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

IRELAND

Temperatures are expected to stay around freezing for the week ahead. Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie / RollingNews.ie

• Health officials confirmed an additional 4,962 cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.
• A man in his 20s died following an assault in Kildare.
• Micheál Martin made clear he has no plans to retire after his stint as Taoiseach and has vowed to lead Fianna Fáil into the next election.
• Leo Varadkar said further Covid restrictions have not yet been ruled out as the nation’s hospitals are being put under “extreme pressure”.
• It emerged a drug dealer based in the midlands is suspected of being behind a dognapping ring responsible for the theft of dozens of pets from their homes over the course of the pandemic.
  
• The Labour Party called on Nphet to carry out a public health risk assessment on reopening schools.
• Atheist Ireland defended RTÉ’s “blasphemous” broadcast of a comedy sketch which depicted God being arrested for rape.

INTERNATIONAL

Jenni Kerr (21) ice skates on a frozen pond in Queen's Park in Glasgow. PA PA

#UK: Boris Johnson said another Scottish independence referendum should not take place for a generation.

#US: The death toll in the US from Covid-19 has surpassed 350,000.

#SPAIN: British people living in Spain had difficulty boarding flights over confusion with their post-Brexit documents.

PARTING SHOT

January is tough enough as it is. Here is a video of a bunch of dogs having fun. Click here if it is not playing below.