Belfast News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!

Jessie Buckley, a Killarney native, wins Golden Globe for Hamnet, with many predicting an Oscar nomination. Her cousin and local radio presenter, Brendan Fuller, shares the towns pride, recalling her talent from her early days on Id Do Anything. Fiona Crowley from the local stage school highlights her humility and grace, echoing the towns growing pride.

An Post increases stamp prices, introducing new stamps for Europe and the rest of the world, to offset falling letter volumes and rising costs. The new rates match global trends and stay below EU and UK benchmarks. Despite the decline in letter volumes, An Post remains committed to daily door-to-door delivery and welfare checks for rural residents.

Heavy rain and melting snow cause widespread flooding in Scotland, with nineteen flood warnings and twelve alerts in place. Roads and communities are disrupted, with the A92 and A9 at Blair Atholl shut due to flooding. The Scottish Government is coordinating responses, and schools and health services are set to reopen. Flood risks are highest in Dumfries and Galloway and the west and north of Scotland. Agencies urge everyone to check local forecasts and travel advice for safety.

Jessie Buckley wins Golden Globe for Hamnet, stirring buzz about her emotional speech and celebrity activism. Gardaí seize drugs, weapon, and knife; Irelands Minister urges Iran to communicate with protesters. Manchester Uniteds FA Cup hopes dashed as Brighton wins.

Malaysia and Indonesia block Grok AI chatbot due to misuse in creating non-consensual, explicit images, including those involving children. Authorities warn of psychological harm, social damage, and reputational ruin from these deepfakes. X and xAI companies criticized for insufficient controls, with blocks remaining until real fixes are implemented.

Irans Foreign Minister Accuses Protesters of Staging Violence to Provoke U.S. Intervention; Over 500 Killed in Crackdown; Trump Mulls Strikes; Iran Warns of Retaliation; Internet Blackout Hampers Verification; Protests Continue; Israeli Leaders Back Protesters; Pope Calls for Dialogue; Tensions Rise as Talks Loom.

New figures reveal a significant surge in Irelands hospital waiting lists, with over eighty-six thousand additional patients in the past year. By December, nearly nine hundred thousand people were awaiting outpatient clinics or operations, a stark increase from eight hundred eight thousand in 2024. Inpatients and day cases account for over one hundred seven thousand of these waits, with more than eight thousand patients enduring eighteen months or longer. Outpatient lists alone reached six hundred twelve thousand, with rises across all categories. Patient groups express concern, warning of worsening health, increased emergencies, and unequal access due to extended waits. While childrens services saw some progress, adult inpatient delays significantly increased, particularly for those waiting over a year. Hospitals like Galway University lead the lists with over twelve thousand six hundred waiting patients. The Department of Health defends its efforts, highlighting a fifty-eight percent reduction in patients waiting over twelve months since September 2021 and improved average wait times. However, volumes continued to climb throughout most of last year before stabilizing. The real challenge lies in transforming Sláintecares goals into expedited relief for all patients in need.

Trumps Greenland Ambitions Spark Fear and Uncertainty The USs long-standing presence in Greenland, once seen as a protector, has turned into a source of dread due to President Trumps threats to buy or seize the Arctic island. Reports of potential invasion plans have shattered trust, causing locals like Tillie Martinussen, a former Greenland parliament member, to consider fleeing to Denmark. Greenlands Inuit culture, which values peace and community, is now grappling with the prospect of losing its defense reliance on Denmark and the potential for solo deals with the US, ignoring Denmarks role in foreign policy. Greenlanders are pleading for the world to intervene, simply wanting to be left alone in their peaceful ways.