EVERY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you the stories you need to know as you start your day.

1. #CANNABIS: The legalisation of cannabis for medicinal purposes is a step closer today, after a bill passed through the first round in the Dáil yesterday. The bill could become law in the first half of next year.

2. #RIP: Fawlty Towers co-star John Cleese has led tributes to Andrew Sachs, who has passed away aged 86.

3. #CULL: A planned cull of a herd of goats by Coillte has been deferred after it was met with stern opposition by protesters who have begged that the animals not be “sacrificed”.

4. #DELAYS: Irish Rail has said commuters should expect “severe delays” due to a fault at Howth Junction.

5. #TOY SHOW: Ahead of the Late Late Toy Show this evening, TheJournal.ie got a sneak peak at the Jungle Book-themed set and caught up with Ryan Tubridy and some of the children involved.

6. #LONDON: Former London mayoral candidate, Zac Goldsmith, has lost his Westminster seat in a by-election, despite winning it with a majority of 23,000 just last year.

7. #RETAIL: Grafton Street is already one of the most expensive streets in the world to rent a premises on, and it is set get more expensive to rent on the Dublin street.

8.  #MAD DOG MATTIS: Donald Trump has picked a man who thinks ‘it’s fun to shoot some people’ to be the next defence secretary.

9. #PREDICTIONS: Old Moore’s Almanac predicted that 2016 was a year that wouldn’t be remembered fondly. The good news: We may win the Eurovision and scientists will find a way to reverse ageing in 2017, apparently.