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

IRELAND

Ireland's Tadhg Beirne (centre left) and Australia's Allan Alaalatoa in action during the Autumn International match at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

• As counting continued, some election results were announced but there were plenty more to come.
• Health Minister Stephen Donnelly was struggling in early tallies and could be in trouble when it comes to retaining his seat. 
• Counting continued in the constituency of Limerick City despite a mishap which resulted in candidate’s names not appearing in alphabetical order on some ballot papers.
• Fine Gael’s Jenifer Caroll McNeall was declared as the first TD to return to the Dáil, as the first count of the general election was declared in Dún Laoghaire.
• The Social Democrats were having a good day as the party hoped to break into double figures in Dáil seats.
• The Green Party looked set to lose up to three-quarters of their Dáil seats, with leader Roderic O’Gorman saying the election has been “undoubtedly a disappointing result”.
• TV presenter Gráinne Seoige failed to make an impact as a Fianna Fáil candidate in Galway West. 
• Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch was a serious contender for a seat in Dublin Central as the counting continued.
• Fine Gael’s John McGahon looked unlikely to be elected in the Louth constituency and could be outpolled by his running mate Paula Butterly.
• Mick Wallace’s return to Irish politics looked set to backfire as the Wexford man saw his old vote collapse in the county.
• Meanwhile, in non-election news, Ireland defeated Australia with a less than perfect performance in the last game of the November rugby internationals.

INTERNATIONAL

A Syrian opposition fighter shoots in the air in downtown Aleppo, Syria, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#SYRIA: Rebel forces in Syria took hold of the city of Aleppo in a major blow to the Assad government.

#GEORGIA: Thousands of protesters gathered across Georgia for a third straight night of demonstrations against the government’s decision to suspend negotiations to join the European Union.

#PALESTINE: The World Central Kitchen charity suspended operations in Gaza after some of its staff were reportedly killed in an Israeli strike.

#KOSOVO: The prime minister of Kosovo said that police had made a number of arrests following an attack on a canal supporting the country’s two main power plants and its water supply.

PARTING SHOT

THE HARDEST THING to do as a columnist is admit when you’re wrong. At least I assume it’s hard, it’s actually been years since I’ve been in that position, so I don’t really remember what it feels like.

The second hardest thing is when you’re bang on the money and, out of some extremely false sense of grace, have to somehow contrive to avoid patting yourself on the back. 

Read Carl Kinsella’s Voices article here.