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

IRELAND

Tributes to Ashling Murphy at the Grand Canal in Tullamore today. Alamy Alamy

• A man in his 30s appeared in a Tullamore court charged with the murder of Aisling Murphy. 
• Public health officials reported an additional 6,843 positive PCR cases, 5,295 antigen tests registered on the HSE website and 52 deaths notified in the past week. 
• Cabinet approved plans for an additional public holiday on 18 March and a national commemorative event. 
• Tributes were paid in the Dáil to Ashling Murphy, when TDs agreed that there should be a cross-party approach to tackling gender, sexual and domestic abuse against women across Ireland.
• Lisa Smith’s bid to have to have terror-related charges against her dropped will be decided on Monday.
• Cabinet approved a new law which will ban restaurants and pubs withholding tips from staff.
• Residential property prices rose by 14% nationally in the 12 months to November 2021.
• The National Symphony Orchestra is set to transfer from RTÉ to the National Concert Hall.

INTERNATIONAL

Deer and a stag at Duelmen nature reserve in Germany today. Imageplotter / Alamy Live News Imageplotter / Alamy Live News / Alamy Live News

#COMMONS: An embattled Boris Johnson chose defiance in the face of defections and anger among his own MPs in a rowdy House of Commons this afternoon. 

#UKRAINE: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has landed in Kyiv for crisis talks with Ukraine’s leaders, as diplomatic efforts to dissuade Russia from attacking its pro-Western neighbour falter. 

#SPAIN: Five people died and several more were injured after a fire at a retirement home in eastern Spain, emergency services said.

PARTING SHOT

With tensions continuing to ratchet up between Russia and Ukraine, check out our latest Explainer for an in-depth account of what’s happening in the region.