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

• In its latest economic forecast, the IMF has cut its prediction for Ireland’s growth in 2011 to 0.5 per cent. It also expects inflation of 0.5 per cent and unemployment to average 14.5 per cent. The IMF said that changes to the interest rate being charged on international financial support, such as Ireland’s bailout deal, would be “helpful” to the countries involved.
• An explosion at a busy metro station in Minsk, Belarus, this evening has killed at least seven people and injured about 50 others.
• A controversial ban on face veils came into effect in France today and the BBC reports that at least two women have been detained by French authorities while wearing Islamic veils over their faces.
• Feeling the pinch? Demand for medical cards has reached a record high and new figures are expected to show that 43 per cent of the population will be covered by a medical card or GP visit card before the end of the year. Meanwhile, as of today, over-65s will have to pay full fees for a new passport instead of the reduced €25 rate.
• Meanwhile, dentists have been directed by the Dental Council to post a clear and prominent price list of treatments in their surgeries from 1 June.
• Great Scott! Chinese film and television censors are so sick of the recurring theme of time travel that the storyline has been banned, GlobalPost reports.
• Good news for Android phone owners! TheJournal.ie has released its Android app, which allows users to comment on articles, vote in polls, view high-res photography, and more.
• And, speaking of apps, a new iPhone app claims it can calculate the calories contained in a meal by analysing a photo of the food.

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