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

IRELAND

People enjoying the good sunny weather in Stephens Green, Dublin. RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

• A question of confidence hangs over Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy this evening after chaotic scenes in the Dáil with the carrying of a motion to create a new speaking slot for government backbenchers and independents.
• Meanwhile, Michael Lowry told The Journal that he was telling People Before Profit–Solidarity TD Paul Murphy to “sit down with my fingers” after a screenshot of him making a gesture was shared on social media.
• The HSE made salary overpayments of close to €14.7m at the end of 2023.
• The long-awaited review into sex work legislation has been published – more than four years after its initial deadline.
• Ireland’s psychiatrist’s issued a “critically urgent” call for a major overhaul of the mental health service for children and young people.
• Cabinet signed off on a plan to cut the Ukrainian accommodation payment to €600 per month.
• Former rugby star Brian O’Driscoll and fitness coach Caroline O’Mahony were served with compliance orders by the consumer protection watchdog.
• The demand for electricity in Ireland is expected to rise by 45% in the next decade, according to EirGrid. 
• An engineer was jailed for 18 months for his part in a large-scale criminal operation’s smishing scam on Permanent TSB customers.
• A loophole that allowed some people convicted of driving offences to receive 24-hour driving bans instead of penalty points will be closed from next week.
• Five years on from the Covid pandemic, one in four avoid handshaking and only 6% regret getting a dog.
• Many Eir customers this afternoon reported that they were experiencing problems with their Eir mobile data. 
• A sperm whale sighted near the coast of Co Wexford was reported to be swimming relatively strongly from the estuary out to sea, following earlier fears that it may strand.

INTERNATIONAL

Hamdan Ballal, Oscar-winning Palestinian co-director of No Other Land, is checked at a hospital in Hebron, a day after being detained by the Israeli army Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#WHITE HOUSE: Donald Trump dismissed the fiasco that saw a journalist inadvertently added to a private group chat of the most senior US officials discussing upcoming strikes on Yemen as a “glitch”.
#PALESTINE: The wife of an Oscar-winning Palestinian director who was reportedly attacked by Jewish settlers before being detained by the Israeli army said that he was beaten in front of his home by three men in military fatigues while another filmed it.
#UKRAINE: The US said an agreement has been reached to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea as it wrapped up three days of talks with Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Saudi Arabia on prospective steps toward peace.

PARTING SHOT

The portrait of Donald Trump, which he called truly the worst, was hanging in the Colorado Capitol since 2019. Press Association Press Association

A portrait of Donald Trump that he said was “purposefully distorted” has been removed from a wall at the Colorado state capitol where it had been since 2019.

After Trump posted complaints about the painting on his Truth Social platform, Colorado Senate minority leader Paul Lundeen, a Republican, asked that it be taken down and replaced with one that “depicts his contemporary likeness”.

Colorado Republicans had raised more than $10,000 (€9,200) to commission the oil painting.

By this morning, the portrait was no longer hanging next to those of other US presidents.