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

IRELAND

Anastasia Shmeleva and Natalia Chepanova from Smithfiled under the cherry blossom trees in Herbert Park Dublin Sasko Lazarov Sasko Lazarov

• There may be “the potential for more” easing of restrictions in May than what has already been indicated, according to Higher Education Minister Simon Harris.
• A man has been charged with the murder of a mother-of-two who was allegedly stabbed to death.
• Gardaí have said that a body has been found during a the search for a missing trail runner off the Comeragh Mountains.
• Health officials have confirmed a further 403 new cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.
• Peter Ireton, the  founder and former chief executive of the Limerick-based charity Bóthar, has been found dead in his home this morning.
• Planning permission has been granted for a 266-house development on the former site of St Kevin’s hospital in Cork city.
• People aged 65 and older have been urged not to drink strong tea with meals because doing so can interfere with the absorption of some essential minerals.
• A man who stabbed his ex-wife’s partner to death during an “argument” in the early hours has gone on trial charged with murder at the Central Criminal Court.
• Bohemians Football Club and the Airtricity League have agreed to pay €44,000 in damages to an 11-year-old boy who was injured at a function at their ground eight years ago.

INTERNATIONAL

Families and loved ones embrace after landing on the first Air New Zealand flight to land in Wellington on the first day of the trans-Tasman bubble AAP / PA Images AAP / PA Images / PA Images

#TRAVEL BUBBLE: A travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand has started operating today.

#RUSSIA: Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who is in the third week of a hunger strike, will be admitted to a hospital in another prison.

#VACCINE: More than 10 million people in the UK have now received their second dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.

PARTING SHOT

NASA has made history after successfully completing the first powered, controlled flight on another planet.

The 1.8kg Ingenuity Mars Helicopter flew on the surface of Mars a number of hours ago, but data confirming the feat arrived shortly before 12pm Irish time.