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Middle East

Middle East

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

last updated:

28 August, 2024

The Hong Kong-flagged container ship ASL Bauhinia is seen off Melbourne, Australia in 2022. Photo: AP

Hong Kong-flagged ship drifts abandoned in Red Sea after explosion

An official described the cargo aboard the ASL Bauhinia container ship as ‘dangerous’. The cause of the fire was not immediately clear.

3 hours agovideocam

Netanyahu hopes to meet Trump in Washington as soon as next week: US officials

28 Jan 2025 - 8:47AMvideocam

Israel-Gaza war

Israel says 8 hostages set for release in first phase of truce are dead

28 Jan 2025 - 1:59AMvideocam

Israel-Gaza war

Israel allows Palestinians to return to heavily destroyed northern Gaza

Israel opened roadblocks for large crowds of Gazans after a hostage breakthrough with militant group Hamas.

27 Jan 2025 - 3:01PM

Palestinians, who were displaced to the south at Israel’s order during the war, make their way back to their homes in northern Gaza. Photo: Reuters

Ceasefire in Lebanon extended as Israeli forces stay

Israel and Lebanon extend ceasefire until February 18, even as tensions flare again.

27 Jan 2025 - 2:10PM

Israel-Gaza war

Deal reached to release more Israeli hostages, allow Gazans to return home north

Deal preserves a fragile ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas, which has devastated the Gaza Strip.

27 Jan 2025 - 10:35AM

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Food and Drinks

Dish in Focus: roasted eggplant at Terracotta Lamma

Converting even the biggest meat-lovers, Terracotta Lamma’s roasted eggplant is a must-order from the charcoal grill menu.

27 Jan 2025 - 6:15AM

Roasted eggplant with whipped tahini and pistachio. Photo: Terracotta Lamma

Israel-Gaza war

Lebanon says Israeli forces kill 22, wound 124 in south on pull-out deadline

Israel its troops in southern Lebanon ‘fired warning shots to remove threats’ where ‘suspects were identified approaching the troops’.

27 Jan 2025 - 1:35AM

Trump approves supply to Israel of 2,000-pound bombs, ends Biden’s hold

Biden has put the hold on the delivery of the bombs due to concern over the impact they could have on the civilian population in Gaza.

26 Jan 2025 - 3:20PM

Israel-Gaza war

Israeli female soldiers freed by Hamas in second Gaza swap

Hamas handed the four female Israeli soldier hostages over to the ICRC on Saturday who transported them to the Israeli military.

25 Jan 2025 - 8:07PM

Four female Israeli soldiers, who had been held in Gaza since the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, are released by Hamas militants. Photo: Reuters

Sudan’s civil war sets ablaze country’s largest oil refinery

Fighting nearby set the sprawling complex ablaze, satellite data shows, amid famine and Sudan’s worsening humanitarian crisis.

25 Jan 2025 - 4:56PM

Sudan’s top army general and de facto ruler, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Photo: AFP

Israel-Gaza war

Letters | For powers like the US, ‘crimes are those that others commit’

Readers discuss the exceptional impunity that the US enjoys, Donald Trump’s ‘golden age of America’, and Elon Musk’s support for the extreme right.

25 Jan 2025 - 11:30AM

Israel-Gaza war

Hamas names four Israeli female soldier hostages to be freed in second swap

Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag will be freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners under the Gaza ceasefire deal.

25 Jan 2025 - 1:36AMvideocam

Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire set to be extended beyond next week

Negotiations have been taking place on extending the January 27 deadline to ensure the conflict isn’t resumed.

23 Jan 2025 - 3:31PM

A Lebanese soldier patrols in a residential area that was devastated by the war between Israel and Hezbollah, in the southern coastal town of Naqura. Photo: AFP

Saudi crown prince vows US$600 billion investment in call with Trump

The US$600 billion pledge could help secure a return visit by the US president to Saudi Arabia.

23 Jan 2025 - 10:54PM

Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman and US President Donald Trump in 2017. File photo: AP

The Philippines

17 Filipinos, 8 other crew of seized ship freed after 14 months in captivity

The rebels hijacked the Israeli-linked vessel in November 2023 to express solidarity with Gaza.

23 Jan 2025 - 9:59AMvideocam

Israel continues ‘significant’ military operation in West Bank, days after Gaza ceasefire

Israel’s prime minister said the West Bank campaign is aimed at Iran-backed militias in the territory.

22 Jan 2025 - 6:46PM

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Trump strips protection from ex-adviser Bolton, target of Iran murder plot

After leaving his White House job, Bolton had called his former boss ‘unfit to be president’ and said he would appease China and Russia.

22 Jan 2025 - 6:45AMvideocam

Former US national security adviser John Bolton adjusts his glasses during his lecture at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, in February 2020. Photo: Reuters

Israel-Gaza war

Israel’s top general resigns over October 7 Hamas attack failures

Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi acknowledges military’s failures, own command responsibility for cross-border assault from Gaza.

22 Jan 2025 - 6:12PMvideocam

Israel-Gaza war

After 15 months of war, Hamas still rules over what remains of Gaza

Hamas remains in control of Gaza post-ceasefire, despite heavy losses in Israel’s military campaign.

21 Jan 2025 - 3:58PMvideocam

Donald Trump’s 2025 inauguration

Palestinian president Abbas ‘ready to work’ with Trump on two-state solution

Mahmoud Abbas calls for security and stability in the Middle East in a message to the US president.

21 Jan 2025 - 2:53PMvideocam

Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority. File photo: dpa

Israel-Gaza war

Hamas says next Gaza hostages will be released on Saturday as scheduled

Hamas clarifies date of next hostage-prisoner swap after official says it will be next Sunday.

21 Jan 2025 - 9:14AMvideocam

Palestinian Hamas militants hand over Doron Steinbrecher on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

EU considers ‘staged approach’ to suspending Syria sanctions

European capitals began reassessing Syria policies after ousting of President Bashar al-Assad on December 8 by insurgent forces.

21 Jan 2025 - 3:30AMvideocam

Israel-Gaza war

Israel-Hamas truce in Gaza holding after first hostage-prisoner swap

China said it ‘welcomes’ Gaza ceasefire as Israel and Hamas begin swapping hostages and prisoners.

20 Jan 2025 - 8:29PMvideocam

Malaysia prepares to return wounded Palestinians to Gaza after fragile ceasefire

The Palestinians, who were evacuated in August, requested to return home during the current ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

20 Jan 2025 - 1:56PMvideocam

A group of Palestinians were evacuated from Gaza to Malaysia in August, 2024. Many of them have now asked to be returned home during the current ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Photo: Getty

Israel-Gaza war

Tears and hugs for released Palestinian prisoners as Gaza ceasefire takes hold

Israel releases 90 Palestinian prisoners after Hamas frees three Israeli hostages in Gaza ceasefire deal.

20 Jan 2025 - 2:27PMvideocam

Scenes in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, as freed Palestinians arrive by bus. Photo: Reuters

Banking & finance

Hong Kong bankers plan working group to build business ties in emerging markets

The working group will do roadshows and update industry players on new policies and regulatory measures in Hong Kong, association says.

20 Jan 2025 - 8:34AMvideocam

Israel-Gaza war

Editorial | Fragile ceasefire in Mideast at least offers a glimmer of hope

Tentative truce between Israel and Palestinian groups is a step in the right direction but many hurdles remain before true peace can prevail.

20 Jan 2025 - 6:15AM

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