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

Ian Bailey, who was arrested by gardaí over the Sophie Toscan du Plantier case and who is taking a civil action against the State. (Pic: Photocall Ireland)

IRELAND

• Gardaí recorded calls by two witnesses in the Sophie Toscan du Plantier case [RTE]
• A new alliance of independent politicians met in Dublin.
• Sand from North Africa hit Ireland overnight.
• Two men died in a car crash in Tyrone.
• Every school in Ireland must have an anti-bullying policy by 11 April.
• Three Dublin councils will vote on a directly-elected mayor.
• Police appealed for information about the murder of a pizza delivery man.
• Cannabis plants were seized in a midnight raid in Carlow.
• Gay Byrne is definitely not retiring from radio.

INTERNATIONAL

Spanish reporter Javier Espinosa, who was kidnapped in Syria, goes to hug his son in Madrid today after being released. (AP Photo/Paco Campos/Pool)

#MH370: Relatives of some of the passengers on board missing flight MH370 have accused Malaysia of hiding information about the plane.

#FREED: Two Spanish journalists who were taken hostage in Syria have been welcomed home by their families after being held for six months by Islamist militants [BBC]

#SITH LORD: Darth Vader – or at least a protester dressed up as him – has paid the €165,000 deposit and is running for president of Ukraine.

INNOVATION

• An entrepreneur is using drones to deliver medical supplies to areas that need them most [Guardian]
• Transport nerds: this one is for you. Mashable has created an interactive map of reviews of the world’s underground subway systems. [Mashable]

PARTING SHOT

Two scientists believe that ours will be the first generation of humans to live forever. No, really, they do. A new documentary has been made about their work and the ethical – not to mention the scientific – dilemmas they face. [QZ]

(Video: sxsw/YouTube)

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