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

IRELAND

Tánaiste Micheál Martin wearing a chicken mask with Alex Loughnane and Alfie McGrath, and their project Chicken Talk at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition. Damien Eagers Photography Damien Eagers Photography

• Met Éireann issued a new Status Orange weather warning for 15 counties tonight ahead of more “extremely cold” weather.
• Gardaí have urged motorists to slow down during the cold spell, as 375 drivers have been detected speeding in the past 72 hours. 
• Meanwhile, gardaí believe a man who was arrested at Connolly Station yesterday evening was travelling to Dublin to sell a decommissioned firearm.
• A 42-year-old was charged with the murder of mother of two Paula Canty in Mallow, Co Cork on 3 January.
• A file was been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions relating to the findings of the Moriarty Tribunal – the payments to politicians inquiry.
• Tánaiste Micheál Martin said Independent Tipperary TD Michael Lowry will not hold a ministry in the next government.
• Irish Air Traffic controllers issued a strongly-worded warning for pilots and aircraft professionals to show them “respect and dignity” after an incident of “abusive behaviour”.
• A Social Democrats TD called for the government to consider setting up a State-run death notice website after RIP.ie announced its plan to begin charging for funeral listings.
• Gardaí arrested a woman in her 30s in connection with a hit-and-run collision in Co Louth on Monday evening.
• Former Derry manager Rory Gallagher stated he will take legal action unless GAA President Jarlath Burns withdraws his communication to Naas GAA over their proposal to appoint Gallagher as coach.
• Homes are being sold for 9% above the asking price displayed on property websites, new figures show.
• Restaurants, cafés, and a food retailer in six counties were served closure orders by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
• Seamus Coleman will take charge of Everton alongside club legend Leighton Baines in their FA Cup tie this evening, after Sean Dyche was sacked as the club’s manager today.

INTERNATIONAL

Front row, from left, Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff and second row from left, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, George W. Bush, Laura Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Melania Trump. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#JIMMY CARTER: Jimmy Carter brought a brief moment of national unity to a divided America, as the five living US presidents gathered for the solemn state funeral of the 39th commander-in-chief in Washington’s National Cathedral.
#LA WILDFIRES: Firefighters are still battling devastating fires in Los Angeles, California after a fast-moving fire in the Hollywood hills erupted on Wednesday night, killing five people.
#AUSCHWITZ: Poland will grant free access to Israeli officials wanting to attend the 80th anniversary of the Auschwitz-Birkenau liberation despite an arrest warrant for the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
#FRANCE: The founder of the adult website used by Dominique Pelicot to recruit strangers to rape his wife Gisele has been arrested in France.
#TRUMP: New York’s highest court declined to block Donald Trump’s sentencing in his hush money case, which is due to take place tomorrow.
#MICK LYNCH: Union leader Mick Lynch announced his retirement as general secretary of the UK’s biggest rail workers’ union.

PARTING SHOT

Plastic cups of beer at event Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Events venues in Belfast are to eliminate single-use plastic cups, following similar initiatives in other parts of Ireland.

Major and grassroots venues including the Waterfront Hall, Ulster Hall, SSE Arena, Oh Yeah Centre, Black Box, Voodoo and The MAC will all introduce reusable cups in the coming months as part of a 12-month pilot.

Other venues are lined up to join the next phase of the multi-venue reusable cup rollout.

The scheme aims to remove two million single-use plastic cups and 40 tons of plastic waste a year from Belfast nights out.