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

IRELAND

Tadhg, 12, and Caol, 12, with granny Sue Sampson who arrived from UK in Dublin Airport to spend Christmas in Ireland. RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

• The Judicial Review proceedings against the MetroLink line for Dublin have been withdrawn.
• Gardaí launched an investigation following the discovery of a woman’s body near Clonmel, Co Tipperary, on Monday afternoon.
• Close to 400 new speed camera safety zones will become operational from New Year’s Day.
• CareDoc staff are to vote on a proposal finalised between health unions and the employer, following recent strike action by members of the INMO and Siptu.
• Planning permission was granted for some 934 homes on the site of the former Central Mental Hospital.
• A woman and man, both aged in their 80s, have passed away following road collisions earlier this month.
• Gardaí issued a fresh appeal for information over a fire attack on a house in Edenderry, Co Offaly that killed four-year-old Tadgh Farrell and his grand-aunt Mary Holt. 
• Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien says he is in talks with Iarnród Eireann about expanding late night rail services beyond the Christmas and New Year festive period.
• An X account using the handle of President Catherine Connolly’s former personal profile was suspended after being taken over by an imposter, a spokesperson has confirmed.
• A man in his 40s has been arrested after Revenue seized €3.75 million worth of cocaine at Rosslare port, Co Wexford.

INTERNATIONAL

Well-known Ukrainian artists perform during the shooting of the Christmas TV show Dancing With The Stars in Kyiv, Ukraine. Efrem Lukatsky / AP Efrem Lukatsky / AP / AP

#AUSTRALIA: Lawmakers in the Australian state New South Wales approved sweeping laws cracking down on guns and giving authorities the power to ban protests following this month’s mass shooting on Bondi Beach.
#RYANAIR: Italy’s Competition Authority fined Ryanair more than €255 million for allegedly abusing its dominant position to block travel agencies’ access to its services.
#RUSSELL BRAND: Comedian and actor Russell Brand was charged with two further sexual offences, including rape.
#VATICAN: Pope Leo XIV called for a global truce on Christmas Day, expressing “great sadness” that “apparently Russia rejected a request” for one.
#UKRAINE: Ukraine’s own Dancing With The Stars show is back on, just for one special episode.
#EPSTEIN FILES: An email sent from Balmoral signed “A” asked disgraced British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell for “inappropriate friends”, newly surfaced emails have shown.
#DENMARK: Donald Trump reiterated that the United States needs Greenland for “national security” after his appointment of a special envoy to the Danish Arctic island triggered a new spat with Copenhagen.
#PALESTINE ACTION: Greta Thunberg was arrested at a protest in London in support of Palestine Action protesters who are on hunger strike in prison.

PARTING SHOT

Staff at the Lidl shop in Co Cavan where the winning ticket was sold.

A family syndicate in Co Cavan who scooped the EuroMillions jackpot last week collected their €17 million prize.

The Anglo-Celt reported that the winners are a father, son and daughter from Cavan town, who bought the winning ticket at a Lidl shop on the Athlone Road on the day of the draw, Friday 12 December.

The National Lottery said the syndicate plan to use their winnings to buy homes for their family.

One member of the family said: “We have a few things in mind! We’re hoping to buy homes for our close family members, and we’re looking forward to house hunting for a holiday home in France so we can enjoy holidays together!”