2 h. ago Firm suspended from bidding for Hong Kong contracts after worker killed on site

Hong Kong authorities have temporarily barred a contractor from bidding for public road and drainage contracts following an accident in which a worker was killed by a falling steel beam at a site near the cross-border bridge to Macau and Zhuhai on Thursday. The Development Bureau said on Friday that the temporary ban was effective immediately and it had ordered the contractor to conduct an independent safety audit and submit an improvement action plan. The bureau said it would consider lifting...

Economics

3 h. ago Rubio meets Wang Yi, China’s maglev train makes debut: SCMP daily highlights

Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Odds high of Xi-Trump meeting, Rubio says after talks with Wang Yi at Asean US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the odds for a summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping this year were “high” after concluding “constructive” talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of a regional meeting. 2. ‘I cook instant...

Politics

3 h. ago China must ‘play the long game’ with trade partners as US bullies, analysts say

With US President Donald Trump sending more tariff letters to trade partners, Beijing has stepped up efforts – like rallying its own trade partners – to collectively push back against Washington’s trade protectionism. The world’s second-largest economy will provide considerable development opportunities – from broader market access to greater regional integration – while being mindful of US threats, according to statements this week following a string of overseas visits by Chinese...

Politics

3 h. ago Rubio meets China's Wang amid trade tensions, says good chance of Trump

Rubio meets China's Wang amid trade tensions, says good chance of Trump-Xi talks  Reuters

Politics

5 h. ago Shanghai officials warm to stablecoins despite China crypto ban: Report

Shanghai officials warm to stablecoins despite China crypto ban: Report  Cointelegraph

Politics

5 h. ago ‘It’s a bad time’: US consumers on edge ahead of Trump’s tariff deadline

Kathleen Harrison, the owner of an arts-and-crafts shop in the San Francisco Bay Area, is dreading what might happen if the US government raises tariffs on a slew of Asian economies later this summer. The 33-year-old is already under pressure as it is. The cost of key supplies such as paper stock has doubled this year due to a surge in demand, forcing her to hunt down bargains to keep her prices stable. Now, she worries that higher duties on imports from China and other major exporters will...

Politics

5 h. ago Nvidia Stock Falls After Record. Why Huang, Trump, China Tariffs Are Key to Rally.

Nvidia Stock Falls After Record. Why Huang, Trump, China Tariffs Are Key to Rally.  Barron's

Politics

5 h. ago Trump’s Brics wrath: will India be caught out by tariff threat?

US President Donald Trump’s threat to slap an additional 10 per cent tariff on Brics nations may be more of a strategic warning rather than a prelude to action – and is not expected to disrupt India’s efforts to finalise a trade pact with Washington, according to analysts. In a speech on Tuesday, Trump accused the 10-member bloc – comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, alongside newer entrants such as Iran, Egypt and Indonesia – of undermining the United States and seeking to...

Events

6 h. ago US, China must find ‘correct way’ to get along, Wang tells Rubio

China and the United States agreed to strengthen dialogue “at all levels” and deepen cooperation during “constructive” talks between their top diplomats on Friday, according to Beijing. Foreign Minister Wang Yi told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio he hoped Washington would approach China “in an equal, respectful and mutually beneficial manner” and “find a correct way for China and the US to get along”, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement. The statement said both sides described...

Politics

6 h. ago Is Singapore key for the US to fight against China as Tammy Duckworth says?

Remarks by a US senator labelling Singapore as a key place for “fighting against” major rival China have offered a revealing glimpse into how some American politicians view the city state, amid Washington’s regional power struggle with Beijing. The comments came to light after clips of a Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday showed an exasperated Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth admonishing Anjani Sinha, US President Donald Trump’s ambassador nominee to Singapore. “You want to be ambassador...

Politics

8 h. ago Economists Press Beijing for Big Stimulus to Cushion Impact from Trump Tariffs and Domestic Headwinds

Economists Press Beijing for Big Stimulus to Cushion Impact from Trump Tariffs and Domestic Headwinds  kaohoon international

Politics

9 h. ago Hong Kong condemns US for extending ‘national emergency’ status for city

The Hong Kong government has condemned the US for extending the city’s “national emergency” status for a year, calling the action an override of the rule of law. “[The US] has arbitrarily interfered in China’s internal affairs through the further extension of the so-called ‘national emergency with respect to Hong Kong’, which is indeed barbaric and unreasonable,” a government spokesman said. United States President Donald Trump announced on Thursday a one-year extension of the “national...

Politics

10 h. ago Nvidia’s Jensen Huang Reportedly Met With Trump Ahead Of Beijing Trip As World’s Most Valued Company Readies New China

Nvidia’s Jensen Huang Reportedly Met With Trump Ahead Of Beijing Trip As World’s Most Valued Company Readies New China-Focused Chip By Stocktwits  Investing.com India

Politics

10 h. ago Malaysia warns bilateral talks only avenue for Asean to negotiate US tariffs

Southeast Asia’s plan of presenting a united front on US tariffs appears to have fallen apart, after the region’s diplomatic bloc admitted that its members will have to pursue their own talks with Washington to bring down punishing levies that threaten to sink demand for their vital exports. All but two members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) were served with letters from US President Donald Trump earlier this week, announcing tariffs of between 20 and 40 per cent that will...

Events

11 h. ago Rubio and China’s Top Envoy Vie for Influence in Asia Over Trump’s Tariffs

Rubio and China’s Top Envoy Vie for Influence in Asia Over Trump’s Tariffs  The New York Times

Politics

11 h. ago Trump’s new tariffs, cannon barrel sparks Hong Kong bomb scare: 7 highlights

We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Apparently impatient Trump slaps 25% tariffs on Japan, South Korea US President Donald Trump, apparently impatient with the slow progress of negotiations, slapped 25 per cent unilateral tariffs on Japan and South Korea and equal or...

Politics

11 h. ago Day school suspension amid limited rainfall leaves Hong Kong parents furious

Parents in Hong Kong have questioned the “scientific basis” of the government’s decision to suspend classes at all day schools on Friday, with some arguing their children’s graduation ceremonies were cancelled despite little rainfall in the morning. In a WhatsApp group with more than 1,000 parents, furious comments started flooding in at around 7.30am to complain about the decision. “There is not a drop of rain. Due to class suspension, I still have to take special leave to take care of my...

Politics

14 h. ago Trump admin takes ‘unprecedented action’ to stop China from buying US farmland

Trump admin takes ‘unprecedented action’ to stop China from buying US farmland  Fox News

Politics

14 h. ago Trump tariffs live updates: Canada struck with 35% tariffs, Trump floats higher blanket rates

Trump tariffs live updates: Canada struck with 35% tariffs, Trump floats higher blanket rates  Yahoo Finance

Politics

16 h. ago Trump has authority to take back US farmland from China, expert says

Trump has authority to take back US farmland from China, expert says  KABB

Politics