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

IRELAND

Kayla O'Gorman (7) holds a worm on front of Niamh Race (7) as part of the national Sow & Grow project. Mark Stedman Mark Stedman

• John Gilligan lost his Supreme Court appeal to hold on to assets seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau.
• RTÉ it announced it will continue to make children’s TV but the station also confirmed an end to comedy show Republic of Telly.
• A man was killed with a hatchet in a row over a pedigree chihuahua in Meath, a court heard.
• A Co Clare ‘loner’ avoided jail after posting photos of 19 local teenage girls to a pornographic website
• Former Irish President Mary Robinson described the new US President Donald Trump as “a bully”.
• Campaigners are planning to distribute abortion pills to cities and universities around Ireland.
• A complaint made about sports journalist Eamon Dunphy’s comments on Claire Byrne Live have been rejected.
• New figures have shown that, despite increasing employment, one in six Irish people are at risk of poverty.
• Transport Minister Shane Ross said he will not come in with his cheque book to solve the industrial dispute with Bus Éireann.
• Irish author Sebastian Barry celebrated winning the prestigious Costa Book of the Year award.

WORLD

White House press secretary Sean Spicer answers a question from Natalie Herbick of FOX 8 in Cleveland by using Skype. Carolyn Kaster / PA Images Carolyn Kaster / PA Images / PA Images

#GETTING OUT: UK MPs have voted for the first stage of a bill that allows PM Theresa May to begin Brexit.

#FRNCH ELECTION: Both Marine Le Pen and Francois Fillon are facing questions about their finances ahead of the the closely watched French presidential race.

#MAKING A MURDERER: US Defence Lawyer Dean Strang was speaking in Dublin today.

PARTING SHOT

In a crazily comprehensive takedown of one of the biggest pop stars of recent years, this Buzzfeed article argues that Taylor Swift has cultivated an image of victimhood to boost her career.