China's embassy in the United States says it will not cave in to pressure or threats after President Donald Trump vowed to slap an additional 50 percent tariffs on Chinese goods if Beijing did not retract its countermeasures to the sweeping American levies imposed last week. America¡¦s other trading partners have been wrestling with their responses to the tariff hikes, with several planning to send negotiators to Washington. The European Union has warned that retaliation is an option too, but has signalled a willingness to work with the Trump administration. Jamie Clarke reports:

Trump continued to defend his strategy on Monday, saying tariffs would make the US even richer:

China has accused the United States of economic bullying by imposing stiff tariffs on its trading partners. Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian also warned Washington that its action will backfire:

US stocks closed lower overnight after a roller coaster session on Wall Street, with investors worried about an economic slowdown and rising inflation as President Donald Trump dug in his heels on tariffs. The Dow finished down 0.9 percent, and the broad-based S&P 500 dipped 0.2 percent, the tech-rich Nasdaq edged up 0.1 percent. Across the Atlantic, European shares also endured a difficult day as Jamie Clarke reports:

It was Black Monday for investors as markets across the Asia Pacific region collapsed amid an escalating trade war, triggering renewed fears of a looming recession. As Chloe Feng reports, 11 major Asia Pacific benchmarks fell to their lowest level in a year, while Hong Kong's key index plummeted 13 percent, marking its worst rout in nearly three decades.

Despite the sell-off, Financial Secretary Paul Chan says the local financial system remains sound, and that the government will closely monitor the situation. More on that from Damon Pang:

Some local investment experts said the slump came as investors raced to liquidate part of their holdings, fearing a cash crunch. Others noted that it was caused by institutional investors trying to reduce their stock exposure. Kenny Wen, Head of Investment Strategy at KGI Asia, told Chloe Feng that the downward trend might continue because of higher uncertainties.

In other news, airline passengers are banned from using and charging their power banks during flights. As Charlie Chun reports, portable chargers can also be no longer stored in the overhead compartments of local airlines.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan says Hong Kong is committed to creating a promising and successful future for the development of Web3, or third generation Internet. Natasha Ho reports:

Home affairs minister Alice Mak has defended some district councillors who did not speak during meetings for an entire year. The Ming Pao newspaper, citing minutes, said six appointed, or ex-officio members, never said a word at full council sessions in their first year in office. Damon Pang reports:

The justice minister has stressed that educating the public on national security is an ongoing effort. As Charlie Chun reports, Paul Lam urged people to stay vigilant against possible threats.

The Airport Authority board has appointed Vivian Cheung as its chief executive. She began her three-year term yesterday. Azam Khan reports:

Major flooding in the Congolese capital of Kinshasa has killed at least 30 people. The disaster has cut off access to over half of the city and the country's main airport. According to a provincial health minister, most of the fatalities in Friday's deluge were caused by collapsing walls. The city's main road that links Kinshasa to the rest of Congo was damaged by the flooding. Officials are worried about the impact on trade. Jamie Clarke has more:

A modern dance drama inspired by renowned Chinese poet Su Dongpo, and innovative works relating to tea, are some of the highlights of an upcoming Chinese Culture Festival organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. The festival will be held from June to September, and features more than 280 performing arts programmes, with art groups and artists from the SAR and around the country taking part. According to Ivy Ngai, the festival aims to blend modern and traditional elements, to promote Chinese culture and enhance the public's national identity and cultural confidence. She spoke to Natasha Ho.

This is turning out to be a most-successful toy story. The highly-popular Labubu dolls have become a truly global phenomenon, bringing success to Pop Mart, the Chinese toymaker behind it. Net profit of the Beijing-based firm has surged, and so has its share price. Chole Feng unpacks the secret behind its success in this week's episode of China Perspectives.