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

IRELAND

Little Amal, a 12 foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee child. Visitors have been meeting Little Amal, who has become a global symbol of human rights, at events in Dublin today and yesterday. Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

• A Dublin man been accused of the “disposal of body parts” and impeding the investigation into the murder and dismemberment of Drogheda teenager Keane Mulready Woods in 2020.
• Thousands of vehicles have been seized in recent months since gardaí have been able to check a driver’s insurance status via an app.
• The reprimand of the Irish ambassador to Israel after Government formally recognised the State of Palestine has been deemed unacceptable by ministers, including Tánaiste Micheál Martin.
• A row erupted during a press conference at Fianna Fáil’s European election manifesto launch today between party leader Micheál Martin and candidate Niall Blaney. 
• Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said today that the party is “really stretching” itself by running the highest number of candidates it has ever ran in the local elections.
• Children as young as seven years old are being targeted by gangs encouraging them to get involved in crime, Justice Minister Helen McEntee said.
• The number of births fell in Ireland by 5% between 2022 and last year, and dropped by over 20% in the last decade, new figures show.
• A planning contract was awarded for the creation of eight new commuter railway stations in Cork.
• RTÉ 2FM boss Dan Healy denied the station is in a crisis following the departure of four hosts from three of its flagship daily shows, claiming that their reasons for leaving were “nuanced”.

INTERNATIONAL

#GAZA: The International Court of Justice ordered Israel to halt its offensive on the Gaza city of Rafah, a landmark ruling likely to increase mounting international pressure on Israel.

#MALLORCA: Spanish police have released details of the four people killed when a bar and restaurant collapsed on the island of Mallorca last night. 

#LUCY LETBY: Child serial killer Lucy Letby lost her Court of Appeal bid to challenge her convictions.

#SAINTHOOD A London-born Italian teenager who died from leukaemia in 2006 at the age of 15 is set to become the Catholic Church’s first millennial saint.

#RIP: Morgan Spurlock, the director of the 2004 documentary Super Size Me, has died at the age of 53.

PARTING SHOT

Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

The Green Party launched its manifesto for the European elections today and one of the most eye-catching policies is that if elected, Green MEPs will seek a full ban on private jets in Europe. 

While it doesn’t expand on this in the manifesto, proponents of a ban usually point to how private jets are between five and 14 times more polluting per passenger than commerical flights. 

So in today’s poll, we asked: Should private jets be completely banned? 

Take part in the poll here, or view how others have been voting.