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

IRELAND

Sinn Fein representatives, Councillor Ann Graves (left) Eoin O'Broin and Councillor Janice Boylan hold up a banner on housing outside the Teachers' Club in Dublin. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

• Simon Harris said that the woman at the centre of a viral video in which she tells him that he has “ignored” carers while in government was “was absolutely owed an apology” from him.
• Taoiseach Simon Harris said today that he spoke with Nikita Hand and thanked her for her bravery following her win in a civil case against MMA fighter Conor McGregor yesterday.
• Some 11,000 premises across the country are without power and a number of counties are affected by severe flooding as Storm Bert passes over Ireland.
• On the one year anniversary of the so-called Dublin riots, gardaí have identified  56 persons of interest in the public disorder after launching a public appeal earlier this week. 
• Two men killed in a horrific road crash in Co Donegal have been named locally.
• Leader of the Labour Party, Ivana Bacik has hit out at Sinn Féin and said that she has “difficulties” describing it as a left-wing party.
• Gardaí have arrested two men and seized €560,000 worth of suspected cocaine during searches at a number of locations in Limerick city yesterday.
• The school of a young girl who was seriously injured during an attack on Parnell Square has said the “trauma is still very real” on the first anniversary of the incident.
• The manager of a phone shop in Dublin city centre said her staff were left in shock following a daylight robbery by four young men this week. 

INTERNATIONAL

Feminist demonstrators during a protest to condemn violence against women, called by feminist organisations two days prior to the international day for the elimination of violence against women, in Paris. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#MIDDLE EAST: Israeli air strikes in the Lebanese capital have killed at least 15 people, as diplomats scrambled to broker a ceasefire.

#COP29: Negotiators from small islands and developing nations have walked out of negotiations for a climate deal at COP29, the international climate change conference.

#TRUMP ADMINISTRATION: US President-elect Donald Trump has named billionaire Scott Bessent as his Treasury secretary, choosing the hedge fund manager to help execute an agenda promising tax cuts and tariffs.

PARTING SHOT

Taoiseach Simon Harris canvasses members of the public at the Christmas Market in Rathfarnham Castle Park this afternoon. Sasko Lazarov Sasko Lazarov

“WHO THOUGHT IT was a good idea to have an election at this time of year,” one voter said to an Independent candidate on the doorstep this week. 

As temperatures plummet and weather warnings set in, perhaps Simon Harris is asking himself that question too. 

The Journal’s Political Editor, Christina Finn, writes about the last week on the campaign trail as we near the general election. You can read the full piece here.