Stranger Things documentary to look at ‘debate’ around fate of ElevenBy Hannah Roberts, Press Association Senior Entertainment ReporterThe creators of hit Netflix show Stranger Things reveal they debated the fate of Millie Bobby Brown’s character Eleven in a trailer for a documentary about the final series. A two-minute teaser for the documentary titled One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5 shows Matt and Ross Duffer mulling over the series’ ending and tearfully addressing the cast and crew of the sci-fi show as filming wraps. The fifth series, which was released in three parts, caused a stir due to its ending, which left viewers in the lurch about the fate of Eleven. The franchise has since expanded into a play, titled Stranger Things: The First Shadow, as well as an upcoming animated spin-off, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85. One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5 premieres on Netflix on January 12th.

Fee-paying secondary schools less likely than public schools to use phone pouches or other storage solutionsFewer than half of private institutions sought funding through schemeStudents remove their devices from lockable smartphone pouches. Photo: GettyMary McCarthy Today at 06:30The majority of secondary schools in Ireland have implemented dedicated phone storage solutions such as pouches, but private schools have been less likely to do so.

Oil prices increased by about 1% on Monday as traders assessed the potential impact on oil production following the US capture of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro. Brent crude oil futures were up 55c, or 0.9%, at $61.30 a barrel (€52.46) as US. Shares in US oil companies jumped on Monday on the prospect of being granted access to Venezuela’s oil reserves. Trump has said the embargo on all Venezuelan oil exports would stay fully in effect for now. Shares of oilfield services firms, whose technology would be crucial to boosting Venezuela's crude production, also climbed.

Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro "did a lot of damage" to his own people, the Taoiseach has said. Speaking in China, Micheál Martin did not condemn the US seizure of Mr Maduro over the weekend as a breach of the international rules-based order. China has condemned the US action as a breach of international law, but Mr Martin said the Irish Government has "never accepted the legitimacy of the Maduro regime". Mr Martin said it had been a "particularly brutal and repressive regime". Asked if Ireland should be wary of the US actions in Venezuela, Mr Martin said that he believed Mr Maduro to have been "tyrannical".

A new line of zero alcohol beers co-founded by Munster and Ireland rugby star Peter O'Mahony will hit Irish bars and stores next month. Active Brewing is a new beverage company co-founded by Peter O'Mahony and brewer Pat Falvey, in association with Blarney Brewing. The Active Brewing lager and Active Brewing pale ale will be available in 330ml bottle for the on-trade and in 330ml cans for the off-trade. Picture: Brendan Moran/SportsfileThe zero alcohol and low alcohol market has been growing at a rapid pace in recent years, in parallel to a downward trend in alcohol consumption, which has dropped by 34% over the past two decades. Non-alcohol beer now accounts for more than 2.5% of the overall beer market — still a niche in wider terms but a 150% increase in market share over five years.

Now, scientists believe they have pinpointed when our ancestors made the transition from walking on all fours to standing on two legs. The team argue their new discovery, along with previous findings, mean the ancient species had the ability to walk upright. AdvertisementAs part of the study the team compared the remains to those of other early human ancestors as well as living apes. They said that apes have long arms and short legs, while humans and our ancestors have relatively long legs. ‘Sahelanthropus is interpreted here as an African ape-like early hominin that demonstrates some of the earliest adaptations to bipedalism,’ they wrote.

Dingle’s spirit and refusal to yield were encapsulated in Tom O’Sullivan’s performance, according to former Mayo manager James Horan. “If you go back and look at the first half of that game, Ballyboden could and probably should have been out of sight. “The exception to that was Tom O’Sullivan. Paul is getting a huge amount of deserved plaudits, I thought Tom O’Sullivan during the whole game, when things were good and things were bad, was absolutely exceptional.”Several of their big players stood up after half-time. “Mark O’Connor, quiet at times, but grew stronger and stronger as the game went on,” said Horan.

Mr Martin said Mr Xi raised the book during their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday morning. “Coincidentally, I had read it as a late teenager as well, and had a first edition copy presented to me by an uncle of mine,” Mr Martin said. Asked about that idea, Mr Martin accepted that there were "moving parts" and "realpolitik" at play while avoiding any condemnation of the US, but strongly condemning Mr Maduro. While few would argue that Mr Maduro was a paragon of democratic ideals, Mr Martin was saying this in Beijing. Mr Martin made this clear at a dinner in the appropriately named, but not Irish linked, Kerry Hotel on Monday evening.

The weather has disrupted rail travel with the Inverness to Wick/Thurso, Inverness to Kyle, Inverness to Aberdeen and Aberdeen to Dundee lines shut after heavy snow drifts on the tracks. Network Rail Scotland said that multiple snowploughs have been deployed across the affected lines, where specialist teams are working to remove snow and ice from key routes and restore services. Network Rail workers have been tackling heavy snow at Insch (Network Rail Scotland/PA)Gary Hopkirk, route programme director at Network Rail Scotland, said: “Deep snow can pose a serious risk to the railway, and when snow depth exceeds 30cm, trains can’t run safely unless fitted with snow ploughs. A Met Office amber warning of heavy snow showers covering Shetland, Orkney and parts of the Highlands and Aberdeenshire expired at 10am on Monday. Assistant Chief Constable Alan Waddell, of Police Scotland, said: “The forecasted heavy snow showers and ice means driving conditions are likely to be hazardous in some areas.

This Scotland population - the data on how the nation is changing hub outlines the data on how the nation is changing exploring who we are, how we live, and what the trends mean for Scotland’s future in 2026 and beyond. Scotland’s population in numbersnull (Image: Newsquest)Scotland population (2024): Around 5.55 million people, according to the ONS. NRS projections suggest only a 2.5% rise by 2035, compared with 5% in the previous 15 years. Urban growthEdinburgh has been the fastest-growing city in Scotland, with population growth of 13%, between 2011 and 2023. Households and family trendsnull (Image: Newsquest)According to NRS, Scotland has some of the smallest household sizes in Europe.

At the turn of the year, it is worth looking back at key market events in 2025. While the first half of the year was dominated by US president Donald Trump’s trade war, in the end, it paled in comparison to the impact of AI on both financial markets and the real economy. On US tariffs, the impact appears to have been limited so far. Despite the negativity around tariffs, AI continued to underpin US equity markets in 2025, with the S&P 500 up 17%, driven by the ‘Magnificent 7’ stocks. The exceptional investment boom in AI infrastructure, including energy and data centres, is now a key driver of US GDP growth.

“I’m a linguist through and through,” Mr Neville told the Irish Examiner. Picture: Dan LinehanHe started learning Irish before coming to Ireland, through lessons in the Camden Irish Centre in London. “I knew if I was coming to Ireland and my children would be learning Irish that I would need to learn Irish too. She was really, really good,” he said. English is easy for everyone, but Irish is hard graft.”The idea of combining PE and Irish is based on a popular educational approach.

Kelly Brady was honoured at The Irish Times Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year awards following a remarkable debut season for Athlone Town. Brady honoured at Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year awardsReflective of her contribution to the Athlone Town women's team in 2025, Kelly Brady was honoured at The Irish Times Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year awards. Brady was named the Sportswoman of the Month for October after what was an amazing debut season for the 23 year old. The striker scored 26 goals as Athlone Town claimed a historic Premier Division and FAI Cup double. The awards run over a 12-month period, with the judges selecting a winner each month for their ability to excel at sport.

Children will be shielded from junk food advertising during peak TV viewing hours from today as a long delayed crackdown on promotions for foods high in fat, sugar and salt finally becomes law. The new rules ban adverts for so-called junk food on television before 9pm and prohibit paid-for online advertising altogether. Ministers say the measures are aimed squarely at reducing the constant commercial pressure on children to consume unhealthy food. First announced in 2020, the advertising ban was originally due to come into force in 2023 but was repeatedly delayed. 'We can't stop here, we must remain focused on the goal: banning all forms of junk food advertising to children.'

But there is a catch – those hours are from about 3am to maybe five or six in the morning. Insomnia – it’s my tried and tested productivity hack for 2026. The aim is to eventually fall back into an emergency top-up sleep before the day really has to start. Chances are that this productivity hack will not solve the insomnia. And the night.- Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2026[ Sleep tight: are you getting enough to help ward off health issues?Opens in new window ]