NEED TO CATCH up? The Journal brings you a round-up of today’s news.

IRISH

Paul and Mandy Doolan from Coolock pictured at the annual Cystic Fibrosis Ireland 36km walk from Howth, Co Dublin, to Bray, Co Wicklow. Justin Farrelly. Justin Farrelly.

• Gardaí investigating a fatal hit-and-run incident in Co Clare on Friday are seeking to speak to the driver or occupants of a Skoda Octavia.
• Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers has said a decision on whether to postpone the planned carbon tax increase for the second time this year “has not been made” yet.
• A solicitor has described how Tusla engaged her to represent a teenager in court who could not avail of criminal legal aid due to the ongoing solicitors’ strike over changes to the fee model.
• Former Northern Ireland political correspondent for the BBC Stephen Walker has died aged 61. 
• A man and a woman, both in their 30s, have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in Newry this morning.
• A 29-year-old man has been charged after driving at high speed and colliding with another car on the motorway in Co Tyrone.
• New polling has put Sinn Féin as the most popular party in the country.
• “No relevant information” was identified in a review carried out by the Northern Ireland Assembly into the conduct of former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson while he was at Stormont.
• A man has been arrested after a viable device was found in Co Armagh.

INTERNATIONAL

Visitors enjoy the sunflower fields at Xixi scenic spot in Dongtai, east China's Jiangsu province today. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#ALTERNATIVE FOR GERMANY Germany’s far-right AfD party has won a landslide victory in a key regional election in the ex-communist east, taking at least 44% of the vote according to exit polls by two public broadcasters.

#BUS CRASH Cape Verde’s government has announced two days of mourning today after 25 people, mostly children and teenagers, were killed in a bus crash on Saturday.

#WAR IN UKRAINE  Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have had a “meaningful” discussion with Zelenskyy in Kyiv about ending the Russia-Ukraine war, the day after they met with Putin.

#VOLCANO Over 150,000 passengers have been left stranded following the closure of several airports in Indonesia, after Mount Anak Krakatoa erupted on Saturday.

#INFANTINO Fifa has confirmed that its current president Gianni Infantino will stand for re-election next year.

#REFORM UK Party leader Nigel Farage has wrapped up the two-day conference in Birmingham which was largely overshadowed by a previous investigation that emerged the day before into the party accepting foreign money, which is illegal. Farage has said that he was “not listening” during conversations that discussed the scheme to funnel foreign money to Reform UK.

PARTING SHOT

Visit Edinburgh Visit Edinburgh

You’re looking at a picture of the Knife Angel sculpture, made from around 100,000 knives and blades surrendered to police forces across the UK. 

Created by sculptor Alfie Bradley to raise awareness about the devastating impact of knife crime and violence, it stands at over eight metres tall.

It’s just arrived in Edinburgh, where it will remain until the end of the month.

Cities can apply to host the statue for a month, where they can conduct a month’s worth of awareness raising activities around knife crime.