EU to cut fertiliser duties to push through Mercosur trade dealEU to cut urea, ammonia duties, allow carbon border levy suspensionsItaly, French opposition prevented signing in DecemberItaly now expected to back the dealEuropean Commissioner for Trade Maroš Šefčovič (L) shakes hands with with EU Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare Oliver Varhelyi (R) as Minister of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine Martin Heydon (C) looks on during a meeting on the Mercosur agreement, at the European Commission on January 07, 2026 in Brussels, Belgium. Agriculture ministers from EU members states are convening in Brussels ahead of a decisive vote on the Mercosur deal expected to take place on Friday. Omar Havana/Getty ImagesPhilip Blenkinsop and Kate Abnett Reuters Today at 07:38The European Commission said on Wednesday it would cut import duties for certain fertilisers and drive forward law that could allow temporary suspensions to the EU's carbon border levy as it sought to win over opponents of its free trade agreement with South American bloc Mercosur.

Korda and Wells predicted a device similar to a helicopter but closer to a rotocopter plane. [ The AI revolution is an opportunity for Ireland – and the planetOpens in new window ]So let’s look at the most obvious near-term impact first, artificial intelligence (AI). That’s probably one of the reasons why Michael Burry, made famous by the movie The Big Short, has bet heavily against AI businesses. Essentially, 2026 will be the year where physical constraints reassert themselves after more than a decade of advancement being software-led. Things to Come predicted a unified technocratic process to avoid all of this.

Irish Whale and Dolphin Group help stranded dolphin back out to seaA female common dolphin swam back into the sea at Dooega Beach on Achill island after being attended by local responders. Photo: IWDG MayoA female common dolphin swam back out to sea after receiving assistance when it stranded off Achill Island. An Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) responder and personnel from Achill Outdoor Education Centre attended the animal after Mia Lavelle Cafferkey reported it as stranded in Cashel South, behind Ted’s Bar and Restaurant. The dolphin was “in good overall condition, with some minor cuts and scratches from stranding, and her breathing rate was within expected parameters”. In June, a common dolphin became stranded on the River Moy but was assisted and guided back out to sea.

House prices went up by €26,000 over the past year in Sligo. Property prices in Sligo have risen by €26,000 in the last year, according to the latest MyHome Property Price Report. The report for Q4 2025, in association with Bank of Ireland, shows that the median asking price for a property in the county is now €225,000. Asking prices for a 3-bed semi-detached house in the county rose by €15,750 in the last year to €207,000. Meanwhile, the asking price for a 4-bed semi-detached house in Sligo rose by €10,500 in the last year to €249,500.

A Wicklow man who is facing 11 charges arising from an alleged hit-and-run and a series of drug offences has been granted bailBrian Drew (34), of St Killian’s Crescent, Boghall Road, Bray, appeared before Bray District Court. He is facing five charges, including hit and run, dangerous driving, and possession of drugs for the purpose of sale or supply. Following the incident, he was brought to Bray Garda Station, where he was found to be in possession of alprazolam. The court was told that the defendant faces 11 charges in total. Garda Alex O’Hanlon of Bray Garda Station testified that “a large quantity of drugs were seized” and that the items would need to be sent for forensic testing.

One couldn’t quite call it a U-turn, but if any course correction was under consideration on Ireland’s vote on Mercosur, that has certainly been kiboshed. What is the Mercosur trade deal? The programme for government codifies Ireland’s opposition to the deal, committing the Coalition to “work with like-minded EU countries” in opposing Mercosur. [ Government ‘failed utterly’ to stop Mercosur deal, says Mary Lou McDonaldOpens in new window ]The occupant of the Taoiseach’s office is usually as preoccupied with the State’s interests internationally as with domestic politics. And aside from the Independents, the competition between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil for rural votes is fierce.

Niamh Smyth, Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan, told Newstalk Breakfast that several other TDs and ministers were considering doing the same. Ms Smyth is seeking a meeting with X over Grok AI turning photos of women and minors into sexually suggestive deepfake images. Charity Women's Aid has also called for the urgent implementation of legislation to ban such AI tools. She said that she would be telling X, “this is not legal, it is not acceptable, it is apparent, and it should be stopped. "X have their own safety measures in place too, and they're breaking their own guidelines in terms of what is safe to disseminate among the public on the platform."

Boxer Amy Broadhurst has announced her official return to the sport yesterday following an 18-month hiatus, having given birth to her first child in May of last year. The former World, European and Commonwealth champion will mount her comeback to the ring under the banner of Great Britain, having switched allegiances from the Irish Athletic Boxing Association to Team GB back in April of 2024. Everything happens for a reason,” the new mum says, in a statement with GB Boxing. Train hard, keep improving, and do everything I can to make it to the 2028 Olympics.”The 28-year-old qualifies for Team GB through her English-born father, Tony. “Balancing boxing and being a mum definitely is challenging, but my little boy is my biggest motivation,” she adds.

Virgin Media Television announces the launch of The Assembly Ireland, an inclusive and compelling new television format that will change the way we see interviews on Irish screens. The series premieres Monday, 19 January at 9pm on Virgin Media PLAY and Virgin Media One, continuing weekly for four episodes. The Assembly Ireland is a fearless new format where well-known Irish personalities are interviewed by a group of autistic and neurodivergent reporters, known as ‘The Assembly’, and absolutely nothing is off limits. From raw truths to unexpected revelations, prepare for a series that rips up the rulebook on celebrity interviews and dares to ask it all. Based on the international hit format from Can’t Stop Media, The Assembly Ireland is produced by Kite Entertainment for Virgin Media Television with support from Coimisiún na Meán’s Sound and Vision Funding Scheme.

Planning permission for 50 houses in New Ross, Wexford has been approved by Wexford County Council. Planning permission has been granted for the development of 50 houses in New Ross, with 10 of those homes to be transferred to the ownership of Wexford County Council. The application, which was submitted by Matthew Wall and Sons to the planning department on August 8, 2025, sought permission for the homes to be built in the Butlersland/Chambersland area of New Ross.

Another key concern raised was the lack of an implementation plan for a 2019 oral health policy called Smile Agus Sláinte. A spokeswoman for the department said: “The Government is committed to reforming oral healthcare services through the implementation of the national oral health policy, Smile Agus Sláinte.”Its two main goals of providing supports for everyone to have healthy teeth and reducing oral health inequalities are being worked on. The latter, she said, is about “enabling vulnerable people to access oral healthcare and improve their oral health". Over 1.5m people now have a medical card, giving adults free access to certain dental services. The department is working with the Department of Climate, Energy, and the Environment colleagues on improving sustainability in dental services, she said.

Tom TuiteA "creepy" software developer has been convicted of sexually assaulting a woman by groping her on a Citylink bus to Dublin after he lied about going to a work party. The woman told the hearing that she first felt something on her side, and later, in evidence, said she initially thought it felt like something that had fallen out of her pocket. The accused's original account was that he had left work around lunchtime to go to a work party in Galway. In evidence, he explained that he had taken the bus to Galway on his own and returned that evening. However, Judge John Hughes said he considered the evidence and credibility of the witnesses and rejected Karunakaran's evidence.

Cork's Eoin Downey is shown a red card by referee Liam Gordon during the 2025 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final against Tipperary at Croke Park. Photo: Daire Brennan/SportsfileEoin Downey has moved on from his red card trauma in last year’s All-Ireland senior hurling final and will only use it as “fuel” to drive on again this season.

CourtsRevealed: Nearly one in five drivers banned from Irish roads did not hold a driving licenceAlmost one in every five motorists banned from driving on Irish roads has no record of holding a valid driving licence, according to new figures published by the Department of Transport.

Theatre & ArtsMiscarriage and a rare glimpse at its effects on the male psyche explored in two-hander play Robin and DawnWe don’t get much from male writers on the subject of miscarriage and perinatal death – it’s an arena mostly left to the women. But men’s perspectives are equally interesting, and this new play from Michael Hilliard Mulcahy wades bravely into this …