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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.
Last month, BYD sold 100,600 units overseas, 53 per cent of its total. Photo: AFP
Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese EV makers increasingly reliant on exports as domestic sales decelerate

Top EV makers such as BYD, Great Wall Motor and Chery are selling more cars in overseas markets than at home.

The Philippines

AC limits, flex-work, fuel-lock apps: Philippines readies for Iran oil fallout

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South Korea

South Korea uneasy as US weighs moving air defences to Middle East

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US, Israel war on Iran

The European leader defying Trump and his attacks on Iran

By barring US access to military bases, Spain’s prime minister has triggered threats of trade reprisals from Trump.

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Spain’s Pedro Sanchez has once again emerged as Europe’s most consistently vocal critic of US President Donald Trump. Photo: AFP
SCMP Highlights

Woman marries 2 men in Thailand, China’s bamboo-fibre drone: 7 highlights

From a woman marrying two men in Thailand to a bamboo-fibre drone, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

Iran

Letters | As the US attacks Iran, the ancient Battle of Carrhae offers lessons

Readers discuss the war in the Middle East, the opportunity for Colombians in Hong Kong to vote, the importance of teacher well-being, and the poon choi tradition.

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US, Israel war on Iran

US seen as likely responsible for Iran school strike that killed scores

A girls’ school in Minab, in southern Iran, was hit on Saturday during the first day of US and Israeli attacks on the country.

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Graves for victims of the strike on a school in Minab, Iran. Photo: Iranian Foreign Media Department via Reuters
Malaysia

‘Crises are not new to tourism’: Malaysia confident of weathering Mideast storm

Industry groups say a diversified visitor base and strong halal tourism appeal offer resilience for Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign.

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US, Israel war on Iran

Iran damage report: who and what has been targeted in US-Israel strikes?

The US says it has hit more than 2,000 targets in less than a week, while Israel says it has hit hundreds of sites across the country.

Australia

Albanese says Australian troops were on board US sub that sank Iranian ship

The prime minister said the military personnel were on the vessel as part of training arrangements under the Aukus deal.

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Iranian warship IRIS Dena is seen in the Bay of Bengal during the International Fleet Review held at Visakhapatnam, India, on February 18. Photo: AP
Hong Kong economy

‘More dim sum, more often’: Hongkongers cash in as war triggers gold rush

Amid conflict in the Middle East, the number of people buying gold bars and pellets in the city doubled last weekend, industry veteran says.

People queue outside a gold shop in Yau Ma Tei. Photo: Jelly Tse
Insilico

Insilico Medicine advances Middle East push with UAE AI drug discovery deal

Hong Kong-listed biotech firm’s shares jump after announcing partnership to use AI tools in drug discovery in the United Arab Emirates.

US, Israel war on Iran

Opinion | Are investors spooked by Iran violence? Market response suggests not

Renewed fighting in the Middle East bodes ill for the global economy, but it is not yet enough to counterbalance other short-term factors.

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US, Israel war on Iran

US asking Ukraine for help against Iran’s drones in Middle East, Zelensky says

After years of Russian strikes, Kyiv has developed a range of cheap and effective interceptors for dealing with the Iranian-designed Shaheds.

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A Ukrainian officer examines a downed Shahed drone at an undisclosed location in Ukraine in November 2024. Photo: AP
United States

US won’t let India become rival like China, Trump official says

Washington will not ‘make the same mistakes’ as it did with Beijing 20 years ago, the State Department’s Christopher Landau says.

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India has avoided taking sides in the widening US-Iran conflict, as it finalises a trade deal under negotiation since US President Donald Trump took office. Image: Shutterstock
US, Israel war on Iran

Trump demands Iran forces surrender or die, wants say on next leader

US president dismisses Khamenei’s son as a ‘lightweight’ and orders Iranian forces to lay down arms or face ‘guaranteed death’.

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Two Sessions 2026

China targets lowest growth range in 35 years as pressures rise

Beijing to prioritise hi-tech over stimulus-driven growth with focus on the people in notable shift, premier’s work report to NPC reveals.

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Two Sessions 2026

China boosts diplomatic budget by 9.3% as US leaves ‘fiscal void’

Growth rate in foreign affairs spending this year to outpace that of military budget as Beijing consolidates global influence, analysts say.

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Guests attending a China-Africa cooperation summit are greeted by children on their way to a banquet hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on September 4, 2024. Photo: Xinhua
US, Israel war on Iran

Azerbaijan vows to respond after Iranian drones injure 4

Azerbaijan and Iran already have tense ⁠relations over Baku’s growing economic, energy and military ties to Turkey and Israel.

US, Israel war on Iran

European states move to secure Red Sea navigation, protect Cyprus

Italy, ‌Spain, France and the Netherlands will send naval assets to protect Cyprus in the coming days.

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China-Middle East relations

Iran thanks Chinese public after US-Israeli air strikes prompt wave of sympathy

Embassy in Beijing says Iran sincerely grateful to ‘the civilised and righteous Chinese people’ but financial aid not needed for now.

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A mass funeral ceremony is held on Tuesday for students and staff members killed in a US-Israeli attack on a school in Minab, southern Iran. Civilian deaths have caused particular outrage among people in China. Photo: Handout via Xinhua
US, Israel war on Iran

US submarine strike on Iranian warship near Sri Lanka rattles the region

Experts say the strike highlights the risk of the conflict spreading into Asian waters and tests India’s careful diplomatic balancing.

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Iranian warship IRIS Dena is seen in the Bay of Bengal during the International Fleet Review held at Visakhapatnam, India, on February 18. Photo: AP
Hong Kong tourism

Sky-high jump in airfares from Hong Kong to Europe, Americas – even Asian cities

Economy-class fares to Paris, Rome and New York surge while cheapest return flight to Tokyo costs nearly HK$5,000.

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Germany

Berlin jails man for 13 years over stabbing at Holocaust memorial

The man, 20, said he had been motivated by his radicalisation and belief he was acting with a religious mission.

Banking & finance

Hong Kong banks face limited Middle East risk but tensions cloud expansion plans

HSBC and Standard Chartered expanded in the Middle East in recent years to capture growing cross-border trade and wealth management flows.

Hong Kong banks including HSBC have been expanding in the Middle East in recent years. Photo: Jelly Tse
US, Israel war on Iran

Macroscope | Why even bullish investors can’t ignore the Iran war

Investors have grown used to brushing off geopolitical threats, but turmoil in the Middle East poses a greater risk to the global economy.

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Flames rise during a fire caused by debris from an intercepted drone at the oil refinery hub in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, on March 4. Photo: EPA
Hong Kong tourism

Hong Kong trying to secure seats on flights from Dubai for stranded residents

Carrier Emirates is planning to operate direct flights from Dubai to Hong Kong from Friday to Sunday, government says.

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Iran

Video | First batch of stranded Hongkongers from Middle East returns home

Around the world, the first groups of stranded passengers return home safely.

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