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

IRELAND

A woman walks past a mural by Emmalene Blake in Dublin city centre. PA PA

• The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said that the AstraZeneca vaccine is safe and effective and that it is not associated with an increased risk of blood clots.
• 582 new cases of Covid-19 and no new deaths from the disease were announced.
• Plans for the reclamation of almost five hectares of land at Howth in Dublin were revealed in a project estimated to cost around €26 million.
• RTÉ agreed to pay €20,000 to charity as part of an apology to a republican political group that was wrongly accused of murder on Prime Time. 
• Gardaí raided a suspected shebeen in Offaly.
• A Cavan man was jailed for eight years after being caught transporting €2.5 million worth of cocaine.
• A 16-year-old girl has been missing from Dublin since yesterday.
• RTÉ announced that Reeling in the Years is set to return on 11 April.
• Jacob Stockdale and Conor Murray return to the Ireland starting line-up for Saturday’s Six Nations clash with England.

INTERNATIONAL

Konik ponies fight for dominance as the foaling season begins at nature reserve in Cambridgeshire, UK, today. PA PA

#GERMANY: A study commissioned by the Catholic Church uncovered hundreds of cases of sexual violence allegedly committed by clergy and laymen in Germany’s top diocese.

#EUTHANASIA: The Spanish parliament voted through a law legalising euthanasia, making Spain one of few nations to allow terminally-ill or gravely-injured patients to end their own suffering.

#NETHERLANDS: Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s conservative party powered to a fourth consecutive election victory.

#JOHNNY DEPP: Amber Heard lied about giving her $7 million in divorce money to charity, Johnny Depp’s lawyers told an appeal court in the UK.

PARTING SHOT

Having St Patrick’s Day midweek was a bit mad, wasn’t it? Tuesday felt like Friday and Thursday felt like Monday. Comedian Shane Daniel Byrne summed up the discombolulation of it all with an enjoyable little sketch.

Click here if you can’t see the video.