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

Elaine Byrne at her flood damaged home in Riverfield in Aughrim, County Wicklow, after Storm Chandra Alamy Alamy

IRELAND

• Persistent rain has spread today, and more flooding is expected in areas already hit, as fresh weather warnings take effect.
• Two men died following separate road incidents in Laois and Monaghan.
• Housing completions rose sharply in 2025, with more than 36,000 new homes finished across the country.
• Independent TD Barry Heneghan voted against the government over a motion concerning an emergency winter payment for people with disabilities yesterday.
• Garda sources say that ambiguity in the rules around pursuing scramblers is stopping them from being able to catch the bikes on Ireland’s streets, and instead have to focus on trying to identify the drivers afterwards.
• Tánaiste Simon Harris has said that the government will “have a look” at banning social media use for under-16s, pointing to moves in the UK and France, despite the government currently pursuing an age-verification model rather than an outright ban.
• Lord Mayor of Dublin Ray McAdam has urged the government to act quickly in appointing a “hands-on” new chair of the North East Inner City Taskforce (NEIC) following news that former Fianna Fáil presidential candidate Jim Gavin has stepped down.

INTERNATIONAL

In Barcelona, people unfolded a 1,000m2 canvas with the portrait of the girl killed in Gaza Alamy Alamy

#COLOMBIA Investigators have been battling thick fog in the Colombian mountains to reach the site of a plane crash that killed all 15 people on board, including a politician.

#ICE Donald Trump has said the mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey, is “playing with fire” for refusing to use local police to enforce his administration’s hardline immigration crackdown.

PARTING SHOT

Jackie Gareth Chaney Gareth Chaney

Assistance Dog Jackie visited Leinster House in Dublin today.

The building was illuminated in green to mark the 50th anniversary of Irish Guide Dogs.

The lighting of Leinster House recognises five decades of life-changing work by the national charity, which has grown from humble beginnings in a small farmhouse in Cork in 1976 to become Ireland’s leading provider of guide dogs, assistance dogs and community dogs.