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

IRELAND

Installation of a new sculpture for Princes Street, Cork City, titled ‘The Face Cup’ by artist Fiona Mulholland. See www.corkcity.ie/islandcity or @IslandCityCorkSculpture on Instagram for more. Clare Keogh Clare Keogh

• Gardaí are investigating “all the circumstances” surrounding the discovery of a man’s body in a Limerick car park.
• There has been “substantial” progress in talks between garda representative bodies and Commissioner Drew Harris regarding the ongoing roster dispute, sources have said. 
• Just two properties have been acquired since April under a scheme designed to keep people facing evictions in their homes.
• Staff members in managerial and administrative posts are working-to-rule after the HSE introduced a complete recruitment freeze on Wednesday.
• Former Labour leader and current Wexford TD Brendan Howlin announced he will not be contesting the next general election. 
• An Irish woman shot and left in critical condition in hospital in Australia has been named locally as Eileen Gibbons. 
• With the budget days away, Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien confirmed he is pushing for a cut in tax for small landlords as “good landlords” are leaving the market.
• New research found that close to 70% of children killed or seriously injured on Irish roads were either walking or cycling at the time.
• The Government launched a new initiative that will give a free bedtime story book to all children aged four and under.

INTERNATIONAL

Rescuers are seen outside the building destroyed by a morning Russian missile attack on Kharkiv, Ukraine Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#UKRAINE A 10-year-old and his grandmother have been killed after Russian missiles smashed into Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine, just hours after another attack left dozens dead at a wake in a nearby village.

#ESSEX A shopping centre security officer was remanded in custody over an alleged plot to kidnap and murder This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby.

#IRAN The Nobel Peace for 2023 was awarded this morning to Narges Mohammadi for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all.

#INDIA At least 31 people have been killed and thousands forced to leave their homes after ice-cold floodwaters swept through mountain towns in India’s Himalayan northeast.

#MIGRATION A row over planned changes to Europe’s migration rules overshadowed an EU summit today, although supporters of the reform vowed opposition from Poland and Hungary would not derail it.

PARTING SHOT

Abbeyleix Co. Laois announced as Ireland’s Tidiest Town for 2023 Naoise Culhane Naoise Culhane

Abbeyleix in Co Laois has been named as Ireland’s Tidiest Town for 2023. 

This year, 887 towns competed for the TidyTowns award which has been running since 1958. 

In addition to being named as Ireland’s Tidiest Town, Abbeyleix was also crowned Ireland’s Tidiest Small Town.

Announcing Abbeyleix as the overall winner, Minister Heather Humphreys said: “This is a truly great achievement and a special moment of immense pride for Abbeyleix and indeed the wider county of Laois.”