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

IRELAND

Opposition parties showed rare unity today over the ongoing speaking rights row. Rolling News Rolling News

• Dáil Éireann descended into chaos today, as proceedings to elect a new Taoiseach and government were abandoned following a row over speaking rights for government-supporting Independent TDs
• Micheál Martin described the scenes in the Dáil as “the subversion of the Irish Constitution”, while Simon Harris claimed that what happened today “was stunt politics on speed led by Mary Lou McDonald”
• Mary Lou McDonald, speaking alongside the leaders of several other opposition parties, said today’s affairs were a “mess created by Government” and that it’s the government that has the ability to fix it
• Aontú’s two TDs Peadar Tóibín and Paul Lawless have left the Regional Independent technical group
• In other news, a Status Red wind warning is set to come into effect across Ireland on Friday as Storm Éowyn approaches
• Schools and creches are expected to close for the duration of the Red Weather warning on Friday, as Met Éireann have warned of “danger to life” due to strong winds
• Irish saxophone player and showband singer Paddy Cole has died at the age of 85
• A group of Ukrainian refugees who are set to be relocated from their accommodation in Cork have asked the Department for Integration for more time to find suitable accommodation
• Gardaí have launched a murder investigation into the fatal stabbing of Willie Moorehouse in Bray
• Digital driving licences will be rolled out this year – slightly later than expected
• Four Croatian football supporters were arrested this morning and have been charged over a disturbance which delayed the takeoff of a flight at Dublin Airport
• The president of the Irish Farmers’ Association said that reducing farming output and food production would amount to “national sabotage” and that Irish farmers need “a new deal”

INTERNATIONAL

Rescue vehicles are seen near a crime scene in Aschaffenburg, Germany Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#GERMANY: A man and a two-year-old boy were killed in stabbing attack in Bavaria, Germany.

#USA: US government workers in diversity jobs will be put on leave as Trump has ordered several programmes to shut

#ATLANTIC: Several transatlantic commercial flights have reached speeds of well over 1,200 kilometres per hour due to a powerful jet stream this week

#UKRAINE: Donald Trump has told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to make a deal to end the grinding Ukraine war “now” or face tariff hikes and more sanctions

#UK: Prince Harry has settled his legal action against the publisher of The Sun over allegations of unlawful information-gathering shortly before the start of a weeks-long trial

PARTING SHOT

Irish singer and sax player Paddy Cole has died, aged 85.

The Co Monaghan native and ‘King of the Swingers‘ was a showband veteran, having joined the Capitol Showband in the 1960s. Cole also had a lengthy career in broadcasting, hosting a weekly music programme on Sunshine Radio