LAST UPDATE | 20 Feb

GOOD MORNING. 

Here’s all the news you need to know to start the day.

Biodiversity

1. In our main story this morning, The Journal spoke to Minister of State for Nature Christopher O’Sullivan about his goal to “significantly” expand the number of national parks and nature reserves owned by the State.

O’Sullivan said he wants to see the State take control of more private land as part of efforts to improve ecosystems and prevent further environmental degradation.

Andrew’s arrest

2. In the UK, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor left police custody last night after his earlier arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

On the front pages

3. The story of the former British prince’s arrest dominates the front pages of UK newspapers this morning, accompanied by a photo of him looking shocked while leaving police custody. 

Tensions

4. Elsewhere, Iran has warned that US bases, facilities and assets would be “legitimate targets” if the United States follows through on its military threats and attacks.

That’ll teach them

5. Taoiseach Micheál Martin is off to Cambridge University today to celebrate the creation of a new Irish history job.

RIP

6. Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria star Eric Dane has died at the age of 53, less than a year after he revealed that he had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease.

E-scooters

7. The number of patients attending the emergency department at Tallaght University Hospital with injuries sustained in e-scooter accidents almost doubled in one year, a new study has found.

Bono

8. In an interview with U2′s official magazine, Bono has addressed criticism he has faced in Ireland about what he had said publicly about the slaughter in Gaza.

The truth is out there

9. US president Donald Trump has accused his predecessor Barack Obama of disclosing classified information after Obama stated in a recent podcast interview that aliens are “real”.