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

IRELAND

Contributors to First Fortnight Mental Health Art and Culture Festival 2023 gathered today to celebrate the launch of the 12th edition of the festival at Project Arts Centre Leon Farrell / RollingNews.ie Leon Farrell / RollingNews.ie / RollingNews.ie

• The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) is set to consult with members on industrial action.
• The number of on trolleys has halved over recent days, according to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly.
• A total of 11,542 people were recorded as living in emergency accommodation in November, new figure show. 
• Gardaí arrested 745 people for driving under the influence over the last month. 
• The man who allegedly threw a bag of excrement at Junior Minister Anne Rabbitte and TD Ciarán Cannon has refused to apologise.
• Finance Minister Michael McGrath has said that the rate of inflation has peaked in Ireland.
• Two men have been remanded in custody over the murder of a 22-year-old man.
• Stargazers are being encouraged to look upwards tonight to get a view of the ‘Wolf Moon’. 

INTERNATIONAL 

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Federal Security Secretary Rosa Icela Rodriguez at the report on the capture of drug trafficker Ovidio Guzman Lopez Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#UKRAINE: Artillery exchanges pounded cities in eastern Ukraine today despite Russian leader Vladimir Putin unilaterally ordering his forces to pause attacks for 36 hours for the Orthodox Christmas.

#KENYA: An LGBT activist in Kenya has been found dead – stuffed in a metal box. 

#MEXICO: 19 people died in a massive operation to arrest a son of jailed drug trafficker Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, the Mexican government has said.

PARTING SHOT

An Post’s first stamp of 2023 marking the 50th anniversary of Ireland joining the European Communities, now the European Union, has been unveiled today.

The stamp design by renowned Irish designer Ger Garland features the flag of what is now known as the EU. 

The design is based on the stars of the EU flag and the six fundamental values of the EU: Human Dignity, Freedom, Democracy, Equality, Rule of Law, and Human Rights.

To symbolise the number of members of the EC in 1973, only nine of the 12 stars from the EU flag are visible.

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