Author: Verified News Online

AdvertisementMiddle EastWorldMiddle EastSyria’s leader arrives in US for Trump visit after removal from terrorism blacklistAhmed al-Sharaa, whose rebel forces ousted Assad, has been working to present a moderate image, in a break from his group’s violent past
Reading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPAgence France-PressePublished: 7:10am, 9 Nov 2025Updated: 7:51am, 9 Nov 2025Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrived in the United States on Saturday for a landmark official visit, his country’s state news agency reported, a day after Washington removed him from a terrorism blacklist.
AdvertisementSharaa, whose rebel forces ousted long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad late last year, is due to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday.
The interim leader met Trump for the first time in Riyadh during the US president’s regional tour in May.
US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack said earlier this month that Sharaa would “hopefully” sign an agreement to join the international US-led al..

AdvertisementHong Kong economyOpinionChina OpinionBruce PangOpinion | Hong Kong holds key ‘accelerator’ role as China’s trade strategy evolvesThe city’s institutional strengths, strategic location and service capabilities make it a pivotal enabler of China’s changing trade architecture
Reading Time:3 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPBruce PangPublished: 6:30am, 9 Nov 2025China’s trade has displayed remarkable resilience this year. Its goods trade expanded 4 per cent year on year for the nine months so far in yuan terms, according to customs data. Quarterly growth accelerated from 1.3 per cent at the start of the year, to 4.5 per cent by midyear and finally to 6 per cent. This steady momentum reflects both the robustness of demand and continued refinement of China’s trade structure.AdvertisementBut the regional performance has been uneven. Exports to the United States fell 27 per cent year on year in September under the weight of tariffs, continuing August’s decline. The European market, ho..

Viewers tuning in to Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Thursday night were surprised to see a rerun instead of the new episode that had been promoted. The show was scheduled to feature David Duchovny, Stranger Things actor Joe Keery and singer Madison Beer. No announcement was made before the change, which led to confusion and questions across social media.Sudden schedule change with no explanationThe only confirmation came from Madison Beer. She posted on Instagram that her appearance had been “rescheduled due to unforeseen circumstances.” Duchovny and Keery did not comment. The show’s official channels also remained silent, and ABC did not respond to requests for clarification.One viewer shared an email from the show’s audience department stating that the taping had been postponed and that tickets would be rebooked. Entertainment site LateNighter suggested the delay was due to a personal matter concerning Kimmel, though no details were provided.This is the first unplanned change since Kimmel was..

The 20-ounce glass Bearista cup, priced at US$29.95, sold out within minutes, leaving fans camping outside Starbucks stores overnight without success/ Image: X Just as the world was recovering from the Labubu frenzy, another collectible craze has stirred the internet into a froth, this time, in the form of a teddy bear-shaped glass cup from Starbucks. The new “Bearista” cold cup, part of the coffee chain’s 2025 holiday collection, has proven so wildly popular that fans have camped out overnight, brawled in stores, and flooded social media with complaints, forcing Starbucks to issue an official apology.A cuddly cup that brewed chaosReleased on 6 November 2025 alongside Starbucks’ festive drinks menu, the Glass Starbucks Bearista Cold Cup is a 20-ounce glass vessel moulded in the shape of a teddy bear. It features a green knitted Starbucks beanie, a reusable straw, and a price tag of US$29.95. The design, both nostalgic and charming, immediately caught the attention of collectors and Sta..

AdvertisementDonald TrumpWorldUnited States & CanadaTrump says US to boycott G20 in South Africa, citing treatment of white farmersThe US president says no American officials will attend this year’s Group of 20 summit, repeating claims of abuse of Afrikaners
Reading Time:1 minuteWhy you can trust SCMPAssociated PressPublished: 6:48am, 8 Nov 2025US President Donald Trump said Friday that no American government officials would be attending the Group of 20 summit this year in South Africa, citing the country’s treatment of white farmers.
AdvertisementTrump had already announced he would not attend the annual summit for heads of state from the globe’s leading and emerging economies.
US Vice-President J.D. Vance had been scheduled to attend in Trump’s place, but a person familiar with Vance’s plans who was granted anonymity to talk about his schedule said Vance would no longer travel there for the summit.
“It is a total disgrace that the G20 will be held in South Africa,” Trump said on his ..