NEED TO CATCH up? The Journal brings you a round-up of today’s news.

President Connolly meeting students today in Inchicore, Dublin RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

IRELAND

• The Tánaiste and the Minister for Health have agreed to bring a memo to Cabinet recommending a statutory public model of inquiry into the care of children with scoliosis and spina bifida.
• A 22-year-old man has been jailed for nine years for the rape of two very young girls he met on Snapchat.
• Ireland’s media regulator has commenced a formal investigation into X over concerns about how it handles reported content.
• Rent prices are now two thirds higher than at the peak of the Celtic Tiger in 2007, according to a report by Daft.ie.
• Catherine Connolly has been unable to move into Áras an Uachtaráin just yet due to renovation works in the residential areas of the historic building.
• A judge is to decide next week whether Enoch Burke should be sent back to prison for contempt of court over breaches of an order preventing him from attending at Wilson’s Hospital School.
• People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger has said that Uber’s introduction of fixed taxi prices in the Irish market could create a “wild west” situation here.
• Eleven food businesses were served closure orders by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) in October, including a company providing hot school meals for children.

INTERNATIONAL

Palestinians walk through the destruction caused by the Israeli air and ground offensive in Gaza City Alamy Alamy

#EPSTEIN AND TRUMP Democrats released emails today in which Jeffrey Epstein suggested that US President Donald Trump was aware of the financier’s sexual abuse and definitely “knew about the girls.”

#MUTINY UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing an internal revolt from his own Labour MPs, which could possibly see him ousted in turn as PM.

#VINO Global wine production  is expected to rebound slightly in 2025 after falling last year to its lowest level since 1961 due to the impact of climate change, according to the intergovernmental organisation overseeing the sector.

PARTING SHOT

Judge Graeme Lennox presented the Young Journalist of the Year Award to Conor O'Carroll Chris Bellew / Fennell Photography Chris Bellew / Fennell Photography / Fennell Photography

Conor O’Carroll has won Young Journalist of the Year at the 2025 Irish Journalism Awards.

They are among several Journal Media staffers that were recognised in this year’s nominations.

O’Carroll is a reporter with The Journal Investigates, and was awarded for three of their stories.

These were investigations on the use of fossil fuels by data centres, the role of Irish companies in US deportations, and planning objections to vet practices.