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

IRISH

Pictured at the launch of the 51st annual BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition today at the RDS are Martha Nic Ionais (14), right, and Caoilfhionn Ni Dheorian (14) from Colaiste Chilliain in Clondalkin. Mark Stedman / Photocall Ireland Mark Stedman / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

• There were more than 600 people waiting for hospital beds today – a record high. Health Minister Leo Varadkar is currently out of the country but will return tomorrow.
• A woman in her 60s was stabbed in Athy. 
• Fire fighters are battling to control a fire at a bread factory in Clara in Offaly.
• Gardaí appealed for witnesses after an attempted carjacking in Meath.
• Two men have been arrested in relation to the attempted shooting of a man in a car park in Dublin last November.
• Separately, a man was arrested in connection with a serious assault on a man left badly beaten on Dublin’s Camden Street in November.
• SIPTU called for changes to upward-only rent reviews after it emerged Bewley’s Cafe in Dublin will close for six months due to the pressure of paying its €1.5 million annual rent.
• Irish teenagers as young as 15 are showing signs of heart disease.
• Our Defence Forces are to assist with the Ebola crisis in West Africa. 
• Met Éireann has issued a ‘high winds‘ weather alert for tonight. 
• A Dublin pub running a ‘Welfare Wednesday‘ promotion apologised if they offended anyone and also took aim at Joan Burton.

INTERNATIONAL

Men try to capture a pony that was delaying the start of a traditional Epiphany celebration horse race in Pietrosani, Romania. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

#PERTH Three members of a Kerry family were injured in a fatal Australian car crash.

#EGYPT Irish teenager Ibrahim Halawa is said to be considering going on hunger strike, after a scheduled court hearing in Cairo was postponed once again.

#GAZA A Palestinian man will serve three life sentences for murdering three Israeli teenagers, whose deaths sparked the 50-day war in Gaza last year.

#TURKEY A female suicide bomber killed herself and a policeman in an attack in Istanbul.

#GREECE The UK’s Home Office pledged £700,000 to help the search in Greece for Ben Needham who went missing as a toddler 23 years ago.

#BUSH DYNASTY Jeb Bush has taken another step to potentially running in next year’s US Presidential election.

#NEW YORK A 30-yea-old man shot and killed his wealthy father in an argument over his allowance.

INNOVATION

Scientists have discovered what could be the most Earth-like planet ever found. [TheJournal.ie]

PARTING SHOT

Does this man look familiar? He’s made about €16,000 from being the face of a meme. [Washington Post]

QuickMeme.com QuickMeme.com