Latest
How China helped its enemy win Taiwan's election
Hong Kong's protests and an increasingly authoritarian China under Xi Jinping were the main influences on the outcome of Taiwan's elections.
- Michael Smith
How the US and Iran approached the brink of war
The operation to kill Iran security chief Qassem Soleimani took months to plan; it marks the most perilous chapter in President Trump's three years in office.
- Peter Baker and Ronen Bergman
American women outnumber men in the US workforce
The US jobless rate is at a 50-year low, and for the second time in history, American women outnumber men as the majority in the country's paid workforce.
- Rachel Siegel
Indonesia lets plastic burning continue despite toxins warning
Tofu makers in East Java have seen business plummet after a report claimed toxins from the manufacturing process are contaminating food.
- Richard C. Paddock
Queen Elizabeth calls Prince Harry for crisis meeting
Harry's father Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, and his elder brother Prince William, will also attend the meeting.
- Updated
- Michael Holden and Estelle Shirbon
US plans to restart forum for economic talks with China
The talks — to be held on a semi-annual basis — essentially revive the structure of economic dialogue with Beijing preferred by top officials under presidents George W Bush and Barack Obama.
- James Politi
Opinion & Analysis
British business feels Boris bounce, but Bank of England still pensive
The election-winning PM's optimism is proving infectious for business, but Threadneedle Street isn't seeing the green shoots yet.
Europe correspondent
Here's some new year predictions to ponder
Could we have predicted Harry and Meghan divorcing the Royal family? Well, not specifically but like many of the event in 2020, the trends were already there.
Columnist
Taiwan votes for sovereignty and against Beijing's autocracy
The dramatic political comeback of Taiwan's President underlines Australia's concerns about China's attempts to impose its will and influence.
Columnist
Meet the mavericks behind Ghosn's escape
Michael Taylor, a former member of the US Army’s elite Green Berets, this week returned to the headlines as one of the private security contractors who helped smuggle Carlos Ghosn out of Japan.
Contributor
From the Financial Times
- Opinion
- Middle East tensions
US v Iran: the costs of an erratic president
While Donald Trump has all but declared victory, the inconsistent decision-making in the White House has alarmed allies.
- Edward Luce
Boris Johnson shapes up for EU fight over fishing
Boris Johnson said Britain would insist on “maintaining control of UK fishing waters” after it leaves the EU, setting up a big clash with Brussels.
- Jim Brunsden and George Parker
- Opinion
- Middle East tensions
The paradox of America First
Donald Trump sincerely aspires to a lighter global workload for the US. But his very nationalism makes him amazingly easy to provoke into conflict.
- Janan Ganesh
More From Today
- Analysis
- Interest rates
British business feels Boris bounce, but Bank of England still pensive
The election-winning PM's optimism is proving infectious for business, but Threadneedle Street isn't seeing the green shoots yet.
- 45 mins ago
- Hans van Leeuwen
- Opinion
- Middle East tensions
Here's some new year predictions to ponder
Could we have predicted Harry and Meghan divorcing the Royal family? Well, not specifically but like many of the event in 2020, the trends were already there.
- Alexander Downer
Yesterday
- Opinion
- Taiwan
Taiwan votes for sovereignty and against Beijing's autocracy
The dramatic political comeback of Taiwan's President underlines Australia's concerns about China's attempts to impose its will and influence.
- Tom Switzer
Macron bows to pressure and scraps proposal to raise retirement age
The government has agreed to scrap, for now at least, a proposal to raise the full-benefits retirement age from 62 to 64.
- Updated
- Adam Nossiter
- Analysis
- Governance
Meet the mavericks behind Ghosn's escape
Michael Taylor, a former member of the US Army’s elite Green Berets, this week returned to the headlines as one of the private security contractors who helped smuggle Carlos Ghosn out of Japan.
- Updated
- Joshua Chaffin and Laura Pitel
Rage in Iran and Ukraine after Tehran admits shooting down jet
The criticism of Iran over shooting down the Ukrainian plane, killing 176, may eclipse whatever sympathy Tehran garnered in its confrontation with Donald Trump.
- Updated
- Anton Troianovski, Andrew E. Kramer and Farnaz Fassihi
Blow to Beijing as Taiwan's Tsai Ing-wen wins in a landslide
The resounding win underscored rising anti-China sentiment after violent protests in Hong Kong stoked fears the same thing would happen in Taiwan.
- Updated
- Michael Smith
- Analysis
- South China Sea
Sea change: Indonesia looks for a new playbook in China fight
After a dramatic week of military posturing, the Indonesian government is considering new ways to counter China's aggression in the Natuna waters.
- Emma Connors
- Opinion
- Emerging markets
Economic reform the biggest challenge for Jokowi 2.0
These should be the best of times for Indonesia. But curiously, they are not.
- Hal Hill
- Opinion
- Middle East tensions
US v Iran: the costs of an erratic president
While Donald Trump has all but declared victory, the inconsistent decision-making in the White House has alarmed allies.
- Edward Luce and Najmeh Bozorgmehr
This Month
US rejects Iraq's request to open talks on a troop pullout
"Any delegation sent to Iraq would be dedicated to discussing how to best recommit to our strategic partnership -- not to discuss troop withdrawal."
- Khalid Al-Ansary and Nick Wadhams
- Opinion
- World politics
Nancy Pelosi: one of America's most skilled politicians
Her weekly briefing was another bravura performance by a wily politician, and another reminder of how low is the intellectual wattage of the Trump White House.
- Jennifer Rubin
Meghan flies back to Canada amid royal rift
After the bombshell news that Prince Harry and wife Meghan intend to step back from royal duties, the Duchess of Sussex has returned to Canada with no clear plan for their future settled.
- Guy Faulconbridge and Michael Holden
Mourners farewell volcano victim
About 600 mourners farewelled 53-year-old Gavin Dallo during a funeral service held at Adelaide Oval.
- Kathryn Bermingham
UK lawmakers back EU exit deal, turning page on Brexit crisis
The legislation - approved by a vote of 330 to 231 - now heads to parliament's upper chamber and is expected to become law in the coming weeks.
- Updated
- William James
Taiwan's election divides generations as China fears run high
Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen is expected to win a second term in Saturday's historic polls, as fears about China's influence dominate debate.
- Updated
- Michael Smith
Trump boasts Iranian general's death was 'American justice'
The US President used his first campaign election rally of 2020 to argue that he served up 'American justice' by ordering a drone strike to take out Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.
- Updated
- Mike Householder and Jill Colvin
Why palm oil row is good for Australian winemakers
A trade stand off with the EU is giving 'new world' wines a boost in Indonesia - and Australian labels are reaping the benefits.
- Emma Connors
Missiles fired by Iran downed passenger jet, say US and allies
The disclosures suggested that the deaths were a consequence of the heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran that have played out since a US drone strike killed a top Iranian general last week.
- Updated
- Julian Barnes, Eric Schmitt, Anton Troianovski and Natalie Kitroeff
