TOPIC

/ location

Ireland

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Ireland. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Dublin

Head of State

President Michael D. Higgins

Head of Government

Taoiseach Simon Harris

China’s exports soared to record highs in 2025, but those to the US fell 20 per cent for the year, according to customs data.

US-China trade war

After Trump’s tariff setback, will US firms rush to stockpile Chinese goods?

Front-loading expected but not at levels seen ahead of last year’s sweeping “Liberation Day” duties, analysts say.

27 Feb 2026 - 9:00PM

US-China trade war

Xi Jinping meets foreign leaders: tracker 2026

26 Feb 2026 - 10:55AM

Consumer protection in Hong Kong

Editorial | Food poisoning cases in Hong Kong must prompt swift mitigation efforts

19 Feb 2026 - 6:45AM

Fame and celebrity

Hollywood shaken by Brad Pitt-Tom Cruise fight video made with Chinese AI

The viral clip was generated with a two-line prompt on Seedance 2.0, a platform owned by ByteDance, the company behind TikTok.

14 Feb 2026 - 10:51AM

Brad Pitt (left) and Tom Cruise attend a film premiere in London in June 2025. Photo: TNS

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

‘Drastic increase’ in food poisoning cases in Hong Kong linked to raw oysters

Centre for Health Protection has received 20 reports of norovirus-related food poisoning affecting 57 people since January 18.

11 Feb 2026 - 11:00AMvideocam

Jeffrey Epstein

Belfast university cuts ties with former US senator over Epstein links

University says it is no longer appropriate to be linked to George Mitchell, whose name appears in files released by the US Justice Department.

3 Feb 2026 - 2:08PM

Fame and celebrity

Meet Finn Bennett, who plays Prince Aerion in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

The Irish-British actor plays Aerion in HBO Max’s new Game of Thrones spin-off, but did you know he was in True Detective and Warfare, too?

1 Feb 2026 - 6:00PM

British actor Finn Bennett poses as part of a red carpet event for the newly released HBO Max production series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, the new prequel of the Game of Thrones saga, in Rome, on January 15. Photo: AFP

Britain

Film on Scottish community resisting immigration raid wins Sundance award

Documentary ‘Everybody To Kenmure Street’ is about the day hundreds of people in Glasgow gathered to prevent two neighbours being detained.

31 Jan 2026 - 8:36PM

China-EU relations

Full pivot or anxious hedge? Europe’s leaders flock to China

In Brussels, a form of transactional pragmatism has taken root as bloc seeks to weather US hostility.

31 Jan 2026 - 6:00PMvideocam

United States

Outside In | Gradually, then suddenly, the world is waking up to the US threat

Middle powers are pivoting to Beijing and hedging with new partners as China’s economic displacement of the US rapidly expands.

30 Jan 2026 - 4:30PMvideocam

US President Donald Trump raises his fist after a “Board of Peace” meeting at the World Economic Forum annual gathering in Davos, Switzerland, on January 22. Photo: AFP

US-China trade war

Xi Jinping meets foreign leaders: tracker 2026

World leaders are flocking to Beijing this year, seeking trade deals amid intensified Trump tariff threats.

27 Jan 2026 - 5:15PM

Chinese President Xi Jinping receives Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. (Photo: The Canadian Press via AP)

Diplomacy

Opinion | Why UK Prime Minister Starmer’s visit to China could be historic

The British prime minister must decide whether Britain has the strength to look east and west, and not simply look inward.

26 Jan 2026 - 9:28PMvideocam

Fame and celebrity

Meet Peter Claffey, who plays Ser Duncan on A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

Before this, the Irish ex-rugby player had a role in Small Things Like These alongside Cillian Murphy – and, yes, he’s been talking to George RR Martin.

26 Jan 2026 - 6:00PM

China-EU relations

Finland’s leader set for 4-day China visit as Europe seeks to counter Trump

Petteri Orpo to lead executives from more than 20 companies in first China visit by a Finnish prime minister since 2017.

26 Jan 2026 - 4:22PMvideocam

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo is expected to land in China this weekend. Photo: Reuters

World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos

Larry Fink considers rotating World Economic Forum away from Davos

The interim co-chief, and BlackRock CEO says the ‘mountain must come down to earth’ proposing a rotation to hubs like Detroit, Dublin and Jakarta.

21 Jan 2026 - 5:54PMvideocam

Chairman and CEO of BlackRock, Larry Fink, attends the 56th annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

United States

Opinion | Why isn’t Trump learning from past foreign policy mistakes?

From Venezuela and Iran to Greenland and Canada, US interventions and threats risk spillovers and retaliation – as history shows.

20 Jan 2026 - 8:30PM

Greenland

Europe prepares retaliation over Trump’s Greenland ultimatum

Eight European countries consider US$108 billion retaliation and ‘anti-coercion’ tools after Trump vows tariffs on Europe over Arctic island.

19 Jan 2026 - 4:00PM

China-EU relations

China’s charm offensive: Beijing bypasses Brussels to soften EU trade push

From aircraft orders in France to reopened beef and pork markets for Ireland and Spain, mainland officials are leaning hard into diplomacy.

17 Jan 2026 - 12:13PMvideocam

European Union

‘Sell out’: Irish farmers out in force against EU-Mercosur trade deal

Farmers fear the deal will result in an influx of an extra 99,000 tonnes of cheap beef from South America, disrupting Irish agriculture.

10 Jan 2026 - 10:40PM

US-Venezuela conflict

China’s Xi makes veiled swipe at US over ‘hegemony’ eroding global order

President Xi Jinping’s remarks come during talks with Irish leader Micheal Martin, who says Dublin is keen to deepen cooperation with Beijing.

5 Jan 2026 - 10:25PMvideocam

China food security

Opinion | Be a potato: the lesson of the resilient staple resonates as 2026 approaches

A decade on, the humble tuber’s public adoption remains an elusive goal for China’s planners and yet it offers a lesson for uncertain times.

31 Dec 2025 - 9:04AMvideocam

The Potato Eaters, considered Vincent Van Gogh’s first masterpiece, delivers a powerful social statement with its depiction of honest peasant life. Photo: Getty Images

China-EU relations

Brussels ramps up China de-risking while France and Germany pull further apart

Raids, probes and new screening rules collide with widening splits between Paris and Berlin over how tough to be on Beijing.

12 Dec 2025 - 3:03AMvideocam

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (right) meets with his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul, in Beijing on Monday. Photo: DPA

China-EU relations

Temu’s EU headquarters raided over Chinese subsidy concerns

The raid comes amid increasing concern within the European Union over cheap imports from China.

11 Dec 2025 - 3:51AM

Ukraine war

Drones spotted near Zelensky’s flight path to Dublin spark security alert

Report says enquiries are trying to determine whether the drones took off from land or an undetected ship.

5 Dec 2025 - 11:32AM

Israel-Gaza war

Israel cleared to stay in Eurovision as several countries boycott contest

The walkouts came after the general assembly of the European Broadcasting Union met to discuss concerns about Israel’s participation.

5 Dec 2025 - 2:21PM

A person waves Israel’s national flag while watching Israeli singer Yuval Raphael perform at the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest. Photo: AFP

Ukraine war

Zelensky reinforces European support as he eyes Trump talks on US deal

Ukrainian president met Macron in Paris to sound out allies on the US blueprint for peace, which was drafted without input from Kyiv or Europe.

2 Dec 2025 - 3:04PM

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Monday. Photo: AFP

Thailand

As more chaos plagues Miss Universe pageant, is the ‘drama’ all for show?

In the latest controversy, former Miss Universe CEO Jakapong ‘Anne’ Jakrajutatip is accused of fleeing to Mexico to avoid her legal problems.

25 Nov 2025 - 7:51PMvideocam

Climate change

‘Important steps’: what Cop30 deal means for climate unity and Global South

Despite the limited outcome, the summit also reveals how developing nations can still influence the global transition, analysts say.

24 Nov 2025 - 5:29PM

Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.

SUPPORT NOW

Ireland

After Trump’s tariff setback, will US firms rush to stockpile Chinese goods?

Front-loading expected but not at levels seen ahead of last year’s sweeping “Liberation Day” duties, analysts say.

Xi Jinping meets foreign leaders: tracker 2026

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Editorial | Food poisoning cases in Hong Kong must prompt swift mitigation efforts

Hollywood shaken by Brad Pitt-Tom Cruise fight video made with Chinese AI

The viral clip was generated with a two-line prompt on Seedance 2.0, a platform owned by ByteDance, the company behind TikTok.

‘Drastic increase’ in food poisoning cases in Hong Kong linked to raw oysters

Centre for Health Protection has received 20 reports of norovirus-related food poisoning affecting 57 people since January 18.

Belfast university cuts ties with former US senator over Epstein links

University says it is no longer appropriate to be linked to George Mitchell, whose name appears in files released by the US Justice Department.

Meet Finn Bennett, who plays Prince Aerion in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

The Irish-British actor plays Aerion in HBO Max’s new Game of Thrones spin-off, but did you know he was in True Detective and Warfare, too?

Film on Scottish community resisting immigration raid wins Sundance award

Documentary ‘Everybody To Kenmure Street’ is about the day hundreds of people in Glasgow gathered to prevent two neighbours being detained.

Full pivot or anxious hedge? Europe’s leaders flock to China

In Brussels, a form of transactional pragmatism has taken root as bloc seeks to weather US hostility.

Outside In | Gradually, then suddenly, the world is waking up to the US threat

Middle powers are pivoting to Beijing and hedging with new partners as China’s economic displacement of the US rapidly expands.

Xi Jinping meets foreign leaders: tracker 2026

World leaders are flocking to Beijing this year, seeking trade deals amid intensified Trump tariff threats.

Opinion | Why UK Prime Minister Starmer’s visit to China could be historic

The British prime minister must decide whether Britain has the strength to look east and west, and not simply look inward.

Meet Peter Claffey, who plays Ser Duncan on A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

Before this, the Irish ex-rugby player had a role in Small Things Like These alongside Cillian Murphy – and, yes, he’s been talking to George RR Martin.

Finland’s leader set for 4-day China visit as Europe seeks to counter Trump

Petteri Orpo to lead executives from more than 20 companies in first China visit by a Finnish prime minister since 2017.

Larry Fink considers rotating World Economic Forum away from Davos

The interim co-chief, and BlackRock CEO says the ‘mountain must come down to earth’ proposing a rotation to hubs like Detroit, Dublin and Jakarta.

Opinion | Why isn’t Trump learning from past foreign policy mistakes?

From Venezuela and Iran to Greenland and Canada, US interventions and threats risk spillovers and retaliation – as history shows.

Europe prepares retaliation over Trump’s Greenland ultimatum

Eight European countries consider US$108 billion retaliation and ‘anti-coercion’ tools after Trump vows tariffs on Europe over Arctic island.

China’s charm offensive: Beijing bypasses Brussels to soften EU trade push

From aircraft orders in France to reopened beef and pork markets for Ireland and Spain, mainland officials are leaning hard into diplomacy.

‘Sell out’: Irish farmers out in force against EU-Mercosur trade deal

Farmers fear the deal will result in an influx of an extra 99,000 tonnes of cheap beef from South America, disrupting Irish agriculture.

China’s Xi makes veiled swipe at US over ‘hegemony’ eroding global order

President Xi Jinping’s remarks come during talks with Irish leader Micheal Martin, who says Dublin is keen to deepen cooperation with Beijing.

Opinion | Be a potato: the lesson of the resilient staple resonates as 2026 approaches

A decade on, the humble tuber’s public adoption remains an elusive goal for China’s planners and yet it offers a lesson for uncertain times.

Brussels ramps up China de-risking while France and Germany pull further apart

Raids, probes and new screening rules collide with widening splits between Paris and Berlin over how tough to be on Beijing.

Temu’s EU headquarters raided over Chinese subsidy concerns

The raid comes amid increasing concern within the European Union over cheap imports from China.

Drones spotted near Zelensky’s flight path to Dublin spark security alert

Report says enquiries are trying to determine whether the drones took off from land or an undetected ship.

Israel cleared to stay in Eurovision as several countries boycott contest

The walkouts came after the general assembly of the European Broadcasting Union met to discuss concerns about Israel’s participation.

Zelensky reinforces European support as he eyes Trump talks on US deal

Ukrainian president met Macron in Paris to sound out allies on the US blueprint for peace, which was drafted without input from Kyiv or Europe.

As more chaos plagues Miss Universe pageant, is the ‘drama’ all for show?

In the latest controversy, former Miss Universe CEO Jakapong ‘Anne’ Jakrajutatip is accused of fleeing to Mexico to avoid her legal problems.

‘Important steps’: what Cop30 deal means for climate unity and Global South

Despite the limited outcome, the summit also reveals how developing nations can still influence the global transition, analysts say.

Editorial | Food poisoning cases in Hong Kong must prompt swift mitigation efforts