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

IRELAND

President Micheal D Higgins at the commemoration of the victims of the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

• A man in his 40s has died in a road traffic collision involving a lorry and a motorcycle on the M50 in west Dublin. 
• A second of the M50 has reopened after it was closed earlier today following the serious crash.
• President Michael D Higgins has said it is a “manifest failure” of the British and Irish Governments that no one has been held accountable for the Dublin and Monaghan bombings.
• Irish Life Health is to raise the price of its health insurance plans for the third time in a year.
• Ukrainians who are staying in hotels or guest houses where they currently pay €10 per day for daily meals will not have to do so if their social welfare payment is reduced, The Journal understands. 
• A man has been arrested on a public order offence after an incident involving European election candidate and anti-immigration campaigner Malachy Steenson earlier this week.
• Trinity College Dublin has dropped disciplinary proceedings against the students who took part in recent protests, but the €200,000 fine against the Student Union remains.
• RTÉ has announced that series Operation Transformation has officially come to a close after 17 seasons.

INTERNATIONAL

Trucks loaded with humanitarian aid cross the Trident Pier before entering the beach in Gaza Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#ISRAEL: Israel has lashed out at South Africa’s case before the UN’s top court, describing it as “totally divorced” from reality, as Pretoria urges judges to order a ceasefire in Gaza.

#SLOVAKIA: Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s condition has been described as “still very serious” two days after an attempted assassination.

#GOLF: Golf world number one Scottie Scheffler has been arrested after allegedly trying to drive around traffic controls outside the PGA Championship at Valhalla.

#GAZA: Trucks carrying badly-needed aid for the Gaza Strip have rolled across a newly-built US floating pier into the besieged enclave for the first time.

PARTING SHOT

Max the cat on a wall Rob Franklin / Vermont State University/PA Images Rob Franklin / Vermont State University/PA Images / Vermont State University/PA Images

Vermont State University in the US  has bestowed an honorary degree on Max the cat, a beloved member of its community, ahead of a graduation ceremony at the weekend.

The Castleton campus is honouring the feline not for his mousing or napping, but for his friendliness.

He is receiving a “doctor of litter-ature”.

“Max the Cat has been an affectionate member of the Castleton family for years,” the school said in a Facebook post.