Beijing’s split-screen diplomacy underscores shifting global alignmentsThe protocol on Trump and Putin’s visits to China was almost identical – but the tone and the body language were strikingly differentWed May 20 2026 - 18:52
Xi Jinping and Putin warn against return to ‘law of the jungle’Russian and Chinese presidents meet in Beijing and say western powers can no longer dominate global affairs in spirit of the colonial eraWed May 20 2026 - 11:34
Ebola outbreak in DRC made worse by impact of conflicts in regionDemocratic Republic of Congo’s armed conflicts are driven by an international scramble for mineral wealthWed May 20 2026 - 06:39
Donald Trump’s dilemma: How to end the war in Iran?US president signals ‘full, large-scale assault’ on Iran but declares hours later he is holding off on a fresh attackTue May 19 2026 - 07:02
Taiwan debates what constitutes independence in wake of Trump visit to ChinaTrump’s remarks casting doubt on future arms sales to Taiwan have alarmed the self-governing islandMon May 18 2026 - 06:58
China calls for Strait of Hormuz reopening ‘as soon as possible’ at Trump-Xi meetingXi says China will not provide military equipment to Iran and ‘would like to help’ on issue, Trump says in Beijing Fri May 15 2026 - 16:33
Thorny issues set aside as Trump and Xi reach rosy consensusFundamentals of the US-China relationship remain the same after US president’s visitFri May 15 2026 - 15:25
Xi Jinping warns Donald Trump that ‘mishandling’ Taiwan issue could lead to conflict Chinese president met Trump in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People for more than two hours on ThursdayThu May 14 2026 - 18:33
Behind the pageantry, Beijing delivers stark Taiwan warning to TrumpXi Jinping warns that any effort to steady US-China ties hinges on how Washington handles TaiwanThu May 14 2026 - 17:25
Xi Jinping tells US chief executives that China will ‘open wider’US firms want increased access to the Chinese market, while Beijing wants an easing of restrictions on advanced semiconductorsThu May 14 2026 - 17:17
Kyrgyzstan’s authoritarian president and his enforcer have fallen out Global Briefing: Security chief Kamchybek Tashiev was fired in February and faces charges of plotting a coupThu May 14 2026 - 07:09
Europe must shape its post-Ukraine war destiny as difficult choices loomThe EU should consider its approach to lifting economic sanctions against Russia, and a future security architecture for the ContinentWed May 13 2026 - 06:58
Trump meets Xi: What both sides want from high-stakes summitUS and China hope to reach an agreement that buys them enough time to build greater resilience against each otherWed May 13 2026 - 06:00
Scolding Macron strikes bum note for France reset with AfricaFrench president sought move to partnership with African leaders at Kenya summit, but video clip of him admonishing audience for chatter goes viralTue May 12 2026 - 06:40
Southeast Asian countries try to increase co-operation to reduce impact of US war on Iran Leaders’ summit dominated by question of what to do about fuel shortages Mon May 11 2026 - 06:39
Same tune by a different Song brings back memories of a pivotal time in ChinaThe 2001 Chinese hit Better and Better celebrated the turnaround in living standardsFri Apr 24 2026 - 06:00
US talks to Cuba, but Cuban-American demands appear obstacles to dealHavana cannot afford US claims for compensation over 1959 revolution, a key demand of Cuban exiles in FloridaThu Apr 23 2026 - 06:58
Peace deal is possible between US and IranMany issues remain to be resolved but a framework for agreement could be reached if talks resume in Islamabad this week Wed Apr 22 2026 - 07:08
Beijing riled as Japan joins US and Philippines military exercise in South China Sea China warns of countries ‘setting themselves on fire’, amid a bigger shift in regional securityTue Apr 21 2026 - 06:36
‘We were wearing green Irish jerseys’: How Irish student footballers made history in China in 1976 For a group of former UCD students, a return trip to China marks half a century since an improbable tour that unfolded at a pivotal moment in the country’s historyMon Apr 20 2026 - 12:00
Bulgaria’s likely next leader is friendly toward Russia but no Viktor Orbán Early returns point to election win for former president Rumen Radev’s centre-left Progressive Bulgaria partyMon Apr 20 2026 - 06:44
As EU leaders beat a path to Beijing, their tone shiftsSpain’s primer minister Pedro Sánchez resisted trumpeting the superiority of liberal democracy and European values during a visit this weekFri Apr 17 2026 - 05:58
Peru faces runoff in presidential election that will be closely watched from WashingtonKeiko Fujimori, daughter of former dictator, will go up against Roberto Sánchez in JuneThu Apr 16 2026 - 06:53
How other countries are responding to surging oil prices - and why Spain is in a good positionFrom France to the UK, governments across the globe are scrambling to take a range of measures to cushion consumers from increasing energy costsWed Apr 15 2026 - 14:11
China courts America’s allies as US-dominated world order recedesBeijing presents itself as a responsible and reluctant hegemon, as Xi Jinping meets leaders from UAE, Vietnam and SpainWed Apr 15 2026 - 06:38
US blockade of Iran is risky escalation but peace still has a chanceBlockade is primarily an instrument of economic coercion to gain leverage in talks process that remains aliveTue Apr 14 2026 - 06:38
EU needs to rein in Hungary expectations after Viktor Orbán’s election defeat Election victor Peter Magyar opposes accelerating Kyiv’s EU admission and rejects the migration and asylum pactMon Apr 13 2026 - 06:46
China can never accept Taiwan independence, Xi tells Taiwanese opposition leaderXi Jinping tells Cheng Li-wun that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait ‘are all Chinese’Fri Apr 10 2026 - 15:43
China played a quiet but crucial role in the US-Iran ceasefireDiscretion about the role it may have played in persuading Iran to accept the ceasefire reflects China’s general approach to mediationFri Apr 10 2026 - 06:00
Vietnam’s top leader expands his powerTo Lam gets greater authority to push through reforms aimed at maintaining Vietnam’s high economic growthThu Apr 09 2026 - 06:21
Trump’s acceptance of Iran’s terms for talks is astonishingIran could emerge from this conflict in a much stronger geopolitical position than it wasWed Apr 08 2026 - 06:32
Ghana joins effort to make it easier for Africans to move around the continentExcessive border restrictions limit trade, investment and tourismTue Apr 07 2026 - 06:53
War and Peace: A tale of two Easter messages from Donald Trump and Pope Leo Leo uses Easter Sunday address to urge peace; Trump threatens to bomb Iran’s civilian infrastructure in expletive-stuffed post Mon Apr 06 2026 - 06:42
In a Beijing park, a tale of grief and consolation unfoldsAs red songs ring out on a Sunday afternoon, a friend shares a story of pandemic loss and the search for solaceFri Apr 03 2026 - 00:00
Trump pledges to take Iran ‘back to the stone ages’ in televised addressUS president declares Iran military operation is almost complete but will continue for another two or three weeks Thu Apr 02 2026 - 06:50
Iran war: No mediator role for China despite unveiling peace proposal with Pakistan Beijing’s restraint in current conflict reflects its economic links with Gulf states and its strategic partnership with IranWed Apr 01 2026 - 07:26
Can Mongolia’s third prime minister in under a year stay in the job? Global Briefing: Protests have continued for months over high prices, fuel shortages and plans for a highway to ease Ulaanbaatar trafficTue Mar 31 2026 - 06:51
Taiwan’s opposition leader to visit Beijing in landmark meetingInvite from China’s Xi Jinping comes amid tension over Taiwan’s rising defence spendingMon Mar 30 2026 - 14:53
Four regional powers may offer best chance to end Iran warPakistan signals readiness to host US–Iran talks as conflict escalates across the GulfMon Mar 30 2026 - 06:58
‘We understand the value of peace’: War in Iran prompts Asian leaders to mend tiesOn a peaceful island off the southern coast of China, politicians, business figures and diplomats meet at the Boao Forum for AsiaFri Mar 27 2026 - 06:00
Blaming Israel for US war on Iran lets Trump off the hook for reckless decisionTrump’s decision to go to war against Iran is fulfilment of an ambition cherished for decades in both parties on Capitol HillThu Mar 26 2026 - 07:08
European leaders rebuked by voters Election results from Denmark to Italy showed high levels of discontent with incumbents, and the effects of the Iran war could fuel desire for change Wed Mar 25 2026 - 06:54
Russian oil tankers carry oil for Cuba and a message for friends and the USWar in Iran has given Vladimir Putin a boostTue Mar 24 2026 - 06:38
Iran war could push tens of millions globally into acute hungerWar is severely affecting poorer countries where higher energy costs and shortage of fertiliser are forcing up food pricesMon Mar 23 2026 - 06:48
In Beijing, a ballet from Mao’s era still brings the house to tearsA night watching the National Ballet of China reveals how the Cultural Revolution classic continues to move — and divide — generationsFri Mar 20 2026 - 05:34
EU pulls funding for Rwandan force amid murky scramble for gas in Mozambique French energy company rejects allegation of complicity in war crimesThu Mar 19 2026 - 06:28
Kazakhstan’s president secures sweeping powers in constitutional overhaulNew constitution backed by landslide vote could see Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stay in power beyond 2029Wed Mar 18 2026 - 06:33
Trump seeks to delay trip to China ‘a little bit’ amid Iran warUS president was at pains to avoid any suggestion that move was a snub to Xi JinpingTue Mar 17 2026 - 06:47
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
