Meta set to slash spending on metaverse as Zuckerberg shifts focus to AI
Meta has set out plans to meaningfully cut back its metaverse efforts next year, as chief executive Mark Zuckerberg narrows his focus on winning the artificial intelligence race. The cuts would include teams working on Horizon Worlds, its avatar-filled social virtual reality experience, and its Quest virtual reality headsets, according to a person familiar with the discussions. However, that effort has been hampered by technical difficulties, safety concerns and a lack of consumer appetite, prompting some investors to pressure Mr Zuckerberg to curb spending. Mr Zuckerberg began to link the metaverse to his wider AI objectives. Mr Zuckerberg has recently doubled down on his commitment to developing AI-powered wearables, arguing that they will supplant smartphones and are vital to his bet on “superintelligence”.
Source:The Irish Times
December 04, 2025 22:57 UTC
‘A direct attack on my wife, my family, my career and my reputation’
He was informed of his demotion on New Year’s Day 2024, a sanction upheld on appeal, the tribunal heard – a process Mr McCabe believed to be “predetermined”. “Not only was this an attack on my career, my stature, this was a direct attack on my wife, my family, my reputation,” he said. He said Capt Wynne was “the man who came for my client, and continued to come for him”. Mr McCabe agreed with his barrister that there was “no love lost” between himself and Capt Wynne. Mr McCabe’s position is that the decision on whether or not to make an air safety report was a judgment call for him as commander in the circumstances.
Source:The Irish Times
December 04, 2025 20:51 UTC
Ireland will not partake in next Eurovision Song Contest due to Israel’s inclusion
Ireland will not participate in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, and RTÉ will not broadcast the event, after it was confirmed by the organiser that Israel can partake. “RTÉ will not participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, nor will RTÉ broadcast the competition,” the broadcaster said. Ireland’s participation “remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there”, RTÉ said. Israel’s participation in the annual song contest has been a source of criticism from pro-Palestinian activists in recent years due to Israel’s assault on Gaza since the October 7th attacks by Hamas. Israel’s president Isaac Herzog said he hopes the contest will continue to champion culture, music and friendship between nations.
Source:The Irish Times
December 04, 2025 18:42 UTC
Study of ‘forever chemical’ in European foods finds highest level in Irish cereals
A study by Pesticide Action Network found high concentrations of 'forever' chemical TFA in Irish cereals. Photograph: Alamy/PAResearch by a European NGO on a controversial “forever” chemical that builds up in the soil and in water systems has found particularly high levels in Irish cereals. Studies have shown the chemical, trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), causes harm to reproduction and development in humans, according to Pesticide Action Network (Pan) Europe. The highest level of TFA was found in Irish breakfast cereals, which had a level of 360µg/kg, followed by Belgian wholemeal bread (310), wheat flour produced in Germany (310), and in a French baguette (210). As no specific minimum residue level exists for TFAs in Europe, Pan said a default level of 10 should apply.
Source:The Irish Times
December 04, 2025 18:40 UTC
Drones spotted near Zelenskiy’s flight path to Dublin, triggering major security alert
An Irish navy ship spotted five drones operating near the flight path of Ukranian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy aircraft as he arrived for a State visit to Ireland on Monday night. The sighting triggered a major security alert amid fears it was an attempt to interfere with the aircraft’s flight path. The drones appeared near the coast by Howth around the time Mr Zelenskiy’s aircraft was due to pass. It mirrors recent incidents in other European Union countries where suspicious drones were used to shut down flight operations at airports. The organisation said the security operation during the Ukrainian president’s visit was led by An Garda sSíochána, with Defence Forces support.
Source:The Irish Times
December 04, 2025 18:05 UTC
Irish-led research team develops bacteria-based sensors to detect ‘forever chemicals’
The Tyndall Institute at University College Cork is leading the Biosensei project, combining expertise from seven other universities and research centres in Europe. Prof Alan O’Riordan of Tyndall secured funding for it from the European Commission and assembled the expert consortium. Wageningen University in the Netherlands led the work on the bacteria while the Tyndall Institute created the microscopic sensors which, at their longest, measure about the width of a strand of hair. “We’ve delivered proof of concept and we’re only halfway through a three-year project,” said Prof O’Riordan. “We’ll be able to adjust the bacteria to react to all sorts of substances that you need to find.”
Source:The Irish Times
December 04, 2025 18:03 UTC
Uncharacteristic radio silence from digital banks
Ask any business journalist to show you their email inbox, and you’ll find it clogged with press releases from neobanks. None of the four digital banks invited – Revolut, N26, Bunq and Monzo – sent representatives to answer questions from TDs and Senators. Even getting a straight answer from some of the usually vocal digital banks proved enervating. An external spokeswoman for Bunq said she did not “receive the requested information” from the company after The Irish Times put questions in on Tuesday morning. There is no doubting the success of the digital challenger banks.
Source:The Irish Times
December 04, 2025 18:00 UTC
Budget 2026 measures have unlocked R&D investment, research finds
Measures to encourage spending on research and development in Budget 2026 have unlocked investment into the sector, according to a new KPMG report. The budget enacted an increase to the research and development (R&D) tax credit by five percentage points to 35 per cent. The Big Four accounting firm collected insights from 285 companies actively investing in research, development and innovation (RDI) activities across different sectors. Investment in research, development and innovation is “critical for long-term economic growth and job creation across the country”, Ken Hardy, the head of KPMG’s research, development and innovation incentives practice, said on publication of the report. The survey also sought companies’ perspectives on the impact of an innovation tax credit.
Source:The Irish Times
December 04, 2025 17:01 UTC
Recent income tax changes ‘echo’ pre-2008 financial crisis budgets, warns Central Bank
Changes to the income tax code in recent budgets “echo the motivations” of budgets in the run-up to the collapse of Ireland’s public finances in the late 2000s, the Central Bank of Ireland has warned, and might similarly weaken the “robustness” of income tax receipts. According to the research, there has been little change in the average tax rates for single-person taxpayers at both ends of a €10,000 to €300,000 annual earnings range since 2013. Listen | 38:18“In particular, average tax rates at higher incomes, from where a large share of income tax is collected, have seen little change,” it said. The Central Bank warned that “past experience” in recent Irish economic history “highlights the risks of discretionary reductions to the tax base and effective income tax rates in general, or to readjusting the tax code excessively across the income distribution in favour of the lower paid”. Actions such as these can “weaken the robustness of income tax revenues,” it said, adding that tax policy generally needs to take account of the “strong growth” in government expenditure in recent years.
Source:The Irish Times
December 04, 2025 16:44 UTC
Israeli reports say anti-Hamas leader has been killed
Children stand at the site where Palestinians were killed on December 3rd by an Israeli strike in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip. There was no immediate word about Abu Shabab’s status on the Facebook page of his group, the Popular Forces. Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu acknowledged in June Israel had armed anti-Hamas clans, though Israel has announced few other details of the policy since then. Mr Abu Shabab’s death was reported by Israeli media including Kan, Israel’s public broadcaster, citing a security source. Mr Abu Shabab’s group has denied being backed by Israel.
Source:The Irish Times
December 04, 2025 16:40 UTC
Brexit’s back: Starmer flirts with EU as economic growth flatlines
It was his most direct intervention as prime minister on the matter to date. The motivation for his growing brazenness on Brexit is the pursuit of economic growth. The Corkman had pushed the prime minister, a Remainer by instinct, to accept Brexit. “Thankfully, Britain still has choices.”He suggested Britain would, as a sovereign nation, accept more “shared rules” with the EU in parts of its economy to spur growth. The prime minister and his EU minister, Thomas-Symonds, are still insisting that the UK’s so-called Brexit “red lines” – no return to the customs union, no free movement and no return to the single market – remain intact.
Source:The Irish Times
December 04, 2025 16:00 UTC
Win €1,000 in our Christmas Giveaway.
Promoter and Data Controller: The Irish Times DAC, The Irish Times Building, P.O. To enter, visit www.irishtimes.com/christmasgiveaway and enter the code found on the front of your ePaper or print copy of The Irish Times Weekend Magazine. Winner details will also be published in The Irish Times. ROI residents: These terms and conditions shall be governed by Irish law and the Courts of the Republic of Ireland shall have exclusive jurisdiction. NI residents: These terms and conditions shall be governed by the laws of Northern Ireland and the Courts of Northern Ireland shall have exclusive jurisdiction.
Source:The Irish Times
December 04, 2025 15:52 UTC
Win a case of cava from Ah Wines.
Just when we thought Amy Huberman couldn’t get any more bubbly, she’s gone and launched her third wine — Ah CAVA, Organic Brut Reserve, proving once again that she knows how to bring the sparkle, both on and off screen. This latest addition to the Ah Wines family is a crisp, elegant Spanish Cava, organic, beautifully balanced, and ready to take its rightful place in your fridge this Christmas. And while some might say “all celebrations speak French”, Amy’s here to remind us that Spain knows its bubbles too. So whether you’re toasting to love, laughter, or just surviving another work week, Ah Cava is the perfect partner for your celebrations. Drinkaware Drinkaware banner.
Source:The Irish Times
December 04, 2025 15:22 UTC
Win a festive afternoon tea at The College Green Hotel.
Give the gift of timeless indulgence this Christmas. This festive season, share the magic of The College Green Hotel, Dublin with a luxury gift voucher the perfect way to treat someone special. Whether it is a thoughtful gesture for family, a treat for friends, or a well-deserved indulgence for someone, a College Green Hotel gift voucher is more than a present it is a moment of five-star celebration wrapped in festive elegance. Give the gift of experience. Give the gift of The College Green Hotel this Christmas.
Source:The Irish Times
December 04, 2025 15:22 UTC
US failure to mobilise international troops for Gaza deals blow to Trump’s peace plan
Photograph: AFP/Getty ImagesThe United States has failed to recruit substantial troop contingents for the proposed 20,000-strong international stabilisation force (ISF) for Gaza. This has delivered a major blow to US president Donald Trump’s peace proposal for Gaza and the Middle East that he proclaimed during the October 13th summit at Egypt’s Sharm al-Sheikh. Trump’s aim was to remove Gaza from the global agenda, promote Arab normalisation with Israel and focus on Russia’s war on Ukraine. Children stand at the site where Palestinians were killed on December 3rd by an Israeli strike in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, on December 4th, 2025. Israel’s military said it had targeted a “Hamas terrorist” in retaliation for an earlier attack in Gaza that wounded five Israeli soldiers.
Source:The Irish Times
December 04, 2025 15:03 UTC