american-security-interests-former-officials https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3360192/renewed-us-china-ai-dialogue-serves-american-security-interests-former-officials Fri, 10 Jul 2026 18:30:17 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he is building a granite helipad on the White House lawn, insisting that the landing area is needed to accommodate new, more powerful presidential choppers. Confirmation of the project came as construction crews had already begun working on the helipad on the South Lawn, where the president had UFC build a temporary arena for a cage fight celebrating his 80th birthday. He said the project would be privately funded and estimated its cost at up to US$6... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3359645/trump-says-he-building-white-house-helipad-new-more-powerful-marine-one https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3359645/trump-says-he-building-white-house-helipad-new-more-powerful-marine-one Mon, 06 Jul 2026 20:41:49 +0000 Xinlu Liang Xinlu Liang In a departure from convention, Chinese leader Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to the United States on Independence Day. “This year marks the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States. President Xi Jinping, on behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people, has already sent a congratulatory message to US President Trump,” Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said in Beijing on Monday. Beijing does not usually publicise presidential greetings on July 4... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3359616/chinas-xi-jinping-sets-new-precedent-july-4-message-trump-and-us https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3359616/chinas-xi-jinping-sets-new-precedent-july-4-message-trump-and-us Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:40:26 +0000