January 31: Today’s top stories in 60 seconds

Strong words as Government and opposition debate intervening in genocide case against Israel
Opposition TDs strongly criticised the Government in the Dáil this evening for its failure to commit Ireland to intervening in South Africa’s case of genocide against Israel for its actions in Gaza. TDs were debating a Sinn Féin motion that had called on the Government to “file a declaration of intention to intervene” in the case taken by South Africa to the ICJ. It also called for the Government to “commence the process of preparing for participation in the case”. The Government added a number of amendments this evening to the motion put down by Sinn Féin. Voting will take place on these amendments tomorrow.
The Journal

Mortgage holders hit by rate hikes can now claim tax credit from Revenue
Homeowners hit by mortgage rates hikes last year will be able to claim tax relief on their payments from today. The new scheme was announced in last October’s Budget and enables any mortgage holder that paid an increased rate last year to claim up to €1,250 in a tax credit. PAYE workers can get the credit through Revenue’s MyAccount service. But they must file a 2023 tax return to do so.
Independent.ie

Details of DUP agreement with UK govt to be published
Details of the deal between the British government and the DUP that the party says forms the basis for its decision to return to power-sharing will be published today. The DUP claims to have secured significant changes in post-Brexit trade arrangements, which it had argued weakened Northern Ireland’s constitutional and economic position within the UK. Party leader Jeffrey Donaldson has said the agreement includes an end to checks and customs declarations for goods arriving from Britain that are destined to remain within Northern Ireland and not cross the border into Ireland and the EU’s Single Market. It is also expected to reinforce Northern Ireland’s constitutional position.
RTÉ

Cork GAA stadium to be renamed SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh in 10-year deal
Cork GAA’s iconic Páirc Uí Chaoimh is to be renamed SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh as part of a new 10-year deal. The partnership was confirmed on Wednesday with “the matter of naming rights” to be finalised at a special meeting of delegates to the Cork County Board on Thursday.
The Irish Examiner

Irish medical negligence legal costs among highest in world, report says
Legal costs in Irish medical negligence cases are among the highest in the world, according to a report that says the slow pace of legal actions here is damaging patients and doctors’ mental wellbeing. The average cost of a legal claim for medical negligence in Ireland is almost three times higher than in the UK, and cases take over 50 per cent longer to resolve, the industry report says. Patients and doctors in Ireland are dragged through what can be a brutal process, for longer than necessary, with patients having to wait longer to receive compensation, the report by the Medical Protection Society (MPS) asserts.
The Irish Times

Imran Khan: Former Pakistan PM and his wife jailed 14 years for corruption
Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been sentenced to 14 years in prison, a day after the former Pakistan prime minister was jailed for 10 years. Khan, who was ousted as PM by his opponents in 2022, is already serving a three-year jail term after being convicted of corruption. On Tuesday he was sentenced for leaking state secrets, and on Wednesday given 14 years in another corruption case.
BBC News

Ukraine’s top general refuses request from Zelenskiy to step down
Volodymyr Zelenskiy asked his most senior military commander, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, to step down on Monday but the popular general refused, triggering speculation that he will be dismissed instead. Tensions between the two have been simmering for weeks amid the failure of Ukraine’s summer counter-offensive but the suggestion that Zaluzhnyi could be forced out nevertheless came as a shock to many. Oleksii Goncharenko, a Ukrainian opposition MP and ally of the general, told the Guardian that he understood that “yesterday the president asked Zaluzhnyi to resign but he declined to do so”.
The Guardian

Today’s forecast
Breezy today and turning very windy for a time in the west and northwest. Mostly dry at first with some bright spells developing and fresh to strong and gusty southwest winds. Turning cloudier as a band of rain moves into the northwest towards mid-morning, bringing stronger winds for a time in the northwest and west where the rain will be heaviest. The rain will track southeastwards through the day, followed by drier, clearer and cold conditions as winds will generally ease westerly but will remain fresh in the north and northwest. Highest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees. The last of the rain will clear southern areas early tonight, becoming dry with long clear spells and mostly light to moderate westerly breezes, fresher for a time in the north with the odd shower possible there. Some mist and fog patches will form, particularly in the south. Lowest temperatures of -2 to +4 degrees, coldest in Munster and south Leinster with frost and ice possible. A Status Yellow Wind warning is also in place for Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, Antrim and Derry.
Met Éireann