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

IRELAND

Al Porter kicked of the NYE festival by turning on the 3D light projection display on Dublin's Iconic Custom House. Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

• Gardaí are appealing for witnesses after an 84-year-old man was left in a critical condition after a hit-and-run incident in Galway
• There have been 25 more deaths on Irish roads compared to this time last year
• An ambulance was taken out of service after being struck by an object thrown from a motorway flyover
• There’s been a flu outbreak in a Cork hospital
• The NWCI criticised a campaign against domestic violence, but Minister Frances Fitzgerald said it’s based on research
• A flight was diverted to Shannon over a medical emergency
• A drugs warning was issued in Northern Ireland after a number of sudden deaths
• Revenge porn perpetrators are to be jailed under new law
• Apollo House launched a nightly mobile outreach team
• A community in Arklow raised enough money to replace the defibrillator destroyed by vandals
• Murder and politics made up some of the most-read stories on TheJournal.ie this year
• From abortion claims to political jousts, here’s a round-up of our 89 FactChecks.

INTERNATIONAL

Fireworks explode over the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge at this year's New Year's celebrations. Rick Rycroft Rick Rycroft

#DOWN UNDER: Australia among others have rang in 2017 already.

#GOODNIGHT MOON: Ban Ki-Moon bid a final farewell as UN Secretary General.

#BAD RELATIONS: The US claimed Russia tried to hack one of its domestic electricity grids.

PARTING SHOT

If you’re staying in, but don’t want to miss out on some fireworks, here are the Sydney fireworks in all their glory.