LATEST | AI assistant Grok soars to top of Irish app download charts amid sexual imagery controversyTaoiseach rejects suggestion that current legislation is not strong enough to deal with issueWomen’s Aid removes itself from X, calling the crisis a ‘tipping point’Human rights lawyer Caoilfhionn Gallagher said such sexualised abuse of children online has ‘devastating’ impactsThe Grok AI tool is being used to create sexually explicit images on social media site X. Photo: GettyAdrian Weckler, Mary Regan and Keith Kelly Today at 13:33Hotline.ie, the Irish online service designated to deal with reports of non-consensual image abuse, has received no submissions or complaints in recent days about X’s AI engine, Grok, synthetically undressing photos of women and minors, according to its chief executive.

Independent Ireland has welcomed the announcement that Ireland will oppose the EU-Mercosur trade deal but added that "the battle is far from over". In a statement, the party noted that "the Mercosur deal has not been voted on and nothing is final until MEPs vote in Strasbourg". "The 'No' momentum in the European Parliament is growing, and Irish farmers are actively mobilising and playing a central role." Michael FitzmauriceIndependent Ireland agriculture spokesperson, Michael Fitzmaurice said the Irish government's announcement would not have happened without sustained pressure from farmers and rural Ireland. "A strong turnout sends a clear signal that Ireland will not accept a trade deal that sells out our farmers.”

Photograph: Getty ImagesThe Government will vote against the Mercosur trade deal, the Taoiseach and Tánaiste have confirmed. The European Union is to vote on Friday on the contentious trade deal with the Mercosur countries of Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay. Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed while on an official visit to China that Ireland will vote no to the deal. Speaking in Shanghai, Mr Martin said the concessions made to allay the concerns of Irish farmers about the deal were inadequate. [ Ireland’s rejection of Mercosur sees Coalition concerns trump EU politicsOpens in new window ]What is the Mercosur trade deal?

Arsenal braced for Ethan Nwaneri transfer 'interest' with Premier League move eyedEthan Nwaneri is reportedly expected to remain at Arsenal - despite Bournemouth loan interest - as speculation mounts with the January transfer window in full swing. (Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)Ethan Nwaneri's future at Arsenal continues to be the subject of heavy speculation as the January transfer window continues. The Gunners, currently leading the Premier League table, have an opportunity to widen their lead with a win against reigning champions Liverpool on Thursday night (8pm). That's having already welcomed eight new players during the summer transfer window. Arteta made the comments before Arsenal secured a 3-2 victory over Bournemouth in the Premier League.

Photo Credit: Colorado RapidsEditorial – The search for the next Colorado Rapids head coach has ended with Matt Wells being the man for the job. The change in managers will bring a lot of questions for the Colorado Rapids. Here are the important ones that will define the Matt Wells Era in Commerce City:Will This Be Pádraig Smith’s Team or Matt Wells’ Team? Matt Wells will have to manage the roster Pádraig Smith and the front office put in front of him. It is great to hear that a Wells team will take the game to the opposition and dominate, without being scared of anyone.

President Donald Trump said Ice agents had acted in self-defence on social media, but state and local officials described federal accounts of the shooting with terms like “propaganda” and “garbage”. The department claimed several Ice officers were hurt, but said that they were expected to make “full recoveries”. A poster showing a photograph of Renee Nicole Good hangs on a lamppost at the site where she was shot and killed by an Ice agent while she was in her vehicle in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Photograph: David Guttenfelder/The New York TimesThe videos appeared to contradict that statement, showing the SUV clearly backing up away from Ice officers as they approach. Jon Collins, a reporter for MPR News, posted to Bluesky that protesters stopped Ice agents after the shooting and were pepper-sprayed.

Check out the Boyle GAA App for full details. The jackpot for next week now stands at €8,800 and can be played via the Boyle GAA Club App or in various outlets locally. Following Mass of the resurrection on Monday in St. Joseph’s Church, Boyle Seamus was laid to rest in Killursa Cemetery, Headford. Following Mass of the Resurrection in St. Joseph’s Parish Church, Boyle, on Thursday, he was laid to rest in Assylinn Cemetery. COMEDY TIMESkreen/Dromad Drama Group will stage the hilarious three act comedy "One Wife Too Many" by Jimmy Keary in the O'Carolan Centre, St Ronan's Hall, Keadue on Saturday, January 10th.

The researchers explored how placing public engagement at the heart of projects helped to achieve the societal shift required for the energy transition, EirGrid head of public engagement Sinead Dooley says. The researchers examined all of our public engagement activities; they attended community forum meetings, interviewed stakeholders and shadowed us in all of our activities. What we are trying to do is promote grassroots action aligned with national energy transition strategy and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Early engagement is very important for that.”EirGrid is very fortunate in having a dedicated public engagement unit, she adds. The only way is a bottom-up approach, the meitheal approach, sitting down with people and having open and honest discussions with them.”

Its presence can be detected using the ‘mirror test’. Children don’t pass the test until they are 18 months to two years old. Failing to pass the ‘mirror test’, it was thought, meant the absence of self-awareness, but a modified version of the test seems to show that this conclusion is wrong. Dogs might seem to be ideal candidates for membership of the consciousness club but, surprisingly, they fail the entry test. In 2017, the ‘olfactory mirror test’ was devised.

Fletcher wasn’t afraid to back himself as Ruben Amorim’s replacement in United’s first game since sacking the Portuguese coach, and he got a response from his players. But some familiar failings let United down as they once again failed to beat a team in the bottom half of the table. Daily Mail Sport takes a look at Fletcher’s first game, and what United got right and wrong... ‘It wasn't that much for them to actually score two goals, so that's one way of looking at it,’ said Fletcher. Whether to play your sons in Manchester United’s first team is not the kind of dilemma your average dad faces every day.

Man Utd set to make call that will impact Mason Greenwood’s future amid managerial pursuitMason Greenwood will be waiting nervously to see what Manchester United do nextView 3 Images Manchester United have been linked with Marseille head coach Roberto De Zerbi (Image: Getty Images)Manchester United’s next managerial appointment could have huge ramifications for Mason Greenwood’s future. De Zerbi brought Greenwood, now 24, to Marseille in the summer of 2024. ‌United parted ways with Greenwood following his suspension by the club in January 2022 amid allegations of attempted rape, assault and controlling and coercive behaviour. ‌However, his future at the club could be thrown into uncertainty if United show serious interest in De Zerbi. View 3 Images Manchester United once had high hopes for Mason Greenwood (Image: PA)If De Zerbi ends up becoming United's 12th manager since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement, Greenwood might well follow his boss out of the door.

For Andrew Porter, the worst of it came hours after the Connacht game last weekend. “Trying to go to sleep on Saturday night and … like, my ear was killing me,” said the Leinster and Ireland prop. Past experiences gave Porter what amounted to a “safety net” as he came off the bench five minutes before half-time. But down the line, you never know.”Porter’s place in the scrum has been of keen interest for a while now. So you're always in for a close encounter and a tough game knowing the players they have and they'll definitely be up for it.

Lauren Goodger has thrown herself into a new year workout regime as she was spotted leaving a gym in Essex on Thursday - after revealing the extreme method she's using to lose weight. The TV personality, 39, cut a casual figure in a black tracksuit as she re-energised with a protein shake following her gruelling workout session. Wrapping up warm as she exited the gym, Lauren teamed her tracksuit with a cropped white teddy bomber jacket and sported a pair of black UGG Tazz slippers. Toting her workout gear in a grey Alo tote bag, Lauren completed her look with a black quilted Chanel bag, which retails from £4,000. The TV personality has kickstarted her year with a workout after turning to brutal 23-hour fasts in a bid to slim down.

Feljin Jose: Seán Canney has earned the nickname ‘Minister for U-turns’ – and there’s a reason for thatLast year marked the highest number of road deaths since 2014 with 190 killed on Irish roads, yet we also saw many road-safety reversals from the ministerSeán Canney is tasked with lowering road deaths following a year of devastation. Photo: Brian LawlessFeljin Jose Yesterday at 06:30Here’s a riddle for you: if two wrongs don’t make a right, but three lefts do make a right, how many U-turns make you spiral out of control?

Hospital overcrowding: Over 700 patients waiting for beds in Irish hospitals708 people are waiting for beds in hospitals across the country, according to figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO)435 people are waiting in the emergency departments, while 273 are in wards elsewhere in hospitals. The hospital with the highest number of patients on trolleys is University Hospital Limerick, with 89 people waiting for a bed. 82 patients are waiting for a bed at University Hospital Cork, with 71 in the emergency department. There are also 82 people waiting for a bed at University Hospital Galway, with 47 in the emergency department. At Letterkenny University Hospital, 53 people are waiting for a bed.