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

IRELAND

Schoolchildren from Ballymun and Finglas take centre stage alongside professional performers in Music Network’s outdoor opera Orpheus in the Garden at National Botanic Gardens Marc O'Sullivan Marc O'Sullivan

• A number of schools in Carlow closed today as a precaution after they received a “threatening” email.
• Eight counties are under thunderstorm warnings, with Clare the latest county to be added to the list.
• A judge issued a warning to social media users about identifying two teenage boys charged with attacking Alex Coughlan, who died three days after being severely injured in Blanchardstown.
• A 54-year-old US national is to be sent forward to the next sittings of the Central Criminal Court on a single charge of the murder of Kenmare farmer Mike Gaine.
• Ireland is on course to deliver only half the reductions of greenhouse gas emissions required by 2030.
• Climate minister Darragh O’Brien insisted Ireland can halve its carbon emissions by the early 2030s – despite the EPA showing the country is way off track on its goals.
• Two women who accused Jeffrey Donaldson of sexually abusing them claim the former DUP leader subjected them to “difficult and traumatic incidents” when they were children, his trial  heard.
• A newly formed coalition of cancer charities, medical organisations and advocacy groups called on the government to introduce a total ban on sunbeds.
• Construction firms and state agencies have told the government there is a widespread shortage of specialised construction and infrastructure workers, resulting in delays to projects in the sector.
• Fianna Fáil members approved a bill to permit Irish governments to consider the use of nuclear energy in meeting Ireland’s future energy needs.
• Three people have died in road traffic accidents since Monday in Clare, Limerick and Wexford.
• A radio network marketing executive was arrested following a “controlled delivery” of €111,000 worth of herbal cannabis in a parcel sent from the United States, a court heard.
• There has been an increase in children using language similar to that of misogynistic influencers such as Andrew Tate, according to domestic violence charity Sonas.
• The Garda watchdog said it received 2,706 public complaints about gardaí last year, with the vast majority of complainants unhappy with the outcome from police investigations. 
• The High Court in Belfast ruled that a woman who witnessed her father being shot by the IRA in her home was unlawfully refused a payment scheme for Troubles victims.

INTERNATIONAL

Trump holds the charter during a signing ceremony on his Board of Peace initiative in Switzerland in January. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#BOARD OF PEACE: Trump’s Board of Peace has “zero” cash in its official fund, despite member countries pledging billions of dollars 

#MIDDLE EAST: Israel said it had killed the new head of Hamas’s armed wing in Gaza, Mohammed Odeh, while strikes on southern Lebanon killed 31 people.

#CAVE RESCUE: Five of seven people trapped in a flooded cave for a week in Laos were found alive today, Laotian and Thai rescuers said.

#UK LABOUR: Labour leadership hopeful Andy Burnham promised to respond to former prime minister Tony Blair’s 5,700-word critique of the party.

PARTING SHOT

An illustration of the proposed moon base. Nasa Nasa

NASA unveiled plans for its first ‘moon base’ near the lunar South Pole – and it plans to have people living and working there within six years.

The area eventually may have sites spread out over hundreds of square kilometres, featuring rover vehicles and habitation modules.

Nasa said it selected the lunar South Pole region as the site of the Moon base because of its potential to support long-duration human exploration, but said it is one of the “most challenging environments” humans have ever attempted to operate in.

The area is prone to extreme temperature swings, long periods of darkness, abrasive lunar dust, rugged terrain, and permanently shadowed craters.

Unveiling the plans, Nasa chief Jared Isaacman said the public were excited about a moon base and the “grand return” to the lunar surface.