LAST UPDATE | 8 Jan

GOOD MORNING.

Here’s all the news that you need to know as you start your day.

US in Venezuela

1. Donald Trump’s administration has declared that it will dictate decisions to Venezuela’s interim leaders and control the country’s oil sales “indefinitely” after toppling Nicolas Maduro.

Storm Goretti

2. There’s a snow and rain warning on the way for four southern counties later today, as Ireland is expected to avoid the worst of a major storm heading for the UK and northern France.

Tusla warning

3. A large of senior social workers in Tusla wrote to the CEO to say that plans for a six-week timeline to put in place major organisation-wide reforms by 1 January could put children at “significant risk of harm”.

Mercosur

4. The Irish government is expected to make a decision on its stance on the proposed EU-Mercosur trade deal, as it is set to be ratified by the European Council tomorrow.

ICE shooting

5. A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer has shot and killed a woman during a raid in Minneapolis, sparking protests in the city and condemnation from politicians in Minnesota.

Hospice report

6. Two-thirds of people who lost a loved-one said that the person had not been told by a medical professional that they were dying.

That’s according to a new report by the Irish Hospice Foundation, which gathered data on death and bereavement.

Mortgage approvals

7. First-time buyer mortgage approvals reached their highest levels on record last year, with over 30,000 approvals between January and November.

Garda station ‘stand-ff’

8. A man who allegedly triggered a five-hour “stand-off” with armed gardaí and negotiators at Blanchardstown Garda Station on Tuesday morning appeared at a late sitting of Dublin District Court yesterday.

Young Scientist

9. The Stripe Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition opens to the public today, with 550 student projects from accross the country on display at the RDS.

The expo was opened by President Catherine Connolly yesterday.