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Iran

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

Capital

Tehran

Head of State

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei

Head of Government

President Masoud Pezeshkian

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio boards Air Force One as he departs for a three-day state visit to China. Photo: AFP

2026 Xi-Trump summit

US’ Rubio calls on China to play a more ‘active’ role in ending Iran war

The Middle East crisis will come into sharp focus during the Xi-Trump summit as Marco Rubio says it threatens to ‘destabilise Asia’.

2 hours agovideocam

2026 Xi-Trump summit

‘Transactional’ but pivotal: how Xi-Trump talks could redefine fault lines

6 hours agovideocam

US-China relations

US Senate warns of China’s nuclear capabilities hours before Xi-Trump summit

3 hours agovideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

UAE denies Israel’s Netanyahu made secret visit during Iran war

Netanyahu’s office claims a ‘historic breakthrough’, but Abu Dhabi dismisses reports of any clandestine meeting.

1 hour ago

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during an event in Jerusalem in April. Photo: Reuters

2026 Xi-Trump summit

Wary mood to mark Xi-Trump summit with irritants aplenty on both sides: analysts

Observers noted the number of recent strategic and trade blows, including the war on Iran, have not derailed the meeting from going ahead.

14 May 2026 - 1:50AMvideocam

2026 Xi-Trump summit

What does Pete Hegseth’s presence in China say about Trump’s military agenda?

US arms sales to Taiwan, nuclear weapons and military-to-military communication will be among topics discussed, experts say.

13 May 2026 - 9:36PMvideocam

Middle East

Iran war pushes Asia’s Gulf migrants to use stablecoins for remittances

The risk of sanctions has fuelled concerns that monetary transfers from migrant workers via banks or other operators could be disrupted.

13 May 2026 - 8:04PM

Foreign workers look at a tall plume of black smoke after an explosion in the Fujairah industrial zone in the UAE in March amid the Iran war. Photo: AFP

2026 Xi-Trump summit

Donald Trump’s red-carpet welcome in Beijing before Xi summit – as it happened

Trump lands in Beijing on Wednesday night amid intense global interest in the Iran war, energy prices and China-US tech rivalry.

13 May 2026 - 9:51PMvideocam

China-EU relations

Global shocks push European firms in China to rethink supply chains

Supply disruptions and rising costs linked to Middle East instability are forcing companies to adjust sourcing, production and investment plans.

13 May 2026 - 6:30PM

2026 Xi-Trump summit

How US missile shortages could strengthen China’s hand during Trump visit

Washington’s depleted stocks and supply chain weaknesses could hand Beijing an important bargaining chip in this week’s talks.

13 May 2026 - 10:09PMvideocam

US stocks of key missiles, including the Joint Air-to-Surface Stand-off Missile range, have been depleted. Photo: 40th Flight Test Squadron

2026 Xi-Trump summit

‘New historical juncture’: Beijing frames Trump visit as chance for stable ties

China’s top envoy to US and commentaries underscore what is at stake and strike a forward-looking tone despite the two sides’ differences.

13 May 2026 - 7:16PMvideocam

US President Donald Trump’s state visit will include meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday and Friday. Photo: Xinhua

China trade

Asia needs ‘institutional toolbox’ to survive global shocks, China experts warn

Ahead of Trump’s China visit, experts at an RCEP forum discuss a supply-chain overhaul, looking to insulate the world’s biggest trading bloc.

13 May 2026 - 4:42PMvideocam

South Korea

South Korea signals ‘phased’ support for US-led Hormuz mission after ship attack

Defence Minister Ahn said the support could include political backing, personnel dispatches and sharing of information and military assets.

13 May 2026 - 2:40PMvideocam

India

Indian travel firms fear further squeeze as Modi calls for holiday restraint

Inflationary pressure from rising fuel prices has already knocked down summer travel inquiries by as much as 15 per cent.

13 May 2026 - 1:11PM

People look at a screen displaying flight information at the Indira Gandhi International airport in New Delhi on March 3. Photo: Reuters

US-China relations

Chinese company that tracked US bombers over Iran wears sanctions with pride

MizarVision defiant after Washington imposes sweeping ban for publishing open-source images detailing Operation Fury activities.

13 May 2026 - 12:00PM

Chinese OSINT start-up MizarVision is in Washington's crosshairs over its publication of satellite imagery showing US military activity in the Middle East. Photo: Weibo/觅熵MizarVision

Hong Kong transport

Hong Kong halves tunnel tolls for commercial vehicles amid surging fuel prices

Two-month cut to apply at all government tunnels and Tsing Sha Control Area from Sunday, but taxi passengers will still have to pay full toll.

13 May 2026 - 9:14PM

Middle East

Israel strikes Lebanon as 380 reported killed since April 17 ceasefire

Hezbollah leader vows to turn battlefield into ‘hell’ as Lebanon and Israel get set for more talks in Washington.

13 May 2026 - 11:43AM

2026 Xi-Trump summit

China-US trade talks kick off in Seoul ahead of high-profile leaders’ summit

Trade deals, export controls on critical minerals and the Iran war likely to be talking points as senior officials sit down for negotiations.

13 May 2026 - 11:55AM

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent arrives at Incheon International Airport in Seoul on Wednesday, ahead of a scheduled meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and trade talks with Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng. Photo: Reuters

US-China relations

Opinion | US maximum pressure tactics unlikely to work with China

As the Trump-Xi summit approaches, China will be going into negotiations with a new diplomatic posture.

13 May 2026 - 8:52AMvideocam

2026 Xi-Trump summit

US defence secretary joins Trump on China trip in rare diplomatic move

Pete Hegseth becomes first Pentagon chief to accompany a US president to Beijing since Richard Nixon’s 1972 visit.

13 May 2026 - 10:16PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

China presses Pakistan to deepen Iran mediation ahead of Trump-Xi talks

Wang Yi highlights Strait of Hormuz security and regional stability as Middle East tensions loom over Beijing talks.

13 May 2026 - 3:40AMvideocam

Wang Yi said Beijing would continue supporting Islamabad’s diplomatic efforts to help restore peace and stability in the Middle East. Photo: EPA

2026 Xi-Trump summit

China stresses ‘equality, respect’ as Trump heads to Beijing for Xi summit

Trade, Taiwan and Middle East tensions loom large as US and Chinese leaders meet for first state visit since Trump’s return.

13 May 2026 - 7:21PMvideocam

Donald Trump (centre) walks to Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Tuesday en route to his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Photo: AP

Artificial intelligence

China’s booming tech exports give Beijing ‘wind in its sails’ for Trump summit

The role of tech products in April’s trade data reflects how computing-related goods are a ‘new and important growth driver’ for exports.

12 May 2026 - 11:30PM

China-EU relations

‘Frogs in a well’: Chinese diplomat slams Europe’s ‘outdated’ approach to China

Foreign ministry’s European Affairs chief warns about pitfalls of protectionism, says Beijing ready to address Brussels’ concerns.

12 May 2026 - 11:00PMvideocam

United States

US consumer inflation jumps as Iran war sends energy prices higher

Inflation had been dropping more or less steadily since peaking with a 9.1 per cent year-over-year spike in prices in June 2022.

12 May 2026 - 9:44PM

A shopper in Colorado state in the US. Photo: AP

Hong Kong politics

China backs Hong Kong courts, ignores calls to free Jimmy Lai ahead of Trump visit

Beijing reaffirms support for Hong Kong judiciary as foreign ministry calls former media boss ‘principal mastermind’ of 2019 anti-government protests.

12 May 2026 - 9:32PM

Guo Jiakun, a spokesman for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, defended Hong Kong’s handling of the Jimmy Lai case after being asked whether authorities would consider freeing the jailed former media tycoon. Photo: Johannes Neudecker/dpa

Gold in Hong Kong

Record gold ETF inflows lift Hong Kong’s global trading hub bid

As investors hedge against global risks, Hong Kong’s gold ETF inflows reinforce its emergence as a key trading centre.

12 May 2026 - 8:00PM

China-EU relations

German firms in China more optimistic despite Iran war, trade headwinds: survey

Expectations for growth, profits and investment are all up, despite geopolitical turbulence.

12 May 2026 - 7:01PM

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Iran

US’ Rubio calls on China to play a more ‘active’ role in ending Iran war

The Middle East crisis will come into sharp focus during the Xi-Trump summit as Marco Rubio says it threatens to ‘destabilise Asia’.

‘Transactional’ but pivotal: how Xi-Trump talks could redefine fault lines

US Senate warns of China’s nuclear capabilities hours before Xi-Trump summit

UAE denies Israel’s Netanyahu made secret visit during Iran war

Netanyahu’s office claims a ‘historic breakthrough’, but Abu Dhabi dismisses reports of any clandestine meeting.

Wary mood to mark Xi-Trump summit with irritants aplenty on both sides: analysts

Observers noted the number of recent strategic and trade blows, including the war on Iran, have not derailed the meeting from going ahead.

What does Pete Hegseth’s presence in China say about Trump’s military agenda?

US arms sales to Taiwan, nuclear weapons and military-to-military communication will be among topics discussed, experts say.

Iran war pushes Asia’s Gulf migrants to use stablecoins for remittances

The risk of sanctions has fuelled concerns that monetary transfers from migrant workers via banks or other operators could be disrupted.

Donald Trump’s red-carpet welcome in Beijing before Xi summit – as it happened

Trump lands in Beijing on Wednesday night amid intense global interest in the Iran war, energy prices and China-US tech rivalry.

Global shocks push European firms in China to rethink supply chains

Supply disruptions and rising costs linked to Middle East instability are forcing companies to adjust sourcing, production and investment plans.

How US missile shortages could strengthen China’s hand during Trump visit

Washington’s depleted stocks and supply chain weaknesses could hand Beijing an important bargaining chip in this week’s talks.

‘New historical juncture’: Beijing frames Trump visit as chance for stable ties

China’s top envoy to US and commentaries underscore what is at stake and strike a forward-looking tone despite the two sides’ differences.

Asia needs ‘institutional toolbox’ to survive global shocks, China experts warn

Ahead of Trump’s China visit, experts at an RCEP forum discuss a supply-chain overhaul, looking to insulate the world’s biggest trading bloc.

South Korea signals ‘phased’ support for US-led Hormuz mission after ship attack

Defence Minister Ahn said the support could include political backing, personnel dispatches and sharing of information and military assets.

Indian travel firms fear further squeeze as Modi calls for holiday restraint

Inflationary pressure from rising fuel prices has already knocked down summer travel inquiries by as much as 15 per cent.

Chinese company that tracked US bombers over Iran wears sanctions with pride

MizarVision defiant after Washington imposes sweeping ban for publishing open-source images detailing Operation Fury activities.

Hong Kong halves tunnel tolls for commercial vehicles amid surging fuel prices

Two-month cut to apply at all government tunnels and Tsing Sha Control Area from Sunday, but taxi passengers will still have to pay full toll.

Israel strikes Lebanon as 380 reported killed since April 17 ceasefire

Hezbollah leader vows to turn battlefield into ‘hell’ as Lebanon and Israel get set for more talks in Washington.

China-US trade talks kick off in Seoul ahead of high-profile leaders’ summit

Trade deals, export controls on critical minerals and the Iran war likely to be talking points as senior officials sit down for negotiations.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | US maximum pressure tactics unlikely to work with China

As the Trump-Xi summit approaches, China will be going into negotiations with a new diplomatic posture.

US defence secretary joins Trump on China trip in rare diplomatic move

Pete Hegseth becomes first Pentagon chief to accompany a US president to Beijing since Richard Nixon’s 1972 visit.

China presses Pakistan to deepen Iran mediation ahead of Trump-Xi talks

Wang Yi highlights Strait of Hormuz security and regional stability as Middle East tensions loom over Beijing talks.

China stresses ‘equality, respect’ as Trump heads to Beijing for Xi summit

Trade, Taiwan and Middle East tensions loom large as US and Chinese leaders meet for first state visit since Trump’s return.

China’s booming tech exports give Beijing ‘wind in its sails’ for Trump summit

The role of tech products in April’s trade data reflects how computing-related goods are a ‘new and important growth driver’ for exports.

‘Frogs in a well’: Chinese diplomat slams Europe’s ‘outdated’ approach to China

Foreign ministry’s European Affairs chief warns about pitfalls of protectionism, says Beijing ready to address Brussels’ concerns.

US consumer inflation jumps as Iran war sends energy prices higher

Inflation had been dropping more or less steadily since peaking with a 9.1 per cent year-over-year spike in prices in June 2022.

China backs Hong Kong courts, ignores calls to free Jimmy Lai ahead of Trump visit

Beijing reaffirms support for Hong Kong judiciary as foreign ministry calls former media boss ‘principal mastermind’ of 2019 anti-government protests.

Record gold ETF inflows lift Hong Kong’s global trading hub bid

As investors hedge against global risks, Hong Kong’s gold ETF inflows reinforce its emergence as a key trading centre.

German firms in China more optimistic despite Iran war, trade headwinds: survey

Expectations for growth, profits and investment are all up, despite geopolitical turbulence.

Opinion | US maximum pressure tactics unlikely to work with China