Artificial intelligence (AI) minister Niamh Smyth has sought a meeting with X over its “disturbing and worrying” Grok feature, which can generate explicit images of women and children. She emphasised that sharing intimate images without consent is illegal, as is the creation of child sexual abuse material. X’s AI chatbot Grok has come under scrutiny in recent days after the company launched a new image-editing tool last month. Ms Smyth said she has written to X seeking a meeting to discuss the measures it is taking to remain compliant with Irish law. “The sharing of non-consensual intimate images is illegal, and the generation of child sexual abuse material is illegal,” she said.

In 2024, there was a record high number of people applied for asylum, when there was a total of 18,651. Photograph: Colin Keegan, Collins DublinA total of 13,160 people applied for asylum in Ireland in 2025, a decrease of 5,491 since the previous year. In 2024, there was a record high number of people applied for asylum, when there was a total of 18,651. There has been a drop of almost 70 per cent in applications from designated safe countries following the introduction of those accelerated procedures. Meanwhile, more than 1,600 asylum seekers voluntarily left Ireland last year, according to provisional figures from the Department of Justice.

China stamps its footprint on UK car market selling nearly 200,000 vehicles in 2025 – is a full-scale takeover on the cards? Audi, which was the fifth most popular motor brand in Britain last year, registered 111,100 units in the UK in 2025. In comparison, HEV sales grew 7.2 per cent to just over 280,000 registrations, while fully electric car sales increased 24 per cent to almost 475,000 units. Some Chinese brands are dramatically expanding their UK dealer networks to increase their presence in Britain. Others believe it will result in a ‘bloodbath’ of Chinese brands, with around only one in ten existing marques likely to survive.

In a packed St Mary’s Church in Rathkeale, friends, family, fans and neighbours paid their respects to the man fondly nicknamed the "Limerick Lion". The late Pa O'Dwyer with family. Not long ago, Pa O’Dwyer received a message from the father of a young man, an interaction that perfectly summed up the Limerick Lion. The world does not erase people, it carries them forward in different ways.”World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall attends the funeral of Pa O’Dwyer. If love could have saved you, you would've lived forever.”Earlier in the service, a poem written by Treasa Coleman remembered Pa O’Dwyer as a “man to be admired” with an “infectiously loud” laugh.

Sean Ryan Sweeney [pictured in hospital] has told of how his 'running injury' turned out to be a sign of deadly brain cancerMr Sweeney [pictured with his surgery scar] suffered a stroke during the awake surgery'When I was told they'd found a lesion on my brain, I felt completely numb. It is estimated more than 4,500 people are diagnosed with malignant brain tumours -those which are cancerous - in the UK each year. Now Mr Sweeney is sharing his story and fundraising for the charity Brain Tumour Research, which is trying to find a cure for all types of brain tumours. 'It's shocking how little funding brain tumours receive compared to other cancers.' 'We are incredibly grateful to Sean for sharing his story and for supporting our work through fundraising to help change the story for brain tumour patients.'

Thurles CBS v De La Salle Waterford, Castlelyons, 1.30pmA repeat of last year’s semi-final, and a return to the same venue of that 0-28 to 3-12 Thurles victory. Minogue was one of four Thurles players to register at least four scores last January, with three more striking a pair each. That same spread was evident during a group phase where the champions posted tallies of 0-24, 2-29, and 4-26. Tiarnán Ryan, Tony Ryan, and James Butler are others in scoring form. Verdict: St Flannan’s

More than €47,000 has been raised in just 19 hours to support the family of a young Cork man who died suddenly while on a ski holiday in the French Alps. Cian O’Brien was found unresponsive in his bedroom on Monday morning and was later pronounced dead. The GoFundMe page appealed for donations to help repatriate Mr O’Brien’s body and cover unexpected funeral costs “at this heartbreaking time”. While many members of the society study at University College Cork (UCC), the group is not affiliated with the university and includes non-UCC members. To donate, see the GoFundMe page: Donate in memory of Cian O’Brien.

Dame Helen Mirren put on a loved-up display with her husband Taylor Hackford on the red carpet of the Golden Eve event in Beverly Hills on Tuesday. She completed the look with a large statement pink and cream pearl necklace and a handbag in the same hue. Meanwhile, Taylor dressed very dapper in a black tuxedo complete with a matching waist coat as he looked besotted with his wife. 'Helen Mirren is a force of nature and her career is nothing short of extraordinary,' said Helen Hoehne, President of Golden Globes. Helen married Taylor, who formerly presided over the Directors Guild Of America, in Scotland in 1997 after over a decade of dating.

Share current article via Email Share current article via Facebook Share current article via Twitter Share current article via LinkedInNaledi Pandor has been elected as the new chancellor of NMU. Dr Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor has been elected as the chancellor of Nelson Mandela University, with effect from April 1. The chairperson of Nelson Mandela University, judge Nambitha Dambuza, on behalf of the council and the university community, announced the appointment on Wednesday. Pandor succeeds the chancellor, Dr Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, whose term comes to an end on March 31. Dambuza expressed the council’s appreciation to Dr Fraser-Moleketi, who served two terms as chancellor, for the “dedication, hard work and commitment to advancing Nelson Mandela University, its values and ethos that characterised her term of office.”The Herald

Taoiseach Micheál Martin, pictured during his visit to China, 'still has concerns' over Mercosur dealMinister for Agriculture Martin Heydon has said he continues to hold negative views on the contentious Mercosur trade deal between the EU and a group of South American countries. Earlier on Wednesday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said “a lot of progress has been made” on the deal, potentially signalling a softening of Ireland’s opposition. This would mean Ireland’s vote against the deal would be symbolic – but some within the Government are also wary of burning political capital in Brussels with such a step. He indicated that any decision on Ireland’s vote would be made following a Cabinet meeting, although no in-person meeting is scheduled this week. It said the Government “must hold firm on its commitment in the programme for government and vote no to Mercosur”.

Ger Kennedy, manager, and the team at Monksland Service Station celebrate after a customer won the EuroDreams Tier 2 prize, €2,000 per month for five years. Westmeath woman claims EuroDreams prize of €2,000 per month for five yearsA Westmeath woman made the trip to the National Lottery's famous Winners Room to collect her EuroDreams Tier 2 prize worth €2,000 per month for 5 years. She won the incredible prize in a draw which took place on Monday, December 1, after purchasing the winning ticket at Monksland Service Station in Baylough. In total, more than €6.5 billion has been raised for Good Causes since the National Lottery was established 37 years ago. In 2024 alone, €239.3 million was raised for local Good Causes in communities across Ireland.

According to data published by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), 2,700 people contacted its helplines with complaints about travel last year. People got in touch to highlight problems with scam websites, poor quality hotels and lost luggage among other issues. A third person who contacted CCPC helplines said an airline had lost their suitcase en route to a skiing trip in Switzerland. “CCPC research shows that Irish holidaymakers are spending €2,500 on average for their foreign summer holiday. “Three in five of those who travelled abroad either have insurance or buy it with the holiday.

POLICE and emergency service colleagues are at the scene of a serious collision on Annaghilla Road, Augher. A police spokesperson said a diversion is in place at Ballygawley Road roundabout. “Please seek an alternative route for your journey,” added the spokesperson.

Eating eggs could help people trying to quit weight loss jabs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro, according to a leading nutrition expert. 'Long-term studies of GLP-1 drugs show that once people stop taking them, they regain more than half of the weight they lost. 'This rebound may be even stronger than other dieting methods because of how GLP-1 drugs interact with appetite hormones.' Eggs can also help people on weight loss jabs, who often lose muscle as well as fat due to an inadequate protein intake. 'Eggs may be a cost-effective way of addressing nutritional shortfalls, particularly for those using GLP-1 drugs,' he said.

One in eight Americans turn to ChatGPT every day for medical advice, leaving them prone to potentially dangerous misinformation, experts have warned. The report also found two in three American doctors have used ChatGPT in at least one case, while nearly half of nurses use AI weekly. In another case, in April 2025, 16-year-old Adam Raine used ChatGPT to explore methods of ending his life, including what materials would be best for creating a noose. Join the debate What risks or benefits do you see in millions turning to AI for health advice instead of doctors? She added: 'I actually don’t think people need to stop using ChatGPT for medical information entirely.