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Middle East

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

A boy in Khan Yunis, Gaza. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has proposed to evacuate 1,000 wounded or orphaned Palestinians from Gaza. Photo: AFP

Can Indonesia’s Prabowo succeed in plan to evacuate Gaza’s Palestinians?

The Indonesian president has said that his plan would happen only with agreement from ‘all parties’.

1 hour agovideocam

Trump blocked Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear sites to avoid military clash

17 Apr 2025 - 11:46AMvideocam

Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese EV makers face tariff dilemma as Beijing intervenes in go-global plans

2 hours agovideocam

US-China relations

US sanctions China oil refiner, shipping companies for covert business with Iran

Move is second case of US sanctions on Chinese ‘teapot’ refinery in less than a month, and takes place amid Washington’s denuclearisation talks with Iran.

17 Apr 2025 - 4:14AMvideocam

Panamanian-flagged MT Freya and the Iranian-flagged MT Horse vessels are seen anchored in the waters off Pontianak, West Kalimantan province, Indonesia in January 2021. Photo: Antara Foto/via REUTERS

Iran ‘not far’ from having nuclear bomb, UN watchdog chief says

International Atomic Energy Agency head Rafael Grossi is in Tehran ahead of a second round of talks between Iran and the US.

17 Apr 2025 - 3:29AM

Iran’s military power non-negotiable in US talks, Revolutionary Guard says

The warning comes as Tehran and Washington are set for another high-level nuclear talks in Oman.

15 Apr 2025 - 7:01PM

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Palestinian activist expecting US citizenship interview is arrested by ICE

Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi, a legal permanent US resident and a critic of the war in Gaza, was arrested in Vermont on Monday.

15 Apr 2025 - 1:28PM

Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian man who led protests against the war in Gaza as a student at Columbia University, gives a peace sign as he is detained at the US Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Colchester, Vermont on Monday. Photo: Christopher Helali via AP

Harvard hit with US$2 billion funding freeze after rejecting Trump’s demands

The White House said its demands were intended to crack down on antisemitism following student protests against Israel’s war in Gaza.

15 Apr 2025 - 10:55PM

Israel-Gaza war

Hamas offers ‘serious prisoner swap’ for guarantees Israel will end Gaza war

Hamas proposed releasing all Israeli hostages for a significant prisoner swap and an end to the Gaza conflict, demanding guarantees to ensure Israel’s compliance.

14 Apr 2025 - 7:30PMvideocam

Houthis say US air strikes kill 6, claim Reaper drone shot down over Yemen

The rebels said a ceramics factory in Sanaa was hit overnight, as they reported their fourth downing of a US drone in two weeks.

14 Apr 2025 - 2:45PMvideocam

The wreckage of an American MQ-9 Reaper drone is seen in April last year after the Houthis said they had shot it down. Photo: Houthis Media Centre/EPA-EFE

Bangladesh reintroduces ‘except Israel’ phrase on passports

Muslim-majority Bangladesh does not recognise Israel. The ‘except Israel’ phrase was removed in 2021 during former PM Sheikh Hasina’s tenure.

14 Apr 2025 - 7:08AM

Bangladeshi Muslims buy clothes during Ramadan in Dhaka on March 25. Israel is a flashpoint issue in Muslim-majority Bangladesh. Photo: AFP

US-Iran tensions

US Pentagon chief says military ready to ensure Iran never gets a nuclear bomb

Pete Hegseth said Trump hoped to avoid military option ‘but if we have to, we will to prevent the nuclear bomb in Iran’s hands’.

14 Apr 2025 - 8:22AMvideocam

Israel-Gaza war

Israel expanding Gaza offensive, seizes key corridor

The IDF also launched strikes in the Khan Younis area after ordering tens of thousands of residents to evacuate.

13 Apr 2025 - 4:27AMvideocam

US in hurry for nuclear deal, Iran says after high-stakes talks, Trump threats

Iran’s foreign minister briefly spoke face-to-face with the US president’s special envoy, and says discussions will resume next week.

13 Apr 2025 - 3:46PM

A 3D-printed miniature model of US President Donald Trump and the US and Iran flags are seen in this illustration from January 15. Photo: Reuters

Turkey accuses Israel undermining Syria, stirring up tensions

Turkey is a key backer of Syria’s new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, whose Islamist group led the rebel coalition that ousted Bashar al-Assad in December.

12 Apr 2025 - 9:16PM

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks at the opening of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Antalya, Türkiye, on Friday. Photo: Xinhua

Last chance for diplomacy? US, Iran open decade-defining nuclear talks

With Trump’s threats and a tight two-month deadline, analysts warn that failure to compromise could trigger a dangerous escalatory cycle.

12 Apr 2025 - 1:10PM

Israel-Gaza war

Judge rules US can deport Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil

The pro-Palestinian activist was the first person arrested under Trump’s crackdown on students taking part in campus protests over Gaza.

12 Apr 2025 - 3:59PM

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‘Hot potato’: Singapore’s criticism of ex-NMP seen as bid to cool tensions

Calvin Cheng on Thursday apologised for Facebook comments in which he offered to send pro-Palestinian activists to Gaza.

13 Apr 2025 - 9:35AMvideocam

Former nominated member of parliament Calvin Cheng was criticised for his comments about sending pro-Palestinian activists to Gaza. Photo: Facebook/Calvin Cheng

Taliban’s morality police arrest men for skipping mosque or wrong hairstyles

During the holy fasting month of Ramadan, men’s attendance at mandated prayers was closely monitored, leading at times to arbitrary detention.

10 Apr 2025 - 7:44PMvideocam

Banking & finance

Trade tensions to benefit Hong Kong as IPO hub, trade gateway, Paul Chan says

Economy is the top priority of the central government and foreign businesses and investments are welcome, Chan said at a Citigroup conference.

10 Apr 2025 - 5:32PMvideocam

Israel-Gaza war

Hamas hides identities of top commanders to evade Israeli strikes

The move aims to shield leaders and maintain power amid calls for the group to relinquish control of Gaza.

10 Apr 2025 - 3:30PMvideocam

Rescuers work at the site of an Israeli strike on a residential area in Shujaiyya, Gaza City, on April 9. Photo: AFP

US moves B-2 bombers to Indian Ocean base in message to Iran

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth insists Tehran ‘should not have a nuclear bomb’.

10 Apr 2025 - 1:10PMvideocam

B-2 bombers are equipped to carry the heaviest US bombs and nuclear weapons. Photo: Reuters

Trump says he’d use US military to stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons

The US president says Israel would be ‘the leader’ of such a strike if necessary.

10 Apr 2025 - 7:41AM

‘We are ready’: Indonesia offers sanctuary to Palestinians displaced by Gaza war

President Prabowo Subianto, on a trip to the Middle East and Turkey, said Indonesia was ready to take up to 1,000 Palestinians initially.

9 Apr 2025 - 12:32PMvideocam

Hezbollah says ready to discuss disarming if Israeli troops leave Lebanon

The group said it was open to talks with Lebanon’s president if Israel retreated from from five hilltops and halted its strikes.

9 Apr 2025 - 11:15AMvideocam

People inspect destroyed cars after an Israeli air strike hit a building in Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, on April 1. Photo: ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

‘No court run this way’: chaos at Israel hearing over sacking of security chief

Protests disrupted proceedings as an Israeli court heard petitions against the sacking of security chief Ronen Bar amid claims of political motives.

8 Apr 2025 - 6:48PM

Supporters of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and of the dismissal of Ronen Bar, protest outside the high court during a hearing on the government’s dismissal of the head of the domestic intelligence service. Photo: Reuters

US-Iran tensions

Trump says US, Iran beginning direct talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme

During meeting with Israeli PM Netanyahu at the White House, Trump warned Tehran of ‘great danger’ if talks are not successful.

8 Apr 2025 - 3:41PMvideocam

US ends some USAID contracts providing life-saving aid across Middle East

The projects were being cancelled ‘for the convenience of the US government’, according to letters sent to USAID partners.

8 Apr 2025 - 9:04AMvideocam

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