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

IRELAND

File photo of armed gardaí carrying out an exercise. The gardaí today announced the establishment of a new armed support unit. Eamonn Farrell / RollingNews.ie Eamonn Farrell / RollingNews.ie / RollingNews.ie

• A man was killed after being struck by a car in Offaly
• Tributes were paid to a Cork councillor who died suddenly
• The HSE launched its 2017 service plan
• University of Limerick confirmed an ‘outbreak’ of STIs on campus
• A man who stabbed a drug dealer was cleared of murder, but not manslaughter
• Money raised at a community Christmas fair in Kerry was stolen
• Pat Hickey got his passport back
• Two people were arrested and €150,000 seized in Limerick
• Dublin is getting a new armed response unit

INTERNATIONAL

This screengrab shows people walking among damaged buildings on a street filled with debris near the ancient Umayyad Mosque, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

#ALEPPO: A ceasefire due to take place in Aleppo never got underway as the US ambassador to the UN criticised Russia, Iran and Syria.

#TRUMP CARD: Rick Perry, a man who both forgot the US Department of Energy existed and wants to abolish it, will be Donald Trump’s Energy Secretary.

#DUTERTE: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said he had personally killed suspected criminals when he was mayor of a southern city to set an example for police.

PARTING SHOT

Last year, the people at iFour creative agency unleashed a movies quiz on the internet that had people vexed. This year, they’ve done a similar quiz with bands. It’s tough and time-consuming. But very, very fun.