# tensions

This week

28th May 2023 - 1st June 2023

Harris calls for ‘everyone to take a bit of a deep breath’ over rows with coalition over budget

His comments come after Fine Gael ministers of state called for a tax cut of €1,000 for full-time workers earning €52,000.

12.2k

Mon 5:36 PM

Last week

21st May 2023 - 27th May 2023

# tensions

Government must act with coherence, Martin insists as he moves to cool tensions

The Fianna Fáil leader said he had told his TDs that it would be ‘far better’ if they worked through Government processes on the upcoming Budget.

8.3k

Fri 6:36 PM

April

April 2023

# Sudan

Three civilians killed as paramilitary forces claim control of key sites in Khartoum

The US secretary of state has called for an immediate end to the fighting between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

17.2k

Apr 15th 2023, 1:50 PM

# War games

US and Philippines begin largest joint military exercises after China drills around Taiwan

Nearly 18,000 troops are taking part in the annual exercises, which will include a live-fire drill in the South China Sea.

13.6k

Apr 11th 2023, 7:59 AM

# Taiwan Strait

China simulates strikes 'against key targets' in Taiwan during second day of drills

Taiwan’s defence ministry said it had detected nine Chinese warships and 58 aircraft around the island today.

15.4k

Updated

Apr 9th 2023, 10:54 AM

# tensions

Israel launches retaliatory strikes on Syria after rockets fired towards Golan Heights

It comes after days of escalating violence over tension in Jerusalem and an Israeli police raid on the city’s Al-Aqsa Mosque.

7.7k

Apr 9th 2023, 7:43 AM

# tensions

China launches three days of military drills around Taiwan after US Speaker meeting

Taiwan’s defence ministry said eight Chinese warships and 42 fighter jets have been detected around the island.

16.0k

Updated

Apr 8th 2023, 12:30 PM

# tensions

North Korea warns ‘offensive action’ over US-South Korea military drills

Animosity heightened in recent weeks as the pace of both the allies’ military exercises and the North Korean weapons demonstrations increased.

4.5k

Apr 6th 2023, 7:01 AM

This year

2023

# tensions

Kim Jong Un supervises live-fire drill as North Korea simulates attack on South

It comes a day after South Korea’s military detected the North firing at least one short-range ballistic missile toward the sea.

9.1k

Mar 10th 2023, 8:10 AM

# Nuclear Weapons

US says Russia is not complying with last remaining nuclear treaty

Moscow announced in early August that it was suspending US inspections of its military sites, which were part of the New START treaty.

12.5k

Jan 31st 2023, 9:54 PM

# Lima

Protesters stream into Peru’s capital demanding resignation of president

The protests follow a weeks-long movement to demand Dina Boluarte’s resignation, the dissolution of Congress, and immediate elections.

6.2k

Jan 19th 2023, 10:05 PM

Last year

2022

# Western Balkans

Serbs start removing barricades in easing of tensions in Kosovo

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced removal of the barricades following calls by the EU and the US to de-escalate tensions.

8.5k

Updated

Dec 29th 2022, 12:16 PM

# Western Balkans

Tension soars as Kosovo shuts main border crossing with Serbia

The EU and the US have called on both countries to “refrain from provocations, threats, or intimidation”.

19.9k

Dec 28th 2022, 3:02 PM

# Pyongyang

North Korea fires two ballistic missiles into Sea of Japan, Seoul's military says

It comes days after the country announced a successful test of a solid-fuel motor for a new weapons system.

5.1k

Dec 18th 2022, 7:16 AM

# tensions

North Korean missile may have had range to hit US mainland, Japan says

The intercontinental ballistic missile is believed to have landed in Japan’s exclusive economic zone this morning.

6.7k

Nov 18th 2022, 7:05 AM

# CETA

Divisions emerging between Govt parties over amending legislation to ratify CETA

The Supreme Court ruled that ratifying CETA currently was unconstitutional.

9.1k

Nov 15th 2022, 6:16 PM

# tensions

North Korea fires four ballistic missiles into the sea

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said that the missiles flew around 130 kilometres toward the North’s western sea.

10.6k

Nov 5th 2022, 10:46 AM

# tensions

China’s President Xi Jinping calls for military growth amid tension with US

The Communist Party congress comes amid a painful economic slump and tension with Washington and Asian neighbours over trade, technology and security.

14.9k

Oct 16th 2022, 9:28 AM

# tensions

China says troops 'remain on high alert' as two US warships sail through Taiwan Strait

It is the first transit since China staged unprecedented military drills around the island following the visit of US Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

25.7k

Updated

Aug 28th 2022, 9:42 AM

# tensions

China’s military drills appear to simulate attack, says Taiwan

China launched live-fire military drills following US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan earlier this week.

12.3k

Aug 6th 2022, 12:11 PM

# tensions

China will 'not hesitate to start war' if Taiwan declares independence, Beijing warns US

China’s defence minister made the comments during his first face-to-face meeting with his US counterpart in Singapore.

29.3k

Jun 10th 2022, 8:05 PM

# Temple Mount

Jerusalem on high alert ahead of Israeli 'flag march'

Hamas warned against marchers passing through the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, saying it would use “all possibilities” to confront them.

9.9k

May 29th 2022, 10:50 AM

# Kyiv Embassy

Department of Foreign Affairs says 145 Irish citizens now registered with embassy in Ukraine

The department said that this number “may rise further over the coming days”.

6.4k

Feb 14th 2022, 4:36 PM

# ukraine crisis

Kremlin urges US to 'stop escalating tensions' as NATO flags Russian troop build-up in Belarus

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg raised concerns about Russian troop buildup in Belarus.

9.7k

Feb 3rd 2022, 11:57 AM

# tensions

Vladimir Putin accuses West of 'ignoring Russia's fundamental concerns' about Ukraine

The Russian president was speaking last night.

13.8k

Feb 2nd 2022, 7:47 AM

# ukraine tensions

US offers no concessions in response to Russian demands over Ukraine

But Antony Blinken said the written response also contains “serious” offers for a diplomatic path to de-escalate soaring tensions.

27.0k

Updated

Jan 26th 2022, 9:31 PM

# tensions

Taoiseach: Ireland 'not politically neutral but militarily neutral' as Ukraine travel advice is updated

Irish people are now advised against non-essential travel to Ukraine.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that Russia's massing of troops the Ukrainian border was not justified.

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said he was "not aware" of plans for the use of Irish airspace for the transport of troops or weapons to Ukraine.

45.3k

Updated

Jan 25th 2022, 9:57 PM

# ukraine tensions

US puts troops on alert over Ukraine as Biden calls European allies

NATO also said it was sending jets and ships to bolster its eastern flank.

71.0k

103

Updated

Jan 24th 2022, 10:24 PM

# Explainer

Explainer: What's the latest with Russia-Ukraine tensions and is an invasion likely?

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Ukraine today ahead of talks with Russia on Friday.

Moscow has been accused of massing tens of thousands of troops near its border with Ukraine in preparation for an invasion.

The conflict in eastern Ukraine has so far left more than 13,000 dead.

16.5k

Jan 19th 2022, 3:01 PM

# tensions

North Korea fires second suspected ballistic missile in less than a week

The early-morning launch came as the UN Security Council met in New York to discuss last week’s test.

7.6k

Jan 11th 2022, 6:44 AM

All time

# Explainer

Explainer: What's happening on the Russia-Ukraine border and how likely is an invasion?

Nearly 100,000 Russian troops have massed on the Ukrainian border in recent weeks.

14.6k

Dec 10th 2021, 1:08 PM

# tensions

UK Brexit minister due in Paris for talks on fishing row as France releases impounded trawler

The meeting comes a day after a French court released a British trawler impounded for a week.

5.8k

Nov 4th 2021, 8:05 AM

# tensions

Taoiseach says Poland’s challenge of EU’s legal foundations went ‘too far’

Several EU officials insisted that there would be no ganging-up against Poland.

21.6k

Updated

Oct 21st 2021, 8:21 PM

# tensions

Covid vaccine stand-off between Chicago mayor and police union sparks dueling lawsuits

A judge has banned a police union president from making public statements on the city’s Covid-19 policy.

26.3k

Oct 16th 2021, 1:25 PM

# tensions

Taiwan wants political status quo not China’s path, says president

Tsai Ing-wen also firmly rejected Chinese military coercion in a speech to mark the country’s National Day.

10.1k

Oct 10th 2021, 7:45 AM

# tensions

China's Xi vows 'reunification' with Taiwan

Self-governed Taiwan, which has never formally declared independence, lives under the constant threat of invasion by China.

22.9k

Oct 9th 2021, 7:25 AM

# tensions

North Korea warns UN to ‘think of the consequences’ of criticising missiles work

Pyongyang resumed missile tests in September after a six-month hiatus.

14.6k

Oct 3rd 2021, 11:29 AM

# tensions

Taiwan rebukes China over record fighter jet incursion

Beijing marked its National Day on Friday with its biggest aerial show of force against Taiwan to date.

17.4k

Oct 2nd 2021, 9:03 AM

# tensions

Kim Jong Un’s sister warns of ‘complete destruction’ of South Korean ties

Kim Yo Jong criticised the South Korean president for describing North Korean weapons demonstrations as a provocation.

30.4k

Sep 15th 2021, 10:17 PM

# tensions

Ex-minister Johnny Mercer blasts ‘distrustful, awful environment’ of British government

The former British Army officer has stood down as veterans minister.

24.3k

Apr 21st 2021, 10:10 PM