https://www.scmp.com/rss/519916/feed From the latest White House developments, to trade tariffs, tech wars, social changes and the tricky China relationship, the Post has all the news from the United States of America right here. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Nayan Seth Nayan Seth During a video call on Friday, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng to uphold China’s previous commitments on agricultural goods and rare earth exports. A day earlier, Beijing reminded Washington to implement another deal – reciprocal tariff cuts covering US$30 billion worth of products on each side – as a precondition to buying more American farm products. Just days before President Donald Trump meets Chinese leader Xi... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3374008/deal-vs-deal-us-china-trade-calls-honour-commitments-trump-xi-summit https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3374008/deal-vs-deal-us-china-trade-calls-honour-commitments-trump-xi-summit Wed, 11 Nov 2026 02:34:23 +0000 Han Li,Lucy Quaggin Han Li,Lucy Quaggin On tote bags distributed by Asian-owned businesses in the US state of Georgia, three Asian-American women appeared in a design inspired by the Three Ladies rice brand. The bags were part of a campaign that put a voting twist on the online “Asian baby girl” meme. “We had an ‘Asian Ballot Girls’ campaign,” said Chany Chea, programme director of the Asian-American Advocacy Fund. “We had merch which went viral.” As Democrats won races in Republican strongholds across the southern United States in... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3374001/how-asian-american-campaigners-helped-turn-us-deep-red-south-blue https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3374001/how-asian-american-campaigners-helped-turn-us-deep-red-south-blue Tue, 10 Nov 2026 22:39:46 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick China’s embassy in Santo Domingo accused the United States on Monday evening of “sinister intentions” and mocked Washington for “congratulating” the Dominican Republic on closing a Chinese-run cardboard factory. The rebuke came hours after Juan Pablo Segura, who leads the US State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, praised Dominican authorities on social media for “taking decisive action to shut down a massive, illegal, Chinese-operated cardboard factory”. Operating without... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3374000/china-mocks-us-congratulations-over-dominican-closure-chinese-run-factory https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3374000/china-mocks-us-congratulations-over-dominican-closure-chinese-run-factory Tue, 10 Nov 2026 20:49:11 +0000 Han Li Han Li US House Republicans on Tuesday elected the congressman Jim Jordan as their new leader, turning to an outspoken conservative to steer the party after a crushing midterm defeat that handed Democrats control of the chamber. Jordan, 62, defeated outgoing House Majority Leader Steve Scalise in a contest that pitted calls for a fresh start against arguments for retaining experienced leadership. The vote was 106 to 73 at a closed-door party meeting, according to multiple media reports citing people... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3373998/jim-jordan-elected-house-republican-leader-after-crushing-midterm-defeat https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3373998/jim-jordan-elected-house-republican-leader-after-crushing-midterm-defeat Tue, 10 Nov 2026 20:21:24 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi The US House of Representatives on Tuesday voted to effectively shelve an impeachment resolution against Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, hours after the embattled Pentagon chief branded the effort to oust him a “farce” and mounted a fiery defence of the Iran war. Speaking at his first press conference in more than 180 days, Hegseth described Thomas Massie, a Republican lawmaker who introduced the impeachment resolution against him on Monday, as “one disgruntled and defeated congressman” who is... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3373990/hegseth-calls-impeachment-bid-farce-he-defends-iran-war https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3373990/hegseth-calls-impeachment-bid-farce-he-defends-iran-war Tue, 10 Nov 2026 15:26:43 +0000 Ben Jiang,Ann Cao,Howard Liu Ben Jiang,Ann Cao,Howard Liu A political storm sparked by US media reports alleging American intelligence agencies suspect Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang was targeted in an espionage operation – a claim Beijing has denied – threatens to intensify Washington’s tech blockade on China following a Democratic midterm victory. Analysts said the twin developments could give the US Congress the political momentum needed to plug loopholes in existing semiconductor restrictions, accelerating efforts to curb third-country chip smuggling and... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3373977/adding-fuel-fire-how-nvidia-ceos-troubles-us-midterms-may-tighten-china-chip-curbs https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3373977/adding-fuel-fire-how-nvidia-ceos-troubles-us-midterms-may-tighten-china-chip-curbs Tue, 10 Nov 2026 14:30:22 +0000 Chong Ming Lee Chong Ming Lee Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang has admitted to having an extramarital affair as the chipmaker investigates reported allegations that a Chinese businesswoman close to him may have been working for Beijing’s intelligence services. Beijing has rejected the espionage claims as “baseless”, while Nvidia has said it had no reason to believe company secrets or US national security were compromised. The controversy wiped about US$190 billion off the chipmaker’s market value in a single day. US... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3373960/who-alice-huang-and-why-her-relationship-nvidias-ceo-under-scrutiny https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3373960/who-alice-huang-and-why-her-relationship-nvidias-ceo-under-scrutiny Tue, 10 Nov 2026 10:40:24 +0000 Nayan Seth,Lucy Quaggin Nayan Seth,Lucy Quaggin The fallout from the Nvidia scandal may test the fragile truce between the US and China, analysts say, as calls in Washington grow to tighten semiconductor export controls just days before US President Donald Trump is due to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Shenzhen, China. “I think that [scandal] could have a bigger impact down the line during the meeting in Miami or even further down the line,” said Ilaria Mazzocco, a senior fellow at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3373859/nvidia-scandal-may-test-fragile-us-china-truce-experts-say https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3373859/nvidia-scandal-may-test-fragile-us-china-truce-experts-say Tue, 10 Nov 2026 00:32:25 +0000 Teresa Elena Frontado Teresa Elena Frontado US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang had told him he did not know a woman at the centre of espionage allegations was a suspected Chinese spy, and that he believed the technology executive’s account. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said he had spoken to Huang earlier in the day, as the chipmaker faces scrutiny over whether its founder was targeted by a foreign intelligence operation. “I asked him that question. Did you have any idea... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3373857/trump-backs-nvidias-huang-over-spy-allegations-says-xi-may-raise-case https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3373857/trump-backs-nvidias-huang-over-spy-allegations-says-xi-may-raise-case Mon, 09 Nov 2026 23:15:38 +0000 Han Li,Teresa Elena Frontado Han Li,Teresa Elena Frontado Growing bipartisan pressure is mounting in the US Congress on Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang over his ties to a businesswoman suspected by US intelligence officials of working for Beijing’s intelligence services, with lawmakers from both parties demanding to know whether US national security was compromised. Chinese authorities have dismissed the spying allegations. The controversy escalated over the weekend when Nvidia’s board announced an independent investigation after Huang admitted he... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3373853/us-congress-ramps-pressure-nvidias-jensen-huang-over-alleged-china-spy-links https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3373853/us-congress-ramps-pressure-nvidias-jensen-huang-over-alleged-china-spy-links Mon, 09 Nov 2026 22:17:04 +0000 Han Li Han Li Republican Congressman Thomas Massie on Monday introduced eight articles of impeachment against US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, seeking to force a House floor vote as early as Wednesday over his handling of the US war with Iran and other military operations. Speaking on the House floor as he unveiled the articles, Massie said Hegseth’s conduct had demonstrated that he would “remain a threat to civilians, the lawful conduct of United States military operations, the integrity and credibility of... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3373848/hegseth-calls-iran-war-necessary-and-waves-noise-expected-impeachment-push https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3373848/hegseth-calls-iran-war-necessary-and-waves-noise-expected-impeachment-push Mon, 09 Nov 2026 19:34:12 +0000 Marshall Li,Zhengfei Zhang Marshall Li,Zhengfei Zhang The next US-China talk on artificial intelligence should begin with a simple question: do the two governments actually understand how rapidly AI’s capabilities are improving? Before deciding what to do about the technology, Washington and Beijing need a common way to measure its progress. Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump are expected to meet in Shenzhen soon, and AI is set to remain high on their agenda. Their continued exchanges on this transformative technology are a... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3373279/us-and-china-must-join-hands-measure-rising-ai-tide https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3373279/us-and-china-must-join-hands-measure-rising-ai-tide Sat, 07 Nov 2026 08:30:05 +0000 Elias Girma Elias Girma I was sitting in my car in Oakland’s Chinatown with Desta, my dog, while my wife visited her Chinese-American doctor. Across the street stood the Shoong Family Chinese Cultural Centre. On the pavements, older shoppers carrying bags of greens paused to greet acquaintances. People threaded between produce displays, fish counters and shopfronts crowded with everyday necessities. There was a rhythm to the morning: deliveries, conversations, the exchange of money and news, the small acts of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3373179/pacific-century-chinatowns-us-deserve-more-preservation https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3373179/pacific-century-chinatowns-us-deserve-more-preservation Sat, 07 Nov 2026 01:30:07 +0000 Han Li Han Li California Democratic Congressman Ted Lieu is seeking to become the next chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, one of the top leadership jobs in the US Congress, and potentially making history again as the highest-ranking Asian-American on Capitol Hill. He announced his caucus chair candidacy in a letter to fellow Democrats on Thursday. He’s currently the most high-profile Asian and Chinese-American in Congress, serving as vice-chairman of the caucus, the fourth-ranking position in the House... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/us-elections/article/3373620/ted-lieu-seeks-congress-leadership-post-aiming-break-another-glass-ceiling https://www.scmp.com/news/us/us-elections/article/3373620/ted-lieu-seeks-congress-leadership-post-aiming-break-another-glass-ceiling Fri, 06 Nov 2026 23:01:56 +0000 Han Li Han Li Amid a national Democratic wave in the midterm elections, a California Democrat has made history as the first Asian-American elected to the state’s second-highest executive office, with roots tracing back to a prominent military and political clan in China. Fiona Ma, 60, a Chinese-American and the state’s current treasurer, was elected lieutenant governor, marking a milestone for Asian-American representation in California politics. “I am deeply humbled and honoured to be elected California’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3373619/californias-first-asian-lieutenant-governor-has-ties-esteemed-chinese-military-family https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3373619/californias-first-asian-lieutenant-governor-has-ties-esteemed-chinese-military-family Fri, 06 Nov 2026 21:02:10 +0000 Teresa Elena Frontado Teresa Elena Frontado US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Stephen Miller would replace Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff, elevating a long-time loyalist and architect of his immigration crackdown days after Republicans lost control of Congress. Miller, currently a deputy chief of staff, will take over on Monday. Wiles will move to Trump’s political operation, the president said in a post on social media. The change puts one of Trump’s staunchest ideological allies in charge of the White House staff... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3373617/trump-names-stephen-miller-chief-staff-replacing-susie-wiles-after-midterm-losses https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3373617/trump-names-stephen-miller-chief-staff-replacing-susie-wiles-after-midterm-losses Fri, 06 Nov 2026 19:23:38 +0000 Nayan Seth Nayan Seth US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer held a video call with Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng on Friday, as both sides moved to finalise preparations for President Donald Trump’s planned meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Shenzhen later this month. “Secretary Bessent emphasised the importance of China fully and immediately implementing its commitments made in Busan and raised concerns about recent Chinese actions,” a statement from the Treasury... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3373616/us-china-trade-chiefs-hold-call-ahead-trump-xi-summit-shenzhen https://www.scmp.com/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3373616/us-china-trade-chiefs-hold-call-ahead-trump-xi-summit-shenzhen Fri, 06 Nov 2026 18:34:11 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma As the midterm “blue wave” threatens to further complicate US-China relations, American agricultural exporters are calling on Washington to focus on delivering the trade deals already agreed with Beijing and ending a period of damaging policy uncertainty. With shipments of key products such as soybeans needing to be planned months – or sometimes an entire year – ahead, US farmers are in need of stability after last year’s trade war. “Agriculture is ... an industry with long production cycles, so... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3373595/after-midterms-upheaval-us-ag-exporters-call-stability-china-trade https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3373595/after-midterms-upheaval-us-ag-exporters-call-stability-china-trade Fri, 06 Nov 2026 14:00:11 +0000 Andrew Sheng Andrew Sheng American voters have spoken. In the midterm elections, Democrats won both the House and Senate in a sweeping rebuttal of US President Donald Trump’s erratic management of domestic and foreign affairs. Despite this, the trajectory of US-China geopolitical rivalry will remain unchanged for decades, with every chance of escalation. Foreign Affairs re-examines “The Delusions of American Power” in its latest issue. The lead article, “The Limits of American Power”, concludes that even with the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3373304/midterm-swing-wont-change-trajectory-us-china-rivalry https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3373304/midterm-swing-wont-change-trajectory-us-china-rivalry Fri, 06 Nov 2026 12:30:08 +0000 Alex Lo Alex Lo Comedian Patton Oswalt once joked about the United States electing a KKK president after the progressive years of Barack Obama. The joke is worth retelling, not just because it’s funny but because it captures the swing between extremes in US politics. That’s worth keeping in mind in light of the so-called Democratic blue wave sweeping the country. It goes: “We will have a woman president, probably sooner than later … but just keep in mind that after she serves her term, the choices will very... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3373368/democrats-blue-wave-means-rough-waters-ahead-us-china-relations https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3373368/democrats-blue-wave-means-rough-waters-ahead-us-china-relations Fri, 06 Nov 2026 08:42:20 +0000 SCMP SCMP 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. US midterm shift could squeeze China on AI, bring clarity to bilateral talks Beijing has vowed to continue working with Washington towards a “constructive relationship of strategic stability” following the Democrats’ sweeping victory... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3373481/us-democrats-win-could-squeeze-china-star-mathematician-leaves-us-scmps-7-highlights https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3373481/us-democrats-win-could-squeeze-china-star-mathematician-leaves-us-scmps-7-highlights Fri, 06 Nov 2026 04:45:09 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan In the space of roughly 10 days, the two largest democracies in the Americas delivered setbacks to the populist right. In Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva staged a narrow but remarkable comeback, defeating Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, in a run-off election after trailing in the first round. This week, American voters handed control of both chambers of the US Congress to Democrats in a sharp rebuke of candidates riding on US President Donald Trump’s “Make America... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3373448/us-and-brazil-deliver-double-blow-populist-right-will-europe-feel-impact https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3373448/us-and-brazil-deliver-double-blow-populist-right-will-europe-feel-impact Fri, 06 Nov 2026 03:00:08 +0000 Vasilis Trigkas Vasilis Trigkas At their October meeting in South Korea last year, US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, recognising mutual vulnerability to export restrictions, agreed to suspend some of the most draconian measures they had imposed on each other: US port fees on Chinese-built vessels and Chinese export controls on rare earths. They also announced further summit-level talks. The leaders have since met twice: Trump visited Beijing in May, Xi visited Washington in September. They are... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3373140/chances-are-us-china-truce-will-be-extended-shenzhen-apec-summit https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3373140/chances-are-us-china-truce-will-be-extended-shenzhen-apec-summit Fri, 06 Nov 2026 01:30:06 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth said he will “not back down” against a “lame duck” US Congress, and that the calls for his impeachment will “not work” in his first reaction after the Democrats’ landslide victory in Tuesday’s midterm elections. In a video uploaded by the Pentagon on Thursday, Hegseth said that “a disgruntled, defeated congressman, along with all his Democrat allies”, have been submitting “sham” bills for his impeachment, resembling that of the similar attempt against US... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/us-elections/article/3373466/defiant-hegseth-tells-democrats-their-impeachment-push-wont-work https://www.scmp.com/news/us/us-elections/article/3373466/defiant-hegseth-tells-democrats-their-impeachment-push-wont-work Thu, 05 Nov 2026 21:31:34 +0000 Teresa Elena Frontado,Zhang Tong Teresa Elena Frontado,Zhang Tong The United States has imposed sanctions on two Chinese companies it accuses of supplying equipment and components to Cuba’s military, as Washington intensifies pressure on Havana’s foreign suppliers and expands its authority to target businesses operating on the island. The US State Department said on Thursday that China National Electronic Import and Export Company, or CEIEC, and Beijing H&C Technologies had worked with Cuban arms procurement company Sociedad Mercantil Duna to supply... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3373462/us-sanctions-chinese-firms-over-alleged-military-supplies-cuba https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3373462/us-sanctions-chinese-firms-over-alleged-military-supplies-cuba Thu, 05 Nov 2026 20:13:47 +0000 Emma Ma Emma Ma After the Democrats swept the US midterm elections, a divided government may help restrain future Treasury borrowing and prevent fresh deficit blowouts, though it will not necessarily bring down elevated bond yields, analysts say. The US Treasury Department unveiled its quarterly refunding statement on Wednesday, with market participants describing the overall borrowing outlook as largely neutral. Based on its projected financing needs, the Treasury said it expected to keep note and bond auction... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3373359/us-borrowing-outlook-steadies-after-midterms-treasury-yields-face-new-tests-analysts https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3373359/us-borrowing-outlook-steadies-after-midterms-treasury-yields-face-new-tests-analysts Thu, 05 Nov 2026 13:00:07 +0000 Tan Poh Hwee Tan Poh Hwee The latest front in the US-China technology contest is not advanced chips, artificial intelligence (AI) or telecommunications equipment. It is the laboratories that certify whether an electronic product may enter the American market. On October 29, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to stop recognising testing laboratories, telecoms certification bodies and accreditation organisations in China and in other economies that lack a “mutual recognition agreement” or comparable... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3373171/us-china-tech-contest-has-moved-gatekeeping-product-testers https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3373171/us-china-tech-contest-has-moved-gatekeeping-product-testers Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:30:07 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi Beijing says it remains open to buying more agricultural products from the United States, but wants reciprocal tariff cuts covering US$30 billion worth of products on each side to be implemented first under the US-China Board of Trade. “China has always maintained an open attitude towards expanding agricultural imports from the United States, provided that the agreed-upon reciprocal tariff reduction arrangement – covering $30 billion on each side – is implemented,” Huang Ling, a spokeswoman for... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3373412/china-ready-expand-us-agricultural-imports-if-board-trade-tariff-cuts-take-effect https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3373412/china-ready-expand-us-agricultural-imports-if-board-trade-tariff-cuts-take-effect Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:00:21 +0000 Juan Fernando Herrera Ramos Juan Fernando Herrera Ramos The Democratic sweep of the US midterm elections has transformed the political balance in Washington, but it has not transferred control of foreign policy from the White House to Congress. When the new Congress convenes in January, Democrats will control both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Their victories reflected widespread frustration with the Iran war, rising living costs and US President Donald Trump’s leadership. Reuters reported that 70 per cent of voters wanted Congress to... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3373340/how-trumps-weakened-grip-congress-complicates-talks-china https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3373340/how-trumps-weakened-grip-congress-complicates-talks-china Thu, 05 Nov 2026 08:30:07 +0000 Nayan Seth,Lucy Quaggin Nayan Seth,Lucy Quaggin Strong voter backlash in the US midterm elections against AI infrastructure projects, including data centres, indicates that framing the domestic buildout as key to competing with China failed to convince Americans and underscores the need to address local concerns, according to analysts. “The argument that we need to build more data centres to win in AI against China no longer seems to have the kind of resonance it did before, if it ever did, frankly,” said Kyle Chan, a fellow at the Brookings... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/us-elections/article/3373322/costs-above-competition-why-us-voters-arent-buying-trumps-china-ai-pitch https://www.scmp.com/news/us/us-elections/article/3373322/costs-above-competition-why-us-voters-arent-buying-trumps-china-ai-pitch Wed, 04 Nov 2026 22:56:47 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi US and Chinese defence officials met in Washington for the first meeting of a Crisis Communications and Prevention Working Group established under an agreement announced in September when leaders of the two nations met. The two sides agreed on the importance of “advancing practical communication measures” to reduce risks between the US and China, according to a Pentagon read-out of the meeting released on Tuesday. The delegates also discussed “additional channels” to promote “effective” crisis... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3373321/china-us-defence-officials-agree-improve-communication-reduce-risks https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3373321/china-us-defence-officials-agree-improve-communication-reduce-risks Wed, 04 Nov 2026 22:08:06 +0000 Han Li Han Li Democrats scored a sweeping victory in Tuesday’s midterm elections, with Asian-Americans and other voters of colour playing a key role, according to a new voter poll released on Wednesday. The 2026 Midterm Election Voter Poll surveyed 10,141 voters, including 2,130 Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) voters, between October 20 and November 3. It offers insights into voting trends across racial groups. Taeku Lee, a Harvard professor of government and a researcher for the poll, said... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/us-elections/article/3373319/asian-american-voters-younger-turnout-fuel-blue-wave-democrats-midterms https://www.scmp.com/news/us/us-elections/article/3373319/asian-american-voters-younger-turnout-fuel-blue-wave-democrats-midterms Wed, 04 Nov 2026 21:31:17 +0000 Teresa Elena Frontado Teresa Elena Frontado A Democratic victory that reached from Texas to Kansas changed the terms of Donald Trump’s final two years in office. When the new US Congress convenes in January, Democrats will control both chambers. They can block his legislation, challenge spending on the war in Iran and scrutinise the deals he strikes with Beijing. The day after his party lost control of Congress, Trump invited reporters to the construction site of his new White House ballroom to watch workers raise the final steel... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/us-elections/article/3373318/five-takeaways-us-midterms-democrats-sweep-congress-and-trump-faces-iran-reckoning https://www.scmp.com/news/us/us-elections/article/3373318/five-takeaways-us-midterms-democrats-sweep-congress-and-trump-faces-iran-reckoning Wed, 04 Nov 2026 21:24:00 +0000 Teresa Elena Frontado Teresa Elena Frontado Republican Senator Susan Collins won in China on Tuesday. So did the volunteer firefighters. Voters in several small American communities with China in their names cast ballots in Tuesday’s US midterm elections. Their local contests had little to do with Beijing and a great deal to do with fire engines, budgets and paving. In China, a lakeside town in northeastern Maine, Collins outpolled Democrat Troy Jackson by 1,333 votes to 871, according to the town’s general election return. Statewide,... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/us-elections/article/3373314/who-won-china-us-midterms-susan-collins-and-local-firefighters https://www.scmp.com/news/us/us-elections/article/3373314/who-won-china-us-midterms-susan-collins-and-local-firefighters Wed, 04 Nov 2026 18:59:58 +0000 Han Li Han Li The incoming US Congress is set to include a record six lawmakers of Chinese descent after Democrat Richard Pan won a California House race. Pan defeated incumbent Kevin Kiley in California’s 6th Congressional District by 15 percentage points, according to the latest results on Wednesday morning, adding another Chinese-American member to the House when the 120th Congress convenes in January. “I’m proud to be part of the growing Asian-American representation in Congress,” Pan said in a statement... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/us-elections/article/3373313/us-congress-welcomes-record-number-lawmakers-chinese-descent https://www.scmp.com/news/us/us-elections/article/3373313/us-congress-welcomes-record-number-lawmakers-chinese-descent Wed, 04 Nov 2026 16:01:13 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Albee Zhang Khushboo Razdan,Albee Zhang In the weeks leading up to the midterm elections, US President Donald Trump displayed unwavering confidence in his star power, urging supporters to close their eyes and “pretend I’m on the ballot”. But Tuesday night’s disastrous results for the Republicans – the first time in 20 years both houses of Congress have changed hands at the same time – have punctured the aura of invincibility that once shielded Trump and allowed him to keep potential critics in line with the threat that opposing him... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3373299/republicans-face-prospect-civil-war-trumps-air-invincibility-starts-fade https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3373299/republicans-face-prospect-civil-war-trumps-air-invincibility-starts-fade Wed, 04 Nov 2026 14:00:14 +0000 Xinyi Wu,Kandy Wong,Ji Siqi Xinyi Wu,Kandy Wong,Ji Siqi The Democrats’ comprehensive victory in the US midterm elections could embolden Congress to assert greater authority over trade policy and scrutinise the deals President Donald Trump made with China, analysts say, though a dramatic shift in Washington’s trade policy is unlikely. “Congress, including pro-free trade Republicans who have been intimidated into standing down, might be inclined to reassert some degree of congressional authority on trade,” said Stephen Olson, a former US trade... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3373285/what-will-us-midterms-mean-trade-policy-china https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3373285/what-will-us-midterms-mean-trade-policy-china Wed, 04 Nov 2026 14:00:09 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham Follow the SCMP’s live coverage here After almost two years in which the transatlantic alliance verged on collapse, a Democratic landslide in the US midterm elections was welcomed in Europe on Wednesday, even if few believed it would be a panacea for ailing ties. The Democratic Party swept both chambers of the US Congress in a crushing rebuke of US President Donald Trump’s two-year record. For Europe, that period has led to a shattering of the post-war order and deep schisms in the Western... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3373298/bad-worse-europes-relief-over-us-midterms-tempered-prospect-trump-backlash https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3373298/bad-worse-europes-relief-over-us-midterms-tempered-prospect-trump-backlash Wed, 04 Nov 2026 13:14:06 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim Follow the SCMP’s live coverage here Democrats won control of both chambers of the US Congress in Tuesday’s midterm elections, dealing a heavy blow to President Donald Trump as voters vented frustration over rising costs and the Iran war. With Democrats set to take over Congress in January, they will have the power to block Trump’s agenda and investigate his administration. Under these conditions, the president is expected to face a far more constrained final two years in office, with... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3373270/us-midterm-takeaways-trumps-blame-game-elons-space-lasers-and-rest-world https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3373270/us-midterm-takeaways-trumps-blame-game-elons-space-lasers-and-rest-world Wed, 04 Nov 2026 10:00:22 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Democrats won control of both houses of Congress in midterm elections as US voters punished President Donald Trump over inflation, corruption and rising healthcare costs. The party was on track for at least 54 Senate seats after upset wins in long-standing Republican strongholds including South Carolina, Texas and Kansas. In the House of Representatives, Democrats were set to pick up dozens of seats and gain a double-figure majority. A collapse in Trump’s approval ratings amid record petrol and... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/us/us-elections/article/3373259/trump-suffers-midterms-trouncing-weeks-xi-meeting https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/us/us-elections/article/3373259/trump-suffers-midterms-trouncing-weeks-xi-meeting Wed, 04 Nov 2026 09:24:47 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Americans and the rest of the world woke up on Wednesday to a seismic shift in the US political landscape as Democrats trounced Republicans, US President Donald Trump’s weapons of fear and intimidation suddenly appeared dull and possibly, just possibly, the US could start repairing its badly battered global image. While the final electoral count could take days, the trend was crystal clear. A blue tsunami had washed over the noisy, powerful land, with Democrats set to hold 55 or 56 Senate seats... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3373224/us-voters-unleash-blue-wave-handing-congress-democrats-and-rebuking-trump https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3373224/us-voters-unleash-blue-wave-handing-congress-democrats-and-rebuking-trump Wed, 04 Nov 2026 05:33:25 +0000 Teresa Elena Frontado,Han Li,Zhang Tong Teresa Elena Frontado,Han Li,Zhang Tong Polls began closing across the United States on Tuesday evening in midterm elections that will decide whether US President Donald Trump’s Republicans keep control of Congress, after a day of voting disrupted by floods and machine glitches but largely free of the problems many had feared. The first polls closed at 6pm Eastern Time (7am Hong Kong time), with most states following over the next several hours. The last state to close polls will be Alaska, at 1am Eastern Time (2pm Hong Kong time).... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/us-elections/article/3373191/us-midterms-what-happened-while-asia-slept-and-when-expect-results https://www.scmp.com/news/us/us-elections/article/3373191/us-midterms-what-happened-while-asia-slept-and-when-expect-results Tue, 03 Nov 2026 23:57:21 +0000 SCMP Reporters SCMP Reporters Democrats seized both chambers of Congress in the 2026 US midterm elections, flipping Senate seats in Republican strongholds and ending the control President Donald Trump had enjoyed since his return to the White House. The war in Iran loomed over the vote, and Trump acknowledged that higher petrol prices had hurt his party, but said he would make the same decision to go to war again. When the new Congress convenes in January 2027, the Democrats will be able to block Trump’s legislation,... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/us-elections/article/3373188/trumps-fate-balance-us-midterm-elections-put-house-senate-grabs https://www.scmp.com/news/us/us-elections/article/3373188/trumps-fate-balance-us-midterm-elections-put-house-senate-grabs Tue, 03 Nov 2026 23:00:59 +0000 Junjie Wang Junjie Wang Chinese President Xi Jinping met four foreign leaders in October – two each from Africa and Europe – with the month dominated by the Communist Party Central Committee’s fifth plenum. The pace will probably pick up in November. Xi has already met Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, and he will host an Apec summit on November 18–19. The Shenzhen event will probably feature talks with US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other regional leaders. https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3373073/xi-jinping-meets-foreign-leaders-tracker-october-2026 https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3373073/xi-jinping-meets-foreign-leaders-tracker-october-2026 Tue, 03 Nov 2026 04:19:00 +0000 Nayan Seth,Lucy Quaggin Nayan Seth,Lucy Quaggin A top OpenAI executive said on Monday that Washington needs to be “clear-eyed” and “aware” about sharing information with Beijing during coming talks on artificial intelligence (AI), while also warning about the threat posed by alleged Chinese distillation attacks. “Be very clear-eyed. Be very aware of what information you are able to expect in return for what you are sharing, and start to build a foundation,” said Caroline Zier, OpenAI’s deputy lead for national security, during a discussion at... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3373052/openai-executive-urges-caution-china-us-ai-talks-warns-distillation-threats https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3373052/openai-executive-urges-caution-china-us-ai-talks-warns-distillation-threats Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:03:51 +0000 Teresa Elena Frontado Teresa Elena Frontado Americans go to the polls on Tuesday, November 3, in midterm elections that could reshape the final two years of Donald Trump’s second term as president. Control of both chambers of Congress is in play, along with 36 governorships. Polls suggest Democrats go into the vote with an advantage, but the outcome will hinge on a few dozen closely fought races. More than 100 million people are expected to vote if turnout matches the 2022 midterms. By October 12, a record US$3.8 billion had been spent on... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3372793/us-midterm-elections-2026-all-you-need-know https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3372793/us-midterm-elections-2026-all-you-need-know Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:14 +0000 Reuters Reuters US President Donald Trump’s approval rating held near a career low as a broad swathe of the US electorate saw their vote in Tuesday’s congressional midterm elections as a way to oppose the Republican president, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on ‌Monday. The poll results underscore Republican vulnerabilities brought on by a surge in fuel prices since Trump launched a war on Iran in February. Voters in the nationwide poll said they preferred Democrats over Republicans - 46 per cent to... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3373049/trumps-approval-rating-near-career-low-ahead-elections-poll-finds https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3373049/trumps-approval-rating-near-career-low-ahead-elections-poll-finds Mon, 02 Nov 2026 23:11:13 +0000 Teresa Elena Frontado Teresa Elena Frontado US President Donald Trump ended the midterm campaign season on Monday by calling the Democratic Party’s candidates the “most extreme and dangerous” in American history, the day before voters decide which party controls Congress. Speaking at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, which reopened after a renovation by his administration, Trump called the elections “the most important midterm, I believe, in our lifetime”. “These are the most dangerous candidates ever put up,” he... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3373047/trump-closes-midterm-campaign-calling-democratic-candidates-most-dangerous-ever https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3373047/trump-closes-midterm-campaign-calling-democratic-candidates-most-dangerous-ever Mon, 02 Nov 2026 21:29:12 +0000 Zhang Tong Zhang Tong Artificial intelligence (AI) is now solving maths puzzles that have long stumped humans, prompting mathematicians around the world, including in China, to ponder not only whether machines will replace them, but also what achievement and research in their field will mean in the future. In early October, OpenAI released manuscripts showing progress on 372 categories of mathematical problems, including many which have long defied solutions. This week, the American AI firm announced three further... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/science-technology/article/3373045/ai-solves-maths-puzzles-faster-humans-mathematicians-face-uncertain-future https://www.scmp.com/news/us/science-technology/article/3373045/ai-solves-maths-puzzles-faster-humans-mathematicians-face-uncertain-future Mon, 02 Nov 2026 20:31:27 +0000 Reuters Reuters Acting on the eve of the ⁠US midterm elections, the Supreme Court quickly rejected on Monday a bid by President Donald Trump’s administration to temporarily block California from counting mail-in ballots from more than 20,000 registered voters who federal officials allege are likely non-US citizens. The justices denied the Justice Department’s emergency request just hours after it filed it, shutting down the administration’s claims over disputed ballots that could have affected thousands of... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3373041/trump-administration-asks-supreme-court-set-aside-20000-disputed-california-ballots https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3373041/trump-administration-asks-supreme-court-set-aside-20000-disputed-california-ballots Mon, 02 Nov 2026 17:57:38 +0000