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

IRELAND

Ireland and a number of other nations won't feature at next year's Eurovision after today's decision to allow Israel remain in the contest. PA PA

• It emerged that four identified military-style drones breached a no-fly zone and flew towards the flight path of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s plane at sea near Dublin Airport late on Monday night.
• Ireland will not take part in the Eurovision Song Contest next year after it was confirmed that Israel would be allowed to participate in the competition.
• The Supreme Court decided it will not allow a further appeal by Conor McGregor against findings that he had sexually assaulted Nikita Hand.
• Researchers found the toxic ‘forever chemical’ TFA in foods purchased across Europe, with breakfast cereals bought in Ireland among the worst offenders.
• A secret deal to house former Commissioner Drew Harris in a house close to the force’s HQ in the Phoenix Park was blasted by rank-and-file gardaí.
• Four men entered guilty pleas over importation of cocaine worth €31 million in West Cork.
• RTÉ confirmed that its traditional Christmas Eve broadcast live from Grafton Street will not take place this year.

INTERNATIONAL

Vladimir Putin chats with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as they ride together in the same vehicle at the start of the Russia leader's two-day visit to India. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#UKRAINE TALKS: Russian president Vladimir Putin described the ongoing US talks on Ukraine as “complex” but said “we should engage”, not obstruct the effort.

#SALISBURY POISONINGS: Putin’s came around the same time that an independent UK inquiry concluded that the Russia leader bears “moral responsibility” for the death of a British woman who was poisoned by a nerve agent.

#US US president Donald Trump has pardoned a Democratic member of Congress in a bribery case, saying the justice system had been “weaponised” by his predecessor Joe Biden against the “beloved” Texas politician.

PARTING SHOT

What was the most googled term in Ireland this year? It may not surprise you that the country obsessed with weather was most gripped by Storm Éowyn.

The record-breaking storm, which hit Ireland in January, was the number one most-searched term for 2025.

‘How to pronounce Éowyn’ was – also surprisingly – the third most popular ‘How to’ search term.

In terms of people, the newly elected president Catherine Connolly was the most-searched person’s name.

Read more about it here.