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

IRELAND

Taoiseach Micheál Martin at Tricentis Headquarters in Austin, Texas, USA Eli Hartman for the Consulate General of Ireland in Austin Eli Hartman for the Consulate General of Ireland in Austin

• The Taoiseach denied the Irish government rushed to approve a plan for a floating Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) storage terminal in a bid to appeal to US President Donald Trump. 
• Gardaí arrested two men as searches were carried out of countryside near Cork city in a major operation targeting suspected dissident republicans. 
• Almost a third of homes reported housing costs as a “heavy financial burden” last year, according to new figures from the CSO.
• Members of Enoch Burke’s family were spotted on a flight to Washington DC earlier today. 
• Conor McGregor’s bid to overturn a civil case finding that he sexually assaulted a woman in a Dublin hotel seven years ago is due to be heard on 21 March at the Court of Appeal. 
• A Donegal man was extradited from Northern Ireland to face a litany of sexual assault and rape charges against three different people.
• The Department of Housing said it is “not giving consideration at this time” to bringing in excessive water usage charges.
• If difficult questions are raised in the Oval Office meeting tomorrow on the Occupied Territories Bill and Gaza, they will be managed, according to Taoiseach Micheál Martin. 

INTERNATIONAL

US, Saudi and Ukrainian officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia today. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#UKRAINE: Ukraine endorsed a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in its war with Ukraine, which the US Secretary of State said left the ball in Russia’s court. 

#CANADA: Canada backed down from a 25% surcharge it had announced on electricity exports to three US states.

#NEW YORK: The arrest of a Palestinian man who featured prominently during protests at Columbia University in New York last year has been condemned as an “illegal abduction” that sends a chilling message about freedom of expression in the United States when it comes to criticising Israel. 

#NORTH SEA: A man was arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter after the collision between a tanker and a cargo vessel in the North Sea.

#ICC: Former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte was arrested today on a warrant from the International Criminal Court accusing him of crimes against humanity, government officials from the Philippines said.

PARTING SHOT

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