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. Trump says China’s talks with Vietnam are probably intended to ‘screw’ US China’s efforts to deepen economic ties with Vietnam was likely part of a plan to “screw” the US, American President Donald Trump suggested on Monday while discussing tariffs and possible exemptions for automobiles and auto parts. 2. The Chinese AI scientists dying in the pursuit of greatness Artificial intelligence is at the heart of the US-China tech war, with Chinese firms such as DeepSeek challenging American dominance. But while China has a growing AI talent pool and home-grown success stories, the country has also lost a handful of leading figures in the crucial sector. The early deaths of these experts – due to accidents or illness – have raised concerns about the personal safety of those in the industry and the stressful research environment they face. 3. Hongkong Post won’t accept US-bound parcels amid Trump tariff war Hongkong Post will stop accepting parcels for delivery to the United States by land and sea with immediate effect. The postal service said on Wednesday that it would contact senders of packages that had not been shipped yet to arrange for a return of their items and a refund, starting from April 22. Parcels containing only documents would not be affected, it added. 4. Questions remain 5 years after death in US of Chinese scientist Nongjian Tao According to a report obtained by the Post from the university’s police department, Tao died by suicide and had been under significant work-related stress before his death. Yet five years later, questions about Tao’s death remain – including whether some of that stress was the result of possible inquiries by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States, the world’s largest biomedical research funder and the main source of Tao’s research grant. 5. Xi’s visit: Malaysia ‘stands with China’ amid US tariff threat, Anwar says Malaysia stands with China on trade, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has said as the two nations signed a raft of deals covering artificial intelligence, rail connectivity and even the export of coconuts, during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the Southeast Asian nation. 6. ‘Almost no orders’: Shenzhen chip traders mull closing shop as US tariffs bite The bustling commercial streets around one of the world’s largest electronics markets belie a secret inside its malls that illustrates how fast tariffs have hit China’s semiconductor traders. 7. China appoints new trade representative as US tariff war heats up China appointed a new international trade representative at the Ministry of Commerce (Mofcom) on Wednesday amid an unprecedented trade war with the United States. Li Chenggang will replace 59-year-old Wang Shouwen, who participated in negotiations over the 2020 trade deal between the world’s two largest economies, according to a government statement.