Updated 10.58 PM

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

A road sealed off by gardaí leading to the scene in Kilbride, Co Offaly where a man’s body was discovered in a drain. (Pic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire)

IRELAND

• The body of 47-year-old Christy Daly was found by gardaí in a drain outside Clara, Co. Offaly. A caravan and two cars were also found burnt out nearby.
• The Government declined to say whether Taoiseach Enda Kenny has or will raise specific concerns about human rights issues on his trip to the Gulf states.
• Ireland raised €3.75bn on international bond markets today, the first such sale since the bailout exit.
• The niece of fashion designer Ralph Lauren was charged in Killaloe of being drunk and making threats and abusive comments on a transatlantic flight diverted to Shannon.
• Sean Quinn says the people who set a bus on fire outside his former company are not acting in his name.
• Independent TD Michael Lowry was charged with three counts relating to the alleged filing of incorrect tax returns.
• Today was Eirgrid’s deadline for public submissions on the Gridlink project which will see the construction of 1,300 electricity pylons.
• The Mayor of  South Dublin County Council has resigned from the Labour party, becoming the 27th councillor to leave the junior coalition partner in three years.
• Mike Fitzpatrick has been appointed as interim head of Limerick City of Culture after the resignation of Patricia Ryan.
• Approximately 20,000 people have applied for positions in An Garda Síochána since a recruitment campaign began last month.
• The UPP unequivocally rejected the Haass proposals.
• Stats show that 80 per cent of drivers killed on Irish roads last year were male.

INTERNATIONAL

A crew member of the Danish warship Esbern Snare wears a protective mask as they escorted chemical weapons from Syria. (Pic: AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

#SYRIA: The first shipment of chemical material has been removed from Syria under a deal to rid the country of its chemical arsenal.

#VENEZUELA: A Former Miss Venezuela and her British husband were shot dead in South America. Despite early reports that the man was Irish this does not appear to be the case.

#SCOTLAND: Edinburgh Airport was evacuated and closed for a time today following the discovery of a suspicious package.

#SPAIN: A judge has summoned the youngest daughter of King Juan Carlos of Spain to appear in court over accusations of fraud and money-laundering. [BBC]

INNOVATION

• Consumers spent more than €7.4 billion on the Apple App Store in 2013, making it one of the store’s most successful years.
• Sony has revealed new its cloud-streaming service Playstation Now, which will allow users to stream and play old Playstation games on their PS4 or smartphone.

PARTING SHOT

(Youtube / Selina Miratz)

You may have seen that former NBA star Dennis Rodman is currently in North Korea, accompanied in fact by Irish journalist Matt Cooper. Well Rodman was on CNN today to defend his trip which has been criticised by politicians in the US. His appearance did not go so well.

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