Some marked Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez’s death with tears; others with cheers.

Xi Jinping became China’s new leader today, assuming the top posts in the Communist Party and the powerful military in a political transition unbowed by scandals, a slower economy and public demands for reforms.

Earlier this week, as the US returned President Barack Obama to the White House for another four-year term, China’s Communist Party gathered in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to orchestrate a once-in-a-decade leadership transition.

Asset disclosure for Chinese officials is likely to be slowly phased in over time, a senior Communist Party leader said as the government grapples with the fraught task of rooting out corruption.

Hundreds of Tibetans demonstrated in a western China town today, calling for freedom from Chinese rule.

World leaders hailed President Barack Obama’s sweeping re-election, with allies pledging to deepen cooperation with the United States on fighting the world economic slump and maintaining security across the globe.

As Hu Jintao steps down as Communist Party leader, he is the subject of rare and sharp criticism, writes Charles Hutzler

From his old school in Indonesia to a Japanese beach town that happens to share his name, people around the world have cheered Barack Obama’s re-election as US president today.

The election that will take place in China tomorrow could have profound effects on Ireland’s prosperity, write Neil Collins and Yu-Wen Chen

Disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai has been expelled from the ruling Communist Party and will face corruption and other criminal charges.

Presidency preparations at fever pitch

China’s president-in-waiting Xi Jinping has not been seen in public for more than a week, prompting a wave of speculation on the reason for his absence.

Talks between US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Chinese leaders have failed to narrow gaps on how to end the crisis in Syria and resolve Beijing's territorial disputes with its smaller neighbours over the South China Sea.

China’s political elite has been shaken by a lurid new scandal over the death of a senior official’s son who crashed his Ferrari during what appeared to be a sex session with two women.

Ban Ki-moon has called for rapid, unified action by the Security Council on Syria.

China has urged Iran to take "a flexible and pragmatic approach" in international talks over its nuclear ambitions.

Sudan has continued its bombing of South Sudan, as South Sudan’s president said the attacks amounted to a declaration of war.

A Tibetan protester set himself on fire at a demonstration in the Indian capital today ahead of a visit by China’s president.

US President Barack Obama urged China yesterday to use its influence to rein in North Korea instead of “turning a blind eye” to its nuclear defiance, and warned of tighter sanctions if the reclusive state goes ahead with a rocket launch next month.

Chinese premier Wen Jiabao has warned the ruinous turmoil that engulfed the country in the past could re-emerge unless it tackles political reforms.

The Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has welcomed Chinese vice-president Xi Jinping to Ireland at the start of his three-day official visit.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore are being urged to deliver a clear and forceful message on human rights when they meet the Chinese Vice President later today.

China’s vice-president Xi Jinping should be “forcefully” questioned by ministers on his country’s attitude to human rights, during a three-day visit to Ireland, said Amnesty International.

The visit to Ireland of China’s pro-business vice-president Xi Jinping could mark the start of a significant increase in trade between the countries, but we must be ready to grab this golden opportunity with two hands, writes Dan Buckley

The Irish Government has today been urged to deliver a forceful message to Chinese vice-president Xi Jinping over human rights abuses during a three-day visit.

China will continue to invest in eurozone government debt and it remains confident in the euro, the country’s central bank governor said yesterday, while calling on Europeans to produce more attractive investment products for China.

The man destined to be China’s next leader won an extraordinary welcome across Washington in a finely scripted opening to one of the world’s most important relationships.

Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou won a close re-election fight today, leveraging his message of greater prosperity through expanded ties with China to beat his populist-minded opponent.

Although China has dismissed a proposed ‘G-2’ agreement, it has clearly indicated that it plans to work closely with both the US and Europe, writes Li Zhaoxing

North Korean state television has showed Kim Jong Il laid out in an open coffin today.

US president Barack Obama has said he and Chinese president Hu Jintao want to ensure that Iran lives by “international rules and norms” amid fresh allegations that Tehran is conducting nuclear weapons work in secret.

Europe’s debt drama dominated talks among leaders of the Group of 20 leading economies in Cannes today with Greece’s government facing potential collapse.

US president Barack Obama has arrived in France to join world leaders at a G20 summit overshadowed by Europe’s debt crisis and surprise plans by Greece to hold a referendum on the EU bailout deal.

BARACK OBAMA has topped Forbes’ list of the world’s most powerful people in 2011, as the US leader’s clout rose after the deaths of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and Libyan dictator Muammar Gadaffi.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy will hold emergency talks today with European leaders in a last-ditch bid to salvage his G20 meeting following the Greek referendum turmoil.

Hopes are growing that cash-rich China will take a major role in a European debt crisis rescue – expectations that are likely to be dashed.

A toddler has been rescued 21 hours after a crash involving two high-speed trains killed at least 35 people in China.

A bullet train crashed into another high-speed train in eastern China, killing at least 35 people, injuring 191 others and once again raising safety concerns about the country’s fast-expanding rail network.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon may have almost blown his chances of re-election by antagonising Moscow over the Balkans in 2008 but he has since focused on pleasing the US, Russia and other big UN powers, making his re-election tomorrow a certainty.

Chinese authorities staged a concerted show of force today to squelch a mysterious online call for a "Jasmine Revolution" apparently modelled after pro-democracy demonstrations sweeping the Middle East.

CHINESE President Hu Jintao heard concerns about China’s human rights and economic policies as he wrapped up his visit to Washington with meetings on Capitol Hill.

South Korea said today that it has accepted a North Korean proposal to hold high-level defence talks.

US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao vowed yesterday to work to find common ground as the two countries announced $45 billion (more than €33bn) in export deals.

FOREIGN leaders showered President Barack Obama and his family with hundreds of thousands of dollars in art, jewellery, rare books and other presents during their first year in the White House.