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Israel

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Israel. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Jerusalem

Head of State

President Isaac Herzog

Head of Government

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific to resume Middle East passenger flights from September

Daily passenger flights to Dubai in UAE and four-times-weekly services to Riyadh will resume on September 1.

5 hours ago

Israel-Gaza war

Gaza marks 1,000 days of war. Palestinians there face an uncertain future

2 Jul 2026 - 2:16PM

Venezuela

Venezuela faces post-quake medical crisis as threat of infections looms

2 Jul 2026 - 4:25PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

Trump sees progress as US and Iran hold talks in Qatar

Both sides agreed to establish a communication channel to report and record violations of their initial memorandum of understanding.

2 Jul 2026 - 7:45AMvideocam

Women talk in front of a banner depicting slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei kissing head of the late commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard expeditionary Quds Force, General Qassem Soleimani, in downtown Tehran on Monday. Photo: AP

China-Japan relations

China’s pressure campaign tests Trump’s commitment to Japan

Tokyo expected stronger US support after Beijing retaliated over Taiwan comments, but analysts say Washington has held back.

2 Jul 2026 - 4:07PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

Ship runs aground in Strait of Hormuz, not using Iran-approved route: state TV

The vessel was described as a foreign container ship in a report apparently aimed at underlining Tehran’s claims to control the strait.

2 Jul 2026 - 2:53AM

US, Israel war on Iran

US, Iran officials hold indirect talks in Qatar to try to end war: diplomat

US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are apparently not taking part in the technical talks. They met Qatar’s PM on Tuesday.

1 Jul 2026 - 11:55PM

The West Bay district in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday. Photo: Xinhua

US, Israel war on Iran

Iran prepares funeral for late supreme leader killed on war’s first day

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s public funeral will begin Saturday as Iran and the US observe a fragile ceasefire.

1 Jul 2026 - 3:16PM

Aviation

Fighter jets scrambled as Tel Aviv-bound flight triggers false hijack alarm

Bulgarian and Israeli military respond after a transponder glitch mistakenly broadcasts hijacking emergency code.

1 Jul 2026 - 9:24AM

Banking & finance

Charm offensive: Bahrain expands Hong Kong push to court mainland China capital

Gulf state leans on tax perks and tokenisation rules to position Hong Kong as its gateway to mainland China investors.

29 Jun 2026 - 2:01PM

Bahrain is hoping to attract foreign investors with financial deregulation. Photo: AP

US, Israel war on Iran

US and Iran pause strikes as Hormuz tests interim deal, Doha talks loom

Efforts to reopen the Strait without Iran’s oversight have sparked days of crossfire.

29 Jun 2026 - 8:49PM

Cargo ships wait off the coast of the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal along the Gulf of Oman. Commercial shipping through the nearby Strait of Hormuz has faced severe disruptions. Photo: AFP

Middle East

Car bombs and shootings kill 5 Arab Israelis in single-day crime wave

Bloodshed pushes community death toll to 142 this year as police tie violence to organised crime networks.

29 Jun 2026 - 11:49AM

Indonesia

Asian Angle | Liberal Islam in Indonesia is sliding into irrelevance

Political entanglements and ideological schisms have left the pioneering Liberal Islam Network in disarray.

28 Jun 2026 - 1:00PM

US, Israel war on Iran

Trump says US hit Iran again, may be ‘forced to militarily complete the job’

If that happened, the Islamic Republic would ‘no longer exist’, Trump warned, after reports that a tanker had been struck in Hormuz.

28 Jun 2026 - 7:51AMvideocam

A woman walks past a mural depicting a US aircraft carrier under missile attack in downtown Tehran, Iran, on June 8. Photo: AP

US, Israel war on Iran

Iran survived 3 months of war. Can it survive the aftermath?

US$270 billion in damage and 4 million citizens plunged into poverty may have broken Iran’s economy.

27 Jun 2026 - 1:41PMvideocam

Smoke and flames rise from the site of US-Israeli airstrikes on an oil depot in Tehran on March 7. Photo: Sasan/Middle East Images/AFP/Getty Images/TNS

US, Israel war on Iran

US strikes Iran after Trump says cargo ship attack violated ceasefire

US Central Command says missile, drone and radar sites were hit after Tehran was accused of targeting vessel in Strait of Hormuz.

27 Jun 2026 - 7:25AMvideocam

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong power firms to give residential customers rebates as bills soar

Two power suppliers say they will provide a subsidy between August and October to ease the pain of rising electricity bills.

26 Jun 2026 - 8:21PM

US, Israel war on Iran

When geography is destiny, Gulf states must diversify their defence, expert says

World Economic Forum meeting also told Iran’s leadership now views economic survival – not geopolitical ambition – as primary priority.

26 Jun 2026 - 8:00PMvideocam

The United Arab Emirates and other Gulf states must help shape the outcome of the Iran war, says Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House. Photo: AFP

United States

Outside In | US the ultimate loser as Iran war ushers in global power upheaval

Defeated by asymmetric warfare and spurned by allies, the US has ended up boosting China’s economy and standing instead.

29 Jun 2026 - 9:31AMvideocam

War and conflict

Ex-general seen as main Netanyahu rival ahead of Israel elections

Gadi Eisenkot’s new centrist party is surging in polls ahead of Israel’s October parliamentary elections.

26 Jun 2026 - 4:36PM

China exports

‘Too many uncertainties’: why China’s exporters remain wary despite US-Iran deal

Traders and logistics companies fear disrupted supply chains and doubts about the agreement’s durability will continue to weigh on business decisions.

26 Jun 2026 - 3:06PMvideocam

A cargo ship remains anchored on May 16 in the Strait of Hormuz near Larak Island, Iran. Photo: Getty Images

Middle East

US’ Rubio wraps up Gulf tour as allies share concerns over Iran peace accord

Rubio did not discuss a US$300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran that is part of the peace proposal.

25 Jun 2026 - 8:26PM

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio leaves after a meeting with Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa during Rubio’s visit to the Middle East to discuss the interim deal between the US and Iran with Arab Gulf allies, at Al-Sakhir Palace, near Zallaq, Bahrain on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

US, Israel war on Iran

Trump casts doubt on US striking Iran school on war’s first day

The February 28 attack, likely carried out by the US, killed more than 175 children and teachers in the southern city of Minab.

25 Jun 2026 - 1:37PM

War and conflict

Opinion | 8 takeaways from the US-Iran war

From the rise of devastating asymmetric warfare to the crumbling of the US maritime hegemony and alliances, the war offers food for thought.

25 Jun 2026 - 5:30AM

China-Middle East relations

At Summer Davos in China, Mideast firms look to next generation to save the Gulf

At World Economic Forum meeting in Dalian, observers see regional self-reliance and economic needs as motivators for change after Iran war.

24 Jun 2026 - 8:00PMvideocam

The meeting of the New Champions in Dalian is known as Summer Davos and expected to bring together more than 1,700 participants from more than 90 countries and regions. Photo: Xinhua

Donald Trump

New poll shows eroding global trust in Trump and America

Pew survey across 36 nations found just 23 per cent of respondents had confidence in Trump to do the right thing in world affairs.

24 Jun 2026 - 2:00PMvideocam

About two-thirds of respondents had little or no confidence in Donald Trump on global affairs. Photo: Getty Images via AFP

US, Israel war on Iran

Rebuking Trump, US Senate joins House in vote to end Iran war

US president blasts vote as ‘meaningless’ as his administration tries to negotiate a peace agreement with Iran.

24 Jun 2026 - 11:43AMvideocam

Ukraine war

Ukraine war: Russia says US hasn’t delivered on Trump-Putin ‘understandings’

With Kyiv claiming to be turning the tide of the conflict, Moscow’s comments signal a growing frustration with Washington.

24 Jun 2026 - 1:54AMvideocam

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Israel

Cathay Pacific to resume Middle East passenger flights from September

Daily passenger flights to Dubai in UAE and four-times-weekly services to Riyadh will resume on September 1.

Gaza marks 1,000 days of war. Palestinians there face an uncertain future

Venezuela faces post-quake medical crisis as threat of infections looms

Trump sees progress as US and Iran hold talks in Qatar

Both sides agreed to establish a communication channel to report and record violations of their initial memorandum of understanding.

China’s pressure campaign tests Trump’s commitment to Japan

Tokyo expected stronger US support after Beijing retaliated over Taiwan comments, but analysts say Washington has held back.

Ship runs aground in Strait of Hormuz, not using Iran-approved route: state TV

The vessel was described as a foreign container ship in a report apparently aimed at underlining Tehran’s claims to control the strait.

US, Iran officials hold indirect talks in Qatar to try to end war: diplomat

US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are apparently not taking part in the technical talks. They met Qatar’s PM on Tuesday.

Iran prepares funeral for late supreme leader killed on war’s first day

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s public funeral will begin Saturday as Iran and the US observe a fragile ceasefire.

Fighter jets scrambled as Tel Aviv-bound flight triggers false hijack alarm

Bulgarian and Israeli military respond after a transponder glitch mistakenly broadcasts hijacking emergency code.

Charm offensive: Bahrain expands Hong Kong push to court mainland China capital

Gulf state leans on tax perks and tokenisation rules to position Hong Kong as its gateway to mainland China investors.

US and Iran pause strikes as Hormuz tests interim deal, Doha talks loom

Efforts to reopen the Strait without Iran’s oversight have sparked days of crossfire.

Car bombs and shootings kill 5 Arab Israelis in single-day crime wave

Bloodshed pushes community death toll to 142 this year as police tie violence to organised crime networks.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Asian Angle | Liberal Islam in Indonesia is sliding into irrelevance

Political entanglements and ideological schisms have left the pioneering Liberal Islam Network in disarray.

Trump says US hit Iran again, may be ‘forced to militarily complete the job’

If that happened, the Islamic Republic would ‘no longer exist’, Trump warned, after reports that a tanker had been struck in Hormuz.

Iran survived 3 months of war. Can it survive the aftermath?

US$270 billion in damage and 4 million citizens plunged into poverty may have broken Iran’s economy.

US strikes Iran after Trump says cargo ship attack violated ceasefire

US Central Command says missile, drone and radar sites were hit after Tehran was accused of targeting vessel in Strait of Hormuz.

Hong Kong power firms to give residential customers rebates as bills soar

Two power suppliers say they will provide a subsidy between August and October to ease the pain of rising electricity bills.

When geography is destiny, Gulf states must diversify their defence, expert says

World Economic Forum meeting also told Iran’s leadership now views economic survival – not geopolitical ambition – as primary priority.

Outside In | US the ultimate loser as Iran war ushers in global power upheaval

Defeated by asymmetric warfare and spurned by allies, the US has ended up boosting China’s economy and standing instead.

Ex-general seen as main Netanyahu rival ahead of Israel elections

Gadi Eisenkot’s new centrist party is surging in polls ahead of Israel’s October parliamentary elections.

‘Too many uncertainties’: why China’s exporters remain wary despite US-Iran deal

Traders and logistics companies fear disrupted supply chains and doubts about the agreement’s durability will continue to weigh on business decisions.

US’ Rubio wraps up Gulf tour as allies share concerns over Iran peace accord

Rubio did not discuss a US$300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran that is part of the peace proposal.

Trump casts doubt on US striking Iran school on war’s first day

The February 28 attack, likely carried out by the US, killed more than 175 children and teachers in the southern city of Minab.

Opinion | 8 takeaways from the US-Iran war

From the rise of devastating asymmetric warfare to the crumbling of the US maritime hegemony and alliances, the war offers food for thought.

At Summer Davos in China, Mideast firms look to next generation to save the Gulf

At World Economic Forum meeting in Dalian, observers see regional self-reliance and economic needs as motivators for change after Iran war.

New poll shows eroding global trust in Trump and America

Pew survey across 36 nations found just 23 per cent of respondents had confidence in Trump to do the right thing in world affairs.

Rebuking Trump, US Senate joins House in vote to end Iran war

US president blasts vote as ‘meaningless’ as his administration tries to negotiate a peace agreement with Iran.

Ukraine war: Russia says US hasn’t delivered on Trump-Putin ‘understandings’

With Kyiv claiming to be turning the tide of the conflict, Moscow’s comments signal a growing frustration with Washington.

Asian Angle | Liberal Islam in Indonesia is sliding into irrelevance