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.
- Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore has launched a diplomatic initiative across the EU in the hopes of gaining support for the an alteration in Ireland’s bailout deal, RTÉ reports.
- Poor donation rates have contributed to seven out of ten organs harvested in Ireland being sent to other countries last year, as those donated were incompatible with patients awaiting transplants here. Last week, the Minister for Health James Reilly announced plans to change the system of organ donation so everyone would automatically donate after the death, if they did not specifically request not to. What do you think? Have your say in our poll.
- Three men have been arrested in Smithfield horse fair in Dublin today: one on suspicion of stealing a horse, and two others for public order offences, the Irish Times reports. The horse fair has become controversial after a teenager nearly lost his arm in an attack at the event last month.
- The Queen of England is to take part in an historic visit to Croke Park while in Ireland this May.
- Experts have said that it could take several months to bring Japan’s stricken nuclear plant under control, after an second attempt to block the leak at the Fukushima plan has not yet worked.
- The see-saw desert battle for Libya continues – with rebels making modest gains with the help of international air strikes after skirmishes around the strategic oil town of Brega.
- Thirty people have been killed at a shrine in Pakistan after two explosions struck near the Sakhi Sarwar shrine in Punjab, where Sunni Muslims had gathered for an annual festival, the BBC reports.
- Charlie Sheen’s live variety show - entitled Violent Topedo Of Truth: Defeat Is Not An Option - has bombed on its opening night in Detroit Michigan.
- Today is International Pillow Fight Day and people all across the world have been hitting the closest person to them with sacks of feathers to celebrate. This is the third year for the event, which started in 2008. Below is the video for the Amsterdam fight for your inspiration…
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