EVERY EVENING, TheJournal.ie brings you a round-up of the day’s biggest news stories, as well as the bits and pieces you may have missed.

• Michael Lowry has repeated his categorical denial that he was involved in any wrongdoing in relation to the awarding of Ireland’s second mobile phone licence, after the Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said today that he should consider resigning. Looking unusually tanned for March, Lowry told RTÉ’s Six One News that there had been “no evidence to substantiate” claims that he had made personal gain from his dealings with Denis O’Brien or Ben Dunne.
• A member of the Board of Management at Borrisokane Community College has resigned in protest over Michael Lowry sending politically-related material to parents through their children (read his full letter here). Anglican priest Stephen Neill condemned Lowry’s ”shameful attempt to take all the credit for the provision of the new school in Borrisokane” as well as the manner in which it was done – children were sent home with letters in Oireachtas envelopes and instructed them to give them to their parents, the Irish Times reports.
• Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan has announced that he will stop smoking cannabis “in the Republic of Ireland”. Saying that he felt he had “no choice” on the matter, Flanagan expalined he had decided to stop smoking cannabis for the sake of his family – and also in order to continue to champion the cause of legalising the drug as a member of Dáil Éireann, without fear of arrest.
• At least seven people have been killed in anti-government protests in the Syrian city of Daraa. A researcher on Syria for Amnesty told Bloomberg that the city was “besieged”, adding: “People are being asked through loudspeakers to remain at home or they will be shot”.
• The airforce of Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi has reportedly been destroyed. The Telegraph quotes RAF Air Vice-Marshal Greg Bagwel as saying: ”Effectively, their air force no longer exists as a fighting force and his integrated air defence system and command and control networks are severely degraded.”
• The state pathologist has begun to investigate the discovery of skeletal remains in Dublin earlier today. The remains were uncovered at about 1pm at Tolka Valley Park.
• Are you still trying to figure out exactly what constitutes a “bunga bunga” party? Well, Italian prosecutors have spared you the bother of using your imagination by releasing photographs (note: it’s probably best not to view Berlusconi’s exploits over dinner).
• Screen icon Elizabeth Taylor has passed away at the age of 79; the veteran actress was a two-time Oscar winner who starred in over 50 films throughout her career – and led a colourful personal life that kept her in the public eye. We remember the life of one of the last great actresses of Hollywood’s golden age in photos.
• Time-lapsed photographs captured by Nasa have shown some of the destruction caused by humans to the planet, by ravaging rainforests, draining marshes and drilling for fossil fuels.