EVERY EVENING, TheJournal.ie brings you a round-up of the news stories that have dominated the day, as well as the bits and pieces you may have missed.

• Thousands of protesters took to the streets in Syria today but at least 60 are reported to have died after government security forces opened fire on demonstrators who are now calling for the regime of president Bashar Assad to be overthrown.
• Police have made what they’re calling “significant” arrests in connection with dissident republican activities in the North which have been ramped up in recent weeks with the the killing of police constable Ronan Kerr, a murder that a group of former Provisional IRA members today claimed responsibility for.
• A 21-year-old man, struck by a car in south Dublin in the early hours of this morning, has died in hospital this afternoon. Gardaí say they have arrested an 18-year-old man in connection with the incident.
• A Romanian man is in a critical condition in the Mater Hospital in Dublin after his arm was partially severed in a vicious assault on the North Circular Road in the early hours of this morning. Gardaí have arrested two men in connection with the incident.
• Ireland will accept the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, not to be confused with the International Criminal Court. The Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore says it is consistent with the country’s aim of being a respected and influential member of the international community.
• Bristol city centre in the UK was the scene of riots overnight as protesters and squatters demonstrated against a Tesco Express store in the area. Nine arrests were made and eight police officers were injured in the scuffles.
• The Taoiseach was in London, Mary Byrne was in some punter’s front room, Peter Nyberg told us what we probably all knew anyway and the symbol of Ireland’s excesses in the economic boom came down. Quite a week. Here it is in photos.
• To boldly go where no Pope has gone before…Pope Benedict will make history when he calls up astronauts aboard the International Space Station next month. Two Italian astronauts can expect the call on 4 May. Best stick it down in the diary then lads, you don’t want to miss that call.
• The Belarusian government has indicated it would be interested in resuming adoptions to Ireland according to the head of Chernobyl Children International Adi Roche, but the Adoption Rights Alliance told TheJournal.ie that every effort should be made to ascertain a family situation before going ahead with a child’s adoption.
• It’s Easter weekend and gardaí in conjunction with the Road Safety Authority and AA Roadwatch are appealing to drivers to stay safe on the roads this bank holiday weekend. Today – Good Friday – is all about hot cross buns. How do you eat yours? And in a remarkable tribute to Jesus Christ 24 Filipino men chose to be nailed to a cross to re-enact Christ’s suffering on Good Friday. The ultimate tribute act?
• Finally, a new show called Triple Rush gives a fascinating insight into bicycle couriers as they weave in and out (not always successfully) of New York City’s famously crazy traffic. Check it out:

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