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

IRISH

Brendan O'Carroll and Joe Duffy’s annual Christmas Eve special just off Grafton Street earlier today. Sasko Lazarov Sasko Lazarov

A new report outlined how two planes came dangerously close to each other at Dublin Airport last March.

Power was restored to some homes after it was knocked out by Storm Eva.

A woman died in a Tipperary housefire.

A large amount of cocaine was seized at Dublin Port.

There were potential sightings of missing student Michael Bugler.

Gardaí arrested 12 drink drivers today.

Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said Ireland is becoming increasingly ambiguous in its understanding of God.

We handed out our not-so-serious political awards for the year.

Hozier joined Bono and Glen Hansard on Grafton Street for the Christmas Eve busk. 

Santa was cleared to fly in Irish airspace and had a message for TheJournal.ie readers.

INTERNATIONAL

A man dressed as Santa Claus lights flares as he sits on a boat toed by swimmers, in Imperia, near Genoa, Italy AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

#GRINCH: The Sultan of Brueni cancelled Christmas.

#TEXAS: A ‘brain dead’ man woke up after his father threatened doctors with a gun.

#WASHINGTON: Over 3,000 prisoners have mistakenly been freed early.

INNOVATION

• Hackers are threatening to take XBox Live and PlayStation Network offline on Christmas Day, as they did last year. Here are 7 games you can play if they do. [GameZone]
• Could Donald Trump’s success be down to his social media strategy – and could it take him all the way to the White House? [Guardian]

PARTING SHOT

As you settle down and wait for Santa have a laugh at 8 of the funniest Irish TV bloopers this year. [DailyEdge.ie]