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

A sudden burst of sunny weather brought out crowds to idle with friends, as a horse and carriage goes by on Drury Street. Eamonn Farrell / © RollingNews.ie Eamonn Farrell / © RollingNews.ie / © RollingNews.ie

IRELAND

• Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald called for government to deliver a €500 USC tax cut for every worker and €400 worth of electricity credits in an “emergency budget”.
• Carlow-based home and garden store Rathwood entered examinership, stating it is unable to offer customers refunds at present.
• Gerry ‘The Monk‘ Hutch said he plans to return to Ireland from Lanzarote in the coming days to officially register as a candidate in the Dublin Central by-election. 
• Former justice minister Alan Shatter lodged High Court proceedings against actor Liam Cunningham.
• In a shock move, the Sinn Féin party voted to support a ban on fox hunting in Ireland. 

INTERNATIONAL

A rescue worker clears the rubble after a Russian strike on residential neighbourhood of Dnipro, Ukraine. AP Photo / Mykola Synelnykov AP Photo / Mykola Synelnykov / Mykola Synelnykov

#PAKISTAN: US President Donald Trump said he had ordered his envoys not to travel to Pakistan to continue talks with Iranian officials on ending the war.

#OCCUPIED TERRITORIES: Palestinians in the West Bank and central Gaza voted today in municipal elections, the first since the war in Gaza erupted, with low turnout and a limited political field.

#UKRAINE: Russians drone and missile strikes on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro killed at least five people and wounded more than 40, local authorities said today.

PARTING SHOT

A litter of puppies that will undergo guide dog training.

IRISH GUIDE DOGS for the Blind has been operating for 50 years this year, and the charity is set to mark its anniversary with Guide Dog Day, taking place on 22 May.

However beloved the charity may be in its providing trained dogs for blind and visually impaired people, as well as children with autism, there remains a gap in its output and demand. 

A client of the charity’s services and a local volunteer spoke to The Journal.