US, China trade chiefs hold call ahead of Trump-Xi summit in Shenzhen

South China Morning Post - Nov 6, 2026

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...

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Illit brings back Little Mimi collaboration with December album release

Illit brings back Little Mimi collaboration with December album release

K-pop girl group Illit is reviving its popular collaboration with Korean character brand Little Mimi, turning its upcoming fifth mini-album into a collectible release designed to appeal to younger fans. According to BELIFT LAB, part of HYBE Music Group, the Little Mimi edition of “BREAK EVEN” will be released Dec. 30, marking the group's second collaboration with the character brand. The partnership follows last year's Little Mimi edition of Illit's first single album, “NOT CUTE ANYMORE,” which sold out during its preorder period and required additional production. The new release takes the form of a Little Mimi doll key ring and includes a mini CD, a lyrics sheet, three photocards and stickers, combining music with collectible merchandise. Its design draws inspiration from the “black agent” concept of the album's title track, “I'll Get You,” incorporating ribbons and frills into the character's outfit to echo the group's appearance in the music video. BELIFT LAB said the doll could also be styled alongside whistle key rings and charms previously released as part of the al

Seventeen's Joshua brings bold elegance to Vogue Korea digital covers

Seventeen's Joshua brings bold elegance to Vogue Korea digital covers

Seventeen member Joshua is putting his growing influence in fashion and beauty on display, appearing in three digital covers for Vogue Korea in collaboration with luxury brand Tom Ford Beauty. Vogue Korea released the three covers on its official social media accounts on Thursday, showcasing Joshua in a photo shoot themed “Bold Ambition.” The images pair his sophisticated appeal with daring styling, highlighting a more mature and refined look in collaboration with Tom Ford Beauty, for which he serves as an ambassador. In an accompanying interview, Joshua discussed his ambitions to continue developing as an artist and explore new creative opportunities. After forming a unit with fellow Seventeen member Jeonghan and releasing its first mini-album, “DREAMSCAPE,” Joshua said he had become increasingly dedicated to music and hoped to share more of his own work. “I want to further develop my abilities and show you songs of my own,” he said. “My heart has become more deeply invested in making music than before, and I am also learning acting,” he said, adding that he had developed

Min Hee-jin's side says HYBE had final say over NewJeans contracts

Min Hee-jin's side says HYBE had final say over NewJeans contracts

In response to foreign media reports that group NewJeans' exclusive contract contained unfair clauses, HYBE has stated that former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin was the contracting party at the time. In response, Min Hee-jin, the representative of OAKK Records and former CEO of Ador, countered that HYBE held the final approval authority. "It is time for HYBE to move beyond the absurd notion that Min Hee-jin is responsible for everything and demonstrate accountability and a willingness to improve for the future of K-pop," Min's side said in an official statement released Thursday. It criticized the company for shifting responsibility onto its subsidiary, pointing to a decision-making structure under which contracts could not be finalized without approval from HYBE's CEO. The dispute follows a report by The New York Times that exclusive contracts signed by NewJeans members when they were minors contained unfair provisions. In response, HYBE and Ador said they had signed supplementary agreements incorporating basic human rights protections into the contracts. They also said the wording had been ne

Actor Kim Soo-hyun to testify against YouTuber in defamation trial

Actor Kim Soo-hyun to testify against YouTuber in defamation trial

Actor Kim Soo-hyun will appear as a witness in the trial of Kim Se-ui, head of the YouTube channel Garo Sero Research Institute (Gaseyeon), who has been indicted on charges of defaming the actor and spreading false information about him. According to legal sources Friday, Kim Soo-hyun is scheduled to testify at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Seoul Central District Court in the trial of Kim Se-ui, who faces charges including defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act, distribution of illegally filmed material under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes and stalking. The witness examination will be held behind closed doors to protect the victim. Kim Se-ui was arrested and indicted in June on charges of spreading false claims through YouTube broadcasts and press conferences between March and December last year. He alleged that Kim Soo-hyun had been in a relationship with the late actress Kim Sae-ron for about six years, beginning when she was 15, and that pressure from the actor's side to repay debts was a factor in her death. Kim also faces alleg

Democratic Congress to guard US’ Taiwan policy and press Trump on arms sales

Democratic Congress to guard US’ Taiwan policy and press Trump on arms sales

The Democratic US Congress may push for faster arms sales to Taiwan following the party’s resounding midterm election victories, but there will be no fundamental shifts in broader US policy towards the island, according to analysts. And if the likely next House speaker, Hakeem Jeffries – a long-time supporter of Taiwan – “crosses the red line” on the issue, Beijing was expected to take strong countermeasures, one analyst said. “A Democratic-controlled Congress will ramp up pressure on Trump to...

More funding could be sought if HK$10b university town loan scheme falls short

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Hong Kong’s education secretary has said she will seek additional funding if a HK$10 billion loan scheme falls short of the needs of institutions setting foot in the Northern Metropolis’ first university town, while warning that their financial plans must be feasible and they must not “take chances”. A task force jointly established by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Hong Kong Association of Banks will designate 11 tertiary institutions as public sector entities to help them secure bank...

Trump left with ‘no good options’ to end Iran war after crushing US midterms defeat

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As Republican losses in the US midterm elections highlight how unpopular the war in Iran is, all eyes are on Washington’s next moves and whether the election results could set the stage for a quicker end to the conflict. However, experts remain sceptical, arguing that while the results will cripple the Trump administration and force it to rethink its strategy, they leave the broader US position unchanged, making a protracted war far more likely than diplomatic talks. Democrats seized full...

A kill switch for epilepsy? China cuts seizures by 92.6% in first human chemogenetic trial

A kill switch for epilepsy? China cuts seizures by 92.6% in first human chemogenetic trial

For people living with refractory epilepsy, the brain is like a city that can suffer a blackout any time lightning strikes. Without warning, an abnormal neural discharge can sweep through the intracranial circuits, leaving behind convulsions, loss of consciousness and years of lingering panic. Around one-third of epilepsy patients worldwide are completely unresponsive to existing medications, while traditional craniotomy resection surgery often carries the risk of irreversible neurological...

Family Business Summit day 2 tackles US-China ties, Asean and geopolitical shifts

Family Business Summit day 2 tackles US-China ties, Asean and geopolitical shifts

The Family Business Summit wrapped up on Friday with delegates weighing China-US relations, Southeast Asia’s growth trajectory and the Russian economy, against a backdrop of geopolitical flux shaped by Washington’s post-midterm political landscape and expected high-level diplomacy at this month’s Apec forum. The South China Morning Post and Blue Pool Capital co-hosted the fourth edition of the summit, with UBS as the presenting partner. The two-day closed-door event in Hong Kong served as a...

Midterm swing won’t change trajectory of US-China rivalry

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Hong Kong firms must innovate to compete in mainland China, trade chief says

Hong Kong firms must innovate to compete in mainland China, trade chief says

Hong Kong companies can survive intense competition in mainland China by being innovative and maintaining high standards, the head of the city’s trade promotion body has said. Hong Kong Trade Development Council chairman Frederick Ma Si-hang said on Friday that the city was also tapping into emerging markets in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa to counter global trade uncertainties. “I feel that Hong Kong manufacturers need to be more innovative; think of ways to use our strengths to...

Tokyo still ‘dodging the issue’ a year on from Takaichi row, Beijing says

Tokyo still ‘dodging the issue’ a year on from Takaichi row, Beijing says

Beijing has said responsibility for the “serious difficulties in China-Japan relations lay entirely with Tokyo” one year on from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s controversial comments about Taiwan. Takaichi is planning to visit China this month for the Apec summit, but on Friday foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun accused the Japanese authorities of continuing to evade the issue and showing no willingness to correct her remarks. “A year ago, the Japanese leader made erroneous remarks on...

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