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

IRELAND

President Elect Catherine Connolly and her husband Brian McEnery to attend lunchin Áras an Uachtaráin. TONY MAXWELL TONY MAXWELL

• There’s been a more than 330% increase in demand for Female Genital Mutilation treatment in Ireland
• An inquest jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing in the death of art student Emer O’Loughlin (23) whose charred remains were discovered in a burnt out mobile home 20 years ago near Tubber in Co Clare.
• Housing Minister James Browne set himself an ambitious target, telling reporters today he plans to “end the housing crisis” within the next four years. 
• The High Court should consider “afresh” whether Enoch Burke should be committed to prison for contempt of court again, a judge said.
• Tánaiste Simon Harris called on the Mauritian authorities to allow the PSNI to assist in investigations into the 2011 murder of Michaela McAreavey. 
• A compulsory housing order was introduced on poultry and captive birds following recent bird flu outbreaks.
• Learner drivers who have had their permits for four years will have to take a driving test before they can renew it again.
• A playground in North Dublin’s Gardiner Street could cost 300k to refurbish after it was set alight by vandals on Halloween night.
• People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett made his return to the Dáil today, using his first appearance since undergoing treatment for throat cancer to call for greater investment in cancer care.
• An entertainment centre in Cork was ordered to pay €3,000 compensation to a blind child who was refused entry to an inflatable play area during his friend’s birthday party.
• Kieran Cuddihy will take up the Liveline role from Monday as RTÉ Radio 1 announced its new weekday schedule. 
• President Michael D Higgins hosted Catherine Connolly at Áras an Uachtaráin ahead of her inauguration as the tenth President of Ireland next week.

INTERNATIONAL

The Beaver Moon rises behind the State Chancellery during the afternoon in Dresden, Germany. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#NEW YORK: Zohran Mamdani was elected as the new mayor of New York City, capping a remarkable political rise for the 34-year-old democratic socialist and state lawmaker.
#FRANCE: Shein opened its first physical store worldwide in Paris under the eye of riot police, as the French government said it was suspending the Asian e-commerce giant’s online platform following outrage over its sale of childlike sex dolls.
#US: At least nine people died and several more were injured after a UPS cargo plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville International Airport in Kentucky yesterday.

PARTING SHOT

It takes 30 people, working through the night over four weeks and 200 hours to erect Dublin city centre’s Christmas light according to Dublin Town CEO Richard Guiney. Dublin Town Dublin Town

Dublin’s Christmas lights are officially up, 50 days before Christmas.

The energy-efficient lights have been put up across 24 streets in the city centre by the business collective, Dublin Town.

The lights will be switched on later this month at an unspecified date. The date of the ceremony marking the turning on of the lights is being kept under wraps at present.

Last year, they were turned on with the help of the Little Blue Heroes on 14 November.

This is the seventeenth year Dublin Town has decorated the city with lights.