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

IRELAND

Members of the public in Howth Harbour taking smartphone pictures of high waves and sea spray as Storm Eunice passes. Leon Farrell Leon Farrell

• A Wexford County Council worker has died after he was struck by a tree while cleaning up debris from Storm Eunice.
• Due to Storm Eunice, over 44,000 homes have been left without power, with a majority centred in Cork and Kerry. The ESB has said a majority of those without power would have it restored by the end of the day, while some will have to wait until tomorrow.
• The Central Bank has criticised Irish retail banks over their customer support phone lines and called for improvements to be made.
• The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has said influenza is now circulating in Ireland and activity “significant increased” last week.
• Requirements for people to wear masks on public transport, in education and retail settings will be removed at the end of the month, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has confirmed.
• A man was jailed for stealing the life savings of an 81-year-old who had put the cash away for his funeral.
• Public health officials reported an additional 4,821 PCR-confirmed cases of Covid-19 this afternoon.
• An advert for department store Harvey Norman as well as claims about Volkswagen cars’ carbon neutrality are among two of the advertisement complaints upheld by the ad standards authority. 

INTERNATIONAL

A ferry is on fire at the Ionian Sea near the island of Corfu, Greece AP / PA Images AP / PA Images / PA Images

#RUSSIA: Russia announced that massive military drills, involving the launch of cruise and ballistic missiles, will take place tomorrow, as concerns rise over a potential invasion of Ukraine.

#GREECE: Eleven people are missing and two remained trapped after an Italian-flagged ferry caught fire overnight on the Ionian Sea, Greek officials said as emergency crews raced against the clock to put out the blaze and locate survivors before dark.

#CANADA: Canadian police have arrested two protest leaders in Ottawa and threatened to break up a nearly three-week protest against the country’s Covid-19 restrictions.

PARTING SHOT

It’s Friday. It’s a day for looking at a load of dogs having the craic. If the video doesn’t show, please click here.