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

IRELAND

Simon Harris on the campaign trail in Cavan today. Fergal Phillips Fergal Phillips

• Gardaí searched in Wicklow after man (50s) arrested on suspicion of Jo Jo Dullard’s murder.
• Taoiseach Simon Harris had his first call with Trump since the US election, where he congratulated the business tycoon on his victory while stressing the “importance of peace” in conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
• The Fine Gael leader also sought to distance his party from Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary after the latter’s comments on teachers.
• And the campaign brought out its own ‘battle bus’.
• Sinn Féin promised to scrap the USC on the first €45,000 of earnings within 100 days of government.
• Following its manifesto launch, Fianna Fáil had to clarify that it won’t be decriminalising possession of all drugs.
• Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch arrived in Dublin and confirmed he plans to stand in the general election.
• A Kildare soccer club was in “shock and mourning” following the death of a teenage club member in a hit-and-run incident over the weekend.
• Robbie Williams was confirmed to play Croke Park next August.

INTERNATIONAL

#COP29: Reporting from the latest edition of the global climate conference, Lauren Boland found that the figure estimated to help developing countries to fight climate change will require ramping up international finance to $1 trillion a year.

#GAZA: Israel’s newly-appointed foreign minister Gideon Saar rejected the establishment of a Palestinian state as a “realistic” goal.

#US AND RUSSIA: The Kremlin rejected reports that President Vladimir Putin spoke last week with President-elect Donald Trump about the war in Ukraine.

#GARY LINEKER: The veteran broadcaster and former footballer is set to leave his role presenting Match of the Day at the end of the season.

PARTING SHOT

The much-awaited Gladiator sequel is just about to hit the big screen, with Aoife Barry going along to the screening for ourselves at The Journal.

Here’s a snippet of what she made of Ridley Scott’s sequel.:

“Our verdict on Gladiator II is that Ridley Scott has made an epic sequel that rewards viewers who want a bombastic, bloody revisit to Rome. It’s definitely a case of spectacle above emotion – but boy does it lean into that spectacle.”

You can read the whole review here.