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

IRELAND

A women braves the cold water while swimming in Clontarf Dublin. Leon Farrell / Rollingnews Leon Farrell / Rollingnews / Rollingnews

• Formerly confidential documents reveal that the Irish government moved to ban rubber bullets in 1997 as part of plans to put pressure on the UK Government to do the same. 
• The newly released documents also reveal that a report into Aidan McAnespie’s shooting found it “difficult to accept” the soldier’s claims about the incident.
• The State papers also show that Irish officials were warned the ‘Garvaghy Road won’t exist’ if the 1998 Orange Order march didn’t go ahead.
• Elsewhere, the Irish Medical Organisation agreed to provide temporary support to GPs to run additional clinics next month amidst rising demand for services due to a surge in winter virus infections.
• Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that he is not “hung up” on introducing a new 30% income tax rate.
• Met Éireann issued a yellow wind warning for three counties in the north west.
• Detectives in the North charged a 28-year-old man with one count of attempted sexual communication with a child.
• The High Court awarded €365,000 in damages to a Co Tipperary man who has been left unable to work after injuring his back in a workplace accident.

INTERNATIONAL

Pope Francis and retired Pope Benedict in the Vatican in 2016 ABACA ABACA

#POPEBENEDICTXVI The health of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has worsened due to his age, and doctors are constantly monitoring the 95-year-old’s condition.

#COVID China’s sudden pivot away from containing Covid-19 has caused jitters around the world, with Italy making coronavirus tests for visitors from China mandatory.

#CLIMATECHANGE 2022 will be the warmest year on record for the UK, the Met Office has said.

#UKRAINE A 14-year-old girl is among those reported injured after Russia’s shelling of Kizomys, a village in Kherson. 

#WESTERNBALKANS The EU and US have urged Kosovo and Serbia to take “immediate” steps to de-escalate tensions amid mounting unrest in their border region.

#RIP The actor and comedian John Bird has died at the age of 86.

PARTING SHOT

People sit in an unlicensed Starbucks cafe in Baghdad, Iraq, on 21 December. AP / PA Images AP / PA Images / PA Images

Iraq’s Prime Minister has ordered a crackdown on local businesses operating under the names of international brands without legal permission.

It comes after reports last week that Iraq has become a major centre of trademark violations and piracy.

In one prominent example, a chain of fake Starbucks has been operating under the international coffee company’s logo in Baghdad.