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

IRELAND

• An Irish woman in Dubai was charged with attempted suicide and consumption of alcohol, the Dáil heard.
• A budget package of €8.3 billion for October’s budget was signed off on by ministers this afternoon. 
• Ireland’s greenhouse gases fell to their lowest level since 1990.
• No decision was made by Aer Lingus pilots on a compromise suggested by the Labour Court in an ongoing pay dispute. 
• The Garda Ombudsman was investigating a collision between a car and a lorry that took place in Co Cork on Saturday evening.
• Criminal barristers went on strike today in protest against the lack of progress on pay restoration.
• Former All-Ireland-winning hurler with Clare, Niall Gilligan appeared in court charged with the assault causing harm of a 12 year old boy.

INTERNATIONAL

Members of the military carry flags of nations before an event commemorating the 75th anniversary of NATO. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#ISRAEL: The UN said it was “appalled” by an expanded evacuation order issued by Israel to civilians in Gaza.

#USA:. Nato leaders arrived in Washington for a summit on the 75th anniversary of the alliance.

#NEW YORK: Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was in court in Manhattan for a retrial.

#RUST: Alec Baldwin’s manslaughter trial began in New Mexico today.

PARTING SHOT

AS THE SCHOOL year ended for my 15-year-old son, I started to receive the usual end-of-year texts from his school, ‘Please return the books by this date’, ‘School finishes on this date’, and ‘exams start at this time’.

I don’t usually pay too much attention to these texts; he is 15 years old and can manage his own time and responsibilities. I did, however, take notice when the school sent a text to us about the Transition Year school trip. It read, ‘This is a reminder that the deposit for the TY Italy trip is due by the 14 June’.

I take notice when it comes to the bills. I opened the travel company weblink, which belongs to the company lots of schools use for TY trips. I was told that the school trip would be to Italy in March for four days, and it would cost me €799 euro.

You can read Katriona O’Sullivan’s full Voices article here.