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

The scene of a large fire on Tierney Street in Ardee, Co Louth. (Image Credit: Kevin Butler)

IRELAND

• A man was given two life sentences for the rape of two children in Athlone last year.
• The father of the children told the court that his family “lives everyday” with the crime.
• Former Junior Minister Ivor Callely pleaded guilty to making a false mobile phone expense claim.
• Siptu dismissed plans of calling off industrial action at Aer Lingus.
• Bank of Ireland published its results for 2013, noting that losses had narrowed.
• Armed gardaí were posted to protect convicted criminal John Galligan while he is treated in hospital.
• Searches were carried out during a multi-agency investigation into illegal animal slaughter.
• The funeral was held of an Irish nurse who died in Australia.
• Sinn Féin pulled out of a cross-party video aimed at supporting LGBT groups taking part in New York’s St Patricks Day parade.
• An elderly woman was killed in a car crash in Tipperary.
• The search for a missing man off Cork was called off after three weeks.

INTERNATIONAL

Ukrainian recruits receive instructions from a commander in a recruitment self defense quarter at Kiev’s Independence Square. (Image Credit: Emilio Morenatti/AP/Press Association Images)

#UKRAINE: The Russian army denied reports that an ultimatum was issued to the Ukrainian army to surrender.

#CRIMEA: Russian troops continued to pour into the region.

#SOUTH AFRICA: Oscar Pistorius pleaded not guilty to the charge of the premeditated murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

#NORTH KOREA: A 75-year-old Australian missionary was deported.

#HOLLYWOOD: Here are the winners of the 2014 Academy Awards..

INNOVATION

• Ellen DeGeneres’ Oscars selfie became the most retweeted tweet ever.
• Hailo said Ireland is to be come the first country with nationwide availability of its taxi service.
• Apple launched hands-free driving software.
• Kickstarter reached a milestone in passing $1 billion worth of pledges.

PARTING SHOT
Who drinks the most wine in the world? A certain 110 acre country in Europe guzzles 74 litres per person per year… [Business Insider]

(Image Credit: Business Insider/Andy Kiersz, data from the Wine Institute)

Here’s what happened yesterday >