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

IRISH

Early morning Dublin commuters encountered abandoned model dogs across the city this morning as part of animal charity Dogs Trust's Christmas campaign. RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

• Detectives investigating the events of Bloody Sunday arrested a former British soldier in Antrim.
• Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald signed the commencement order for the Marriage Act 2015, meaning same-sex marriages can take place from next Monday.
• Legislation was announced to ban landlords increasing residential rents for two years.
• Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he does not expect the IBRC inquiry to collapse, after it emerged the judge chairing the investigation does not have the powers to proceed with his work.
• Irish Daily Mail columnist Brenda Power was cleared of hate speech over a column in which she said Travellers “ought to get rid of those slash hooks and settle”.

• Two women whose stepfather was jailed yesterday for sexually abusing them over a 10-year period said they will never forgive him or their mother, who stood by him.

• A new study found female voices make up an average of only 28% of broadcasting time on current affairs radio shows.
• The lead singer of metal band Lamb of God was attacked on Dublin’s quays ahead of a gig in the 3Arena.

INTERNATIONAL

Supporters of Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi gathered on the streets of Yangon after her party said it was headed for a landslide electoral victory. Gemunu Amarasinghe / AP/Press Association Images Gemunu Amarasinghe / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images

#DIPLOMACY: The presidents of France and Iran called off a meeting after a disagreement over food and wine.

#ENJO KOSAI: The Japanese government called on a UN envoy to retract remarks about schoolgirls’ involvement in forms of paid dating that can involve sex.

#BABY BOOM: Chinese officials said around three million extra babies will be born each year as a result of the country’s “one child” policy being scrapped.

#EU BUDGET: The European Union misspent €6.3 billion in 2014, according to the bloc’s financial watchdog.

INNOVATION

• Irish-owned telecomms Viatel is to sell all its operations outside the Republic for €95 million.
• Google has upgraded its Android Maps app, allowing users to navigate it offline. [BBC]

PARTING SHOT

Ever think about how image influences our perception of others? In this video experiment, six photographers were asked to shoot footage capturing a stranger’s personality, and the end result is pretty cool.