VIDEOS APPARENTLY SHOWING shredded ballots from the recent German election have circulated on social media, alongside claims that they are evidence that there were efforts to “rig” the vote for parties other than the far-right AFD party. In one video posted on Facebook on 20 February, two hands pick up ballots, open an envelope, and read out the name of the candidate who is being voted for. A person then goes to destroy the ballot in a shredder to the side, and continues to open up light-red env...

Ireland is one of eight countries in the world that generates more than 30 per cent of its electricity from wind and solar, according to a report from an energy think tank. Wind and solar generated 10.3 per cent of global electricity for the first time in 2021, according to the report by Ember. It also found that there are 50 countries that generate more than 10 per cent of their electricity from renewable sources, up from 43 in 2020.

Rita Brady is one of more than 24,000 people in Ireland who have offered accommodation to Ukrainian refugees. The 47-year-old artist has a spare room in her house in a quiet village in Co Louth. After offering it to the Red Cross three weeks ago and hearing nothing back, she posted the details in a Facebook group. Within a week, Maisa Lisovets, an 84-year-old grandmother, arrived to stay. Lisovets, who has lived in Zaporozhye her entire life, fled with her daughter and four dogs, on March 9.

The Office of Public Works breached animal welfare laws by carrying out repair works on a 600-year-old castle in Co Cork, which is home to protected bats, without a proper licence, an ecologist has claimed. Repair work has been continuing at the 600-year-old Barryscourt Castle since about 2016, but a specialist was not hired to examine its resident bats until October 2020.

The government is to consider making a one-off bonus payment of between €65 and €100 to low-income families and older people, in order to reduce the cost of living for vulnerable households as inflation takes its toll. At a cabinet subcommittee meeting on Thursday, ministers will discuss either doubling the planned energy credit from €100 to €200, or increasing it to €150 while giving a more targeted payment through the fuel allowance scheme to those in greatest need.

Ireland’s regulation of internet safety will impact the rest of the world, a cyberpsychology expert has told a committee. Mary Aiken, a professor of forensic cyberpsychology at University of East London, said that the internet was like cars before they were required to have seat belts and was “unsafe at any speed”. Ireland’s approach to the regulation of tech firms is important, as the European headquarters of many global players are based in Dublin, such as Google and Facebook.

Aisling* loves where she lives. She has a spacious room with a big window. The neighbourhood is nice, too. She lives near friends, public transit and a vibrant community. Everything she needs is in walking distance. But her room gets very cold in the winter. So cold that she can see her own breath. Even with the heater on, she wears layers upon layers: sweatpants, a jumper, socks and then a robe. Sometimes her room is colder than it is outside. This flips in the summer.

Mia Jacobson was used to heat. Growing up in the tropical climate of Hawaii, they were accustomed to the discomfort summer can bring. But when the recent heat dome that struck their now-home of Portland, Oregon, each day became a matter of survival. “I got this fight or flight response from it. Like I just need to do whatever I can to keep my brain from frying,” Mia said.

Recent amendments to the Climate Bill have taken the “guts out” of the legislation, according to one of Ireland’s leading climate scientists. A number of amendments were proposed and passed by the Government last Friday in the Seanad, including those which say the Government shall make regulations for determining how greenhouse gas emissions are taken into account and the manner in which they are calculated.

Mismatches between beliefs and action spark feelings of discomfort. Why do these inconsistencies feel so uncomfortable? And what can a social psychology theory unveil about complex social issues? (Password: MAJDCU2021)