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Israel

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

Capital

Jerusalem

Head of State

President Isaac Herzog

Head of Government

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

European Union

Israeli spy firm Black Cube involved in Cyprus corruption probe

Black Cube came to prominence in 2017 for its operations aimed at discrediting women who accused Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault.

11 Apr 2026 - 9:03PM

Thailand

Thais celebrate new year despite fuel price shocks delaying travel

11 Apr 2026 - 6:46PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

Trump critique pauses UK handover of Chagos Islands to Mauritius

11 Apr 2026 - 5:11PM

Banking & finance

Macroscope | Can World Bank and IMF leaders rescue a global economy on the brink?

By attacking Iran, the US has put the global economic order in jeopardy.

11 Apr 2026 - 4:30PM

South Korea

South Korea’s president hits back at Israel in row over ‘disturbing’ video

The video purportedly shows Israeli soldiers torturing and pushing a ‘Palestinian kid’ off a roof.

11 Apr 2026 - 2:21PM

China trade

‘Cancelling orders’ in China: Hormuz oil crisis hits transport and manufacturing

Analysts and industry insiders say higher costs are squeezing margins, with some of China’s wary industrial heartland compelled to make day-to-day purchases.

11 Apr 2026 - 1:00PMvideocam

Pakistan

UAE pulls US$3.5 billion from Pakistan after Iran war mediation

As Abu Dhabi signals its displeasure with Islamabad, analysts say other indebted partners will be watching closely.

11 Apr 2026 - 12:18PMvideocam

A shopkeeper displays Iranian flags after the US-Iran ceasefire announcement in Karachi, Pakistan, on Thursday. Photo: EPA

US, Israel war on Iran

US presses Iran as talks gear up in Pakistan under fragile ceasefire

Vice-President J.D. Vance to lead negotiations in Islamabad as Tehran sets preconditions, Trump warns of military action if diplomacy fails.

11 Apr 2026 - 6:20AMvideocam

2026 Trump-Xi summit

High fertiliser prices mean more soybeans for farmers – and greater reliance on China

Analysts question the cost of China deploying ‘fertiliser diplomacy’ and boosting soybean purchases ahead of the Trump-Xi summit.

11 Apr 2026 - 4:55AMvideocam

Singapore

Singapore, Australia vow uninterrupted fuel supply amid global energy shock

Both countries are also working towards a legally binding agreement on economic resilience and essential supplies.

10 Apr 2026 - 8:40PM

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (left) with his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong during their meeting at the Istana presidential palace in Singapore on Friday. Photo: LianHe Zaobao / Chia Ti Yan / AFP

Malaysia

‘Their affair’: Anwar on Singapore’s refusal to negotiate over Hormuz

Responding to remarks by the city state’s top diplomat, Anwar said Malaysia balances regional ties with firm stands on global issues.

10 Apr 2026 - 8:39PMvideocam

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Photo: dpa

US, Israel war on Iran

Iranian duo set to lead US ceasefire talks were once on Israeli hit list

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf will lead first direct talks since Operation Epic Fury began.

10 Apr 2026 - 10:26PMvideocam

China energy security

Why China’s green energy strategy may shield it from the Iran war oil shock

As war in the Persian Gulf triggers volatility in global oil markets, Beijing sees its energy system as a stabilising force.

10 Apr 2026 - 8:00PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

‘I’m scared of war starting again’: fear grips Iranians ahead of US talks

Residents of Tehran face Pakistan-hosted talks with scepticism and anger, caught between a repressive regime and Trump’s threats.

10 Apr 2026 - 6:15PMvideocam

Iranians attend a rally to commemorate slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death in Tehran on Thursday. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS

Israel-Gaza war

Gaza marks 6 months of ceasefire. Does it offer lessons for the Iran war?

A ceasefire has been in place between Israel and Hamas since October 10, but deadly attacks have continued and limited aid is entering.

10 Apr 2026 - 5:14PM

A makeshift camp for displaced people in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip. Photo: AP

SCMP Highlights

Dying man leaves riches to young wife; fisherman’s surprise catch: 7 highlights

From a missing elderly hiker in Hong Kong to a tragic car accident in Singapore, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

10 Apr 2026 - 1:51PM

US, Israel war on Iran

Letters | US-Iran ceasefire is more of a recalibration than an off-ramp

Readers discuss the strategic purpose of the ceasefire, lessons for Taiwan in the Iran war, and war reporting.

10 Apr 2026 - 11:30AM

US, Israel war on Iran

Israel plans talks with Lebanon as violence imperils Iran ceasefire

Israel’s Netanyahu approves talks with Lebanon as the US plans for meeting in Washington next week.

10 Apr 2026 - 10:56AMvideocam

Men inspect the damage to their home destroyed in an Israeli airstrike a day earlier in Beirut, Lebanon. Photo: AP

Hong Kong economy

Is oil crisis just the start of economic pain for Hongkongers?

With diesel and petrol prices in city highest in the world, analysts warn that consumers will inevitably feel the impact in their wallets.

10 Apr 2026 - 8:36AMvideocam

Nato

What Trump’s Iran war ‘loyalty test’ may mean for Nato’s long-standing alliance

Transatlantic allies’ refusal to back the Iran war fuels latest Trump outburst after meeting with Nato chief Mark Rutte.

10 Apr 2026 - 7:25AMvideocam

Benjamin Netanyahu

Netanyahu corruption trial to resume on Sunday after Israel eases war restrictions

Netanyahu, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, is the first sitting Israeli prime minister to stand trial for corruption.

10 Apr 2026 - 4:44AM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo: Reuters

US, Israel war on Iran

Yuan tokens and oil-linked fees? China experts propose ‘innovative’ Hormuz tolls

Analysts warn Trump’s ‘joint venture’ plan with Iran could formalise grey zone, while Beijing balances roles as mediator, energy importer.

10 Apr 2026 - 4:56PMvideocam

Shipping vessels sit anchored in Muscat, Oman. The country, which shares control of the Strait of Hormuz with Iran, has no plans to impose fees on ships passing through the strait. Photo: Reuters

US-China relations

How can Beijing prepare for Trump’s ‘drunken boxing’ style before he meets Xi?

As Trump loomed large in both Iran war and subsequent pause, analysts weigh the importance of rhetoric vs results in his talks with China.

9 Apr 2026 - 10:47PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

Why US-Iran truce may not end high airfares and flight disruptions

According to airline bosses, it will still take months for jet fuel supplies and prices to normalise.

9 Apr 2026 - 9:53PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

No let-up in Israeli attacks on Lebanon as US-Iran ceasefire teeters

Israel’s relentless Lebanon strikes threaten to shatter the fragile truce as peace talks loom.

9 Apr 2026 - 9:50PMvideocam

A worker tries to salvage boxes from a destroyed building in an area hit by Israeli strikes on Beirut, Lebanon, on Thursday. Photo: dpa

US, Israel war on Iran

The Strait of Hormuz is closed again. Could the Iran-US truce fail at any moment?

Much of what happens next may depend on ‘wild card’ Israel, observers say.

9 Apr 2026 - 9:14PMvideocam

Smoke rises over Beirut, Lebanon, on Wednesday after several Israeli air strikes. Photo: AP

China exports

As Iran war jolts global oil, can China’s energy storage tech blunt the impact?

Strong overseas demand, fuelled by the rise of AI-powered systems, could continue amid Iran war pressures, analysts say.

9 Apr 2026 - 10:48PMvideocam

Malaysia

Singapore’s refusal to negotiate over Hormuz creates waves in Malaysia

Singapore said it would not be appealing to Iran for access to the strait as transit through crucial trade waterways was a right.

9 Apr 2026 - 7:11PMvideocam

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Israel

Israeli spy firm Black Cube involved in Cyprus corruption probe

Black Cube came to prominence in 2017 for its operations aimed at discrediting women who accused Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault.

Thais celebrate new year despite fuel price shocks delaying travel

Trump critique pauses UK handover of Chagos Islands to Mauritius

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Macroscope | Can World Bank and IMF leaders rescue a global economy on the brink?

By attacking Iran, the US has put the global economic order in jeopardy.

South Korea’s president hits back at Israel in row over ‘disturbing’ video

The video purportedly shows Israeli soldiers torturing and pushing a ‘Palestinian kid’ off a roof.

‘Cancelling orders’ in China: Hormuz oil crisis hits transport and manufacturing

Analysts and industry insiders say higher costs are squeezing margins, with some of China’s wary industrial heartland compelled to make day-to-day purchases.

UAE pulls US$3.5 billion from Pakistan after Iran war mediation

As Abu Dhabi signals its displeasure with Islamabad, analysts say other indebted partners will be watching closely.

US presses Iran as talks gear up in Pakistan under fragile ceasefire

Vice-President J.D. Vance to lead negotiations in Islamabad as Tehran sets preconditions, Trump warns of military action if diplomacy fails.

High fertiliser prices mean more soybeans for farmers – and greater reliance on China

Analysts question the cost of China deploying ‘fertiliser diplomacy’ and boosting soybean purchases ahead of the Trump-Xi summit.

Singapore, Australia vow uninterrupted fuel supply amid global energy shock

Both countries are also working towards a legally binding agreement on economic resilience and essential supplies.

‘Their affair’: Anwar on Singapore’s refusal to negotiate over Hormuz

Responding to remarks by the city state’s top diplomat, Anwar said Malaysia balances regional ties with firm stands on global issues.

Iranian duo set to lead US ceasefire talks were once on Israeli hit list

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf will lead first direct talks since Operation Epic Fury began.

Why China’s green energy strategy may shield it from the Iran war oil shock

As war in the Persian Gulf triggers volatility in global oil markets, Beijing sees its energy system as a stabilising force.

‘I’m scared of war starting again’: fear grips Iranians ahead of US talks

Residents of Tehran face Pakistan-hosted talks with scepticism and anger, caught between a repressive regime and Trump’s threats.

Gaza marks 6 months of ceasefire. Does it offer lessons for the Iran war?

A ceasefire has been in place between Israel and Hamas since October 10, but deadly attacks have continued and limited aid is entering.

Dying man leaves riches to young wife; fisherman’s surprise catch: 7 highlights

From a missing elderly hiker in Hong Kong to a tragic car accident in Singapore, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Letters | US-Iran ceasefire is more of a recalibration than an off-ramp

Readers discuss the strategic purpose of the ceasefire, lessons for Taiwan in the Iran war, and war reporting.

Israel plans talks with Lebanon as violence imperils Iran ceasefire

Israel’s Netanyahu approves talks with Lebanon as the US plans for meeting in Washington next week.

Is oil crisis just the start of economic pain for Hongkongers?

With diesel and petrol prices in city highest in the world, analysts warn that consumers will inevitably feel the impact in their wallets.

What Trump’s Iran war ‘loyalty test’ may mean for Nato’s long-standing alliance

Transatlantic allies’ refusal to back the Iran war fuels latest Trump outburst after meeting with Nato chief Mark Rutte.

Netanyahu corruption trial to resume on Sunday after Israel eases war restrictions

Netanyahu, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, is the first sitting Israeli prime minister to stand trial for corruption.

Yuan tokens and oil-linked fees? China experts propose ‘innovative’ Hormuz tolls

Analysts warn Trump’s ‘joint venture’ plan with Iran could formalise grey zone, while Beijing balances roles as mediator, energy importer.

How can Beijing prepare for Trump’s ‘drunken boxing’ style before he meets Xi?

As Trump loomed large in both Iran war and subsequent pause, analysts weigh the importance of rhetoric vs results in his talks with China.

Why US-Iran truce may not end high airfares and flight disruptions

According to airline bosses, it will still take months for jet fuel supplies and prices to normalise.

No let-up in Israeli attacks on Lebanon as US-Iran ceasefire teeters

Israel’s relentless Lebanon strikes threaten to shatter the fragile truce as peace talks loom.

The Strait of Hormuz is closed again. Could the Iran-US truce fail at any moment?

Much of what happens next may depend on ‘wild card’ Israel, observers say.

As Iran war jolts global oil, can China’s energy storage tech blunt the impact?

Strong overseas demand, fuelled by the rise of AI-powered systems, could continue amid Iran war pressures, analysts say.

Singapore’s refusal to negotiate over Hormuz creates waves in Malaysia

Singapore said it would not be appealing to Iran for access to the strait as transit through crucial trade waterways was a right.

Macroscope | Can World Bank and IMF leaders rescue a global economy on the brink?

Letters | US-Iran ceasefire is more of a recalibration than an off-ramp