Ireland can learn from China for MetroLink and Cork Light Rail, says Jerry ButtimerMinister of State says he has ‘matured in my approach’ to China, whose record on human rights he has criticisedMon Mar 16 2026 - 10:16
China and India show Trump that diplomacy can workMany countries think it’s better to talk to Iran than to send warships to the Strait of HormuzMon Mar 16 2026 - 07:28
A €2 increase in pension sparks rare debate over China’s prioritiesBeijing doubles down on ambitious plans built around long‑term strategic power, while delegates question a derisory pension hikeFri Mar 13 2026 - 05:18
South Korea’s defences weakened by US war in Iran The United States is burning up its anti-missile munitions at a furious rate as Iran continues to strike at targets across the Middle East.Thu Mar 12 2026 - 07:02
Trump seeks to use force to secure influence over Latin AmericaLeft-wing leaders from Brazil, Mexico and Colombia notably not involved in US president’s forceful regional initiativeWed Mar 11 2026 - 06:55
EU should resist Ursula von der Leyen’s foreign-policy power grab The commission president has often taken positions that have not been agreed by member statesTue Mar 10 2026 - 06:14
China condemns US war on Iran but keeps welcome extended for Trump visitBeijing makes it clear it remains enthusiastic about improving relations between the two countriesMon Mar 09 2026 - 06:40
China calls for immediate ceasefire in Iran and warns against regime changeForeign minister urges all sides to return to the negotiating tableSun Mar 08 2026 - 08:27
Nobody knows when the Iran war will end because nobody, including Trump, can say why it startedAs war spreads across the Middle East there are multiple possibilities for how it will continue or endSat Mar 07 2026 - 06:00
In ageing China, one daughter’s search for her mother reveals a nation’s dilemmaDementia, dwindling support and the legacy of the one‑child policy collide in a family’s fight to copeFri Mar 06 2026 - 01:00
China sets lowest economic growth forecast for 35 yearsThe target for 2026 of 4.5-5% is far below double-digit growth targets that were routine up to a decade agoThu Mar 05 2026 - 16:25
Nepal’s election will test the political power of the youthOutcome is also important for China and IndiaThu Mar 05 2026 - 06:43
Why has Washington imposed sanctions on Rwanda’s army?Global Briefing: Concern for human rights may not be the Trump administration’s only motiveWed Mar 04 2026 - 06:48
China signals support for Iran – while keeping its distanceBeijing offers diplomatic backing after US–Israel strikes but avoids commitments that could disrupt its wider Gulf tiesTue Mar 03 2026 - 14:57
Pakistan and Afghanistan have reasons to escalate conflict, but neither can afford to Taliban is eager to assert its sovereignty while Pakistan is worried about India’s influence in AfghanistanTue Mar 03 2026 - 06:47
Trump’s attacks on Iran reveal an American military power unrestrainedFew of America’s allies have condemned its action, despite most tacitly acknowledging it to be illegalMon Mar 02 2026 - 07:33
As AI anxiety jolts Wall Street, China wonders what all the fuss is aboutThe country’s economic structure – and its stubbornly analogue bureaucracy – may cushion the shock that terrifies the USFri Feb 27 2026 - 06:00
Talk of European states developing their own nuclear umbrella is fancifulAny autonomous nuclear shield would breach the Non-Proliferation Treaty and be hugely expensive and technologically challengingThu Feb 26 2026 - 06:40
State of the Union speech: Trump says little on Europe, China as foreign policy sidelined Trump was well over an hour into the longest State of the Union address in history before leaving domestic politicsWed Feb 25 2026 - 07:16
Suffering spreads in Somalia amid falling aid and growing interest in its natural wealthCountry faces similar conditions to those that brought it to the brink of famine in 2022Tue Feb 24 2026 - 06:37
Court ruling leaves Trump heading to China without tariffs leverStriking down of some tariffs strengthens Xi Jinping’s hand in talks over trade and other elements of China-US relationshipMon Feb 23 2026 - 06:32
Dancing robots, digital red envelopes and hurried hair cuts see in Chinese New YearStreets near Beijing’s main temples were crowded with people lining up to burn incense and pray for good fortuneFri Feb 20 2026 - 05:56
Will Donald Trump use the Chagos Islands to bomb Iran?If the US president wishes to use the Diego Garcia base for his next attack, he will need Keir Starmer’s approvalThu Feb 19 2026 - 06:35
Peru’s deepening relationship with China sees US cry foul over ‘sovereign rights’As Peru loses its seventh president in 10 years, Washington is getting anxious about Lima’s burgeoning relationship with BeijingWed Feb 18 2026 - 06:40
Europe swaps an energy dependency on Russia for one on the USDonald Trump could use gas-export controls or emergency powers to halt or reduce sales to EuropeTue Feb 17 2026 - 06:38
Unloved African Union could yet play key role in protecting continentCo-ordinated continental action may be needed to negotiate better international agreementsMon Feb 16 2026 - 06:26
Washington’s bulldozer diplomacy has nudged Europe closer to ChinaEU governments weigh question of pursuing closer ties with Beijing and sticking to their valuesSat Feb 14 2026 - 06:00
Mass exodus from Beijing marks onset of Chinese New Year fever Trains are full to overflowing as millions of people journey to be with their families for the nine-day public holidayFri Feb 13 2026 - 05:56
Bangladesh election could strengthen pivot toward China and away from IndiaOusted prime minister Sheikh Hasina prioritised relations with India, but her party is excluded from today’s voteThu Feb 12 2026 - 06:47
Donald Trump’s deportations could devastate HaitiArmed gangs control almost 90 per cent of Port-au-Prince and violence has spread to other parts of the countryWed Feb 11 2026 - 06:25
Thai prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul achieves remarkable victoryElection success due partly to wave of nationalist feeling following Thailand’s three-week conflict with Cambodia Tue Feb 10 2026 - 06:34
Western politicians’ complaints about Jimmy Lai’s punishment carry little weight Protests by US and UK undermined by their own behaviourMon Feb 09 2026 - 14:03
‘A death sentence’: Pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai faces prison until 96Family of media tycoon say he will die behind bars amid widespread criticism from press freedom groupsMon Feb 09 2026 - 11:38
Japanese prime minister’s gamble pays off with snap election victoryWin will help Sanae Takaichi to implement her controversial plans for tax cuts and increased defence spendingMon Feb 09 2026 - 06:12
Podcasting in China: ‘No sex or politics. Otherwise nearly everything is okay’Podcasts are booming in China, with an audience that grew by more than 43% in 2024 Fri Feb 06 2026 - 01:30
While Xi and Trump talk, US and EU explore ways to reduce dependence on ChinaXi Jinping and Donald Trump had a friendly, two-hour phone call last nightThu Feb 05 2026 - 06:30
China’s Xi warns Donald Trump over US arms sales to TaiwanXi Jinping says Taiwan is Chinese territory and China ‘must defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity’Wed Feb 04 2026 - 17:45
Syrian forces’ routing of Kurdish-led SDF signals end of experiment in democracy Northeast region’s system of grassroots democracy prioritised equality between men and women and direct participation of communitiesWed Feb 04 2026 - 06:48
North Korea’s party congress may signal strategic shifts on military, Korean unity by KimFive-yearly congress typically sets out Pyongyang’s military and political strategyTue Feb 03 2026 - 07:01
The world could be about to get even more dangerousExpiration of US-Russia deal raises risk of new nuclear arms race in which Europe could find itself in particularly uncomfortable positionMon Feb 02 2026 - 07:16
‘Hennessy Road’: the Irish names written into Hong Kong’s streetsFrom colonial governors to teaching orders and Olympians, Ireland has a hidden role in the making of the cityFri Jan 30 2026 - 05:00
Keir Starmer meets Xi Jinping in Beijing as UK-China ties warmMutual trust is foundation for development of relationship between countries, Chinese president tells British PMThu Jan 29 2026 - 18:53
What’s the deal between Donald Trump and Cuba?US is reportedly seeking to negotiate regime change in Cuba, but the country has no oil and exports little Thu Jan 29 2026 - 06:51
Will the ‘mother of all deals’ paper over the cracks between Europe and India?Jilted by the United States, the European Union and India have agreed a trade deal after two decades of on-off negotiationsWed Jan 28 2026 - 06:33
Why has China purged its highest-ranked general and what will it mean for Xi Jinping?Zhang Youxia was seen as a close ally of the country’s president and regarded as untouchableTue Jan 27 2026 - 16:05
Why Enda Kenny may have paved the way for Moldova to unite with RomaniaThe Global Briefing: President Maia Sandu said she would prefer Moldova to give up its independence to become part of RomaniaTue Jan 27 2026 - 06:30
Donald Trump’s Board of Peace has important work to do in GazaIsrael’s move towards opening Rafah crossing is vital step in starting work of Gaza’s new technocratic government under board’s supervisionMon Jan 26 2026 - 06:48
Top Chinese general investigated for corruption amid escalation of military purgePresident Xi Jinping in sole operational command of army amid aim of progressing modernisation planSun Jan 25 2026 - 18:23
Taiwan is booming, but unease is creeping in amid Beijing threats and potential Trump abandonmentDespite Taipei’s bustling bars and a buoyant economy, thoughts of invasion are never far due to relentless Chinese military pressure and ‘cognitive warfare’Sat Jan 24 2026 - 06:00
After deadly blaze, Hong Kong faces questions over safety, trust and powerAlmost two months after the blaze that killed 168 people, survivors are still in limbo, caught between grief, rehousing promises and growing political uneaseFri Jan 23 2026 - 05:17
