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

IRELAND

Protesters near Leinster House today RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

• Protesters gathered outside Leinster House this afternoon calling on the Government to reinstate the eviction ban, which lapsed at midnight last night.
• A man allegedly abused by a schoolteacher in Waterford city has said he wants answers for how it took Tusla eight years to respond to a notification about what had happened at the school.
• An AK-47 rifle was seized by gardaí during a search operation in the Finglas area of Dublin last night.
• Two men have been arrested following the discovery of a suspected cannabis grow house in Co Mayo last night.
• A man accused of attacking his ex-partner, who was injured and allegedly had a bottle of urine thrown at her during an argument, has been denied bail.
• Health minister Stephen Donnelly has said work is ongoing to see how women who suffer from severe sickness during pregnancy can get medication through a GP prescription.

INTERNATIONAL

Pope Francis preparing to leave the Agostino Gemelli Hospital in Rome. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#UKRAINE Russian presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of April is “a slap in the face to the international community”, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said.

#POPE FRANCIS The pope joked with well-wishers today as he left hospital after a three-night stay for bronchitis, and headed back to the Vatican to prepare for Christianity’s most important week.

#TRUMP The former US president is facing several charges of falsifying business records, including at least one felony offence, in the indictment against him by a New York grand jury, two people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Friday.

#JERUSALEM Israeli police have shot and killed a man who they alleged tried to grab an officer’s gun at an entrance to a Jerusalem holy site.

#STAMPEDE Police in Pakistan have arrested eight people in the city of Karachi after a stampede killed 12 people at a Ramadan food and cash distribution point.

PARTING SHOT

Gabrielle Ver Tom Maher / INPHO Tom Maher / INPHO / INPHO

Ireland suffered a 50 point defeat in a Women’s Six Nations match against France today at Musgrave Park.

Greg McWilliams’ side were reduced to scoring just one penalty as France responded from a red card for prop Annaelle Deshayes to pack in nine tries throughout an emphatic display.

There was a brief spell of hope for the hosts in the first half when the difference was just seven points, but that was as close as they got on the way to a second defeat on the bounce in this year’s Six Nations.

In the end, France secured a record-winning margin over Ireland.