2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenSCMPPublished: 11:50am, 1 May 2026We 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 economic gap over China to widen, but Iran might bring them closer: former UN officialThe economic divide between the United States and China is projected to widen to US$11 trillion by the end of the decade, yet escalating geopolitics could inadvertently act as a stabilising force for bilateral ties, according to a prominent global strategist.
Chinese social media reacted with amusement and disbelief as Britain’s King Charles gave US President Donald Trump a World War II-era British submarine bell as a gift, highlighting differing cultural interpretations of the unusual gesture.
A new survey shows 19.4 per cent of Singapore’s resident workforce had academic qualifications beyond what was required for their job in 2025.
