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

IRELAND

Fota Wildlife Park announced the birth of an endangered baby agile gibbon, born on 10 January, 2024 Darragh Kane Darragh Kane

• A woman and her two daughters who were killed in a crash in Mayo yesterday afternoon have named by gardaí.
• Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin confirmed that Ireland will intervene in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
• The Government unveiled two big plans around asylum seekers today, and here’s what they are.
• Draft legislation on the auto-enrolment pension scheme was approved by Cabinet.
• A couple who died following a fatal house fire in the Swinford area of Co Mayo were named locally as Tom and Eileen Mahon, as the local community remain shocked by the news.
• The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has condemned the latest in a series of “attacks on the democratic function” of the media after a video showed an RTÉ journalist surrounded by a group, some with their hoods up or faces covered.
• The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) said that “prolonged” poor weather conditions are putting farmers under “extreme pressures”.
• FAI CEO Jonathan Hill is to continue in his role following the conclusion of a scheduled FAI board meeting today. 
• The High Court made orders allowing a hospital to give a blood transfusion, if necessary, to a member of the Jehovah Witness faith.

INTERNATIONAL

Women kiss while holding a poster to support marriage equality, during a Pride Parade in Bangkok. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#BALTIMORE: Investigators have recovered the data recorder from the packed cargo ship that slammed into a Baltimore bridge on Tuesday morning, causing it to collapse and leave six people presumed dead. 

#GAZA: Israeli forces pounded besieged Gaza today and fought Hamas around several hospitals despite a UN Security Council demand for a ceasefire.

#GAZA AID: The UN drew attention to the difficulties it is facing when attempting to deliver “life-saving” medical and humanitarian aid into Gaza, as its workers are given mixed messages at checkpoints.

#MARRIAGE EQUALITY: Thailand’s Parliament passed a bill legislating for same-sex marriage, paving the way for the country to become the first in southeast Asia to recognise LGBTQ+ marriage equality.

PARTING SHOT

Gilbert O’Sullivan Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Irish singer-songwriter Gilbert O’Sullivan received the Freedom of Waterford at a ceremony today. 

Born in Waterford, O’Sullivan moved to Swindon in England with his family at the age of eight. 

The now 77-year-old shot to fame in the 1970s and has secured six UK number one hits, along with 16 top 40 records. 

He’s most famous for songs such as Alone Again (Naturally), Clair and Get Down. 

Across his career, O’Sullivan has recorded 19 studio albums, secured three Grammy nominations and won three Ivor Novello awards.