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

IRELAND

Models and dancers perform in The Circle from Showcase 2025, which opened today. Showcase - Ireland’s International Creative Expo celebrates its 50th anniversary this year and returns to the RDS Dublin from today, Sunday, 19th January to Tuesday, 21st January. Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

• Fianna Fáil members voted overwhelmingly to approve the draft Programme for Government, paving the way for the party to return to power.
• It was a good day for Dublin GAA clubs, as both Na Fianna and Cuala won the hurling and football All Ireland finals.
• President Michael D Higgins said his condemnation of antisemitism is “clear” and rejected a call from the outgoing Israeli ambassador to Ireland to cancel an address he is set to deliver on Holocaust Memorial Day.
• Micheál Martin claimed the “public aren’t excited” about the issue of pro-government TDs, who were involved in programme for government talks, joining a Dáil opposition group to get speaking rights in the Dáil. 
• Martin also said the Occupied Territories Bill will be replaced by a new piece of legislation. 
• Ukrainian refugees living in a building formerly used as student accommodation in Cork City expressed shock and sadness about plans to relocate them in the coming months.
• A Garda was injured while effecting an arrest during a drugs raid yesterday in the northside of Cork city.
• A man arrested earlier this week as part of an investigation into organised crime in Limerick city was charged. 
• Police in the North appealed for information after a teenage motorcyclist was seriously injured in a hit-and-run collision in Lisburn yesterday evening.
• Singer Linda Nolan was “laughing and joking” in her final days before she died aged 65, her sister Denise said.
• A pedestrian died after being struck by a car in Cavan last night.
• A motorcyclist in his 50s died following a single-vehicle collision in Co Wexford yesterday evening.

WORLD

#ISRAEL: The first three hostages released by Hamas have returned to Israeli territory, as a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas kicked in, halting the war in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of 46,000 Palestinians.

#UNITED STATES: Millions of TikTok users were blocked from accessing the popular app in the United States as a national ban came into effect today, with incoming president Donald Trump unable to intervene until he takes office.

#SOUTH KOREA: Around 90 supporters of South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol have been detained by police after protesting his formal arrest over the brief imposition of martial law.

PARTING SHOT

It’s Sunday evening. There’s still some time to get a long read in before bed. Have a look at some of these interesting reads from today’s Sitdown Sunday.