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

Former Northern Ireland First Minister Ian Paisley who was hospitalised today. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

IRELAND

• An Irish man has died in Australia, days after he was injured in an assault.
• Former DUP leader Ian Paisley has been admitted to hospital.
• Some households are still without power or telephone service after the Christmas storms.
• A man has been arrested after driving his car into a social welfare office in Donegal.
• The White House has urged all sides to reach agreement in the Northern Ireland talks.
• More than 40 one-stop-shops for jobseekers will open between now and February.
• A new study has found that almost one fifth of racist incidents are perpetrated by children.
• Dublin Airport has welcomed its 20 millionth passenger of the year.
• Just when it seemed like a respite, thunderstorms are set to return. Sigh.

INTERNATIONAL

Bodies lie at an entrance to Volgograd train station after the explosion today (AP Photo)

#BOMBING: At least 16 people have died after a suicide bomber set off an explosion at a train station in Russia.

#TAXES: France has been given the go-ahead to bring in a super tax on high incomes after the country’s highest court upheld the latest version of the law.

#INVESTIGATION: An 18-year-old woman has died after being found on fire on a London street.

INNOVATION

• Nobody wants their smartphone to be stolen (or lost), but if it does happen, here’s what to do to make sure all your info is safe and secure.
• Using biometric scans – such as fingerprinting – for consumer identification is growing; but as The New York Times points out, some experts are concerned about the data being misused or hacked. [NYT]

PARTING SHOT

Warning: major time-suck ahoy – especially if you’re a child of the 1980s. The Internet Archive has put classic video games from the 1970s and 1980s online so they can now be played for free on any internet browser. Just choose your console (Atari 2600, anyone?) and select your favourite game. More consoles and games are expected to be added soon. Don’t worry though, Pacman and Space Invaders are already there. [Archive.org]