
A senior Russian aide suggested that Chinese President Xi Jinping, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin could hold a trilateral meeting at the next Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, according to SCMP's weekly selection of top stories.
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The article references SCMP's weekly selection of top stories from Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond.
From an Air China jet grounded in New York to a Hong Kong school’s legal settlement, here are top stories from SCMP’s recent reporting
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Published: 12:15pm, 4 Sep 2026
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. Xi, Trump and Putin may hold trilateral meeting at next Apec forum, Kremlin says
A senior Russian aide suggested on Tuesday that Chinese President Xi Jinping, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin could hold a trilateral meeting at the next Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
A trilateral meeting between Xi Jinping, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will occur at the next Apec summit
Possible · Within weeks

When support fell, President Murray stressed the issue of sovereignty in the Falkland Islands to rally supporters; U.S. President Trump suggested that support for Britain could be reconsidered; and he immediately delivered a nationwide speech.

The giant Arc de Triomphe project in Washington promoted by US President Trump is about to enter the construction phase, and US Secretary of the Interior Bergen announced that excavation work will begin as soon as the next two weeks. The triumphal arch is 250 feet high, all white, with golden angel and eagle statues on the top. It is scheduled to be built on the grass circle between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. The plan, which was not consulted with Congress, has sparked controversy because its sheer size would block sightlines between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.

Since August 1, the US has suspended visa services in 25 African cities and required a $20,000 bond from travelers in 30 African nations, drawing criticism that the measures are punitive and may push affected countries closer to China, despite State Department claims of enhancing national security through uniform screening standards.

Yilan mayoral candidate Han Ying of the Democratic Progressive Party registered to run today and held a rally to announce the vision of "New Good Mayor, Six New Municipalities". She was supported by former county magistrate Liu Shoucheng, legislator Chen Junyu, former mayor Jiang Congyuan and county magistrate candidate Lin Guozhang. The young people at the scene responded enthusiastically, calling on voters to support the transformation of Yilan City.

Liu Jianguo, candidate for Yunlin County Mayor of the Democratic Progressive Party, completed registration on the last day of registration for the 2026 nine-in-one election. It is rumored that President Lai Qingde will personally serve as the chairman of his campaign headquarters. Liu Jianguo responded that it has not yet been discussed but there are suggestions from relevant people, and emphasized that Yunlin needs all-people politics to avoid the continuation of family politics. The election campaign is regarded as a key battlefield that the Democratic Progressive Party Central Committee attaches great importance to.

U.S. President Trump announced that he would require European countries to repay the military aid and ammunition provided by the U.S. military during the Russia-Ukraine war, and hinted that he may suspend arms sales to allies. He also denied reports that the U.S. military's ammunition inventory is running low, saying that the United States is expanding production and hoarding ammunition. These remarks are related to the ammunition consumption of the US military in the Iran conflict, the rise in international oil prices and the dispute over Congressional control.