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

• Former Governor of the Central Bank Patrick Honohan has defended his actions at the bank after being accused by economist Morgan Kelly of making the “costliest mistake ever made by an Irish person”. Honohan said that the fact that the final numbers weren’t available at the time of the bank guarantee in September 2008, doesn’t affect the state honouring the guarantee.
• Following yesterday’s BBC reports on the issue, it appears Ireland is to get a one per cent reduction on its bailout interest rate. Junior Minister Brian Hayes said earlier today that the European Commission supports the move, but more bi- and multilateral work must be done to secure it. Meanwhile, EU leaders reportedly agree that Greece needs to make changes to its bailout agreement, which could include debt restructuring.
• A man was struck and killed by a train at Donabate, Co Dublin, this afternoon.
• Bahrain’s ruling monarch has announced the end of martial law, which was imposed on 15 March in response to escalating anti-government protests. Today, 21 people went on trial accused of plotting to overthrow the monarchy with the support of foreign terrorists.
• A top Japanese government official has said the country will continue to maintain nuclear power as part of its energy police despite the ongoing crisis at the Fukushima power plant and a number of protests against ongoing use of nuclear energy, the AP reports.
• Egypt’s justice minister has warned of an “iron fist” response to security threats following clashes between Muslims and Christians in the capital Cairo today, the BBC reports. Two churches were set alight in last night’s unrest and at least nine people were killed.
• A Catholic church in Howth has clarified to TheJournal.ie that it will not be holding a memorial mass this Thursday for “Osama Bin Laden (recently deceased)”, despite listing such a service in its parish newsletter.
• A new poll in today’s Sunday Independent suggests that while 60 per cent of people consider themselves republican, just 25 per cent believe there should be ‘a 32 county Ireland’.
• French newspaper Ouest-France is reporting that President Sarkozy is prepared to ask national coach Laurent Blanc to reconsider if Blanc resigns from his post tomorrow. Blanc is expected to make a statement tomorrow after meeting with the two teams investigating allegations top French football officials discussed a possible quota for black and Arab players.
• Some good news today: missing Dubliner Conor O’Gara has been found safe and well in Co Mayo.
• Former US Vice President Dick Cheney says he still hasn’t decided if he will opt for a heart transplant after being diagnosed over a year ago with end-stage heart failure.
• “What’s Osama Bin Watchin’?” Whatever you want him to, it seems. This site allows people to enter their YouTube URL of choice and change the channel for bin Laden.
• From bin Laden’s death to major gorse fires, recap on the main events and images of last week with the Week in Photos.

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