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

Thomas Conway (17) and the St Anns Community College students from Co Clare perform in the Trinity Long Room in Dublin this afternoon to announce the major programme of Festivals and events which will run throughout the millennium year 2014 at nationwide locations with close associations with the life and death of Brian Boru. (Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland)

IRELAND

• The government confirmed that 23 May will be polling day in the local and European elections
• The Rehab Group hit back at criticism over the profits from their lottery
• The Finance Minister said that he may ask Bank of Ireland for documents relating to the bank guarantee that have gone missing
• Dublin City Manager Owen Keegan said that the taxpayer could lose €96 million on the Poolbeg incinerator project
• The Justice Minister said a new inquiry into the Stardust tragedy won’t go ahead, leading to victims’ families reacting angrily.
• New figures revealed that one person dies every day from a drug overdose in Ireland
• Gardaí appealed for information in tracing a missing Kildare man
• The Communications Minister defended Bord Gáis, saying there was no ‘bonus culture’ at the company
• A pregnant woman was threatened by a gang in her home in Swords
• Mattie McGrath was removed from two Oireachtas committees, he claims because of his views on abortion

INTERNATIONAL

A protester waves a Ukrainian national flag in front of police line in central Kiev, Ukraine. (AP/Press Association Images)

#UKRAINE: Two protesters were killed as fighting intensified in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev. Protesters continue to clash with government forces, with the situation becoming more and more strained.

#DRUG DEATH: Two men have been charged in connection with the death of a 16-year-old boy at a rave in London. Daniel Spargo-Mabbs died of a suspected drugs overdose on Monday.

#SYRIA: Talks aimed at finding peace in Syria have gotten off to a rocky start. Leaders on both sides of the conflict have yet to meet, it has been reported.

INNOVATION

• Ireland is feeling pretty good about launching 4G phone networks on 27 January, but South Korea is aiming to have 5G up and running by 2017. [Geek.com]
• Apple is ramping up its iWatch team, poaching some of the hottest designers in Silicon Valley. [Business Insider]
• As a road surface, asphalt is popular, but it also has massive drawbacks. Here the case is made for other materials. [Gizmodo]

PARTING SHOT

We all know the feeling. You’re clicking around YouTube and everything is great. Then, all of a sudden, the signal goes weak and the picture becomes terrible. Why is that? Let the people of Google explain.