Rather than acting with ‘the best will of the world’, president Donald Trump has proved to be a faithless member of the transatlantic alliance. The UK is one of a group of European countries advocating a European-led Nato mission to Greenland. His government can point to lower tariffs for UK goods entering the US market compared to the EU. The Irish government, too, has been careful not to directly criticise president Trump. In an election year, when tariffs are linked to concerns about increased costs for US households, Trump can ill-afford an escalation in his trade dispute with Europe.

Semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) failed during Newcastle and Manchester City’s Carabao Cup semi-final on Tuesday night, leading to a five-minute delay in ruling out an Antoine Semenyo goal. The lengthy deliberation, that required VAR officials to manually apply the lines which eventually found Erling Haaland to have influenced play from an offside position, became the major talking point of the game. SAOT technology uses in-stadium cameras to build a live picture of the position of players on the field, before generating a 3D image that can be used by VAR officials to assess offside calls. The incident is a blow to Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO), which has been focused on reducing the interruptions from VAR decisions this season. A similar failure led to a lengthy delay during the Premier League match between Newcastle and Bournemouth last month.

Covalen workers and members of the Communications Workers Union protesting outside their place of work in Sandyford, Co Dublin in December. Photograph: Bryan O’BrienWorkers at Meta subcontractor Covalen will strike on Thursday and Friday in an ongoing dispute over trade union recognition and redundancy terms. Staff at the Irish-based business, who review material on the high-tech giant’s social media outlets for safety, have been fighting an ongoing battle for their right be represented by the Communications Workers’ Union (CWU). John Bohan, organiser of the CWU’s Digital and Techworker Alliance, said that collective bargaining could secure “job protection, pay increases, improved redundancy terms, recognition of service, paid sick leave and real hybrid and remote working policies”. “Covalen has worked hard on its redeployment programme and to date has successfully redeployed a significant number of employees, 135 employees,” said a statement.

Photograph: Alan BetsonIreland’s exposure to extreme weather is set to increase as latest research by Europe’s climate analysts shows underlying conditions worsening. “As greenhouse gases continue to accumulate in the atmosphere, temperatures continue to rise, including in the ocean. “Climate change is going to lead to more ferocious storms and the consequences that follow,” she said. “The age-old message we keep repeating needs to be said again: climate change is coming from fossil fuels. We have got to get out of fossil fuels.”

Tubberclair's Matthew Whittaker is pictured in action against MTU Kerry during TUS Midlands opening round Sigerson Cup loss. TUS Midlands relegated to Trench Cup competitionA successive Sigerson Cup defeat for TUS Midlands has resulted in the university's gaelic football team being relegated to the second tier of third level championship competition. Following a heavy loss to Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) on Tuesday night, TUS Midlands will contest the Trench Cup competition next year. TUS Midlands suffered a six point opening round Sigerson Cup loss to MTU Kerry and were in need of a win to maintain their presence in the top tier third level competition. However, a 12 point loss to DkIT, for whom Armagh senior intercounty player Aaron O'Neill starred, has now resulted in competition demotion for TUS Midlands.

Africa Cup of Nations semi-final: Senegal 1 (Mané 78) Egypt 0Some day, perhaps, Mohamed Salah will get the better of Sadio Mané in a major game, but not on Wednesday, not in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-final. When Senegal beat Egypt in a shoot-out in the 2021 Afcon final, Mané scored the winning penalty before Salah had the chance to take his. In the shoot-out in the qualifying playoff for the 2022 World Cup, Salah missed his effort and Mané scored the winning penalty. This time it didn’t get to penalties, but Mané was still the match-winner, thrashing in the only goal with 12 minutes remaining. Egypt's Mohamed Salah and Hamdy Fathy during the Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against Senegal.

And this is where the Dad Bod enters the room, clears its throat, and sits down beside you. One bad day. It’s the sentence: “Ah, sure, I’ve ruined it now.” That sentence turns one bad day into seven. I’m starting to understand that I’m not fighting my body — I’m negotiating with history. So this week isn’t about failure.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following a fatal house fire in Co Offaly in which a woman and child died in December. Four-year-old Tadhg Farrell and his great-aunt Mary Holt died in a house fire in Castleview Park, Edenderry, on December 6.

One year down, a huge one looming. Almost twelve months to the day since being appointed Ireland women’s boss, Carla Ward will hope that 2026 ends with a place at the 2027 World Cup safely secured. After the pain of Ireland’s Euro 2025 play-off defeat to Wales a little over a year ago, the 42-year-old succeeded Eileen Gleeson after the FAI decided not to renew her contract, as former Aston Villa and Sheffield United boss Ward earned her first top job in international football.

The truth is that aspirational plans to protect nature will never be fulfilled unless we spend the money necessary to achieve workable aims. His association with Seán Ó Riada cemented a relationship which was central to the Celtic revival in the 1960s, and it laid a template for many others to follow. But, ever modest, Ó Sé stuck with his day job as a school principal in Cork City, and was very nearly as highly regarded as an educationalist as he ever was as a singer. Still, his recording of The Banks of My Own Lovely Lee, with Ó Riada and the Radio Eireann Symphony Orchestra, for the Louis Marcus film Rhapsody of a River, is still regarded as the definitive version. For many people, publicans included, this is palpable nonsense and simply another way of sustaining remarkable profit levels and shareholder satisfaction.

(Photo:EPA)Europe has struggled to respond to Donald Trump’s second presidency and a crunch point has emerged with the US president’s desire to take ownership of Greenland. Nato would be stronger with Greenland in US hands, the US president declared yesterday on social media adding “Anything less than that is unacceptable”. Rasmussen said that a “ fundamental disagreement” remained about the issue of ownership. Unless Trump is willing to draw back on his demands here, it is hard to see an agreed way forward emerging. Perhaps, its leaders will hope, Trump has been using the familiar tactic of overstating his ambitions in search of a deal.

Almost 1.3m people live in refugee camps in the hills outside Cox’s Bazar, a beach holiday destination for many Bangladeshis. I explain I’m here to see some of the Concern Worldwide-run nutrition clinics and speak to the mothers and children they support. “In Myanmar, I could feed my children properly, but I can’t do the same here. She’s able to help feed her children with the produce, while selling the surplus. The small bit of hope and support that it gives to babies, toddlers, small children, and their parents in incredibly difficult circumstance, I fear will be gone.

Tenant who claimed landlord wanted to ‘get rid of her’ so she could raise rent loses RTB caseLandlord told Residential Tenancies Board tribunal that the apartment was a ‘bad investment’ and she wants to sellTenant who claimed landlord wanted to ‘get rid of her’ so she could raise rent loses RTB caseAmy Molloy Yesterday at 06:30A tenant who claimed her landlord wanted to “get rid of her” so she could raise the rent has lost a case ­challenging an eviction notice that was served.

Bluestone Planning has submitted a proposal to convert St Mary’s Chapel in Wantage into a dwellinghouse, with the building having most recently been used as a dentist. View of St Mary's Chapel from Newbury Street (Image: Bluestone Planning)The interior work will include a new staircase and the creation of a larger open gallery. Those wishing to comment on the application can do so on the Vale of White Horse District Council website here . The former place of worship near to Newbury Street is Grade II listed having initially been built in 1898-99 as a school chapel. The consultation period began on Friday, January 9, and will last until February 4, with a target decision date of February 14.

In her statement to MSPs on Tuesday, the minister said the Scottish Government would “take forward dualling of key sections of the A96”. The Infrastructure Delivery Pipeline referred only to dualling between Inverness and Nairn, including the Nairn bypass, rather than the full length of the A96. “It lists the Inshes to Smithton and the Inverness to Nairn section, including the Nairn Bypass. “What I can say absolutely definitively is that the document has already been corrected online, and the full A96 is now included. Ministers insist they remain fully committed to completing dualling between Perth and Inverness by the end of 2035.