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

IRELAND

Sam Boal Sam Boal

• The first leaders’ debate of the 2016 general election takes place tonight and we’ve got a liveblog of all the action right here. 
• Lucinda Creighton has called for the general election campaign to be suspended in the wake of alleged threats to journalists from criminal gangs.
• Gardaí have appealed for information following reports of several sexual assaults in the Co Dublin suburb of Shankill since December 2015.
• Tens of thousands of commuters faced disruption this morning as Luas workers began a two-day strike over pay. Here’s how to get around.
• A 28-year-old mother of three and her young children, who suffered “recurring respiratory illness” because of the state of their local authority home have been awarded damages against Dublin City Council.
• The body of missing woman Margaret (Mags) Berry has been discovered in Galway.
• A silent vigil is being held outside Government Buildings tonight following the death of Caoilte O’Broin – whose body was recovered from the river Liffey last month.
• A group of friends collected their €66 million EuroMillions jackpot win from the offices of the National Lottery today.

INTERNATIONAL 

AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

#ENGLAND: Adam Johnson has been sacked by Sunderland after admitting sexual activity with an underage girl.

#MEXICO: At least 52 inmates have been killed in prison brawl as prisoners fought with bats, sticks and blades and ignited a fire in the overcrowded penitentiary.

#GERMANY: A 94-year-old former Auschwitz guard has gone on trial today for complicity in the murders of tens of thousands of people at the Nazi concentration camp.

INNOVATION

• The group trying to convince Ireland the ‘sharing economy’ is not a fad.
• In the lead up to Valentine’s day – here’s a list of the greatest romances in science fiction. [Geek.com]

PARTING SHOT 

If you didn’t manage to get tickets for Bruce today – it might be worth heading to the pub when he’s in the capital.

On his many journeys to Ireland Bruce Springsteen has made a habit of popping into some Dublin pubs for a pint.