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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

China retail sales missed expectations in March. Photo: EPA

China GDP

China’s economic boom masks Iran war slowdown

Growth in China accelerated in the first quarter of the year as a January-February surge offset a slower March following the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz.

16 Apr 2026 - 5:00PM

US, Israel war on Iran

Fact-Check | This video of ‘Iran capturing US pilot’ was filmed in Pakistan

16 Apr 2026 - 3:20PM

US, Israel war on Iran

Lebanon’s president refuses talks with Israel amid Trump’s peace push

2 hours ago

United States

US envoy Waltz touts ‘America first’ policy, budget cuts in Senate swipe at UN

US ambassador to UN joined other Washington envoys hailing US-led cost-cutting, efficiency drive and streamlining of UN’s cumulative ‘bloat’.

16 Apr 2026 - 2:12PMvideocam

US ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz speaks after a United Nations Security Council meeting earlier this month. Photo: AFP

US, Israel war on Iran

Trump posts image of Jesus hugging him amid escalating feud with pope

US president doubles down on religious imagery as his administration clashes with Pope Leo over the Iran war.

16 Apr 2026 - 3:40PMvideocam

Middle East

Israeli security cabinet to discuss possible Lebanon ceasefire: senior official

Senior Hezbollah official Ibrahim al-Moussawi says diplomatic efforts by Iran and other regional states could produce a ceasefire soon.

16 Apr 2026 - 12:14AM

China GDP

Despite Iran war, China set for ‘solid’ first-quarter GDP growth: analysts

Flexible growth target means little likelihood of imminent stimulus, but focus will switch to impact of disruptions in second quarter.

15 Apr 2026 - 9:00PMvideocam

A woman selects fruit at a supermarket in Shanghai on Friday. Photo: EPA

War and conflict

Opinion | Why ceasefires struggle and fail

From Ukraine to Gaza and the Middle East, the lesson of history is that ceasefires rarely hold.

16 Apr 2026 - 7:00AMvideocam

China-Russia relations

Strong China-Russia ties are stabilising force in ‘turbulent’ world: Xi Jinping

In Beijing, Chinese president tells Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov ‘both sides should maintain strategic resolve’.

15 Apr 2026 - 8:35PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

Mossad says Israel will keep trying to topple Iran’s government

Mossad chief David Barnea vows continued covert operations until the ‘extremist regime is replaced’.

15 Apr 2026 - 4:00PM

A boy in Tehran raises his fist during the funeral of Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the IRGC Navy, and others killed in recent US-Israeli strikes. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong economy

Letters | Hong Kong is the perfect complement to Dubai, not a replacement

Readers discuss the possibility of the wealthy migrating to Hong Kong from the United Arab Emirates, and the Hong Kong government’s response to war’s disruptions.

15 Apr 2026 - 11:30AM

People on the Star Ferry take in Victoria Harbour on March 23. Photo: Eugene Lee

Donald Trump

King Charles to charm Trump on state visit overshadowed by US-UK rift

The British king’s first US state visit later this month takes on far greater significance amid tensions between Trump and Starmer.

15 Apr 2026 - 2:01PMvideocam

US-China relations

Russian and Chinese envoys meet in Beijing to discuss Iran, Ukraine and Taiwan

Chinese readout warns of rising turmoil in veiled swipe at Washington and Trump as Beijing strengthens ties with Moscow.

15 Apr 2026 - 4:46AMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

After ‘wonderful’ talks with Lebanon, Israel envoy says more dialogue coming

Sides commit to more engagement as Trump urges disarming Hezbollah, but analysts warn a durable Israel-Lebanon deal remains unlikely.

15 Apr 2026 - 9:46AMvideocam

Israeli air strikes on Lebanon have complicated the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Photo: AFP

US, Israel war on Iran

Will the next round of US-Iran talks bring peace or more confrontation?

Lack of mutual trust means a strategic miscalculation could trigger renewed conflict at any moment, analysts say.

14 Apr 2026 - 10:01PMvideocam

A security guard stands in front of a billboard outside the Serena Hotel, the venue for the high-level US-Iran peace talks held over the weekend in Islamabad, Pakistan. Photo: Cici Cao

US, Israel war on Iran

Opinion | You’re not asking the right question about the Iran war

The standard critique of the war does not ask who requires Iran to remain an enemy rather than a problem to be managed.

14 Apr 2026 - 9:24PMvideocam

China-EU relations

Xi calls on Spain to jointly resist ‘law of the jungle’ in a turbulent world

Chinese leader meets visiting Spanish PM who is in Beijing looking to strengthen bilateral ties amid tensions with US.

14 Apr 2026 - 7:32PMvideocam

Japan

Israel envoy protests Japanese TV pundit’s remarks on Kushner’s Jewish identity

Critics said his comments suggested that Trump’s son-in-law should not be involved in negotiations with Iran because he is Jewish.

14 Apr 2026 - 4:56PMvideocam

US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner (L) and US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff (R) look on as Vice President JD Vance speaks at a news conference after meeting with representatives from Pakistan and Iran in Islamabad on Sunday. Photo: AFP

China stock market

Stocks claw back most US-Iran war losses amid hopes diplomacy will prevail

The oil shock has already fuelled inflation expectations, which may prompt the Federal Reserve to tighten monetary policy.

14 Apr 2026 - 4:01PM

South Korea

What is really behind South Korea’s diplomatic row with Israel?

Lee Jae Myung’s clash was about more than human rights, analysts say – it was about energy security and sending a message to Donald Trump.

14 Apr 2026 - 2:07PM

Banking & finance

HSBC chair sees AI, middle class and trade driving growth despite Iran war

Artificial intelligence can support growth, while rising middle class could fuel consumption and wealth, HSBC chair says in debut speech.

14 Apr 2026 - 3:57PM

HSBC chairman Brendan Nelson addressing the Global Investment Summit on April 14, 2026. Photo:Handout

China trade

China’s imports surge in March as exports soften amid Hormuz blockade

Export figures fall short of predictions, rising by 2.5 per cent, while imports grow by 27.8 per cent as conflict in Middle East causes global disruption.

14 Apr 2026 - 7:08PM

A container ship arrives at the Qingdao Port in Shandong province. The port opened seven new container shipping routes in the first quarter of this year. Photo: Xinhua

Middle East

Dozens detained in New York City protest over US arms sales to Israel

Whistle-blower Chelsea Manning was among those held in a protest led by the anti-war group Jewish Voice for Peace.

14 Apr 2026 - 12:19PM

Middle East

Hezbollah leader asks Lebanon to cancel meeting in US with Israel

Amid a surge in Israeli ground operations, Naim Qassem calls for a ‘heroic stance’ to scrap Tuesday’s planned summit.

14 Apr 2026 - 12:58PM

US, Israel war on Iran

South Korean president’s Holocaust remarks spark Israel outcry

Lee Jae Myung’s comparing military action against Palestinians to the Holocaust comes as Israel remembers the 6 million Jews killed by Nazis.

13 Apr 2026 - 8:39PMvideocam

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a press conference in Seoul on Monday. Photo: via EPA

Malaysia

Malaysia faces energy emergency amid Trump’s Hormuz blockade

With six tankers carrying up to 6 million barrels of oil potentially stranded, analysts say Malaysia is on a collision course with crisis.

13 Apr 2026 - 9:19PMvideocam

The skyline of Kuala Lumpur seen on Friday. Malaysia has leaned heavily on domestic natural gas production and costly subsidies to mitigate the fallout from the Iran war. Photo: EPA

Hong Kong economy

Middle East war tests Hong Kong aviation hub status as rivals feel the heat

Flight cuts due to rising fuel prices could affect transit traffic in short run, but impact will depend on duration of conflict, experts say.

13 Apr 2026 - 8:54PM

Donald Trump

‘Someone must stand for a better way’: Pope speaks out after Trump’s attack

After the US president shatters norms with a direct hit on the pontiff, Leo says he will continue to speak out ‘loudly’ and promote peace.

14 Apr 2026 - 2:51AMvideocam

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Israel

China’s economic boom masks Iran war slowdown

Growth in China accelerated in the first quarter of the year as a January-February surge offset a slower March following the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz.

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Fact-Check | This video of ‘Iran capturing US pilot’ was filmed in Pakistan

Lebanon’s president refuses talks with Israel amid Trump’s peace push

US envoy Waltz touts ‘America first’ policy, budget cuts in Senate swipe at UN

US ambassador to UN joined other Washington envoys hailing US-led cost-cutting, efficiency drive and streamlining of UN’s cumulative ‘bloat’.

Trump posts image of Jesus hugging him amid escalating feud with pope

US president doubles down on religious imagery as his administration clashes with Pope Leo over the Iran war.

Israeli security cabinet to discuss possible Lebanon ceasefire: senior official

Senior Hezbollah official Ibrahim al-Moussawi says diplomatic efforts by Iran and other regional states could produce a ceasefire soon.

Despite Iran war, China set for ‘solid’ first-quarter GDP growth: analysts

Flexible growth target means little likelihood of imminent stimulus, but focus will switch to impact of disruptions in second quarter.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Why ceasefires struggle and fail

From Ukraine to Gaza and the Middle East, the lesson of history is that ceasefires rarely hold.

Strong China-Russia ties are stabilising force in ‘turbulent’ world: Xi Jinping

In Beijing, Chinese president tells Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov ‘both sides should maintain strategic resolve’.

Mossad says Israel will keep trying to topple Iran’s government

Mossad chief David Barnea vows continued covert operations until the ‘extremist regime is replaced’.

Letters | Hong Kong is the perfect complement to Dubai, not a replacement

Readers discuss the possibility of the wealthy migrating to Hong Kong from the United Arab Emirates, and the Hong Kong government’s response to war’s disruptions.

King Charles to charm Trump on state visit overshadowed by US-UK rift

The British king’s first US state visit later this month takes on far greater significance amid tensions between Trump and Starmer.

Russian and Chinese envoys meet in Beijing to discuss Iran, Ukraine and Taiwan

Chinese readout warns of rising turmoil in veiled swipe at Washington and Trump as Beijing strengthens ties with Moscow.

After ‘wonderful’ talks with Lebanon, Israel envoy says more dialogue coming

Sides commit to more engagement as Trump urges disarming Hezbollah, but analysts warn a durable Israel-Lebanon deal remains unlikely.

Will the next round of US-Iran talks bring peace or more confrontation?

Lack of mutual trust means a strategic miscalculation could trigger renewed conflict at any moment, analysts say.

Opinion | You’re not asking the right question about the Iran war

The standard critique of the war does not ask who requires Iran to remain an enemy rather than a problem to be managed.

Xi calls on Spain to jointly resist ‘law of the jungle’ in a turbulent world

Chinese leader meets visiting Spanish PM who is in Beijing looking to strengthen bilateral ties amid tensions with US.

Israel envoy protests Japanese TV pundit’s remarks on Kushner’s Jewish identity

Critics said his comments suggested that Trump’s son-in-law should not be involved in negotiations with Iran because he is Jewish.

Stocks claw back most US-Iran war losses amid hopes diplomacy will prevail

The oil shock has already fuelled inflation expectations, which may prompt the Federal Reserve to tighten monetary policy.

What is really behind South Korea’s diplomatic row with Israel?

Lee Jae Myung’s clash was about more than human rights, analysts say – it was about energy security and sending a message to Donald Trump.

HSBC chair sees AI, middle class and trade driving growth despite Iran war

Artificial intelligence can support growth, while rising middle class could fuel consumption and wealth, HSBC chair says in debut speech.

China’s imports surge in March as exports soften amid Hormuz blockade

Export figures fall short of predictions, rising by 2.5 per cent, while imports grow by 27.8 per cent as conflict in Middle East causes global disruption.

Dozens detained in New York City protest over US arms sales to Israel

Whistle-blower Chelsea Manning was among those held in a protest led by the anti-war group Jewish Voice for Peace.

Hezbollah leader asks Lebanon to cancel meeting in US with Israel

Amid a surge in Israeli ground operations, Naim Qassem calls for a ‘heroic stance’ to scrap Tuesday’s planned summit.

South Korean president’s Holocaust remarks spark Israel outcry

Lee Jae Myung’s comparing military action against Palestinians to the Holocaust comes as Israel remembers the 6 million Jews killed by Nazis.

Malaysia faces energy emergency amid Trump’s Hormuz blockade

With six tankers carrying up to 6 million barrels of oil potentially stranded, analysts say Malaysia is on a collision course with crisis.

Middle East war tests Hong Kong aviation hub status as rivals feel the heat

Flight cuts due to rising fuel prices could affect transit traffic in short run, but impact will depend on duration of conflict, experts say.

‘Someone must stand for a better way’: Pope speaks out after Trump’s attack

After the US president shatters norms with a direct hit on the pontiff, Leo says he will continue to speak out ‘loudly’ and promote peace.

Fact-Check | This video of ‘Iran capturing US pilot’ was filmed in Pakistan

Opinion | Why ceasefires struggle and fail