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

IRELAND

President Catherine Connolly marks a year in office with visit to Gaelscoil Áine President of Ireland President of Ireland

• Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Taoiseach Micheál Martin in Government Buildings ahead of tomorrow’s European Political Community summit and a separate meeting with US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. 
• Hundreds of schools and media organisations across Ireland and the UK received hoax bomb threat emails this morning.
• Major traffic restrictions in Dublin city centre scaled up today ahead of the European Political Community summit, the largest gathering of heads of state and government hosted by Ireland.
• A nationwide public-sector strike planned for Thursday was called off after unions and government representatives reached agreement on a proposed pay deal.
• Gardaí confirmed two men in their 50s were arrested as they rushed former US president Joe Biden as he left Trinity College on Tuesday. 
• The husband of the late Ciara Mageean paid a moving tribute to her, remarking that she “became, in a way, Ireland’s daughter”.
• The mother of a man accused of the murder of Carrie Mullane appeared in court, charged with withholding information from police.
• The rate of inflation was the highest it’s been since December 2023, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office. 
• The organiser of a fuel protest called off plans for “nationwide rolling protests and convoys” on Friday but said that a Dublin protest is “still going ahead”.
• The government is set to miss its 2030 housing target by as many as 136,000 homes, according to a new report.
• Smart glasses that can be used to secretly record people without their consent should be banned, an Oireachtas committee recommended.
• The chair of RTÉ told the media minister the cut to the broadcaster’s funding in Budget 2027 would potentially “damage” its relationship with the government.  
• An agreement was reached between the Council of the European Union and the EU Parliament on the bloc’s annual budget for 2027.
• Grade One-winning Wexford jockey Tom O’Brien died at the age of 39 following his diagnosis with cancer.

INTERNATIONAL

A protester holding a sign saying 'Stop evictions' in Barcelona. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#SPAIN: Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Spain in the country’s first general strike in 14 years, rallying against housing affordability and high cost of living just weeks before a snap general election. 

#TRUMP: A Florida court dismissed the BBC’s attempt to have Donald Trump’s $10 billion defamation claim against the broadcaster thrown out.

PARTING SHOT

Florence Road in concert at Latitude Festival in Southwold last summer Alamy Alamy

Coachella released its line-up for 2027, and there is some Irish talent in the mix.

The highly anticipated California festival has chosen Dua Lipa, Tame Impala and SZA to headline next year.

In 2025, CMAT brought Eurocountry to the wild west, but it appears she won’t be performing this year.

However, a number of Ireland’s rising stars are on the list.

Jazzy, a singer-songwriter and DJ, will perform on Sunday.

Florence Road, a four-piece all-women band from Bray, will also perform.

Dubliners Lorcan McCarthy and Faustas Astrauskas, who are part of the DJ duo Obskür, will also take the stage.

Among the other notable acts performing at next year’s festival are Madonna, Zara Larsson and Phoebe Bridgers.