January 15: Today’s top stories in 60 seconds

Traffic using bus lane following crash in Dublin, Luas
Traffic on Clontarf Road in north Dublin is passing through the bus lane due to a collison inbound under the railway bridge before Fairview. Emergency services have been at the scene and there are minor delays on approach. Red Line Luas services are operating with delays, due to a medical emergency at Kylemore.
Independent.ie

Cost increases will see 1,000 small businesses close this year
The cumulative impact of a series of cost increases, as well as the looming deadline to pay off warehoused tax debt, could lead to 1,000 business insolvencies this year, according to business consultants PwC. Businesses who warehoused tax debt during covid restrictions must have it paid or have a payment plan in place by May 1, with around €1.75bn still outstanding from around 60,000 businesses. However, around 85% of that total is held by just 10% of those firms, leading to warnings that “hundreds” of businesses could close their doors.
The Irish Examiner

‘Unprecedented’ increase in unaccompanied children seeking asylum in Ireland
More than 320 unaccompanied children have arrived into Ireland seeking asylum and are now in State care or accommodation, with five unaccompanied minors arriving in the first four days of this year alone. Minister for Integration Roderic O’Gorman said the Government was “cognisant of the seriousness of the issue” and expected to receive a report in the coming weeks on the situation. He said that a review of a Garda operation for missing children would look at the existing legislation and the number of prosecutions. Tusla, the child and family agency, said there has been a “significant and unprecedented increase” in the number presenting to its Separated Children Seeking International Protection service.
The Irish Times

Electric Ireland to cut prices again for 1.1 million customers
Electric Ireland has become the latest energy supplier to announce plans to cut what it charges residential customers. The company is reducing electricity prices by 8% and gas prices by 7%. The cuts will take effect from 1 March and will benefit the provider’s 1.1 million household customers.
RTÉ

The White House says it’s ‘the right time’ for Israel to reduce air strikes in Gaza
The White House has said that “it’s the right time” for Israel to scale back its military offensive in the Gaza Strip. The call came as Israeli leaders again vowed to press ahead with their operation against the territory’s ruling Hamas militant group. Speaking on CBS News Face The Nation, White House national security council spokesman John Kirby said America has been speaking to Israel “about a transition to low-intensity operations” in Gaza. “We believe it’s the right time for that transition. And we’re talking to them about doing that,” he said.
The Journal

Iceland volcano eruption spills lava into town setting houses on fire
Houses have been set on fire in the Icelandic town of Grindavik after two volcanic fissures opened nearby. A volcano on the Reykjanes peninsula erupted in the early hours of Sunday, spilling lava into the fishing town. The eruption is proving to be “the worst case scenario” according to one expert, with the entire population of the town being evacuated. Defences built after an eruption in December have partially contained the lava, but some have been breached. The main road into the town has been cut off by the flow of lava.
BBC News

Children left ‘at mercy’ of Rochdale grooming gangs and dozens of men still pose potential risk – report
Girls were left “at the mercy” of paedophile grooming gangs for years in Rochdale because of an “inadequate” response by police and council bosses, a new report has found. The damning 173-page report into Operation Span – Greater Manchester Police’s (GMP) much-criticised investigation into the grooming allegations in Rochdale – also identified 96 men still deemed a potential risk to children.
Sky News

World’s five richest men double their money as poorest get poorer
The world’s five richest men have more than doubled their fortunes to $869bn (£681.5bn) since 2020, while the world’s poorest 60% – almost 5 billion people – have lost money. The details come in a report by Oxfam as the world’s richest people gather from Monday in Davos, Switzerland, for the annual World Economic Forum meeting of political leaders, corporate executives and the super-rich. The yawning gap between rich and poor is likely to increase, the report says, and will lead to the world crowning its first trillionaire within a decade.
The Guardian

Today’s forecast
Very cold today. Frost and ice will clear slowly this morning, but will linger all day in some sheltered areas. Most places will be dry with sunny spells. Scattered showers of rain, sleet and snow in Ulster, a few of them drifting further south. Highest temperatures of 1 to 4 degree with light to moderate northwest winds. Tonight will be very cold with frost, icy patches. Clear spells in many areas with some fog patches. Becoming cloudier in Ulster, north Connacht and north Leinster with outbreaks of rain, sleet and snow moving developing in the northwest and spreading eastwards overnight. Lowest temperatures of -5 to 0 degrees with light breezes. Several Status Yellow Low Temperature/Snow and Ice warnings have been issued for counties around Ireland.
Met Éireann