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Kuwait

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

Capital

Kuwait City

Head of State

Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

Head of Government

Prime Minister Ahmad Abdullah Al-Sabah

The pause on visa processing will begin on January 21, and will continue indefinitely. Photo: Reuters

United States

US halts visas for 75 countries indefinitely; China not on the list

Trump administration pauses immigrant visa processing from January 21, affecting applicants worldwide while exempting key visa categories.

15 Jan 2026 - 3:43AM

CATL

CATL’s stellar run and record premium come up against doubling of stock supply

19 Nov 2025 - 7:30AM

Syria

Syria joins alliance against Isis after Trump hosts ex-jihadist president

11 Nov 2025 - 4:01PM

Energy

Opec agrees to output increase, moderates plans due to glut fears

Opec has raised output targets by more than 2.7 million bpd since April but slowed the pace in October and November amid predictions of oversupply.

2 Nov 2025 - 9:31PM

Banking & finance

Citic Securities rides Hong Kong’s IPO wave, sponsoring dozens of firms

As hedge funds and long-only investors pour into listings, bank’s Hong Kong unit expands to meet demand, head of investment banking says.

22 Oct 2025 - 8:35AM

China stock market

Goldman: DeepSeek and easing tensions fuel surge in foreign investment in China

China’s AI breakthroughs and de-escalation of geopolitical risks are behind a record foreign investor run on China’s onshore and offshore stock markets.

19 Sep 2025 - 10:48AM

Energy

Key Opec members send ‘big message’ with higher oil production

Opec has in recent years implemented several output cuts amounting to a total of almost six million barrels per day.

7 Sep 2025 - 11:42PMvideocam

Headquarters of Opec in Vienna, Austria. Oil ministers in Opec’s V8 grouping – comprising Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman – will increase production by 137,000 barrels a day from October. Photo: AFP

Malaysia

Malaysia jet explosion reignites debate over ageing air force arsenal

Viral footage of the fiery crash has raised alarms over military readiness and old equipment.

22 Aug 2025 - 3:44PM

Israel-Gaza war

‘A rogue state’: how Netanyahu risks making ‘Greater Israel’ the new Iran

The Israeli PM’s expansionist rhetoric has shaken the Arab world, with a former top UAE adviser calling him ‘no less dangerous than Hitler’.

19 Aug 2025 - 2:06PM

Environment

Deadline looms as nations remain divided on global plastic pollution treaty

A coalition of oil-producing states remains at odds with an ‘ambitious’ group that wants radical action written into a treaty.

11 Aug 2025 - 1:45PM

A worker sorts plastic waste on the outskirts of Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong society

Hong Kong welcomes hit Mughal exhibition with more than 100 works of art

Jewellery, weaponry and fragments of architectural history from South Asian dynasty on display at Palace Museum, with links to China at forefront.

11 Aug 2025 - 2:19PM

The Hong Kong Palace Museum is the first stop on the travelling show’s itinerary. Photo: Nora Tam

Middle East

At least 76 dead, dozens missing after migrant boat sinks off Yemen

Yemeni security forces were conducting operations to recover a ‘significant’ number of bodies.

4 Aug 2025 - 4:45PM

China-Middle East relations

China and Kuwait pledge closer military ties as ammunition plant set to open

Beijing has been seeking to deepen engagement with the key US regional ally as part of its efforts to boost its presence in the Gulf.

1 Aug 2025 - 12:00PM

Asean

Asian Angle | Why Malaysia seeks enduring Asean-GCC-China cooperation

Malaysia’s history as a global bridge drives this new trilateral forum, mirroring historical trade routes from China to the Middle East.

28 Jul 2025 - 10:05AMvideocam

Asean

Asean-GCC economic axis: the Global South’s answer to US volatility?

The two blocs’ emerging alliance looks to leverage each other’s strengths to buffer both regions from tariffs and US-China trade tensions.

22 Jul 2025 - 4:20PM

Asean and Gulf officials join hands for a group photo at the second Asean-GCC Summit in Kuala Lumpur on May 27. Photo: AFP

Malaysia

Malaysia’s fighter jet deal to ‘quietly’ boost South China Sea defences

The jets are part of a close, ‘under the radar’ US-Malaysia defence partnership, even as Kuala Lumpur continues engaging China positively, analysts say.

12 Jul 2025 - 11:07PMvideocam

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong should look to Africa, South America for new markets: trade body head

Trade Development Council chairman Frederick Ma says he expects Hong Kong’s exports in the second half of the year to be weaker.

28 Jun 2025 - 7:22PMvideocam

Asean

Asian Angle | Are migrant workers the real glue cementing Asean-GCC ties?

The surprising truth behind the growing partnership lies in its people-to-people connections, remittances, the haj and financial mobility.

28 Jun 2025 - 12:00PMvideocam

Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Gulf Cooperation Council and China join hands for a group photo as they meet for a summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on May 27. Photo: Kyodo

Middle East

US bases in the Middle East under threat as Iran vows retaliation

The US has thousands of troops deployed on bases across the Middle East - and Iran says they could be legitimate targets.

23 Jun 2025 - 11:16AM

Middle East

Gulf states urge maximum restraint following US strikes on Iran

Home to multiple US military bases, Gulf leaders called for maximum restraint as strikes on Iran raise the possibility of wider war.

22 Jun 2025 - 11:03PM

China's economic recovery

China records bumper capital inflow as Gulf investors hedge against US

China saw a US$33 billion capital inflow in May, as investors seek a safe haven and reduce their US exposure amid rising global instability.

18 Jun 2025 - 7:00PM

China has recorded a strong inflow of foreign capital into its bond and equities markets in recent months, as investors look to hedge against the United States. Photo: EPA-EFE

China travel

Explainer | 5 ways to enter mainland China without a visa

China has rapidly expanded its visa-free entry schemes in recent years to boost its tourism sector. Here is how the systems work.

16 Jun 2025 - 9:31PMvideocam

A Chinese immigration officer assists an American tourist entering China using the visa-free transit policy. Photo: Xinhua

Banking & finance

Hong Kong virtual insurer OneDegree seeks greater Middle East growth

Co-founder attributes company’s success to its ‘cybersecurity technology and comprehensive underwriting framework’.

15 Jun 2025 - 7:52PM

Hong Kong

InvestHK pivots to support Hong Kong start-ups’ global growth

After 25 years promoting the city as an investment destination, InvestHK is now championing Hong Kong companies’ overseas expansion.

14 Jun 2025 - 10:00AM

China travel

China expands visa-free entry

Passport holders from 46 countries can visit China for 30 days visa-free under Beijing’s loosened entry policy.

12 Sep 2025 - 12:53PM

Tourists visit the Great Wall of China. Photo: Reuters

Asean

Opinion | Beyond trade, Asean-GCC-China summit heralds Asia’s cultural renaissance

The recent meeting in Kuala Lumpur transcended economics and geopolitics, representing a pivotal moment of inter-civilisational engagement.

1 Jun 2025 - 9:30AMvideocam

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and China’s Premier Li Qiang at the Aseam-GCC-China Summit in Kuala Lumpur on May 26. Photo: Handout

Banking & finance

Investment ties between China and the Middle East to get stronger: EWPartners

Investment firm backed by Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia says ties to strengthen thanks to global trade uncertainties.

29 May 2025 - 6:52PM

China-Middle East relations

China offers visa-free travel to 4 Gulf countries following landmark meeting

Passport holders from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain will be allowed to stay for up to 30 days under year-long trial policy.

28 May 2025 - 8:15PMvideocam

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Kuwait

US halts visas for 75 countries indefinitely; China not on the list

Trump administration pauses immigrant visa processing from January 21, affecting applicants worldwide while exempting key visa categories.

CATL’s stellar run and record premium come up against doubling of stock supply

Syria joins alliance against Isis after Trump hosts ex-jihadist president

Opec agrees to output increase, moderates plans due to glut fears

Opec has raised output targets by more than 2.7 million bpd since April but slowed the pace in October and November amid predictions of oversupply.

Citic Securities rides Hong Kong’s IPO wave, sponsoring dozens of firms

As hedge funds and long-only investors pour into listings, bank’s Hong Kong unit expands to meet demand, head of investment banking says.

Goldman: DeepSeek and easing tensions fuel surge in foreign investment in China

China’s AI breakthroughs and de-escalation of geopolitical risks are behind a record foreign investor run on China’s onshore and offshore stock markets.

Key Opec members send ‘big message’ with higher oil production

Opec has in recent years implemented several output cuts amounting to a total of almost six million barrels per day.

Malaysia jet explosion reignites debate over ageing air force arsenal

Viral footage of the fiery crash has raised alarms over military readiness and old equipment.

‘A rogue state’: how Netanyahu risks making ‘Greater Israel’ the new Iran

The Israeli PM’s expansionist rhetoric has shaken the Arab world, with a former top UAE adviser calling him ‘no less dangerous than Hitler’.

Deadline looms as nations remain divided on global plastic pollution treaty

A coalition of oil-producing states remains at odds with an ‘ambitious’ group that wants radical action written into a treaty.

Hong Kong welcomes hit Mughal exhibition with more than 100 works of art

Jewellery, weaponry and fragments of architectural history from South Asian dynasty on display at Palace Museum, with links to China at forefront.

At least 76 dead, dozens missing after migrant boat sinks off Yemen

Yemeni security forces were conducting operations to recover a ‘significant’ number of bodies.

China and Kuwait pledge closer military ties as ammunition plant set to open

Beijing has been seeking to deepen engagement with the key US regional ally as part of its efforts to boost its presence in the Gulf.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Asian Angle | Why Malaysia seeks enduring Asean-GCC-China cooperation

Malaysia’s history as a global bridge drives this new trilateral forum, mirroring historical trade routes from China to the Middle East.

Asean-GCC economic axis: the Global South’s answer to US volatility?

The two blocs’ emerging alliance looks to leverage each other’s strengths to buffer both regions from tariffs and US-China trade tensions.

Malaysia’s fighter jet deal to ‘quietly’ boost South China Sea defences

The jets are part of a close, ‘under the radar’ US-Malaysia defence partnership, even as Kuala Lumpur continues engaging China positively, analysts say.

Hong Kong should look to Africa, South America for new markets: trade body head

Trade Development Council chairman Frederick Ma says he expects Hong Kong’s exports in the second half of the year to be weaker.

Asian Angle | Are migrant workers the real glue cementing Asean-GCC ties?

The surprising truth behind the growing partnership lies in its people-to-people connections, remittances, the haj and financial mobility.

US bases in the Middle East under threat as Iran vows retaliation

The US has thousands of troops deployed on bases across the Middle East - and Iran says they could be legitimate targets.

Gulf states urge maximum restraint following US strikes on Iran

Home to multiple US military bases, Gulf leaders called for maximum restraint as strikes on Iran raise the possibility of wider war.

China records bumper capital inflow as Gulf investors hedge against US

China saw a US$33 billion capital inflow in May, as investors seek a safe haven and reduce their US exposure amid rising global instability.

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Explainer | 5 ways to enter mainland China without a visa

China has rapidly expanded its visa-free entry schemes in recent years to boost its tourism sector. Here is how the systems work.

Hong Kong virtual insurer OneDegree seeks greater Middle East growth

Co-founder attributes company’s success to its ‘cybersecurity technology and comprehensive underwriting framework’.

InvestHK pivots to support Hong Kong start-ups’ global growth

After 25 years promoting the city as an investment destination, InvestHK is now championing Hong Kong companies’ overseas expansion.

China expands visa-free entry

Passport holders from 46 countries can visit China for 30 days visa-free under Beijing’s loosened entry policy.

Opinion | Beyond trade, Asean-GCC-China summit heralds Asia’s cultural renaissance

The recent meeting in Kuala Lumpur transcended economics and geopolitics, representing a pivotal moment of inter-civilisational engagement.

Investment ties between China and the Middle East to get stronger: EWPartners

Investment firm backed by Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia says ties to strengthen thanks to global trade uncertainties.

China offers visa-free travel to 4 Gulf countries following landmark meeting

Passport holders from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain will be allowed to stay for up to 30 days under year-long trial policy.

Asian Angle | Why Malaysia seeks enduring Asean-GCC-China cooperation

Explainer | 5 ways to enter mainland China without a visa