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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

Left: Takato Ishida, the 36-year-old governor of Fukui, attends a session of the prefectural assembly. Right: Ishida attending the Special Committee on Anti-Harassment on Monday. Photos: Instagram / ishida.takato

SCMP Highlights

Japanese governor turns heads, Nepal’s new PM is a rapper: 7 Asia highlights

From the unlikely background of Nepal’s new leader to Thai police’s deadly blind spot, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

2 hours ago

Japan

Japan identifies 1,500 new missile shelters as ‘front line’ fears grow

5 hours ago

Stocks

South Korea and Japan bear brunt of global stock sell-offs amid oil shock

17 Mar 2026 - 7:30AM

US-China relations

Beijing on Iran war, Trump trade plan, new AI arena: 7 US-China relations reads

From a new US maritime strategy to the Iran crisis, here are highlights from SCMP’s overseas correspondents in the first half of March 2026.

16 Mar 2026 - 10:30PM

Plumes of smoke rise over Tehran, Iran, on March 1. Photo: Mowj/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images/TNS

US-China trade war

Why Trump pushing China to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz may hurt trade talks

US president’s threat to delay summit with Xi adds uncertainty to Paris negotiations, analysts say.

16 Mar 2026 - 8:30PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

Iran to turn bombed girls’ school into museum commemorating US ‘crimes’

At least 168 pupils, 26 teachers and four parents were killed in the attack in the southern city of Minab on February 28.

16 Mar 2026 - 6:19PMvideocam

China trade

Strait of Hormuz marks first full day’s pause as no ships cross amid Iran war

Transits fell to zero on Saturday but vessels have clustered outside corridor, signalling expectations of reopening, analytics firm says.

16 Mar 2026 - 7:02PM

A man walks along the shore as oil tankers and cargo ships line up in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Khor Fakkan, the United Arab Emirates, on March 11, 2026. Photo: AP

Malaysia

Deal or no deal? Malaysia-US trade pact in turmoil after minister ‘misspeaks’

First, a minister called the deal dead. Then his ministry backtracked. Now the opposition is demanding answers.

16 Mar 2026 - 9:53PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

Letters | US has succeeded in plunging Middle East into dangerous conflict

Readers discuss the Middle East situation, helping young Hongkongers meet the AI challenge, and Hong Kong as an international city.

16 Mar 2026 - 11:30AM

Hong Kong economy

Airlines’ soaring cargo fuel surcharges spark fears of profiteering

Surge in global oil prices also prompts courier SF Express to impose temporary fuel surcharges within Hong Kong and Macau.

16 Mar 2026 - 11:38PM

SF Express will introduce temporary fuel surcharges for local document and parcel deliveries within Hong Kong and Macau, set at HK$1 and 1 pataca, respectively. Photo: Jelly Tse

Japan

Trump wants Japanese warships in Hormuz. Can Takaichi ‘dodge the bullet’?

The Iran war complicates Trump-Takaichi talks, putting her in a bind between US demands and constitutional limits on military action.

16 Mar 2026 - 8:00AMvideocam

A naval vessel sails in the Strait of Hormuz on March 1. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS

War and conflict

Editorial | Hong Kong should work to ensure a steady fuel supply amid war in Iran

While shielded by the national economy, the city needs to maintain an open, transparent market to deter abusive behaviour.

16 Mar 2026 - 3:53PM

US, Israel war on Iran

Trump warns he ‘may delay’ China visit in demand for countries to secure Hormuz

Some allies say no to ships, after US president demands at least seven countries help secure the strategic waterway.

16 Mar 2026 - 6:46PMvideocam

105

ICBMs

Open Questions | Why Iran war may drive East Asia nuclear race, hit China in Mideast: Zhao Tong

Carnegie nuclear policy expert says law of the jungle signalled by US actions could spur more countries to pursue nuclear weapons.

16 Mar 2026 - 10:04AMvideocam

Middle East

Opinion | How US-Israel war on Iran rocks foundations of the Abraham Accords

For Arab states, the conflict has revealed a paradox: the alliances meant to enhance their security may also have increased their vulnerability.

16 Mar 2026 - 5:30AMvideocam

Smoke rises from a warehouse in the industrial area of Sharjah city in the United Arab Emirates on March 1 following reports of Iranian strikes. Photo: AP

Israel-Iran conflict

Police arrest 12 as hundreds join banned pro-Palestinian march in London

Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood agreed to ban the march after police said it was organised by a group ‘supportive of the Iranian regime’.

16 Mar 2026 - 3:43AM

Israel-Gaza war

Gaza’s Rafah crossing to open on Wednesday ‘for limited movement of people’

Move comes as 13 people were killed – including children, a pregnant woman and police officers – in Israeli strikes in Gaza on Sunday.

16 Mar 2026 - 5:25PMvideocam

Gun violence in the US

Brother of Michigan synagogue attacker was Hezbollah commander: Israeli military

Ibrahim Ghazali was killed in Lebanon on March 5 along with 3 other relatives of Detroit attacker Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, the IDF said.

16 Mar 2026 - 1:12AM

The front entrance of the Temple Israel synagogue outside Detroit, Michigan. Photo: Getty Images / AFP

US, Israel war on Iran

IEA says oil from emergency stocks to flow in Asia and Oceania immediately

The International Energy Agency also said barrels for Europe and the Americas will only be available from the end of March.

16 Mar 2026 - 12:19AMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

US energy chief signals Iran war could continue for several more weeks

Meanwhile, Iran’s FM said his nation was not interested in talks with the US ‘because we were talking when they decided to attack us’.

15 Mar 2026 - 11:50PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

‘Cease fire’! Pope Leo escalates call for Middle East war to end

The pope did not cite the US or Israel by name but did mention the strike on a school in Iran that killed over 165 people.

15 Mar 2026 - 10:40PMvideocam

Pope Leo leads prayers from a window at the Vatican on Sunday. Photo: Handout via Reuters

US, Israel war on Iran

Over 800,000 Lebanese – 1 in 7 people – displaced by war in 10 days

It is little more than a year since the last conflict uprooted over a million Lebanese from their homes, although that process took months.

15 Mar 2026 - 10:05PMvideocam

A displaced Lebanese family sit in the back of a truck, their current home, in the southern city of Sidon on Sunday. Photo: AFP

US, Israel war on Iran

‘Black rain’: Iran war’s toxic pollution will spread and last for years

Missiles and bombs contain pollutants which are released into the air, soil and water when they explode and crash, posing many health risks.

15 Mar 2026 - 6:25PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

To help Middle East nations fight drones, Ukraine wants cash and tech

This is about ⁠protection and a full assessment of how to counter Shahed drones, says Zelensky, after Kyiv dispatched dozens of experts.

15 Mar 2026 - 5:34PMvideocam

Crime in Hong Kong

Terrorism threat in Hong Kong ‘moderate’ amid Middle East war: security chief

Secretary for Security Chris Tang says city has one of world’s lowest crime rates despite having fewer CCTV cameras compared with other places.

15 Mar 2026 - 6:52PM

Hong Kong residents are urged to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious to police. Photo: Dickson Lee

Indonesia

Prabowo ‘surprised’ by Iran war, says US bombing won’t spark regime change

The president says he does not see any ‘rationality’ in the military campaign, urging all sides to ‘look for the peaceful option’ to end the war.

15 Mar 2026 - 2:49PMvideocam

A protester displays a poster of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto during a Jakarta rally against the country’s participation in the US-led “Board of Peace” on March 6. Photo: AP

Hong Kong economy

Middle East conflict could divert new capital to Hong Kong: treasury chief

Christopher Hui pledges to keep markets operating smoothly amid energy price shocks caused by US-Israel war against Iran.

15 Mar 2026 - 7:25PM

US, Israel war on Iran

Turkey says Iran feels ‘betrayed’ by US attacks during nuclear talks

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan says Tehran still ‘open to any sensible backchannel diplomacy’, vows to keep Ankara out of the war.

15 Mar 2026 - 11:15AMvideocam

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Israel

Japanese governor turns heads, Nepal’s new PM is a rapper: 7 Asia highlights

From the unlikely background of Nepal’s new leader to Thai police’s deadly blind spot, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

Japan identifies 1,500 new missile shelters as ‘front line’ fears grow

South Korea and Japan bear brunt of global stock sell-offs amid oil shock

Beijing on Iran war, Trump trade plan, new AI arena: 7 US-China relations reads

From a new US maritime strategy to the Iran crisis, here are highlights from SCMP’s overseas correspondents in the first half of March 2026.

Why Trump pushing China to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz may hurt trade talks

US president’s threat to delay summit with Xi adds uncertainty to Paris negotiations, analysts say.

Iran to turn bombed girls’ school into museum commemorating US ‘crimes’

At least 168 pupils, 26 teachers and four parents were killed in the attack in the southern city of Minab on February 28.

Strait of Hormuz marks first full day’s pause as no ships cross amid Iran war

Transits fell to zero on Saturday but vessels have clustered outside corridor, signalling expectations of reopening, analytics firm says.

Deal or no deal? Malaysia-US trade pact in turmoil after minister ‘misspeaks’

First, a minister called the deal dead. Then his ministry backtracked. Now the opposition is demanding answers.

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Letters | US has succeeded in plunging Middle East into dangerous conflict

Readers discuss the Middle East situation, helping young Hongkongers meet the AI challenge, and Hong Kong as an international city.

Airlines’ soaring cargo fuel surcharges spark fears of profiteering

Surge in global oil prices also prompts courier SF Express to impose temporary fuel surcharges within Hong Kong and Macau.

Trump wants Japanese warships in Hormuz. Can Takaichi ‘dodge the bullet’?

The Iran war complicates Trump-Takaichi talks, putting her in a bind between US demands and constitutional limits on military action.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Editorial | Hong Kong should work to ensure a steady fuel supply amid war in Iran

While shielded by the national economy, the city needs to maintain an open, transparent market to deter abusive behaviour.

Trump warns he ‘may delay’ China visit in demand for countries to secure Hormuz

Some allies say no to ships, after US president demands at least seven countries help secure the strategic waterway.

Open Questions | Why Iran war may drive East Asia nuclear race, hit China in Mideast: Zhao Tong

Carnegie nuclear policy expert says law of the jungle signalled by US actions could spur more countries to pursue nuclear weapons.

Opinion | How US-Israel war on Iran rocks foundations of the Abraham Accords

For Arab states, the conflict has revealed a paradox: the alliances meant to enhance their security may also have increased their vulnerability.

Police arrest 12 as hundreds join banned pro-Palestinian march in London

Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood agreed to ban the march after police said it was organised by a group ‘supportive of the Iranian regime’.

Gaza’s Rafah crossing to open on Wednesday ‘for limited movement of people’

Move comes as 13 people were killed – including children, a pregnant woman and police officers – in Israeli strikes in Gaza on Sunday.

Brother of Michigan synagogue attacker was Hezbollah commander: Israeli military

Ibrahim Ghazali was killed in Lebanon on March 5 along with 3 other relatives of Detroit attacker Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, the IDF said.

IEA says oil from emergency stocks to flow in Asia and Oceania immediately

The International Energy Agency also said barrels for Europe and the Americas will only be available from the end of March.

US energy chief signals Iran war could continue for several more weeks

Meanwhile, Iran’s FM said his nation was not interested in talks with the US ‘because we were talking when they decided to attack us’.

‘Cease fire’! Pope Leo escalates call for Middle East war to end

The pope did not cite the US or Israel by name but did mention the strike on a school in Iran that killed over 165 people.

Over 800,000 Lebanese – 1 in 7 people – displaced by war in 10 days

It is little more than a year since the last conflict uprooted over a million Lebanese from their homes, although that process took months.

‘Black rain’: Iran war’s toxic pollution will spread and last for years

Missiles and bombs contain pollutants which are released into the air, soil and water when they explode and crash, posing many health risks.

To help Middle East nations fight drones, Ukraine wants cash and tech

This is about ⁠protection and a full assessment of how to counter Shahed drones, says Zelensky, after Kyiv dispatched dozens of experts.

Terrorism threat in Hong Kong ‘moderate’ amid Middle East war: security chief

Secretary for Security Chris Tang says city has one of world’s lowest crime rates despite having fewer CCTV cameras compared with other places.

Prabowo ‘surprised’ by Iran war, says US bombing won’t spark regime change

The president says he does not see any ‘rationality’ in the military campaign, urging all sides to ‘look for the peaceful option’ to end the war.

Middle East conflict could divert new capital to Hong Kong: treasury chief

Christopher Hui pledges to keep markets operating smoothly amid energy price shocks caused by US-Israel war against Iran.

Turkey says Iran feels ‘betrayed’ by US attacks during nuclear talks

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan says Tehran still ‘open to any sensible backchannel diplomacy’, vows to keep Ankara out of the war.

Letters | US has succeeded in plunging Middle East into dangerous conflict

Editorial | Hong Kong should work to ensure a steady fuel supply amid war in Iran