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Middle East
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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.
Photo: AFP
Yuan

China’s US Treasuries slump may not be what it seems

A reduction in China’s direct holdings of US government debt may be partly offset by the nation holding Treasuries via third parties.

Hong Kong politics

China will ‘actively’ help to resolve international conflicts, ex-diplomat says

Banking & finance

Standard Chartered bets on Hong Kong as it raises long-term earnings goals

Indonesia

Indonesia’s oil hub pitch collides with Asean’s trust deficit

Joint energy security is easy to endorse in principle, yet the bloc has a stubborn record of leaving its emergency frameworks untouched.

Oil tankers and cargo ships are seen at the oil depot and container terminal of Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, Indonesia, on March 31. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS
Environment

Letters | Naphtha shock must spur East Asia to cut its plastics reliance

Readers discuss a potential positive consequence of Middle East volatility, the Russian leader’s coming visit to Beijing, and AI’s impact on China’s real economy.

Hong Kong economy

John Lee to visit Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, taking largest-ever delegation overseas

City leader touts ‘hub-to-hub collaboration model’ as he prepares to lead team of over 60 business leaders from Hong Kong and mainland China.

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Yuan

China joins global sell-off of US Treasuries in March as Iran war prompts panic

Seven of the top 10 foreign holders cut their exposure to US government debt, led by Japan, which offloaded US$47.7 billion.

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Mainland Chinese investors are among seven of the top 10 foreign holders to cut their exposure to US government debt, triggered by uncertainty around the war in Iran. Photo: AFP
US, Israel war on Iran

Trump calls off new Iran attack at request of Gulf states

US president signals possible Iran breakthrough as ‘serious negotiations’ continue to end conflict.

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United States

US extends Russian oil waiver by 30 days as Hormuz closure chokes supply

US Treasury secretary says reprieve will allow energy-vulnerable nations to access Russian seaborne oil.

Electric & new energy vehicles

Global growth of pure EVs faces hurdles in insurance, charging gaps: BNP Paribas

Charging limits and rising insurance costs could slow the global march of pure electric vehicles, BNP Paribas tells Hong Kong conference.

New electric vehicles are set to be loaded at Shanghai Port on May 9. Photo: AFP
India

India links up with UAE, Europe on Modi’s grand tour

Seizing on the UAE’s Opec exit and a new EU trade pact, India’s PM looks to lock-in long-term energy supply and economic dividends.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (centre, left) is welcomed by UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (centre, right) in Abu Dhabi on Friday. Photo: UAE Presidential Court/Reuters
Artificial intelligence

Armed with Nvidia chips, UAE aims to build an AI bridge to the Global South

With its Opec era over, the Gulf state has big post-war ambitions for Africa and beyond, bolstered by elite Nvidia chip deliveries.

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Lebanon

Israel strikes kill at least 7 in Lebanon as Hezbollah denounces US-brokered talks

Despite a ceasefire, Israel continues to strike widely in southern Lebanon as it targets Hezbollah.

Israel-Gaza war

Israel says close to killing all architects of October 7 attack

Benjamin Netanyahu’s declaration follows Israel’s killing of the commander of Hamas’ armed wing in a Gaza strike.

The funeral for Ezzedine al-Haddad, his daughter and wife in Gaza City on Saturday. They were killed in an Israeli strike Friday evening. Photo: AP
Hong Kong economy

How can Hong Kong seize opportunities as US-China relations stabilise?

InvestHK chief says city must adapt to changing international order while chamber boss suggests firms build cross-regional strategies.

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Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong. InvestHK is tasked with attracting enterprises to set up or expand their operations in the city. Photo: Jelly Tse
China’s private sector

‘Explosive’: why China’s gold recycling industry is growing at record speed

More than half of the country’s gold recycling firms are less than three years old.

Israel-Gaza war

Gaza: Israel kills Hamas leader as deaths mount despite ceasefire

Izz al-Din al-Haddad, born 1970, was killed in the attack by Israel. A joint funeral was held on Saturday for Haddad, his wife and their 19-year-old daughter.

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Stocks

Macroscope | Global stock markets are bubbling along on unjustified optimism

Hype around AI and some tech companies has inflated stock prices and left investors ebullient despite the rising risk of a market crash.

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Currency dealers celebrate in front of a screen showing South Korea’s benchmark stock index during a ceremony celebrating it breaking 7,000 points at the Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul on May 6. The market value of South Korea’s Samsung Electronics smashed past US$1 trillion for the first time on May 6 as the firm rides an AI chip boom that has sent Seoul’s Kospi stock index to record highs. Photo: AFP
United States

Trump says Isis second in command Abu-Bilal ‘eliminated from battlefield’

American and Nigerian forces had assassinated Abu-Bilal al-Minuki in a ‘flawlessly executed mission’, the US president said on social media.

India

Iran war fallout triggers massive biofuel shift across Asia

Asia was first and hardest hit by fossil fuel disruptions caused by the Iran war’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

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2026 Xi-Trump summit

Trump leaves China after much pomp and pageantry, but little to show for it

US president’s much-anticipated summit with Xi Jinping in Beijing resulted in more fanfare than concrete policy change, analysts say.

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US President Donald Trump boards Air Force One before departing Beijing on Friday. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS
2026 Xi-Trump summit

Trump and his CEOs want China’s business – but has Asia moved on?

The US delegation went to Beijing looking for deals, but a ‘super cycle’ of capital expenditures across Asia is already fuelling enormous growth.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
Israel

Lebanon and Israel extend ceasefire despite new strikes

The US State Department will soon hold further negotiations aimed at reaching a permanent political agreement between the two countries.

2026 Xi-Trump summit

After Xi-Trump, China tech stocks retreat as market weighs ‘fantastic’ deals

Mainland benchmarks slip as investors lock in profits following Beijing summit, while analysts say the lack of specific deal terms suggests a deterioration ‘freeze’.

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Israel

US casts first day of Israel-Lebanon talks as ‘positive’

Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah continues in Lebanon as officials hold high-stakes talks ahead of Sunday deadline.

Flares fired by Israeli forces in Arnoun, as seen from Marjayoun, Lebanon, on Thursday. Photo: Reuters
Brics

Opinion | Brics is less a structure than a sentiment

Despite lacking geopolitical alignment, Brics captures a prevailing mood among emerging economies that won’t fade away any time soon.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (left) and President Xi Jinping attend the 2023 Brics Summit at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, on August 24, 2023. Photo: AFP
2026 Xi-Trump summit

Trump says Xi offered help on Iran as China seeks to keep Hormuz open

Chinese leader’s overture underscores how global issues are increasingly shaping US-China diplomacy and trade talks.

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US, Israel war on Iran

Hormuz crisis tarnishing copper production, raising costs, Chinese analysts say

China Minmetals Economic Research Institute says disruption of sulphur shipments through strait is having ripple effects on copper production.

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