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

IRELAND

Some of the young revellers at Cork's Christmas parade, 'Corkmas'. Darragh Kane Photography Darragh Kane Photography

• Met Éireann told the country to get ready for “quite a shock” next week as temperatures plummet.
• Evidence concluded in the Conor McGregor case ahead of closing arguments next week.
• New searches began as part of a probe into the murders of couple William Maughan and Anastasija Varslavane nine years ago.
• The Journal hit the streets of Dublin Central to see what people make of Gerry Hutch’s late entry into the race.
• We had another late entrant but in Wexford – former TD and MEP Mick Wallace is standing again.
• Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael both outlined different plans for getting tough on crime, but the parties have some differing ideas how to do that.
• Jim O’Callaghan and Fine Gael’s Helen McEntee – The two coalition partners’ justice spokespeople – also had their own war of words.
• Elsewhere, far-right election candidate Derek Blighe was told by a judge to make a donation to a refugee charity at a Fermoy court hearing.
• Searches for missing swimmer Máire Ní Fhátharta off Galway Bay continued.
• A man was sentenced to 12 years for killing his mother in a house fire.
• The wound-up firm led by a Co Kerry crystal meth importer was told to pay an ex-employee €78k for an unfair dismissal.
• A top criminal defence solicitor was convicted of a €400 theft and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

INTERNATIONAL

Civil defence workers extinguish a fire as smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike in Tayouneh, Beirut. Hassan Ammar / AP Hassan Ammar / AP / AP

#GAZA: A senior Hamas official revealed the group is “ready for a ceasefire” in Gaza and urged US President-elect Donald Trump to “pressure” Israel to “end the aggression”.

#LEBANON: An artillery shell hit a UNIFIL base as a French peacekeeper died in a separate ‘road accident’.

#CLINTON VISIT: A number of PSNI officers were injured and four arrests were made during a protest over Hillary Clinton’s visit to Belfast.

PARTING SHOT

Paul Mescal on Hot Ones Hot Ones / Youtube Hot Ones / Youtube / Youtube

Gladiator star Paul Mescal is on the Late Late tonight, which is as good a time as any to draw your attention to his recent appearance on the Hot Ones show.

He bigged up Colin Farrell and revealed his quintessential Irish film – all while dining on increasingly spicy chicken wings.

And if you need more content from one of our favourite Kildare men, here’s a take on his post-Normal People stardom from comedian Kevin McGahern.