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

IRELAND

Members of the public passing a mural on reading Woman Life Freedom on Dame Street. Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie / RollingNews.ie

• Argos announced the closure of all its outlets in Ireland.
• Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe will make a further statement involving his 2016 general election campaign and matters that were put to him last night by the opposition next Tuesday.
• The HSE reported a reduction in the number of people presenting with respiratory infections following a spike at the start of the year.
• Tánaiste Micheál Martin has urged patience with the negotiations to resolve the Northern Ireland Protocol dispute, insisting a mountain has to be climbed.
• Gardaí were called to a disciplinary hearing being held at the Mullingar Park Hotel today between representatives of Wilson’s Hospital School in Co Westmeath and suspended teacher Enoch Burke.
• Minister for Equality Roderic O’Gorman said the refugee centre at Dublin’s CityWest Hotel will reach capacity and be unable to accept new arrivals in several days.
• WhatsApp Ireland was fined €5.5 million for breaches of GDPR.
• Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said Microsoft has been in contact with the Irish government about it’s worldwide layoff of staff, stating that “Ireland will be affected by that”.

INTERNATIONAL

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy embraces European Council President Charles Michel on arrival at the Mariinskyi Palace in Kyiv. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER Alec Baldwin is to be charged with involuntary manslaughter over the accidental shooting of a cinematographer on the set of the low-budget western “Rust,” a prosecutor has said.

#UKRAINE EU chief Charles Michel has said that tanks “must be delivered” to Ukraine as he visited the war-torn country and held talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

#STEPPING DOWN New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, a global figurehead of progressive politics, shocked the country by announcing she would resign from office in a matter of weeks.

#RESCUE EFFORTS A hiker reported as missing in the San Gabriel mountains in southern California has been named as British actor Julian Sands.

PARTING SHOT

And the Best Film nominees are… 🎬

🎞 ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT
🎞 THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN
🎞 ELVIS
🎞 EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE
🎞 TÁR#EEBAFTAs pic.twitter.com/is2BN6bP92

— BAFTA (@BAFTA) January 19, 2023

There was no shortage of Irish talent on the BAFTA shortlist today, with Martin McDonagh’s The Banshees of Inisherin receiving 10 nominations, while An Cailín Ciúin and Paul Mescal also got nods.

McDonagh was nominated for best director, while Colin Farrell is up for leading actor. Brendan Gleeson and Barry Keoghan are both nominated for supporting actor, with Kerry Condon nominated in the supporting actress category.

The dark comedy is also nominated for best film, outstanding British film, original screenplay, original score and editing.

Irish-language film An Cailín Ciúin has been nominated for best film not in the English language and for adapted screenplay for its writer-director, Colm Bairéad.

You can read about all of the Irish nominations here.

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