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

IRELAND

sunrise 508 Sunrise over Dollymount Strand Sam Boal / Rollingnews.ie Sam Boal / Rollingnews.ie / Rollingnews.ie

Public health officials confirmed 77 deaths and 1,910 new cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.
Northern Ireland recorded 12 deaths and 670 new Covid-19 cases this afternoon.
Schools may not reopen until March and Covid-19 restrictions will be in place in some form for at least six months, the Taoiseach said.
Healthcare workers who are still in need of their first vaccine dose will likely be waiting until mid-February as Ireland waits for more supply from Pfizer.
Deserted Dublin streets have caused problems for outreach workers and concerns over anti-social behaviour.
Mandatory drug tests for gardaí are to be put in place this year.
AIB customers have been hit by an increase in “smishing” fraud attacks over text this month.
A claim on social media that suggests a lack of hospitalisations from flu is because cases are mistakenly being diagnosed as Covid-19 is incorrect.
A Status Yellow snow/ice warning is in effect nationwide until noon tomorrow.

THE WORLD

2.57681362 PA PA

#RUSSIA Police aggressively detained protesters as thousands of supporters of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny took to the streets following his call to protest against President Vladimir Putin’s rule.

#ITALY Italian prosecutors have opened a probe into the accidental death of a 10-year-old girl who allegedly took part in a “blackout challenge” on TikTok.

#US Donald Trump’s impeachment trial in the US Senate will begin the week of 8 February in the first time a former president will face such charges after leaving office.

#WALES The leader of the Welsh Conservatives has resigned following the disclosure he was among a group of politicians who drank alcohol on the Senedd estate days after a pub alcohol ban came into force.

PARTING SHOT

shutterstock_98640812 Shutterstock / Featureflash Photo Agency Shutterstock / Featureflash Photo Agency / Featureflash Photo Agency

Talk show host Larry King, one of the most well-known figures on US television, passed away today at the age of 87.

He was best known for his 25-year-run as the host of CNN’s “Larry King Live” and had a career spanning over 60 years.

He interviewed US presidents, world leaders Yasser Arafat and Vladimir Putin, and celebrities like Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando and Barbra Streisand.

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