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

India

Why South Asian students are rethinking Western university education

Rising costs, visa restrictions and better regional choices drive a shift towards domestic undergraduate study before going abroad.

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

24 Aug 2026 - 11:51PM

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

A Eurovision flag flies at the port of Burgas, on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, which will host the 71st Eurovision Song Contest in 2027. Photo: AP

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

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks to reporters as he walks to the West Wing following an interview at the White House in Washington on August 20. Photo: EPA

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

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

A lithograph by James Henry Lynch, originally drawn by Michael Angelo Hayes, depicts the 18th (Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot, at the storming of the forts of Amoy on August 26, 1841, during the First Opium War. Image: Getty Images

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

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

A crater from overnight Russian missile and drone strikes in Kyiv. Photo: Reuters

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

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

Police attempt to disperse protesters in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Wednesday. Photo: AP

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

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

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

Passengers on the MV Hondius, scan the horizon with binoculars during their voyage to Spain’s port of Tenerife on Wednesday. Photo: AP

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

US-China trade war

Xi-Trump summit unlikely to revive Chinese investment in US, report warns

Rhodium Group report says Chinese investment in America has ‘fallen significantly’ from 2016 peak.

30 Apr 2026 - 9:00PM

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Ireland

Why South Asian students are rethinking Western university education

Rising costs, visa restrictions and better regional choices drive a shift towards domestic undergraduate study before going abroad.

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

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.

Xi-Trump summit unlikely to revive Chinese investment in US, report warns

Rhodium Group report says Chinese investment in America has ‘fallen significantly’ from 2016 peak.

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