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Middle East
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Middle East

Middle East
Middle East
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Middle East. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
The US is sending half a dozen of its coastguard cutters to the western Pacific, redeploying them from the Middle East. Photo: US Naval Forces Central Command
South China Sea

US coastguard cutters have a South China Sea mission. Will it make a difference?

The vessels will take part in maritime security operations with regional partners in the western Pacific.

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China trade

Helium squeeze: China vows trade controls on gas to shield critical industries

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US, Israel war on Iran

Iran says Strait of Hormuz a ‘red line’, vows to fight till the end

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US, Israel war on Iran

Iran threatens to close more vital seaways as US renews blockade

The Red Sea gateway is seen as the next flashpoint as Trump warns of targeting Iranian energy infrastructure.

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A woman in Tehran holds a poster depicting US President Donald Trump in the crosshairs. Photo: AP
US, Israel war on Iran

Trump scraps Hormuz toll plan but presses ahead with Iran blockade

In latest flip-flop, US president says Gulf investment deals will replace shipping fee, while restoring blockade targeting Iranian trade.

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United States

US inflation cools on brief ceasefire but Fed keeps rate hike option

New Fed Chair Kevin Warsh tells lawmakers the US central bank has ‘no tolerance for persistently elevated inflation’.

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US, Israel war on Iran

Norwegian chemical tanker hit by projectile off Oman amid US-Iran tensions

Stolt Magnesium ‘suffered from an explosion of an unidentified external device’ that started a fire in the engine room, the company said.

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Chemical tanker Stolt Magnesium catches fire following an explosion off the coast of Oman on Tuesday. Photo: Hans-Peter Schroder/Reuters
Iran

Video | US strikes Iran again after UAE tankers hit

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted US facilities in the region and two UAE tankers travelling through the strait.

India

Delhi summons Iranian diplomat after Indian sailor killed in Strait of Hormuz

Thirty Indians were among the 46 crew members in the two vessels hit by an Iranian overnight attack.

US, Israel war on Iran

Trump’s 20% Hormuz toll jolts markets as Asia adapts to oil shock

Alternative trade routes and an AI tech boom are helping the region cushion the blow of a threatened maritime tariff.

US President Donald Trump gestures as he leaves a Nato press conference in Ankara, Turkey, on July 8. Photo: EPA
Yuan

London Clearing House accepts dim sum bonds as non-cash collateral

Bank of China led the roll-out of the yuan-denominated assets, with three of its overseas units executing the first transactions.

Yuan notes. Photo: Getty Images
Saudi Arabia

Yemen’s Houthis fire missiles at Saudi Arabia in biggest flare-up in years

Iran-backed rebels target Saudi Arabia hours after accusing the kingdom of launching strikes against the international airport in Sanaa.

US, Israel war on Iran

US and Iran exchange fire again as UAE tankers attacked in Hormuz

Iran’s Guards target US facilities in the region after Trump says US will be ‘guardian’ of the Strait of Hormuz, for a toll.

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Britain

UK outlaws support for IRGC, Iran-linked group under new powers

Ban follows attacks on Jewish-linked sites in London, including the torching of four community ambulances.

Volunteer ambulances in London run by a Jewish organisation that were on fire in March. Photo: AFP
European Union

EU countries push for trade ban with Israeli settlements

EU foreign policy chief insists measures target West Bank settlements rather than Israel itself.

Israeli officers stand in front of Palestinians during a protest against a new Israeli settlement in the village of Deir Abu Mishal, near Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Photo: Reuters
US, Israel war on Iran

Trump to restore Iran blockade, charge fees for Strait of Hormuz shipping

US president says Iranian ships and those trading with Iran will be barred, while other commercial traffic will pay a 20% transit fee.

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US, Israel war on Iran

Opinion | Iran war is no longer a contest over just the Strait of Hormuz

The Aq Taqeh Khan bridge attack shows the war has expanded to the infrastructure that lets Iran function when the strait is contested.

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US, Israel war on Iran

US and Iran trade more attacks as battle over Hormuz intensifies

Weekend exchanges in the Middle East threaten to collapse a fragile interim deal aimed at ending the war.

A projectile is fired during what US Central Command said were strikes against Iranian military targets, in an image taken from video released on July 12. Photo: CENTCOM via Reuters
Israel

Israel to hold elections October 27 as Netanyahu seeks another run

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s long-serving leader, could face a fierce challenge from former military chief Gadi Eisenkot.

Israel-Gaza war

Israeli gunfire in Gaza refugee camp kills 6, including 9-year-old girl

Nearly all of Gaza’s 2 million people now live on ‌a tiny strip of land along the coast, mainly in makeshift tents or damaged buildings.

Syrian conflict

First session of Syria’s parliament convenes after Assad’s ousting

The transitional body is tasked with laying the groundwork for democracy after decades of authoritarian rule and 13 years of civil war.

Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa addresses the first meeting of Syria’s new transitional parliament in Damascus on Sunday. Photo: AFP
Hong Kong economy

Gulf capital flowing into Asia as trade with Hong Kong rises 35%: Paul Chan

Finance chief says bilateral trade surged in first five months of 2026 following deepening of ties in recent years.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan (centre) attends the opening ceremony of LEAP East 2026 in Wan Chai. Photo: Sam Tsang
Qatar

Obituary | Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who raised Qatar’s global profile, dies at 74

The former ruler turned Qatar from a backwater into an international crossroads in less than a generation.

US, Israel war on Iran

Iran closes Hormuz, attacks Gulf states as US says strait remains open

The US attacks came after the IRGC Navy said it had hit an ‘unauthorised’ vessel that was travelling on a non-approved route.

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US, Israel war on Iran

Assassinations unleashed under Trump haunt Iran war endgame

The killing of Iran’s leader and top general and the capture of Venezuela’s president mark a new paradigm in international relations.

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Mourners carry an anti-Trump banner in Mashhad, Iran, on thursday. Photo: WANA via Reuters
United States

US Democrat Ro Khanna ‘detained’ by Israeli settlers during West Bank visit

US progressive lawmaker Ro Khanna said ⁠he was detained by Israeli settlers this week as he sought out an ‘unfiltered’ look at the Israeli occupation.

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US Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) stands next to Palestinian residents of Turmus Ayya, near Ramallah, during a visit in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on Thursday. Photo: Reuters
Turkey

Erdogan pushes for ‘natural’ births amid Turkey’s high C-section rate

Turkish medical professionals say C-sections are more time-efficient for medical staff – 30 minutes compared to 12 hours for a traditional delivery.

Artificial intelligence

Macroscope | Don’t expect the rising tide of AI to lift all boats

While economies linked to hi-tech supply chains may perform well, unequal outcomes and economic instability still loom for much of the world.

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