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

IRELAND

Former US President Bill Clinton drinking a pint of Guinness at the Guildhall Taphouse after giving a speech in the Guildhall in Derry. PA PA

• The restoration of the Stormont Assembly can “fairly easily be done if we want to”, former US president Bill Clinton has said.
• The mother of Jasmine McMonagle, who was brutally beaten to death by her “on and off” partner in her own home, has told how she relives the killing and wonders if her daughter called out for her family before she died.
• A day after the verdict, we take a look at the events surrounding the Regency Hotel murder trial.
• A budget surplus of €16.2 billion is predicted for next year, with the Department of Finance figures showing it will reach more than €20 billion in just three years.
• Colm Murphy, who was found liable in a civil trial for the 1998 Omagh bomb atrocity, has died.
• The refusal of DAA to appear before the Oireachtas Transport committee this month has been called “unacceptable” and “intolerable” by TDs and senators. 
• Overcrowding in both Cork University Hospital and Mercy University Hospital has been described as “out of control” by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.
• A man was seriously injured after a fire at a medical devices manufacturer in Co Cork. 
• Northern Ireland mountaineer Noel Hanna died in Nepal after climbing Annapurna, the tenth highest mountain in the world. 

INTERNATIONAL

Toddler who squeezed through White House fencing today PA images PA images

#SUDAN Irish charities Concern and Goal have issued calls for their staff in Sudan to “hibernate” by staying indoors as violent clashes continue.

#SECURITY BREACH A toddler today earned the title of one of the tiniest White House intruders after he squeezed through the metal fencing.

#TALIBAN The UN is ready to take the “heartbreaking” decision to pull out of Afghanistan in May if it cannot persuade the Taliban to let local women work for the organisation.

#COVID The World Health Organisation warned that the Covid pandemic is still volatile, saying there could be further trouble before the virus settles into a predictable pattern.

#CORONATION More than half of British people do not want the upcoming coronation of King Charles to be funded by UK taxpayers, a new poll published today found.

PARTING SHOT

A public “doggie” toilet has been installed on Dublin’s Sean McDermott Street as part of a new Dublin City Council initiative that aims to promote responsible dog ownership.

A small rectangular area has been designated to dogs doing their business when out on a walk with an owner.  

The pilot scheme will also see a total of 50 ‘Dog Poo Dispensers’ erected on Dublin streets.

In a press release, Dublin City Council said: “We hope dog owners who exercise their dogs in the area will encourage their pets to use the toilet area.”

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