TOPIC

/ location

United States

Related Topics:

United States

The latest breaking news and stories on the United States (US), a country in North America known as a federal republic, and the world’s largest economy. Also covering US-China relations, plus commentary and updates on US economy, politics, society, healthcare, military and crime.

Capital

Washington, D.C.

Head of State

President Donald Trump

Head of Government

President Donald Trump

US congresswoman Lauren Boebert arrives at the Capitol on December 10. Photo: AFP

Trump issues first vetoes, as ally who backed Epstein vote fears ‘retaliation’

The US president killed two Republican-sponsored bills, including one from Maga lawmaker Lauren Boebert.

4 minutes ago

World begins to bid goodbye to 2025 with fireworks and icy plunges

1 hour agovideocam

US-China relations

China buys two-thirds of pledged US soybeans as 2025 closes

2 hours agovideocam

China’s January 1 silver curbs to deepen global crunch amid volatility: analysts

Beijing’s new export-licensing system seen squeezing foreign buyers, pushing price towards US$100 an ounce; Elon Musk joins warning chorus.

2 hours ago

Bars of silver are stacked at a processing plant in Glogow, Poland. Spot silver briefly surpassed US$80 an ounce for the first time in December. Photo: Reuters

Was PLA’s Taiwan drill testing ‘inexpensive’ ways to wear down air defences?

The drills were on a larger scale than previous ones and featured the use of rocket systems that could give mainland Chinese forces an edge.

4 hours agovideocam

Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong politics in 2025: Jimmy Lai verdict, Legco poll and Panama port saga

The Post rounds up major political events that made 2025 a significant year for the city.

6 hours agovideocam

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

China imposes beef-import quota, adds over-quota tariffs to guard local industry

From Thursday, over-quota imports from Brazil, Australia, US and other trade partners face new duties to help local producers recover amid price declines.

6 hours ago

Handlers move cattle at a livestock market in Canuelas, Argentina, in October. China is kicking off 2026 with additional tariffs on beef imports exceeding specific quotas for major trading partners. Photo: AP

Artificial intelligence

Multibillion Manus deal delights, but raises spectre of a China AI exodus

Meta’s acquisition of Manus has opened a new cash-out path for China’s AI founders, but also sparked concerns over a brain drain.

6 hours ago

Opinion | Why Donald Trump will focus on the Fed in 2026

With the US midterm elections looming, the White House seeks victory over inflation and the stimulating effects of lower borrowing costs.

31 Dec 2025 - 8:30PMvideocam

‘Equivalent measures’: Mali, Burkina Faso restrict entry for US citizens

The African nations said they were imposing the travel restrictions after the US included them, and others, on a no-entry list.

31 Dec 2025 - 7:03PMvideocam

The leader of Mali’s ruling junta, Assimi Goita, centre, attends an independence day military parade. File photo: AP

Nvidia asks chipmaker TSMC to ramp up H200 production amid China demand: sources

Chinese tech companies place orders for more than 2 million H200 chips for 2026, according to sources.

31 Dec 2025 - 5:03PM

The exact additional volume of H200 chips Nvidia intends to order from semiconductor foundry TSMC remains unclear. Photo: Shutterstock

SCMP Highlights

How China cracked US ‘super code’, health benefits of lard: 7 science highlights

From China building world’s largest smart transformer to health benefits of lard, here are some highlights from SCMP’s recent science reporting.

31 Dec 2025 - 3:30PM

Americas and the Caribbean

CIA behind drone strike on ‘big facility’ in Venezuela: sources

Sources divulge details of a US strike mentioned by Trump, as Colombia’s president says US bombed a suspected cocaine factory.

31 Dec 2025 - 4:26PM

China-Japan relations

Beijing hits back at ‘extremely hypocritical’ critics of drills around Taiwan

Japan, Australia, Britain and the EU express concern about live-fire and blockade exercises around island.

31 Dec 2025 - 7:16PMvideocam

The Japanese government reportedly expressed concern to Beijing over conducted around Taiwan on Monday and Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Will Ocean Infinity finally solve the flight MH370 mystery in Indian Ocean?

A new deep-sea search, armed with advanced tech and drones, restarts to find the Malaysia Airlines plane that vanished nearly 12 years ago.

31 Dec 2025 - 5:45PMvideocam

A man walks pasts a mural representing the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 at an alley in Shah Alam, near Kuala Lumpur. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong, mainland China stocks finish year with world-leading gains

City’s benchmark Hang Seng Index ends 2025 up 28 per cent, while the CSI 300 Index of mainland stocks rises 18 per cent.

31 Dec 2025 - 3:58PM

China food security

Xi renews call to boost grain output after trade war sharpens food security push

Beijing renews push to fortify domestic crop supplies and modernise agriculture amid a tense geopolitical climate.

31 Dec 2025 - 9:00AMvideocam

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

China food security

Opinion | Be a potato: the lesson of the resilient staple resonates as 2026 approaches

A decade on, the humble tuber’s public adoption remains an elusive goal for China’s planners and yet it offers a lesson for uncertain times.

31 Dec 2025 - 9:04AMvideocam

The Potato Eaters, considered Vincent Van Gogh’s first masterpiece, delivers a powerful social statement with its depiction of honest peasant life. Photo: Getty Images

Takaichi is shaping up as Japan’s Thatcher. How long can she last?

The prime minister has defied the odds by winning back LDP voters with sweeping immigration, economic policies and a tough stance on Beijing.

31 Dec 2025 - 4:35PMvideocam

US Nato envoy casts doubt on Russian claim Ukraine attacked Putin residence

Matthew Whitaker says it’s ‘unclear’ alleged attack on Putin residence happened, as Moscow vows retaliation for ‘terrorist act’.

31 Dec 2025 - 4:06PM

Editorial | Powerful PLA drill shows US arms sales don’t help Taiwan Strait stability

As the US risks sending the wrong signal to Taiwan, Beijing has responded with an unambiguous warning against the island moving towards independence.

31 Dec 2025 - 7:15AM

Chinese ships patrol as the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) conducts military drills on Pingtan island, in eastern Chinas Fujian province, the closest point to Taiwan, on December 30, 2025. Photo: AFP

Chinese culture

The Chinese cowboys challenging narratives of the American Old West

Whether through art or immersion in the rancher lifestyle, these Asian men are redefining what it means to be a cowboy in the American West.

31 Dec 2025 - 5:34PMvideocam

Self-professed Chinese cowboy Bruce Wang Shibo stands with a horse. The Chinese national is one of those rewriting narratives of the American West. Photo: Bruce Wang Shibo

Editorial | China provides substance to Cambodia-Thailand peace efforts

The road to peace will not be easy but both China and Southeast Asia have a deep stake in restoring regional peace and stability.

31 Dec 2025 - 6:45AM

US-China relations

‘No fixed identity’: new Chinese-American writers are telling their own stories

They’re not shaped by history like the previous generation, and observer says US-China tensions can give them ‘more space’ to explore issues.

31 Dec 2025 - 8:23AMvideocam

US-China relations

US envoy hosts Quad meeting in Beijing as PLA’s drills around Taiwan continue

Some analysts, however, say Quad is losing significance under Trump despite this latest show of unity and deterrence by the regional bloc.

3 hours agovideocam

US Ambassador to China David Perdue hosted a meeting of Quad partners in Beijing on Tuesday as China continued large-scale military drills around Taiwan. Photo: Getty images via AFP

Opinion | Australia is losing its ability to engage Asia on its own terms

With security increasingly tied to regional developments, Australia’s eroding Asia literacy risks shutting Canberra out of crucial decisions.

31 Dec 2025 - 5:30AMvideocam

Chinatown in Melbourne, seen in 2020. Despite its strong trade and people-to-people links to Asia, reinforced by waves of migration, Australia’s Asia literacy has steadily declined. Photo: Shutterstock

Tatiana Schlossberg, journalist and JFK’s granddaughter, dead at 35

Schlossberg, who wrote about her battle with cancer, was critical of her relative Robert F Kennedy Jnr, the US health secretary.

31 Dec 2025 - 11:52AM

Oil tankers still arriving in Venezuela despite US blockade, data shows

A US blockade on sanctioned vessels has scared many vessel owners, but some still make journey.

31 Dec 2025 - 11:41AM

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement