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Middle East

Middle East
Middle East
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Middle East. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (right) and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim exchange a signed agreement in Ankara on Wednesday. Photo: Turkish Presidency/Xinhua
Malaysia

Ankara anchor: Malaysia finds Turkey ‘reliable friend’ in stormy global waters

Trump’s tariffs and actions in Venezuela are causing the Global South to look for less mercurial partners, analysts say.

Syria

Deadly clashes in Aleppo shatter Syria’s fragile peace as thousands flee

Saudi Arabia

US allies Saudi Arabia, UAE risk a split in Middle East over competing visions

Israel

UN accuses Israel of subjecting Palestinians in West Bank to ‘apartheid’

For first time, UN rights chief labels situation in occupied Palestinian territories ‘apartheid’, a term previously used only by UN experts.

Israeli security forces check Palestinians’ IDs as they line up to return to Jenin through a gap in a security fence in September 2021. Photo: EPA-EFE
United States

Opinion | Why Asia should be concerned about the US attack on Venezuela

Venezuela matters less as a case in itself than as a signal of how energy is being repositioned amid intensifying US-China competition.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

Tesla hits record sales; China carmakers eye third of global market: 7 EV reads

From automakers doubling down on discounts to Chinese robotaxis in the Middle East, here are seven EV stories you may have missed.

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US-Venezuela conflict

Why Iran may not be the next Venezuela despite twin threat of protests and Trump

The volatile situation in the Middle East and the greater role played by China in the region may give the US pause for thought.

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An anti-US mural on a street in Tehran, pictured on January 3. US President Donald Trump has previously threatened the Iranian leadership directly. Photo: EPA
Iran

Iran protests death toll hits 35 and 1,200 detained, activists say

Iran’s judiciary vows ‘no leniency’ for rioters as nationwide unrest enters its second week.

Britain

Palestinian embassy in UK officially inaugurated

Ambassador Husam Zomlot hails upgrade from a mission to full embassy status as an ‘historic moment’.

Iran

At least 16 dead in Iran during week of protests: rights groups

Rights groups report rising fatalities and hundreds of arrests in the biggest Iran protests in three years.

Protesters in the Malekshahi district of Iran’s western Ilam province, in UGC images published on January 3. Photo: UGC via AFP
Islamic State

Britain, France bombed suspected Isis arms dump in Syria: UK defence ministry

Intelligence analysis identified an underground facility believed ‍to contain weapons and explosives in mountains ‍near Palmyra, the UK said.

A UK Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft at an undisclosed location in the Middle East. RAF Typhoon FGR4s joined French aircraft in a joint strike against the Daesh group in Syria on Saturday, the UK defence ministry said. Photo: EPA / SGT Lee Goddard / Handout
Yemen

Pro-Saudi forces regain province from separatists: Yemen presidential council

Rashad al-Alimi said forces had successfully retaken positions in the resource-rich Hadramout province, which borders Saudi Arabia.

Britain

Iranian diaspora in UK rallies in London to support protesters in Iran

Pro-democracy demonstrators gathered outside Downing Street for the rally organised by the Association of Anglo-Iranian Women in the UK.

Donald Trump

‘Peace President’ Trump embraces war: Maduro captured, Nigeria hit, Iran warned

Despite Nobel Peace Prize ambitions, Trump opens 2026 with strikes in Venezuela after a Christmas Day hit on Nigeria.

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US President Donald Trump speaks at the White House in September. Photo: EPA
Iran

Khamenei demands Iran rioters ‘be put in their place’ amid protests, Trump warning

As Trump warns the US is ‘locked and loaded’ to intervene, Iran’s supreme leader blames foreign enemies and orders a crackdown on nationwide unrest.

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Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks at a meeting, in Tehran, Iran on Saturday. Photo: Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/AP
Yemen

Yemen’s separatists announce constitution, UAE withdraws all its troops

The proposed constitution for an independent nation in the south comes as the conflict in Yemen pits Saudi Arabia against the UAE.

Banking & finance

More issuers turn to Dubai listings as yuan bonds gain traction in Middle East

Dubai’s dim sum bond momentum points to investor confidence in China and diversification from the US dollar, says regulator.

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Israel-Gaza war

Angelina Jolie visits Egyptian side of Gaza’s Rafah crossing

‘What needs to happen is clear: the ceasefire must hold and access must be sustained, safe and urgently scaled up,’ the actress said of Gaza.

American actress and film producer Angelina Jolie greets Red Crecent workers during her visit to the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza on Friday. Photo: AP
Yemen

7 dead as Saudi jets strike UAE-backed forces in ‘peaceful’ Yemen operation

Separatists report 7 air strikes minutes after pro-Saudi forces announced a ‘peaceful’ bid to retake camps, accusing Riyadh of deception.

United States

Trump and Iran official exchange threats after protests turn deadly

Trump says US will come to their rescue if ‘peaceful protesters killed’ while Iran’s ex-parliament speaker blames US and Israel for unrest.

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Saudi Arabia

Saudi-UAE rivalry explodes into view after strike in war-torn Yemen

Gulf powers Riyadh and Abu Dhabi are at odds over rival factions and a deepening struggle for regional pre-eminence.

Damaged military vehicles, allegedly sent by the United Arab Emirates to support Southern Transitional Council separatist forces, following an air strike carried out by the Saudi-led coalition in the port of Mukalla, southern Yemen on December 30. Photo: AFP
Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia sets executions record in 2025, putting 356 people to death

The surge comes amid Riyadh’s ongoing ‘war on drugs’ and marked the first time more foreigners were executed than Saudis in a calendar year.

Saudi Arabia’s capital city, Riyadh. Rights groups say the death penalty undermines the country’s efforts to present a modern image to the world. Photo: Shutterstock
Iran

At least 7 reported killed in Iran as unrest spreads beyond capital

Deaths may mark the start of a heavier-handed response by Iran over demonstrations which started in Tehran and have emerged elsewhere.

Iran

Iran executions hit 35-year high with 1,500 killed in 2025: rights group

Drug offenses fuel ‘unprecedented’ surge as Tehran uses capital punishment to ‘create fear’, says rights activist.

China trade

How the ‘world’s supermarket’ rode out Trump’s tariffs – and grew even stronger

Yiwu, one of China’s biggest export hubs, was expected to take a hit from US tariffs. Instead, it has seen trade surge.

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Vendors work at the Yiwu International Trade Market, a vast emporium for wholesale goods often dubbed the “world’s supermarket”, in Yiwu, Zhejiang province. The city has recorded strong growth in exports this year despite the US-China trade war. Photo: AFP
Autonomous vehicles

How Chinese robotaxi giants are steering Middle East towards a driverless future

WeRide, Baidu and Pony.ai expand operations in the Middle East as UAE promotes clean energy and reduces dependence on oil and gas.

A WeRide robotaxi in Abu Dhabi on December 7, 2025. Chinese robotaxi developers see the Middle East as one of their starting points for global expansion. Photo: Coco Feng
Malaysia

Muslim businesses in China target Malaysia as global halal gateway

The growing presence of China’s Muslim entrepreneurs at a festival in Kuala Lumpur reflects their trust in Malaysia’s strong halal standards.

Iran

Students join protests in Iran as economic hardship fuels discontent

Iran’s leadership acknowledges protests stem from economic pressures as currency hits a record low.

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