Fianna Fáil MEP for the Midlands North-West Barry CowenCowen welcomes landmark EU-India free trade dealFianna Fáil MEP for the Midlands North-West Barry Cowen, has welcomed the conclusion of negotiations on a landmark Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and India. The agreement, the largest free trade deal ever concluded by either side, will create a free trade zone covering almost two billion people and is expected to significantly increase EU exports to the world’s fastest growing large economy. Indian tariffs on products like wines, spirits and olive oil will fall substantially, while sensitive European agricultural sectors will remain protected. Mr Cowen, a member of the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee and Agriculture Committee, has been actively engaged on EU-India relations and has participated in a recent trade mission to New Delhi and parliamentary work focused on advancing the negotiations. It sends a powerful signal that rules-based trade, openness and partnership between democracies still matter and still deliver.

Now, a neurologist says three simple tricks can help break the cycles that quietly take over our lives. Dr Arif Khan, a pediatric neurologist, outlined 'cue shift,' the 'one-step rule' and 'reward rewrite' as practical tools to stop negative patterns in their tracks. A neurologist says three simple tricks can help break the cycles that quietly take over our lives. A neurologist outlined 'cue shift,' the 'one-step rule' and 'reward rewrite' as practical tools to stop negative patterns in their tracks. 'This isn't a lack of willpower, this is straight up biology,' Khan said before sharing the tricks to help break habits.

Leon Weintraub turned 100 on January 1st and survived the Holocaust, so he isn’t about to be defeated by Microsoft Teams. After some fiddling with the sound he is finally audible from his home in Stockholm and, in a clear voice, delivers his urgent message on World Holocaust Day: remain watchful as Holocaust denial gains ground and begins to undermine European democracy itself. “This thoughtlessness or malicious intent to trivialise or distort this horrific history makes me very sad,” he says. As the world remembers the horrors of Auschwitz, and its liberation on January 27th, 1945, during the second World War, Weintraub belongs to a shrinking circle of survivors of the death camp in Nazi-occupied Poland. To halt this slide, in their book they present a list of requests – demands – from survivors.

Government’s big AI drive: online platform on the way to help improve a million workers’ digital skills in IrelandPan is to upskill a million people and anyone interested will be able to access flexible modules and coursesAnyone with an interest in improving their digital skills will be able to use the platform. Photo: GettyAnne-Marie Walsh Today at 06:30The Government plans to upskill a million people in AI when it launches a new online platform early this year.

Main PointsNationwide status yellow weather warnings are in force as Storm Chandra hits Ireland. “Winds associated with Storm Chandra will be very strong and gusty particularly on coasts and in exposed areas,” Met Éireann said. Storm Chandra: The Dodder burst its banks at Milltown, Dublin 6, flooding a field at the Dropping Well pub. In Northern Ireland, an amber wind warning is in place for counties Antrim, Down and Derry as “very strong winds” from Storm Chandra bring “potential for damage and disruption”. A status yellow wind warning covering the entire country came into effect at 3am and lasts until 11pm on Tuesday as Storm Chandra hits Ireland.

The Met Office has issued multiple weather warnings for Scotland, while an amber high wind alert has been issued for the Irish sea. The warnings come as Storm Chandra blows into the UK from the west, bringing travel disruption and a risk of flooding with heavy rain predicted. Weather warnings were in force include amber warnings for the eastern coast of Northern Ireland for rain and wind respectively. There is a further yellow warning for rain and snow across much of central Scotland from 6am to midnight on Tuesday. “With a complex spell of weather, its important people stay up to date with the forecast and any warnings in your area.”

Residents were woken by panicked neighbours shortly before 5am as the road filled with water and the floods rose high, swamping their homes. While flood alleviation works have been ongoing along the course of the river following previous flooding, there were sections where works currently being undertaken could not hold the water back. We were lucky, we escaped, but I know a lot of my neighbours weren’t so lucky and have a lot of damage,” she added. The river overflowed its banks, came down the road and the water has been stuck here in the dip. Elsewhere in surrounding areas such as Nutgrove Avenue and at Ely’s Arch near the River Dodder works were underway to clear flood water.

The news comes just days after the final of the BBC series aired on TV, with Rachel crowned the winner alongside fellow traitor Stephen Libby. Traitors winner Rachel Duffy reveals her mum has diedRachel and Stephen secured the first double traitor win on the show in series four (Image: BBC/Studio Lambert/Paul Chappells)In a statement on her Instagram story, Rachel wrote: "We are heartbroken to share the passing of our beautiful wee mummy. The sad news comes just days after Rachel and Stephen made series history after being the first pair of traitors to win the game together. Rachel had told PA after the show that she was looking to spend her winnings on treating her family. Did you watch the latest series of The Traitors?

An off-duty prison officer was set upon in a late night incident in Cork city centre, and now a 51-year-old man has confessed to attempted robbery and will be sentenced on February 5. Sergeant Aisling Murphy said the 28-year-old prison officer knew the assailant Jeremiah (Jerry) Foley, although solicitor Eddie Burke said Mr Foley did not know the injured party and did not know he was a prison officer. Mr Burke said that irrespective of that, Mr Foley acknowledged he should not have behaved in the manner in which he did. CCTV was downloaded and the prison officer was able to identify Mr Foley, Judge Mary Dorgan was told. He [the injured party] told him he was an off-duty prison officer hoping this would deter him but it did not have the desired effect,” Det Garda Moriarty said.

Independent Offaly TD Carol NolanNolan expresses school placement offers concernsIndependent Offaly TD Carol Nolan has said she is inundated with representations from concerned parents whose children are unable to access secondary school placement offers in the next academic year. This comes despite the roll-out in October 2025 of an online admissions system for parents seeking to enrol children in four secondary schools in Offaly. The pilot project processed admissions to four post-primary schools in the Tullamore/Killina area for the 2026/27 school year. Deputy Nolan added that parents of children with special needs are also experiencing similar levels of crisis, despite recent commitments by the Department of Education to open additional special needs and autism support classes. It demands targeted intervention by the Department and the Minister, which I will be pushing for,” Deputy Nolan said.

Rassie Erasmus has dismissed speculation that Springboks attack coach Tony Brown could leave for a return to New Zealand. Brown, who joined Erasmus' coaching ticket following South Africa's victory in the 2023 World Cup, is contracted until 2027. He also admitted that coaching New Zealand in the future remains an ambition. Erasmus' previous experience of World Cups means he would like to have his coaching team's future secure beyond the 2027 tournament. “I was part of the 2007 World Cup planning, there and then you know if you don’t win the World Cup, are you gonna have a job the next year or not.

Up to 12 months could be shaved off the completion time for major infrastructure projects under plans to be discussed by the Cabinet on Tuesday. This, ministers will be told, will be done through the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) providing “expertise” to Government departments in a bid to speed up infrastructure delivery. Ministers will be asked to approve the plans from infrastructure minister Jack Chambers and Tánaiste Simon Harris at the Cabinet meeting. The accelerating infrastructure report and action plan — which was published in December — committed to expanding the NDFA’s role to enable it to provide centralised support and expert assistance for major projects through the approvals process. Cabinet will be told this move could reduce development cycles of major capital projects by 12 months.

However, now the band is preparing to release its self-titled final album, with Mustaine saying he can no longer continue. “I’ve got some physical things going on with me, we made, I believe, one of our best records ever, and I’ve always said I wanted to go out on top, and I think this is a good time because I’ve got some things going on with my body,” the 64-year-old explains. Dave Mustaine: 'I wanted to go out on top, and I think this is a good time because I’ve got some things going on with my body.' “So I watched this guy jump off the bridge, and the feeling I got watching him jump off the bridge was utter shock and terror, so that immediately influenced me, and I thought, ‘I’m going to write a song about that’. “It’s annoying and hurting, so I’m going to make the best of it these next couple years, and I’m going to sing my ass off and play hard out.”

Mr Burke was first imprisoned in September 2022 — since then he has been incarcerated for more than 550 days across four separate periods. Mr Burke's incarceration is as a result of repeatedly breaking a court order to stay away from his former place of work, Wilson’s Hospital school in Co Westmeath. Mr Burke's case highlights the lack of apparatus available to the courts when an individual repeatedly commits a crime or violates a court order. The court ordered he be returned to jail immediately for breaching a court order not to trespass at Wilson's Hospital school in Co Westmeath. I can make no assessment of what Mr Burke's individual needs may be, however, his case does highlight a more fundamental issue.

The Abbey Hotel in Roscommon is excited to announce that nominations are now open for the prestigious Irish Restaurant Association Awards 2026. They invite all their customers, suppliers, and friends to take a moment to vote for them in one or more of the following categories: Best Hotel Restaurant; Best Restaurant Manager; Best Chef; Best Use of Social Media; Best Customer Service; Best Casual Dining and a number of other categories. "Your votes truly mean the world to our amazing team here at the Abbey. We are immensely grateful for your continued support and encouragement," added Geraldine Grealy, Marketing & PR Manager. To cast your vote, please follow the link: https://www.irishtimes.com/sponsored/irish-restaurant-awards/Nominations are closing soon so please don’t delay!