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QatarEnergy facilities in Ras Laffan Industrial City, pictured here on March 2, came under attack on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

Middle East

Trump threatens to ‘blow up’ Iran’s largest gas field as Gulf energy war explodes

Trump denies US involvement in Israel’s attack on the South Pars gas field that prompted Iran to target energy facilities across the Gulf.

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Kremlin says Ukraine peace talks on ‘situational pause’ amid Iran war

EU inspects Druzhba pipeline in bid to unclog Hungary’s block on Ukraine aid

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China Economy

China taps reserves as Iran war disrupts 30% of global fertiliser trade

War in the Middle East is causing global disruption – from oil to agriculture – as countries, including China, enter spring planting season.

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As China and other northern hemisphere countries enter spring planting season, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has said war in the Middle East could have a serious impact on global food prices if it continues beyond three months. Photo: Xinhua
As China and other northern hemisphere countries enter spring planting season, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has said war in the Middle East could have a serious impact on global food prices if it continues beyond three months. Photo: Xinhua

United States & Canada

FBI ‘investigating’ top US security official who resigned over Iran war

The probe into Joe Kent apparently predates his sudden departure as head of the National Counterterrorism Centre.

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Europe

Hundreds die crossing Mediterranean as 2026 already smashes records

At least 655 migrants died or went missing in January and February taking one of the deadliest migration routes in the world.

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Europe

‘Unprecedented in spread’: UK races to contain deadly meningitis outbreak

Health officials target 5,000 students at the University of Kent after two deaths and a spike in MenB cases linked to a nightclub.

People queue to receive vaccinations at the University of Kent campus. Photo: Reuters
People queue to receive vaccinations at the University of Kent campus. Photo: Reuters

World

World’s ‘happiest’ places revealed as social media weighs on us

Heavy social media use is undermining youth well-being in many countries, according to a UN-sponsored report.

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United States & Canada

AI version of late actor Val Kilmer to co-star in new movie

Kilmer will posthumously ⁠appear in ‘As Deep as the Grave’ in one of the boldest uses yet of AI in moviemaking.

Middle East

Iran can still attack US interests, government appears intact: US spy chief

If a hostile regime survives, it will seek ‌to begin a years-long effort to rebuild its missiles and drone forces, she told US lawmakers.

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US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testifies in Washington on Wednesday. Photo: AP

Middle East

Europe says no to Trump’s Iran demands: ‘not our war’

Some of the closest US allies say they don’t want to enter a conflict on which they were given no say ⁠and where they cannot see the endgame.

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People hold a banner with an image of US President Donald Trump during an anti-war protest in Malaga, Spain, on March 7. Photo: Reuters
People hold a banner with an image of US President Donald Trump during an anti-war protest in Malaga, Spain, on March 7. Photo: Reuters

United States & Canada

US Fed defies Trump to keep interest rates unchanged amid Iran war concerns

Spiking oil prices could fuel inflation and curb growth, even as the US president repeatedly calls for rate cuts.

US

Trump allows foreign ships between domestic ports to stabilise petrol costs

Major maritime unions warn move ‘would do nothing to reduce gasoline prices’ and risks undermining American jobs and national security.

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Americas

Mexico invites Spain’s king to World Cup in sign of thaw

President Sheinbaum’s invitation came after the monarch acknowledged there had been ‘a lot of abuse’ during Spain’s conquest of the Americas.

In a letter to Spain’s King Felipe (right), Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum (left) said the World Cup was “a timely opportunity to evoke the depth and unique character of the ties” between their two countries. Photos: AFP

Global Economy

Red Sea fix? China-bound oil tankers tap Saudi plan to dodge Strait of Hormuz

But analysts warn the strategy can only partially offset disruptions and that security risks remain high.

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This handout satellite image taken by 2026 Planet Labs PBC shows the oil infrastructure at Saudi Arabia’s western Red Sea port of Yanbu on March 4, 2026. Photo: AFP
This handout satellite image taken by 2026 Planet Labs PBC shows the oil infrastructure at Saudi Arabia’s western Red Sea port of Yanbu on March 4, 2026. Photo: AFP

South Asia

Pakistan announces 5-day pause on Afghan strikes for Eid

The temporary ceasefire comes after Monday’s hospital strike, the deadliest in an escalating conflict between the two neighbours.

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Europe

Zelensky urges EU to bypass Hungarian veto on vital US$103 billion loan

Putin ally Viktor Orban has been blocking the loan, in part because of a closed pipeline supplying his country with Russian oil in Ukraine.

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Politics

The China-US face-off: a visual guide to Xi and Trump’s key people

Discover the power players in Xi and Trump’s teams; the key people setting the agenda on diplomacy, the military, the economy, security and science.

The China-US face-off: a visual guide to Donald Trump and Xi Jinping’s inner circles

United States & Canada

Power players: a visual guide to Trump’s team and their views on China

Discover who is in Donald Trump’s inner circle, their backgrounds, stances on China and the roles they will play in shaping the future of the US.

Diplomacy

Chaos over Donald Trump’s China trip likely to further test Beijing’s patience

The US leader’s call for a delay as he focuses on the Iran war follows reports of growing frustration at the White House’s erratic behaviour.

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United States & Canada

Bill, George, Barack or Joe: which ex-president gave Trump backing for Iran war?

Trump said his presidential pal told him, ‘I wish I did it.’ But all four living ex-presidents said they had not been in touch.

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US President Donald Trump signs an executive order at the White House on Monday. Photo: EPA
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Open Questions series

Zheng Yongnian on what US’ ‘neocolonialism’, Venezuela operation mean for China

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Liu Qian on Chinese innovation, the US rivalry and women holding up half the sky

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

Fuchsia Dunlop tells how she fell for China’s cuisine and names her perfect dish

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

80 years on from WWII, China’s interests lie in peaceful Asia-Pacific: Mitter

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

‘Delusional’: Jeffrey Sachs on why Western hegemony has ended

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Illustration: Henry Wong

Scholar Jing Qian on right-sizing China’s economy in the age of Trump

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Zheng Yongnian on what US’ ‘neocolonialism’, Venezuela operation mean for China

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15
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Liu Qian on Chinese innovation, the US rivalry and women holding up half the sky

7
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

Fuchsia Dunlop tells how she fell for China’s cuisine and names her perfect dish

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5
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

80 years on from WWII, China’s interests lie in peaceful Asia-Pacific: Mitter

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

‘Delusional’: Jeffrey Sachs on why Western hegemony has ended

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Illustration: Henry Wong

Scholar Jing Qian on right-sizing China’s economy in the age of Trump

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
MORE FROM THIS SERIES
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OPINION
Nicholas Spiro

Macroscope | China is weathering the Iran war oil shock better than others in Asia

Nicholas Spiro
Alex Lo

As I see it | Rescuing a key Confucian text from centuries of ignominy

Alex Lo
Zhou Bo

Opinion | Who will be the real winner from the Iran war fallout? Not the US

Zhou Bo
4
Cui Jianchun

Opinion | White paper documents the strength of Hong Kong’s security shield

Cui Jianchun
Ryan Ip,David Yu Chak-wai

Opinion | Iran war shows urgency of Hong Kong’s green shipping transition

Ryan Ip
David Yu Chak-wai
Tian Shichen

Opinion | Europe says it must rearm – but to what end?

Tian Shichen
4
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MULTIMEDIA
Video

Thai ‘Death Fest’ offers new look at the end of life

A visitor poses for a photo sitting in a coffin at Death Fest in Nonthaburi, Thailand, Friday, March 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Kittinun Rodsupan)
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Video

Pakistan to pause Afghan strikes for Eid

Hawkers selling toys and decorative items display Pakistan’s national flags at a market ahead of country’s Independence Day celebrations, in Lahore on August 10, 2025. (Photo by Arif ALI / AFP)
Video

Survivors recount deadly air strike on Kabul drug rehab hospital

People, who got injured in what the Taliban said was a Pakistani air strike on a drug users rehabilitation hospital, sit on beds after getting treatment at a hospital, in Kabul, Afghanistan, March 17, 2026. REUTERS/Sayed Hassib
02:19
Video

Iran confirms death of security chief Ali Larijani

epa01285875 (FILE) A file picture dated 20 August 2007 of former Iranian chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani. According to media reports on 15 March 2008, Larijani political opponent of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has achieved a landslide victory in Iran's parliamentary elections. Larijani ran as a candidate in the religious city of Qom, 130 kilometres south of Tehran, and reportedly more than 75 per cent of the vote against candidates close to the president. He represents the so-called 'revisionists', a group that used to back the president but gradually grew apart from him and formed their own faction. Larijani resigned last October as chief nuclear negotiator after grave differences with Ahmadinejad over the country's nuclear policies and has since then been regarded as a critic of the president, especially regarding the president's economic policies which have caused high inflation. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
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