The Irish Times view on Ireland’s EU presidency: more horse-trading than high politics
Intergovernmental bargaining makes up much of the EU’s activity
China
Data Protection Commission reconsidering TikTok data-transfer ban after court ruling
Regulator found Chinese tech giant had breached EU privacy rules
EU-China talks on trade imbalance is best news for their relations in years
EU trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and China’s commerce minister begin a process to address the widening trade gap
European market ‘flooded’ with unsafe vapes, EU anti-fraud chief says
Recent crackdown uncovered millions of vapes shipping into EU labelled as toys, earphones, shoes and essential oils to avoid tax
Volkswagen to axe up to 100,000 jobs as cost-cutting drive speeds up
Cull of one in six VW roles is among biggest ever job-loss programmes by a European company
The rise and fall of US hegemony
On the eve of its 250th birthday, America and the world order it created are in crisis
Dragon boats, ancient rituals – and a modern fear of being left behind
Amid holiday celebrations in Beijing, a friend’s stark worry captures the anxiety of a weakening jobs market
Glanbia’s big shares rally raises questions as well as expectations
The Kilkenny-based company’s shares have more than doubled in just over a year
China endorses Myanmar president and keeps door open to economic corridor
Beijing’s primary interest is in ensuring instability in the neighbouring country does not spill over into China
Failure to land European budget deal would leave EU in ‘limbo’, Taoiseach says
Current €1.2tn budget covers farm subsidies and regional development grants among funding schemes
European leaders debate getting tough on China: ‘We have to defend ourselves’
Having spent the last year and a half avoiding a trade war with Washington, European leaders may not have the stomach to start one with Beijing
EU leaders gather for talks set to cover Ukraine, Israel and China
Agenda for two-day summit in Brussels offers pointers on key matters that will also dominate Ireland’s EU presidency
BMW tumbles after forecasting margin as low as 1%
Its shares slumped by as much as 11.5%, the biggest intraday decline in almost two years
Western Europeans won the lottery of life. But this is changing, culturally and economically
Europe, one of the most impressive cultural enterprises of the past few hundred years, is at a crossroads
BYD aims to outsell Toyota by 2031 to become world’s biggest car maker
Chinese brand looks for massive expansion but it is struggling at home
Canada is banning social media use for children under 16; what steps have others taken?
As Ireland promises to push for similar legislation, lawmakers should look at experiences beyond the English-speaking world
Why the world must agree to regulate AI
A technological disarmament pact between the US and China would make everyone feel more secure
Record student numbers in Irish colleges by 2034 to require extra €200m
Baby boom peak in 2008 will be reflected in 20 per cent increase in third-level enrolments over next decade
Sarah shopped for clothes with Sinclair Dublin. It did not end well
Exasperated reader sends us full email exchange she had with ‘Emma’ from online clothing retailer
A ‘miraculous transformation’: how Kim Jong-un fortified North Korea
Kim Jong-un used the pandemic to ruthlessly tighten his grip on the country. Then he energised its economy by leveraging Russia’s war in Ukraine
Why Xi Jinping is meeting Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang
Global Briefing: The visit has implications for the future of the Korean peninsula and the whole of east Asia
European Union and China tooling up for trade war that could hurt both
Global Briefing: It may prove difficult for the EU to reconcile the enthusiasm of member states led by France with the reticence of Germany and Spain
Trump begins rebuilding his tariff wall with proposed new levies
US president plans fresh tariffs across swathes of products
‘Every day feels exhausting’: Four students confront China’s high-stakes college entrance exams
Four Chinese students on sitting the gaokao, a challenging national test that will shape their futures
Singapore mobilises international response over fears seabed becoming global battlefield
Underwater fibre-optic cables carry more than 95 per cent of intercontinental data traffic
How the global EV shift made Ferrari Europe’s most valuable carmaker
Fears of Chinese competition have savaged valuations of mass-market peers
Behind the posturing, Pete Hegseth’s remarks on China told the real story
Beijing sent no high-level political representation to the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s leading defence and security summit
‘Australia left me cold’: Irish Times writers on their favourite - and most overrated - holiday destinations
Whether you’re in search of a 48-hour break, a hidden gem or a bucket-list trip, these experiences will fuel inspiration
China’s quiet reform could reshape life for hundreds of millions of migrant workers
A long-awaited easing of residency restrictions may boost consumption – and begin to level the playing field for China’s urban workforce
Are diverging geopolitical interests among Quad members making it an irrelevance?
Trump has shown little interest in group comprising the United States, India, Japan and Australia that was at core of US efforts to counter China
Are we witnessing the beginning of the end for SUVs?
Four-door saloons are making a comeback in the US, while European brands are pondering a return to MPVs
Ireland’s politics of strategic ambiguity served us well – until it didn’t
‘Not Fine Gael’ is not a policy platform for Ireland’s opposition, any more than ‘not Trump’ helped the US Democrats
Death toll from China’s worst mine disaster in 17 years revised downwards to 82
Ninety people initially reported dead amid chaos and confusion at scene of gas explosion in northern province of Shanxi
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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