China yesterday denied any suggestion that it was in active negotiations with the administration of US president Donald Trump over tariffs, saying that any notion of progress in the matter was as groundless as &trying to catch the wind.&

Pakistan closed its air space for Indian airlines and rejected New Delhi&s suspension of a critical water sharing treaty yesterday in retaliation for India&s response to a deadly Islamist militant attack on tourists in Indian Kashmir.

Blackmail, secret affairs backhanders, terrorism: the image of the papal election process in Conclave is unlikely to be entirely matched by the reality. But the Oscar-winning film does capture many of the things that will happen as cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel next month to choose Pope Francis&s successor. And while the result of the real-life vote may not be as surprising as what occurs on screen, this one is impossible to call.

Only 15pc of young people believe the US is on the right track under the leadership of president Donald Trump, a new Harvard youth poll has found.