Updated 11pm

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

The parents of Julie McDonnell (20yrs), who died in the fire in the Stardust disco on the morning of  Valentines Day 1981. Today marks the 33rd anniversary of the tragedy. (Image: Eamonn Farrell/Photocall Ireland)

IRELAND

• Five hospitals and charities are still not compliant with public pay policy and 27 want to keep their top-ups.
• Gardaí are investigating the fatal shooting of 46-year-old James Talbot in Lucan, Dublin.
• A number of staff members at Phantom FM were laid off.
• The stormy weather is still wreaking havoc with water supplies, electricity and phone networks.
• The Garda Commissioner is ‘”very, very satisfied” no gardaí spied on GSOC.
• A strike at Dublin and Shannon airports may be on the cards over a new proposal to cut pensions. [RTÉ]
• Peace campaigner Margaretta D’Arcy was transferred to Mountjoy Prison.
• A €10,000 reward was offered for information on a gang of burglars targeting pensioners.
• Serious concerns were expressed about a psychiatric unit, with claims patients are sleeping in wet beds because of a roof leak.
• Teachers‘ unions are to ballot for industrial action.

WORLD

This image of African migrants searching for phone signal, by John Stanmeyer, won the World Press Photo Contest.

#HACKING: Piers Morgan was questioned in connection with phone hacking while he was editor of the Daily Mirror. [AFP]

#BOSTON: The mayor said he will boycott the St Patrick’s Day parade unless the gay community is included.

#DENMARK: Another zoo in the country may put down a healthy giraffe because of his genes which make him unsuitable for breeding.

#ITALY: The Prime Minister has resigned, making way for 39-year-old centre-left leader Matteo Renzi the favourite to take his place. [AFP]

#SCOTLAND: A police helicopter that plunged into a packed Glasgow bar last year suffered double engine failure, investigators said. [BBC]

INNOVATION

• Facebook users in the US can now choose from 50 different custom gender terms.
• Would you believe, people actually watch LESS porn on Valentine’s Day? [Gizmodo]
• A company in the US has created this tiny electric hatchback solely designed to help wheelchair users get around independently. [The Verge]

PARTING SHOT

If you forgot to buy a Valentine’s Day gift for your lover today, Google had you covered with its specialised chocolate-making Doodle.

First published 9pm

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