LAST UPDATE | 16 Jan 2025

GOOD MORNING.

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

Ceasefire deal

1. Israel’s Cabinet is expected to meet today to approve a ceasefire and hostage-release deal with Hamas, a day after mediators announced an agreement they hope will lead to a permanent end to the Gaza war.

Biden’s farewell address

2. US president Joe Biden urged Americans to stand guard against a “dangerous” oligarchy forming under Donald Trump as he delivered a dark farewell address before stepping down next week.

Dublin City Council overrun

3. Councillors have demanded answers from Dublin City Council after it was strongly criticised in a government report for breaching national procurement rules, leading to overrun costs of tens of millions of euro on a series of housing projects.

Space mission

4. Blue Origin, the space company founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, launched its massive New Glenn rocket for the first time early today.

Conor McGregor

5. MMA fighter Conor McGregor was accused of a sexual assault at a basketball game in a civil lawsuit filed against him in a US court.

Holyhead

6. Crossings between Ireland and Holyhead in Wales have resumed as the Welsh port finally re-opens after being shut since damage sustained during Storm Darragh.

Sorcha Eastwood

7. Sorcha Eastwood’s legal team have said Andrew Tate and his brother have “trivialised offensive postings” about her. It’s after a lawyer representing the Tate brothers said there was “no threat” in social media posts they made about the Alliance MP.

Ukraine

8. Russia launched a wave of missiles and drones at Ukrainian energy facilities yesterday, intensifying a months-long bombing campaign at a precarious moment of the war for Ukraine.

Monaghan

9. Three people were arrested in connection with a serious assault in Co Monaghan last night, which has left a man in his 40s in critical condition.