NEED TO CATCH up? The Journal brings you a round-up of today’s news.

IRELAND 

Christmas shopping on Grafton Street Leah Farrell / © RollingNews.ie Leah Farrell / © RollingNews.ie / © RollingNews.ie

• Independent TD Verona Murphy was elected as the new Ceann Comhairle at the first sitting of the 34th Dáil.
• Fine Gael councillor Emma Blain was elected as the new Lord Mayor of Dublin.
• The government announced that it has purchased a new €53 million jet.
• The Pálás Cinema in Galway intends to close its doors next February due to what it described as the “stark reality” of rising costs and an “oversaturated” cinema market.
• House prices nationally have increased by close to 157% from their low point in early 2013, according to the Central Statistics Office.
• Nearly one hundred people have crashed or been involved in a collision during their driving test over the past two years.
• Gardaí and Revenue officers searched a number of shops and stalls on Moore Street in Dublin city centre this week, investigating the sale of counterfeit cigarettes, illegal alcohol and fireworks, as well as possible exploitation of workers and people trafficking.
• The number of influenza and RSV cases doubled over the course of last week.

THE WORLD

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#FRANCE France’s highest appeals court ordered former French president Nicolas Sarkozy to wear an electronic tag after he lost an appeal against a corruption conviction.

#RUSSIA Russia has detained a suspect in the killing of the head of the army’s chemical weapons division.

#SUDAN Doctors in Sudan are suffering through the country’s war as its healthcare sector falls apart.

PARTING SHOT

The Kabin Crew, who were behind the viral hit ‘The Spark’, have released a Christmas single ahead of their Christmas special on RTÉ.