An exiled Tibetan man wearing glasses with a likeness of the Dalai Lama prays during a protest in New Delhi, India. (Kevin Frayer/AP)

HERE ARE THE things we learned, loved and shared today as we round off the day in three easy steps.

THINGS WE LEARNED

#ABORTION: The second day of the Oireachtas hearings into the proposed abortion laws is continuing. Psychiatrists and psychologists have presented a divided front, showing some concerns over the effects of the draft bills. Our live coverage is continuing over here.

#PENALTY POINTS: Justice minister Alan Shatter has revealed how he was made aware of the allegation that Mick Wallace was stopped by Gardaí for using a phone while driving. The minister said Wallace’s example was mentioned in the course of a general briefing, and took issue with the Wexford TD for suggesting Gardaí acted unlawfully in not issuing him with points.

#DATA PROTECTION: The annual report of the Data Protection Commissioner has revealed a series of inappropriate data practices. Gardaí have been found using the PULSE system to check records of high-profile public figures, while a HSE worker was found searching for records of their son’s girlfriend.

#SUICIDE: Up to half of all suicides involving under-18s may be part of couplets or clusters, a new report has said. The RCPI report said 66 per cent of families had reported a “negative experience” when dealing with support services after a suicide.

#MURDER: Gardaí in Tallaght have issued an appeal for public assistance in efforts to trace the killers of Alan Desmond, the 37-year-old whose body was found in a field in the area on Saturday night. Desmond had been missing for three weeks and anyone who may have seen him, or noticed any unusual behaviour in the area, is asked to contact Gardaí.

#ECB: The health of Ireland’s banks seems to be getting slightly better. New figures today show that the banks are continuing to borrow less and less from the ECB, while the level of deposits in the banks now seems fairly stable.

Artist Chris Naylor adds the finishing touches to a model landscape of London made from 2186 sugar cubes, created to celebrate the Museum of London Docklands’ 10th anniversary today. (Geoff Caddick/PA Wire)

THINGS WE LOVED

• Have you ever thought about delaying your retirement for five years, and instead taking a year off work five times throughout your career? Winston Chen did, and if this NPR piece is anything to go by, he’s having a ball.
• Well, this is encouraging. The power of 3D printing has been harnessed to create a custom-made skull implant for an American patient. The new unit makes up 75 per cent of the patient’s skull!
• Here’s a lovely moment from Chelsea FC after the team’s last home game of the season yesterday. Goalkeeper Ross Turnbull brought his son Josh out to the pitch for the end-of-season celebrations… and then this happened. Check out his cute reaction at 0:37.

(YouTube: Ashkon Nosrat)

THINGS WE SHARED

• We know Taylor Swift isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but when she’s making fun of Justin Bieber and Selina Gomez – in GIF format – you can’t help but smile…
• A lightning strike is never something to be laughed at… but at least it made a pretty clean job of skinning this tree. (Thanks, Reddit.)
• CRIPES CHECK OUT THE WIDTH OF THIS TORNADO! WE’RE RUNNING AWAY NOW. (Today we learned: there’s a whole YouTube channel dedicated to storms.)

(YouTube: LiveStormsNetwork)

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