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

IRELAND

Presidential candidate Maria Steen and her husband Neill arrive for a meeting in city hall for a meeting of Dublin City Council to see whether they will give a nomination to one of the candidates. Sasko Lazarov / © RollingNews.ie Sasko Lazarov / © RollingNews.ie / © RollingNews.ie

• It’s Super Monday – councils across the country today have heard and will continue to hear pitches from presidential hopefuls. You can follow our liveblog of the day’s events.
• Fianna Fáil’s presidential candidate Jim Gavin has addressed criticisms of his recent commentary on Gaza, telling reporters today: “Let me be clear, there is genocide taking place in Gaza.”
• Separate rulings have gone against John Magnier in his plans for land developments in Co Tipperary.
• Former MMA fighter Conor McGregor has announced he won’t be seeking a nomination for the Irish presidency. 
• Three arrests have been made today as part of an investigation into the murder of Lee Slattery, whose body was found at the Delmege House estate near Moyross, Limerick in 2010.
• A Cork mother whose daughter has cerebral palsy, a dysplastic hip, twisted femur and retroverted pelvis confronted Taoiseach Micheál Martin at the Fianna Fáil think-in today.  

INTERNATIONAL

French President Emmanuel Macron attends a video conference on the situation in the Middle East with several European and Arab partners ahead of the U.N. General Assembly during which France and Saudi Arabia will host a meeting of heads of state and government on a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians, at the Elysee Palace in Paris. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#LABOUR TURMOIL: A senior aide to Keir Starmer has resigned from his Downing Street job after derogatory sexual remarks he made about Diane Abbott came to light.

#CHRISTIAN BRUECKNER: The main suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann has refused to be interviewed by the UK’s Metropolitan Police ahead of his pending release from prison, the force has said.

#GLOBAL SUMUD FLOTILLA: A flotilla carrying humanitarian aid and pro-Palestinian activists to Gaza has finally set sail from Tunisia today, following recent attacks on two vessels.

PARTING SHOT

Endurance runner Vini Cardoso with the volunteer crew of Howth RNLI after he returned to Howth having completed his 6 week coastal running challenge. RNLI / Tom Ryan RNLI / Tom Ryan / Tom Ryan

ENDURANCE RUNNER VINI Cardoso returned to Howth Lifeboat Station on Saturday after a six-week challenge that saw him running the perimeter of the island, visiting every RNLI lifeboat station in the country. 

Volunteer lifeboat crew member with Howth RNLI, Ronan Murphy, first encouraged Cardoso to take on the challenge.

Murphy said he “never imagined” that the runner would take on the challenge with “such determination”, and added that it’s been “amazing” to follow his journey and watch the support he received at lifeboat stations around Ireland.