NEED TO CATCH up? TheJournal.ie brings you a round up of today’s news.

IRELAND

The cast of The Full Monty ahead of their week-long run at the INEC Killarney. Valerie O’Sullivan Valerie O’Sullivan

Budget 2019

• The government announced Budget 2019, here are the main points. 
• The price of a packet of cigarettes is set to go up by 50c.
• Parents are to get an extra two weeks’ paid parental leave.
• A number of measures to tackle the housing crisis were announced.
• All weekly social welfare payments are to increase by €5. 
• The government were accused of catering for landlords and not tenants. 
• €12 million was dedicated to the roll out of abortion services.
• The inheritance tax threshold from parents to children was increased by €10,000.
• The carbon tax  was not increased. 
• An Garda Síochána is to recruit 800 new officers after a €60 million funding increase.

Other Irish news

• The first of two funeral masses for Emma Mhic Mhathuna took place in Kerry. 
• Gardaí are investigating an apparent threat to carry out a shooting at a Dublin school. 
• A Dublin model is facing a garda probe for allegedly stashing drug money.
• 45 people were diagnosed with mumps following an outbreak in the west.
• Met Éireann has warned about ‘a ferocious looking beast’ of a storm that could hit Ireland on Thursday. 

WORLD

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon makes her keynote speech at the SNP conference in Glasgow. PA Images PA Images

#BRETT KAVANAUGH: Speaking at the judge’s Supreme Court swearing-in, US President Donald Trump said that Brett Kavanaugh was owed an apology.

#BITES THE DUST: US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley resigned from her post.

#BULGARIA: A man was detained as part of the probe into the killing of Bulgarian journalist Viktoria Marinova.

PARTING SHOT

Freestyle skier Andri Ragettli completed an elaborate obstacle course on his 53rd attempt, and he looks only wrecked after it.