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

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD pictured in the CHQ this afternoon in Dublin today to celebrate Chinese New Year 2018. Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie / RollingNews.ie

IRELAND

• A murder investigation was launched in Sligo after the death of a 20-year-old man.
• Fianna Fáil is closing the gap on Fine Gael in the latest poll.
• A woman was killed in a two-car collision in Laois and a man in Waterford died in a road crash.
• We can expect significant wind chill and disruptive snow next week.
• The US may send a special envoy to Northern Ireland soon.
• PTSB‘s chief executive declined an invitation to speak to the Finance Committee next week about the sale of home loans.
• Families whose mortgages were sold to vulture funds spoke about how they coped.
• The GAA voted to ban sponsorship deals with betting companies.
• Winning Streak is celebrating its 1,000th episode.

It was confirmed today that British actress Emma Chambers died aged 53. PA Archive / PA Images PA Archive / PA Images / PA Images

WORLD

#RIP: Emma Chambers, best known for her role in The Vicar of Dibley, died aged 53.

#ABUSE: The International Committee of the Red Cross said more than 20 staffers have left since 2015 after paying for sexual services.

#AFGHANISTAN: The Taliban claimed responsibility for suicide bombings that killed 20 people.

#NORTH KOREA: US President Donald Trump announced heavy sanctions.

PARTING SHOT

A stand-out scene for Emma Chambers in The Vicar of Dibley, it is quite rightly being widely shared today: