Tony Connelly

Peace plan: Capitulation to Moscow or start of a process? Fears amid peace plan that Donald Trump's dislike of Ukraine and admiration of Vladimir Putin now at a final reckoning, writes Tony Connelly.

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EU Democracy Shield: the slings, arrows of disinformation Officials say the Democracy Shield is designed to support frontline accession countries but also to galvanise European societies into recognising the threat posed to democracies, writes Tony Connelly.

The EU Democracy Shield has been launched with a blizzard of proposals by Irish commissioner @EUCssrMcGrath. Will it make a difference in the campaign against electoral disinformation, particularly by Russia? Critics are divided.

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EU faces rethink on frozen Russian assets for Ukraine Ukraine's survival depends hugely on Volodymyr Zelensky finding favour with US President Donald Trump, but such favour is an on-again, off-again mystery. However, EU leaders continue to rally behind t...

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Crisis in Israel could shape country for generation

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Leading Palestinian figure hails 'history being made' A leading Palestinian figure has hailed the recognition of Palestine by a raft of countries as a historic day of jubilation for the Palestinian people.

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EU states told not to expect stable US trade relationship EU member states have been warned not to expect a stable trade relationship with the US, especially on the issue of European pharmaceutical exports, even if both sides reach an agreement in principle ...

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Govt lobbying for strong EU fisheries and CAP funding The Government is lobbying for strong CAP and fisheries funding in the next seven-year EU budget as well as policies prioritising energy, connectivity and the digital sector, according to a Government...

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EU's indictment of Israel in Gaza: the hard work starts The review into whether Israel is in violation of its obligations under its trade relations with the European Union, due to its conduct of the war in Gaza, was shrouded in secrecy and hobbled by last ...

The EU’s searing indictment of Israel in Gaza: now for the hard part

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EU and US sanctions on Russia: Timing is everything As G7 leaders converge on Kananaskis in the Canadian Rockies this weekend, the prospect of decisively tougher sanctions on Russia will loom large.

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Harris urges tariff exemptions for key sectors Tánaiste Simon Harris has urged the EU's trade commissioner to exempt sectors key to the Irish economy, such as aviation, medical, agrifood and the equine industry, from any retaliatory tariffs the EU...

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EU exploits Trump anti-science climate for medicines deal The EU's sweeping new rules on the regulation of medicines has been one of the most bitterly contested pieces of legislation in recent times, with fierce lobbying by the pharma sector, writes Europe E...

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EU states adopt new controversial medicine regulations EU member states have adopted a controversial set of new measures governing the regulation of medicines at European level, following two years of deadlock and "unprecedented" lobbying by the pharma se...

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EU-Israel deal: Why Dutch succeeded where Ireland failed Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief will instruct the EU's diplomatic arm to carry out a review of the EU-Israel agreement, a small step in relative terms. But why did the Dutch request succeed...

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Questions over power supply remain after Spanish blackout With a huge blackout in the Iberian Peninsula yesterday that crippled transport networks, shut cash machines and switched off thousands of computers, RTÉ's Europe Correspondent Tony Connelly looks at ...

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EU defence: Paying the price of the Russian threat Europe is embarking on a grand spending programme akin to the near trillion euro response to the Covid pandemic in the face of aggression from Russia and the increasing unreliability of the US under P...

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This is truly shameful. Even China and Iran abstained. The US has put itself in the company of some of the worst states in the world - Russia, Belarus, North Korea. Hungary showing its true colours as Russia's Trojan horse in the EU as well.

President of Finland Alexander Stubb speaking in Kyiv today:

▪️ It’s not Russia who decides on EU membership,its the European Union who does that
▪️ It’s not Russia that decides on NATO membership,it’s the alliance itself
▪️ It’s not Russia that decides on what Ukraine has by its border,when,where&how

Wording in EU statement may allow for OTB, Govt believes Ireland has secured language in a key EU communique which the Government believes will support its handling of the Occupied Territories Bill and possibly ease the bill's potential conflict with EU law...

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Germany votes amid geopolitical upheaval Germany goes to the polls tomorrow amid a period of unprecedented national and geopolitical upheaval.

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Trump, Putin and Ukraine: The great betrayal? Europe's big fear has been that Donald Trump would return to the White House, cozy up to Vladimir Putin and throw Ukraine under a bus, writes RTÉ News Europe Editor Tony Connelly.

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Sagan was a prophet.

UN chief praises Trump's 'robust diplomacy' over Gaza The UN Secretary General has praised the contribution of US President Donald Trump for "robust diplomacy" in helping to bring about the Gaza ceasefire.

UN chief praises Trump's 'robust diplomacy' over Gaza

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In his address before his conversation with WEF ceo Borge Brande, Guterres said industry and financial institutions rowing back on climate commitments were on the wrong side of science and history. He made no mention of Trump pulling the US out of the Paris Climate accord

UN Sec Gen Guterres praises Trump for "robust diplomacy" in helping to bring about then Gaza ceasefire. "I feel that when we had the position of Israel still reluctant to [have] the ceasefire, just two days before it happened, and then all of a sudden, there was an acceptance"

Intel's Irish facility 'critical' to European operations Senior Intel executives say the manufacturer's Irish facility will remain critical to its European operation for at least the next seven years, and should not be at risk as the company presses ahead w...

Intel's Irish facility 'critical' to European operations - executives

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Gaza war to top agenda at long-awaited Israel-EU meeting The Gaza war will be the first item on the agenda during a long-awaited and contentious meeting between Israel and the EU at the end of February, RTÉ News understands.

The EU Israel meeting will finally take place at the end of February - the war in Gaza will be the first item on the agenda.

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Elon Musk, Europe and the battle for online truth Having helped re-elect Donald Trump with a $250 million donation and generous boosting on his X platform, Elon Musk has turned his gaze to Europe, notably the UK and Germany.

www.rte.ie/news/2025/01...

How the EU’s Digital Services Act has been caught in the crossfire between Elon Musk’s free speech warriors and EU leaders warning he is a danger to European democracy

EU can act if Musk breaches law in AfD interview, McGrath Ireland's EU Commissioner Michael McGrath has said the European Commission has strong powers available to act if this evening's interview between Elon Musk and the head of the German far-right party A...

Ireland’s EU Commissioner Michael McGrath has said the European Commission has strong powers available to act if this evening’s interview between Elon Musk and the head of the German far-right party AfD breaches EU law.

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Trump’s Ukraine Envoy Kellogg Denounces Russia’s Christmas Day Assault on Ukraine Keith Kellogg, special envoy for Donald Trump, condemned Russia's Christmas Day attack on Ukraine, reiterating US support for peace in the region.

🔴 Trump’s Ukraine envoy Kellogg condemns Russia’s Christmas Day attack on Ukraine.

7/ “Given how long this war has waged, we're having daily reports of the killings of children and men and women, and Irish people are repulsed by that. That's basically the essence of the Irish response."