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

IRELAND

Pictured at the Grand Opening of the Irish Red Cross / Ukrainian Action In Ireland Ukraine Community Centre in Rathmines this afternoon is Veronika Nikitenko (age 8, Permission Granted) from the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. rollingnews.ie rollingnews.ie

• Gardaí are said to believe that there is a link between two deaths that happened in Co Monaghan yesterday.
• Police in the North are investigating if there is a “cross border, organised crime” element to what’s been described as an “execution” in Newry, Co Down.
• Judges at the Special Criminal Court have ruled that ten hours of conversations between murder accused Gerard ‘The Monk’ Hutch and ex Sinn Féin Councillor Jonathan Dowdall that were captured by a garda bugging device are admissible in the trial.
• Tech giant Intel has offered workers at its plant in Kildare voluntary unpaid leave as it looks to cut costs.
• A 39-year-old man has been jailed for 18 years for the attempted murder of two gardaí who were shot after he opened fire from a bedroom window at his home in West Dublin last year.
• The Department of Defence has begun the recruitment process for a Head of Transformation – a key recommendation in the Commission on the Defence Forces. 
• A record high €5 billion worth of corporation tax was collected by the Government last month, with Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe continuing to caution the “volatile” receipts.
• An internal group within Trinity College Dublin is examining its legacy issues – including what to do with 13 ancient skulls taken from an island over 100 years ago.
• A Christmas bonus double payment will be paid to over 1.3 million social welfare recipients next week, including those on the long-term illness benefit for the first time. 

INTERNATIONAL 

The Dancing Santas begins their dancing season performing for shoppers while in the street in Clayton, Missouri. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#EUROPE A number of Ukrainian diplomatic missions in the European Union have received packages containing animal eyes in what Kyiv has described as a “well-planned campaign of terror”. 

#USA Far-right US conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who has been ordered to pay nearly $1.5 billion (€1.4 billion) to the families of victims of the Sandy Hook school shooting, has declared personal bankruptcy.

#UKRAINE The Kremlin has rejected US President Joe Biden’s terms for Ukraine talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, saying Moscow’s offensive will continue. 

#GLASTONBURY Elton John has said he “couldn’t be more excited” to be headlining at Glastonbury 2023, marking what will be the final UK show of his last ever tour.

#THE INTERNET Elon Musk kicked Kanye West off Twitter today, after the controversial rapper posted a picture that appeared to show a swastika interlaced with a Star of David.

PARTING SHOT

We’re deep in winter weather and our thoughts could not be further than the summer heat of music festival season. 

But there’s a lot to be said for those relaxing days spent in a field in Laois or at the foot of the Galtee mountains bathed in good craic, with good pals, listening to good music and at least the rain is warm. 

So today, to beat the winter chills, we asked in our poll: Are you planning to attend any next year? 

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