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AdvertisementDonald TrumpWorldUnited States & CanadaEx-Trump aide John Bolton charged amid crackdown on US president’s criticsThe former national security adviser has been indicted for allegedly retaining and transmitting national defence information
Reading Time:3 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPReutersPublished: 5:30am, 17 Oct 2025Updated: 5:52am, 17 Oct 2025John Bolton US President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, was indicted on Thursday on charges of retaining and transmitting national defence information, marking the third time in recent weeks the US Justice Department has secured criminal charges against one of the Republican president’s critics.
AdvertisementBolton’s lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment. His lawyer had previously denied that Bolton engaged in wrongdoing.
The indictment, according to court records, comes after court documents made public last month revealed that Bolton was under federal investigation for potential mishandling ..

AdvertisementAseanThis Week in AsiaPoliticsWhat Trump’s visa pause means for Southeast Asia and US regional prioritiesThe move reflects an ‘America first’ policy approach and treats certain allies in the region as ‘strategically insignificant’, analysts say
Reading Time:4 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPSam BeltranPublished: 2:00pm, 17 Jan 2026The inclusion of four Southeast Asian nations in the United States’ 75-country visa suspension has thrown up questions over Washington’s foreign policy approach, including its interest in the region.Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Thailand are among countries affected by the indefinite suspension, set to take effect on January 21, as the Donald Trump administration continues to roll out punitive measures to drastically restrict immigration.
The list, released by the US Department of State on Wednesday, is targeted at countries embroiled in conflict, but also extends to long-standing American allies and others with a long history of relations with Washin..

AdvertisementChina’s Communist PartyChinaPoliticsChina urged to boost hi-tech innovation to drive development at home and abroadSpeakers at a conference pointed to the country’s advances in a number of fields, with one saying it could help support the Global South
Reading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPPhoebe Zhangin ShenzhenPublished: 10:00am, 4 Dec 2025China should focus on technological innovation to drive domestic and global development, a forum this week has heard.China would push for high-quality development and opening up to the outside world, Li Shulei, head of the Communist Party’s publicity department, told the 2025 Understanding China Conference in Guangzhou on Monday.
The event, which ran between Sunday and Tuesday, was attended by around 800 people and technological innovation was a central theme.
AdvertisementChina also strove to help developing countries and worked with all parties to address challenges in global development, Chen Xiaodong, director of the China Int..