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

The Hong Kong Sevens got under way on Friday at Kai Tak Stadium. Photo: Karma Lo

Hong Kong society

Gloomy weather can’t take shine off Hong Kong Sevens for visiting rugby fans

Rugby tournament kicks off 50th anniversary edition with spectators in party mood.

17 Apr 2026 - 10:20PMvideocam

2026 Trump-Xi summit

Xi Jinping meets foreign leaders: tracker 2026

15 Apr 2026 - 5:45PM

European Union

Ireland police remove farmers, blockades protesting against fuel price rises

13 Apr 2026 - 1:52AM

Britain

IRA bomb victims drop civil court claim against Gerry Adams

The case was discontinued on the last day of a two-week trial, after what the claimants’ lawyers called an ‘extraordinary series of events’.

21 Mar 2026 - 1:41AM

Former Irish republican leader Gerry Adams arrives for a press conference in Belfast on Friday. Photo: AFP

European Union

Letters | Ireland is a predictable partner in unsettling times

Readers discuss Ireland’s ties to Hong Kong and the country’s global appeal, the war in Iran, and the value of attracting international students.

19 Mar 2026 - 11:30AM

Banking & finance

HSBC launches US$2.5 billion AT1 bond issue in Hong Kong after market standstill

Lender’s AT1 bond sale is the first since Iran conflict froze the market, with Hong Kong’s stability making it the natural venue: analyst.

19 Mar 2026 - 2:04PM

Fame and celebrity

Meet Dónal Finn, who plays James Moriarty in Young Sherlock

The rising Irish star, who had a lead role as Mat Cauthon in The Wheel of Time, once worked at a supermarket to pay to go to drama school auditions.

14 Mar 2026 - 6:00PMvideocam

Dónal Finn, who plays James Moriarty, at the BAFTA Cymru Awards in 2025.
Photos: @sjcommunications/Instagram, TNS

Britain

Northern Ireland’s Gerry Adams, 77, in UK court for trial over IRA bombings

Adams has always denied being an IRA member, although he has ‌long faced accusations that he was involved in its killing campaign.

10 Mar 2026 - 2:51AM

Extreme weather

Record-breaking? El Nino may return in 2026, making planet even hotter

However, scientists say there’s a risk of 2026 being ‘the warmest year on record even without El Nino, due to the global warming trend’.

3 Mar 2026 - 2:28AMvideocam

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

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

Xi Jinping meets foreign leaders: tracker 2026

World leaders are flocking to Beijing this year as Trump’s trade war spurs US allies to look for new ties.

26 Feb 2026 - 10:55AM

Consumer protection in Hong Kong

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

Amid the latest spate of illnesses, the city needs to adopt proactive and transparent strategies to ensure that customers can dine safely.

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

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

“An epidemiological investigation showed that all [norovirus] cases were related to raw oyster consumption,” health authorities have said. Photo: Getty Images

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

Former US senator George Mitchell in 2018. Photo: Reuters

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

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

Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain, a non-EU state, pictured in Shanghai on Friday, becoming the latest European leader to make a beeline for China. Photo: Pool via Reuters

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-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

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

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Sheraton Hotel, as he attends the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 18, 2024. Photo: Pool via Reuters

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

Peter Claffey in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Photo: TNS

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

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

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

Danish soldiers after disembarking at the harbour in Nuuk, Greenland on Sunday. Photo: Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix via Reuters

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

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Ireland

Gloomy weather can’t take shine off Hong Kong Sevens for visiting rugby fans

Rugby tournament kicks off 50th anniversary edition with spectators in party mood.

Xi Jinping meets foreign leaders: tracker 2026

Ireland police remove farmers, blockades protesting against fuel price rises

IRA bomb victims drop civil court claim against Gerry Adams

The case was discontinued on the last day of a two-week trial, after what the claimants’ lawyers called an ‘extraordinary series of events’.

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Letters | Ireland is a predictable partner in unsettling times

Readers discuss Ireland’s ties to Hong Kong and the country’s global appeal, the war in Iran, and the value of attracting international students.

HSBC launches US$2.5 billion AT1 bond issue in Hong Kong after market standstill

Lender’s AT1 bond sale is the first since Iran conflict froze the market, with Hong Kong’s stability making it the natural venue: analyst.

Meet Dónal Finn, who plays James Moriarty in Young Sherlock

The rising Irish star, who had a lead role as Mat Cauthon in The Wheel of Time, once worked at a supermarket to pay to go to drama school auditions.

Northern Ireland’s Gerry Adams, 77, in UK court for trial over IRA bombings

Adams has always denied being an IRA member, although he has ‌long faced accusations that he was involved in its killing campaign.

Record-breaking? El Nino may return in 2026, making planet even hotter

However, scientists say there’s a risk of 2026 being ‘the warmest year on record even without El Nino, due to the global warming trend’.

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

World leaders are flocking to Beijing this year as Trump’s trade war spurs US allies to look for new ties.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Editorial | Food poisoning cases in Hong Kong must prompt swift mitigation efforts

Amid the latest spate of illnesses, the city needs to adopt proactive and transparent strategies to ensure that customers can dine safely.

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.

Letters | Ireland is a predictable partner in unsettling times

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