China’s Xi eyes Apec trilateral; no outrunning deadly Nepal floods: SCMP’s 7 highlights

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.
2. China demands rights guarantee as US firm secures 100-year Venezuelan oil deal
China has demanded protection of its interests in Venezuela after a US-backed energy company was granted 100-year concessions covering oilfields previously operated by Chinese and Russian firms.
3. China-Nepal floods: first research shows no one could have outrun debris flow

Not even the world’s fastest sprinters could have outrun the devastating floodwaters that struck a border crossing between China and Nepal last week, according to one of the first peer-reviewed assessments of the disaster.
4. HKIS settles bitter legal row with US church co-founder with substantial payment
An almost year-long legal dispute involving a prestigious Hong Kong international school and its US-based co-founder, a Lutheran church, has been resolved out of court, with the school making a substantial payment and ending its association with the religious body.
5. Air China Boeing 747 grounded in New York following gate refuelling incident

A Boeing 747-8 operated by Air China reportedly suffered a fuel leak at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport early on Monday, forcing the cancellation of the flight.
6. US$1.6 billion levy complicates sale of Singapore land by Malaysian king’s son
A Malaysian royal’s plan to sell a tract of land in the heart of Singapore faces a complication: a tax bill that may exceed US$1 billion.
7. China teen with zero programming skills earns US$2,600 in 3 days selling AI study app

A 13-year-old girl in China has earned 18,000 yuan (US$2,600) in just three days from an artificial intelligence (AI) product she developed to assist parents in supervising their children’s study habits.