EVERY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you the stories you need to know as you wake up.

1. #RIP: PJ Mara, the long-serving political advisor to Charles Haughey, has died at the age of 73.

2. #GOP DEBATE: Last night’s US Republican debate saw only one presidential candidates coming out strongly against frontrunner Donald Trump’s call for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the country.

3. #OSCARS: Stars of the Irish film industry were celebrating last night after three films scooped eight Oscar nominations.

4. #WEAPON OF WAR: The head of the United Nations has said that both sides of the Syrian conflict were committing war crimes by preventing food from reaching civilians in besieged towns.

5. #CLIMBDOWN: The Irish Times reports that the Oireachtas banking inquiry has agreed to tone down its final report after developers Johnny Ronan and Michael O’Flynn demanded that it be revised.

6. #BREAKTHROUGH: Scientists at Trinity College Dublin have developed a way to control the protein that causes psoriasis, sparking hopes for a new treatment for the skin disease.

7. #HURRICANE ALEX: A rare hurricane has formed far out in the Atlantic ocean, the first time this has happened in the month of January since 1938, according to US officials.

8. #WRAP UP WARM: In other weather news, this weekend is expected to be very cold, with temperatures set to fall between zero and -4 degrees tonight.

9. #ON THE ROAD: Are you commuting this morning? Follow our live blog for the latest traffic and transport updates.