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On today’s Early Edition podcast:

• Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro appeared in a New York Court yesterday. Meanwhile his former vice president is taking control in Caracas.

• Archbishop Eamon Martin wrote to Taoiseach Micheál Martin last September about the case of republican activist Denis Donaldson, who was murdered in 2006.

• New figures show the number of asylum seekers who returned to their country of origin increased last year. But there is no evidence that greater financial inducements on offer were a factor.

• And a warning about the dangers of unlicensed Botox procedures. 

Four of today's top stories from irishtimes.com.

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How Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien intervened in the debate over Dublin Airport’s passenger cap.

Abuse, privilege and enjoyment: TDs who were first elected in 2024 reflect on a year in their roles.

“Working from home” has been under attack from US business leaders and rules have been tightened in many Irish workplaces. But is the practice really in decline?

And 2025 marked an increase in workplace-related deaths, with one group of workers particularly vulnerable. 

Mark Hennessy shares four of today's top stories from irishtimes.com

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On this day in 1926 2RN, the radio station which became RTE, was launched for the first time.

Dozens of devices could be dropped into the waters off Ireland’s coast to track Russian submarines in Irish sovereign waters.

And in a New Year interview with The Irish Times, Sinn Fein leader, Mary Lou McDonald rejects charges that a stronger line by the party on immigration means it isn’t a left wing party. 

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The father of an autistic boy who cannot get a place at school speaks of the challenges with everyday life. 

The Head of Dublin City University hits back at claims it is overcharging for student accommodation. 

And An Garda Síochána pleads for people not to drink and drive, as the number of road deaths in 2025 nears 200. 

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Ukraine has denied carrying out a drone attack on one of Putin’s official residences. The allegation and denial came after US president Donald Trump claimed a peace deal was nearly complete.

The number of organ transplants from donors in Ireland fell sharply this year.

A threat to the delivery of new homes in key parts of Dublin because of electricity constraints led the government to demand urgent action from the state-owned grid operator and power supplier. 

And in an interview for today’s Irish Times, the actor James Nesbitt reflects on his identity as an actor and that Ballymena accent. 

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A founding member of the Irish pop-rock band The Script is the landlord of a mould-ridden, unregistered rented studio described by the tenant living there as “uninhabitable”.

Donald Trump’s “baby bonds” involve opening an investment account, like a pension, but can be managed from birth. The programme for government proposes a similar idea.

Calf’s head, pressed beef and hare meat are Christmas recipe ideas featured in The Irish Times archives. Úna McCaffrey has been trawling through them and found some other tips for women hosting the festive

dinner.

Forget the streaming services’ mediocre Christmas TV offerings and relive the golden era of linear TV’s “Christmas special”. From Father Ted to Alan Partridge, Lauren Murphy has been ranking the ten best festive episodes of iconic TV sitcoms.

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The most common scams that led to money being stolen from people this year started with text messages sent to phones. Consumer affairs correspondent Conor Pope is writing about new research released by AIB this morning.

There’s been a warming of relations between the British government and the European Commission. Yesterday it announced it’s rejoining the Erasmus student exchange programme, after Brexit brought an end to it.

An Irish citizen has been remanded in custody in Germany, over an alleged break in at a plant linked to an Israeli defence company. Derek Scally writes that Daniel Tatlow-Devally is kept in his cell for 23 hours a day.

Corinna Hardgrave is nominating the best eateries in Ireland in her annual “restaurant oscars.” She’s picked three for Early Edition; one casual dining, one mid-range and one fine dining experience.

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The Irish Times has learned of a report into a number of allegations of patients being mistreated at Bloomfield Hospital in south Dublin. Our health correspondent Shauna Bowers says they include patients being slapped, left in soiled clothing and threatened with an injection for not co-operating with staff.

The highly anticipated review into Fianna Fáil’s calamitous presidential election campaign has been revealed. There’s no smoking gun in relation to what the Taoiseach and other senior party figures knew about

Mr. Gavin’s rent dispute with a former tenant, but political editor Pat Leahy says it does clarify how the campaign unravelled.

A London company has been hired to provide counter terrorism simulations for Gardaí ahead of Ireland’s holding of the EU presidency next year. Crime and security correspondent Conor Gallagher says Gardaí will “war game” a number of scenarios, including a large scale terrorist attack.

With just over a week until many of us will be panicking about preparing the Christmas dinner, you might be relieved to hear that even professional chefs take shortcuts in the kitchen on December 25th. Here are the shop-bought suggestions that will work for everybody. 

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