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

IRELAND

Citizenship rights protest over opposition to the citizenship bill at the Dail. Rolling News Rolling News

• Residents in a cul-de-sac in Dublin 8 are shaken after many witnessed a family of seven struggle to flee their home after being targeted in an overnight arson attack. 
• Hundreds of mourners gathered at St Patrick’s Church, Co Down, this afternoon for the funeral of athlete Ciara Mageean.
• Detectives investigating the disappearance of a Limerick woman in the North have launched a murder investigation and arrested a man on suspicion of murder.
• Next week’s major European Union-led event in Dublin will face significant disruption as thousands of civil servants plan to strike, sources have said.
• The government has approved a policy for short-term let regulations which will ban councils from issuing new planning permissions for short-term lets in larger towns and cities with a population in excess of 20,000. 
• A leading housing expert has raised concerns that the State may still be “forward-counting” housing completions, and that the practice could lead to a potential distortion in information about the sector.
• A judge has criticised aspects of the legal aid fee scheme as “grossly unfair” and “demonstrably illogical”

INTERNATIONAL

Voters cast their ballots at a polling station in Washington during the midterm elections. alamy alamy

#US MIDTERMS The US goes to the polls today. Held every two years, the midterm elections have been billed as a referendum on Donald Trump’s presidency. 

#BOMB THREATS Four Ryanair flights were among ten passenger planes affected by bomb threats across Europe today, prompting evacuations, security checks and the deployment of fighter jets.

#LONDON A famous man has lost his bid for a UK High Court injunction against two media organisations to prevent the publication of allegations against him, but cannot yet be named.

PARTING SHOT

The festive season is nearly upon us. 

British retail giant John Lewis has released its famous Christmas advertisement for 2026. 

This year’s advertisement features Slow Horses star Kristin Scott Thomas in the leading role. 

Singer Sam Fender provides the soundtrack with a cover of You Can’t Always Get What You Want by The Rolling Stones.