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

James Sloan (3), who underwent life-saving surgery, listening to the heart beat on a life-sized model at Humanarium RCSI

IRELAND

• Gardaí arrested a man in his 20s on suspicion of murder in connection with the death of Daniel Aruebose.
• The Taoiseach said that the government has “consistently” been raising the detention of an Irishman with US authorities.
• The government announced that senior civil servant Garret Doocey is to become the State’s new ‘housing tsar’.
• The Basic Income for the Arts scheme was approved by Cabinet today.
• The Department of Transport confirmed that Cabinet has agreed for priority drafting of a bill to address the passenger cap at Dublin Airport.
• A US national described “in detail” how he strangled his 66-year-old father with his bare hands, the Central Criminal Court heard. 
• A scheme of payments to survivors who were injured in the Stardust fire in north Dublin in 1981 was labelled “disappointing” by lawyers representing survivors.

INTERNATIONAL

Howard Lutnick testifies before Senate Appropriations and Commerce Committee about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#PALESTINE: An Israeli minister declared new measures approved by the government represented a plan for “de facto sovereignty” over the West Bank in Palestine. 

#EPSTEIN FILES: US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick admitting that he met convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein twice after claiming he had cut ties him in 2005. 

#UK: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer insisted he would “never walk away” from his role in the face of calls for his resignation. 

PARTING SHOT

HOW I AM missing my walks to work this year. January and February have been particularly harsh with day after day of mist, biting temperatures and of course rain.

Instead of walking, I am driving through roads choked with traffic, irate drivers taking their frustrations out on everyone else by refusing to yield, while listening to endless doom and mindless chatter on the airwaves. Missing that early morning daylight, combined with exercise, is for me, a recipe for winter blues.

More than half the people living in places where there are four seasons report having the “winter blues” – a mild depression characterised by a lack of motivation and low energy.

You can read Dr Catherine Conlon’s full Voices article here.