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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
Donald Trump
Head of Government
President Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Authorities say fixers recruited basketball players with “bribe payments” usually ranging from US$10,000 to US$30,000 per game. Photo: AP
Chinese Basketball Association

US charges 20 people with rigging university, Chinese basketball games: NBC

The ‍suspects sought to ‘fix’ Chinese Basketball Association men’s games by ‘point ‍shaving’, prosecutors said. Charges include bribery.

US immigration

US appeal court reverses order that freed pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil

Protests around the world

Minneapolis on edge as Trump threatens Insurrection Act to end protests

Donald Trump

EU allies bolster Greenland troop presence amid Trump’s takeover bid

Initial deployments are small – including just 13 German and 15 French specialists – but aim to demonstrate united resolve.

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Danish military forces participate in an exercise with hundreds of troops from several European Nato members in the Arctic Ocean in Nuuk, Greenland in September 2025. Photo: AP
US-China relations

The US has sent a ‘dangerous’ message and China must act, legal expert warns

Beijing think tank expert calls for legislation to protect against ‘external suppression’ and to safeguard technology and supply chains.

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Nicolas Maduro

US seizes Venezuela-linked tanker in Caribbean ahead of Trump-Machado meeting

The ‍seizure marks the sixth vessel ‌targeted in recent weeks that was ‍either carrying Venezuelan oil or had done so ‌in the past.

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China-Middle East relations

China warns against ‘law of the jungle’ amid anti-government protests in Iran

Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi that Beijing was willing to mediate.

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The wave of protests in Iran may be the most significant since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Photo: AP
Semiconductors

Chinese firms to incur higher costs for deploying AI chips from US: analysts

‘Beijing has made it politically unpalatable for private firms to rely too much on imported AI chips,’ EIU senior analyst Chim Lee says.

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China-Canada relations

China and Canada at ‘new starting point’ as Mark Carney makes state visit

Chinese Premier Li Qiang says the two countries have worked together to achieve a turnaround in relations.

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Ukraine war

Kremlin warns Ukraine running out of time to accept peace terms

The Kremlin insists Ukraine is running out of options as US-led talks stall, warning that the ‘situation is deteriorating’ for Kyiv daily.

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Firefighters work at a private delivery company’s logistics hub hit by a Russian missile strike in Kharkiv, Ukraine on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters
European Union

Opinion | An internally split Europe can never fully engage China and Asia

The Brussels effect is real but so is Europe’s strategic subordination to the US. For China, and Asia, this means proceeding with pragmatism.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
Rare earths

Trump tackles China’s rare earth grip with talks instead of tariffs

The US president’s new global deal-making drive kick-starts what is likely to be a years-long effort to pare reliance on Chinese critical minerals.

India

‘Trump’s wrath’: India’s aim to diversify trade via Iran faces tariff threat

The 25 per cent tariff against countries that trade with Iran may curtail India’s plan to develop the Chabahar port in Iran.

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US Federal Reserve

Macroscope | Investors are giving Trump a free pass

Markets, especially bond markets, are meant to be a disciplining force. Their inaction will only embolden Trump to act more recklessly.

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A video of US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell plays on a screen on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on January 12. Powell has rejected the Trump administration’s claims of wrongdoing against him, calling them a pretext for punishing him for not cutting interest rates as fast as US President Donald Trump desired. Photo: AP
China-South Korea relations

South Korean leader takes ‘pragmatic approach’ to reset ties with China, Japan

The president made back-to-back trips to the neighbouring countries as tensions are running high between Beijing and Tokyo.

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South Korean President Lee Jae Myung takes a selfie with Chinese leader Xi Jinping after a dinner at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on January 5. Photo: AFP
2025 Cambodia-Thailand conflict

Token gesture? Why US is spending US$45 million on Thai-Cambodian border war

Washington is looking to reposition itself as the main peacemaker in Southeast Asia following Beijing’s mediation successes, analysts say.

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Donald Trump

Man shot by US officer in Minneapolis as tensions flare over crackdown

A week after the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, an agent fired ‘defensive shots’ during a struggle involving a snow shovel and three people.

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Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks snap 4-day winning streak as Chinese tech giants falter

Online travel-booking agency Trip.com slumps 19 per cent after China opens antitrust probe into the company.

Hong Kong stocks have outperformed their US peers so far this year. Photo: China News Service/VCG
Artificial intelligence

Musk’s Grok barred from undressing AI images after global backlash

‘Spicy Mode’ feature had allowed users to create sexualised deepfakes of women and children.

India

Trump’s 500% tariff push raises risk of India-US trade freeze

Such punitive tariffs would erode India’s export competitiveness and force the country to reorient its trade elsewhere, analysts warn.

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Hong Kong

Legal Tales | Time to end bid-rigging in Hong Kong with criminalisation, tougher enforcement

In the wake of the Tai Po fire, an all-too-common practice in building management and maintenance comes under the spotlight – and must be redressed.

The catastrophic blaze at Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court has exposed widespread bid-rigging in Hong Kong’s building management and maintenance industry. Photo: Sam Tsang
US-Venezuela conflict

Trump prevails in US Senate showdown over Venezuela war powers

A 51–50 vote kills war powers resolution after Trump pressure flips two key Republican defectors.

US fighter jets parked on the apron at the former Roosevelt Roads naval base in Ceiba, Puerto Rico. Photo: Reuters
US-China trade war

Trump sets 180-day deadline to counter China’s control of critical minerals

US government warns global suppliers to negotiate agreements to secure reliable, diversified supplies for the US or face new trade hurdles.

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Nasa

Astronauts splash down on Earth after first-ever medical evacuation

The crew’s mission on the International Space Station was cut short by over a month.

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China stock market

Hong Kong, China stocks to outpace US equities all year: analysts

Hang Seng Index poised to reach 30,000 as Chinese stocks’ valuations make them difficult for global investors to ignore, Tiger Brokers says.

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on January 12, 2026. Photo: AP Photo
US-Venezuela conflict

Trump praises Venezuela’s ‘terrific’ interim president after call

After sidelining Venezuela’s opposition, the US president touts ‘tremendous progress’ on oil and security with Maduro’s former deputy.

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Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez at Miraflores Palace in Caracas on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters
Artificial intelligence

OpenAI sees another ‘seismic shock’ from China as talks swirl of DeepSeek launch

There is heightened anticipation about a potential major DeepSeek release around the Lunar New Year.

US-China relations

Biden administration decision to scrap China Initiative flawed: White House

US top science adviser Michael Kratsios says ceasing programme aimed at combating economic espionage from Beijing ‘damaging’.

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