A recall has been issued ahead of Valentine’s Day on a novelty mug that shoppers may be tempted to buy for their partners. Tesco issued a product recall of the F&F Home 'Valentine's You'll Do' XL Mug after discovering the potential risk of the mug cracking. Tesco said it is “sorry for any inconvenience caused” and reassured customers that no other Tesco products are affected by this recall. What is a product recall? Recommended reading:The FSA issues Product Withdrawal Information Notices and Product Recall Information Notices to let consumers and local authorities know about problems associated with food.

Parents and schools urged to take part in safer internet dayMultiple organisations, including the Government, are calling on parents, teachers, and carers across Ireland to take part in Safer Internet Day. ​This year, it lands on Tuesday, February 11, and 2026 will mark 23 years since this EU event was launched. ​The aim of Safer Internet Day is to promote safe internet use across the EU, for everyone who uses it, but especially for young people. ​In Ireland, it is being coordinated by Webwise and this year, there will be a significant focus on AI. ​Each year, there is a theme, and this year it is “AI Aware: Safe, Smart and in Control,” with all events centred around this theme.

“The fact that 53 large-scale residential development schemes, comprising 14,000 units which have planning permission are stalled is very worrying. It says apartment and housing numbers need to increase by 17 per cent each year over the next four years. On student housing, Mr Mitchell said there was currently demand for 90,000 beds but a shortfall on that number of almost 40,000. [ Ireland is overdependent on apartment developmentOpens in new window ]Just 657 student beds were delivered last year, the report says, down 54 per cent on the previous year. Allowing landlords to reset student accommodation rent caps now, rather than from 2029, could, Mitchell McDermott said, deliver between 5,000 and 8,000 new student beds over the next three years.

Sir, – Róisín Ingle rightly laments that “January seems to be lasting an awful long time this year” (“St Brigid’s Day still feels like at least seven years away,” January 28th). What if we changed January to have 28 days (29 in a leap year), and February to 31 days? We could then relax on reaching the psychologically important February 1st several days earlier. – Yours, etc,DARAGH SOLAN,Cabinteely,Dublin 18.

When the ministerial council of the European Space Agency (ESA) gathered for their triennial meeting in Bremen, Germany, late last year, the delegations faced big decisions. Photograph: Courtesy of European Space AgencyThe long-term roadmap framed much of our conversation in Sydney. A new view of the spiral galaxy IC 342, captured by the European Space Agency’s Euclid telescope. “Irish companies show how imagination and courage can compete within any budget.”That spirit was evident again in Bremen. The ministerial council was not simply a vote on European programmes; it was also a moment for reflection at home.

Since 1963, The Independent has helped create a great community! Since our founding in September of 1963, The Independent has been dedicated to giving Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Sunol readers the news they need to be in-the-know about what's going on in the Tri-Valley region.

There's only days left to run in the January transfer window but we could see some notable late movement. Chelsea have allowed Raheem Sterling to end his contract early, mutually agreeing to let the player quit Stamford Bridge after he was frozen out. One player they won't want quitting is Cole Palmer, who continues to be linked with a move to Manchester United. The Red Devils themselves have a decision to make on their future with Michael Carrick pushing his case to be their head coach beyond this season. They know they have plenty of work to do with reinforcements again needed, but that is likely to be a job for the summer.

Since 1963, The Independent has helped create a great community! Since our founding in September of 1963, The Independent has been dedicated to giving Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Sunol readers the news they need to be in-the-know about what's going on in the Tri-Valley region.

The Dubliner said he was delighted to receive the 2026 Royal Gold Medal for architecture – a high honour in the field that is bestowed on behalf of Britain's King Charles. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) announced on Thursday that Mr McLaughlin will receive the award, describing his work as having a “remarkable consistency” and “shaped by a deep sensitivity to place”. Mr McLaughlin was born in Geneva in 1962 and was educated in Dublin, studying architecture at University College Dublin between 1979 and 1984. Mr McLaughlin has also been an advocate for young architects, calling for transparency in working hours and pay, as well as openness around mental health. Bishop Edward King Chapel in Oxford (RIBA/PA)“I am delighted and honoured to receive the 2026 Royal Gold Medal for architecture,” Mr McLaughlin said:“My team and I view architecture as a continuity of practice across generations.

Pep Guardiola issues thanks to Jose Mourinho after 97th minute goal sends Man City throughManchester City qualified for the Champions League knockout stages, jumping into the top eight at Real Madrid's expense after they lost at Benfica, who scored deep into stoppage timeView 2 Images Man City secured a top eight finish on the final night of league matchesPep Guardiola promised to thank Jose Mourinho after his old rival helped Manchester City squeeze into the Champions League knockout stages. Chelsea and Tottenham learn Champions League opponents as Man City face VERY tough draw READ MORE :"So when their goalkeeper goes up, we said, 'why you go'? Finishing in the top eight, considering how the Champions League has become, every team is really really tough, so we are really pleased. ‌Mourinho, a two-time winner in this tournament, felt his side were deserving of extending their Champions League campaign. "A fantastic goal, a historic goal, a goal that nearly brought the whole stadium down - and I think it was very deserved for us," he said.

Rowing Ireland chief executive Michelle Carpenter did not attend the session. Rowing Ireland board chair Barry McWilliams said Ms Carpenter was unwell and unable to attend. He stressed that withdrawal of funding was not a tool the organisation “wishes to weaponise”, describing the Rowing Ireland situation as “unusual and unique”. She said Sport Ireland had not sought expanded statutory powers, though it remained open to considering changes to its remit to include investigations. “I’m not buying the idea that Sport Ireland couldn’t intervene before 2024,” Mr Kelly said.

Photo Credit: Spencer BaldwinPodcast – Hello Colorado Rapids fans. We weren’t going to do an episode this week but then the Cole Bassett trade news broke. An engineer and environmentalist by day, when he’s not watching or writing about soccer, he’s hiking or skiing in the mountains. Mark Goodman, known as Rapids Rabbi or Soccer Rabbi, lived in Colorado from 2011-2018. He also covers the Pittsburgh Riverhounds of the USL Championship for Pittsburgh Soccer Now.

It was incredibly popular at the time for girls of my age to celebrate birthdays by going up to the ice rink in Dolphin’s Barn. I was something of a whizz on roller skates thanks to a 25-foot driveway with only a few potholes and the relatively isolated childhood of a rural tween. It was incredibly popular at the time for girls of my age to celebrate birthdays by going up to the ice rink in Dolphin’s Barn. Alas both the Dolphin’s Barn rink and Silver Skate in Phibsboro didn’t last into the new millennium, and with them went my dreams of gold. Among my many, many deranged pandemic lockdown purchases was a pair of adult roller skates.

Bang interiorBang interiorInteriors at BangWhat’s striking is how Iberian the menu is, and how little it relies on the obvious markers. We order the half piri piri chicken from Ring’s Farm (€24), from the “over fire” section. Treacle-dark skin, crisp with piri piri glaze, enrobes flesh that is juicy and full of flavour. This isn’t a nostalgic tapas exercise or a greatest-hits Iberian menu. Bang feels like a restaurant that has stopped trying to impress and started concentrating, which is when things get interesting.

“My opinion is that the EU used Ireland as a bit of a battering ram against the Brits,” he told journalist Pat McArt. Instead, the relationship between London and Dublin, painstakingly built up during the peace process, was destroyed – damage that is only now starting to heal. His observations on Brexit were all the more intriguing for being offered after McArt asked about a united Ireland. Bassett said a Jim O’Callaghan-led Fianna Fáil could change the conversation on a united Ireland. Helping the UK to make deals with Europe helps to reduce trading frictions in Northern Ireland, and vice versa.