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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’s representative Fu Cong at the UN headquarters in New York on April 7. China’s diplomatic statements are seen to indicate the delicate balance it is striking between rhetorical solidarity with Iran and its regional economic interests. Photo: Xinhua

China-Middle East relations

China’s calls to open Hormuz show the limits of its ties to Iran, experts say

While Beijing has long seen Tehran as a useful partner, the nation is not crucial to its Middle East strategy, analysts argue.

5 hours agovideocam

China travel

Canada’s push to rebuild ties with China hits a snag: a lack of direct flights

6 hours agovideocam

China GDP

China’s Politburo steps up policy response as Iran war shakes global economy

28 Apr 2026 - 3:59PMvideocam

Hong Kong property

Hong Kong home prices rise to 28-month high as buyers shrug off war fears

Prices of the city’s residential property rose by 1.4 per cent, showing strong resilience despite economic turbulence caused by the Iran war.

28 Apr 2026 - 6:44PMvideocam

As a thick fog gathered over Yuen Long, Hong Kong’s property prices rose by 1.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2026 and rents grew for the fifth month in a row. Photo: Eugene Lee

CATL

CATL falls nearly 7% on US$5 billion placement to expand renewables

Battery maker says it plans to sell 62.4 million Hong Kong-traded shares for HK$628.20 apiece to at least six unspecified investors.

28 Apr 2026 - 4:29PM

United Nations

Landmark UN nuclear summit opens as world’s warhead count grows

UN chief urges world to ‘breathe life’ into a landmark non-proliferation treaty as nations gather in New York.

28 Apr 2026 - 12:35PM

Middle East

Lebanese minister backs Hezbollah disarmament, but warns it will take time

Haneen Sayed in Washington says the process must be gradual as a ceasefire continues to be marred by deadly violations.

28 Apr 2026 - 5:39PM

Smoke rises following explosions in southern Lebanon, as seen from northern Israel on Monday. Photo: Reuters

US, Israel war on Iran

2 months into the Iran war, who holds the upper hand?

Analysts are divided on who has the most to lose as the conflict drags on.

27 Apr 2026 - 10:08PMvideocam

China manufacturing

China’s industrial profits hit 6-month high amid Iran war price spikes

Fuel-processing sector pivots to profit while tech gains shield margins from modest revenue growth, highlighting an efficiency-led rally over a demand recovery.

27 Apr 2026 - 6:00PM

China stock market

China equities set for boost as Trump-Xi meeting raises hopes of thaw

Investors are betting a Trump-Xi summit will ease tensions, helping Chinese equities close their long-standing valuation gap.

27 Apr 2026 - 5:30PM

Analysts are optimistic that the state visit by US President Donald Trump to China next month could lift sentiment in mainland and Hong Kong equities. Photo: AFP

Middle East

Netanyahu’s biggest rivals join forces for Israel’s coming election

Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, two former prime ministers of Israel, announce the merging of their parties.

27 Apr 2026 - 2:40PM

Benjamin Netanyahu is Israel’s longest-serving prime minister. Photo: Reuters

Middle East

Lebanon reports bloodiest day since ceasefire as Israel targets Hezbollah

Ceasefire has reduced but not stopped attacks, as Hezbollah vows to keep fighting Israeli troops in Lebanon.

27 Apr 2026 - 9:32AM

My Take

My Take | Why TikTok is being deliberately ruined by its new American owners

The popular social media platform, once owned by Chinese firm ByteDance, has been turned into an AI-enabled exploitation and censorship machine.

26 Apr 2026 - 9:38PM

Middle East

New Israeli strikes reported in Lebanon after Netanyahu orders attacks

The Israeli army has accused Hezbollah militants of breaching the recently extended ceasefire between the two countries.

26 Apr 2026 - 6:16AM

Smoke rises over the southern Lebanese village of Taybeh on Saturday. Photo: AFP

Israel-Gaza war

Palestinians bury pregnant woman and 2 of her children killed in Gaza

The woman – who was expecting twins – and the children, aged 4 and 13, were among at least 13 to die during the latest truce air strikes.

25 Apr 2026 - 10:57PMvideocam

Mourners attend the funeral of Palestinian mother Islam Al-Tanani - who was pregnant with twins - and two of her children Hamza and Naya, all killed in an Israeli strike on Friday. Photo: Reuters

China-Middle East relations

Iran digs in as US envoys Kushner and Witkoff head to Pakistan for more talks

Trapped in the Persian Gulf, ship crews run low on food, water – and mental health reserves.

25 Apr 2026 - 10:35PMvideocam

Britain

Argentina again calls for UK talks on Falklands, US confirms neutrality

Earlier, a leaked Pentagon email had set out options for the US to punish Nato allies for refusing to join US-Israeli strikes against Iran.

25 Apr 2026 - 7:42PM

Crime in Hong Kong

‘Toughest stance’: Hong Kong launches 18 operations against illegal fuel stations

Customs chief Chan Tsz-tat says the practice has become increasingly common in urban areas.

25 Apr 2026 - 4:12PM

Hong Kong authorities launched 18 joint operations against illicit refuelling stations this year amid a global energy price surge. Photo: Sam Tsang

US, Israel war on Iran

Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt: the Middle East’s new power brokers?

‘Fear of US abandonment’ is helping forge a new Middle East – but don’t expect an Islamic Nato just yet.

25 Apr 2026 - 1:30PM

Indonesia

Mixed bag: Indonesia’s 8% growth dream hits a plastic ceiling

Soaring packaging costs amid the Iran war hint at a deeper malaise as the middle class contracts and growth hits a plateau.

26 Apr 2026 - 10:01AMvideocam

Artificial intelligence

Iran war shows ‘strategic value’ of AI for China’s military, PLA Daily says

Commentary calls it ‘inevitable’ and necessary for PLA to embrace artificial intelligence to gain the advantage in future warfare.

24 Apr 2026 - 6:00PM

China’s military mouthpiece said AI-driven warfare was at a “turning point”. Image: Shutterstock

US, Israel war on Iran

Trump says Israel and Lebanon agree to extend ceasefire by 3 weeks

The US president says he sees ‘great chance’ of a peace deal between the two countries this year after White House talks went ‘very well’.

24 Apr 2026 - 4:38PMvideocam

US President Donald Trump holds a briefing in the Oval Office at the White House about the ceasefire extension. Photo: Reuters

US, Israel war on Iran

How Iran responded to Trump’s claimed role in saving 8 women from execution

Trump claimed Iran ‘respected my request’ to save the protesters. Iran’s judiciary said he’s ‘fabricating achievements’.

23 Apr 2026 - 4:28PM

Middle East

Lebanon to confront Israel over demolition of homes since ceasefire

Lebanese officials plan to raise the issue of widespread demolitions at a new round of talks Thursday in Washington.

23 Apr 2026 - 3:41PM

Malaysia

US intercepts Iranian tankers near India, Malaysia amid Hormuz tensions

The vessels were ordered to move away from their positions as Washington and Tehran intensify their stand-off over the waterway.

23 Apr 2026 - 10:27AMvideocam

Iranian walks past a billboard reading “The Strait of Hormuz remains closed” at the Revolution Square in Tehran on Wednesday. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS

US, Israel war on Iran

Iran latest: Trump has ‘no time frame’ to end war as world waits for peace talks

Iranian president says blockade, threats ‘main obstacles’ to negotiations; and Iran reopens its airspace with some China flights to resume.

23 Apr 2026 - 12:18PMvideocam

President Donald Trump said the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz “scares them even more than the bombing”. Photo: AFP

Artificial intelligence

Anthropic’s Mythos is stoking cybersecurity fears. What does it mean for China?

Given cybersecurity risks in critical software, Mythos has sparked debate about whether its capabilities should be shared with China.

22 Apr 2026 - 4:16PM

Donald Trump

Video | Trump reads Bible days after Jesus image controversy

The US president has faced rare criticism from his evangelical supporters for sharing a meme in which he appears as a Jesus-like healer.

22 Apr 2026 - 3:19PM

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Israel

China’s calls to open Hormuz show the limits of its ties to Iran, experts say

While Beijing has long seen Tehran as a useful partner, the nation is not crucial to its Middle East strategy, analysts argue.

Canada’s push to rebuild ties with China hits a snag: a lack of direct flights

China’s Politburo steps up policy response as Iran war shakes global economy

Hong Kong home prices rise to 28-month high as buyers shrug off war fears

Prices of the city’s residential property rose by 1.4 per cent, showing strong resilience despite economic turbulence caused by the Iran war.

CATL falls nearly 7% on US$5 billion placement to expand renewables

Battery maker says it plans to sell 62.4 million Hong Kong-traded shares for HK$628.20 apiece to at least six unspecified investors.

Landmark UN nuclear summit opens as world’s warhead count grows

UN chief urges world to ‘breathe life’ into a landmark non-proliferation treaty as nations gather in New York.

Lebanese minister backs Hezbollah disarmament, but warns it will take time

Haneen Sayed in Washington says the process must be gradual as a ceasefire continues to be marred by deadly violations.

2 months into the Iran war, who holds the upper hand?

Analysts are divided on who has the most to lose as the conflict drags on.

China’s industrial profits hit 6-month high amid Iran war price spikes

Fuel-processing sector pivots to profit while tech gains shield margins from modest revenue growth, highlighting an efficiency-led rally over a demand recovery.

China equities set for boost as Trump-Xi meeting raises hopes of thaw

Investors are betting a Trump-Xi summit will ease tensions, helping Chinese equities close their long-standing valuation gap.

Netanyahu’s biggest rivals join forces for Israel’s coming election

Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, two former prime ministers of Israel, announce the merging of their parties.

Lebanon reports bloodiest day since ceasefire as Israel targets Hezbollah

Ceasefire has reduced but not stopped attacks, as Hezbollah vows to keep fighting Israeli troops in Lebanon.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}My Take | Why TikTok is being deliberately ruined by its new American owners

The popular social media platform, once owned by Chinese firm ByteDance, has been turned into an AI-enabled exploitation and censorship machine.

New Israeli strikes reported in Lebanon after Netanyahu orders attacks

The Israeli army has accused Hezbollah militants of breaching the recently extended ceasefire between the two countries.

Palestinians bury pregnant woman and 2 of her children killed in Gaza

The woman – who was expecting twins – and the children, aged 4 and 13, were among at least 13 to die during the latest truce air strikes.

Iran digs in as US envoys Kushner and Witkoff head to Pakistan for more talks

Trapped in the Persian Gulf, ship crews run low on food, water – and mental health reserves.

Argentina again calls for UK talks on Falklands, US confirms neutrality

Earlier, a leaked Pentagon email had set out options for the US to punish Nato allies for refusing to join US-Israeli strikes against Iran.

‘Toughest stance’: Hong Kong launches 18 operations against illegal fuel stations

Customs chief Chan Tsz-tat says the practice has become increasingly common in urban areas.

Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt: the Middle East’s new power brokers?

‘Fear of US abandonment’ is helping forge a new Middle East – but don’t expect an Islamic Nato just yet.

Mixed bag: Indonesia’s 8% growth dream hits a plastic ceiling

Soaring packaging costs amid the Iran war hint at a deeper malaise as the middle class contracts and growth hits a plateau.

Iran war shows ‘strategic value’ of AI for China’s military, PLA Daily says

Commentary calls it ‘inevitable’ and necessary for PLA to embrace artificial intelligence to gain the advantage in future warfare.

Trump says Israel and Lebanon agree to extend ceasefire by 3 weeks

The US president says he sees ‘great chance’ of a peace deal between the two countries this year after White House talks went ‘very well’.

How Iran responded to Trump’s claimed role in saving 8 women from execution

Trump claimed Iran ‘respected my request’ to save the protesters. Iran’s judiciary said he’s ‘fabricating achievements’.

Lebanon to confront Israel over demolition of homes since ceasefire

Lebanese officials plan to raise the issue of widespread demolitions at a new round of talks Thursday in Washington.

US intercepts Iranian tankers near India, Malaysia amid Hormuz tensions

The vessels were ordered to move away from their positions as Washington and Tehran intensify their stand-off over the waterway.

Iran latest: Trump has ‘no time frame’ to end war as world waits for peace talks

Iranian president says blockade, threats ‘main obstacles’ to negotiations; and Iran reopens its airspace with some China flights to resume.

Anthropic’s Mythos is stoking cybersecurity fears. What does it mean for China?

Given cybersecurity risks in critical software, Mythos has sparked debate about whether its capabilities should be shared with China.

.css-1t72pn8{color:#C79A00;}Video | Trump reads Bible days after Jesus image controversy

The US president has faced rare criticism from his evangelical supporters for sharing a meme in which he appears as a Jesus-like healer.

My Take | Why TikTok is being deliberately ruined by its new American owners

Video | Trump reads Bible days after Jesus image controversy