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Northern Ireland

The smaller, northern segment of Ireland, the North Atlantic island. Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom. Site of decades of conflict between British loyalists and Irish republicans, it has calmed of late.

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All Content on this topic

Customs officials check freight trucks as they disembark from a ferry at the Northern Irish port of Larne. File photo from January 1, 2021.

EU: Halting Northern Ireland-UK checks an 'absolute breach'

Ireland's EU commissioner says the halting of Irish Sea checks would break the Brexit deal and international law.
PoliticsFebruary 3, 2022
The Irish border

Northern Ireland's changing border

Since the Republic of Ireland was created, the border has mirrored the changing nature of Anglo-Irish relations.
PoliticsFebruary 3, 202210 images
Families in the Creggan area of Derry before a remembrance walk, holding white roses and photos of the victims

N. Ireland marks 50 years since Bloody Sunday

The 1972 massacre was a major turning point in Northern Ireland's era of violence known as "The Troubles."
ConflictsJanuary 30, 2022
Kommentarbild - David Ehl

Northern Ireland's peace faces new Brexit threats

David Ehl
Peace has prevailed in Northern Ireland for a quarter of a century. Now it must be defended against new threats.
PoliticsJanuary 30, 2022
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gives a thumbs up after signing the Brexit trade deal

A look at a rough 2021 for Britain

Questions remain around fisheries, Northern Ireland and financial services. Plus, there's little sign of Global Britain.
BusinessDecember 30, 2021
Waves near Seaham lighthouse in the UK

2 dead after Storm Arwen batters northern UK

Storm Arwen brought with it snow, ice and wind gusts of almost 100 miles (160 kilometers) per hour.
Nature and EnvironmentNovember 27, 2021
The burnt out double decker bus Newtownabbey after it was hijacked and set on fire

Bus hijacked, set on fire in Northern Ireland

Police have said that a bus was hijacked and set on fire in Newtownabbey. There were no reports of injuries.
CrimeNovember 8, 2021
The Port of Larne in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

EU warns UK over threat to suspend N.Ireland trade deal

The EU says there will be "serious consequences" if the UK triggers Article 16 of the Northern Ireland protocol.
PoliticsNovember 5, 2021
Goods loaded on trolleys for delivery

UK Brexit minister: EU must yield more on Northern Ireland

Britain's David Frost has reacted to proposed EU concessions to ease bottlenecks between the UK and Northern Ireland.
PoliticsOctober 15, 2021
Arthur Sullivan

The EU must call out the UK's Brexit duplicity

Arthur Sullivan
The EU cannot keep enabling a duplicitous UK, even if that means a trade war, argues Arthur Sullivan.
BusinessOctober 14, 2021
EU Brexit chief Maros Sefcovic speaks to reporters in Brussels

EU offer to scrap most Northern Ireland checks awaits UK nod

As tensions between Brussels and London increase, the European Union has put forth concessions.
PoliticsOctober 13, 2021
The border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland

Brexit: EU proposes nixing most N. Ireland checks

The measures could halve customs paperwork and checks on food products coming into Northern Ireland.
PoliticsOctober 13, 2021
EU, UK flags

EU-UK tensions hit boiling point

Less than a year since the EU and UK struck a post-Brexit deal, the sides are apparently preparing for a trade war.
BusinessOctober 12, 2021
UK Brexit Minister David Frost

UK gives EU ultimatum over Northern Ireland protocol

The UK has given Brussels ten days to respond to its demands over customs checkpoints in the Irish Sea.
PoliticsOctober 4, 2021
Journalist Lyra McKee

Police arrest 4 over killing of Lyra McKee

The slain reporter and LGBTQ advocate was shot dead when pro-Ireland republicans clashed with police in 2019.
CrimeSeptember 15, 2021
Ian Paisley Jr. canvassing in Ballymoney, Northern Ireland, just half and hour north of Ballymena

Northern Ireland's DUP dips post-Brexit

For a long time, the conservative DUP was Northern Ireland's largest loyalist party. But discontent is on the rise.
PoliticsSeptember 13, 2021
European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic on the day Brexit was finalized in January 2020

EU rejects changing N. Ireland trade protocol

The EU has said revisiting Northern Ireland trade rules would bring instability, angering pro-British lawmakers.
TradeSeptember 10, 2021
Protesters against Brexit in Belfast in 2019

New Brexit row over Northern Ireland protocol

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has rekindled Britain’s spat with the EU over the Northern Ireland protocol.
PoliticsJuly 24, 2021
Flames and smoke rise from car set a fire during protests as rioters hurled petrol bombs, fireworks and stones at police amid unrest since Wednesday, in Belfast, Northern Ireland on April 09, 2021.

UK seeks rewrite of Brexit deal

The UK wants the EU to rewrite part of the Brexit deal that governs trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
PoliticsJuly 21, 2021
A young man walks past the notorious "You are now entering Free Derry" sign in the flashpoint border city of Londonderry in Northern Ireland. Archive image from 2019.

UK suggests waiving Northern Irish 'Troubles' prosecutions

Recent trials in the UK collapsed on the basis that core evidence was no longer admissible by modern legal standards.
ConflictsJuly 14, 2021
Sausages being cooked on a barbeque

EU, UK agree temporary truce in 'sausage war'

The EU had threatened to ban the export of chilled meats from the British mainland to Northern Ireland.
PoliticsJune 30, 2021
Supermarket shelve in Northern Ireland

NI entrepreneurs face new challenges

Northern Ireland entrepreneurs have been facing new challenges. British imports are now subject to customs controls.
BusinessJune 30, 202102:36 min
Arlene Foster

N. Ireland first minister steps down amid Brexit instability

The province's power-sharing executive is now at risk of falling apart.
PoliticsJune 14, 2021
US President Joe Biden at RAF Mildenhall

Joe Biden opens overseas tour in UK with 'US is back' vow

While visiting the UK, the US president was expected to voice concerns over peace in Northern Ireland.
PoliticsJune 10, 2021
Vice President of the European Commission Maros Sefcovic

EU warns UK over Northern Ireland trade

The EU says it is prepared to respond if Britain acts unilaterally on trade arrangements for Northern Ireland.
BusinessJune 9, 2021
DW Podcast | Inside Europe

Inside Europe: 13.05.2020

Greek authorities accused of illegal pushback of migrants — German Catholic churches bless same-sex couples, defying The Vatican — Gay conversion therapy: a report from Northern Ireland — Lifting restrictions: Germans bask in the sun after a long pandemic winter —Russia develops the first coronavirus vaccine for animals — and more!
PoliticsMay 13, 202154:59 min
A protest by relatives of the dead during a visit by Prince Charles in 2015

Inquest slams British army for 1971 Belfast shootings

An inquest has ruled ten "entirely innocent" people died in the 1971 killings, also known as the Ballymurphy massacre.
Law and JusticeMay 11, 2021
Symbolfoto Verhältnis Großbritannien Irland

The economics of a United Ireland

Arlene Foster's resignation as first minister points to political chaos in Northern Ireland. Its future looks uncertain.
BusinessApril 29, 2021
Arlene Foster, Northern Ireland's First Minister

Northern Ireland's first minister resigns amid tensions

Arlene Foster said she would step down as party leader in May and as first minister in June.
PoliticsApril 28, 2021
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen in the European Parliament

European Parliament to vote on Brexit trade deal

The vote marks the final chapter of the Brexit saga that began almost five years ago.
PoliticsApril 27, 2021
A car burns in Belfast

Brexit has threatened peace in Northern Ireland

The conflict there is 4 centuries old. Brexit is the latest reason why the situation has reached the boiling point.
ConflictsApril 10, 2021
A car on fire in Belfast

Police attacked during fresh unrest in Belfast

Attacks on police continued in Belfast for an eighth night, though protests were canceled due to Prince Philip's death.
PoliticsApril 10, 2021
Heavy unrest in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland: Leaders condemn 'unjustifiable' unrest

Politicians have called for calm as tensions rise amid post-Brexit frustrations.
PoliticsApril 8, 2021
Violence in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland: Protesters burn bus in Belfast

Crowds in the northern Irish city of Belfast set a hijacked bus on fire with petrol bombs as violence continued.
ConflictsApril 8, 2021
Protesters in front of a police vehicle in Belfast

Call for attacks on Belfast police to stop

A group of rioters threw petrol bombs and set police cars on fire in a Belfast suburb, police say.
ConflictsApril 4, 2021
An official checks a motorist as truckers carrying freight from Scotland disembark a ferry at the Port of Larne in County Antrim, Northern Ireland on January 1, 2021.

Brexit: EU takes legal action against UK over N. Ireland

The United Kingdom extended a grace period allowing easier exports to Northern Ireland — without consulting Brussels.
PoliticsMarch 15, 2021
A ferry from Scotland crosses the Irish Sea, sailing towards the port at Larne on the north coast of Northern Ireland

Will the UK tunnel from N. Ireland to Scotland?

Many have rejected the idea of a tunnel linking Britain with Northern Ireland as a fantasy, but the idea is still alive.
BusinessMarch 11, 2021
A man walks past Loyalist paramilitary mural in the Shankill Road a predominantly loyalist area in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland loyalists pull support for Good Friday deal

UK loyalist paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland have reportedly withdrawn support for the 1998 Belfast Agreement.
PoliticsMarch 4, 2021
Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster

N. Ireland party files legal bid to scrap Brexit protocol

The Democratic Unionist Party blames a Brexit protocol for disrupting trade and triggering food shortages.
SocietyFebruary 22, 2021
File photo dated 31/12/20 of a lorry boarding a ferry at Larne Port, Northern Ireland

UK, EU hold 'frank discussion' over N. Ireland

UK and EU officials described talks as "constructive" after tensions were raised over the Northern Ireland border.
PoliticsFebruary 12, 2021
Graffiti in Belfast saying "No Irish Sea Boder"

Northern Ireland: Brexit's legacy problem

Northern Ireland dominated Brexit negotiations for years and remains a highly contentious element of EU-UK relations.
BusinessFebruary 10, 2021
An official checks a motorist as truckers disembark a ferry at the Port of Larne, Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland halts border checks after threats

A post-Brexit "upsurge in sinister and menacing behavior" caused two ports in Northern Ireland to pull their staff.
PoliticsFebruary 2, 2021
DUP leader Arlene Foster speaks at a Bruges Group event during the Conservative Party annual conference

Northern Ireland leader urges removal of Brexit protocol

Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster called the measure "unworkable" after it became the focus of a spat.
PoliticsJanuary 30, 2021
Empty shelves at a branch of Marks & Spencer's supermarket in Belfast

Gove: Trade issues to 'get worse,' then better

UK's Michael Gove has said that post-Brexit trade disruptions will get worse still.
PoliticsJanuary 9, 2021
Destruction in the Mulberry Bush pub after the bombing

UK police arrest man decades after bombings

A 65-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a terror attack in Birmingham in 1974 that killed 21 people.
TerrorismNovember 18, 2020
Michael Roth - Mitglied des Deutschen Bundestages

German minister: No progress in Brexit talks

Germany's minister for Europe says Brexit negotiations have made no progress over the last few months.
SocietyOctober 16, 2020
Boris Johnson

Brexit: UK gambles as EU trust erodes

The warnings went unheaded: Brussels is taking legal action after the UK backed a bill that breaks Brexit rules.
PoliticsOctober 2, 2020
Raab and Pompeo at a press conference

UK aims to calm US fears over Brexit, N. Ireland

Foreign Secretary Raab sought to allay fears that the UK's recent Brexit brinksmanship endangered peace in Ireland.
PoliticsSeptember 18, 2020
England | House of Commons | Brexit Debatte | Boris Johnson

Controversial Brexit bill passes Commons vote

The British government passed the bill with a majority 340 to 263, despite widespread opposition.
PoliticsSeptember 14, 2020
Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaking during the debate on the Internal Market Bill in the House of Commons, London. Picture date: Monday September 14, 2020.

Contentious Brexit bill faces first Commons debate

David Cameron came out against Boris Johson's controversial bill hours before it was set to be voted on in parliament.
PoliticsSeptember 14, 2020