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

IRELAND

President Michael D Higgins and HE Lahcen Mahraoui, Ambassador of Morocco, as he presents his credentials to the President. Department of Foreign Affairs Department of Foreign Affairs

• People who previously paid their water bills won’t get their money back following the water charge recommendations released today.
• Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe invited public sector unions to discuss the Lansdowne Road Agreement in light of the recent Garda pay recommendations.
• A manslaughter trial was told that an Offaly GP gave her 11-year-old disabled daughter a toxic level of a sedative before taking an overdose herself.
• Health Minister Simon Harris wrote to the health ministers in England, Scotland, Canada and Australia asking them to work together in a bid to reduce the cost of cystic fibrosis drug Orkambi.
• Members of the Independent Alliance will get a free vote on the medicinal cannabis bill due to be debated in the Dáil this week.
• Denis O’Brien’s High Court case against a Dáil committee began, it concerns certain statements made about his business dealings by TDs Catherine Murphy of the Social Democrats and Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty.
• An Irish woman wanted by US authorities in connection with an alleged multi-million euro steroid distribution enterprise must wait to hear whether she will be extradited to America.
• Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told the Seanad that Ireland and Scotland can send a “powerful signal” around the world on the basis of their shared values.
• Mercy University Hospital in Cork introduced visiting restrictions due to an outbreak of winter vomiting.
• 5,000 of you are going on a Journal Journey with Irish Rail. Here are the winners – from sporting clubs, community groups and charities from all over the country.

WORLD

Sunrise over Whitley Bay, England Owen Humphreys / PA Wire/PA Images Owen Humphreys / PA Wire/PA Images / PA Wire/PA Images

#COLOMBIA: 75 people died after a plane carrying 81 passengers, including members of a top flight Brazilian football team, crashed in Colombia.

#ENGLAND: Former football coach Barry Bennell was charged with eight offences of child sexual assault, Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service confirmed.

#US: Actor Evan Rachel Wood shared a powerful letter in which she discussed the impact of being raped twice.

#WALES: Ukip asked the Welsh government to seek EU funding from the Irish government to help upgrade a motorway between London and south Wales.

INNOVATION

• BBC Future took a look at a huge African solar farm that could power Europe.
• The next iPhone might have a curved display (Geek.com).

PARTING SHOT

Vox recently took a look at how America went from colony to superpower in 200 years.

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