LAST UPDATE | 26 Jan 2021

EVERY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you all the news you need to know as you start the day.

1. #LEVEL 5: The Cabinet sub-committee on coronavirus has agreed that the current Level 5 restrictions will remain in place until 5 March.

2. #COVID-19: The government is hoping for things to be ‘much better’ from April – but no large gigs are expected to take place this summer.

3. #VACCINE: AstraZeneca has defended the efficacy of its Covid-19 vaccine after media reports said the German government had doubts about its effectiveness among those over 65.

4. #GLOBAL: The Netherlands has been hit by a second night of riots, as coronavirus curfew frustrations boiled over, and US President Joe Biden has said herd immunity could be achieved this year.

5. #ABUSE: Gardaí received 43,000 calls to respond to domestic abuse incidents last year – a 16% increase on 2019.

6. #RACISM: An anti-racism group has voiced its concern after racist graffiti was painted in several locations across Balbriggan, north Dublin, over the weekend.

7. #DRUGS: Parents and partners of users in Dublin’s northeast inner-city are believed to be almost as likely to experience drug-related intimidation as users themselves, a new report has found.

8. #IMPEACHMENT: The impeachment trial against former US President Donald Trump has been delivered to the Senate ahead of the historic trial. Arguments in the trial will begin on the week of 8 February.

9. #MICHELEN: A Cork restaurant has been announced as Ireland’s newest recipient of a Michelin star at the UK and Ireland awards for 2020.