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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

A humanoid robot is modified at a facility in China’s Shandong province last month. The nation has seen rapid developments in artificial intelligence and semiconductor-related industries. Photo: Xinhua

China manufacturing

China’s industrial profits hit 6-month high amid Iran war price spikes

Fuel-processing sector pivots to profit while tech gains shield margins from modest revenue growth, highlighting an efficiency-led rally over a demand recovery.

1 hour ago

China stock market

China equities set for boost as Trump-Xi meeting raises hopes of thaw

2 hours ago

Japan

In hot water: Japan’s bathhouses struggle to stay afloat as oil prices spike

3 hours agovideocam

Israel

Netanyahu’s biggest rivals join forces for Israel’s coming election

Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, two former prime ministers of Israel, announce the merging of their parties.

5 hours ago

Benjamin Netanyahu is Israel’s longest-serving prime minister. Photo: Reuters

China exports

Chinese EVs are making inroads in one of world’s most competitive auto markets

BYD is now one of Korea’s fastest-growing imported EV brands while rivals like Chery look to break into a market long dominated by local giants.

27 Apr 2026 - 10:00AMvideocam

Middle East

Lebanon reports bloodiest day since ceasefire as Israel targets Hezbollah

Ceasefire has reduced but not stopped attacks, as Hezbollah vows to keep fighting Israeli troops in Lebanon.

27 Apr 2026 - 9:32AM

Diplomacy

Opinion | 122 years on, Mackinder’s ‘heartland’ remains geopolitically decisive

Conflicts in Ukraine and Iran have returned strategic focus to the idea of Eurasia as central to the global power contest, challenging the viability of the Indo-Pacific pivot.

27 Apr 2026 - 7:29AMvideocam

King Charles III

King Charles’ state visit to US to go on as planned after shooting

King Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla, are due to arrive on Monday for a four-day state visit.

27 Apr 2026 - 11:09AMvideocam

China economy

Opinion | For the US dollar, a subtler shift than a ‘petroyuan’ order is underfoot

Talk of a dollar collapse or ‘petroyuan’ order arriving amid the Iran war misses the mark. The larger shift is subtler and no less consequential.

26 Apr 2026 - 4:30PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

Opinion | Trump’s oil crisis is accelerating the end of the fossil fuel era

Ironically for president ‘drill, baby, drill’, this crisis may prove an irreversible tipping point for clean energy.

26 Apr 2026 - 3:00PM

An oil tanker burns off the coast of Iraq after being hit by an Iranian strike last month amid the US-Israel war on Iran. Photo: AP

Malaysia

At Malaysia’s arms bazaar, drone dealers chase Southeast Asian market share

‘Drone warfare is the future,’ say arms dealers in Kuala Lumpur – and the region’s militaries are buying in.

26 Apr 2026 - 1:46PMvideocam

Malaysian army officers visit the booth of Special Technology Control, a Russian developer of unmanned systems, at the Defence Services Asia exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Tuesday. Photo: EPA

Middle East

New Israeli strikes reported in Lebanon after Netanyahu orders attacks

The Israeli army has accused Hezbollah militants of breaching the recently extended ceasefire between the two countries.

26 Apr 2026 - 6:16AM

Science

Will China’s mathematicians join a global effort to boycott the United States?

Question hovers as world’s premier mathematics conference faces revolt over American visa rules and foreign policies.

26 Apr 2026 - 6:00AMvideocam

China-Middle East relations

Iran’s foreign minister returns to Pakistan after Trump cancels envoys’ trip

Tehran pursues urgent regional coordination as US president orders his negotiators to stay home.

26 Apr 2026 - 10:20PM

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, left, meets with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

China-Middle East relations

Iran digs in as US envoys Kushner and Witkoff head to Pakistan for more talks

Trapped in the Persian Gulf, ship crews run low on food, water – and mental health reserves.

25 Apr 2026 - 10:35PMvideocam

The Epaminondas ship is seen during seizure by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran, in this image obtained on Friday. Photo: Reuters

Britain

Argentina again calls for UK talks on Falklands, US confirms neutrality

Earlier, a leaked Pentagon email had set out options for the US to punish Nato allies for refusing to join US-Israeli strikes against Iran.

25 Apr 2026 - 7:42PM

US, Israel war on Iran

US uses unusual routes to send jet fuel to Asia bases as Hormuz stays shut

The shipments to Subic Bay and Yokose add to a growing trend of US military fuel heading to regions that typically rely on Mideast supplies.

25 Apr 2026 - 3:40PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

Iran war is tearing polyester fabric of fast fashion – and shoes could be next

Conflict-driven oil price spikes are straining Asia’s polyester supply chain, threatening higher costs for firms like Zara and H&M.

25 Apr 2026 - 3:18PMvideocam

A person carrying a bag walks by a Zara store in Plaza de Espana in Madrid, Spain. Photo: Reuters

US, Israel war on Iran

Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt: the Middle East’s new power brokers?

‘Fear of US abandonment’ is helping forge a new Middle East – but don’t expect an Islamic Nato just yet.

25 Apr 2026 - 1:30PM

War and conflict

Opinion | Blinding the world with lies makes peacemaking an impossible task

From Iran to the Horn of Africa, disinformation is killing diplomacy. Mediators need facts, not state-sponsored fictions.

25 Apr 2026 - 11:00AM

Russia

Russia says US using coups, kidnappings to ‘defend its well-being’ at any cost

‘The United States has officially declared that no one can dictate to it,’ Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says.

25 Apr 2026 - 9:29AMvideocam

Captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro heads towards the Daniel Patrick Manhattan United States Courthouse for an initial appearance to face US federal charges in New York City in January. Photo: Reuters

Indonesia

Mixed bag: Indonesia’s 8% growth dream hits a plastic ceiling

Soaring packaging costs amid the Iran war hint at a deeper malaise as the middle class contracts and growth hits a plateau.

26 Apr 2026 - 10:01AMvideocam

A woman shops for vegetables in Depok, Indonesia, earlier this month near a sign asking customers to bring their own shopping bags. Photo: Reuters

G7 ‘concerned’ at Russia and China’s nuclear build-up

The remarks come ahead of a month-long conference to revise the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

25 Apr 2026 - 3:48AMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

US sanctions China-based oil refinery and 40 shippers over Iran oil

Hengli Petrochemical’s facility in Dalian can process 400,000 barrels per day, making it one of the biggest independent refineries in China.

27 Apr 2026 - 1:13AMvideocam

Pakistan

US says direct talks are on, Iran says no: confusion over Pakistan meeting

Trump sends Witkoff and Kushner; meanwhile, Iran’s foreign ministry denies US discussions even as Araghchi arrives in Islamabad.

25 Apr 2026 - 7:06PMvideocam

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived on Friday in Pakistan, which hosted peace talks with the US earlier this month. Photo: Xinhua

India

Chinese drone discovery sharpens focus on Asia’s undersea security race

Experts say India is playing ‘steady catch-up’ in boosting undersea surveillance, while Southeast Asian nations’ capabilities differ widely.

24 Apr 2026 - 7:27PM

South and Southeast Asian nations are stepping up capabilities to boost undersea surveillance and defend deep-sea cables, analysts say. Photo: Shutterstock

Bonds

China opens government bond futures to select foreign investors in reform push

Qualified foreign investors can trade government bond futures, enhancing market access and boosting the yuan’s appeal amid global tensions.

24 Apr 2026 - 7:33PM

Artificial intelligence

Iran war shows ‘strategic value’ of AI for China’s military, PLA Daily says

Commentary calls it ‘inevitable’ and necessary for PLA to embrace artificial intelligence to gain the advantage in future warfare.

24 Apr 2026 - 6:00PM

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Iran

China’s industrial profits hit 6-month high amid Iran war price spikes

Fuel-processing sector pivots to profit while tech gains shield margins from modest revenue growth, highlighting an efficiency-led rally over a demand recovery.

China equities set for boost as Trump-Xi meeting raises hopes of thaw

In hot water: Japan’s bathhouses struggle to stay afloat as oil prices spike

Netanyahu’s biggest rivals join forces for Israel’s coming election

Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, two former prime ministers of Israel, announce the merging of their parties.

Chinese EVs are making inroads in one of world’s most competitive auto markets

BYD is now one of Korea’s fastest-growing imported EV brands while rivals like Chery look to break into a market long dominated by local giants.

Lebanon reports bloodiest day since ceasefire as Israel targets Hezbollah

Ceasefire has reduced but not stopped attacks, as Hezbollah vows to keep fighting Israeli troops in Lebanon.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | 122 years on, Mackinder’s ‘heartland’ remains geopolitically decisive

Conflicts in Ukraine and Iran have returned strategic focus to the idea of Eurasia as central to the global power contest, challenging the viability of the Indo-Pacific pivot.

King Charles’ state visit to US to go on as planned after shooting

King Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla, are due to arrive on Monday for a four-day state visit.

Opinion | For the US dollar, a subtler shift than a ‘petroyuan’ order is underfoot

Talk of a dollar collapse or ‘petroyuan’ order arriving amid the Iran war misses the mark. The larger shift is subtler and no less consequential.

Opinion | Trump’s oil crisis is accelerating the end of the fossil fuel era

Ironically for president ‘drill, baby, drill’, this crisis may prove an irreversible tipping point for clean energy.

At Malaysia’s arms bazaar, drone dealers chase Southeast Asian market share

‘Drone warfare is the future,’ say arms dealers in Kuala Lumpur – and the region’s militaries are buying in.

New Israeli strikes reported in Lebanon after Netanyahu orders attacks

The Israeli army has accused Hezbollah militants of breaching the recently extended ceasefire between the two countries.

Will China’s mathematicians join a global effort to boycott the United States?

Question hovers as world’s premier mathematics conference faces revolt over American visa rules and foreign policies.

Iran’s foreign minister returns to Pakistan after Trump cancels envoys’ trip

Tehran pursues urgent regional coordination as US president orders his negotiators to stay home.

Iran digs in as US envoys Kushner and Witkoff head to Pakistan for more talks

Trapped in the Persian Gulf, ship crews run low on food, water – and mental health reserves.

Argentina again calls for UK talks on Falklands, US confirms neutrality

Earlier, a leaked Pentagon email had set out options for the US to punish Nato allies for refusing to join US-Israeli strikes against Iran.

US uses unusual routes to send jet fuel to Asia bases as Hormuz stays shut

The shipments to Subic Bay and Yokose add to a growing trend of US military fuel heading to regions that typically rely on Mideast supplies.

Iran war is tearing polyester fabric of fast fashion – and shoes could be next

Conflict-driven oil price spikes are straining Asia’s polyester supply chain, threatening higher costs for firms like Zara and H&M.

Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt: the Middle East’s new power brokers?

‘Fear of US abandonment’ is helping forge a new Middle East – but don’t expect an Islamic Nato just yet.

Opinion | Blinding the world with lies makes peacemaking an impossible task

From Iran to the Horn of Africa, disinformation is killing diplomacy. Mediators need facts, not state-sponsored fictions.

Russia says US using coups, kidnappings to ‘defend its well-being’ at any cost

‘The United States has officially declared that no one can dictate to it,’ Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says.

Mixed bag: Indonesia’s 8% growth dream hits a plastic ceiling

Soaring packaging costs amid the Iran war hint at a deeper malaise as the middle class contracts and growth hits a plateau.

G7 ‘concerned’ at Russia and China’s nuclear build-up

The remarks come ahead of a month-long conference to revise the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

US sanctions China-based oil refinery and 40 shippers over Iran oil

Hengli Petrochemical’s facility in Dalian can process 400,000 barrels per day, making it one of the biggest independent refineries in China.

US says direct talks are on, Iran says no: confusion over Pakistan meeting

Trump sends Witkoff and Kushner; meanwhile, Iran’s foreign ministry denies US discussions even as Araghchi arrives in Islamabad.

Chinese drone discovery sharpens focus on Asia’s undersea security race

Experts say India is playing ‘steady catch-up’ in boosting undersea surveillance, while Southeast Asian nations’ capabilities differ widely.

China opens government bond futures to select foreign investors in reform push

Qualified foreign investors can trade government bond futures, enhancing market access and boosting the yuan’s appeal amid global tensions.

Iran war shows ‘strategic value’ of AI for China’s military, PLA Daily says

Commentary calls it ‘inevitable’ and necessary for PLA to embrace artificial intelligence to gain the advantage in future warfare.

Opinion | 122 years on, Mackinder’s ‘heartland’ remains geopolitically decisive