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

• Chinese vice-president Xi Jinping has arrived in Ireland to begin a three-day visit. This evening he’s dining at a banquet at Bunratty Castle being hosted by his Irish counterpart, Tánaiste and foreign affairs minister Eamon Gilmore.
• It’s emerged that 34 hospital consultants on the public payroll were disciplined by the HSE last year after it turned out that they were treating more private patients than public ones. Consultants’ contracts state they can only spend 30 per cent, at most, of their time dealing with private clients.
• Eight staff at the country’s NCT centres have been sacked as part of investigations into alleged bribery and corruption. The probes were prompted by a Prime Time Investigations documentary last year which showed how unroadworthy cars could pass the test.
• Hundreds of single parents marched in Dublin today to protest at what they believe are Budget measures which specifically discriminate against them. The S.P.A.R.K. Campaign says cuts to lone parents’ allowances and a series of other grants and allowances make it harder to get by as a single parent.
• The group of men which will get to choose the Catholic Church’s next Pope gained 18 new members today. Pope Benedict XVI has appointed 22 new Cardinals, with most of them under the age of 80 and entitled to vote for the next Pope.
• Some of the biggest names in the world of entertainment have been gathering in Newark, New Jersey to say goodbye to Whitney Houston at the star’s funeral. The lengthy service has seen performances from Stevie Wonder and Alicia Keys among others. If it’s not too late, our live stream might still be carrying proceedings.
• The next person appointed Comptroller & Auditor General – to the role which is meant to ensure public cash is not wasted – can be assured that one bill has already been cut: their own. Michael Noonan has ordered a €41,414 pay cut for whoever replaces John Buckley.

Zane Lace, living in Enfield, Co Meath, poses outside the Latvian embassy on St Stephen’s Green in Dublin. The embassy is open until midnight tonight as Latvian citizens vote on a constitutional referendum which would make Russian the country’s official second language. Embassy officials expect 2,000 Irish-based Latvians to vote in the referendum, which is set to be defeated. Photo: Nigel McArdle

• Diplomats have told the Associated Press that Iran is preparing a major new underground site to expand its nuclear programme. The secret site is ready for “thousands of new-generation centrifuges”.
• The news came after the US and EU expressed some cautious optimism that Iran was willing to return to talks over ending its programme.
• Ever wondered how countries, terrorists and other organisations manage to carry out a covert killing? Wonder no more: Susan Ryan has spoken to an intelligence expert to figure out how it’s done.
• Barack Obama’s election campaign team have been changing direction a bit – looking at new ways to attack Rick Santorum, as the former Senator shoots up the opinion polls.
• Just over two months after they were launched, there are already 57,000 Leap cards being used to make 35,000 journeys each day on Dublin’s public transport systems.
• Is Arsene Wenger’s time at Arsenal about to come to an end? His charges have lost 2-0 in the FA Cup at Sunderland – and Miguel Delaney’s been explaining why he’s gone without a trophy for seven years. Chelsea counterpart Andre Villas-Boas is under the kosh too: his side only drew 1-1 at home against Birmingham.
• Travel agency Go4Less has acknowledged a data breach on its website which allowed the passport numbers of a small number of customers to be publicly visible through Google.
• How much did Gay Mitchell spend on cable ties? How many copies might The Irish Sun on Sunday expect to sell? And how much is the average domestic mortgage in arrears by? Answers to all of those, and more, in this week’s Prime Numbers – the week in statistics.
• What’s that, we hear you say? You’d love to hear someone play that White Stripes song on a load of laboratory equipment? Well, you’re in luck. Presenting: Science Nation Army.

Making a difference

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can make sure we can keep reliable, meaningful news open to everyone regardless of their ability to pay.

Support us Learn More