3 w. ago Trump signs bill to end shutdown, China leads patent race: 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. Trump signs funding bill to end longest US government shutdown US President Donald Trump signed a bill to end the record-breaking US government shutdown after the House of Representatives approved a bipartisan funding deal on Wednesday. 2. China dominates global patent race with record filings China submitted the highest number of patent applications in...

Politics

3 w. ago Democrat Grijalva sworn in, providing last signature needed for Epstein vote

Democrat Adelita Grijalva was sworn in as the newest member of Congress on Wednesday, more than seven weeks after she won a special election in Arizona to fill the House seat last held by her late father. Grijalva was sworn in by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday shortly before the House returned to session to vote on a deal to fund the federal government. After delivering a floor speech, Grijalva signed a discharge petition to eventually trigger a vote to release files related...

Politics

3 w. ago At Cop30, California Governor Newsom seizes spotlight and takes aim at Trump

With US President Donald Trump skipping the UN’s climate summit in the Amazon, California Governor Gavin Newsom grabbed the spotlight on Tuesday and unleashed a barrage of attacks on the fossil fuel agenda of his political nemesis. The well-coiffed Democrat - seen as a potential 2028 presidential candidate - blasted Trump for twice leaving the Paris climate accord and for “doubling down on stupid” through his support of Big Oil. Newsom said a future Democratic administration would rejoin the...

Politics

3 w. ago End to US government shutdown in sight as Senate passes bill

The longest-ever US government shutdown appeared headed towards a resolution on Monday after the US Senate voted to pass a compromise budget measure. The 60-40 vote passed with the support of nearly all of the chamber’s Republicans and eight Democrats, who unsuccessfully sought to tie government funding to health subsidies that are due to expire at the end of the year. Since October 1, the first day of the shutdown, more than a million federal workers have been unpaid, while government benefits...

Politics

3 w. ago End to US government shutdown in sight as Senate passes funding bill

The longest-ever US government shutdown moved forward on Monday toward an eventual resolution, after several Democratic senators broke ranks to join Republicans in a 60-40 vote passing a compromise deal - sparking intraparty backlash. Since October 1, the first day of the shutdown, more than a million federal workers have been unpaid, while government benefits and services have been increasingly disrupted. Severe impacts on air traffic have begun to mount in recent days, with more than 1,000...

Politics

3 w. ago End to US shutdown in sight as Senate passes deal, sending it to House

The longest-ever US government shutdown moved toward an eventual resolution on Monday, after several Democratic senators broke ranks to join Republicans in a 60-40 vote passing a compromise deal - sparking intraparty backlash. Since October 1, the first day of the shutdown, more than a million federal workers have been unpaid, while government benefits and services have been increasingly disrupted. Severe impacts on air traffic have begun to mount in recent days, with more than 1,000 flights...

Events

3 w. ago US shutdown may be nearing end as Senate Democrats support funding deal

The record-breaking US government shutdown is nearing an end after a group of moderate Senate Democrats agreed to support a deal to reopen the government and fund some departments and agencies for the next year, people familiar with the talks said. Under the agreement, Congress would pass full-year funding for the departments of Agriculture, Veterans Affairs and Congress itself, while funding other agencies through January 30. The bill would provide pay for furloughed government workers, resume...

Politics

3 w. ago US shutdown may be near end as some Senate Democrats support funding deal

The record-breaking US government shutdown is nearing an end after a group of moderate Senate Democrats agreed to support a deal to reopen the government and fund some departments and agencies for the next year, people familiar with the talks said. Under the agreement, Congress would pass full-year funding for the departments of Agriculture, Veterans Affairs and Congress itself, while funding other agencies through January 30. The bill would provide pay for furloughed government workers, resume...

Politics

3 w. ago US Senate clears first hurdle to end longest government shutdown

The US Senate on Sunday moved forward on a measure aimed at reopening the federal government and ending a now 40-day shutdown that has sidelined federal workers, delayed food aid and snarled air travel. In a procedural vote, senators advanced a House-passed bill that will be amended to fund the government until January 30 and include a package of three full-year appropriations bills. If the Senate eventually passes the amended measure, it still must be approved by the House of Representatives...

Politics