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

Europe’s heatwaves and deepening drought are reshaping daily water use – and creating demand for Chinese-made water-saving products. Photo: EPA

China exports

From air conditioners to taps, Europe’s climate extremes boost China sales

Chinese makers of low-flow taps, garden gear and insulated drinkware are seeing European orders surge as heatwaves and drought reshape demand.

16 minutes agovideocam

India

Why South Asian students are rethinking Western university education

26 Aug 2026 - 7:00PM

China-Latin America relations

Brazil fines TikTok record US$30 million for profiting from children’s data

26 Aug 2026 - 2:54AMvideocam

Britain

UK police arrest 12 after deadly wrong-way crash that killed 7

Police have denied the collision on Saturday was linked to filming for the TikTok online platform.

24 Aug 2026 - 11:51PM

Police officers at the scene of a fatal crash involving a police car and a Volkswagen in South Bank, near Middlesbrough, England, UK on Saturday. Photo: PA via AP

The Netherlands

Netherlands withdraws from ‘no longer’ neutral Eurovision

Its Dutch broadcaster says the contest, which has been hit by a wave of boycotts over Israel’s participation, has ‘become a platform for division’.

24 Aug 2026 - 8:40PM

Britain

UK PM Andy Burnham to visit Kyiv as Ukraine marks independence anniversary

On his first international visit as UK leader, Burnham will co-chair his first Coalition of the Willing meeting of countries supporting Kyiv.

24 Aug 2026 - 7:25AMvideocam

Britain

7 dead in UK after vehicle travelling in wrong direction hits police car

Following recent head-on crashes in Ireland, police have warned that some young people are driving the wrong way ‘for social media ‌likes’.

23 Aug 2026 - 2:39AM

United States

As I see it | The US is telling its trading partners – do as I say, not as I do

While Washington says it is monitoring certain countries, including Japan, for foreign exchange interventions, it also coordinated with Tokyo to prop up the yen.

22 Aug 2026 - 5:30AM

European Union

5 dead, 4 seriously injured in head-on motorway collision in Ireland

Describing the crash as ‘horrific’, police said that ‘in some cases’ cars are being driven on the wrong side of roads for social media likes.

17 Aug 2026 - 5:51AMvideocam

Crime

Alleged Irish crime boss charged in Dublin after extradition from Dubai

Daniel Kinahan remanded in custody over charges of directing an international crime group following handover by UAE authorities.

10 Aug 2026 - 8:49AM

Armed military officers stand guard at Casement Aerodrome, where extradited alleged crime boss Daniel Kinahan landed in Ireland. Photo: EPA

Artificial intelligence

Outside In | Why Asia need not match West’s fear over data centre buildout

The spread of data centres in Asia does not seem to have sparked the kind of protests it has in the West, but good policies are needed to ensure that remains the case.

9 Aug 2026 - 8:40PMvideocam

Demonstrators participate in a nationwide protest against data centers in Fredericksburg, Virginia, on July 18. Photo: Reuters

Britain

As I see it | How ‘evil’ was the British Empire? Centuries of theft and destruction

From Indian colonisation to the opium trade, an empire of avarice and brutality was powered by the East India Company.

5 Aug 2026 - 5:30AM

151

Nordic nations

European heatwaves drive summer tourists to cooler north

The concept of ‘coolcations’ – holidays in a cooler clime – has been gathering pace in recent years and appears to have exploded in 2026.

26 Jul 2026 - 12:54PM

Middle East

EU countries push for trade ban with Israeli settlements

EU foreign policy chief insists measures target West Bank settlements rather than Israel itself.

14 Jul 2026 - 2:12PM

Israeli officers stand in front of Palestinians during a protest against a new Israeli settlement in the village of Deir Abu Mishal, near Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Photo: Reuters

Hungary

Man jailed for killing US tourist in Hungary during ‘intimate encounter’

After his arrest in 2024, the man claimed Michalski’s death had been an accident. But police said he had attempted to cover up his crime.

10 Jul 2026 - 5:36AM

Photos showing Mackenzie Michalski, a 31-year-old American tourist who was murdered while on vacation, hang at a candlelight vigil in Budapest, Hungary in 2024. Photo: AP

Ukraine war

‘Night of horror’: Russian missile and drone barrage kills 21 in Ukraine capital

Kyiv declares a day of mourning after massive bombardment, which Moscow says is retaliation for strikes on civil infrastructure.

2 Jul 2026 - 11:28PMvideocam

Malaysia

Malaysian doctor in Australia remanded over 33 child sex offence charges

The court heard that the alleged offences, involving ‘eight, possibly nine victims’, had been captured on hidden cameras in consulting rooms.

25 Jun 2026 - 12:09PM

China-EU relations

EU leaders ask Brussels to come up with new trade weapons to counter China shock

Late-night meeting ends with instruction to officials to engage with Beijing while preparing tools to defend Europe’s economy.

19 Jun 2026 - 7:23PMvideocam

Batches of four-wheel all-terrain vehicles and electric off-road motorcycles are rolling off production lines in China for delivery to European and American markets. Photo: Getty Images

Crime

Belfast stabbing victim ‘improving’ and may soon wake from coma

Stephen Ogilvie lost his left eye and suffered deep head and back wounds in a brutal attack that sparked violent unrest in Northern Ireland.

12 Jun 2026 - 2:39AM

Protests around the world

Belfast reeling as street violence and online ‘hit lists’ terrify minorities

UK minister says violence in Northern Ireland is ‘racist thuggery’ as ethnic minorities are targeted.

11 Jun 2026 - 7:20PM

Protests around the world

Police fire water cannon in Belfast as stabbing sparks second night of unrest

Masked crowds clash with riot police as a Sudanese man is charged in a brutal knife attack that has left the city reeling.

11 Jun 2026 - 1:36PM

Police attempt to disperse protesters on Wednesday. Photo: AP

Britain

Protesters torch buildings and vehicles, block roads over Belfast stabbing

A suspect from Sudan has been arrested for the brutal attack that was captured in a graphic video.

10 Jun 2026 - 8:12AM

Vehicles set on fire by protesters burn on Lendrick Street in east Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Tuesday. Photo: AP

China’s private sector

Microsoft cuts hundreds of mainland cloud jobs, as China, US tighten data laws

The firm is laying off some employees at its cloud unit amid ongoing restrictions on cross-border data flows between the two countries.

9 Jun 2026 - 4:58PM

Fame and celebrity

Meet Thaddea Graham, who plays Susie in Margo’s Got Money Troubles

The young actress, who has been in Doctor Who and Sex Education, is also starring in a BBC audio drama with Lena Headey.

4 Jun 2026 - 6:00PM

Music

Bulgaria’s Dara wins Eurovision contest, beating out Israel for top spot

The usually good-natured competition has faced a boycott by five countries over the Gaza conflict.

17 May 2026 - 8:59AM

Dara from Bulgaria holds up the trophy after winning the Eurovision grand final in Vienna. Photo: AP

France

France lifts cruise lockdown after outbreak scare, as stomach bug blamed

Authorities rule out a link to the deadly hantavirus as asymptomatic passengers are cleared to disembark in Bordeaux.

14 May 2026 - 12:28PM

The Ambition docked on the Garonne river waterfront in Bordeaux on Wednesday. Photo: EPA

Britain

Hantavirus outbreak: UK to isolate cruise ship passengers in ex-Covid hospital

There are around 24 British passengers and crew, as well as two people from Ireland, on board the MV Hondius.

10 May 2026 - 1:15AM

Diplomacy

The big shift in Xi Jinping’s travel plans and what it means for China

Data analysis by the SCMP reveals a changing dynamic in Beijing towards high-level diplomatic meetings.

1 May 2026 - 6:02AMvideocam

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Ireland

From air conditioners to taps, Europe’s climate extremes boost China sales

Chinese makers of low-flow taps, garden gear and insulated drinkware are seeing European orders surge as heatwaves and drought reshape demand.

Why South Asian students are rethinking Western university education

Brazil fines TikTok record US$30 million for profiting from children’s data

UK police arrest 12 after deadly wrong-way crash that killed 7

Police have denied the collision on Saturday was linked to filming for the TikTok online platform.

Netherlands withdraws from ‘no longer’ neutral Eurovision

Its Dutch broadcaster says the contest, which has been hit by a wave of boycotts over Israel’s participation, has ‘become a platform for division’.

UK PM Andy Burnham to visit Kyiv as Ukraine marks independence anniversary

On his first international visit as UK leader, Burnham will co-chair his first Coalition of the Willing meeting of countries supporting Kyiv.

7 dead in UK after vehicle travelling in wrong direction hits police car

Following recent head-on crashes in Ireland, police have warned that some young people are driving the wrong way ‘for social media ‌likes’.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}As I see it | The US is telling its trading partners – do as I say, not as I do

While Washington says it is monitoring certain countries, including Japan, for foreign exchange interventions, it also coordinated with Tokyo to prop up the yen.

5 dead, 4 seriously injured in head-on motorway collision in Ireland

Describing the crash as ‘horrific’, police said that ‘in some cases’ cars are being driven on the wrong side of roads for social media likes.

Alleged Irish crime boss charged in Dublin after extradition from Dubai

Daniel Kinahan remanded in custody over charges of directing an international crime group following handover by UAE authorities.

Outside In | Why Asia need not match West’s fear over data centre buildout

The spread of data centres in Asia does not seem to have sparked the kind of protests it has in the West, but good policies are needed to ensure that remains the case.

As I see it | How ‘evil’ was the British Empire? Centuries of theft and destruction

From Indian colonisation to the opium trade, an empire of avarice and brutality was powered by the East India Company.

European heatwaves drive summer tourists to cooler north

The concept of ‘coolcations’ – holidays in a cooler clime – has been gathering pace in recent years and appears to have exploded in 2026.

EU countries push for trade ban with Israeli settlements

EU foreign policy chief insists measures target West Bank settlements rather than Israel itself.

Man jailed for killing US tourist in Hungary during ‘intimate encounter’

After his arrest in 2024, the man claimed Michalski’s death had been an accident. But police said he had attempted to cover up his crime.

‘Night of horror’: Russian missile and drone barrage kills 21 in Ukraine capital

Kyiv declares a day of mourning after massive bombardment, which Moscow says is retaliation for strikes on civil infrastructure.

Malaysian doctor in Australia remanded over 33 child sex offence charges

The court heard that the alleged offences, involving ‘eight, possibly nine victims’, had been captured on hidden cameras in consulting rooms.

EU leaders ask Brussels to come up with new trade weapons to counter China shock

Late-night meeting ends with instruction to officials to engage with Beijing while preparing tools to defend Europe’s economy.

Belfast stabbing victim ‘improving’ and may soon wake from coma

Stephen Ogilvie lost his left eye and suffered deep head and back wounds in a brutal attack that sparked violent unrest in Northern Ireland.

Belfast reeling as street violence and online ‘hit lists’ terrify minorities

UK minister says violence in Northern Ireland is ‘racist thuggery’ as ethnic minorities are targeted.

Police fire water cannon in Belfast as stabbing sparks second night of unrest

Masked crowds clash with riot police as a Sudanese man is charged in a brutal knife attack that has left the city reeling.

Protesters torch buildings and vehicles, block roads over Belfast stabbing

A suspect from Sudan has been arrested for the brutal attack that was captured in a graphic video.

Microsoft cuts hundreds of mainland cloud jobs, as China, US tighten data laws

The firm is laying off some employees at its cloud unit amid ongoing restrictions on cross-border data flows between the two countries.

Meet Thaddea Graham, who plays Susie in Margo’s Got Money Troubles

The young actress, who has been in Doctor Who and Sex Education, is also starring in a BBC audio drama with Lena Headey.

Bulgaria’s Dara wins Eurovision contest, beating out Israel for top spot

The usually good-natured competition has faced a boycott by five countries over the Gaza conflict.

France lifts cruise lockdown after outbreak scare, as stomach bug blamed

Authorities rule out a link to the deadly hantavirus as asymptomatic passengers are cleared to disembark in Bordeaux.

Hantavirus outbreak: UK to isolate cruise ship passengers in ex-Covid hospital

There are around 24 British passengers and crew, as well as two people from Ireland, on board the MV Hondius.

The big shift in Xi Jinping’s travel plans and what it means for China

Data analysis by the SCMP reveals a changing dynamic in Beijing towards high-level diplomatic meetings.

As I see it | The US is telling its trading partners – do as I say, not as I do